Black Thursday (and beyond): Coaches Getting Axed (VDN's turn)

[Lucky17]

To no one's surprise, Doug Collins is stepping down as head coach of the Sixers:

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/9185724/doug-collins-resigns-philadelphia-76ers-head-coach-remain-team-consultant

He'll collect the remaining $4 mill on his contract as a "team consultant." I don't care what he does for the Sixers, just as long as it keeps him out of the broadcast booth.

In more surprising news, Byron Scott has been fired:

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/9186129/byron-scott-fired-coach-cleveland-cavaliers

Not sure how much better Scott could have done with that roster, although I can't say I've followed the Cavs at all this year. But, who else is out there that can do a better job? Bring Mike Brown back? Or, do they hire a rookie coach?

[indeedproceed]

To no one's surprise, Doug Collins is stepping down as head coach of the Sixers:

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/9185724/doug-collins-resigns-philadelphia-76ers-head-coach-remain-team-consultant

He'll collect the remaining $4 mill on his contract as a "team consultant." I don't care what he does for the Sixers, just as long as it keeps him out of the broadcast booth.

In more surprising news, Byron Scott has been fired:

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/9186129/byron-scott-fired-coach-cleveland-cavaliers

Not sure how much better Scott could have done with that roster, although I can't say I've followed the Cavs at all this year. But, who else is out there that can do a better job? Bring Mike Brown back? Or, do they hire a rookie coach?

Brian Shaw, COME ON DOWWWWNNNNNNNNNNNN

Honestly though, I didn't believe Byron Scott was going to be let go, but then Kyrie Irving has been recently dodging questions about Scott's future, and lashing out and implying his injuries were in part faked...

And if Irving and Scott weren't gelling, the cavs didn't have a second option.

[Lucky17]

Oh, yeah: Shaw would be a solid choice, there. Probably the most experienced "rookie" coach out there.

Did Scott and Kyrie butt heads?

[LooseCannon]

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/9186129/byron-scott-fired-coach-cleveland-cavaliers[/url]

Not sure how much better Scott could have done with that roster, although I can't say I've followed the Cavs at all this year. But, who else is out there that can do a better job? Bring Mike Brown back? Or, do they hire a rookie coach?

From the article:

They lost four games in which they led by at least 20 points, becoming the only team to do that in at least the past 10 years, according to STATS LLC. One of those four losses -- on March 20 at home against James and the Heat -- may have sealed Scott's fate.

Scott was harshly criticized after the game, not only for some his substitution patterns but also for not calling a timeout during a pivotal stretch in the second half to slow Miami's charge.

Maybe Comic Sans Dan really hated losing a winnable game against Lebron.  Some sources point the finger at Scott's deteriorating relationship with the players, especially Kyrie Irving.

[StartOrien]

Man, what is Byron Scott doing to these elite point guards?

[celtsfan84]

Add Lawrence Frank to the list.

I msut say that I'm somewhat puzzled that the conventional line of thinking here seems to be that Doug Collins is a really good coach who was unjustly fired.  Collins has precious few legit accomplishments on his coaching resume.  In 11 years as a head coach, he has won four playoff series.  In his last 8 years as a head coach, he has won 1 playoff series.  What has he ever done that makes everyone think he's a great coach?

And per Zach Lowe on Byron Scott's performance in Cleveland:

If Byron Scott is really on the hot seat, even though he's on the books for $4.5 million next season, it will be because the Cavaliers' defense has shown zero improvement. They're 27th in points allowed per possession after finishing in the same spot last season, and though it's tempting to blame the Anderson Varejao injury, the difference defensively without him on the floor has been negligible, per NBA.com.

There are obviously some mitigating factors. The Cavs are young, and young players are generally overmatched on defense in their first couple of years in the NBA. Starting Tyler Zeller at center is a big disadvantage; bullies can push him around, and like most rookies, he has found NBA-level help-and-recover stuff confusing.

But the lack of improvement in the big picture is alarming. Kyrie Irving is almost no better in Year 2 than he was in Year 1 (which is to say, he's not good), and there is just a general lack of coordination to Cleveland's defense that would worry me if I worked for the team. The Cavs can usually execute the first step of help defense without any problems, but the steps that must take place behind that first line of defense are a complete mess. Nobody helps the helper at the right time, guys are way out of position, miscommunication is rampant, and teams generally score easily against them.

Again: Bad defense from inexperienced teams is expected. But the Cavs haven't shown any improvement, and mass confusion of this sort is alarming.

Typically, if you don't get the job done, you get fired.

[Lucky17]

Add Lawrence Frank to the list.

I guess Frank's recent ultimatum to Pistons brass not to bring him back unless they also picked up his 2014-15 option didn't go over well.

I msut say that I'm somewhat puzzled that the conventional line of thinking here seems to be that Doug Collins is a really good coach who was unjustly fired.  Collins has precious few legit accomplishments on his coaching resume.

Collins has now spent 3 years or less in each of his last four head coaching jobs. Man knows how to wear out his welcome.

[celtsfan84]

Add Lawrence Frank to the list.

I guess Frank's recent ultimatum to Pistons brass not to bring him back unless they also picked up his 2014-15 option didn't go over well.

I msut say that I'm somewhat puzzled that the conventional line of thinking here seems to be that Doug Collins is a really good coach who was unjustly fired.  Collins has precious few legit accomplishments on his coaching resume.

Collins has now spent 3 years or less in each of his last four head coaching jobs. Man knows how to wear out his welcome.

Yeah, Collins hasn't been a great success anywhere and has burned out in all of his coaching stops.  There was another topic here on Collins earlier in the week where the consensus seemed to label him as a great coach.  I must've missed all of his great coaching accomplishments.  I would think that this is his last stop.

Byron Scott might get another job soon.  After his Finals appearances in New Jersey and some mild success in New Orleans, he has some credibility around the league.  He might get the benefit of the doubt on a tough job in Cleveland.

Lawrence Frank will probably have to go back to being an assistant coach before he gets another chance.

[Who]

Not Scott's fault the Cavs don't play good defense. It's the players fault and the front office's fault for assembling those players.

They simply do not have enough defensive talent on that roster.

Unfair criticism.

[Lucky17]

Lawrence Frank will probably have to go back to being an assistant coach before he gets another chance.

A little disappointed that Frank won't get to coach that Pistons team next year. I think he's done a decent job with that collection of players. Outside of Knight, Monroe, and Drummond, there's not a whole lot there to hang your hat on.

[Fafnir]

Not Scott's fault the Cavs don't play good defense. It's the players fault and the front office's fault for assembling those players.

They simply do not have enough defensive talent on that roster.

Unfair criticism.

I don't know, they had consistent poor effort in transition the entire year. They were never going to be a good defensive team, but they could have tried some.

He wasn't getting the effort out of them.

[BballTim]

To no one's surprise, Doug Collins is stepping down as head coach of the Sixers:

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/9185724/doug-collins-resigns-philadelphia-76ers-head-coach-remain-team-consultant

He'll collect the remaining $4 mill on his contract as a "team consultant." I don't care what he does for the Sixers, just as long as it keeps him out of the broadcast booth.

In more surprising news, Byron Scott has been fired:

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/9186129/byron-scott-fired-coach-cleveland-cavaliers

Not sure how much better Scott could have done with that roster, although I can't say I've followed the Cavs at all this year. But, who else is out there that can do a better job? Bring Mike Brown back? Or, do they hire a rookie coach?

Brian Shaw, COME ON DOWWWWNNNNNNNNNNNN

  Unrelated, but I really hate Shaw.

[slamtheking]

To no one's surprise, Doug Collins is stepping down as head coach of the Sixers:

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/9185724/doug-collins-resigns-philadelphia-76ers-head-coach-remain-team-consultant

He'll collect the remaining $4 mill on his contract as a "team consultant." I don't care what he does for the Sixers, just as long as it keeps him out of the broadcast booth.

In more surprising news, Byron Scott has been fired:

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/9186129/byron-scott-fired-coach-cleveland-cavaliers

Not sure how much better Scott could have done with that roster, although I can't say I've followed the Cavs at all this year. But, who else is out there that can do a better job? Bring Mike Brown back? Or, do they hire a rookie coach?

Brian Shaw, COME ON DOWWWWNNNNNNNNNNNN

  Unrelated, but I really hate Shaw.

I hate both Scott and Shaw.  one Laker scumbag out, one Laker scumbag in.  hope Shaw fails even more miserably.

[clover]

I wouldn't mind Frank coming back as a top assistant for Doc.

[Lucky17]

Two more heads roll off the chopping block this week.

Lance ("Shooting") Blanks out as GM in Phoenix:

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/9200972/phoenix-suns-part-ways-gm-lance-blanks-tough-season

Conventional wisdom says Suns interim coach Lindsey Hunter will soon be handed his walking papers, too.

And this morning, Bobcats rookie coach Mike Dunlap is a one-and-done:

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/9203383/charlotte-bobcats-fire-coach-mike-dunlap-one-season

Charlotte's just awful. No direction, no plan, no future.