Archive for the ‘Pink Slips’ Category

Nate McMillan fired from Blazers reboot

Posted by Trey Kerby under Pink Slips, Portland Trail Blazers on Mar 15, 2012

Need something from Portland? Better hurry, because things are moving fast in Rip City.

From Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski:

The Portland Trail Blazers have fired coach Nate McMillan, a league source told Yahoo! Sports.

McMillan’s dismissal comes one day after the Blazers suffered a 42-point loss to the New York Knicks and on the same day they traded forward Gerald Wallace and center Marcus Camby. After a strong start to the season, Portland has lost seven of its past nine games.

Your new Trail Blazers coach is a guy named Kaleb Canales, who is not a delicious creme-filled dessert. Portland is totally committed to rebuilding, struggling mightily and had turned on McMillan, so his ouster isn’t surprising.

I’m just hoping they put some of those red alternate shorts on clearance because I could use a cheap pair of jammies.

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Mike D’Antoni is done with the Knicks

Posted by Trey Kerby under New York Knicks, Pink Slips on Mar 14, 2012

Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowksi has the details:

Mike D’Antoni has resigned as coach of the New York Knicks, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

D’Antoni and Knicks owner James Dolan agreed on Wednesday to end his three-plus-years run as Knicks coach, a source said. “It was a mutual decision to no longer coach the Knicks … conflicting visions of the club’s future,” the source said.

The “conflicting visions of the club’s future” include but are not limited to:

  • whether or not Carmelo Anthony should get the ball all the time;
  • whether or not black trim should stay on the Knicks’ shorts;
  • whether or not the team should start taking games seriously;
  • whether or not Amar’e Stoudemire looks good in hats;
  • whether or not Mike D’Antoni should remain employed.

As you can see, the two parties’ differences on these issues is insurmountable, so D’Antoni had to “resign.” Now Mike Woodson’s goatee takes over as interim coach and the Knicks continue being the same old dysfunctional Knicks. Same as it ever was.

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Pink Slip No. 2: Flip Saunders fired by Wizards

Posted by J.E. Skeets under Pink Slips, Washington Wizards on Jan 24, 2012

Hand it over, Paul — we’ve got our second canned coach of this shortened season!

The Washington Wizards have fired head coach Flip Saunders, our main man Woj is reporting.

The Wizards came out of this summer’s NBA lockout by losing the first eight games of the regular season. After Monday night’s ugly loss in Philly, the Wiz are a league-worst 2-15. One guy on Twitter says something may have happened between Nick Young and Flip at halftime, but who really knows, and, honestly, who cares?

You’re free, Flip! Run!

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Pink Slip No. 1: Paul Westphal fired by Kings

Posted by J.E. Skeets under Pink Slips, Sacramento Kings on Jan 05, 2012

Had to bring back the ol’ BDL pink slip gag, folks. No choice. Get it on.

In case you hadn’t heard, the Sacramento Kings have fired head coach Paul Westphal, cutting ties after two-plus seasons amid a slow start and an overblown dispute with young, temperamental center DeMarcus Cousins.

Kings president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie made the announcement ahead of the team’s home game against Milwaukee today.

Here’s what “The Dish” had to say in the Kings’ press release (via Sactown Royalty):

“I want to thank Paul for all of his effort on behalf of the Kings. Unfortunately, the overall performance level of the team has not approached what we felt was reasonable to expect. I wish him — and his goatee’d alter-ego, ‘Evil Paul Westphal’ — the best in their future endeavors.”

Assistant coach Keith Smart, let go by the Golden State Warriors after one season this summer, will serve as head coach versus the Bucks. No word yet on whether Smart has facial hair. Stay tuned.

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