Byron Scott FIRED!!

[jj1194]

Espn reporting that byron scott has been fired....:bang

[Spursmania]

No surprises here...

[Obstructed_View]

He's gotta go when that crew won't listen to him. Seemed pretty obvious during the Spurs game when he couldn't get them to play with any intensity or even push the ball.

[galvatron3000]

Like he's to blame. He should be relieved to be out of that situation AND MOVING TOWARDS a job on tv somewhere. He's a good coach

[jj1194]

Sources are saying that CP3 had something to do with it. Players are like GM's these days.

[Darkwaters]

Already a thread going in the NBA forum:

http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=139301

[Agloco]

Cosmetic. This does nothing to improve the team. The owner is committed to getting below the luxury tax threshold and nothing else.

Sad for Byron Scott, he's obviously the scapegoat here.

[Spurs Brazil]

Sources: Hornets fire ScottComment Email Print Share By Marc Stein
ESPN.com
Archive
The New Orleans Hornets have responded to their 3-6 start by making the first coaching change of the young NBA season, firing Byron Scott on Thursday, according to NBA coaching sources.




Scott

Sources said the Hornets made the decision to dismiss Scott following New Orleans' 124-104 loss in Phoenix on Wednesday night and will formally announce the move later Thursday.

A league source told ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher that the Hornets will name general Jeff Bower as Scott's replacement and hire veteran coach Tim Floyd as his top assistant.

Scott won NBA Coach of the Year honors in 2008 after he and franchise point guard Chris Paul led the Hornets to a 56-26 record and the Southwest Division title. The Hornets then defeated Dallas in the first round of the playoffs and were within one win of the West finals before losing Game 7 at home to the San Antonio Spurs.

The Hornets slumped slightly to a 49-33 record last season, thanks partly to a flurry of injuries. They were pounded in the first round of the playoffs by Denver, losing the final home game of the season -- Game 4 of the series -- by a whopping 58 points.


It Don't Come Easy
The Hornets' 3-6 start has not come against cupcakes. They're tied for the most games against teams that are .500 or better with seven -- and they've gone just 2-5 in those games.

Team Opp. Win Pct.
Bulls (4-4) .645
Wizards (2-6) .639
Hornets (3-6) .581
Thunder (4-4) .576
Wolves (1-8) .568
- W-L records entering Thursday games.

Scott hung onto his job after the early exit but couldn't survive New Orleans' poor start, even though the many holes on the Hornets' roster -- with no consistent scorer at the wing positions and little depth -- appeared to be beyond his control. A number of league observers considered a coaching change inevitable if the Hornets struggled this season.

The firing is the second major move the Hornets have made since the end of last season in an attempt to address Paul's growing frustrations. In July, New Orleans sent center Tyson Chandler, who was plagued by foot problems throughout last season, to the Charlotte Bobcats for Emeka Okafor.

The team's payroll is more than $3 million over the league's $69.9 million luxury-tax threshold, making owner George Shinn reluctant to sanction further roster renovations. The Hornets have been trying to make moves to get under the luxury-tax line since acquiring Okafor, as opposed to searching for players who can bolster Paul's supporting cast.

Marc Stein is a senior NBA writer for ESPN.com. ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher contributed to this report.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4648162

[coyotes_geek]

Sources are saying that CP3 had something to do with it. Players are like GM's these days.

It's been that way forever.

[coyotes_geek]

Cosmetic. This does nothing to improve the team. The owner is committed to getting below the luxury tax threshold and nothing else.

Sad for Byron Scott, he's obviously the scapegoat here.

Agreed. Raw deal for Byron, but that's the way life is if you want to be an NBA head coach.

[easjer]

I like Byron Scott tremendously and think he's a good technical coach, but he seems to have about a 3-year shelf life before he loses his players. I figured it would be sometime this season.

[Samr]

Oh how the mighty have fallen. From coach of the year to out of a job in two years.

Needless to say, I doubt they'll be competing for much more than a first-round loss this season. I'll echo everyone above me: raw deal for Byron Scott. I always liked the guy.

[Leetonidas]

Cleveland should hire him and fire Brown. Mike Brown is a terrible coach.

[Jose Ole]

celebrate good times c'mon

http://davidkirkpatrick.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/mardi_gras.jpg

[Mel_13]

Oh how the mighty have fallen. From coach of the year to out of a job in two years.


2003- Pop
2004- Hubie Brown
2005- D'Antoni
2006- Avery
2007- Sam Mitchell
2008- Byron Scott
2009- Mike Brown

[SenorSpur]

Avery Johnson will be the next, full-time, head coach of the Hornets.

[Agloco]

2003- Pop
2004- Hubie Brown
2005- D'Antoni
2006- Avery
2007- Sam Mitchell
2008- Byron Scott
2009- Mike Brown

Anyone else notice a correlation between COY and expectations that are out of proportion?

Next to get the axe unless an championship is won: Mike Brown

[Mel_13]

Anyone else notice a correlation between COY and expectations that are out of proportion?

Next to get the axe unless an championship is won: Sam Mitchell

:lol

He was fired last year.

[Agloco]

:lol

He was fired last year.

heh.....whoops

So much for my nugget of clarity. :lol

[himat]

2003- Pop
2004- Hubie Brown
2005- D'Antoni
2006- Avery
2007- Sam Mitchell
2008- Byron Scott
2009- Mike Brown

Only ones who have not been fired off that list is Pop and Brown. We know who is going down next.

[Bender]

I don't see how Brown can get COY

:bang

[dbestpro]

This opens the door for Byron Scott to become Phil Jackson's replacement when he goes. I agree that Avery might be the next full timme coach for New Orleans.

[tmtcsc]

This is on the ownership. I have no idea how good of a coach Byron Scott is but it seems to me that the ownership is dedicated to saving some money and finding a scapegoat for their issues.

[urunobili]

Bill Simmons called this last season...

[Mel_13]

Bill Simmons called this last season...

Last November:

And the telltale sign ... what happens when a top player gets called over by coach when someone is shooting free throws.

This can unfold one of three ways:

A. Player runs over respectfully and seems genuinely interested in the coach's wisdom. Watch what happens when Popovich calls over Duncan or Parker in a Spurs game. Total respect. They look like someone jogging over to a police officer.

B. Player jogs over, doesn't seem totally interested, but doesn't want to seem like a jerk either. This usually sums up 75 percent of the league.

C. Player does a double-take and his head kicks back briefly (like he's thinking, "Really, I have to talk to this guy again???"). He saunters over disdainfully. When he reaches the coach, he makes eye contact for the first two seconds, then starts subconsciously pulling away (first with his eyes, then with his body leaning back toward the coach), and at about the six-second mark, he just starts walking back toward the court whether the coach is finished talking or not. Everything about the exchange says, "I've just had it with this freaking guy."

I mistakenly believed that Chris Paul and Scott had an "A" relationship but in the second half of Monday's game, it was revealed that they were a "C." At least right now. Translation: I am no longer sold on the 2009 Hornets.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/081126&sportCat=nba&campaign=rsssrch&source=bill_simmons

[hsxvvd]

Smells like a cost cutting exercise. GM's already being paid and Scott wasn't cheap either.

[AussieFanKurt]

this does not surprise me at all

[Thompson]

Oh how the mighty have fallen. From coach of the year to out of a job in two years.

Sort of like what happened to Avery, or what will probably happen to Mike Brown at some point. That award is the kiss of death.

[NFGIII]

Sort of like what happened to Avery, or what will probably happen to Mike Brown at some point. That award is the kiss of death.


Tend to agree. With the Cavs starting out slow look for some heat to follow unless a nice winning streak occurs. Pop would be the only to survivie a slow start and a losing streak. IMHO

Anyway I agree with some that think this is about scapegoats. New players, slow start, poor chemistry and some injuries have all contibuted to this. But it seems that the players have lsot respect for him and made him expendable so in some sense Scott has to take some of the responsibility for this happening.

[bigfan]

Avery ought to take that job if its offered.

[florige]

Oh how the mighty have fallen. From coach of the year to out of a job in two years.

Needless to say, I doubt they'll be competing for much more than a first-round loss this season. I'll echo everyone above me: raw deal for Byron Scott. I always liked the guy.



Wasn't the situation sorta the same in NJ too?

[Xevious]

This was the last year on Scott's contract IIRC, and there was already talk about replacing him after last season. No surprise at all that he was fired after the poor start to the season.

But let's be honest here, he isn't all to blame. The Hornets are a one-man show right now. West is off to a fairly slow start, Peja is sucking, Okafor is still getting acclimated, they have no starting SG and no bench. Last year they were battling injury problems with Chandler. But when you have unrealistic expectations and an unhappy superstar, somebody has to answer for it.

[Taking it to the Hole]

Maybe we can bring him on as a assistant coach? He is a quality coach and he deserves a shot.

[redzero]

Maybe we can bring him on as a assistant coach? He is a quality coach and he deserves a shot.

Until the Spurs players start tuning him out, too.

[ElNono]

Tanking the season is next, sons?
God bless.

[EricB]

Tanking the season is next, sons?
God bless.

Winner winner Pollo dinner.

[SpurNation]

Avery Johnson will be the next, full-time, head coach of the Hornets.

Just scrolling through the responses and yours made me go...hmmm.

[EricB]

Hornets will go for a players coach next IMO.

If you watched that game last night you could see the team had totally quit.

Pathetic.

[borders]

Who cares. I hate the Hornets. New Orleans is a shithole.

[redzero]

Who cares. I hate the Hornets. New Orleans is a shithole.

Unlike Fat Antonio.

Oh, wait--you might not live in San Antonio, since 50% of the Spurs fans on here are bandwagoners.

[ManuTastic]

Cleveland should hire him and fire Brown. Mike Brown is a terrible coach.

That is a GREAT idea. Mike Brown is terrible, and Byron would be a big upgrade. Wish that was my idea. BTW, bill Simmons was saying that the team (and CP3 in particular) had tuned out Scott by last season already.

[elbamba]

Scott is a good coach but it seems like the PG that have him for a head coach get sick of him real fast. Marbury didn't like him, Kidd could not stand him and now Paul.

You can only pull your rings out so many times to motivate players. Pretty soon it just pisses them off.

[SpurNation]

But I can't help but wonder also...what decent coach would want to compete with an ego-centric (correction)> GM on the team while trying to secure the common goal of winning?

[Libri]

Hornets will go for a players coach next IMO.

Avery wouldn't fit that profile.

[angelbelow]

Even if they tanked, would the owner want to pay that lottery-salary that comes with that high pick?

[borders]

NO will get George Karl.

[SouthTexasRancher]

Sources are saying that CP3 had something to do with it. Players are like GM's these days.

Scott and Paul were very close with each other. CP3 wanted some talent on the team as did Scott. N.O. is made up of several rejects from other teams.

[borders]

N.O. is made up of several rejects

:toast

[LOL@MavsFan]

Espn reporting that byron scott has been fired....:bang


LOL @ Byron Scott
LOL @ the Horse Flies

[clubalien]

Sort of like what happened to Avery, or what will probably happen to Mike Brown at some point. That award is the kiss of death.

hmm I wonder if there is really something to that. That could explain why jerry sloan has never accepted the award yet being one of the best coaches for years.

POp wins and then we are cursed with small ball and injuries.

fire pop.:toast so we can keep this COY getting fired trend going

[superbigtime]

Wow! I think Byron Scott is a helluva coach. That team is very thin this year and they clearly are not what they once were. I think this job has Avery's name ALL over it.

[exstatic]

Hornets will go for a players coach next IMO.

If you watched that game last night you could see the team had totally quit.

Pathetic.

Hornets will go for a CHEAP coach next. This was not a cost cut, because they still have to pay Scott. The cost cut is their next hire.

It won't be AJ. He has a Finals appearance on his resume'. That pretty much automatically rules you out as a cheap hire.

[EricB]

Hornets will go for a CHEAP coach next. This was not a cost cut, because they still have to pay Scott. The cost cut is their next hire.

A cheap assistant coach who's a players coach.

Someone that will bow to CP3 and his every move.

[Blackjack]

Or they'll just promote the lead assistant they just brought in once he gets acclimated and Bower will go back to being the GM; Tim Floyd. :lmao

[EricB]

Or they'll just promote the lead assistant they just brought in once he gets acclimated and Bower will go back to being the GM; Tim Floyd. :lmao

Floyd fired to make room for Scott.

Scott fired to make room for Floyd.

Strange.

[Blackjack]

It's a cajun thing, I guess..

[td_tp_manu]

2003- Pop
2004- Hubie Brown
2005- D'Antoni
2006- Avery
2007- Sam Mitchell
2008- Byron Scott
2009- Mike Brown

In Pop we trust

[chode_regulator]

Already a thread going in the NBA forum:

http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=139301

Exactly. I was wondering why this is in the Spurs forum...

[HarlemHeat37]

Byron Scott isn't a good coach, he's average, just like the majority of coaches in the NBA..

Bill Simmons has a section on this in his book, and it's definitely accurate IMO..the majority of coaches in the NBA don't positively impact teams, the players make the difference..there are only about 10 coaches or less in NBA history that actually consistently impact a team in a major way IMO..

Scott is an average coach at best..he's not a good x's and o's guy, he doesn't have versatility in his coaching..he doesn't really do anything that stands out..this isn't anything new, it was the same thing in New Jersey..

[ceperez]

Byron Scott isn't a good coach, he's average, just like the majority of coaches in the NBA..

Bill Simmons has a section on this in his book, and it's definitely accurate IMO..the majority of coaches in the NBA don't positively impact teams, the players make the difference..there are only about 10 coaches or less in NBA history that actually consistently impact a team in a major way IMO..

Scott is an average coach at best..he's not a good x's and o's guy, he doesn't have versatility in his coaching..he doesn't really do anything that stands out..this isn't anything new, it was the same thing in New Jersey..

The guy is a better than average coach. He did well for the Nets and did well for the Hornets.

Though his motivational methods (probably derived from Pat Riley) isn't sustainable. After a while players tune out and that's what's happening with the Hornets and that's what happened to the Nets. But you can't deny that he took non-playoff teams, developed them and took them deep in the playoffs.

With regards to the Hornets, they made their big salary push with the Posey signing hoping that it'll get them over the hump. That didn't do too well last year so they're pretty much finished.

[will_spurs]

If AJ is the next coach it will be a disaster. AJ likes to be the general, even from the bench. He needs a puppet PG who can live with the fact that the coach is calling ALL the plays. It's exactly the problem AJ had in Dallas with Kidd, because would (understandably) not tolerate this kind of micro-management -- hard to play at your best level when the coach is piggy-backing and whispering in your ear at every decisive moment. I'm convinced CP3 will not tolerate this kind of interference either.

[Danny.Zhu]

He built such a great team 2 years ago.

[gospursgojas]

What does it matter?

All big league sports will be out of NO soon

[Obstructed_View]

Exactly. I was wondering why this is in the Spurs forum...

This one is much less likely to degenerate into Lakerfan and Mavfan and Hornetfan throwing homosexual slurs at each other.

[z0sa]

This one is much less likely to degenerate into Lakerfan and Mavfan and Hornetfan throwing homosexual slurs at each other.

Truth