Update on P.J. firing with discussion of what drove Nets to let him go. Stubbornness, development, communications http://www.netsdaily.com/2013/5/5/4302656/nets-fire-p-j-carlesimo …
Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports
He wouldn't have survived if the Nets had beaten the Bulls, but the loss to Chicago made the decision easier to carry out.
The Nets announced Sunday that interim head coach P.J. Carlesimo is out and that "a search for a new head coach will commence immediately."
"The Brooklyn Nets organization would like to thank P.J. for his efforts with the team in his roles as both head coach and assistant, and for his contributions to the team's success both on and off the court," general manager Billy King said in a news release.
"The Brooklyn Nets organization would like to thank P.J. for his efforts with the team in his roles as both head coach and assistant, and for his contributions to the team's success both on and off the court," general manager Billy King said in a news release.
The Nets ownership and management had long seen Carlesimo as nothing more than an interim coach and had continuing problems with his rotation patterns and more importantly, his development strategy. The decision to move now, rather than wait, was the smart move, said a league source, adding, "May as well start attracting potential candidates!"
Over the past several months, both had used the words, "baffling," "mystifying" and "predictable" when discussing his substitution patterns. As for his management style, officials in and out of the Nets organization saw him as "stubborn," and not willing to change. There was also problems with communications as well.
The most consistent complaint though was with his development of young players, particularly Mirza Teletovic and MarShon Brooks, but also Tyshawn Taylor and Toko Shengelia. In comparing the strategy of Carlesimo and Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau, one league official said Thibodeau was playing chess while Carlesimo was playing checkers. He cited Thibodeau's trust in players like Nate Robinson, Marco Belinelli, Nazr Mohammed and Marquis Teague while Carlesimo kept Teletovic, Brooks and Shengelia mostly nailed to the bench.
