How long has it been since we’ve had a coach fired in the NBA?
It feels like a long time since the bevy of coaches that were let go at the start of the season.
In fact my first reaction was that this was the first firing of the season, that’s both (1) how long ago, and, (2) how early those coaches were fired this season.
As I check my notes, Marc Iavaroni is the seventh head coach to be fired this season. Here’s a reminder of the other firings (I evidently need it):
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- Oklahoma City Thunder – PJ Carlesimo
- Washington Wizards – Eddie Jordan
- Toronto Raptors – Sam Mitchell
- Minnesota Timberwolves – Randy Wittman
- Philadelphia 76ers – Mo Cheeks
- Sacramento Kings – Reggie Theus
Reggie Theus was the last one fired amongst that group, and he was let go on December 15th. This period in-between that firing and this most recent one is actually the longest in-season period between coaching dismissals that we’ve had this season. The previous high was 24 days or so at the begining of the season, which has been beaten out by this 38 day period.
ESPN reports the story
The Memphis Grizzlies confirmed late Thursday they fired Marc Iavaroni after giving him one and a half seasons worth of games in his first NBA head coaching job.
One source close to the situation told ESPN.com that Grizzlies assistant coach Johnny Davis will take over as interim coach for the next two games, but team spokesman Dustin Krugel said that a formal announcement on the Grizzlies’ coaching situation would not be made until Friday, before the team’s game in New York. Davis and fellow Grizzlies assistant Kevin O’Neill are both former NBA head coaches.
The Memphis Commercial Appeal, which first reported Thursday’s firing, reported on its Web site early Friday that former Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins will be rehired as Iavaroni’s replacement. The paper said former Philadelphia 76ers coach Maurice Cheeks and longtime Los Angeles ClippersMilwaukee Bucks, as assistants. assistant coach and front-office executive Barry Hecker will join Hollins, who is currently an assistant coach with the
It seems that dreaded vote of confidence did not aid Iavaroni one iota
Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley even took the step of giving Iavaroni what was generally perceived to be more than a pedestrian “vote of confidence” in early December, telling the Commercial Appeal: “He’s my coach and I’m behind him 100 percent. I’m not going to evaluate him now. Marc is not under the gun.”
The Grizzlies, though, have been increasingly uncompetitive after initially playing to some fairly positive reviews thanks to an 8-8 start at home and the strong introduction made by rookie guard O.J. Mayo. But Memphis has lost 15 of 17 games entering Friday’s visit to Madison Square Garden, slumping to 11-30 after suffering seven consecutive defeats since a Jan. 4 home rout of Dallas that marked the franchise’s first victory over the Mavericks since 2005.
The main reason given for the firing was the negative environment that was engulfing this young team
Of greater concern to Heisley and general manager Chris Wallace, sources say, is the increasingly and openly negative atmosphere around such a young team, which appears to have changed Heisley’s urgency in terms of evaluating his coach. Without naming Iavaroni, several players were highly critical of the team’s strategy, development and identity in Sunday editions of the Commercial Appeal.
“We don’t have an identity,” rookie center Marc Gasol told the newspaper. “We don’t have one. We run around like chickens with our heads cut off. Youth can be a good thing, but we use it as an excuse.
“We’re always making excuses. We make excuses to the referees and to our teammates. We make excuses in practice. That’s all some people want to do is make excuses. You’re never going to get anywhere like that.”
High-scoring swingman Rudy Gay was even more critical, saying: “I know the things we’re working on [haven't] worked. We ain’t got no chemistry.”
Said Wallace earlier this week: “We were better early on … and then we slipped a little bit. Eventually you’ve got to get results to solidify that lessons are learned. We’re building for the future, but in the short term you want to have some tangible results. That makes it easier to build for the future. We take this period of time seriously for the team. These aren’t throw-away games or a throw-away season for us.”
ESPN also has a nice little table which says that Marc Iavaroni has the fifth worst coaching record in NBA History after his 18 month stay with the Grizzlies. These are the four men who have done worse
Coach W-L Win % Brian Winters 36-148 .196 Clair Bee 34-116 .227 Dick Harter 28-94 .230 Sidney Lowe 79-228 .257 Marc Iavaroni 33-90 .268
It feels sacrilegious to have Dick Harter’s name on that list. I’d actually forgotten about his spell in charge of Charlotte until someone reminded me of it recently.
Anyway, some thoughts on the situation
Marc Iavaroni
I’ve carried the same impression of Iavaroni since the first month of his rookie season as a Head Coach and that was — Iavaroni has too many voices in his head (Sloan, Riley, D’Antoni, Cunningham), and is not instilling one coherent style of play for his players.
Iavaroni has done badly as a Head Coach and it’s questionable whether he’ll ever do better. He had a great schooling as both a player and as a coach, it’s hard to see him improving from an added tenure as an assistant. Iavaroni might be best off coaching at a lower level (can’t see another NBA team hiring him in the near future) and learning his trade there.
The In-House Replacements
Johnny Davis had two spectacularly awful spells with both Philadelphia and Orlando. So if the team wants to improve their shot in the lottery he’s the right man for the job, but if they want a coach who could improve them he wouldn’t be a man I’d call upon.
Lionel Hollins is an interesting choice. He’s a very intelligent coach and formerly as a player, and he carries a good level of respect from those who have played for him. I think he’d be a solid interim coach.
Kevin O’Neill was the first name on my list after hearing of this decision. Management and ownership want to get tougher defensively, and went out and brought in Kevin during the offseason and in doing so giving him huge responsibility on the coaching staff. He’s a guy they like and he’s made some impact on the defensive end, and the players where singing his praises earlier in the season. However, I have yet to see O’Neill named as a frontrunner for the job.
The Lack of Chemistry
High-scoring swingman Rudy Gay was even more critical, saying: “I know the things we’re working on [haven't] worked. We ain’t got no chemistry.”
Look no further than two individuals – OJ Mayo and Rudy Gay – for the Grizzlies chemistry troubles. These two star scorers cause massive problems for their team with their inability to either create or involve their teammates offensively, all while needing touches, time on the ball, and shots galore at their teammates expense.
They’re also a prime reason why it’s a difficult stage for a young point guard to find his offensive legs, since they they generally force their point into playing off the ball and being a stand still jump shooter.
Grizzlies Youth
- Memphis are starting three rookies – Marc Gasol, OJ Mayo, Darrell Arthur
- There’s also a limited number of veterans around to help teach these guys – only two players over 24 who’ve played 500 minutes this season and they are Hakim Warrick and Quinton Ross.
So much youth, so many mistakes to be made.
Update: Lionel Hollins has been named interim head coach. Oh, and there’s a second article here from an irate Grizzlies writer who’s fed up with ownership/management and believes them to be the real problem.
Posted on January 23, 2009 by Dave