Bill Laimbeer heads to Minnesota

He’s got to start somewhere, and with young bigs who could use some guidance— Al Jefferson and K Love— he could make a pretty big impact on that squad.
Here’s to hoping he someday comes back to Michigan.

Very nice, I was hoping he’d be an assistant before trying to sit in the big chair first.

Congrats, BL. Let’s hope you crack the head coaching gig in a season or two. Hell, knowing the turnover in our town, maybe you’ll just end up in Detroit. While I don’t see that happening as long as Dumars is in charge, you never know…

Dumar is a fool. Bill Laimbeer is the man because he understand basketball far better than Joe D who only batted one hit in his entire career as GM. Time for Joe D to take a hike.

HB is not a smart man.

HB = Khandor?

TRADE, uh… got nuthin’

HB = horrible blogger

Rambis and Bad Boy Bill faced off against other during the Showtime/Bad Boy era.

Nice to see them team up.

Love must be over joyed.

FIBA Americas Qualifier, Day 4

August 30, 2009 1:24 AM

By Alfredo R. Berríos
ESPNdeportes.com

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Forward Charlie Villanueva twisted his ankle in the final minutes of the Dominican Republic’s 78-73 victory over Venezuela in Day 4 of the FIBA Americas Championship.

“A Venezuelan player stepped on my ankle,” Villanueva explained after the game. “It hurts a little but it’s nothing bad. We’re going to ice it and I’m expecting to be ready [on Sunday against Argentina]”.

Villanueva scored a game-high 28 points and had 12 rebounds in 40 minutes as the Dominicans advanced to the second round.

Coach Julio Toro explained that he wanted to rest Villanueva. Villanueva’s plan was different.

“Charlie was playing at his peak,” Toro said. “He’s a player with great abilities and was the key to our game. When he got hurt, he told me he wanted to stay in the game.”

http://myespn.go.com/nba/truehoop

hah… that better not be a serious ankle injury… but even if it is semi-serious, he should be ready by training camp anyway
sounds like he had a good game

and congrats to bill

I’m happy for Laimbeer. Players like him often make fantastic coaches — players who understand what it means for a team to be committed to defense & rebounding, buying into a team concept, and maximizing one’s personal talents by committing to a team.

And of course, unlike other players with similar resumes, Laimbeer has demonstrated he can coach at a championship level.

That said, I don’t blame Jod for not passing on him … the last rookie coach we hired, well, MCIAFI. Q-ster’s experience is simply fantastic.

I am sure that Laimbeer would have taken an assitant coaches position for the Pistons just like he did for the T-Wolves.

It wasn’t offered. Laimbeer is one of the most pro-piston guys on the planet, dumars for whatever reason decided to pass, even if only for a season or two.

“I’m happy for Laimbeer. Players like him often make fantastic coaches — players who understand what it means for a team to be committed to defense & rebounding, buying into a team concept, and maximizing one’s personal talents by committing to a team.”

FWIW, that also describes Michael Curry…

I was under the impression that the head coach chooses his assistants, not the GM. Thus, perhaps it was Kuester who had associates he trusted more than Lambieer.

I agree Jonathan. had Joe made that move, then he really wouldn’t be handing the keys over to the head coach. although it might have worked in our favor under MCIAFI.

Here’s the FIBA Americas webpage for people looking for some competitive ball.

http://puertorico2009.fiba.com/pages/eng/fe/09/facm/p/group-standing.html

Ah, I figured the GM wouldve made that call.

FWIW, that also describes Michael Curry…

That was sort of intentional … the main difference, of course, are the championships in the WNBA. Laimb can coach, and he’s proven that.

I don’t think the Curry/Laimbeer comparison is fair by any measure, Curry had one horrible year at head coach, Laimbeer had 6 years and led his Squad to 3 titles during that time. Who knows if Curry would’ve improved. I can’t see Laimbeer having been anything but an improvement. It’s always been a popular pastime to talk shit about the WNBA, but like Gulk said, he can coach, he’s proven that. It’s up to him now to try to silence the doubters via his new Assistant position in MIN.