Grizzlies let go of head coach Iavaroni

[Shaucob_Burjan]

Report: Grizzlies let go of head coach Iavaroni

By NBA.com staff reports
Posted Jan 22 2009 10:33PM
A source tells TNT's David Aldridge that the Memphis Grizzlies have fired head coach Marc Iavaroni. Assistant coach Johnny Davis will take over the team on an interim basis, the source said.

The Grizzlies are currently on a seven-game losing streak with an 11-30 record. They have lost 15 of their last 17 games and in last place in the Southwest Division. Iavaroni's overall record in Memphis was 33-90.

Iavaroni is a 17-year veteran of the NBA as both a player and coach and was hired as the head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies on May 31, 2007. For Iavaroni, this was his first head coaching position in the league.
Prior to joining the Grizzlies Iavaroni spent the previous five seasons with the Phoenix Suns, during which time they made four trips to the NBA Playoffs, including two appearances in the Western Conference Finals. Over the course of the five seasons Iavaroni spent with the Suns, the team compiled an impressive regular season record of 250-160 (.610).

Interim head coach Davis has over 30 years of NBA experience. He was head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers for the the 1996-97 campaign (22-60) before joining the Grizzlies as an assistant coach.
Iavaroni's firing makes him the seventh NBA head coach to be fired this season. Reggie Theus, Sam Mitchell, Maurice Cheeks, Eddie Jordan, Randy Wittman and P.J. Carlesimo were also let go by their organizations.



NBA.com

look at their damn roster. considering they packed Pau Gasol away in one of the worst trade in nba history... what more do they want from him?

 

[Osmodiar]

Agree, pretty harsh. They've been picking up scrap (Miles, Francis, Haddidi) due to the idiot Chris Wallace and they fire Iavaroni? You can only work with what you've got really. They've got maybe 3 decent players on that team, one of which is off focusing on the Slam Dunk contest because their season is already over. I feel sorry for the guy who comes in next year if they don't get the #1 pick...even then it's a huge ask.

Then again, maybe the new guy will start someone better than Darrel Arhtur.

 

[Messenger]

Scapegoat, eh.

 

[Scallop Industry Thug]

They made a resolution to improve their defense. They are actually giving up 7ppg game less. But they are playing slower (20 less shots per game) and are once again conceding 48%FG. Id imagine they are still towards the bottom in terns of defensive efficiency.

I wonder if the decision to slow the game down was the coaches choice and what impact if any it had on the decison to give him the ass.

 

[wickedcherub]

Thank **** for that, what a terrible team to watch. Nothing but shit iso plays, they are almost as bad to watch as the Lebrons. Maybe Mike Conley will look less like a poor man's TJ Ford now.

Edit: Ah balls this isn't my account.

 

[Altum Volantes]

A waste of time franchise that will always just make up the numbers in the NBA.

 

[peternorth]

where's my thread listing all of the firings so far?

 

[Messenger]

I wonder if the new guy will accede to OJ Mayo's wishes and let him play PG?

Then what becomes of Conley and Lowry?

And I just love that a rookie is demanding a position......... it begins.

 

[Shaucob_Burjan]

They should look to trade Conley.

that dude looked real good in college playing with Oden... but now i'm going to conclude that he's a bust.

he has been given lots of opportunities with decent young talent around him, but averages scrub numbers.

 

[Eagle87]

Grizzlies to hire current Bucks assistant Lionel Hollins as head coach. Hollins has been interim head coach at the Grizzlies twice before and has a flash 18-46 record in those 2 stints.

Another quality Chris Wallace pick up....

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3856293

 

[Borgsta]

look at their damn roster. considering they packed Pau Gasol away in one of the worst trade in nba history... what more do they want from him?

Disagree fairly strongly as Marc Gasol is proving to be quite the good pick up and they got 2 first round picks from the Lakers along with Crittenton.

There are many worse trades in the history of the NBA. Sure it was annoying because the Lakers got a guy they wanted desperately but Memphis didn't do too badly out of the deal. Plus they have a load of money to throw at free agents for the next 2 seasons.

 

[Eagle87]

Disagree fairly strongly as Marc Gasol is proving to be quite the good pick up and they got 2 first round picks from the Lakers along with Crittenton.

There are many worse trades in the history of the NBA. Sure it was annoying because the Lakers got a guy they wanted desperately but Memphis didn't do too badly out of the deal. Plus they have a load of money to throw at free agents for the next 2 seasons.

....and they will be lining up to play for Lionel Hollins!

 

[celtic_pride]

Disagree fairly strongly as Marc Gasol is proving to be quite the good pick up and they got 2 first round picks from the Lakers along with Crittenton.

There are many worse trades in the history of the NBA. Sure it was annoying because the Lakers got a guy they wanted desperately but Memphis didn't do too badly out of the deal. Plus they have a load of money to throw at free agents for the next 2 seasons.

IMHO this is the worst trade (most lopsided) in NBA history
From NBA.COM

On June 9, 1980, Red Auerbach pulled off the type of trade that had earned him a reputation for thievery in his more than three decades in the league. Auerbach dealt the first and 13th picks in the 1980 NBA Draft to Golden State for the third pick in the 1980 Draft and four-year veteran center Robert Parish. The Warriors selected Purdue center Joe Barry Carroll with the first pick and tabbed Mississippi forward Rickey Brown 13th. The Celtics took forward Kevin McHale of Minnesota, and thus added Parish and McHale to a frontcourt that already featured Larry Bird and Cedric Maxwell.

LOL Nabbing two future hall of fame players and multiple championship winners for a pack of speculative picks that ended up to be totally crap

No one could ever fleece another NBA club like the great Red Auerbach

 

[celtic_pride]

Disagree fairly strongly as Marc Gasol is proving to be quite the good pick up and they got 2 first round picks from the Lakers along with Crittenton.

There are many worse trades in the history of the NBA. Sure it was annoying because the Lakers got a guy they wanted desperately but Memphis didn't do too badly out of the deal. Plus they have a load of money to throw at free agents for the next 2 seasons.

IMHO this is the worst trade (most lopsided) in NBA history
From NBA.COM

On June 9, 1980, Red Auerbach pulled off the type of trade that had earned him a reputation for thievery in his more than three decades in the league. Auerbach dealt the first and 13th picks in the 1980 NBA Draft to Golden State for the third pick in the 1980 Draft and four-year veteran center Robert Parish. The Warriors selected Purdue center Joe Barry Carroll with the first pick and tabbed Mississippi forward Rickey Brown 13th. The Celtics took forward Kevin McHale of Minnesota, and thus added Parish and McHale to a frontcourt that already featured Larry Bird and Cedric Maxwell.

LOL Nabbing two future hall of fame players and multiple championship winners for a pack of speculative picks that ended up to be total busts

No one could ever fleece another NBA club like the great Red Auerbach

 

[Messenger]

They should look to trade Conley.

that dude looked real good in college playing with Oden... but now i'm going to conclude that he's a bust.

he has been given lots of opportunities with decent young talent around him, but averages scrub numbers.

The "young talent" consists of Rudy Gay and now Mayo. Warrick? Hmmm, Lowry - a solid back up PG, Arthur is a rookie.

The problem is the lack of veteran quality. And to think they waived Antoine Walker............

 

[The Norm]

They should look to trade Conley.

that dude looked real good in college playing with Oden... but now i'm going to conclude that he's a bust.

he has been given lots of opportunities with decent young talent around him, but averages scrub numbers.

They absolutely have to trade Conley. If they can find a decent big-man in this year's draft they will be an exciting team in a couple of seasons.

 

[mdc]

Disagree fairly strongly as Marc Gasol is proving to be quite the good pick up and they got 2 first round picks from the Lakers along with Crittenton.

There are many worse trades in the history of the NBA. Sure it was annoying because the Lakers got a guy they wanted desperately but Memphis didn't do too badly out of the deal. Plus they have a load of money to throw at free agents for the next 2 seasons.

Agreed.

It was still a poor trade, but the Kidd trade was far, far worse, and the Shaq trade would have been worse as well if not for Phx's witch doctors who somehow managed to raise him from the dead.

 

[Borgsta]

Agreed.

It was still a poor trade, but the Kidd trade was far, far worse, and the Shaq trade would have been worse as well if not for Phx's witch doctors who somehow managed to raise him from the dead.

even with Shaq's improved form this year can you really say they have done well out of the deal?

They have had to alter their style of play and now lose to crap like Charlotte by 20-30 points.

 

[Inferno]

Disagree fairly strongly as Marc Gasol is proving to be quite the good pick up and they got 2 first round picks from the Lakers along with Crittenton.

There are many worse trades in the history of the NBA. Sure it was annoying because the Lakers got a guy they wanted desperately but Memphis didn't do too badly out of the deal. Plus they have a load of money to throw at free agents for the next 2 seasons.

Agreed both teams got what they wanted though the picks Memphis got are only going to be in the late 20's anyway (they were both Lakers picks right?).

 

[Look2Me4Guidance]

even with Shaq's improved form this year can you really say they have done well out of the deal?

Of course they have. O' Neal has been Phx's best player by a fair way this year.