Grizzlies fire Dave Joerger

[Andrew]

Grizzlies fire coach Dave Joerger after 3 playoff seasons

The Memphis Grizzlies already faced a lot of decisions that could reshape their roster this offseason - now add a coaching search to the list.

The Grizzlies fired Dave Joerger on Saturday in a surprising move after three seasons and three straight playoff appearances. A team battered by injuries finished the regular season at 42-40 before being swept in the first round by San Antonio.

''After careful consideration, I concluded that a change was needed to foster the strong culture required to achieve sustainable, long-term success for this organization, the city and our fans,'' general manager Chris Wallace said in a statement.

Kind of harsh, given that injuries derailed them this year. I'm not saying they were bona fide championship contenders or anything, but they had some bad luck, and did the best they could, Joerger included.

[mp3]

Seems he wanted permission to interview for other jobs again so the Grizzlies pulled the plug.

He could be heading to the sactown mess.

[shadowgrin]

Dave to Indiana maybe?

[Andrew]

Seems he wanted permission to interview for other jobs again so the Grizzlies pulled the plug.

Yeah, that does change the situation a little.

[mp3]

Dave to Indiana maybe?

That wouldn't be a back thing for either party, Joerger is another guy like Vogel who started off in the video room and knows his stuff.

I'd rather have a coach like that than a guy coaching just because he used to play in the league.

[shadowgrin]

I'd rather have a coach like that than a guy coaching just because he used to play in the league.

[mp3]

Iam fine with a player who has worked the bench as an assistant for a few years like Ewing or even Luke Walton, Ewing has earned his status as a coach iam talking more like the Derick Fisher's and Mark Jackson's of the world.

[NovU]

How about Jason Kidd? I thought the Nets' hiring was stupid as hell at the time even though gaybakflip was godly in favor of the move.


I guess Joerger didn't wanna deal with cluster fuck that's most likely coming their way starting just about now. Even if they retain Conley, who else do they have, to stay competent in tough wild west? Their core players are too old.

I think letting Mario Chalmers go was a mistake move. Some team will pick him up at bargain price and that is a loss.

[mp3]

They had to waive the injured Rio so that they could of signed another pg

[Andrew]

In all fairness, there comes a time when the coaching ranks need some fresh faces, and it's not as though players who have "jumped the queue" (so to speak) to become head coaches haven't had some level of success. While having a great roster obviously helped, Kerr did pretty well in his first year as a head coach, without any previous experience. If a former player has what it takes to succeed, they'll swim rather than sink when thrown in at the deep end.

I think it's more a case of some players not being cut out for coaching. Even if they were smart, successful players, they may not have the right personality to guide, teach, or lead without being on the floor to set an example and take care of business.

[mp3]

Magic Johnson is the perfect example.

I think iam still more in favour of letting a recently retired player serve a few years on a bench as an assistant learning the craft first.

Kerr as you said had a great amazing roster so it went pretty well which makes me think if the Spurs or Warriors had Derick Fisher coaching would they still have the same type of record and would that make him a good coach?

[Andrew]

It depends on the person, but generally speaking, it certainly can't hurt to gain some experience as an assistant first.

It's fair to say that Fisher has some deficiencies as a coach, but he also might've possibly had more success with a better roster, in a less dysfunctional organisation, without Phil Jackson calling the shots about how to coach the team...maybe. I don't mean to suggest that he's a great coach who simply got screwed over by bad luck and other people, but the odds were stacked against him in New York. It was an uphill battle, and I'm not sure that someone with a little more experience on the sidelines as an assistant, or even a Hall of Fame coach, could've done much better given the circumstances.

It should also be noted that some players do take on a de facto player-assistant coach role in the later years of their career, which also serves as seasoning for an eventual run as a head coach. That approach has its drawbacks as they're obviously wearing two hats in doing so, but it's an alternative that allows them to jump the queue with at least a little bit of experience and insight.

[air gordon]

so what about the rest of the coaches? almost half of the current crop are not former nba players.. including future HOF'ers Pop and Carlisle. one tier down is Stevens, Stotts, Spo, Clifford.. none were nba players either.

[Andrew]

Rick Carlisle is a former NBA player. He was a teammate of Larry Bird on the 1986 Celtics.

[air gordon]

my mistake. good catch

[benji]

And he's hired:

The Sacramento Kings named Dave Joerger the team's new head coach on Monday.

The Kings didn't disclose contract details, but sources told ESPN that Joerger agreed to a four-year deal worth $16 million, and the fourth year of the contract is a team option.

[shadowgrin]

Nothing against Joerger but I want the Kings to fail so bad because of that jerk Divac.

[Andrew]

Well, that was quick.

[mp3]

"Dave Joerger has agreed to coach the Kings until Christmas 2016"

[air gordon]

I'd rather have a coach like that than a guy coaching just because he used to play in the league.

[ Image ]

What is the deal with him not getting a chance to coach? did he burn his bridges with NYK when he left them to play with seattle? even a former player whose voice you could barely hear got his chance to coach (bill cartwright)

[Andrew]

I don't think he burned his bridges. As I recall, he didn't actually demand a trade in 2000, but as there were whispers about moving him, he let the Knicks know that he'd be open to a trade without any hard feelings if that's the direction they wanted to go in. They retired his number a year or so after he retired, too.

[mp3]

Ewing wanted a new 3 year contract to retire as a knick but front office didn't want to give it him.

Broke my heart watching him play for The Sonics and Magic

[Andrew]

Was that how it went down? I thought it was more amicable than that. Either way, I was pretty sure that he didn't demand out.

[mp3]

Yeah I think the knicks wanted him to either retire or take a low ball one year deal

He was also a huge supporter of JVG who was heading out the door after clashing with management

[air gordon]

So the Knicks couldn't find a spot for him on the bench? Not even as a special advisor for the big men?

I find it strange nyk would not extend this courtesy to one of their best players.