<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Rick Carlisle needs a contract extension. Either that, or a pink slip. Because the alternative -- a lame-duck coach who has been publicly dissed by his boss and is working with a noose hanging loosely around his neck -- is a recipe for another Indiana Pacers disaster. Think about it: After the Pacers quietly exited the playoffs without much fanfare beyond Anthony Johnson's calls for a "change of culture,'' the front office could have made some roster moves, Carlisle could have made some changes on his bench and nobody outside of Carlisle's agent would have made a big deal about the fact the head coach was heading into the final year of his deal. Since then, though, team president Larry Bird has used the occasion of his postseason postmortem to publicly scold Carlisle with words usually reserved for a private office, suggesting his coach lost the team, failed to demand accountability from players and lacked communication skills. And, oh yeah, there was that telling little quip about arrogance. "Rick doesn't come in and get my advice very often,'' Bird said. "He's one of those guys who thinks he knows more than me, so why should he ask me?'' To me, that changes the equation completely, and makes Carlisle's upcoming summit meeting with Donnie Walsh and Bird all the more compelling and unpredictable. After that, how can Carlisle come back without added security, or at least a promise that the roster will be overhauled? He can't. Contract extension. Or pink slip. One, or the other. If, as Bird suggested, Carlisle lost his team this season, what happens next year if Carlisle enters the year as a lame duck who's been made even more toothless by his boss/friend?</div> Source The Indiana Pacers are at a definite cross roads with the direction they want to take this team. Rick Carlisle wants changes made in the roster, but Bird & Walsh haven't given him the support he needs to coach this team. From this article it doesn't sound like the coach and GM are on the same page, and when their are opposing views turmoil ensues.
It's more likely Carlisle will be fired. It's a shame, because I think he's one of the more underrated coaches in the league. The job he did last year with all the injuries and suspensions was amazing and he really deserved COY.
