<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Wizards Name Randy Ayers Assistant CoachJuly 24, 2007 The Washington Wizards announced today the hiring of Randy Ayers as an assistant coach on Head Coach Eddie Jordan?s staff. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.?We are pleased to have Randy join our coaching staff,? Jordan said. ?As an assistant with the Philadelphia 76ers, he implemented the defensive schemes for a team that advanced to the NBA Finals, and he has been on staffs that have made numerous postseason appearances. He will fit in nicely with our coaching staff.?Ayers spent the last two NBA seasons as an assistant coach with the Orlando Magic, where he helped Orlando reach the NBA Playoffs last season with the league?s seventh ranked defensive unit. Having joined the Magic as an assistant coach on June 10, 2005, Ayers saw the Magic cut the opposition?s scoring from 101.8 points per game in the season prior to his hire, to 96.0 ppg in his first season in Orlando and 94.0 ppg last year.</div>http://www.nba.com/wizards/news/ayers_070724.htmlWell, he's a downgrade from Tom Thibodeau, definitely, but at least he's a 'defensive-minded' coach. I remember Ayers from his coaching stint with Philly a couple years back. Not too sure about the signing overall, though. Adding Ayers as our 'defensive-minded' coach should be somewhat beneficial.. we can't get much worse in the team defense department, anyways.
As you said Zards, Thibodeau played a huge role in the defensive scheme's of the Rockets and played a large role in mentoring Yao Ming. Naturally it was upsetting to see him get cold feet. However, Randy Ayers seems to be a nice addition. He was a big part of the Sixers finals run and their squad was a pretty tough defensive team. I'm excited regardless of the down-grade.
