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Byron Scott - the next head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers?
Posted by: JamFan on Nov 27, 2009 - 05:14 PM
Clipper_Blog
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 In the world of available coaches who would make an excellent coach for the Clippers, the landscape has recently changed. We have spoken before about Mark Jackson, Avery Johnson, Brian Shaw, and current Clipper coaches, Kim Hughes and John Lucas. All of these men would be great choices and certainly and upgrade over Mike Dunleavy.
Then you add the whimsical choice of Bill Walton, a former Clipper hero, who has left broadcasting and hanging out in San Diego. Problem is, even though he was trained by the most successful college coach ever, nobody knows if he can coach.
Reggie Theus has been named as an interesting prospect. After a stint as the coach of the Sacramento Kings where he had limited success, he has gone on to be an assistant under Kirk Rambus in Minnesota where the team is off to a horrible start. So much for trying to use the triangle offense when you don't really have the roster to run it. Kirk is really screwing up there.
And then there is Byron Scott. He was drafted as a Clipper but quickly traded for Norm Nixon. He went on to win 3 NBA Chanionship Rings with the Showtime Lakers. At the end of his career, he even led a Greek team to a Championship over in Europe. After his playing days he became an assistant coach, but within a couple of years he took the head coaching job for the hapless New Jersey Nets. After an initial rebuilding year, he took them to the NBA finals two years in a row. Then, the following season, after a slow start, they fired him. What a mistake. The Nets have never been the same since.
He was then offered the head job in New Orleans. His first two seasons were rebuilding years while the city itself was rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina and playing most of their home games in Oklahoma. In his 3rd season, he led the Hornets to a 56 - 26 record and they became Southwest Division champions and finished 2nd overall in the Western Conference. The Hornets clinched the Southwest Division title in their win over the Los Angeles Clippers but lost in the semi-finals during the playoffs to the defending champion San Antonio Spurs. In his 4th season the Hornets accumulated a record of 49 - 33 but lost in the first round of the Western Confernce playoffs.
Bryon Scott was named to coach the 2008 Western Conference All Stars and was named NBA Coach of the Year.
Just 9 games into the current season, the Hornets started off by winning only 3 of their first 9 games. Omeka Okafor was injured to start the season, but that didn't stop management from pulling the trigger very early. Clipper fans should be so lucky to have an owner who would do that in LA, with or without injuries. But Chris Paul had become slightly disgruntled. Rumors were spreading of his discontent, not with Byron Scott, but rather at management who made trades not to make a playoff team better and to reach the next level, but seemingly more to save salary. After the "bad " trades and the slow start, management always needs a fall guy and Byron was axed even though his team was shorthanded and had to play 7 of the 9 opening games on the road. The team has been only 4 - 3 since Scott was fired, even though Okafor is back and they have played 5 of the last 7 games at home. Chris Paul has been out recently wih a bad ankle and is still another week away from being back.
Reportedly, the Hornets made the mistake of firing Scott without consulting Chris Paul, who was also reportedly upset at the move. He apparently told some friends he'll be leaving when his contract runs out. Some have speculated that is Phil Jackson retires then Byron Scott and Chris Paul would reunite with the Lakers. However, the Lakers are already burdoned with the largest payroll in the NBA and Paul could take them over 100 Million. So this could be a pipe dream.
If Paul wants out, the Hornets may be forced to trade him before the contract runs out, so as to receive something in return. If the Clippers bring in Byron Scott, they have the expiring contracts, extra draft picks, and young players to make an attractive offer to also bring in Chris Paul. So imagine a Clipper lineup with Chris Paul leading the way and his buddy Byron Scott doing the coaching duties. Throw in Eric Gordon, Al Thornton, Blake Griffin, Sebastian Telfair, DeAndre Jordan, Rasual Burler, and Chris Kaman, and you certianly has a roster that can take you places.
Byron Scott has been a winner all his life. His resume speaks for itself. He is not the best coach the NBA has ever seen, but certainly a guy who would bring instant credibility to the Clippers organization. He is a legend in this town and would have the respect of the fans and our players.
Would Byron take the job if offered? Does Sterling have the vision to see this is an opportunity he shouldn't miss? Can Scott turn around the Clippers the way he did the Nets and Hornets? Will Byron Scott be the next coach of the LA Clippers?
JamFan
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| Byron Scott - the next head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers? | Log-in or register a new user account | 4 Reviews/Comments |
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Re: Byron Scott - the next head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers?
by david on Nov 27, 2009 - 10:45 PM
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Nice blog entry Jam. *IF* we get a new coach Byron Scott sounds like a good choice, but for now and probably at least until Dunleavy's contract runs out, Dunleavy is our guy.
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Re: Byron Scott - the next head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers?
by JamFan on Nov 28, 2009 - 10:48 AM
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Maybe it is just me, but in Sterlings last interview on the subject just a week or so ago, I got the impression he is only going to wait and see how the team is doing after Eric Gordon comes back healthy. If things don't improve after that......................
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Re: Byron Scott - the next head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers?
by journeyman on Nov 29, 2009 - 07:26 PM
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I suspect David is right.
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Re: Byron Scott - the next head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers?
by LAC_12 on Jan 13, 2010 - 02:31 AM
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I can only wish. If we dont grab him Lakers will... thus continuing their active roles as a successful team in the NBA.
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