When Tom Thibodeau left the Boston Celtics last offseason, my subjective self knew Boston’s loss would make the team irreparably worse. The Celtics could still contend without Thibs. They could still win a championship. They could still play punch-you-in-the-teeth defense. But when the league’s most successful, hard-working, knowledgeable and innovative defensive coach brings his talents elsewhere, a team will inevitably stumble, if only slightly, no matter who becomes the replacement.

The loss of Lawrence Frank to the Detroit Pistons is different. If Thibodeau is Will Hunting, the world’s most gifted mathematician, Frank is Professor Gerald Lambeau, one of the brightest mathematical minds (or one of the biggest mathematical dicks, depending on who you’re asking), but not the brightest. Had Thibodeau and Frank ever broken down defensive game film together, I imagine the scene would have gone something like this:

[Thibodeau shows Frank the way he wants to defend Kobe Bryant]

Frank says, “This can’t be right. It would be very embarrassing. Did you ever consider –”

“I’m pretty sure it’s right,” responds Thibs. “Hey look, can we do this at my Chicago office from now on, because I–I gotta knock off work to come here and the commute is killing me.”

Frank is still poring over the Kobe game plan. “Yeah, sure,” he says. “But did you think of the possibility –”

“It’s right,” repeats Thibodeau. “It’s right. Just take it home with you.”

The two continue talking, mostly about the job interview Thibodeau sent his best friend to take in his place. Frank says he will cancel the rest of Thibodeau’s job interviews and offer him a job at his office. But Thibodeau isn’t feeling it.

“Look. Maybe I don’t want to spend the rest of my fucking life sitting around explaining defensive sets to people,” Thibodeau tells Frank.

“Do you know how easy this is for me?” Thibodeau continues. “Do you have any fucking idea how easy this is? This is a fucking joke. And I’m sorry you can’t do this. I really am because I wouldn’t have to fucking sit here and watch you fumble around and fuck it up.”

The two continue their conversation in heated tones. Thibodeau says explaining defense is a giant waste of his time. Frank makes a comment or two about Thibodeau using his free time to drink with his retarded gorilla friends. Finally, Frank pores out his insecurities.

You’re right, Will,” he says. “I can’t do this proof. But you can, and when it comes to that it’s only about..it’s just a handful of people in the world who can tell the difference between you and me. But I’m one of them.”

In reality, there are more than a handful of people who can tell the difference between Frank and Thibodeau. Almost any serious NBA observer can. Thibodeau turned a starting lineup featuring Derrick Rose (who had previously been considered a sieve) and Carlos Boozer (who is still considered a sieve) into the league’s stingiest defense, for chrissake. Though there are only a handful of defensive minds smarter than Frank, there are zero defensive minds smarter than Thibodeau.

Which means the Celtics have smaller shoes to fill this offseason. The problem is, who will fill those shoes?

If Thibodeau and Frank share two traits, they are an attentiveness to defensive detail and a pitbull mentality that often leaves their neck veins bulging while they scream from the sidelines. I imagine Doc likes his top assistant coach to be screamers because he prefers a laid-back style himself. His assistants are the yin to his yang, the salt to his pepper, the left to his right. I’m not saying Doc never screams or never lays into his players — I can vividly recall one time when he called a time out just to berate Jeff Green (which I, not that it matters, loved). Still, Doc’s assistant coaches do the brunt of the screaming.

That would probably rule out Mike Woodson, who did not always register a pulse during his time on the Atlanta bench. Woodson could still possibly find himself on Boston’s short list of candidates if he does not find a head coaching gig elsewhere; he’s one of the most qualified candidates. But when I reflect on Woodson’s time in Atlanta, all I can think about is, “Iso, Joe Johnson.” Well, that and a mustache that would make this guy jealous. Presumably, Woodson is a defensive mind in the mold of Frank, and his teams, though they never did real postseason damage, achieved a reasonable amount of success. None of his Atlanta teams underachieved. But if the C’s did hire Woodson, I would not be in love with the choice.

Chris Forsberg mentioned Larry Brown as another potential candidate. The move would make sense on some levels: Brown mentored Doc Rivers early in Doc’s career. Brown has mentioned he would like to return to coaching at some point. Brown can coach basketball as well as almost anyone alive. On other levels, it does not make sense: Brown has always been one of the most controlling coaches in basketball. He wants players to play his way. He wants them to adapt to him. He loves having the wheel in his hand and being able to steer the car whichever direction he chooses. So could he adapt to an assistant coaching position? Could he give up that control he has always needed? Could he sit on the bench while Doc made the team’s final decisions? It seems like a stretch.

Almost every candidate I have seen mentioned is primarily a defensive mastermind. That makes sense, considering that Boston’s last two lead assistants have acted as de facto defensive coordinators. But Boston’s biggest weakness has been it’s offense — why not address that weakness by hiring an offensive guru?

There are reasons, but one in particular is most important — Boston’s offensive problems cannot be cured with a few new offensive sets, or even an entirely new offensive playbook. The Celtics take mostly good shots, and they make a high percentage of them — higher, in fact, than any other team in the league. Boston’s biggest offensive deficiencies involved three-point shooting, offensive rebounding and throwing enough turnovers to make me vomit on my shirt. The paltry three-point shooting can be blamed on Boston’s roster (outside of Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, the Celtics had very little three-point shooting); the offensive rebounding can be blamed on Doc’s “get back on defense at all costs” mentality (which should, and I suspect, will, change, at least to a degree); and the turnovers have always been a problem with the Big Three Celtics and likely always will. The point is, none of the issues with Boston’s offense can be solved just by hiring an offensive coordinator. So the Celtics are better off mirroring their strategy from the past four years, relying on Doc’s lead assistant to run the defense and contribute to the offense whenever he sees fit.

That still leaves the Celtics needing an assistant coach. Sadly, some of the most qualified assistant coaches have already been scooped up — Kelvin Sampson was hired by the Houston Rockets, Mike Malone (a defensive guru) relocated to the Golden St. Warriors (where he will presumably hear the phrase “Mama there goes that man” far too often), and Brian Shaw (who would have been an admirable hire anywhere) signed in Indiana after being spurned for the Lakers head job. I wouldn’t mind Brown, not at all, but I don’t see it as a realistic possibility. Forsberg mentioned the Celtics could promote from within their own organization, but Kevin Eastman and Armond Hill seem to be pigeonholed as second-tier assistants for life.

With all that in mind, I have one choice that isn’t sexy but makes a lot of sense: Eric Musselman. He fits the mold that Doc loves so much (in other words, he’s short, white and infinitely energetic). Musselman’s team’s always play defense; last year, he coached in the NBA Developmental League — his Reno Bighorns led the league in opponent’s points per game and opponent’s field goal percentage. He is a former runner-up for NBA Coach of the Year, has a world of coaching experience, and even coached under Doc Rivers when Rivers coached in Orlando. Like a well-used baseball glove, Musselman fits just right.

Any other suggestions?

The Celtics have gotten rid of their morning walkthrough, but that doesn’t mean we have to. Here are a few Celtics links, and maybe even an NBA link or two, to help wake you up and get you focused for the day.

Anderson can fill it up in a variety of ways.

A. Sherrod Blakely, CSNNE – “And while there are several variables and factors that weigh in on whoever the Celtics draft, it ultimately comes down to one thing. ‘You have to feel good about the player, now and looking forward,’ Ainge said. ‘You want to find someone who can help you now, obviously. But you want them to be someone who can grow, too.’ Among the players to work out for the Celtics was James Anderson, a 6-foot-6 swingman from Oklahoma State. A player with Anderson’s size and shooting range would give the C’s added fire power and versatility off the bench, especially when you consider there’s no guarantee that the Celtics will be able to re-sign free agents Tony Allen and Ray Allen. Boston might look to go for added size and target players like 6-10 Daniel Horton of Kentucky, 7-0 Hassan Whiteside of Marshall, 6-10 Ekpe Udoh of Baylor or 6-10 Larry Sanders of VCU – all projected to go somewhere in the late-teens and early 20s of the first round. While most teams would prefer to have one of the top picks in the draft, Ainge has proven repeatedly that you can find quality players late in the first round.”

Jeff Clark, CelticsBlog – “The official Celtics slogan headed into the season was ‘Reloaded.’ Now I’m wondering if the offseason slogan might be ‘unloaded.’ I still think there’s a very good chance that we keep our starting 5 in tact, but after that is seriously anyone’s guess. Here’s a quick rundown of our 15 man roster as it existed on the final night of the Finals.”

Mark Murphy, Boston Herald – “The Celtics captain doesn’t have much time. Pierce has until June 30 to exercise a termination option in his contract that would make him a free agent. This would require written notification. If July 1 arrives and the Celtics haven’t received the paperwork, then they know Pierce is coming back. And really, is there much question about this? For a kid from Inglewood, Calif., who grew up within a quick bike ride of the old Forum and dreamed of becoming a Laker, Pierce couldn’t be more serious about his place within the tradition of the Lakers’ opposite entity. Consider what he said on the eve of Game 1 of the Finals in Los Angeles. ‘I didn’t want to be a Boston Celtic, but I am a Boston Celtic, and I’ve enjoyed every moment of it,’ Pierce said. ‘I’ve had a chance to learn the history, been around the great players. It’s so much fun when you’re in Boston and you see the (John) Havliceks come around, you see (Bob) Cousy and (Cedric) Maxwell and you’re around (Tommy) Heinsohn all the time. Just soaking up the history of the Boston Celtics has been the best thing that’s happened to me as a player. Just to be a part of history, not a lot of players can say that. You know, I’m soaking this all in. Once again, being able to say I can help continue the rivalry of the Celtics and Lakers for another year, and knowing that when you go back and watch these tapes that I will be on them. It’s indescribable. I don’t think it’s going to soak in until my career is all said and done and I can really, really look back at it.’ No, this does not sound like a player who, in the disappointment of losing, will send that fatal letter to the Celtics front office.”

Dan Duggan, Boston Herald – “The question now is how the 34-year-old will respond next season. It’s highly unlikely that Garnett ever will return to his MVP and Defensive Player of the Year form. But he’ll be a full year removed from knee surgery when next season’s training camp opens, and Doc Rivers said last week he expects Garnett to be better as a result. Garnett isn’t the type to speak about other topics while there is a task at hand. When he was asked about his future during the Finals, Garnett simply responded that he has two years remaining on his contract (at $40 million total) and his only focus is on fulfilling that. Even if he’s not thinking too far down the line, Garnett has been forced to face his basketball mortality. The likely retirement of teammate and good friend Rasheed Wallace hit home with Garnett. ‘I see a lot of myself in him, and we have a lot of the same ties and a lot of the same characteristics,’ Garnett said after Thursday’s Game 7 loss. ‘Both (draft) Class of (1995) – so for him to come in and give his thanks and his regards after a loss like this . . . it was a difficult night.’”

Dan Shaughnessy, Boston Globe – “Rivers likes to brag that the starting lineup of Pierce, Allen, Garnett, Rajon Rondo, and Kendrick Perkins never lost a playoff series. He made this point after the Celtics finished with Orlando in the conference finals. ‘This starting five is 7-0 in playoff series,’ he said. He was correct then and he’s still correct. Garnett (knee injury) did not play last spring when the Celtics were eliminated by the Magic in the conference semifinals. And Perkins (torn knee ligaments) did not play Game 7 at the Staples Center. ‘The starting lineup still hasn’t lost,’ said Rivers Thursday. ‘It was a shame we didn’t have that starting lineup tonight. But I told them, ‘You’ve still yet to have a true chance to defend your title because Perk wasn’t there.’ ‘ After Game 7, you could hear the bell ringing for the Big Three Era. In many ways, Rivers was the perfect coach for this collection of talent. He gave them a lot of rope and allowed them to work out their difficulties themselves.”

Shira Springer, Boston Globe – While the Lakers celebrated and fans tried to talk their way past security and onto the court, the Celtics attempted to make a quick getaway. With the trophy ceremony still going on, Perkins headed for the team bus with a white towel covering his head. Inside the locker room, Ray Allen was surrounded by dozens of reporters. No other Boston player was around. As Allen talked, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar walked into the Celtics locker room and said, ‘Anybody seen Doc?’ The answer did not come quickly. The sight of the legendary Laker caught those not crowded around Allen by surprise. After a few moments, someone opened the door to the visiting coach’s office for the Hall of Famer. Upon seeing Rivers, Abdul-Jabbar leaned in for a handshake and whispered a few sentences to him. ‘I appreciate it,’ said Rivers. ‘I appreciate it.’ If Kareem Abdul-Jabbar can walk into the Celtics locker room and offer consoling words to the Celtics coach, it is proof that almost anything can happen at Game 7 of the Finals. Almost anything.”

Steve Buckley, Boston Herald – “From this point on, Rajon Rondo is the band leader. He may never be a great shooter, and it would be really nice if he spent the summer practicing free throws, but already he is a great player. As he gains experience, he gains wisdom. And never let it be forgotten that much of that wisdom was acquired during his apprenticeship under Pierce, Allen and Garnett. From the perspective of management, Rondo is the kind of supremely gifted player around whom a championship team can be built. To the rest of us, it’s much simpler: He’s enormously fun to watch. Thank you, Big Three, for your contributions to Boston sports history, Banner No. 17 and a brave run at No. 18. You never, ever will be forgotten. And the three men are welcome to return – as individual players, but not as a Big Three. Let the Rajon Rondo Era begin.”

Dan Duggan, Boston Herald – “Though he’s made strides, Davis still has some growing to do. The third-year veteran hasn’t yet discovered what it takes to be consistent on a nightly basis. Rivers frequently pointed this fact out after Davis had a big game. The coach remarked after one strong performance in the first round against Miami that Davis needs ‘a parade out there every good game’ and it takes him a few games to come back to earth. Regardless of how good-natured, Rivers seemingly can’t resist throwing a dig in Davis’ direction whenever the opportunity presents itself. Behind all of his bluster, Davis is quite sensitive, and he’s never known what to make of Rivers’ public jabs. Though Davis may not embrace his role as whipping boy, his comments about his coach after the Celtics’ Game 7 loss in the Finals showed a level of maturity. ‘He means a lot,’ Davis said of Rivers, who may not return next season. ‘He’s a friend, he’s a coach, he’s a father figure. He’s a lot in one.’”

Zuri Berry, Boston Globe – “Former NBA center Manute Bol died of complications from Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, according to a family member who talked to the Washington Post. He died at the University of Virginia Hospital in Charlottesville on Saturday morning, according to Tom Prichard, an associate of Bol’s, in an e-mail to the Associated Press.”

Bill Livingston, Cleveland Plain Dealer – “Now reports are that Kelvin Sampson is a serious candidate to be the Cavaliers’ head coach. That Kelvin Sampson? Really? I think back to what happened at the Final Four eight years ago, to the poor coaching job I thought he had done, and to the damage he caused to both of the schools who had played in that semifinal. And I have to believe Cavs owner Dan Gilbert can’t be serious. At Oklahoma, Sampson eventually brought the wrath of the NCAA down on the program for making, along with members of his staff, over 550 improper phone calls to 17 different recruits. Then, as the carpet-bomber of college basketball, Sampson brought the wrath of the NCAA down on Indiana, the most storied program in the Big Ten, for making 10 illegal conference calls to recruits. That Kelvin Sampson? Really? What’s the attraction, other than hiring a guy who fell upward with even more vim than John Calipari has done at Kentucky? There might be blazing ruins in the rear-view mirror, but coach Cal and coach Kel danced away from the messes to better jobs. At least for a while. But it didn’t last for Sampson, whom Indiana fired in 2008. His gravity defiance in college basketball ended then too, with a five-year coaching ban handed down by the NCAA. Any school hiring him before 2013 would have to ‘show cause’ why his punishment had been served. Now he is an assistant coach with the Milwaukee Bucks. And reportedly he is a candidate to fall upward again, maybe all the way into the Cavs’ job. What, is John Lucas not interested?”

Have a link I might want to look at? Send it my way by email (jayking@celticstown.com) or Twitter