Remember in Bassy's rookie year when the Blazers REALLY stunk, but Bassy wasn't getting PT (for good reason, as it transpired) - Pritchard was given the coaching job and just basically put the ball in Telfair's hands for the rest of the season and watched the Blazers tank majorly? (After which he was in favor of drafting Chris Paul, but of course John "Genius" Nash overruled him.) Well... I know there's a large contingent of Nate-haters on this board. Well, they've yet to suggest a good replacement (and Jeff Van Gundy is not it), and I think Nate is the guy for a good team until perhaps Larry Brown becomes available. BUT: he's just had Achilles tendon surgery. He could do with a break. The team is falling apart. Why not give him the rest of the season off, let him know that we want to re-sign him next year ("we" obviously being Blazers' brass, not a vocal minority of fans) but have Pritchard just give young players (Bayless, Cunningham, and in the not-too-distant future, Mills and Pendergraph) burn? There's danger in that - it could instill a culture of losing. But then again, we were losing even before Greg went down, and if I see another "Trade Blake!" post I will snap.
Yea I thought about that too. Kiki Vandeweigh just took over in NJ and is a prime example of an upper management guy taking over, and in New Orleans their GM just took over, and actually if you look at it, both are getting results. But I expect a team to usually come out with some fire when their coach is fired. That is normal. Is it good for the long run? Maybe. Remember, Nate wasn't KP's coach. KP has never got to choose his own coach yet.
Regardless if he is good or bad it will surly motivate the players. He will know exactly what they are all about come seasons end
While it was only the ABA, Kevin Pritchard did coach a team to a championship. It's not like he has no idea what he is doing.
...and your source is? Long after Nash left and Webster flopped, Pritchard spread the story that he hadn't wanted Webster. Nash wasn't around to counter it. ...Pritch to team with 30 seconds left, blowout: "Just keep playing. I see no reason to make a change. I only need another 10 years to decide." ...Kevin McHale
