PJ Carlesimo discusses his "leverage and credibility" compared to a more established coach

Part of the reason Avery Johnson felt things went sour with the Nets is because Mikhail Prokhorov refused to give him a contract extension, leaving him as a lameduck coach who had no leverage or respect from the players.

P.J. Carlesimo, of course, is in a more tenuous situation as with an interim tag. He admitted before Saturday's victory over the Cavaliers that the lack of stability is an issue, and that a coach such as Phil Jackson would have more "credibility." His comments are worth a read:

"I think very few coaches in this league have the ? I don?t know what word I?m thinking of ? it?s kind of power. I?ll think of it. We got to the point at Seton Hall that I had it; the players knew that I was going to be there no matter what. Pop has that. Phil had it. There are very few guys in the league that have it. If you don?t have that, which very, very few do, it?s infinitely better to have many years on your contract, and hopefully at a good number, because that doesmake you a more efficient coach, no question. At this point, if Phil (Jackson) were coaching, or (Jerry) Sloan when he was in Utah or (Gregg Popovich), they have more credibility and leverage with the players? than I do.

"And honestly, it?s not a concern now. This is just the situation and you?ve got to deal with. I just think for any coach ? I?ve been in that situation in other places ? you just really do not want to go into the last year of your contract ever. There is no coach that can say he wants to do that. Maybe Scottie (Brooks), after you win Coach of the Year and you?ve got one year left and they?re not writing a big enough check. But for the most part, no, you don?t want to go into the last year of your contract ever in this league. But coaches don?t have with very very very very few exceptions the leverage that a player has, because there?s more zeros on their contract than there are on their contract."

Source: http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/nets/2012/12/pj-carlesimo-discusses-his-leverage-and-credibility-compared-to-a-more-established-coac

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