WALTHAM, Mass. – Jim O'Brien earned the respect and backing
of players and management as he led the Boston Celtics on a
late-season playoff run after replacing Rick Pitino in midseason.
Still, he couldn't help but have some mixed feelings Tuesday
when the team announced he would return next season as head coach.
"There's still a little bit of a sick feeling in my stomach
that we're able to have this press conference now and not be in the
playoffs," O'Brien said.
O'Brien, an assistant during Pitino's three seasons, led the
Celtics to a 24-24 mark, but they missed the playoffs for the sixth
straight season.
The players, worn thin by Pitino's sideline pacing and constant
play-calling, responded to O'Brien's more reserved approach.
"He communicates with the players and keeps everything on the
up and up, and that's the best way to be," said co-captain Antoine
Walker.
Pitino put everything on himself, Walker said. But that changed
when the soft-spoken O'Brien took over.
"The pressure was on the players now to perform," he said.
"It was time for the players to respond, and the players responded
well."
O'Brien started his stint as an interim coach with a 12-6
record, then briefly guided Boston into the eighth and final
playoff spot. The Celtics dropped out of the hunt after losing
eight of their final 11 games. They finished 36-46, their eighth
straight losing season.
O'Brien coaxed a career year out of Paul Pierce, who was the
NBA's eighth leading scorer. Milt Palacio also emerged as a
productive backup point guard, stepping in for the injured Kenny
Anderson.
Anderson's injury still leaves the Celtics with questions at
point guard, and team also has weaknesses in rebounding and
defense.
O'Brien was as an assistant with the New York Knicks from 1987
to 1989 before moving on to Dayton where he was head coach from
1989 to 1994.
He spent the next three seasons as Pitino's associate coach at
Kentucky before both moved to the Celtics.
"We are pleased to have Jim as our head coach," Celtics
chairman Paul Gaston said. "I feel he did a tremendous job over
the last three months in turning the season around."
The Celtics also announced new contracts with general manager
Chris Wallace and Leo Papile, director of player personnel.
"With Jim as coach, and with Chris and Leo's continued player
personnel input, we are looking forward to a bright future,"
Gaston said in a statement.
Terms of the contracts were not announced.
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 The Celtics are keeping Jim O'Brien as their head coach.
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 Jim O'Brien exceeded interim expectations and is rewarded with the Celtics' head coaching position.
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