Jerry Stackhouse thinks Nets need strict, experienced coach

In an interview on ESPN First Take Tuesday, Jerry Stackhouse said he thinks the Nets are likely to go for a "stickler," a coach who is willing to say its his way, no other way. (Although video from the interview is not yet posted, SNY Nets' John Paolantonio transcribed a good part of it.)

Stack, who is a free agent and may retire, didn't mince words when asked his opinion.

"I think it just needs someone to really to guide, a stickler, someone to come in everyday and say we are going to do it this way. We have a system in place and we cant deviate from the system"

"If we come off a screen, I want you to come off the screen and chase. I don’t want you to shoot the gap. Some guys say you can do it either way. I feel like this particular team needs someone to tell them to do it THIS way. Whoever that is, I think Lionel Hollins is a great coach. He has shown that he can do that with a really good team but there are some other candidates out there that as well that would be really good for this group."

Stackhouse seemed to suggest that the Nets are not likely to go with an inexperienced coach like Brian Shaw, but rather a coach with proven playoff success.

"A guy like Brian Shaw, I think he has paid his dues, but I think with this particular team they feel like they are ready to win. They want someone who has been there and been to at least and conference finals and can guide them. I think that’s what that group needs,"

Stackhouse also spoke at length about Deron Williams, both defending him against Skip Bayless and noting that no one needs a "stickler" more than D-Will.

"He’s a helluva competitor. I found that out but I didn’t know a lot about Deron before the season and obviously with how the season started off for him I still had some questions for him, myself. Once he came out of that All-Star break and he said he was going to dedicate himself and get himself ready to play, he was unbelievable man. We went from a pretty good team to a great team all because of how he played."

"The coach, the strickler. The stickler is what is going to be great for Deron because Deron loves to gamble and I think you have got to get him to a position where our best player, our main player, sticks to the system and how we do things as well. I tell him all the time and it is a habit. With this group, with Joe and with Brook (Lopez) its just about breaking a few habits and once you break those few habits with this group they are going to be right there."

Is Stackhouse representing the front office's view of the team and the coaching vacancy? Almost certainly.

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