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In the interim
O'Brien fires up Celtics despite 'temp' status
Posted: Thursday February 15, 2001 1:57 AM
Updated: Thursday February 15, 2001 2:17 AM
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Antoine Walker (right) has made 34 steals in 16 games under interim head coach Jim O'Brien. AP |
By Jacob Luft, CNNSI.com
Being a head coach might be the toughest job in the NBA.
So what does that mean for an interim head coach?
Few interims have succeeded in this league. If the original coach is fired, that means the team is not very good, and there isn't much a new face with little job security can do about it.
Chuck Daly, one of the best coaches in history, took over an awful Cavs team in the middle of the 1981-82 season and promptly went 9-32 as the team finished 15-67.
| Stock-ing Stuffer |
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The stock price for Boston Celtics Ltd. Partnership (NYSE) has increased markedly since Jim O'Brien took over for Rick Pitino on Jan. 8.
|
| Date |
Price |
| Jan. 5: |
$7.75 |
| Jan. 8: |
$8.625 |
| Jan. 10: |
$9.25 |
| Feb. 1: |
$10 |
| Feb. 7: |
$11 |
| Feb. 13: |
$11.65 |
| |
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But there have been quite a few interim head coaches who became notable success stories. The Boston Celtics' Jim O'Brien is quickly becoming one of them.
Before Rick Pitino resigned Jan. 8, the Celtics were 12-22 and looking at a sixth consecutive season out of the playoffs. But O'Brien has led the Celtics to a 10-6 record and into playoff contention -- they occupy the eighth and final Eastern Conference seed as of Feb. 14.
The big difference under O'Brien is defense. The Celtics have held opponents to less than 100 points 13 times in 16 games; under Pitino, they allowed less than 100 only 15 times in 34 games.
Forward Antoine Walker has 70 steals on the season -- 34 of them since Pitino left.
O'Brien is the only interim head coach in the NBA right now. However, eight teams have head coaches who were originally hired as interims: New York (Jeff Van Gundy), Seattle (Nate McMillan), Charlotte (Paul Silas), Detroit (George Irvine), San Antonio (Gregg Popovich), Utah (Jerry Sloan), Minnesota (Flip Saunders), Houston (Rudy Tomjanovich) and Phoenix (Scott Skiles).
| Taking the Reins |
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Most interim coaches are chewed up and spit out. Here are a few who made a permanent mark:
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| Team |
Year |
Interim Coach |
Record |
| Bucks |
1976-77 |
Don Nelson |
27-37 (.422) |
| Comment: Stayed through 1986-87 season, becoming team's all-time winningest coach (540-344). |
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| Lakers |
1979-80 |
Paul Westhead |
51-18 (.739) |
| Comment: Led Lakers to NBA title in place of injured head coach Jack McKinney. |
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| Nuggets |
1980-81 |
Doug Moe |
26-25 (.510) |
| Comment: Compiled .548 winning percentage (432-357) in 10 seasons. |
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| Lakers |
1981-82 |
Pat Riley |
50-21 (.704) |
| Comment: Lakers won 1982 title and three others in his nine-year tenure. |
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| Blazers |
1988-89 |
Rick Adelman |
14-21 (.368) |
| Comment: Two NBA Finals and a 291-154 (.654) record through 1993-94 season. |
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| Rockets |
1991-92 |
Rudy Tomjanovich* |
16-14 (.533) |
| Comment: Has won two NBA titles and made playoffs seven times. |
|
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| T'wolves |
1995-96 |
Flip Saunders* |
20-42 (.323) |
| Comment: Won 50 games last season; Wolves are 32-20 so far in 2000-01. |
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| Knicks |
1995-96 |
Jeff Van Gundy* |
13-10 (.565) |
| Comment: Knicks made 1999 NBA Finals and are 219-149 (.595) under Van Gundy. |
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| Spurs |
1996-97 |
Gregg Popovich* |
17-47 (.266) |
| Comment: Still going strong after winning 1999 NBA title and has 195-131 record since taking over. |
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| Hornets |
1998-99 |
Paul Silas* |
22-13 (.629) |
| Comment: Hornets are 98-71 (.580) since he took over. |
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| Suns |
1999-00 |
Scott Skiles* |
40-22 (.645) |
| Comment: Suns continuing to play .600 ball (30-20) under Skiles this year. |
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* Indicates still with the team
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