The coaching carousel's getting full

Pretty slow day yesterday so kind of a slow morning around here. We’ll be back with much more fun stuff the first of the week when a guy can get home and back to concentrating on the local Heroes Of The Hardcourt.

Until then …

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Now that the Hawks are going to hire Larry Drew, there are only two coaching vacancies left in the league – the Cavs and Clippers – and I’ll ask this:

Which one’s more attractive?

And I’ll answer this:

Today? It’s the Clippers.

Such is the state of confusion around the Cavs that I think I’d rather go work for zany Donald Sterling than sit around until mid-July wondering when LeBron James is going stop holding the Cleveland franchise – and most of the league – hostage.

Los Angeles has some cap room, a high draft pick, the spectre of Blake Griffin actually playing next season and just seems more stable at the moment.

Go figure, eh?

The one thing we haven’t heard much about, though, is who might be in line for the L.A. job. I presume now that Drew’s gone to the Hawks, the usual suspects will be linked to the Clippers.

But if I’m an unemployed coach or an assistant looking to improve my lot in life, I’d be getting my agent to make a call, it’s not a bad job that’s open out west.

Better than the one in the East in many regards.

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Doesn’t this pretty much sum up the difference in the two teams who’ll resume NBA Finals hostilities tomorrow night?

Not sure how many of you saw the post-game interviews the other night when Nate Robinson and Glen Davis were doing their Rowan and Martin schtick up there but it ended with a question about Robinson jumping on Davis’s back and Big Baby not even feeling it.

Says Nate:

“We’re like Shrek and Donkey.”

Now the day before, Derek Fisher was sitting at the same podium talking about his relationship with Kobe Bryant.

Says Derek:

“He (Bryant) jokingly refers to it as Malcolm X and Martin Luther King in terms of how we go about balancing it.”

Hmm.

Cartoon characters and social activists.

Interesting.

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Digression time:

Yannick Noah does remain the coolest man on earth but I have to tell you Desmond Tutu is the coolest former Nobel Peace Prize winner of all time.

Did you see him during Bafana, Bafana vs. the Mexicos on Friday morning? The guy was rocking. I love the guy.

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Basketball time:

So a little spy (actually, the legendary Philadelphia Phil) tells me the Sixers staff next year may have a decidedly Raptor look to it.

Doug Collins has yet to formally announce his staff as he takes over as the head coach of the Sixers; the only thing he’s said for sure is that Aaron McKie is going to hang around.

But, as many of you know, Brian James, ex of the Heroes Of The Hardcourt, is going to join him and he’s not the lone guy with Toronto ties.

Phil says Mike Curry should round out the staff, which gives us all kinds of old friends to chew the fat with before Philly-Toronto tilts next season.

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Here’s one from the mail bag that covers some old ground but probably bears repeating. And with a relatively slow day and quiet night, here’s one last shot at getting something in before tomorrow. Just click here.

Q: Hey Doug, at what point do we hold Bryan Colangelo's feet to the fire? When will he be on the proverbial "hot seat"? In his defense (somewhat) he's never tried to do a re-build through the draft, I believe because of his initial success. Long question cut short(ish) if this off-season ends up with the Raptors coming out on the losing end will the big time decision makers allow Bryan Colangelo to try and re-build this team (through the draft or not)?

Bill V, Toronto

A: He’s on the hot-seat now. And it doesn’t matter how close you hold his feet to the fire, he knows what he’s up against and just because fans are clamouring for more success doesn’t mean he’s going to work harder. He’s worked to the best of his abilities since he got the job.

And if the Raptors go down in flames again this season with little appearance of improvement, I would imagine ownership might look long and hard at making a change.

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Digression time:

So they’ve got this somewhat goofy mayor here in Boston, which as you know is one of the great sports cities in North America, right?

This week the guy, Tom Menino, is hosting an event this week as part of the NBA’s community efforts and the final.

Kids, dignitaries, some old players, some current players and various league office poobahs are gathered.

Mr. Mayor is saying his thanks to the NBA and includes Donald Sterns.

Of course, this is the same mayor who once referred to the guy who made the winning field goal in a Super Bowl as Adam Veritek so the locals just kind of rolled their eyes at the Sterns-Stern, Donald-David thing.

Not a particularly funny story but what the heck.

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Comments

[nick]

can you clarify what you mean when you say "up in flames," doug?

Blogger's note: Um, no. Not until we see what goes on

[Rob.V]

You know, as I watch the finals there are some very interesting things one can learn about the team in their city.

1. Persperation. Pick any starter from EITHER team and witness the amount of persperation after merly only plaing a few minutes.

Someone years ago once told me: I don't care what business or field you are in it doesn't matter. Apply this rule and you'll have a shot at success.

The answer: 90% Persperation + 10% Inspiration=Success.

Kinda rings true for our team, no? I mean there are nights some Raptors could get away without having to shower. They simply do not work hard enough some nights... telling!!

2. Pau Gasols (2nd gear). It's obvious that Pau Gasol is light years better than the player we watched in the 2008 final. I wouldn't use the word soft so much as maybe "finesse" back then.

But it's interesting, why?

Because although I believe Bosh may be a max player by NBA standards he's where Pau Gasol was back in 2008. If Bosh wants to win a championship (whether it be with us, the Bulls, or Lakers) he's going to have to "learn" about that 2nd gear.

What I find particularily interesting about that is that I'm starting to believe that someone MUST teach good players this (to elevate them to being GREAT!).

Think about it, the effect Kobe has had on Gasol is astounding. Just about as spectacular as the exact same effect that Kevin Garnett has had on MULTIPLE Celtic players.

Had Garnett not been injured last year there is an argument the C's and the Lakers could have possibly met eachother in the finals for 3 straight years... and all of this can be traced back to either Kobe and KG!

Sure, these teams have talented players but Pau Gasol was a boy in 2008, in 2010... he's a MAN!

My point simply is this: How can Bosh ever become the Pau Gasol of 2010 (rather than the 2008 model if he has no "mentor" teaching him how to become that player?

I think I might be on to something here.

[Joe U]

Hello Doug,
In case you haven't visited truehoop today, there is a short (but nicely erudite) Q&A with Julius Erving where he is asked about momentum. A part of his answer is:

"To me, momentum is not something that carries over from each game of the series, it’s something that shifts within the game."

Not that you need your opinions validated, but it's a interesting insight.

[Striker 77]

Hey Doug,

I agree with you about Desmond Tutu. I am a church musician, and was lucky enough to hear him preach at St James Cathedral in Toronto a few years back... Not only is the guy a good dancer, he's a pretty incredible speaker too...

[mando]

You might be interested in this interview with Father TUTU on a n American late night talk show of all places. A wonderful man.

http://www.filestube.com/c671fdccf0192ce903ea,g/Craig-Ferguson-2009-03-04-Archbishop-Desmond-Tutu-PDTV-XVID-BAJSKORV.html

[LeeZ]

Doug, remember your "fasten your seatbelts" comment that you got from a source to the effect that there was some big-time stuff gonna come down at some point? Just wondering whether you've been back in touch with him/her lately, and whether there's any type of update you can give us on that front, vague though it may be, understandably. Thanks.

Blogger's note: Soon as I get back from Boston, it'll be time to get to work

[TC]

Hey doug, there are reports that the Hornets could give up Darren Collison if they can get rid of either Posey, Peja, or Okafor as well. Don't you think this could work out for both teams very well? collison would be the young rookie pg that we need, and an okafor for defence along with Bargnani or a posey of the bench could really help us?

Blogger's note: I'm sure there are several teams they could help, Toronto one of them