Thibodeau Gets 2nd Interview with New Orleans

Posted by Brian Robb on May 21, 2010 826111 commentshttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F2010%2F05%2F21%2Fthibs-gets-2nd-interview-with-new-orleans%2FThibodeau+Gets+2nd+Interview+with+New+Orleans2010-05-21+22%3A34%3A21Brian+Robbhttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F%3Fp%3D8261

The news come via Yahoo Sports, that Tom Thibodeau has earned a second interview:

With Avery Johnson’s candidacy essentially over, assistant coaches Tom Thibodeau and Monty Williams will get second interviews for the New Orleans Hornets’ head-coaching job, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

Thibodeau and Williams – assistants with the Boston Celtics and Portland Trail Blazers, respectively – will meet again soon with Hornets general manager Jeff Bower, president Hugh Weber and owner Gary Chouest.

While Thibodeau and Williams are the leading contenders for the vacancy, it is still possible another coach out of the original pool of candidates will get invited to meet with Hornets officials again. The most likely possibilities still include Utah Jazz assistant Tyrone Corbin, former New Jersey Nets coach Lawrence Frank and television analyst Mike Fratello.

The news of the second interview, can’t come to a surprise to C’s fans as Thibodeau’s work has finally come to forefront once again this postseason. Great to see credit given where it is due.

Here’s my question though as a C’s fan. With all the uncertainity surronding Doc Rivers and his future coaching plans, it makes me wonder a couple things about Thibodeau.

1) Would he wait around for Doc to make a decision, before accepting a job elsewhere?

2) Would the Celtics give him the job, if Doc decides to walk away?

Two tough questions with no clear answers. The further the C’s go in this postseason, in my eyes, increase the chances of Doc being willing to walk away to spend some time with the family, especially if the C’s come through with the Championship next month. Mike Gorman has gone on record at CSN, saying the same thing.

As for question number 2, the obvious answer would be a clear cut yes. Yet, this as we all know, is a tough roster to manage during the regular season. Would Danny Ainge want a higher profile candidate that could better manage this roster, a la Rivers? And would that move make sense, if it comes at the loss of Thibodeau’s defensive mastermind?

All things considered, it will be interesting few weeks of speculation following the conclusion of this postseason, with far more questions than answers. Hopefully, there will be plenty other positive stories to distract C’s fans at the juncture.