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by MattStark

Last Post 11 days, 4 hours Ago


Iavaroni on Hot Seat?
Mar 27, 2008 | 4:10 PM
Category: Sports
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Featured On: MyFoxMemphis

Yes the hometown paper recently spelled his name wrong in their headline. And Yes, the Memphis Grizzlies are not very good, and Yes, they're not drawing fans AGAIN.

BUt is it already time to bring the curtain down on the Marc Iavaroni Era in Memphis?

A report in the NY Daily news says it could happen- and soon. Mitch Lawrence writes: The Memphis Grizzlies have targeted ex-Knicks coach Larry Brown to take over as head coach for Marc Iavaroni after another playoff-less finish this season.

Brown, 67, an executive VP with the 76ers, has been out of coaching since his disastrous 23-win season with the Knicks in 2005-06. The Knicks fired him for violating Garden policies with four years left on a $50million deal. He collected $18.5 million in a settlement.

Several NBA sources say that the Grizzlies want Brown to succeed Iavaroni, who has struggled in his first season as an NBA head coach and has come under criticism for failing to effectively communicate with players. The Grizzlies are in last place in the Southwest Division. Memphis would be Brown's ninth NBA coaching stop since 1976.

My response, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

A year ago the Grizz, and several other NBA teams, were all hot and heavy to hire Iavaroni, who was seen as one of the bright up-and-comers in the coaching profession. Suddenly he's a Super Bowl Sunday Tuna wrap that you just found in the back seat of your car that you can't wait to throw away?

Why?

Weren't the Grizz expected to take some lumps this season? Granted they've taken more than anyone-- myself included-- thought they'd take. But is is all Iavaroni's fault?

Didn't the Grizz give up on the season after trading Pau Gasol back on Feb 1st?  So we're judging Iavaroni's coaching skills on just 46 games-less than half an NBA season? Anyone out there think that's a good idea?

Obviously I don't know what's happening behind closed doors, or if Coach Iavaroni plays well with others in the front office, but ditching this guy just because the team is terrible--again-- reeks of desperation to me.

Hiring Larry Brown is going to revive the fan base? You sure about that?

He didn't revive much of anything in New York, other than his bank account, after milking the Knicks for a fat severance check before they kicked him to the curb.

So go ahead- please explain to me why the Grizz want to give Iavaroni the bum rush, and roll out the red carpet for Brown?

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Member Comments Total Comments: 2
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lazygee
Mar 27, 2008 | 6:53 PM

Well Matt, Im one of those Grizzlies fan who thought they should ve hire Brown last year. Here are a few of my reasons. The Grizzlies are a young team without an identity, and a style of play, they are soft, and don't play defense. That's alot to ask a first year coach without any experience to deal with. If you look at this team, they should not be as bad as they are because there is talent on this team ,but its the wrong talent . Iavaroni was brought to Memphis to revise our team with a Phoenix style system, but our player are not those type of players, (ie) we don't have a Steve Nash and Omari Stodimier ect. Also why did we draft a point guard no. 4 and then sit him on the bench behind the 2 guys that was already there. I could go on and on about this franchise, but I won't.. Larry Brown Bring him on and I'll bet these guys will at lease play defense
MattStark read my blog
Apr 29, 2008 | 2:22 PM

Gonna bump this with the news that Charlotte just hired Larry Brown. If you're counting it's his 9th head coaching gig in the NBA.

This should get Iavaroni off the hot seat, key word being should.

As I wrote, I don't think he should have been on the hot seat in the first place.

What the Grizz need to do now, is come out quickly with a vote of confidence for Coach I.
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MattStark

I love this job so much I'd do it for free, but thankfully I don't have to- because my kids gotta eat.

Member Since: 10/18/2006


 

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