Honestly, Theus wasn't on my short list of people I wanted to see become the next head coach. But he wasn't on my short list of people I didn't want to see be the coach ( :: cough *Whisenant* cough :: ), so I was on the fence about him to begin with.
I am still on the fence about him. I mean, we are only 11-14, so it's hard to argue for him as a Coach of the Year candidate just yet. I'll have a better idea of how I feel about his coaching job later in the year when it's clear that we aren't going to make the playoffs, or if/when players like Bibby and Artest are moved in salary-clearing trades. Will we implode like the Dolphins after Chambers was traded?
He seems to handle personalities well. He is taking a lot of time working with Beno, and it's definitely paying off. There have been no Bad Ron occurences so far this season, other than a couple of "tantrums". Brad Miller is playing as well as he ever has, but that can be mostly attributed to his improved conditioning, I think.
I think the most telling area of "The Reggie Experience" so far has been the adjustments the team has made in the past couple of weeks. Salmons is playing smarter and more within himself, while becoming steadily more efficient. Ron is moving the ball a bit more. Beno is steadily improving. Brad is being used according to his strengths. Mikki Moore (though I hate the signing) has contributed more and more in recent games. It seems like the team is getting better week by week, which is a good thing.
When Bibby and Martin come back, it will be good to see what happens with Salmons/Artest and Beno. I think Beno can be effective off the bench; don't think Salmons can be. Will we move Artest to let Salmons be the starter, or vice-versa? What affect will that move have on team chemistry? How will Reggie respond to the shift in balance when those two guys are back in the lineup?
We are definitely better than we were last season, even though the record doesn't show it. A lot of that has to do with the coaching, and a lot of it is perspective and expectations. I will be ready to decide whether I like Theus as the coach in a couple of months, but as of right now, he is definitely a breath of fresh air that we haven't had for some time now.