Posted: Thursday, May 21, 2009, 5:22 PM | 20 comments |
 

Hello, Tom Thibodeau
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Now we can officially add Boston Celtics assistant coach to the list of coaching candidates who have gone through the interview process.

The Sixers confirmed that they met today with Thibodeau, who has been with the Celtics for two seasons, directly in charge of their defense. He has spent the bulk of his caeer on the staffs of the New York Knicks and the Houston Rockets, and spent two seasons with the Sixers during the John Lucas era. He is also expected to interview with the Sacramento Kings.

It's hard to know a lot about his personality because, as a Celtics assistant, he was not permitted to speak with the media.

Thibodeau becomes the fourth candidate to be interviewed, following eddie Jordan, Dwane Casey and Kurt Rambis. Jordan, the former Washington Wizards and Kings coach; was first line. Casey, a Dallas Mavericks assistant and former coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Rambis, a longtime assistant with the Los Angeles Lakers, met earlier this week with Sixers president/general manager Ed Stefanski in Santa Monica, Ca.

Of Thibodeau, Celtics coach Doc R ivers said ''He's terrific, has unbelievable knowledge and has been so good for me and my staff. He knows the game, is a great teacher. In some ways, he's so good defensively, people overlook his overall knowledge.''

Thibodeau has been an NBA assistant for 19 years, but has never been a head coach.. He interviewed with the Kings after the 2007-08 season, but had no interviews after the Celtics won the championship in 2008-09.

 
Posted by Phil Jasner @ 5:22 PM  Permalink | 20 comments
20
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:01 PM, 05/21/2009
    When are people going to realize, it doesn't matter who the coach will be. 76er's have no hope to be a serious contender for many years. They will lose Miller to FA, they can't unload Dalembert and Green because of ridilious contracts thanks to King, they pick 17th in the draft with no 2nd rounder, who wants to sign here as a FA with Miller gone. They have no perimeter shooters with Korver gone thanks to King. How do they expect to improve over last year? A coach is only as good as the talent he has to coach and they have no real talent. They will regress the next 2 or 3 years. Mark it down now.
    — The Marco Islander
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:22 PM, 05/21/2009
    yo phil, the celtics won in 07 08, not 08 09, its actually impossible for them to win in 08 09 cause they just got eliminated
    — skit1349
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:58 PM, 05/21/2009
    This is the guy that I've wanted from day one. I think he'll be able to significantly help us. I just hope Ed Stefanski sees it that way too. I believe that coaching has been our most significant problem since Larry left.
    — L.A. Steve
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:51 PM, 05/21/2009
    skit1349, you seem to be forgetting someone who wore the number five for the Celtics who didn't play for the last few months of the season...yet they were one game away from the conference finals. silence your mouth please.
    — fatdarren
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  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:53 PM, 05/21/2009
    I don't know if this guy can help us not, but what I do know is that he's been an assistant for 19 years and has never gotten a head coaching. That tells me all I need to know.
    — derrickwh
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:29 PM, 05/21/2009
    Why all the secrecy? Is Eddie afraid another team will come in and swoop his highly qualified coaching candidates away from him if he announces who is getting interviewed? The CIA has been releasing more information than the Sixers lately.
    — Pat c
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:38 PM, 05/21/2009
    i'd really like to see something different for us. Thib.. is a no-brainer. Courage would be to get Rambiss. I'd like to see his version of the triangle offense. i dont know how it would affect us defensively though since we are already weak there. Sometimes a good defense is a beter offense, which we have the makings of. Maybe Defense is the next level for us instead. By Rambiss is stil intriguing.
    — ForrestAveDave
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:43 PM, 05/21/2009
    Marco Islander - I was never a real fan of the free agent signings of Billy King but Korver was traded by Ed Stefanski, not Billy KIng.
    — vision370
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  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:43 AM, 05/22/2009
    Mikemike I liked your comments. I think there needs to be lots more focus on trades. I was thinking if theres a way to trade EB & others to Suns 4 Stoudemire b4 he has a great yr leaves the Suns with nothing in return @ goes to NY, since LJ staying in Cleveland. EB is a great fit 4 suns & has 4 yr contract left Amare the most athletic big man would fit perfectly in Philly & could build team around him @ Thad. We have other players of value too sporting news ranks AI as third best SF.
    — Phillyfan10
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:48 AM, 05/22/2009
    Mikemike I liked your comments. I think there needs to be lots more focus on trades. I was thinking if theres a way to trade EB & others to Suns 4 Stoudemire b4 he has a great yr leaves the Suns with nothing in return @ goes to NY, since LJ staying in Cleveland. EB is a great fit 4 suns & has 4 yr contract left Amare the most athletic big man would fit perfectly in Philly & could build team around him @ Thad. We have other players of value too sporting news ranks AI as third best SF.
    — Phillyfan10
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:13 AM, 05/22/2009
    My bad it's cbssports.com/nba/playerrankings that ranks AI as the 3rd best SF not sporting news: as far as I know. If we could get a decent starting center & another 1st round pick for him that would be good; so many Guards in draft ex from Miami, I think it's McCants. Sammy would be willing to renogiate his contract so he's tradable if Iggy were gone to.
    — Phillyfan10


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About Bob Cooney
Bob Cooney has been at the Daily News for more than 20 years, working in the sports department for the past 15. This is his third season on the Sixers beat. He has covered just about everything, but mostly college basketball, where he was the La Salle beat writer for six seasons. E-mail Bob at cooneyb@phillynews.com and follow him on Twitter.

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