Kidd Furious At False News

[The Dames 0]

Kidd demands a correction

 

Denies report he wants Byron out

 

By OHM YOUNGMISUK

DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

 

 

Jason Kidd says a decision on his future has absolutely nothing to do with Byron Scott's status as coach of the Nets.

Angrily denying a newspaper report, Kidd said he never demanded that the Nets fire Scott or else risk losing him to the San Antonio Spurs.

 

"What was reported is ridiculous," Kidd said in a statement. "I never demanded Byron be let go. It's not my decision who coaches the team. That is up to management. I am very upset that I am being blamed as the person who is not satisfied with Byron. If management doesn't want Byron in there, then they should speak up. I like Byron and I can only imagine what he is feeling today."

 

Scott, in Canada speaking at a basketball camp, could not be reached for comment yesterday but told a Canadian reporter he was "very surprised" at the news. The Kidd family and the Nets were stunned and infuriated about the report in the New York Post. A non-Net player who spoke to Kidd recently says Kidd said a Nets official — not president Rod Thorn — had approached him and asked if a coaching change would affect his decision. According to the player, Kidd said he told the team official he wanted nothing to do with that.

 

Joumana Kidd insists that her husband and Scott are fine and that they experience twists and turns like in any relationship. Several people interviewed yesterday say that Kidd is not the type to demand a coaching change. After being accused of running his first college coach, Lou Campanelli, out of Cal his freshman year, Kidd is irate to find himself facing similar accusations 10 years later. This controversy couldn't have come at a worse time for the Nets, as Kidd hopes to make his decision by Monday.

 

The Kidds were wondering where this notion came from.

 

"I'm afraid Jason is more (ticked) off right now," an upset and frustrated Joumana Kidd told the Daily News. "This is the last thing he needs right now. Jason is so concerned right now about Byron and how he is taking this and how it is affecting his feelings as a person.

 

"There is somebody out there who does not like coach and it is not us," Joumana added. "And it's too bad."

 

While Kidd and other Nets second-guessed some of Scott's moves after their Game1 loss to the Spurs in the NBA Finals, the Kidds deny any rift between the star point guard and Scott. Several sources said yesterday that many players were not happy with Scott's coaching during the season and that the Nets contemplated replacing him with assistant Eddie Jordan after they lost seven of eight games, including three straight on a Texas trip in March.

 

Thorn — who yesterday blasted the idea that Kidd had demanded that Scott be fired — opted to stick with the coach he hired in 2000. And he did the same thing after the NBA Finals ended in disaster when the Nets lost two straight winnable games and the title to the Spurs — including a fourth-quarter meltdown in Game 6 in which San Antonio buried the Nets with a 19-0 run. Scott's decision-making in that fourth quarter came under fire, as did his handling of Dikembe Mutombo in the series and his reluctance to double-team Tim Duncan.

 

Also, sources say that Jordan — the then-assistant who is close to Kidd and credited with installing the Princeton offense — and Scott clashed during the Finals and barely spoke to one another. This put added pressure on Thorn to make a change despite the fact that Scott coached the Nets to consecutive NBA Finals and is the second-winningest Nets coach.

 

But Thorn chose to let Jordan leave to become head coach of the Wizards and retained Scott with high-profile coaches like Larry Brown and Jeff Van Gundy available at the time.

 

"A huge loss," was how one Net described Jordan's departure. "I think that loss of him is as devastating a loss as (potentially) being without Jason."

 

While a source said the Nets may not give Scott the contract extension he seeks going into his final year of his deal because he may be asking for too much money — potentially leaving him as a lame-duck coach — Thorn told a Western Conference official in recent weeks he has no plans to replace Scott.

 

"Rod loves Byron like a son," a source said.

 

Still, Scott's job status is being questioned again with reports that had Kidd steaming on a day when he was supposed to be coming closer to a decision on whether to sign with the Nets or Spurs. While Kidd is angry over the reports, Joumana said this will not affect his decision.

 

A source close to Kidd said Scott's status will not affect Kidd's decision.

 

Several sources questioned the timing of Kidd's reported demand.

 

"When Eddie was offered the job in Washington, why wouldn't Jason have said then, 'Fire Byron and hire Eddie and don't lose Eddie'?" Joumana Kidd said. "He would have had the perfect opportunity to have the dream coach that everybody has labeled Jason's opinion to be."

 

At least Retro Rob didn't write it

 

Dames

[Guest bob_barron]

http://forums.thesmartmarks.com/index.php?...8&t=36609&st=30

 

Dames should be banned.

[The Dames 0]

Yeah, yeah, yeah....

 

When people go into this folder, they'll see 'Kidd wants Byron Scott fired!!' and immediately come up with their own conclusions. At least this points out a counter point immediately without having to scour through the thread.

 

Besides....I just didn't see it the first time.

 

Dames

[Guest bob_barron]

I'm more upset that the Nets are signing Alonzo Mourning then this whole Kidd fiasco.

 

STAY AWAY ZO. Let your kidneys rot in Dallas

[Guest ant_7000]

Remember yesterday everybody was saying "FUCK KIDD" aw the memories.

[Guest bob_barron]

At least I added the- if it's true disclaimer

[Guest Youth N Asia]

He's going to SA anyway. If they'd had let the story run it could of at least built up a rivalry.