Wednesday June 2 2010 – 11:02am Eastern – Toronto, ON
Though the Toronto Raptors have not yet made any kind of official announcement on this, the club has reportedly hired PJ Carlesimo as an assistant coach to Jay Triano’s staff.
It was around this time last year that I wrote about the approaching 2009-10 season and proposed that Carlesimo and Alvin Williams would be good fits for T.O. and apparently somebody was listening, or reading.
Carlesimo’s experience and knowledge – and grit – will be a welcome addition to the Raptors. PJ is the kind of guy that you’d love to sit down with away from the floor and share a good meal with (especially Italian (he loves Sotto Sotto in Toronto by the way)) but on the floor – during ‘basketball hours’ – he’s ALL business.
“If it’s true that the Toronto Raptors have reached agreement with PJ Carlesimo on joining the staff as an assistant coach, I think it would be a wonderful hire for Jay Triano & Bryan Colangelo,” said Jack Armstrong.
Armstrong has known PJ for more than 25 years – not only at the NBA level, but during Carlesimo’s time in the NCAA as a Division 1 head coach in the New York area as well.
“He is an outstanding defensive coach who holds folks accountable yet has terrific people skills with everyone involved in an organization,” said Armstrong.
Carlesimo’s resume includes:
- NBA Head Coaching gigs in Golden State, Portland, Seattle, and Oklahoma City
- Lead assistant to Gregg Popovich in San Antonio
- Assistant coach with Chuck Daly on the 1992 USA Olympic ‘Dream Team’
“He’s a well rounded Coach who has seen it and done it all and will be a valuable veteran mentor/aide for Triano,” said Armstrong. “Bottom line: he ‘gets it’. In his role as an assistant, players will play hard and like being around him each day because he’s a straight shooter, good person and he’s fair. He’s real.
“Ask the players on the Dream Team and the Spurs what PJ was like as an assistant and you’ll get rave reviews from them. PJ comes from a first-class family and is one of the top-notch people in the basketball business. Always remember, this is a ‘people-business’ first and foremost and he’ll be a good influence and sounding board for players, coaches, support staff and management alike.”
Of course Armstrong couldn’t leave things without getting in a little plug for his Alma mater as well …
“On top of (everything else), Carlesimo’s a Fordham graduate and former assistant coach there – like myself – so what’s not to like?!”
E. Smith
4 Responses to “Thoughts On PJ”
SN 590
Get The Latest Update
Click here to subscribe to Smith's blogGet Smith’s blog by Email
Archives
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- October 2007
As an “outstanding defensive coach”, does he make Iavoroni’s position redundant?
- Mr.CuriousMark didn’t seem to do the job last year, so why keep him?
good addition for the raps. hoping some of his toughness will rub off.
- TomGfromBramptonSo does that makes it about 10 coaches on the staff now?…..maybe they should put some uniforms on and paly the game instead of the players they have now. How many coaches can one team employ???? Maybe B.C thinks Triano cant handle the job on his own with his own staff. I guess the Raps are starting a new thing now “COACHING BY COMMITTEE”
- NeilThis is as good a time as any to ask about a pet peeve of mine. Why are there so dang many suits, towel holders, drink-hander-outers, massage boys and general hangers-on around the Raptor bench???
As players head to the bench, even if they’ve only been out a few minutes, “would you like a towel, how about some Gatorade, maybe a Snickers bar, rub your back?”
At time outs, eight of them spring up and wander around saying nothing, while Triano pulls out his chair onto the court for a little strategy session…
At the end of the half/game, the parade to the locker room is huge, including several security types you don’t see in other sports.
There’s more attachments than players, most of them unusually short, even taking into account they’re alongside NBA players.
What gives???
There, I feel better, as you were…
- Gary