Tom Izzo to coach the Cavaliers?

• hoops23

  

  My thoughts:
  
  1) Izzo and Chicago had "discussions" but no contract was offered. It is believed Izzo pretty much gave them a no before anything serious came into fruition.
  
  2) Izzo is absolutely a fan of Dan Gilbert. The fact that he's seriously considering this job tells me everything I need to know. According to several league executives, whether or not LeBron stays, the Cavs have a very attractive job because of the commitment by Dan Gilbert to bring a title to Cleveland (which he re-stated for everybody a couple days ago when he said LeBron isn't and won't be consulted for a new coach)
  
  3) From the sounds of the players, they all seem to think Izzo is leaving. This is according to Brian Windhorst.
  
  4) IMO, I think Izzo and Coach K can be successful coaches in the NBA. Obviously Izzo is the topic at hand, but like I mentioned earlier, Izzo knows how to get the most out of his teams when it matters the most. He's a defensive minded coach who also has a great understanding of x's and o's offensively because he actually runs an offense.
  
  5) People seem to think that Izzo's fiery side is a negative. I think it's the opposite. Guys like Avery Johnson, Byron Scott, Larry Brown, and Stan Van Gundy all have fiery sides. Stan Van Gundy isn't as good as those others, but he's still a decent NBA coach. I think Izzo is smart enough to know what buttons to push and when.
  
  6) It was said by BW that if Izzo takes the job, he wants a TOP NBA assistant coach on his staff. Very smart move, imo.
  
  
  Personally, I'd be happy with either Izzo or Scott.
• BR1986FB

  Don't know whether it's fact or not but WKNR said that Izzo would be in Cleveland today for a meeting.
• KR1245

  

  BR1986FB;385233 wrote:Don't know whether it's fact or not but WKNR said that Izzo would be in Cleveland today for a meeting.

  
  Heard this as well. You would think that if he wasnt interested he would issue a statement much like Calipari and coach K did.
• enigmaax

  Haven't read the entire thread, so sorry if someone already speculated on this. Chicago hired a coach, New Jersey hired a coach, Cleveland is pursuing a coach, etc. What does this mean for LeBron's "team" and their "plan". There was a lot of talk about how he was going to pull strings, handpick his coach, etc. Does all this mean he's working through the backdoor or that he doesn't have as much power as he'd like to think?
• thedynasty1998

  

  hoops23;385177 wrote:My thoughts:
  
  
  2) commitment by Dan Gilbert to bring a title to Cleveland (which he re-stated for everybody a couple days ago when he said LeBron isn't and won't be consulted for a new coach)
  
  
  4) IMO, I think Izzo and Coach K can be successful coaches in the NBA. Obviously Izzo is the topic at hand, but like I mentioned earlier, Izzo knows how to get the most out of his teams when it matters the most. He's a defensive minded coach who also has a great understanding of x's and o's offensively because he actually runs an offense.
  
  5) People seem to think that Izzo's fiery side is a negative. I think it's the opposite. Guys like Avery Johnson, Byron Scott, Larry Brown, and Stan Van Gundy all have fiery sides. Stan Van Gundy isn't as good as those others, but he's still a decent NBA coach. I think Izzo is smart enough to know what buttons to push and when.
  
  6) It was said by BW that if Izzo takes the job, he wants a TOP NBA assistant coach on his staff. Very smart move, imo.
  
  
  Personally, I'd be happy with either Izzo or Scott.

  
  2. Let's be serious here, the only reason that Gilbert was able to talk championship is because of Lebron. Without him, you hope to be a playoff team. The Lakers are so far ahead of the Cavs currently, and then you are going to have a couple teams get really good this offseason with free agency that a championship isn't realistic without Lebron. And of course he's going to say that. What else is he going to say?
  
  4. I don't want to say they won't succeed, but I just don't really have any reason to think he will. The NBA is more than just X's and O's.
  
  5. Look at the list of guys you just gave; Van Gundy - without a job, Avery Johnson and Russell were both fired from their last jobs, and Larry Brown jumps around every 2-3 years because his players get sick of him. You are using that list of guys as an example of why Izzo would work, yet he just made the case of why he won't.
  
  6. No shit he wants a top NBA assistant. He's walking into something he has no experience with. I'd be really scared if he didn't go get a top NBA assistant.
• BillyBob

  With the dedication to bring a winner to Cleveland that Gilbert seems to have. If he can't sign Lebron how about he sign D. Wade and Bosch or Stoudamire, or J. Johnson and go beat Lebron in the Eastern Conference finals with Izzo as coach.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  thedynasty1998;385280 wrote:2. Let's be serious here, the only reason that Gilbert was able to talk championship is because of Lebron. Without him, you hope to be a playoff team. The Lakers are so far ahead of the Cavs currently, and then you are going to have a couple teams get really good this offseason with free agency that a championship isn't realistic without Lebron. And of course he's going to say that. What else is he going to say?
  
  4. I don't want to say they won't succeed, but I just don't really have any reason to think he will. The NBA is more than just X's and O's.
  
  5. Look at the list of guys you just gave; Van Gundy - without a job, Avery Johnson and Russell were both fired from their last jobs, and Larry Brown jumps around every 2-3 years because his players get sick of him. You are using that list of guys as an example of why Izzo would work, yet he just made the case of why he won't.
  
  6. No shit he wants a top NBA assistant. He's walking into something he has no experience with. I'd be really scared if he didn't go get a top NBA assistant.

• Commander of Awesome

  

  I would rather have Byron Scott than Izzo.
• krazie45

  

  Commander of Awesome;385453 wrote:I would rather have Byron Scott than Izzo.

  
  I wouldn't
• thedynasty1998

  

  I would as well. Played in the NBA and has had success as a coach in the NBA.
• KR1245

  

  I like both coaches but I'd be happy with the Izzo hire. If Bryon Scott had that much success in the NBA he would still be coaching. I'm glad the Cavs are looking at Izzo. I'm tired of guys like Mike Brown, Paul Silas etc. Izzo would be fresh start that would get people excited.....cant say the same thing about Scott. I understand that Scott played and coache in the league but Tom Izzo knows the game of basketball as well as anybody.
• sleeper

  

  I'd rather have Byron than Izzo mainly because I enjoy watching Izzo coach at MSU.
  
  However, Izzo is probably the better coach and if he takes the Cavs job, it'll be fun to see him coach at the professional level.
• Skyhook79

  

  "If Bryon Scott had that much success in the NBA he would still be coaching."
  
  
  
  Yeah, I don't know why any NBA team would want a guy who Coached the New Jersey Nets to 2 NBA Finals. Obviously the Nets haven't missed a beat since Scott left.
• Hb31187

  

  Or the east just got about 10x better since he was there...just sayin
• Rotinaj

  

  And the Nets were actually a good team.
• Skyhook79

  

  Hb31187;385627 wrote:Or the east just got about 10x better since he was there...just sayin

  
  Really? When the Nets won the Eastern Conf 2 straight years all 8 Playoff Teams were above .500 both years.
  
  The last 3 years in the Eastern Conf its been 5,5 and 7 teams above .500 in the Playoffs.
• KR1245

  

  I dont want to take anything away from Scott. What he did with the Nets was great. His latest coaching job with the Hornets was a letdown though. He coached that team 6 years and only finished with a winning record twice. The two years they made the playoffs they were bounced in the 2nd and 1st round. Imo Byron Scott would be a lateral move. I think the Cavs need to go in another direction. I say you take a chance on Izzo.
• sleeper

  

  I mean is Mike Brown really that great, or just riding on the coattails of a great player?
  
  I'll take the latter until I see otherwise.
• mucalum49

  

  Another site reporting its close to a done deal with Izzo. I know the guy who runs this site/blog/whatever through a friend and he doesn't seem like someone who throws rumors left and right.
  
  http://lebrownstown.com/?p=16100
• Laley23

  

  Usually you can tell whats going to happen by what hasnt happened. Izzo nor MSU have denied interest, or anything. Nothing like "I thank the Cavs, but Im not interested" etc. Really, just by looking at what hasnt been said, the writing seems to be on the wall that he is headed to Cleveland.
• Skyhook79

  

  KR1245;385776 wrote:I dont want to take anything away from Scott. What he did with the Nets was great. His latest coaching job with the Hornets was a letdown though. He coached that team 6 years and only finished with a winning record twice. The two years they made the playoffs they were bounced in the 2nd and 1st round. Imo Byron Scott would be a lateral move. I think the Cavs need to go in another direction. I say you take a chance on Izzo.

  
  
  He really only Coached there 5 seasons, he was fired 9 games into his 6th season. Also lets not forget his first 2 seasons the Hornets didn't play a home game because of Hurricane Katrina.
  They played in Oklahoma. Not many Coaches would have stuck around let alone succeded under those circumstances. He was Named COY the year after that.
• KnightRyder

  

  this aint gonna go well for izzo or the cavs
• KR1245

  

  Year he was named coach of the year he was bounced in the 2nd round. I would be ok with Scott but I would much rather have Izzo.
• jordo212000

  

  Yeah I think it is going to happen. Izzo hasn't come out Coach K style and said he wasn't interested. I am interested to see Izzo coach in the NBA (as a Buckeyes fan I am also happy to see him leave the Big 10)
• Cleveland Buck

  

  enigmaax;385252 wrote:Haven't read the entire thread, so sorry if someone already speculated on this. Chicago hired a coach, New Jersey hired a coach, Cleveland is pursuing a coach, etc. What does this mean for LeBron's "team" and their "plan". There was a lot of talk about how he was going to pull strings, handpick his coach, etc. Does all this mean he's working through the backdoor or that he doesn't have as much power as he'd like to think?

  
  His team handpicked the coach in Chicago.
• hoops23

  

  Sources are now saying that Tom Izzo came away from his meeting in Cleveland with both him and his wife very impressed. Those same 'sources' are saying it is very likely he'll be the next head coach in Cleveland.