clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Lester Conner Seizes The Day As Substitute Head Coach For Pacers

By Tom Lewis

If you buy something from an SB Nation link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

Lester Conner appeared intent on making the most of his head coaching opportunity with the Pacers, even if it was just for one night while Jim O'Brien attended a funeral for his mother-in-law.

Conner oozes personality and a positive vibe and the coach had plenty to say before and after the game, in fact he may still be talking (I had to go home at some point). Of course, winning brings out the best in all of us, but no matter how much he tried to pawn it off as a substitute teaching gig, Conner made his point that he was in charge for the night and put his imprint on the game.

For one night anyway, everything Conner did worked. In fact, Pacers Sports and Entertainment President, Jim Morris made an appearance at Conner's post-game press conference, briefly interrupting near the end to offer his congratulations and a handshake to Conner. Funny, I don't go to every game, but I've never seen Morris fist-bump JOB after a W.

Prior to the game, Conner was surprisingly candid when discussing his coaching style and the one-night opportunity to be the head man.

"Anytime you can get experience being the head guy, it's always good for you," Conner explained an hour before the game. "One thing about coaching under Coach O'Brien is that he's always told me to prepare as if I was the head coach even though I was the assistant coach for him so when things like this come up it will all come natural so I'm pretty prepared for this so nothing that will happen will catch me off guard."

Conner has been a faithful assistant, coaching with JOB for about eight of the ten years that he's been an assistant coach in the NBA. He's always comported himself well on the sidelines and nothing in his attitude or effort would suggest otherwise. But when given the opportunity, Conner jumped at the chance to emphasize that he is not a JOB clone.

With an eye toward a head coaching job at some point in his career, Conner was asked how much Jim O'Brien would be in his coaching style when that day arrives.

"Umm, not a whole lot," Conner said to the surprise of everyone listening. But he was just getting started.

More from coach Conner along with the links after the jump.

"There will be a little bit." Conner continued. "I think we're different in a bunch of different ways so I take things that I like and the things that I don't, I may keep on the side and use them if need be. But I'm a little different, you know, being a player in this league you have an advantage on playing the game and knowing the game. Just a different approach, you know, like tonight, if something works I'll probably stay with it until they defend it. That's something that he likes to come back to it a little bit and that's his choice. I think tonight if something works I'm going to say, run it again just to make them stop it."

Conner backed up his words, starting Hibbert at center and imploring his team to attack the paint. After the game Conner admitted changing things offensively by dusting off some plays the team hadn't used in a while and also altering the pick and roll approach based on something the coaches saw in Sunday's game against Toronto. Also, successful playing rotations did stay on the court longer than usual, though, but nothing changed in the defensive approach which was evident by the 115 points Toronto scored.

But in reality, nothing was that drastically different and this was one game. Today Conner returns to trusted assistant and in finishing up his pre-game comments on his coaching style, he made sure to re-iterate why he's coached with JOB for so long despite some personal differences in philosophy.

"But you know, we're totally different guys, I'm 6'4" and he's 5'4" or something (laughs)," Conner joked as he came back around to prop up his boss. "But I've learned everything from him and he's one of the best. It may not have showed over the years here, but he's one of the best coaches that I've been around and I've been around a long time as far as playing and coaching. If you add those together it's almost 25 years, so he's a pretty good coach."

So now Lester Conner moves back down a seat, but for a two-day coaching gig, Conner deserves credit for seizing the opportunity and leading the Pacers to a win.

Here are a few links of interest:

Next Up In Latest News