It's crazy that they still fired him after seeing Boston about to sweep Orlando. Boston is just playing great basketball. http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5213917 CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Cavaliers have fired Mike Brown, a source close to the head coach told ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher. The Cavaliers had a midnight deadline to fire the coach or pay him his $4.5 million salary for next season. Cleveland was ousted from the playoffs two weeks ago by the Boston Celtics, who upset the NBA's top regular-season team in six games. Best Of The Bunch Coach Mike Brown leaves the Cavaliers with the highest winning percentage in team history. And his five playoff appearances is matched only by Lenny Wilkens in franchise history. Highest Win Pct, Cavaliers History W-L Mike Brown .663 272-138 Lenny Wilkens .551 316-258 Mike Fratello .539 248-212 Brown, who had one year left on his contract, could be quickly scooped up by one of the six other teams looking for head coaches. Brown has guided the team to the postseason in each of his five seasons. Cleveland's assistants also have one year remaining on their deals. Brown was the league's coach of the year last season when the Cavs won 66 games. Cleveland lost to Orlando in the conference finals, however, and it was assumed Brown would have to get the team closer to a championship to keep his job. Instead, the Cavs regressed. They were badly outplayed by the Celtics, who won the last two games played in Cleveland by a combined 50 points. But Cavs owner Dan Gilbert insisted last week that the team didn't quit against Boston. "It's one of those things that you can't believe it after it's happened," Gilbert said. "I feel bad for the fans more than anybody." Cleveland's next move will be an interesting one. Because of LeBron James' uncertain future, it's possible the Cavs would want his input into their next coaching hire, assuming the two-time MVP is still considering re-signing with Cleveland when free agency opens in July. The Cavs will have to search for a new coach not knowing if James will be back and would have to go into the draft and free agency without a coach. James is eligible to opt out of his contract this summer, a move that would make the two-time MVP -- and zero-time NBA champion -- a free agent and set off a scramble for his services from New York to Miami to Los Angeles and, of course, back in Cleveland.
Shock of the century..a head coach who just stands there and lets his assistants and LeBron coach the whole time being fired? Nooooo way!
I dont think anyone would rather keep Mike Brown instead of keep 4.5 million dollars. That figure could be changed to about 1/10000th of 4.5M and the statement would still be true.
He's a good defensive minded coach but couldn't teach a single offensive play to save his life. Would like for him to be an assistant for us just in case Elston Turner gets a starting gig somewhere else.
Called it. All that lollygagging by the Cavalier's organization was just a ruse to not make it seem like a hasty execution, when in actuality the ink was already dry on the death sentence they wrote out the moment the Cavs lost to the Celts. This bodes well for Cleveland keeping James. Otherwise, they are screwed both coaching wise, and Lebron-wise.
Doc Rivers, Greg Popovich, Pat Riley, and Phil Jackson were all coach of the year recipients. The thing they all have in common? They won championships, thus escaping the Coach of the Year curse.
If you win Coach of the year and don't win the championship in the next season or two, then you're out. Thats how the curse works. Greg won the the Championships the same year he got Coach of the Year.
i think the thing is if you get that award, your team is expected to do a hella lot better the next few seasons, even when you are already a solid playoff team. ya like someone said before you better win a championship or at least make it to the conference finals to avoid being fired
