Coaching for Christmas (with poll)

by Norsktroll on Dec 8, 2008 7:57 AM PST

Apparently our division rivals the Timberwolves are short before firing have fired head coach Randy Wittman. Fellow SBN blog Canis Hoopus is full of excellent articles about why he needs to go (e.g. this one explaining how to crack a 2-3 zone and why somehow their pro players can't get it done) - and why general manager Kevin McHale really should go with him or at least be forced to coach the mess he has created via draft and trades to a .500 record after firing the previous coach Dwayne Casey who had achieved this. Update: He was. Sort of. McHale takes over as head coach, and steps down from his front office post as vice president of basketball operations.

Washington has already released their coach Eddie Jordan after a bad start for the Wizards, which can be partly attributed to injuries to two of their starters (Arenas, Haywood). So did the Oklahoma City non-Sonics by firing P.J. Carlesimo in order to avoid potentially "beating" the worst record in league history (this former Sonics fans couldn't hold back his tears). And the Toronto Raptors sent 2007 Coach of the Year Sam Mitchell away after an 8-9 start (and new head coach Jay Triano already has his own fan site: FireJayTriano.com).

Others could follow them, e.g. Reggie Theus of the Kings. Fans on Sactown Royalty are not too happy with his performance so far. Will he still get a chance to improve? Things are not looking all perfect for our old friend Terry Porter either, who needs to revamp D'Antoni's run and gun system into his own while still having to integrate Shaq into a roster of players who don't know how to spell defense.

But does it really help to fire the coach to improve your team's performance? Or is it just the cheapest way for an owner/GM to say (to himself and the public) 'look, I'm doing something' since he can't fire all his players playing badly? Is it showing a growing impatience that coaches now get fired after just a quarter of the season? And who is next?

Poll

Assuming that Wittman (T-Wolves) gets fired this week anyway, who else doesn't celebrate Christmas as head coach of his current team?

Scott Brooks, Thunder, 2-19 (hey, firing Carlesimo brought a win)

5 votes

Mike Dunleavy, Clippers, 4-16 (fires himself since he is also GM)

11 votes

Larry Brown, Bobcats, 7-13 (maybe MJ could take over?)

0 votes

Reggie Theus, Kings, 5-16 (would he want Ron Ron back?)

24 votes

Marc Iavaroni, Grizzlies, 5-15 (Chris Wallace = McHale without playing experience?)

12 votes

Maurice Cheeks, Sixers, 9-12 (running with Elton Brand not such a good idea?)

11 votes

Terry Porter, Suns, 12-9 (Honor Terry Porter, but fire him first?)

2 votes

Nate McMillan, Blazers, 15-7 (screw the record, I just want to fire Nate!)

5 votes

Someone else (besides Wittman and those listed)

3 votes

No further coach will be fired before Christmas

18 votes

91 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 18 comments | 3 recs |

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Comments

Randy Whitman?

On drowning my daughter before she becomes a teenager (to my son)-"You know how when you want to drown someone, you first tie something heavy to the their foot?" My Son: "Yeah?" Me:"You're the something heavy"

by 92wastheyear on Dec 8, 2008 8:05 AM PST reply actions

What about

Micheal Curry and Del Negro? I would say either of those guys could be in trouble as they have no experience to fall back on.

Life is exhausting when you are this stupid.

by jonestr on Dec 8, 2008 8:30 AM PST reply actions

Entirely possible. So far it looks like they are still in a good position to make the playoff so I wouldn't expect quick cuts

And both teams still have to pay money to their previous coaches as far as I know.

B-Rex bandwagon begins

by Norsktroll on Dec 8, 2008 8:37 AM PST up reply actions

hey! I was gonna say Del Negro!

Remember, the Bulls front office has a penchant for firing coaches right before Xmas. That uptight dude Scott whatshisface got fired on Xmas Eve. Del Negro looks like the kind of dude who exists mainly to get fired.

"I would be in favor of trading LMA and Oden for a reliable starting PF at this point."

MT Suit, 11/25/08

by MT Suit on Dec 8, 2008 8:46 AM PST up reply actions

Nice post.

Lots of links, well laid out… def a rec.

I voted for Theus. And I think you said it best… owners/GMs fire in an attempt to show that they’re trying to do something.

IMO, GMs should get launched more often than the coach does.

"When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep -- not screaming, like the passengers in his car"

by you'vegottomakeyourfreethrows on Dec 8, 2008 9:07 AM PST reply actions

BAM!!!

Wittman GONE!

"When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep -- not screaming, like the passengers in his car"

by you'vegottomakeyourfreethrows on Dec 8, 2008 9:17 AM PST reply actions

AND...

McHale is taking over as coach.

Looks like somebody got their Christmas wish.

"When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep -- not screaming, like the passengers in his car"

by you'vegottomakeyourfreethrows on Dec 8, 2008 9:18 AM PST up reply actions

Also looks like things will play out

similarly to the Isaiah Thomas situation in NY minus a sexual harassment lawsuit.

by tingeyga on Dec 8, 2008 9:26 AM PST up reply actions

Fire Nate

Hire Phil Jackson.

by Sabonis4Ever on Dec 8, 2008 9:40 AM PST reply actions

iavaroni is next….

Draft Kyle Singler.

by Ben Golliver on Dec 8, 2008 11:01 AM PST reply actions

Scott Skiles

again. Book it!!!

by 92wastheyear on Dec 8, 2008 11:47 AM PST reply actions

All the guys fired deserved to be fired.

I’m sick of hearing all the ex-coaches and players complaining about these guys getting fired. These guys were mostly doing terrible jobs — Sam Mitchell was considered one of the worst coaches in the league the year before his COY award, and that award just gave him a temporary stay of execution. PJ might be the worst person to relate to pro ball players ever (Spree’s choke, driving away Clyde, feuds with Rod, etc. etc.).

Eddie Jordan maybe got kind of a bad break, but he’s coached a defense in the bottom third of the league every year for the past five years. I’m of the opinion that you have to blame a bad defense on the coach. A mediocre defense (ranked say 10-15 of 30) might be just problems with personnel, but a terrible defense (20-30) is a coaching problem in both system and incentives.

So Eddie built his team as an all offense, no defense team, which predictably sucked when his offensive star was out. Strong defensive teams can still win some games when your offensive star is out. He’s victim of the weakness of his own coaching philosophy, and clearly that team was going nowhere with Eddie continuing to be happy with a defense in the mid-20s.

by howlingfantods on Dec 8, 2008 3:40 PM PST reply actions

Weren't the Wizards

Strong defensively all of last regular season?

by Eventine on Dec 8, 2008 5:06 PM PST up reply actions

Not really

They we 12th in the league in points allowed per game. But if you look at their points per 100 possessions they ranked 24th out of 30 in the league. So howling’s take on their defense may be a touch harsh, but I wouldn’t characterize Washington of having a good defense either.

by tingeyga on Dec 8, 2008 5:15 PM PST up reply actions

I always go by defensive rating (points per possessions).

Points allowed per game is wholly about pace, which doesn’t have much to do with whether your team is more likely to win than not. Offensive and defensive efficiency ratings are by far the most predictive stats for team win/loss records.

And as tingeyga mentioned, the Wizards were 24th of 30 teams last year in defensive rating.

by howlingfantods on Dec 8, 2008 8:06 PM PST up reply actions