Which New Coach Will Have the Biggest Impact?
Yesterday, we looked at the biggest names who swapped uniforms either through free agency or trade – and general consensus seems to be that Elton Brand‘s going to make the biggest splash in Philly, giving them a legit low-post threat for the first time since Charles Barkley.
But even if your team didn’t snag a big name in the off-season, there’s still reason to believe that they’ve improved – at least that’s what Knicks fans are hoping. In New York, the Knicks are running some commercial with footage from Mike D’Antoni‘s press conference that ends with D’Antoni saying something like, “Hold onto your seats,” because this new season of New York basketball is going to be sooo exciting – especially with Eddy Curry running the floor.
In all seriousness, I would pour exorbitant amounts of money directly into James Dolan’s pocket to sit and watch hours of D’Antoni’s mustache if the alternative was watching Isiah call timeouts and huddle his coaches up while the team tried to figure out how to keep their dignity on their own. Thus, D’Antoni’s already making a huge difference.
I’m sure that I’m not alone in feeling relieved and excited about my team’s new head coach. Unless you’re from Charlotte, you probably feel the same way too.
Of the eight new head coaches in the League, which one will make the biggest impact?
Mike D’Antoni
Larry Brown
Scott Skiles
Vinny Del Negro
Michael Curry
Rick Carlisle
Terry Porter
Erik Spoelstra
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September 11th, 2008 at 8:56 am
gamebl0uses says:
michael curry. first.
September 11th, 2008 at 8:56 am
Shawn Bradley says:
Credit where credit is due. LB will make the biggest impact on his team. He insists it. No, he demands it. He expects it…cause he’s a hall of fame coach. And hall of famers know how to play the game the right way…
Does it matter if that impact is bad or just good????
September 11th, 2008 at 8:58 am
fallinup says:
Avery Johnson!!!!
wait….er….
oh.
September 11th, 2008 at 9:04 am
RENO says:
IMO it’s gotta be D’antoni…. With the circus that was the Knicks last year, on and off the court, things can only get better right???
September 11th, 2008 at 9:22 am
Dave says:
Rick Carlisle …. he does great things with poor supporting casts. He’ll get the most out of that horrific cast of failing role players in Dallas. Dallas will punch above their weight with Carlisle in charge.
D’Antoni and Spoelstra will do good things also.
September 11th, 2008 at 9:25 am
Markail says:
Michael Curry.
Flip Saunders was a pushover and very soft. No grown man respects that.
September 11th, 2008 at 9:26 am
some one says:
rick carlisle… has already proven himself, and is a phenomenal motivator and leader… He’ll get the players on his side and build a TEAM…
September 11th, 2008 at 9:28 am
loc says:
Erik Spoelstra – Dudes in the right place, at the right time. A whole new team basically, D Wades playing like abeast, they got a ROY candidate, Shawn marion and lots of other new dudes. Solid squad, even if they make the playoffs he looks like a genius.
September 11th, 2008 at 9:37 am
dc says:
D’Antoni’s gonna make the biggest impact only because there’s no way the Knicks can lose as badly with as little dignity as they did last year. The whole “addition by subtraction” of Isaiah with the addition of D’Antoni should go a long way. I’m not saying playoffs, just significantly better than last year.
September 11th, 2008 at 9:38 am
Zach says:
Michael Curry- The Pistons will actually start playing defense again.
@loc
Spoelstra is Riley’s puppet, if they start out hot he wont even be the coach at the end of the season. He is Riley’s way of not havin to coach until the all star break. Does anyone really believe that Riley wont yank the reigns is there in the top three in the East?
September 11th, 2008 at 9:52 am
Hazel says:
D’Antoni.Run n gun offense will work out for the knicks.
September 11th, 2008 at 10:04 am
Arrogant says:
Larry Brown is gonna do big things with a healthy Bobcats team. they have great offense and he will put his stamp on defense….
September 11th, 2008 at 10:28 am
Ansonious says:
If Terry Porter pounds defense into the suns high powered offense your looking at a championship. But you know what they say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. I’m voting for Skiles to be my sleeper pick i’m out like Deshawn’s beard peace!
September 11th, 2008 at 11:52 am
jace says:
d’antoni. all the other coaches seems like theyre just gon replace the other coach and have the same record. the moment d’antoni gets a win above their record last year, id call it a success.
coach currys gonna be fine. hes gonna continue their winning ways. but how much of an impact can u make when theyre already in the upper echelon of the league? scott skiles still sucks. larry brown might be able to get it done. some of their best players are defensive minded. and theyre pretty much on the bottom. if they make ANY sort of noise than id say good job. terry porter is a good coach.. he got the shaft from milwaukee at an unlucky time. his first season they were great.. his next season.. redds injured for most of it.. wut u expect? to stay the same?
September 11th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
Quest??? says:
GEORGEE KARLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! fuck no oh and fuck jameer nelson
September 11th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Meica says:
Seriously, why didn’t anyone sign Avery Johnson? Am I the only one who thinks he would make a better coach than basically everyone else who was out there (I’m still not sold on D’Antoni)? I mean WTF?!
September 11th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
Diego says:
Carlisle–best coach of the bunch. He will maximize what the Mavs have got.
September 11th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
Dutch says:
Skiles will motivate in yrs. 1-2 and piss everybody off by yr. 3. That is his formula.
Carlisle may finally put a heart in the tin man (Dirk).
Vinny The Black will have a hard time because mgmt. hasn’t made the right moves (D. Rose over Beasley, dragging out the Gordon contract instead of trading him quickly, etc.)
September 11th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
George W Kush Sr says:
Are you guys crazy? Skiles is gonna be the biggest difference maker. I would love to see who can argue what about this.
Bucks never played defense, but their offense is just as good, Skiles is gonna drill them to play D. Instant impact.
September 11th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
YGB (Obama 08) says:
Terry Porter
September 11th, 2008 at 11:28 pm
funkymonkey says:
Carlisle – the dude used to coach good for the Pistons before Brown and Sheed took ‘em to the 04 crown. He could’ve took Indy to the Finals though but all hell broke loose at the Palace.
Skiles – made the young Bulls play into a system and got them into playoffs level.
D’Antoni – the guy proved himself back in Phoenix (turning ‘em into perennial championship contenders)