Sam Cassell to join Celtics coaching staff

Eddie Jurak

canderson-lite
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 12, 2002
44,478
Melrose, MA
What is his coaching history? The Athletic’s Jared Weiss called him one of the hottest assistants in the league.
 

Auger34

used to be tbb
SoSH Member
Apr 23, 2010
9,303
Huge get for Mazzulla. I’m guessing Silas is next and then one or two of the former Celtics assistants (Jamie Young, Larranaga, Jerome Allen)
 

CreedBratton

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 6, 2009
3,753
Needed this! Knows the game, is a winner, played in Boston & isn’t afraid to be hard on guys.
 

BigJay

New Member
Jul 22, 2022
86
On one hand they badly needed an experienced mind on Mazzulla's staff. On the other hand, I almost feel this may be counterproductive, in this case, as I'd rather have a older guy on the back-end of his career that isn't interested in being a head coach anymore. Cassell has been a known commodity for head coaching jobs, and the first 3-4 game losing streak the Celts have people will be screaming to dump Joe for Sam.
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 24, 2002
48,214
On one hand they badly needed an experienced mind on Mazzulla's staff. On the other hand, I almost feel this may be counterproductive, in this case, as I'd rather have a older guy on the back-end of his career that isn't interested in being a head coach anymore. Cassell has been a known commodity for head coaching jobs, and the first 3-4 game losing streak the Celts have people will be screaming to dump Joe for Sam.
My suspicion is that it won't even take one loss. There are a lot of people out there fairly certain Mazzulla isn't equipped for this seat. I won't be shocked if they show up here in this thread now.
 

Cellar-Door

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 1, 2006
34,464
Cassell is a nice hire, he's a former player but has significant coaching experience now, he's never really gotten any HC traction though.
5 years on the Flip Saunders staff in WAS, then the last 9 year with Doc Rivers
 

ugmo33

Member
SoSH Member
May 6, 2016
165
I have no idea what his reputation is in terms of Xs and Os or player development, but if nothing else he was intimately involved in game planning against the Cs and is also very familiar with Joel Embiid's strengths and weaknesses. I also remember him being awesome as a player-coach in 09
 

Cellar-Door

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 1, 2006
34,464
I have no idea what his reputation is in terms of Xs and Os or player development, but if nothing else he was intimately involved in game planning against the Cs and is also very familiar with Joel Embiid's strengths and weaknesses. I also remember him being awesome as a player-coach in 09
I know his rep was that he was very good at helping young PGs develop, John Wall credited him with helping a lot, Cassell did a lot of work with Maxey in PHI.
 

Justthetippett

New Member
Aug 9, 2015
2,393
Cassell is a nice hire, he's a former player but has significant coaching experience now, he's never really gotten any HC traction though.
5 years on the Flip Saunders staff in WAS, then the last 9 year with Doc Rivers
Wasn't there a rumbling he was being considered in Philly once they let Doc go? Maybe that's his representation, but his profile seems to have elevated a little. At any rate, good experienced hire. I would like to see them bring in more (like the rest of this board). Any idea what CJM's own network looks like?
 

Cellar-Door

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 1, 2006
34,464
Wasn't there a rumbling he was being considered in Philly once they let Doc go? Maybe that's his representation, but his profile seems to have elevated a little. At any rate, good experienced hire. I would like to see them bring in more (like the rest of this board). Any idea what CJM's own network looks like?
Yeah, I meant more he hasn't every really been a finalist, he got a few interviews over the years, but he seems to always fall out in the first round, I know he interviewed with Washington a few years ago, and he was on the long list for HOU this cycle.
 

Jakarta

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 18, 2020
241
Huge get for Mazzulla. I’m guessing Silas is next and then one or two of the former Celtics assistants (Jamie Young, Larranaga, Jerome Allen)
This is my hope as well. Experienced staff, plus a full offseason to work together should significantly upgrade the coaching.
 

radsoxfan

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 9, 2009
13,622
Seems like a good to great hire on the surface.

Does he ever get head coaching looks?

15 year NBA point guard and then a lot of assistant experience. Is it a semi-red flag if he hasn't yet? Wonder why (or maybe he has and I just haven't noticed?).
 

GB5

New Member
Aug 26, 2013
675
The only holdback I would have on him is that he has been at Doc’s side for numerous playoff meltdowns and Doc and his staff have been routinely and annually been criticized for an inability to make changes and adjustments in real time.
 

benhogan

Granite Truther
SoSH Member
Nov 2, 2007
20,124
Santa Monica
Seems like a good to great hire on the surface.

Does he ever get head coaching looks?

15 year NBA point guard and then a lot of assistant experience. Is it a semi-red flag if he hasn't yet? Wonder why (or maybe he has and I just haven't noticed?).
Yes he's been interviewed for several HC jobs. He was one of the candidates when IME was initially hired with the Celtics.

Sam was recently interviewed for the Rockets job

https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2023/04/rockets-to-interview-sam-cassell-for-head-coaching-job.html
 

HomeRunBaker

bet squelcher
SoSH Member
Jan 15, 2004
30,096
In 2015, Paul Pierce stated that he felt he, Garnett and Cassell were the real "Big 3" of the Celtics 2008 championship team.
I will go to my grave swearing that if Sam Cassell didn't come in to save a rattled Rondo in G 1&2 of the Cleveland series we don't make it to The Finals. He's the type of hire we're looking for to make Joe's live a whole lot easier with an actual staff in place who knows what the hell they are doing.
 

Euclis20

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 3, 2004
8,021
Imaginationland
I will go to my grave swearing that if Sam Cassell didn't come in to save a rattled Rondo in G 1&2 of the Cleveland series we don't make it to The Finals. He's the type of hire we're looking for to make Joe's live a whole lot easier with an actual staff in place who knows what the hell they are doing.
It's funny looking back at those game logs, that was my recollection as well. What I didn't remember is that after going 8-20 for 22 points in games 1 and 2, he was 0-13 for 5 points in games 3-5, then didn't play at all in games 6 and 7 (or games 1 and 2 against Detroit).
 

HomeRunBaker

bet squelcher
SoSH Member
Jan 15, 2004
30,096
It's funny looking back at those game logs, that was my recollection as well. What I didn't remember is that after going 8-20 for 22 points in games 1 and 2, he was 0-13 for 5 points in games 3-5, then didn't play at all in games 6 and 7 (or games 1 and 2 against Detroit).
Yeah those old out of shape creaky veteran legs either work on a given night or they don't. PJ Brown went through similar in those playoffs as many older players do.
 

Eddie Jurak

canderson-lite
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 12, 2002
44,478
Melrose, MA
On one hand they badly needed an experienced mind on Mazzulla's staff. On the other hand, I almost feel this may be counterproductive, in this case, as I'd rather have a older guy on the back-end of his career that isn't interested in being a head coach anymore. Cassell has been a known commodity for head coaching jobs, and the first 3-4 game losing streak the Celts have people will be screaming to dump Joe for Sam.
I think Cassell is here for a one-year tuneup before moving to a head coaching job. He can see the talent the Celtics have and that there were deficiciences an assistent coach could fix and get credit for. This is a bit like Ime spending a year in Philly and then in Brooklyn before the Celtics hired him. That is not to say that people won't call for Mazzulla's firing if the Celtics slump, but that would have happened anyway. What I wonder about is how well Jow knows Casell and whether they will work well together.
In 2015, Paul Pierce stated that he felt he, Garnett and Cassell were the real "Big 3" of the Celtics 2008 championship team.
That was probably more about their fraught relationship with Ray Allen at the time.
Wasn't there a rumbling he was being considered in Philly once they let Doc go? Maybe that's his representation, but his profile seems to have elevated a little. At any rate, good experienced hire. I would like to see them bring in more (like the rest of this board). Any idea what CJM's own network looks like?
He was one of the candidates. He is known for coaching guards and worked with Maxey and Harden last season.
The only holdback I would have on him is that he has been at Doc’s side for numerous playoff meltdowns and Doc and his staff have been routinely and annually been criticized for an inability to make changes and adjustments in real time.
I suspect he is here in part to wash the Doc stink off of him.
 

HomeRunBaker

bet squelcher
SoSH Member
Jan 15, 2004
30,096
I have no idea what his reputation is in terms of Xs and Os or player development, but if nothing else he was intimately involved in game planning against the Cs and is also very familiar with Joel Embiid's strengths and weaknesses. I also remember him being awesome as a player-coach in 09
As a coach, obv not a clue as to how well he works although for an ex-player of his stature to not really advance deep into the interview process after so long on the bench doesn't bode well for his upside.

I will say that when he played as a super high-IQ point guard he was often seen as a mentor and seemed to enjoy sharing his passion for the intricacies of the PG position with others. While I'm not particularly high on JD Davison he is probably the one player who will benefit the most from Cassell's presence. In their first session together Davison will learn more about entry angles, footwork and utilizing screeners than he likely did in one year with Ime's second row assistants.
 

DJnVa

Dorito Dawg
SoSH Member
Dec 16, 2010
53,850
Really awesome hire. Exactly what they need. Sam can be a bad cop. Tough motherfucker.
Additionally, he might be good at playing bad cop, but apparently he was the most popular guy with the players on the Sixers, so he can create those relationships.

Love it.
 

sezwho

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 20, 2005
1,952
Isle of Plum


The only (non-taunting) celebration the NBA has ever banned and really meant it. Can't wait to see what swagger he can add to the rotation.
And exactly what this team lacks at nut cutting time. I think the Js can learn to close out, but sustaining championship intensity for a whole series (or better a whole playoff run) is a an ability that takes years to develop, with brutal losses along the way. I’m overjoyed they added Cassel and I think his experience as a player will help get them over the hurdle.
 

chilidawg

Member
SoSH Member
Jan 22, 2015
5,934
Cultural hub of the universe
Philly Athletic writer Rich Hoffman had this to say about Sam:

Guard development is what Cassell has been known for at all coaching his stops. John Wall credited Cassell for helping grow his game in Washington, while Bradley Beal reportedly wanted Cassell to return to the Wizards as head coach a few years ago. Tyrese Maxey’s first three seasons have gone well for a player selected with the 21st pick in the draft.

And from the same article, quoting Doc:

“He’s got an incredible basketball mind,” Rivers said. “And I wish people could just see the mind. When we have our little (coaching) meetings, when we have our offensive meetings and our defensive meetings, Sam is the only one who goes to both because he’s that valuable.”

https://theathletic.com/4539891/2023/05/22/sixers-coaching-candidates/?source=emp_shared_article
 

Auger34

used to be tbb
SoSH Member
Apr 23, 2010
9,303
I suspect he is here in part to wash the Doc stink off of him.
Think this nails it. Cassell gets to be the “bench coach” for a different coach than Doc and spread his wings a bit more. I would suspect Cassell is only here for a year or two before he gets his own head coaching job
 

NDame616

will bailey
SoSH Member
Jul 31, 2006
2,315
"Mazz This HAS to mean Wyc has no confidence in Mazulla. Now he's going to coach scared because he knows at his first mess up there will be calls for his head. Terrible hire for the team building of the Cs"
"I completely agree, Mike!"
 

lovegtm

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 30, 2013
12,001
"Mazz This HAS to mean Wyc has no confidence in Mazulla. Now he's going to coach scared because he knows at his first mess up there will be calls for his head. Terrible hire for the team building of the Cs"
"I completely agree, Mike!"
it's all so tiresome