More Pacers Assistant Coaching News: Lester Conner Leaving, Walter McCarty Interviewing
by Tom Lewis on Jun 9, 2010 2:41 PM EDT
in Indiana Pacers News
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PrintI mentioned earlier that the rumored addition of Walter McCarty wasn't an indication of a coaching staff shake up since there was an opening to replace Dick Harter.
Well, this is.
Mike Wells tweets that lead assistant, Lester Conner will not be back with the Pacers next season. In the midst of a horrible stretch of the season in early February, the Pacers played one of their better games of the year when Conner filled in as head coach while Jim O'Brien attended a family funeral. He made it known at the time that he's his own man with his own coaching style and philosophies despite his many years on the bench with JOB.
Maybe Conner has a chance to spread those coaching wings and put his philosophies to the test. Or maybe he feels he's spent enough time in the assistant's chair next to JOB. Since JOB prefers to be the dominant voice in practice, Conner may be looking for a more influential role.
Or maybe Conner is just getting out while he can assuming JOB is indeed in his final year with the Pacers. Although, I always figured if things went south again and JOB was let go during the season, Conner would be the first choice as an interim coach which wouldn't be an ideal situation but still would count as an oppotunity to coach in the NBA.
Whatever the reason, Conner's strong and energetic personality will need to be replaced.
Also, Rick Pitino released a statement on the status of his still-assistant coach Walter McCarty saying McCarty is interviewing with the Pacers but no decisions have been made by either party involved.
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Dick Harter
He should be kept on staff based on name alone.
I mean, seriously?!?
While he was pegged as a “defensive guru” chosen to help correct our lapses on the other end of the court, the fact that our Defense annually chugged for the past 3-4 years couldn’t have helped his cause moving forward. With O’ Brien on the hot seat, some heads needed to roll and there should be no surprise it started defensively.
But then again, the man’s name is Dick Harter so, ummm, yeah about that…
Bird Blows It Again
I’m sure Lester Conner could have been had on the cheap, but Bird blew it again, by keeping fellow idiot O’Brien. The only bright side to this is that hopefully they’ll both be gone in less than a year.
Silver lining?
We’ve all assumed this is JOB’s last year, but maybe Conner knows it to be fact so he’s getting a jump on a new gig. And McCarty’s gotta be insanely cheap and OK with working under a coach that loved him to get a year of experience.
I think they’re trying to white out the organization. First Mel Daniels, then Big Smooth, now Conner “resigns”. With all of the white players already on our team….. yikes. (I’m white by the way)
Jesus
Walter McCarty’s white now? Conner’s gone because he’d rather not stick around for a year to be stuck looking for a job next summer and just do it now.
JOB is terrible. he wants a PG who can shoot the three but then he says he wants a PG who is a pass first PG who will fit the passing offense??I dont get it? does he want a shooting PG or a passing PG? he cant have both. his rotations are ridic. his rotations is one of the main reasons the Pacers couldnt get any chemistry. No one knew who would start and who wouldnt. i couldnt stand when he would sit Hibbert based on matchups??Why would he switch his lineup..make the other team change theirs. If there is a mismatch then the Pacers should exploit it…i have an idea go with an uptempo offense and draft a bit 7 ft 2 guy not known for his athleticness. I am so frustrated with JOB and the way he coaches the young guys. he is terrible with bringing along young talent. he has single handedly ruined RUsh so far and Mcroberts needs more playing time. JOB would only be a decent coach on a team full of vets who already know how to play. JOB doesnt coach..his offense is like an organized playground ball. He needs to go!! I jsut saw that avery johnson is now the nets head coach..so much for the pacers gettin him..The pacers need a coach like mark jackson or byron scott. Both previous pacers who know what the pacers are all about. Please Bird get a good coach in here and get some good trades or draft bradley and if no good trades come up then pick up some great talent with all that money that gets freed up next season adn keep that team together for some chemistry but it all starts with a caoch who knows what he is doing and knows how to coach young talent and savy vets
Hate to see Conner go
But I doubt we ever see what he can do as a head coach for an extended time. I’m not sure what it would take to give Obie an early trip home, but I don’t think the Pacers can be bad enough if the team’s record the last two February’s are any indication.
However, on a positive note, Walter McCarty would join in a long standing tradition of people within the organization with a history in the music industry. If only for this. Just need to get McCarty to sing some of Mel Daniels’s poetry with Wayman Tisdale’s music, and we’d be set. Maybe Kareem Rush can make a guest appearance. We’ll forget to RSVP Ron Ron.
Wasn't Mike Brown a Pacers assistant?
He’s available. Why is JOB still our coach? I’d much rather let him go and go for Mike Brown and let him pick his assistants.
I’d rather have Conan O’Brien coach than Jim O’Brien. At least we’d be talked about again.
by rucksgotgame on Jun 9, 2010 8:29 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Ugh
You guys read the Star today? Sounds like part of the reason Conner is gone is from when he took over against Toronto, went against JOB’s coaching style by using Hibbert, and we won by 15 (after losing by 15 a couple nights earlier). And when asked how much he shares coaching philosophy with JOB, he said “not much”.
Although it was just one game, we’re getting rid of a guy who was way more effective than our coach by doing normal things like feeding out talented young big? Ugh
"If you don't [draft me], I promise you I'll come back and kick your ass for the next 15 years."
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