Paul Silas is interested in us-

I don't really remember much about his coaching. Would he be good for us?

Silas seeks another coaching opportunity
Paul Silas wants to coach in the NBA again.

"I'd definitely be interested in getting back in," said Silas, who hasn't coached since being fired by Cleveland in March 2005. "I'm certainly looking for an opportunity where I could be successful, but I look at any coaching job as a challenge."

Since leaving Cleveland, Silas has been heavily involved with Adidas Nations, a grassroots basketball program that works with the world's top 18-and-under players.

"We work with kids on pro sets and pro defenses," Silas said. "We're trying to bridge the gap for when they get into the league."

While many experienced NBA coaches have been recycled and unproven ones hired and fired, the 65-year-old Silas has been inexplicably ignored. His only official interview for a head-coaching position in the last four years came with the Bobcats in 2007.

"I'm not really surprised I haven't had many interviews," said Silas. "[Coaching] goes in cycles. In the last few years, teams have been looking at assistant coaches or new guys. Now, it looks like they might be looking for experience."

Silas has that in spades. A 16-year NBA veteran, Silas won two championships with Boston and a third with Seattle. He reached the playoffs four times in nine full seasons as a coach.

Silas said he would be interested in the Washington job if the Wizards don't bring back Tapscott. Silas and Wizards president Ernie Grunfeld were both Knicks assistants under Stu Jackson in the 1980s

about 3 years ago ooba 8 comments 0 recs |

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i remember him … i think he would be good … he could help our young guys mature … isnt he deffence minded ….. he used to play center right ….u think he could help javale and blatch improve

by eltacoman on Jan 15, 2009 3:05 PM EST reply actions

i also think he would use our young player and not just ware out our vets

by eltacoman on Jan 15, 2009 3:08 PM EST reply actions

Eh

Here’s his coaching record. Not all that much different from Eddie Jordan’s.

I suppose we could do worse, but there’s nothing about Silas that wows me.

Bullets Forever: A blog dedicated to the Washington Wizards with analysis, commentary, and more YouTube videos than your eyes can handle.

by Jake Whitacre on Jan 15, 2009 5:08 PM EST reply actions

But

Silas’ coaching record is severely slanted by his three years with the San Diego Clippers. Take those away, and suddenly you’re looking at a guy who never won less than 35 games in a season, a guy whose career record is 277-232.

His Charlotte teams always played good defense too (DRtgs: 8th, 6th, 10th, 7th). And he had Cleveland starting to get back on track before they oddly kicked him to the curb in 2005 when they were a playoff team (they promptly lost their spot to New Jersey). Cleveland had a ton of young guys, like we do, and he did well to get something out of many of them (particularly Boozer).

The more I think about it, the more Silas fits the bill of what Ernie seems to want from this team.

You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.

by Mike Prada on Jan 15, 2009 6:01 PM EST up reply actions

That's true

I remember being surprised when Silas was canned with the Cavs, so he probably would fit well here. I’d still rather have Johnson or Thibodeau, but he wouldn’t be a bad choice.

Bullets Forever: A blog dedicated to the Washington Wizards with analysis, commentary, and more YouTube videos than your eyes can handle.

by Jake Whitacre on Jan 15, 2009 9:09 PM EST up reply actions

The biggest issue is probably Silas' age

He’s pushing 65. Then again, he did do well with the kiddie core in Cleveland.

You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.

by Mike Prada on Jan 15, 2009 9:52 PM EST up reply actions

about his age i think the players would look up to him and respect him …. like a father figure or grandpa …. give our team a grand torino type of tough love lol … but really he could help us mature a ton on and off the court …..

plus he helped mold labron james so he must know alot of his game and ticks.. very usefull

and if we land griffin then he could mold him into a better version of boozer … plus help megee and blatch reach there full potential

he very well might turn out to be our next head coach

by eltacoman on Jan 16, 2009 9:58 AM EST up reply actions

I don't know about Silas

He did coach a young Charlotte Hornets team, and got them to the playoffs 4 straight years, including his last year in New Orleans. It was somewhat of a surprise he was let go in NO, because he had a good record (208-155 ), and the players liked him. That was a pretty impressive record, since Charlotte had a propensity for letting popular players leave (like Alonzo Mourning), for financial reasons. (Read = Cheap Owner)

Then he went to the Cleveland Cavaliers – - – they had a young team (including a then 20 year old LeBaby)…

In Cleveland, Silas apparently had some run ins with different players (Snow, Ricky Davis)… and GM John Paxon said when he fired Silas that “We’re 64 games into the season and we still don’t have a consistent rotation, substitution pattern, those type of things….”

So if the Wizards hire Silas, don’t look for our substitution patterns to improve.

Bullets Forever - where "Dagger ! " happens......

by Rook6980 on Jan 16, 2009 12:40 PM EST reply actions