I told you so: LB wants back in!... [UPDATED]

by Andrew Feinstein on Apr 3, 2008 1:46 PM MDT

ESPN.com has just reported that former Cougars / Nuggets / Bruins / Nets / Jayhawks / Spurs / Clippers / Pacers / Sixers / Knicks head coach Larry Brown desperately wants back in as an NBA head coach. A lot of my critics, both here on the blog and especially on sports radio in Denver, have called me crazy for suggesting that Brown is dying to coach again, even though I had confirmed sources telling me the opposite.

I hate going against my own readers and fans who overwhelmingly voted for Rocky over Brown and others as George Karl's best possible replacement in our coaching candidates poll, but I still think Brown is our best option for all the reasons stated in my candidates column.

As I suggested on Mike and Sandy's show earlier this week, I believe the Nuggets are in a Rick Carlisle/Detroit Pistons scenario: we have a talent-laden team with a decent enough coach who consistently gets us into the playoffs, but we need a great coach to get us to the finals and beyond. In Detroit, General Manager Joe Dumars had the courage to fire Carlisle as head coach (after he was named Coach of the Year!) and replace him with Brown, which resulted in back-to-back NBA Finals appearances and one championship victory. Does the Nuggets GM troika of Mark Warkentien, Rex Chapman and Bret Bearup possess the same courage?

I suggest the Nuggets move fast (i.e. a backroom, under-the-table deal that guarantees Brown as Karl's successor, and Karl gets a front office/consulting job with the team) to secure Brown before the Mavericks, Bulls, Knicks and other teams make a run at him at season's end.

[UPDATED] From yesterday's Star-Ledger. Fascinating insight into Larry Brown's last days in New Jersey from the early 80's. This article details the very good and very, very bad side of LB.

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holy smokes, did anyone see Rex Chapman at the game the other night? Dude used to be comsidered as one of the tope leapers int eh NBA, now he looks like the only thing he leaps for are Twinkies.

by Commish CH on Apr 3, 2008 1:57 PM MDT reply actions

But do we have the team to be successful with LB?

Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge LB guy. But he needs to a team committed to playing defense, running the offense, etc.

Personally, I think that's why the NY experiment failed. He took the job but didn't have the right players to make his scheme work.

Do we? I'm not sure. But I'd be willing to give it a try. Love me some LB.

by Chris C. on Apr 3, 2008 2:41 PM MDT reply actions

I think we do have the Team Larry could mold. Only thing that would be difficult is Larry doesn't like the 3 ball all that much.

This team is more than equipt to be successful under LB! Even without a trade.

Most of the time commitment to defense is something a coach instils. Melo played tough D for Team USA! AI played D for the sixers! Larry has 2 Superstars... 3 Solid Rebounding and Defensive Bigs! 2 Solid PG's as well as AI who should be PG. Najera... JR... And klieza and Hunter.

The NY job has been broken for 7 seasons. This team consistantly makes the playoffs and has won 46 games already on route to 51! This isn't the same sitution at all. The Nuggets have Defensive players! Just no great Team D which is taught by the coach.

Do you know under Larry brown Ai used to Pressure the ball handler up from the In-bounds on down to the paint?AI stopped after LB left...

Larry 's Defense with KMart??? Camby??? And Nene???

by chillz on Apr 3, 2008 3:05 PM MDT reply actions

Pipe dream dude... There's no way Larry Brown steps on George Karl's toes considering their connections. I mean, for gods sake, Karl gave Isaiah Thomas the "eff you" of all eff you's in the Brawl in the Garden... don't you recall that?

by eric on Apr 3, 2008 3:52 PM MDT reply actions

one can always dream....

by andrew fisher on Apr 3, 2008 5:40 PM MDT reply actions

If Karl becomes our head operations and Brown our coach, we're done for.

Karl will listen to whatever Brown says regarding tweaking the roster.

As much as I hate Melo's laziness and have been suggesting we trade him for a star with heart and consistent effort, I don't want Melo to be traded for Samuel Dalemberts or Erick Dampiers either.

Brown is that crazy. Remember he almost got AI traded to Detroit for scrubs in 2001?

---

Even if Karl is gone from this organization, I'm not convinced Brown is the answer. We need a disciplinarian not a dictator.

As crazy as it sounds, I'm leaning towards a rookie coach, who can give a fresh air... someone like Bill Laimbeer would be great. He's respected and when he speaks, players listen. I think he can make a great NBA coach... if there's an opportunity for him to make an NBA coaching career, this is it for him.

A college coach? I'd go with Roy Williams.

Forget Lenny Wilkens, Mike Fratello, Doug Collins, Paul Silas, Scott Skiles... because they've proven they can't get teams anywhere.

- Snake -

by Anonymous on Apr 3, 2008 10:42 PM MDT reply actions

Ive the feeling for his comeback and especially after what happened at NY Brown doesn't really plain to coach 3 others big-time prima donnas in the person of A.I, Camby and Anthony (which he already couldn't coach on team USA) who have done whatever they wanted since years in Denver. But who knows, if he wants a real challenge he'll get it, and he'd be welcome.

by Iverson Warrior on Apr 4, 2008 10:22 AM MDT reply actions

I hear he's discussing a deal with the Atlanta Hawks.

by Anonymous on Apr 4, 2008 10:51 AM MDT reply actions

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STIFF LIST (as of 4/26 by Andrew Feinstein)

1. METTA WORLD PEACE

Metta resorted back to Ron Ron last Sunday by clubbing James Hardenwith an "inadvertent celebratory elbow", landing him a 7-game suspension. Apparently, changing his name didn't prevent NBA commissioner David Stern from overlooking Metta's past behavior problems.

2. CHARLOTTE BOBCATS

The 'Cats are on the verge of securing the worst winning percentage in NBA history. Given that the guy who runs the team - Michael Jordan - had previously drafted Kwame Brown and Adam Morrison, should this really be a shock?

3. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
The team that was supposedly built to overcome the lockout-shortened season managed to lose 7 of its last 14 games, ceding the Western Conference's 1-seed to the Spurs in the process. Their reward might be a first round matchup with defending champion Dallas.

4. BILLY HUNTER AND DEREK FISHER

With report after report coming out about NBPA union head Hunter's shady, nepotistic dealings and questions arising about Fisher's own role in dealing with NBA owners behind Hunter's back during the lockout, this off-the-court scandal could prove to be more exciting than the playoffs themselves!

5. STEVE NASH AND THE PHOENIX SUNS
The Suns are on this list for squandering the last few great seasons from Nash. Nash is on this list for his stupidly stubborn loyalty to a franchise as awful as the Suns.