In today’s Great Moment, we commemorate one of the most well-bearded NBA men to ever grace this League on a day where he could probably use a little cheering up. (via Ball Don’t Lie)
And since I can’t say it any better than they, here’s Bend It Like Bennett’s words:
PJ Carlesimo is an honorable bearded-American and should be remembered as such. That’s why I took the liberty of crafting a more appropriate tribute video for PJ’s 13-game OKC journey. Many a treasured memory from the man Adrian Wojnarowski will fondly remember as an “unrepentent screamer.”
Come back soon, Peej.
UPDATE: Great Mustaches of the NBA.
“There are two kinds of people in this world that go around beardless — boys and women — and I am neither one.” – traditional Greek saying
Known Associates:
Great Moments in Facial Hair History,
PJ Carlesimo,
Thunder
PJ Carlesimo got canned last week as coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder (I still can’t type that name with a straight face…Thunder? Really?) and now Wiz front man Eddie Jordan has been shown the door as well.
Getting rid of PJ was an obvious move and his reluctance to play Kevin Durant at PF should have gotten him fired at least six months ago. I honestly haven’t watched a single minute of Thunder hoops this year, so I’m not sure if he had still been playing as much SG as he was all last year, but this was probably for the best for everyone involved — especially PJ, who was probably liable to get his ass choked out again in the near future otherwise. Former NBA player Scotty Brooks is taking over.
I’ve never though Eddie Jordan was a good coach, so that was probably a decent move as well. Some dude no one has ever heard of named Ed Tapscott will take the helm in the interim and hopefully right the rapidly sinking ship, which is currently off to a 1-10 start. With Gilbert and Brendan Haywood both out — and even backup PG Antonio Daniels going down more recently — it’s hard to believe John Wooden could do much better. But some sort of change was necessary in DC — and not just the kind Bary O is dropping.
Known Associates:
Antonio Daniels,
Brendan Haywood,
Durant,
Ed Tapscott,
Eddie Jordan,
Hibachi,
Office Space,
PJ Carlesimo,
Scotty Brooks,
Thunder,
Wizards
Per usual, Kevin Pelton absolutely kills it on the knowledge tip with this thorough-as-hell breakdown of coaching lineages. Essentially, it’s a look at who spawned who (whom?) in the coaching ranks, complete with the actual breakdown of who (whom?) served as assistants for whom (who?) and an analysis of the coaching styles propagated by the patriarch.
Here’s the “Dean Smith Coaching Tree” section, for example, which is just a meager sampling from this utter beast of hoopology academia.
Dean Smith Coaching Tree
Trademarks: Above-average pace, underrated defenses, depth
Current Head Coaches: Larry Brown, George Karl
Other Notables: Billy Cunningham, Matt Doherty, Doug Moe, Roy Williams
Brown Branch: Maurice Cheeks, Gregg Popovich
Karl Branch: Nate McMillan
Popovich Sub-Branch: Mike Brown, P.J. Carlesimo
One way or another, nearly a quarter of the NBA’s head coaches can trace their lineage back to the legendary North Carolina coach, which is not surprising given that Smith coached more NBA talent than any of his peers during his time on the sidelines. Smith’s direct influence seems to be waning, at least at the NBA level. Few of North Carolina’s alumni from the ’80s and ’90s have turned to the sidelines, with several instead going into broadcasting (Brad Daugherty, Hubert Davis and Kenny Smith, most prominently). The notable exception is Milwaukee assistant Joe Wolf, a potential future head coach.
Where Smith’s coaching tree continues to grow is from something of a rogue offshoot–Brown, who shares few common traits with the other Carolina guys. If Brown was considered the head of his own coaching tree, which might make more sense stylistically, he becomes more influential than his mentor and has arguably the league’s strongest tree. Brown disciple Popovich has built a strong tree in his own right, one which in addition to Brown and Carlesimo includes Avery Johnson and up-and-coming Portland assistant Monty Williams.
Karl’s coaching tree is also stronger than his lone current protégé would imply; Dallas assistants Dwane Casey and Terry Stotts, both of them former head coaches, worked under Karl as assistants in Seattle.
Just a stunning display.
So stop watching silly YouTube videos posted by ignorant bloggers for once and get your real basketball learn on by heading over to Basketball Prospectus and reading the whole thing.
Cause reading is fundomentle.
Shane Battier plants a tree in his local community. In case you hadn't heard.
Known Associates:
Billy Cunningham,
Coaching,
Dean Smith,
Doug Moe,
Dwane Casey,
George Karl,
Larry Brown,
Matt Doherty,
Mike Brown,
Mo Cheeks,
Monty Williams,
Nate McMillian,
PJ Carlesimo,
Pop,
Roy Williams,
Terry Stotts,
Xs and Os
