http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2710622 I don't think he deserved this considering all the injuries
It doesn't surprise me really. With the way they were completely owned by the Mavericks in the playoffs combined with this season's horrific start, you kind of had to see that coming. Not to mention with new ownership and Jerry West stepping down at the end of the season, i'm sure they are striving for a new identity and all around shake-up of the team. Up next: the players........
the worst he should've got was an incomplete. How are u suppose to win without pau gasol in your line up?
The Grizzlies have asked director of player personnel Tony Barone Sr. to become the interim head coach.
Pau Gasol is an all star, not a super star. He don't have that big of impact that can make you drop from 50 wins to 6 wins (so far). Granted teams will take a hit for losing its No.1 player. But Memphis is just bad from day 1. They were not competitive and looked already given up the season only after 10-20 games. This is not acceptable. Mike Fratello is just like JVG, he only coach defense and try to win games by playing ugly basketball. I am glad JVG lite is gone. The NBA games will be more entertaining will less coaches like him.
Fratello was a run and gun coach when he had the personnell to do it early in his career. His last 2 coaching stints have been with teams that simply cannot win running. Memphis actually managed to win a bunch of games without Pau Gasol a couple years ago (when he played only 59 games that season, I believe). They ended up in the playoffs despite missing Gasol for so many games. They had a better team outside of Gasol back then. This year's team is just horrible.
This team clearly isn't responding to Fratello at all. Lousy rebounding effort and embarrassing defense. When a team tunes out the coach, you have to make a change. Jerry West soured on Fratello a full month ago. Evan
Well said. Fratello can't be blamed for their roster because the Logo has total control of that. He was almost in a no-win situation because nobody could have done much better with that roster and players stop trying and listening after losing so many games. It's not fair and it's not Fratello's fault. Still, once the players stop playing hard for a coach you have to get rid of him.
They're losing so bad because West traded away Battier. I don't feel too sorry for Fratello. He and everyone else in management would be swept away in the offseason after the franchise is sold anyway. This way, he gets the same amount of money for less work. And, he gets to preserve his W-L record from the rest of the Grizzlies' ugly season.
aside from the injuries to eddie jones and pau gasol, they sucked cause we took their heart, soul and hustle from them. thank you mr. battier for un-gluing their team. haha and yes, i really do think us having battier and them taking back slowmile really changed the locker room atmosphere to be competitors
