12/22/24
January 26, 2004
nets fire byron scott: after a sluggish start for the 2-time defending eastern coference champs.
posted by oliver_crunk to basketball at 12:16 PM - 22 comments
poor byron. i'm not a big fan of the guy but he got no credit when they truned it around and now he's the first sacrificial lamb when some injuries and a little losing come down the pike. he's not the best coach in the world and probably not the best suited for the situation as it stands in jersey right now. the press has had him on the chopping block for the last 7 months and i think it effected the nets play somewhat. don't think this move helps the team much for this year. wonder who'll they'll bring in though.
posted by oliver_crunk at 12:41 PM on January 26, 2004
Ufez, the move to Brooklyn is at least three years away, and more if the construction plans run into political obstacles, so I can't see that being a factor. Hell, Ratner doesn't even control the team yet, subject to vote by the other owners, though one can probably assume that he does get a say in such decisions.
posted by billsaysthis at 12:59 PM on January 26, 2004
That Scott is the all-time winningest coach in Nets history doesn't really say much. The Nets have a long and ignominious tradition of losing....
posted by andrewraff at 01:01 PM on January 26, 2004
...he got no credit when they truned it around ... This is interesting. A lot of people (including Jason Kidd and the Wizards) gave a lot of credit to Eddie Jordan for the Nets success, and to his credit, he had a lot to do with the turnaround. But look at the standings. Byron has got a "slumping" Nets squad in first place in the Atlantic fifth in conference, the Wizards are way behind. Byron also had to deal with integrating Zo, then gameplanning for playing without Zo, and was probably starting to plan for the arrival of Eddie Griffin. This move stinks. Once the Nets move to Brooklyn, Cinderella's buggy turns back into a pumpkin, and the Nets turn back into the Nets. How long until we get an ESPN Up Close interview of Jason Kidd pining for the days when Scott was coach? Next question: Who the hell does NJ bring in to right the ship? As the addage goes: You don't fire a coach unless you have a coach in hand.
posted by lilnemo at 01:07 PM on January 26, 2004
That Scott is the all-time winningest coach in Nets history doesn't really say much. The Nets have a long and ignominious tradition of losing.... What? The Nets historically have lost a lot, so getting them to win doesn't count? And becoming the All-Time winningest coach in Franchise History in 2.5 seasons isn't exceptional? That analysis makes the baby Jesus cry.
posted by lilnemo at 01:09 PM on January 26, 2004
Everyone knows JKidd is responsible for the turn around in East Rutherford, and not Lord Byron.
posted by garfield at 01:19 PM on January 26, 2004
Everyone knows JKidd is responsible for the turn around in East Rutherford, and not Lord Byron. Personally, I credit Rod Thorn. We'll know soon won't we?
posted by lilnemo at 01:22 PM on January 26, 2004
A lot of coaches are getting their resumés polished up right now. There are enough talented players to turn the situation around immediately. Who knows if he'd be able to handle psychiatric ward patients Gomp! and JKidd, but I'd like to see Avery Johnson get an interview.
posted by dusted at 01:26 PM on January 26, 2004
Couldn't argue with that. Egg, chicken. {shrug}
posted by garfield at 01:28 PM on January 26, 2004
I agree unreservedly with nemo. This is a sin, a shame and pointless on the level with tossing Doc outta Orlando. Blaming the coach for a slow patch is idiotic. Hell, (unfair comparison coming up) the Lakers are only about four games ahead of the Nets right now; is Jackson on HIS way out? Having said all that, Doc might be a likely candidate as well.
posted by forksclovetofu at 01:54 PM on January 26, 2004
That Scott is the all-time winningest coach in Nets history doesn't really say much. The Nets have a long and ignominious tradition of losing.... That's why I said it was sad. Almost all of the NBA franchises that have been around for any point in time have had at least a little success and at least one good coach who stuck around for more than 2-3 years, right? It's sad that this hasn't happened for NJ. Does that stat include the ABA years? Anyone know? And I agree with tofu man, Doc Rivers could be a good candidate. What about Riley? His name was tossed around a couple of weeks ago when people began grumbling about Don Nelson a little bit. AJ's just half a season removed from the league, which seems a bit soon to jump right in and take over a team, to me at least.
posted by Ufez Jones at 02:05 PM on January 26, 2004
Finally, validation. :p As for Doc, there are reports circulating that the Atlanta Hawks are ready and willing to hand him the franchise.
posted by lilnemo at 02:05 PM on January 26, 2004
Riley isn't going anywhere unless another team is willing to offer him a percetage of the team comparable to what Arison lined up for him. I just don't see it. Pat's competitive, but he's not just going to leave an ownership stake on the table. Besides he feels a sense of loyalty to Arison.
posted by lilnemo at 02:08 PM on January 26, 2004
Man, if Riley goes to Jersey/Brooklyn, Miami is gonna put a hit out on his ass. Seems unlikely to me, he dropped out to play desk games for awhile and I can't believe he's finished in that phase just yet. Given the INSANE turnover in the East, there really couldn't be a larger pool of legit names to pick from. Y'know, Spurrier's available. I hadn't heard that about Doc. If he can turn around Atlanta, he'll have a place as a coach reserved for the rest of his career. If not, he might flame out and end up in the booth. Odds?
posted by forksclovetofu at 02:14 PM on January 26, 2004
Wow, what a screw job. Maybe Jason can convince the Nets to set T.J. up as coach.
posted by yerfatma at 03:27 PM on January 26, 2004
TJ's head is about as thick as byron's neck. no reason for this comment....jus sayin'.
posted by oliver_crunk at 03:36 PM on January 26, 2004
TJ?
posted by billsaysthis at 05:10 PM on January 26, 2004
posted by oliver_crunk at 05:20 PM on January 26, 2004
Glad someone else noticed. If the Nets move to NYC, Kidd and Posada can start a support group for parents of kids with malformed noggins.
posted by yerfatma at 05:34 PM on January 26, 2004
That's a talented squad in a weak Eastern Conference. I would say the Nets turned it around in spite of Scott, rather than because of him. I am wondering if this was inevitable anyway, as in they had so long to fire him before J-Kidd's new deal was voided or somesuch. You don't go from not signing because Scott is coach to quickly getting a deal done without having something in the works on the down low. In the end, if the (arguably) best point guard in the league says the coach is out, in this day and age, he is out.
posted by pivo at 06:15 PM on January 26, 2004
I would say the Nets turned it around in spite of Scott, rather than because of him. I wouldn't go that far. Byron thinks pretty well on his feet. He often adopts strategies that other coaches are slow to adopt (at least defensively). Case in point: Rashard Lewis. Rashard Lewis is a model of the current 6'10" SF who shoots from the outside rather than post up. Rashard had been on a bit of a scoring streak on the Sonics EC road trip, until he reached Jersey; where Scott assigned Gomp to play Rashard physically. Rashard had a subpar game. No one else does this. I'm not sure why. Noted tall SF shooters have always had trouble with physical defenders. He had something to do with the turnaround, how much is negotiable. In the end, if the (arguably) best point guard in the league says the coach is out, in this day and age, he is out. Truer words were never spoken.
posted by lilnemo at 06:56 PM on January 26, 2004
If the Nets really are moving to Brooklyn, they need an overhaul, and this is piece number 1. Oddly, I read a brief interview with JKidd this weekend in the local paper and he was asked about Scott. He gave a very congenial answer (in spite of differences, blah blah, work together, blah blah). But this is an unsurprising move. But Scott is the all-time winningest coach in franchise history? That's a bit sad.