Byron Scott is fired.

Cool, I'm gonna make this our annual fired coach thread.

Cool


Really? Is it cool? That's a man's job Glenn. You can your cronies can laugh at his expense, but I'm not going to be a part of it.

Byron is a douche and not a good coach.

Any doubt that Frank is next?

Fuckin' Glan and his cronies.

That's "Close, Warm, Personal Cronies", actually.

Any doubt that Frank is next?
Why bother?

Given how fucked that team is, it's not like any coach is going to do much better. The new Russian owner might be telling him "play for a top pick".

Hell, D'Antoni might be out sooner than Frank at the rate he's going.

If things continue to deteriorate in new orleans, I wonder if Okafor or West will become available?

From reading Bill Simmons, this was very expected (i dont watch their games so i dont know first hand). Apparently the team totally quit on him as a coach half way through last season and had shitty body language in timeouts, Paul not even paying attention...

On Yahoo right now they tell a different story, Lax.

Apparently Chris and his manager/brother C.J were playing golf with Byron prior to the team plane leaving for Phoenix the other day.

Apparently someone in the organisation sat Paul and David West down and told them Coach had been fired and wanted them to appear at the press conference announcing Bower as Coach. Paul refused. West didn't.

Apparently everyone else on the team/in the organisation was tired of Scott, but not Chris Paul. Dude's only had 2 Coaches since high school and he gets super tight with them.

Whatever the real story is Scott is DONE and the Hornets could be in trouble. Bower has never been a head coach on any level... until now.

You trying to tell me Bill Simmons isn't always 100% correct? =O
My world is shattered...

Bower probably is only coach on paper, 50cents says Paul will be doing everything.

Paul wont be doing shit now.

Let's hope their season goes into the toilet while he's out and he demands a trade. We pony up Stuckey, Prince, Kwame for Chris Paul and a shitty contract.

Could save them a lot of money in the next 2 years PLUS they'd have Stuckey to play either guard spot. Stuckey, West and Okafor isn't pathetic - even in the West

^I've been dreaming about that for a long time.

Usually once this thread is posted, we start the speculation about who is next.

There are reports that Dunleavy could go next, and Frank is possible, too.

I wonder how LeBron feels about D'antoni?

At least NO doesn't have MC coaching.

The Kings are discussing a trade that would send Kenny Thomas to New Orleans in exchange for center Emeka Okafor.
The move would be a salary dump for New Orleans, as Thomas' $8.7 million is expiring this season. Okafor, on the other hand, is due about $62 million over the next five seasons. No deal is imminent -- if it does happen, Spencer Hawes' fantasy value would probably take a big hit, as might Jason Thompson's rebounding numbers.

IF Sacramento can pull that off they'd have a nice PF/C combo with Okafor, Hawes and Thompson.

They also have their rookie (Evans), Kev Martin and Beno (fucker started firing when I dropped him) in the backcourt.

THAT could be a nice core for the Kings. I actually think they have a reasonable starting point already but who gives a fuck about the Kings?

Tahoe.

Las Vegas

Hornets are fucked..

Larry Frank shitcanned

Deservedly so.

Deaths and shitcans are someone's specialty.

The Nets next hire is a biggie. Maybe they'll hire LeBron's high school or AAU coach.

How does he deserve it?

That team is all kinds of fucked up.

Harris and Lopez are the only guys that are starting calibre IMO the rest of their squad are not ready for that kind of responsiblity yet.

(Maybe I'm forgetting someone on the Nets but really - who cares? That team is pathetic)

To sack him is pointless anyway. They are gonna be shit all season regardless of who the Coach is. Should have let Frank finish the season and then ask Lebron who he wants as a Coach lol

I get what you're saying P, but 0-16 is pushing the all time NBA record for the worst start. They should have at least won a game by dumb luck already.

Yeah, I guess at some point sheer luck would help them.

But based on the talent they had available for most of those losses I'm surprised they were in some of those losses anyway.

At one point in the fantasy league I had Boone (stupid, I know) and CDR. I was checking them all the time. I have no fucking idea how they have avoided losing by 20 every single game.

When Trenton Hassell is playing serious minutes you are F.U.C.K.E.D!

Frank should have been fired years ago. This season wasn't his fault, but the other seasons that the Nets have sucked are.

By the way, I don't feel remotely bad for the Nets. It's funny. I think it's karma for calling a timeout to break 70.

Frank should have been fired years ago. This season wasn't his fault, but the other seasons that the Nets have sucked are.

By the way, I don't feel remotely bad for the Nets. It's funny. I think it's karma for calling a timeout to break 70.

Good call - I forgot about that shit.

Fuck the Nets. They can join Orlando on the shit list.

Fuck both them franchises.

Maybe the Nets can sign a lazy eyed fucker and a borderline cripple this off-season and make the circle complete.

DAMN! McGrady is a free agent this off-season!

I wonder if Grant Hill is too?

Frank should have been fired years ago. This season wasn't his fault, but the other seasons that the Nets have sucked are.

By the way, I don't feel remotely bad for the Nets. It's funny. I think it's karma for calling a timeout to break 70.

Is Aaron Williams even still in the league?

Deservedly so.
I dunno... he's gotten jerked around by Nets ownership more than most.

"blow up the team. no, don't blow up the team. yes, blow up the team" -- all in the span of three years or so, tied up in some land deal to move the team that was taking approximately forever?

He should've been afforded the opportunity to resign.

Up 3-2 on us following the 3 OT thriller, everything just snowballed down from there.

Seeing Del Harris and Pat Ewing mentioned for the NJN job.

kiki

Del got the assistant job. He seems to be he first call anybody looking to hire a first time HC makes to smooth the transition...

They'll all be gone after the season when the Russians take over.

So who is your tip for Nets Coach next season, GD?

Other than JVG I can't think of anyone out there that might make a superstar free agent even think about signing with them.

Maybe Bela Karolyi or that guy that has coached the Russian hockey team since forever.

Or maybe our old assistant Igor, he's out west somewhere now (phx with Gentry?)

You're probably pulling for Ivan Koloff, tho.

Maybe they'll bring in mike brown after he gets fired?

Putin

Mike Woodson could make some sense in NJ, I think his contract is up after the season.

Woodson?

That could be interesting...

They could sign Joe Johnson too.

C: Lopez
F: ? (2010 Pick)
F: CDR
G: Joe Johnson
G: Harris

Here's something I'm pulling out of my ass, what about Pat Riley?

Riles turns heel against the Heat, whacks DWade across the back with a steel folding chair.

Riles turns heel against the Heat, whacks DWade across the back with a steel folding chair.

But then D-Wade turns heel and joins forces with Riley at the PPV!!

LMAO - I think it's hilarious that you guys now bring wrestling up so often.

Despite popular belief I actually spend less than 10 mins watching it or reading about it on a daily basis.

But I'll do this one time for GD and for TBeau

Courtesy of Vince Russo:

IF Riley was gonna "turn heel" on Wade (isn't Riley already hated?) it would have to happen in the final game of the season with a playoff spot hanging in the balance.

So it comes down to the final game of the season. The Heat v NJ (it's wrestling - you can rig the schedule) With the Heat down 106-107 they call time out and draw up a play for Wade. As the players return to the floor Riley rushes the court and smashes Wade with a chair BOOM!!! Wade is unconscious.

The game is delayed as Riley goes fucking crazy. He has to be restrained by Alonzo Mourning and Patrick Ewing (Georgetown boys at the game). Eventually he leaves the court. Wade does not return to the game and the Heat lose, missing the playoffs by a single game.

Fast forward a couple of months and NJ have called a press conference. People assume it's to announce some minor shit but it's not minor it's fucking HUGE!

Riley, Zo and Ewing walk out and it's announced that Riles is Coach and the Georgetown boys are assistants. They laugh it up at how Riley cost the Heat a playoff spot in the final game, how Riley was tired of a no luxury tax paying owner, how Riley has finally got an owner willing to pay to win etc

And just as Riley finsihes talking shit out walks Wade. Wade walks straight up to Riley and it looks like shit is gonna go down ....

But then Wade and Riley hug, Wade signs a max contract to play for the Nets!!!!

^ You love that you got to post that.

It's actually very easy for me to write that shit.

Now if you asked me to write a 6 month stroyline with dialogue, scripts and shit for every 15 minute segment the dudes would have along the way I'd be fucked.

^ You love that you got to post that.

Not really. I post what I want when I want, like everyone else.

And if I loved it so much I'd go post my own little wrestling organisation thing in the Other Sports forum where my stories are the show.

But I couldn't be bothered. Something drastic will have to happen for wrestling to return to the 1996-2001 period of fandom. I don't know what that is but I doubt it's in WWE right now.

I assume that Wade is convulsing blood while he's down, right?

At what point does Riley reveal that his real name is "Patrik Rilionov" and break into the Russian national anthem?

Of course, Heat fans are booing and throwing empty paper cups and hot dog wrappers at Rilionov as he sings, then, Jamaal Tinsley shows up swinging a dustpan. A "pier sixer" ensues.

Speaking of the Nets, I just read that they have a total of 1,500 season ticket holders.

That's probably 1,499 more than they deserve.

The Nets next hire is a biggie. Maybe they'll hire LeBron's high school or AAU coach.

Nuggets George Karl could end up coaching Nets? (http://www.nj.com/nets/index.ssf/2010/01/ability_to_teach_will_be_prior.html)


While Nets GM Rod Thorn is not at liberty to discuss coaches under contract, he has several peers who believe that Nuggets coach George Karl will become available if the Nuggets crash in the postseason, or don’t reach the Final Four again this spring. Indeed, Denver owner Stan Kroenke offered Karl a two-year extension last month (plus a third-year team option). But the offer was declined, as they were reportedly millions apart. The discussions have been tabled until the end of the year. If Karl becomes available, Thorn has peers - practiced in the art of informed speculation — who believe the decision would be a slam dunk. Kiki Vandeweghe knows Karl’s ability - and flaws - as well as anyone, and he likes him personally and respects him as a coach. And the last time they worked together Karl hit the ground running and led Vandeweghe’s team to a 32-8 record and a playoff berth - an extraordinary achievement for an outsider, and an unexpected payoff for the six-year, $20 million deal he signed five years ago this month. There is some concern that Karl doesn’t develop young players (“He’s not a developer - he just doesn’t acknowledge young players,” Ray Allen famously said), but Karl disputes that. — Newark Star-Ledger

Would George Karl as Head Coach give the Nets a significant boost in acquiring a star free agent?

You have to assume Karl would be a better drawcard for star players than Kiki is, cause Karl has a long, long coaching history and has been to the playoffs a lot of times.

Are there any other coaches out there that NJ could realistically get that would be a better drawcard than Karl?

I still like Woodson there, too.

So, if you think Woodson goes to New Jersey (the guy would have to be nuts) then who goes to the Hawks in your mind GD?

Do you think George Karl stays in Denver? Or is Denver about to go all "Detroit" on Coaches - the team has great enough chemistry that they'll coach themselves?

I don't really keep up with coaching rumours and shit but by the looks of it this coming off-season could see serious change for a lot of teams.

Woodson has been butting heads with Atlanta ownership (and players) for the last 2+ years. IIRC, they made him an offer recently that he turned down. I'm just speculating that he may be looking for a different ownership situation and a long term deal.

No doubt Woodson wants and deserves a long term contract. I just thought you might have come across a rumour or something.

IF Woodson goes to NJ then I could see Karl staying in Denver.

IF Karl goes to NJ Woodson could end up anywhere.

The Nets next hire is a biggie. Maybe they'll hire LeBron's high school or AAU coach.

Pitino sniffing around.

LMAO!

I would love to see Pitino end up in NJ, Coach Cal end up in NY with both teams attempting to get Lebron only for him to turn around and stay in Cleveland!

He's a gloabl fucking star already. Being in the NY area ain't gonna make it happen. It happened already.

The NY or LA area isn't about making him a star, IMO. It's about 2 things:
-New York / Los Angeles lifestyle
-Huge bump in endorsement money

You don't get to life that life in places like Cleveland, Detroit, Milwaukee, etc. Plus the big rumor that it's in his contract with Nike that he gets an enormous bonus if he goes to a NY or LA team.

Either way, I'd say it's over 50/50 he stays with the Cavs. They've built a team around him. It's HIS team. He actually looks like he enjoys himself and his teammates.

Do they have the cap space to put a star next to him? I'd have to assume that with Shaq and Z expiring, they could resign LeBron, get one other top free agent, and someone mid-range. Would something like Amare/Bosh and Haywood be possible if LeBron and whoever signed for slightly below the max?

Sixers coach Jordan on way out, sources say

By Kate Fagan
Inquirer Staff Writer

Comcast-Spectacor is ready to fire 76ers coach Eddie Jordan, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the situation.

Several other sources also indicated that the organization will "seriously evaluate" Sixers general manager Ed Stefanski, who hired Jordan less than a year ago.

One of these sources indicated that the company had considered terminating Jordan earlier, but likely was "deterred" by the early-season firing of former Flyers coach John Stevens.

Comcast-Spectacor owns both franchises.

These sources indicated that Jordan could be fired before this season ends - if it becomes obvious he has lost the team - but more likely after the final game of this dismal season.

One of these sources also characterized Comcast-Spectacor chairman Ed Snider as "up in arms" about Jordan's coaching effort, with another source with intimate knowledge of the management's thinking calling Jordan's coaching "baffling."

An NBA source said Jordan's philosophy, which is overloaded on the offensive side with his high-IQ "Princeton" offense, was a mistake at its inception.

"The apathy for this team is back to where it was" in the '90s, the NBA source said. "This team, with that much cap space, at least should be one of the top five teams in the East."

The Sixers are maxed out on salaries through next season, at which point multiple contracts expire. The NBA source said the situation can be fixed. The hiring of a defensive-minded coach whose style would mesh with the team's athletic roster could return the Sixers to the playoffs.

According to sources close to the team, the players "no longer believe in Jordan's coaching system or philosophies" and are trying to finish this season strong for pride and contractual obligation.

The Sixers took a 23-39 record into last night's game, all but mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. Last season, the Sixers finished 41-41, losing to the Orlando Magic in the first round of the playoffs.

In May 2009, Stefanski signed Jordan, who had worked with him for the New Jersey Nets, to a four-year contract worth about $12 million to $13 million. But the fourth year is a team option, as confirmed by a source with knowledge of the deal, meaning the Sixers could fire Jordan after this season and would have to pay him only through the 2011-12 season.

Former Sixers coach Maurice Cheeks, fired in December 2008, comes off the books at the end of the 2009-10 season.

A source close to upper management within Comcast-Spectacor indicated that it's possible Jordan has only survived until now because the company already pulled one trigger, firing Stevens in early December and replacing him with Peter Laviolette.

According to team sources, the players have struggled all season with Jordan's "poor decision-making" during games and "no longer believe" in what Jordan is teaching.

As for possible replacements, it's unlikely Villanova coach Jay Wright would be interested at this time. He interviewed for the job last year.

When reached for comment regarding Jordan's future, Stefanski said that nothing had been discussed within management, that no determination had yet been made, and that he had no comment regarding Jordan's future.

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/sports/Sixers_coach_Jordan_on_way_out_sources_say.html

Good, that team needs something....

They need Richard Hamilton