LOL, welcome to reality Rick Carlisle! Back to back 50 win seasons in your first two years and you get fired. That's tough.
He wasn't just fired, he was instantly replace with Larry Brown. I don't know if Dumars would have acted so quickly unless a coach of Brown's stature was available. No doubt Dumars was not satisfied with Carlisle, but if only the retread losers were available he might not have acted. Brown is a smart cookie, and he is an unbelievable coach...just ask the Clippers. Anyone who can take the Clippers and give them a winning season is a coach worthy of the Hall of Fame. What I like most about this move, is that all the players on Detroit are "coachable." No Superstar egos to contend with, which is why I think Brown passed on Cleveland and some other openings.
was very risky. He certainly has done a good job on a team without any superstars. Heck, he was Coach of the Year last season, the Pistons have the best record in the East this year, they make it to the conference finals for the first time since '91....and he's fired?!? Brown isn't a lock to join the Pistons, either. According to ESPN, he's to decide between Detroit and Houston within the next 72 hours. And why is Brown considered to be that much of an upgrade over Carlisle? Yeah, he took the Sixers to the Finals a couple of years ago - it looked like Carlisle was on track to do the same with the Pistons. Heck, the man has taken them further each year! He should have been given at least another year to see if they could make it over the hump and get into the Finals. Carlisle deserved better.
Latest buzz, reported in the LA Times, is that the Lakers may have soured on Pippen, but our strongly in the running to pick up Gary Payton. Going out on a limb, I'm willing to suggest that Payton and Bryant would be kind of an okay backcourt. The allternative plan still appears to be a forward, with Juwann Howard getting most prominent mention. I haven't seen much of Howard the last few years. How's his game holding up?
Number 1 they need Shaq 100% in body and mind. After that, I think Payton would be a prime fit, but who knows? Will Payton take a pay cut? Is L.A. at this point in the best interest of Payton long term? Is Phil going to coach more than another year, will Kobe test the free agency market? Will Shaq come back to form? Lots of questions. And if, if San Antonio were to score and get Kidd, could they still beat San Antonio? Maybe Payton to Minnesota? Very interesting year coming up.
Word is he would take a pay cut. As for his long-term interest, how long that term is remains uncertain. In any event, the one thing that would complete Payton's career is a championship. Contending in LA might also restore some lustre to his image - give him a chance at juicier endorsements and the like... Don't know about Phil. Unless his health deteriorates again, I think he'll at least try to set the all-time record for championships as a coach. I think Kobe will stay with the Lakers for as long as they remain committed to him and to winning. Shaq is making the right noises, but he has a way of doing that. We'll see about his physical shape. He's getting some heavy nudges: In addition to Magic's statement on TNT about Duncan, and Phil's public criticism of Shaq's failure to show for "exit interviews," the same article that mentioned Payton suggested that the offense may be re-tuned to feature Kobe more prominently if there's any doubt about Shaq's condition. I expect Kobe wouldn't have much of a problem with that. They COULD. Don't know if they would. I hope it doesn't happen, though, both for the Lakers' sake and for the sake of the league. Why even have an Eastern Conference if EVERYONE jumps to the West. I guess that could apply to Payton, too - but I'd still love to see him with the Lakers. So... apply the rule to everyone except the Lakers. Definitely. The off-season could be very interesting, lots of free agents, lots of coaching openings, lots of hungry teams, lots of trade possibilities, too. Time for Kupchak to earn his pay.
With the emergence of TonyParker, there's no way kidd leaves and goes there...in addition,he's become a icon in the NYC area...he's not going anywhere....Here's my problem....LArry Brown keeps getting mentioned as a unbelievable coach.....why? Look at the record of the 76's this year and the Pistons.....now compare the talent? Ivereson, McKey,Van Horn vs Ben Wallace, Rip Hamilton and chauncy billups????? Larry Brown is a head case who can;t stay in one place long enough to actually build something.....and let's realistic....he's never won squat at the NBA level....going to the Finals with the 76's is not the impressive when you consider how bad the lEAST is....I don't know, if I was looking for long term stability and possibly a NBA title...I think I 'd keep Carlisle and give him some real players to work with...He's done an amazing job with NBA outcasts like Wallace and Billups ect...
He has a 879-685 record in the NBA, and 1,285-853 overall, including ABA and college. Brown won an NCAA championship with Kansas in 1988, and became the first coach to take six NBA teams to the playoffs when the 76ers made it in 1999. Sure, Brown can't coach...ya right....that is why everyone wants him. Ask the general managers around the league who they would rather have, Brown or Carlisle? I guess you know something they don't.
Never said he couldn't"T coach........The ABA was about 30+ years ago....and the SIX teams to the playoffs says an awful lot....he can't stay committed and lacks long term vision...and for the good of the organization, you should have a coach who is committed at leat in mind to the next 5 years.....what was the record of the Clippers, Spurs, Pacers,Nets after he left them abruptly? Does two years of winning 50 games and making the playoffs worth a two to three year slumber because the coach left in the night? He's a nut job in my opinion....Kind of like Bill Parcells....they come in , shake it up, and just when you think your ready for the next level he disappears...at least parcells has some real championships to show for it....
the homerun hitting loser has been using a corked bat !!! http://espn.go.com/mlb/news/2003/0603/1562772.html claims it was the only game he has used a corked bat, but who does he think he's kidding. ERASE HIS NAME FROM THE ALL-TIME HOMERUN LIST NOW !!