Links To The Present: June 14, 2010
2010-06-14
“Izzo did not speak to media members Monday morning when he arrived at Michigan State for the start of his annual youth basketball camp. He declined to discuss the Cavs when a camper asked him a question about it during his address to the group.” [Brian Windhorst on Tom Izzo]
“2. Scott is a former Laker who wants that job. He moved back to Los Angeles after being fired by New Orleans early last season, and prefers the West Coast. Scott knows that he can be the next Avery Johnson. He can do some TV and wait for a team to hire him. He doesn’t have to grab the first offer.” [Terry Pluto on Byron Scott]
“But James “100 percent” would endorse Izzo’s hiring, the source said.” [Brian Windhorst]
“All along, James has not planned to speak to coaching candidates or lobby for certain coaches to replace Mike Brown. James, according to a source, has not spoken with Izzo about the job or his future and currently has no plans to do so.” [Brian Windhorst]
“As for his questions about where Cleveland’s organization stands with James, one source said Izzo “isn’t even sure who has a relationship with [James].”” [Adrian Wojnarowksi]
“As much as anything, the Cavaliers are giving the franchise completely over to James and his inner circle now.” [Adrian Wojnarowksi Last Week]
“Wade has always seemed to play second fiddle to James, especially when it comes to this summer. But here, he can effectively position himself as different. Maybe he’s not the same unprecedented talent, but he’s close. And unlike James, he already has a ring, and zero questions about who he really is as an athlete. LeBron is still LeBron. Wade, though, is being about hundred times more shrewd here. He may end up stealing the show this summer while making as little racket as possible.” [Bethlehem Shoals on D Wade and LeBron]
“Unfortunately for the Cavs, they may not be able to wait that long. Given Izzo’s 27 years of loyalty at Michigan State, it seems unlikely he would leave the school in a state of limbo for several more weeks — especially given the way students and fans have responded to the possibility of his departure with an outpouring of support.” [Matt Watson of FanHouse]
I like this post by Neil Paine. He sets out to show support for Kobe Bryant’s back-breaking night of carrying teammates, yet Pau Gasol (game 2) appears higher on his “Best Performances in a Finals Loss” chart.
@rich i would say scott’s two appearances in the finals with the nets, who had less talent than dallas did IMO, is a better prospect. and i disagree with you about thibeadou. the one thing i really want in a new coach is HEAD coaching experience. to me that was mike brown’s achilles heel. he was good at the things assistants tend to be good at one thing like defensive strategy and was terrible at the things head coaches need to be good at, like managing a bench and playing time. thibeadou is wayyyyy too close to that mike brown… Read more »
Scott has a cush TV job right now and he’ll rock that for sometime before heading back to coaching. Avery Johnson did it for almost 3 years and now he’s back to coaching. I dont think it has anything to do with Lebron. Gilbert and co. have been adament that Lebron will not be part of this, but the media, including local Cleveland media, are desparately trying to make him seem involved in all the processes. Its getting annoying IMO, Lebron is trying to stay out of it, going on vacation and being on the down low and theres still… Read more »
How is Byron Scott better than Avery Johnson? Johnson has won finals games and had it not been for the league deciding that it needed Dwayne Wade to win, he would have won a title. Not to mention he followed that up with 67 wins. I’m not saying Johnson IS better than Scott, but I don’t see much of a difference between the two. And yea, would have really like thibeadou. Just like Izzo, we have no idea how Thibeadou will coach (offense in this case) in the NBA. But we do know he can coach defense like a mad… Read more »
@tom
100% on both counts. well said…
and seriously,@rich, you would want avery johnson? or monty williams? or thibeadou (mike brown redux)? or the guy atlanta just hired? are any of them a real upgrade from mike brown? i cannot really see what you’re complaining about here. the cavs are in it for one for one of the two top coaches in the college game and the best available NBA-experienced coach in scott. sounds like a decent plan to me…
@Rich –
the Cavs have only gone after Tom Izzo – who has NEVER left college basketball for the NBA. The only other coach they’ve expressed any interest in is Byron Scott and Mike Woodson. The fact that Izzo is CONSIDERING leaving his cushy job to coach the NBA is a TESTAMENT to the organization in my opinion.
And about your second point – I think Woj’s sources confirm anything that fits his LeBron narrative at any given time.
You know what’s been nice? These last three weeks. I haven’t paid attention to the Cavs/LeBron/Ferry/Brown situations at all. Hardly watched Sportscenter. I’ve glanced at a few finals games, but that’s about it. It really is refreshing to take a break from it all.
Oh, and how does Woj make both of those tweets and not go “wait…these two things completely contradict.” How is LeBron and his inner circle running the franchise AND the franchise has no relation with LeBron? I mean…..huh?
This is a fairly large black eye on the Cavs organization. No other team in this league is so beholden to one player, and it isn’t even that players fault. Why is it the 12 win New Jersey Nets can hire Avery Johnson…but the Cavs aboslutely have to have word from leBron before anyone comes here? If I’m LeBron, I’m wondering very seriously why it is that both the Bulls and the Nets can get two solid coaches w/ or w/o my name on the line for them, but the Cavs cannot. It makes the organization look very bad, as… Read more »
@rick
woj tipped his hand and his agenda with that over-the-top bashing (editorial) column after the celtics series. he has CLEARLY let his feelings about LBJ cloud his reporting since then and thus we’re left to take EVERYTHING he has to say about the cavs and LBJ with a large grain of salt…
I wonder where Wojnarowski gets his info saying that the Cavs are practically letting LeBron run the organization…when Windhorst is saying the opposite. Woj has good sources throughout the league, but Windhorst is the authority on inside Cavs information
They are doing controlled oil burns in the Gulf. Reminds me of all the “your river caught on fire” jokes…