Carlesimo to join Triano's staff

[Doc]

P.J. Carlesimo has an agreement in principle to join the Toronto Raptors as an assistant coach under Jay Triano, according to league sources.

 

Carlesimo last served as a head coach with the Oklahoma City Thunder but was replaced by Scott Brooks midway through the 2008-09 season.

 

Prior to that, Carlesimo served as an assistant coach with the San Antonio Spurs under Gregg Poppovich.

 

Carlesimo spent this season working for the Spurs as a color commentator on their radio broadcasts.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5236564

[BasX]

I guess it can't hurt

[Built Ford Tough]

I remember reading something about the Raptors being interested in Carlesimo while he was an assistaint under Poppovich in San Antonio. I also think I recall reading something about them having interest him after he was fired from Oklahoma City, but I don't remember for sure about that one.

 

I actually don't mind this move. The Raptors have a fairly inexperienced coaching staff with Triano coming off of his first full season as a head coach. The Raptors assistaints don't have too much NBA coaching experience either. Iavaroni isn't exactly a grizzly veteran coach himself (around 7 years of NBA coaching I think, 5 of which were as an assistaint), Alvin Williams and Eric Hughes were both rookie coaches, Alex English is a good guy to have around and Micah Nori was a rookie as well (was a scout for them prior I think).

 

Adding Carlesimo gives them a guy with 500 games of experience as a Head Coach. Sure, he didn't exactly do a great job as a head coach with a 204-296 career record, but at least he has the experience that the other Raptor assistaints don't have and can help out Triano in some situations.

 

What I like the most about this move is that Carlesimo is a great assitaint coach. His experience working under Pop for 5 years in a great organization like San Antonio will hopefully prove to be invaluable for this relatively young staff.

 

This also gives the Raptors some insurance in the event that Triano doesn't take the next step as an NBA head coach. He is a great assitaint coach, but the jury is still out on whether or not he has what it takes to be a head coach for the long term in the NBA.

 

All in all, I like this move. It isn't a huge move by any means and won't knock your socks off, but I like the decision to bring in Carlesimo.

[Check my Stats]

Will he make our players play defense?

[Built Ford Tough]

Will he make our players play defense?

 

Carlesimo is a pretty solid defensive coach.

 

During his three years in Portland they had the 7th, 5th and 7th best defensive ratings respectively and they ranked 9th, 9th and 11th in opponents points per game.

 

In Golden State the first year he took over the team (97-98) they had a defensive rating and oppg of 18th and 20th respectively, but the next season they were 10th and 12th respectively, which is pretty impressive considering the roster he had.

 

His time in Seattle/OKC was a disaster though. I think that reflects as much on the roster as it does him though.

 

Like I said above, he was also the Spurs lead assitaint from 02-07 and won three NBA Championships during that span.

 

He has always had a reputation as a firery, defensive minded coach (save for his disaster in Seattle).

 

Will he be able to get the Raptors to play defense though? Who knows, how many coaches out there are capable of not having Jose Calderon, Andrea Bargnani and Hedo Turkoglu suck on defense?

 

Personally, I think it is a step in the right direction, but its not like bringing him in is going to all of a sudden make the Raptors a good defensive team. Some of his defensive principles and philosophies may help, but ultimately, the Raptors roster as it is will never be a good defensive team.

[xx.]

This could only mean positive things, good pick up. The guy is a great coach and definitely has the experience.