http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives...fratello_fired/<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Memphis Grizzlies President of Basketball Operations Jerry West announced today that Mike Fratello has been relieved of his head coaching duties. Fratello led Memphis to a 95-83 record after he was hired on December 2, 2004 as the Grizzlies? seventh head coach in team history. He led the Grizzlies to two postseason appearances, and became the franchise?s all-time winningest head coach in April. This season, Fratello led the Grizzlies to a 6-24 record. ?I?d like to thank Mike for the contributions he made to the Grizzlies organization,? said West. ?He is a great coach and friend, and he did an outstanding job guiding this team to two playoff appearances in Memphis. We just felt it was time to make a change and move in a different direction based on our record and future goals. We wish Mike the best in his future endeavors.? ?I would like to thank Michael Heisley and Jerry West for the opportunity to come to Memphis and be a part of the Grizzlies organization,? said Fratello. ?I came here a little more than two years ago, and in my first season inherited a 5-11 team that we turned around to win 45 games and advance to the playoffs. We built on that record the following year to win 49 games and return to the playoffs for a second consecutive season. Unfortunately, this season has been one of disarray starting this past summer. I am sorry I have not been able to find a way up to this point to turn things around, and I understand why a change needs to be made. Things will get better with both an abundance of home games coming up and the eventual return of Lawrence Roberts and Kyle Lowry from their injuries.? ?I would like to thank the many wonderful people I have met while in Memphis, both in basketball and around the community,? continued Fratello. ?I?d like to thank my staff and players for their hard work over the last two seasons. I wish them nothing but the best.?</div>I don't think he should have been axed, and I have said that in the past. Fratello knows what he's doing, he's a pretty good coach. I personally don't like this move by the Grizzlies, but oh well.
ooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!big news.yeah. he was doing his best. the western conference is just too good for them. if the grizzlies were in the east, which they could be, then the'd be much better in terms of wins. there are too many teams better than the grizzlies. their next coach is going to have to know how to change diapers though. lol
Dam...I am a huge fan of Mike Fratello and I'm not really sure that it was his fault that the team wasn't doing so good but whatever..Maybe he will return to TNT Broadcasting?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticBalla32 @ Dec 28 2006, 04:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives...fratello_fired/I don't think he should have been axed, and I have said that in the past. Fratello knows what he's doing, he's a pretty good coach. I personally don't like this move by the Grizzlies, but oh well.</div> You don't know what goes on behind the scenes...Grizzlies management deals with him on a daily basis, you have to trust their judgement I guess. We as fans really have no idea.
No, yall dont understand. Hes one of the greatest coaches ever, but his style wasnt working for us. We hoped with the new young talent, he would play us like he did ATL in the Nique days....but it never happened. We played too slow, and not fast enough. I think thats why he got fired. Hakim Warrick and Rudy Gays minutes slowly went down too....Frat wasnt very popular among Grizzly fans(its sortve hard to be popular after suceeding Hubie Brown...man we loved that old man).I wish we still had Eric Musselman, he would easily taken over for us. Ah well...maybe JW will call up Kareem or some crazy ass old Laker to coach the griz.
http://www.nba.com/grizzlies/Check this out, the pic they have for the "Frat got fired" headline is the celebration pic they use on the site.
Fratello is a good coach. It's just that this Memphis team is just terrible offensively without Pau Gasol...
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CB4AllStar @ Dec 28 2006, 05:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Fratello is a good coach. It's just that this Memphis team is just terrible offensively without Pau Gasol...</div> Yeah, they fired their good coach because their best player is out. That has to be the reason. Come on CB4.
Pau scored 29 points last night!!!!!!!!!1 And we still got blowned out. Just cause your a good coach doesn't mean you fit with a certain team. His style fit the grizzlies the 1st 2 seasons, but with us being more athletic now and wanting to run....his style just doesn't work.
Wow this is suprising, I thought they would at least give Fratello a few months with Pau on the team before they fired him. Maybe, Memphis Fan since you say the Grizzlies want to run, they will hire Rick Adelman. His teams usually have quick high powered offenses.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (JRICH23 @ Dec 28 2006, 03:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Wow this is suprising, I thought they would at least give Fratello a few months with Pau on the team before they fired him. Maybe, Memphis Fan since you say the Grizzlies want to run, they will hire Rick Adelman. His teams usually have quick high powered offenses.</div>yeah, hes the first who came to mind actually...I can see him coming to memphis.
Oh yeah, im not worried about the new coach at all. Actually, I think Laker fans can agree, you are NEVER worried about your teams future with Jerry West as GM.
I never saw any problem with the guy. It's probably some inside thing that was the problem.Hope this is for the best, because the West can own the East even more.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Memphis Fan @ Dec 28 2006, 01:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Oh yeah, im not worried about the new coach at all. Actually, I think Laker fans can agree, you are NEVER worried about your teams future with Jerry West as GM.</div>Absolutely, we miss Jerry West over here but as Shaq would say...he is a Benedict Arnold.
Tony Barone is the interim head coach:http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives...h_of_grizzlies/<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Memphis Grizzlies President of Basketball Operations Jerry West announced today that Tony Barone Sr. will take over as interim head coach for the Memphis Grizzlies . This will be Barone?s first head coaching stint, serving the past seven seasons as director of player personnel with the Grizzlies. He also spent two seasons as an assistant coach with the Grizzlies under former head coach Hubie Brown (2002-2004). Barone takes over a Grizzlies team with a 6-24 record. ?We are excited to have a person of this caliber serve as our interim head coach,? said West. ?Tony is not only familiar with our veteran players, but also with our young players having been an integral part of their scouting and drafting process. We give Tony our full support and know the remainder of the season will be productive under his guidance."</div>I don't know much about this guy at all, but he won't be the head coach for long. West is excellent, and he'll find the Grizzlies a good coach.
Im pretty sure its the guy in the green, hes very hard-nosed and thinks just like Jerry West. Hes defiently not scared of playing young players and it was his idea to trade for Alexander Johnson(he actually wanted to draft him in the 1st rnd, but they decided to draft Lowry and trade for Johnson). It wouldnt suprise me if he stays as head coach.
I heard Barone was the coach for Texas A&M for a while.This means he probably will not be coach for long, though we already knew that.
yeah, just this year. In the press conference this morning, Jerry West said the new coach next year will be a younger coach and would have been assistant coaches for many different good head coaches.Barone is very good though, look up "grizzlies insider episode 1", and watch it, hes in there. I like him.
