Murphy in Herald: Wyc and Ainge Upset Coach Jim

[wayray@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

O'Brien resigns: Ainge cites differences in philosophy
By Mark Murphy
Wednesday, January 28, 2004 
A half-season of trades that radically altered the face of his team and disagreements with management over the direction of the Celtics finally came to bear on Jim O'Brien [news], who resigned yesterday morning after three seasons as head coach. 
	
``I met Jim this morning to talk about the philosophical differences we had - and we do that regularly - and he offered his resignation, and we accepted,'' said Danny Ainge, the team's director of basketball operations. ``I thought the differences we had were much smaller than Jim thought. But this is still a good team, and we'll move forward.'' 
	
O'Brien, reached last night, declined comment other than to wish the team well. Ainge, upon accepting O'Brien's resignation, also fired assistant coach Dick Harter, who was brought in by O'Brien two years ago as a defensive specialist and received credit for the defensive schemes that helped the Celtics reach the 2002 Eastern Conference finals. 
	
Assistant John Carroll, brought in by Rick Pitino at the same time as O'Brien in 1997, will serve as interim coach for the rest of the season. O'Brien, who signed a two-year extension last summer, will receive the rest of his $1.9 million for this season, and forfeit the rest of his deal, worth approximately $6 million over the next two years. 
	
Though a source said last night that O'Brien's decision, ``was a long time coming'' as a result of Ainge's many changes since taking charge last May, pressure on the coach reportedly hit a peak this week. 
	
Two Celtics sources confirmed that O'Brien was angered by comments from Wyc Grousbeck in a Herald story last Sunday. The Celtics owner spoke of his expectations in light of the team's two major trades this season, and that the organization never ``consciously'' took a step back when deciding to make the trades. 
	
There were reportedly also sharp disagreements between Ainge and the coaching staff during a meeting on Monday that contributed to O'Brien's decision. 
	
Ainge denied last night that the meeting was short-tempered. 
	
``There was a venting of frustration, but not friction or disagreement at all. I talked with Jim in great detail, but this is not an event, not a yelling session, more of a gentle thing. It was Jim and I trying to make a relationship work. Jim's short-sighted view of winning the game tonight and how it worked with my long-term view has been the main problem. But it's not Jim's fault, and it's not my fault.'' 
	
Ainge admitted yesterday that though O'Brien was ``100 percent'' behind the trade that sent Antoine Walker [news] and Tony Delk to Dallas for Raef LaFrentz, Jiri Welsch and a first round draft pick, the coach opposed the deal that sent Eric Williams, Tony Battie and Kedrick Brown [news] to Cleveland for Ricky Davis, Chris Mihm and Michael Stewart. 
	
O'Brien, a defense-oriented coach who had said over the last two years that as long as he ran the team he would try to keep Williams a Celtic, believed that defense was seriously compromised by the second trade. 
	
``He was not on board,'' Ainge said of O'Brien's opinion on the second trade. ``I think he understood the necessity, but I had a long term vision about this.'' 
	
That, ultimately, may have led to the rift between Ainge and O'Brien - the coach's game-to-game march toward the playoffs clashed with the director of basketball operations' recognition that the Celtics couldn't win long-term with their offensively-challenged lineup. 
	
``Danny wants to move in a more offense-related direction without losing what we do on defense,'' Grousbeck said. ``Jim told me that he's not certain that he's the right man for the job. He said he didn't want to take our money and time if this wasn't the right marriage.'' 
	
Ainge also acknowledged yesterday that he often made suggestions to O'Brien, including opinions on the roles of the team's rookies: point guard Marcus Banks [news], power forward Brandon Hunter [news] and center Kendrick Perkins [news]. 
	
The playing time of Banks and Hunter noticeably increased over the last two weeks. Ainge, however, expressed surprise that O'Brien would find his methods intrusive. 
	
``There are philosophical differences in every organization - these things exist,'' Ainge said. ``I analyzed the possibilities this summer, and he was my choice (for coach) despite the philosophical differences. I sat in Jim's chair (as coach) in Phoenix, so I think I was a little sympathetic to his situation. But he said he didn't feel he could fit in. 
	
``But it's my prerogative to make those suggestions, and he coaches the team. He's had more input with me than anyone else in the organization.'' 
	
Ainge acknowledged O'Brien's popularity with Celtics fans. 
	
``Coach O'Brien is popular with us, too,'' Ainge said. ``But he doesn't want to be here.''