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Who is Ettore Messina?

Sean said:
Ettore Messina would be an instant buzz hire. Everyone would be interested in the Jazz next season to see if he has the ability to make the transition. Even so, he's still a risky hire because, even though he was a consultant for the Lakers for one season, his experience in the NBA is very limited. The NBA is the polar opposite to Euro basketball and could Messina be good enough to overcome that difference?

The thing is, looking over Messina's resume, the guy is a winner. There is no coach, not even Stan Van Gundy, Jeff Van Gundy or George Karl, who has won as much as he has - and done so as impressively. The dude has never coached a losing season, won well over 70% of the games he's coached (from Virtus Bologna in 1990 on through to his current stint with CSKA) and has a pretty damn impressive playoff record. He's a winner. He's won wherever he's gone (five teams he's coached for) and you get the sense passing up on such an opportunity could prove too much for a franchise still reeling from losing its last great coach.

It is a high risk/high reward thing - but you've also got a template for success there that you won't get with any NBA assistant or college coach. If it's between Jim Boylen and Messina, absolutely pull the trigger on Messina. If he works out, and succeeds, the Jazz could have something special on their hands.

If he doesn't ... well you tried at least.
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Practice time is important to team basketball and a coach like Messisna. Euro ball has fewer games a week with more practice time in between them. With the unheard of two-a-days not uncommon. Talent and character is even more important. Duncan has set the tone for Pop's tenure. The supporting cast are more or less plug and play guys. Much like what Tom Brady and Bill Belichick have going on in N.E. A winning culture results, which fringe players get sold on. Both the Spurs and the Patriots are machines that keep rolling on and on. Yet Belichick failed in Cleveland. No talent and no culture.

Unless the Jazz acquire NBA ready superior scorers, keep Hayward (yes he would do well under Messina), Messina would find himself next year with his first ever losing record. This is a tough sell. That said, Lindsey must try, and try like hell to lure him here. If then we somehow find a transcendent player, the duo could keep the Jazz rolling year after year after year.
 
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I'm cool with Messina.

Basically, the only concern is if he can fully transition to the NBA-style game vs. the Euro-style. But dude has a head on his shoulders and his resume is damn good.
 
Sean said:
Ettore Messina would be an instant buzz hire. Everyone would be interested in the Jazz next season to see if he has the ability to make the transition. Even so, he's still a risky hire because, even though he was a consultant for the Lakers for one season, his experience in the NBA is very limited. The NBA is the polar opposite to Euro basketball and could Messina be good enough to overcome that difference?

The thing is, looking over Messina's resume, the guy is a winner. There is no coach, not even Stan Van Gundy, Jeff Van Gundy or George Karl, who has won as much as he has - and done so as impressively. The dude has never coached a losing season, won well over 70% of the games he's coached (from Virtus Bologna in 1990 on through to his current stint with CSKA) and has a pretty damn impressive playoff record. He's a winner. He's won wherever he's gone (five teams he's coached for) and you get the sense passing up on such an opportunity could prove too much for a franchise still reeling from losing its last great coach.

It is a high risk/high reward thing - but you've also got a template for success there that you won't get with any NBA assistant or college coach. If it's between Jim Boylen and Messina, absolutely pull the trigger on Messina. If he works out, and succeeds, the Jazz could have something special on their hands.

If he doesn't ... well you tried at least.
Click to expand...

Of the current jobs available, Jazz would seem to have the best roster for him. Knicks are a mess and still have Amare on the books for another season. And, would Messina really want to be micro-managed by both Jackson and Dolan? Even a guy like Jackson has had his hands tied replacing staff. As for LA, they have Kobe returning, but Nash will be playing in a Hoveround. They're just treading water until the season after next.

Jazz only had 25 wins, but they have a great player coming in and can give Messina 1-2 FA's to bolster the roster due to their cap space. Messina also knows Sloan was given tremendous support by the Millers (well, until the Deron debacle) . When Sloan and a player disagreed, the player either change his attitude or was shown the door (Giri, Arroyo, Snyder, etc.). That may be appealing to Messina given jjscap about Euro coaches being in charge. That approach may not sit well with superstars in the NBA, but I don't see a problem with the young players in Utah.
 
Core4 said:
Of the current jobs available, Jazz would seem to have the best roster for him. Knicks are a mess and still have Amare on the books for another season. And, would Messina really want to be micro-managed by both Jackson and Dolan? Even a guy like Jackson has had his hands tied replacing staff. As for LA, they have Kobe returning, but Nash will be playing in a Hoveround. They're just treading water until the season after next.

Jazz only had 25 wins, but they have a great player coming in and can give Messina 1-2 FA's to bolster the roster due to their cap space. Messina also knows Sloan was given tremendous support by the Millers (well, until the Deron debacle) . When Sloan and a player disagreed, the player either change his attitude or was shown the door (Giri, Arroyo, Snyder, etc.). That may be appealing to Messina given jjscap about Euro coaches being in charge. That approach may not sit well with superstars in the NBA, but I don't see a problem with the young players in Utah.
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He still would want a roster he could win with. We wouldn't have that by the time he would sign. A Duncan would be perfect for him. All other players would follow his no nonsense lead. Those players don't grow on trees. It would take a leap of faith for Messina to choose Utah. It's on Lindsey to sell him the dream.
 
In this one he explains how he got to know Danny Ferry and Mike Brown...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DV3TTlZdPaY
 
Lol Utah getting Messina is like stealing candy from a baby. He could probably get all the gunk out of the teams engine in the first year here, especially if we added a high energy player in the draft and shook up the roster with the likes of Vince Carter coming off the bench, and signed a few more role players. If Hornacek can morph Phoenix into a damn near 50 win team, Messina can take this young and hungry Utah team and turn them into 50. Just the way this guy talks screams a basketball PRODIGY. He is highly inclined in low post offense, and both Favors and Kanter have post presence. He'll have this team serving out multiple arsenals, man.. I'd love to have this guy coach our team. I'll go on the record, right here, right now that if Messina is our coach, we draft good (Which we will) and we do the right moves with the Core 5 that this team could become Legendary. I can see a shrine of Messina being put in the ESA in the next 15 years. By then he'll be referred to, and only to be, "Godfather".
 
The Fresh Prince said:
Lol Utah getting Messina is like stealing candy from a baby. He could probably get all the gunk out of the teams engine in the first year here, especially if we added a high energy player in the draft and shook up the roster with the likes of Vince Carter coming off the bench, and signed a few more role players. If Hornacek can morph Phoenix into a damn near 50 win team, Messina can take this young and hungry Utah team and turn them into 50. Just the way this guy talks screams a basketball PRODIGY. He is highly inclined in low post offense, and both Favors and Kanter have post presence. He'll have this team serving out multiple arsenals, man.. I'd love to have this guy coach our team. I'll go on the record, right here, right now that if Messina is our coach, we draft good (Which we will) and we do the right moves with the Core 5 that this team could become Legendary. I can see a shrine of Messina being put in the ESA in the next 15 years. By then he'll be referred to, and only to be, "Godfather".
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Rep this man.
 
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