PROTECT THE PAINT

With the recent resignation as head coach, Mike Dunleavy and the Los Angeles Clippers will be seeking a new coach in 2010-11. There is a short list of high quality coaches out there whom the Clippers should focus on immediately: Jeff Van Gundy, Byron Scott, and Avery Johnson. I say go with Van Gundy!

Even drunk, I am better a better coach than Dunleavy. (Credit: picapp.com)

Jeff Van Gundy would be the best coach, in my opinion, to garner the best results. Byron Scott has a great track record, but was canned after not being able to succeed with Chris Paul, David West, and (this year) Emeka Okafor.

Avery Johnson was lucky enough to inherit an awesome Dallas Mavericks team and brought them to the finals in 2006. He then proceeded to fail to stop his team from imploding, and lost 4 straight after winning the first 2.

Van Gundy also has a weak record in the finals, but I believe is the best suited out of the three candidates I mention whom could function successfully within the Clippers organization.

Van Gundy got more milage out of his 1998-99 New York Knicks compared to any of the rosters either Scott or Johnson had. The 1998-99 Knicks had a broken down Patrick Ewing, a grounded (due to back surgery) Larry Johnson, no real quality point guard, and basically had to ride Latrell Sprewell and Allan Houston.

Can you blame Van Gundy for Houston’s playoff woes? I think that blame gos to Tracy McGrady.

It is no surprise that they lost to the overpowering San Antonio Spurs, but the fact that the Knicks got there proves to me that Van Gundy is more capable of maximizing the performance of his talent more so than the pool of available coaches.

With Blake Griffin back next season, and the Clippers looking like they are heading back to a lottery pick again this year, it is quite easy to speculate that Van Gundy would quickly mold and unite the Clippers into a serious title contender.

Unfortunately, this is the most cursed team in sports, and because of this curse alone, the Clippers will likely end up with Avery Johnson, and they will stay mediocre until Dunleavy fires him, after years of over paying him, and then resume coaching the team again. I feel your pain Clipper nation. I will cross my fingers and hope you land Van Gundy.

You deserve a coach that will fight for his teammates, even against someone like Alonzo Mourning. That is what I am talking about!

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