Memphis hires Iavaroni

[asudevil83]

Griz hire Iavaroni as coach

The team hired Marc Iavaroni as its head coach and an announcement could come as soon as Thursday, according to an NBA source familiar with the negotiations. Iavaroni, an integral part of the Phoenix Suns' coaching staff the past several seasons, received a three-year contract to help reshape the Grizzlies after they failed to reach the playoffs for the first time in four seasons.

Memphis finished with the league's worst record (22-60) but will pick fourth in the June 28 draft despite owning the best odds of selecting first or second.


A person with knowledge of the coaching search said that while Iavaroni was among the leading candidates Larry Brown stood a great chance of becoming the Grizzlies' coach had they secured one of the top two picks.
The Griz, though, didn't just settle.

Iavaroni is considered one of the better creative minds working through the assistant coaching ranks. He obviously has comes with a handle what's needed to play an up-tempo offensive style. Iavaroni has served as lead assistant for the past 3 1/2 seasons of his five-year stint with the Suns, who have led the league in scoring since 2004-05.

His background also indicates that he'll demand solid defense, having worked under former Griz coach Mike Fratello and Miami's Pat Riley in his career.

Iavaroni is also seen as someone who can nurture the skills of budding big man such as Pau Gasol. Iavaroni is credited with playing a major part in the development of center Amaré Stoudemire.
Iavaroni also played in the NBA for seven seasons. He was a starter as a rookie on the 1983 World Champion Philadelphia 76ers.

well....cant say that i'm not suprised

 

[elindholm]

Jeez, this is turning out to be a pretty big news day. Who woulda thunk it?

 

[Covert Rain]

well....cant say that i'm not suprised

Good for MI. Bad for the Suns. Then again, maybe we can get a more defensive minded assistant coach in here?

 

[slinslin]

Marion, Diaw, Banks, Jones for Miller , Swift, Warrick, Stoudamire. Come on Marc you know you want Diaw.

 

[Mainstreet]

Congratulations to Iavaroni. Now who replaces him on the Suns?

 

[slinslin]

What about Patrick Ewing, wasn't he an assistant for Houston lately? He loves Amare, I know.

 

[OldDirtMcGirt]

Good luck Marc! I think that he's going to be a very good head coach.

 

[SactownSunsFan]

Hate to see him go, but I wish him all the luck in the world none the less. Definitely one of my favorite all-time Suns assistant coaches.

 

[Chaplin]

I liked him, but I think we overrated him a bit.

 

[azirish]

Iveroni's status has been something of a distraction for a long time.

Like most people, I think the Suns need a defensive guru who can take the team to the next level in both man skills and scheme.

It is hard to know who would be a good pick. I've been impressed by how many established veteran coaches have returned as assistants such as P.J. Carlesimo with the Spurs, Del Harris with the Mavs, and Terry Porter with Detroit.

One guy who's been out of the league a few years is Paul Silas. He may be holding out for another head coaching job (still in running for Bobcat job), but he was one of the top defense oriented coaches in the day who played for the Suns in the 70's and served as an assistant coach in the '90's.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Jeff Van Gundy is my guy.

 

[Cheesebeef]

this is the guy who cost us a T in a very tight game in Game 1 and then blew his lid and even though he told the guys, supposedly, not to get goaded into a fight, jumped off the bench a million miles per hour when Horry went down instead of doing his job to keep Amare and Boris off the court?

good riddance.

 

[Nasser22]

He also held D'Antoni back many a time. The refs were terrible in that series, anyone would be pissed. I like Iavaroni and think he'll be pretty successful as a head coach, but this was expected to happen and there are some good assistant coach options available so I'm not too upset about it. The defense will never be good no matter who's the assistant coach if D'Antoni doesn't care more about both sides of the ball.

 

[Gaddabout]

I've got a hunch this means a promotion for Dan Dan. Maybe Piatkowski hanging up the sneakers and taking up Dan Dan's role as Mr. Hallmark Card?

 

[HooverDam]

I think thats a bad move for Ivaroni, he should've learned from Patino going to Boston. Ivaroni only should've gone if Memphis got the #1 or 2 pick. I suppose given better healthy they can still be a good team, but I think its going to be an extremely uphill battle.

 

[Taco]

Good for Iavaroni!!

I'm tired of these team's that keep hiring re-tread's

Time for some fresh blood in the coaching ranks

 

[azirish]

It's hard to determine what kind of team the Griz will be this year. With the #4 pick I would expect them to take Horford since rebounding and defense are their biggest needs. They let opponents shoot 48.6% andweree -2.5 rpg. I expect Horford will start.

This gives them a lineup of:

C - Gasol
PF - Horford
SF - Gay
SG - Miller
PG - Atkins

Backups

Swift at C
Warrick at SF/PF
Jones at SG/PG

The health status of Stoudemire and Cardinal will also effect how they play.

This is not much less talent than what they had a few years ago. They will be more athletic than the Suns, but will lack the experience and the perimeter defense - not to mention having no Nash. Still, on paper this looks like a team that could get a lot better fairly quickly.

 

[Mainstreet]

It's hard to determine what kind of team the Griz will be this year. With the #4 pick I would expect them to take Horford since rebounding and defense are their biggest needs. They let opponents shoot 48.6% andweree -2.5 rpg. I expect Horford will start.

I guess we'll know who the Suns were going to pick if they got the 4th pick.

 

[azirish]

I guess we'll know who the Suns were going to pick if they got the 4th pick.

 

[Bufalay]

Tony Barone was replaced by Marc Iavaroni, the assistant to Dan Dantoni's brother Mike Dantoni.

 

[Mainstreet]

Wasn't the Griz also supposed to interview Griffin for the GM or do I have my wires crossed?

 

[TheKid_1]

Jeez, this is turning out to be a pretty big news day. Who woulda thunk it?

What else happend to make this such a big news day? I'm obviously missing something here?!

 

[elindholm]

What else happend to make this such a big news day? I'm obviously missing something here?!

A guard for the Los Angeles Lakers named Kobe Bryant announced that he wants to be traded. He's been on the All-Star team and some people think he's pretty good, so it's newsworthy that he may be moved.

 

[Gee!]

Good for MI. Bad for the Suns. Then again, maybe we can get a more defensive minded assistant coach in here?

So I take it you werent sold on this line in the article?

His background also indicates that he'll demand solid defense

 

[Mainstreet]

Wasn't the Griz also supposed to interview Griffin for the GM or do I have my wires crossed?

Yes, the Suns also gave the Griz permission to interview Griffin and I believe he was interviewed.

Do you think if the Griz hired Griffin as GM that D'Antoni might become the full-time GM of the Suns thus creating a Head Coaching vacancy in Phoenix? Interesting idea Mainstreet. I don't know.

Slow night so I'm talking to myself.