Magic fire Rivers after NBA-worst 1-10 start

[arthurracoon]

http://www.sportsline.com/nba/story/6842816

SALT LAKE CITY -- Doc Rivers was fired as coach of the Orlando Magic late Monday night after the team got off to the worst start in its 15-year history.

Rivers told The Associated Press early Tuesday that Magic general manager John Gabriel informed him of the decision in a meeting at the team hotel after Orlando lost to Utah 90-88 on Monday night.

The Magic, an NBA-worst 1-10 this season, have lost 10 consecutive games.

"It is part of sports," Rivers said. "I thought I had a good run here. Things just didn't work out in the end. Maybe the players need to hear another a voice."

The Magic reached the playoffs in the last three of Rivers' four seasons in Orlando, but each ended in a first-round exit. Combined with this season's dismal start, Rivers knew a change was likely.

"I have no ax to grind," Rivers said. "I thought the management and team were both great. I couldn't ask for anything more."

In addition to Rivers' dismissal, the team also announced early Tuesday that assistant coach Johnny Davis will take over for Rivers, a move first reported by the Orlando Sentinel on its website. Assistant coach Dave Wohl was also let go.

"We work in a bottom-line business," Magic chief operating officer John Weisbrod said in a statement. "After a 1-10 start, it is our responsibility to do everything possible to create the best opportunity for success."

Davis, in his fifth season with the Magic, was previously an assistant with New Jersey from 1997-99. He has also been an assistant with Atlanta, the Los Angeles Clippers and Portland.

Davis went 22-60 and missed the playoffs as the head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1996-97 season.

"Johnny is an experienced leader," Weisbrod said. "He is a solid teacher and prides himself on developing talent. We want to give him the opportunity to provide the new voice and direction that our team needs."

Davis, 48, played 10 years in the NBA, averaging 13.9 points and 4.5 assists per game with Portland, Indiana, Atlanta and Cleveland.

Rivers had been the longest-tenured coach working in the Eastern Conference, entering his fifth season with the Magic. At 42, Rivers plans to coach again.

"I'll go home, walk in the house and reintroduce myself to my family," Rivers said. "I'll see what I want to do. There'll be some options."

Rivers' stay in Orlando began with promise. He was named NBA coach of the year in his rookie campaign of 1999-2000, becoming the first coach in league history to win the award without leading his team to the playoffs.

Rivers, who played 13 seasons for the Hawks, Clippers, Knicks and Spurs before retiring in 1996 to become a television analyst for Turner Sports, was 171-168 in his four-plus seasons with Orlando and ranks second on the franchise's career victories list.

"I love coaching. I enjoy coaching," Rivers said. "I consider it in my blood, but I think it might be time for a break."

Despite having the reigning NBA scoring champion in Tracy McGrady, the Magic -- the NBA's third-youngest team -- have struggled this season. Orlando's offense entered play Monday as the 22nd-lowest scoring and 25th-worst shooting unit in the league, and averaged only 88.3 points per game.

 

[slinslin]

I wouldn't mind having Rivers here.

He must be better than Frank Johnson and he had many nice things to say about Amare Stoudemire in the past.

 

[Joe Mama]

I just read several small articles that listed Scott Skiles as a good possibility to replace Doc Rivers. I really hope for the sake of the magic that this is just blind, media speculation.

Joe Mama

 

[elindholm]

I just read several small articles that listed Scott Skiles as a good possibility to replace Doc Rivers.

Isn't it strange how teams think that, if someone played for them, that means they'll be a good coach for them? Almost all young coaches now who were former players got their first or second gig with a team that they played for. If you think about it, it really doesn't make any sense. Teams should look for coaches with an unbiased eye, not bend over backwards to "keep it in the family." The Suns aren't the only culprit.

 

[fordronken]

Originally posted by elindholm
Isn't it strange how teams think that, if someone played for them, that means they'll be a good coach for them? Almost all young coaches now who were former players got their first or second gig with a team that they played for. If you think about it, it really doesn't make any sense. Teams should look for coaches with an unbiased eye, not bend over backwards to "keep it in the family." The Suns aren't the only culprit.

I doubt it's solely a desire to "keep it in the family." They are also people the organization is comfortable with and they know something about their more personal side. However, former players are still being hired by their teams far too much.

 

[jbeecham]

All I know is that we better be playing a zone defense against them because they struggle with it more than we do.

 

[Assface]

As a Magic fan I'm pissed about this. After 3 years of overachieving they fire him for 10 games of underachieving.

T-Mac has completely regressed this year. Not only is he missing shots but he went from being the team leader to a whiny little bitch. My team is going down in flames. This year will be a total debacle.