If the Spurs can't get Lisalo wouldn't mind giving Tiago a shot. bring Lisalo in as head coach and develop Tiago as an assistant.
*It's Iisalo with two i, not L.
Iirc, I was the first to bring him up here, I'd rather have him than Hurley. He's my #1 choice if we're talking cocahes with no NBA head coaching experience.
He made his way from a completely irrelevant basketball country, was successful in both Germany and France, two very different basketball cultures, and has transformed Grizzlies offense this season.
There is no doctor on this planet that is going to clear Pop to return to the bench after a stroke. It's one of the most stressful jobs imaginable, he's done.
Would like to go full Frenchie and bring Vincent Collet on in some role, try to groom him to take over the HC job.
Good stuff. Shout out to LeBowen for eyeballing him a while ago.
Tbh wasn't really impressed with the shots Collet was getting Victor in the ten or so Mets92 games I watched.
Yeah he has supplanted Hurley as my #1 choice too, and he's very much gettable. He may be in a great situation in Memphis but he's not head coach and Memphis can't really stop a talent like him from advancing the same way the Spurs couldn't hold back Presti back in the day.
Plus you go that route it means you have to dump Vassell. Can't have him dribbling the air out of the ball in Iisalo's offense. So another big plus.
As much as I hate Devin's game, they're obviously trying hard to coach Kobe out of him.
If we're talking about dribbling the air, we have to admit Wemby is the biggest concern in that regard.
Ugh, the guy who had France play such weird and ugly basketball at the Olympics? No thanks.
Keen to hear what other French fans think about this. I don't think you'll get good reviews. I think Victor himself might not be for it. I remember talking to Pauletta14 during the Olympics here at ST about his coaching. We weren't impressed to say the least.
I wouldn't mind giving Tuomas Iisalo a shot if the Spurs were going to go with somone that has no NBA head coaching experience. I was very interested in Hurley due to Steph speaking very highly of him and what I've read about him doing at UConn, but as the season has gone on, I like the sounds of someone like Iisalo a bit more. Coach Bud, I would have loved a couple of years ago, but I've cooled on him a bit too.
With Mitch Johnson, I'm curious, do you guys think he's been given total control, if not, do you think he could do better if given total freedom to do what he wants? I mean, he had other teams interested in him as a potential head coach (I think Raptors were one of them, can't remember who else? Was it Atlanta before they got Snyder?), so it's seems he's well regarded. Brook Lopez (I can't find the article with the quotes) said they used to called him "The Maestro" on their college team due to his extensive knowledge of the game even back then when he was playing and hadn't even started coaching.
Last edited by Ice009; 03-25-2025 at 02:42 PM.
I'm with you on this approach in general, not just limited to the Grizzlies assistants. I'd look at any of the top teams, much like teams would poach our coaches. I'm okay with picking fruit from a far extended branch of the Pop coaching tree, but the only direct disciple I'm interested in is Becky (though the clock is ticking there, if nothing is done with Becky in the first week or two after the NBA season, it likely won't happen at all as then we'll get into the WNBA season and I doubt Becky will allow herself be caught up in he distraction of interviewing for the Spurs job while actively coaching the Aces).
I'd also be up for rolling the dice with Coach Manu. It would be a huge risk, but one I'd be willing to take with Manu.
Edit: would also be happy with Tiago, who is part of the Pop Tree the same way Kerr is... and if Ime were available I'd also be good with him. So there are some exceptions to the Pop tree for me.
Last edited by scott; 03-25-2025 at 03:00 PM.
Agreed there tooIf we're talking about dribbling the air, we have to admit Wemby is the biggest concern in that regard.
Can't say I like the idea of players with star level skill being coaches. Always seems it's the role players like Phil Jackson, Kerr, Ty Lue, etc who are best able to teach fundamentals and become great coaches as opposed to the stars like Doug Collins, Nash, Kidd, West, McHale, etc who had the talent to break fundamentals. And Manu is the embodiment of breaking the fundamentals. Need someone who can teach the role players to be good.
I believe Manu has already made it known he's not interested in full time coaching of the team. He just likes to do a little bit of everything with them as far as developing and being around. That was a semi-quote from a podcast in '23.
Iisalo is so ingenious that the Grizzlies half court offense, long an issue and after a strong start is . . . back to struggling.
This is not a "system" league anymore. The skill of the players and relaxed rules led to the league outgrowing them and an analytic driven, genized style emerging.
The Grizzlies probably only even got away with installing an atypical offense because Morant had no leg to stand on after his off court transgressions.
Can't imagine Wembanyama, Fox and if he emerges as a star, Castle being amendable to being boxed into something that represses creativity/counting stats and potentially accolades.
This is not the post prime Duncan and Ginobili big three who had to play an atypical style to keep up with the elites.
Like it or not, Johnson is probably the favorite (maybe Budenholzer, since the timing might align) to succeed Pop. He's already forged relationships with the players, is young, will be inexpensive and can "grow" with them.
They're 43-28 with Ja, JJJ and Bane playing just 30 games together. I'd say their system is working.
But you're a clown who thinks Atkinson isn't the difference maker for the Cavs, so it's even pointless engaging on this matter.
Manu was a role player
Uh,no. Just because he came off the bench doesn’t make him a role player. His career USG% is 24.5, not the usage of a role player. Role players also don’t notch multiple ASGs and All NBA selections.
Only because his body couldn't handle a superstar role. On skill though he was top of the line. One of the nastiest drivers we have ever seen, one of the best passing SG's in league history, an almost Kyrie level layup package, and had that unguradable stepback years before Harden made his living off it.
2 ASG. 2 all-NBA-3rd team. 8 6MOY in the top-10.
Role player if there ever was one
Especially compared to TP, 6 ASG, 3 all NBA 2nd, 1 all NBA 3rd. He was a star
LOL, Manu was not a role player and saying he was is insane. Dude was a star.
Manu and Tony were both pretty. What is wrong with spurfan?
Hurley has UConn playing a beautiful game. They damn near beat a way more talented Fla team.
UConn has been well oiled for the past 3 years.
Hurley is kind of a jerk though
Just saying
I miss Manu
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote