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What coach benefits younger teams?


AboveLegit
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Would you prefer a young team to hire an experienced coach over a young coach that the team could grow with? I think the rewards of having one over the other are fairly obvious, the experienced coach knows the game inside and out, understands what it takes to win, and is able to get the most out of the players. However, players can relate more to a younger coach, they can grow together, and ultimately learn from each other.

 

The best examples of this are the Minnesota Timberwolves with Rick Adelman. He has managed to make this team look competitive most nights, and has already improved their defense. And then there's Scott Brooks in Oklahoma City, who succeeded P.J. Carlesimo after a 1-12 start to the 2008-09 season. He's one of the brightest young coach's in the league currently, all of the players listen to him, and are always speaking highly of him.

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I think the rewards of having one over the other are fairly obvious, the experienced coach knows the game inside and out, understands what it takes to win, and is able to get the most out of the players.

 

That's all that matters. Not every experienced coach knows the game better than a newer coach, and not ever newer coach has the ability to relate to his players better than an experienced coach. Therefor, there really isn't no true, defined answer.

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It also depends on the players too. If you have a calm, mature guy like Kevin Durant to build around, it will be just as easy to hire a young coach to coach the team compared to an experienced one. For teams where you have a guy like DeMarcus Cousins as your centerpiece, then you can't hire a young coach because he won't have the control factor an older coach would have.

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That's all that matters. Not every experienced coach knows the game better than a newer coach, and not ever newer coach has the ability to relate to his players better than an experienced coach. Therefor, there really isn't no true, defined answer.

But in pure hindsight, a younger coach is more prone to relating to his players while experienced coaches have certain theories and methods that don't always fit with young players. Perfect example of this is Flip Saunders in Washington, his motion offense is perfect for a contender (have always said he would be perfect in Atlanta), but doesn't bode well for young players still learning the game. Same could be said for Jim O'Brien last year in Indiana, and even Vinny Del Negro in Chicago (although Vinny isn't a good coach in general). Now both of those teams are flourishing under young coaches (Vogel, Thibodeau), and the players have responded well to them.

 

I agree the answer for this thread will never be correct 100% of the time, but if I were to start fresh with a young team, I think I'd look to hire a young coach.

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Young assistant is usually the best route. Coaches who have had success in the league aren't used to developing young talent and the losing that comes at first with younger teams whereas a younger coach is willing to go through the bumps in the road at first more often.

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But in pure hindsight, a younger coach is more prone to relating to his players while experienced coaches have certain theories and methods that don't always fit with young players. Perfect example of this is Flip Saunders in Washington, his motion offense is perfect for a contender (have always said he would be perfect in Atlanta), but doesn't bode well for young players still learning the game. Same could be said for Jim O'Brien last year in Indiana, and even Vinny Del Negro in Chicago (although Vinny isn't a good coach in general). Now both of those teams are flourishing under young coaches (Vogel, Thibodeau), and the players have responded well to them.

 

I agree the answer for this thread will never be correct 100% of the time, but if I were to start fresh with a young team, I think I'd look to hire a young coach.

 

Flip failed with the Pistons and Wolves...he was carried by talent.

 

I think Washington (and Sacramento) is a good example where a good veteran coach would be extremely beneficial. A coach that could provide structure and discipline, which is necessary when you got headcases on the team that often completely ditch the offense to get their own. Players that need to be held accountable.

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That's a harsh assessment of Flip, if anything he overachieved in Minnesota. 8 straight playoff appearances speak for itself, and the fact that most years they were entering the playoffs as a lower seed. It's safe to say that he got the absolute most of those Wolves teams in the regular seasons and fell to superior teams in the playoffs. I guess you can put the blame on his inability to coach defense, but he simply didn't have enough talent other than 2004, and that's the year Sam Cassell got hurt.

 

Let's also remember Flip had to coach through the Joe Smith debacle, which resulted in the loss of 5 straight years worth of first round picks. They were never able to bring in a star next to Garnett, and it crippled their chances of winning.

 

As for Washington, I would love to bring in a disciple of Greg Popovich's coaching tree, every single one has impressed me to this point. Mike Buldenholtzer, the Spurs lead assistant coach would be perfect.

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^^Mike Brown has impressed you? Washington needs to install an uptempo offense similar to Phoenix.

His defensive schemes have, and that's the type of coach I want in Washington. Uptempo offenses are great to see, but I've seen it all in Washington, from the Princeton offense to a broken down, simplified motion offense, nothing has worked consistently. Time to focus on defense, and let the offense come in naturally.

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It also depends on the players too. If you have a calm, mature guy like Kevin Durant to build around, it will be just as easy to hire a young coach to coach the team compared to an experienced one. For teams where you have a guy like DeMarcus Cousins as your centerpiece, then you can't hire a young coach because he won't have the control factor an older coach would have.

This.

 

It's always going to depend on the young players. Even the most successful coaches have trouble reaching them. Take a look at LeBron, Wade, and Melo during the Olympic games, when Larry Brown couldn't get them on the same page. Flip it around and see what Brown did for Iverson in Philly.

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This.

 

It's always going to depend on the young players. Even the most successful coaches have trouble reaching them. Take a look at LeBron, Wade, and Melo during the Olympic games, when Larry Brown couldn't get them on the same page. Flip it around and see what Brown did for Iverson in Philly.

 

Speaking of Flipping it around

 

It should be noted Flip Saunders is one of the worst coaches for a young team

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