Bored 0 Report post Posted January 26, 2004 ESPN.com news services Nets coach Byron Scott, one year removed from taking New Jersey on a second consecutive trip to the NBA Finals, has been fired. The Nets are expected to announce the move at a 2 p.m. ET news conference. Assistant coach Lawrence Frank will be named interim coach, ESPN.com's Marc Stein reports. New Jersey practices as usual at 1 ET today and Frank is expected to coach the session. "He has absolutely no resentment or anger," Scott's agent, Brian McInerney, told The Associated Press. "He's going down as the winningest coach in Nets' history." McInerney said Scott met with Nets president Rod Thorn today. "They discussed the situation and both concluded that the timing of the move is to the benefit of the team," McInerney told AP. "They decided another voice needed to be heard in the locker room." The Nets, an unspectacular 22-20 with the All-Star break approaching, lead the 22-24 Celtics by two games in the Atlantic Division but have only the fifth-best record in the Eastern Conference. The game that sealed Scott's fate was Friday's loss at 18-26 Miami, in which the Nets were routed 85-64, sources told Stein. Scott wasn't around for the final 14 minutes Sunday of what turned out to be his final game as New Jersey's coach -- a 110-91 victory over Boston that halted a five-game losing streak. He was ejected late in the third quarter by referee Luis Grillo for saying something that earned a one-technical ejection. Frank finished up. The last year of Scott's four-year deal was to pay him between $2.6 million and $3 million. Despite leading the Nets to back-to-back Finals appearances, management had refused to give Scott an extension while the team was for sale. It was sold Friday to developer Bruce Ratner, who plans to move the team to Brooklyn. Scott's status was made even more tenuous by persistent reports that he lacked the support of star guard Jason Kidd, who berated Scott after an embarrassing 110-63 loss in Memphis on Dec. 13. A source in the Nets' front office told AP that Kidd spoke to management Saturday and said the team need a change in leadership. Scott was ejected during the third quarter of Sunday's 110-91 victory over the Boston Celtics, which ended a five-game losing streak and kept New Jersey (22-20) from dropping to .500. Kidd, and forward Kenyon Martin, also took issue with Scott's coaching moves during last year's Finals, including how the coach used former Net Dikembe Mutombo against San Antonio and his reluctance to call for double teams on center/Finals MVP Tim Duncan. In the series' decisive Game 6, the Spurs went on a 19-0 second-half run that ultimately finished New Jersey. In the offseason, Kidd was being hotly pursued in free agency by the Spurs, and there were reports claiming that Kidd would not consider re-signing with the Nets unless Scott was fired. Despite their differences, Kidd re-signed with New Jersey for $103 million over six years. On Friday, the Nets were officially sold to Brooklyn developer Bruce Ratner, who is intent on moving the Nets across the Hudson River to the borough. The rest of the NBA owners must approve the deal as well. Scott holds the franchise record with 149 coaching victories. After a 25-56 record in his first season, the Nets went 52-30 in 2001-02 and 49-33 in 2002-03 -- losing to the Lakers and the Spurs in the finals. Scott's dismissal brought to 16 the number of head coach jobs that have turned over since the 2002-03 season. Two weeks ago, the Knicks fired Don Chaney and replaced him Hall of Fame coach Lenny Wilkens. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
alfdogg 0 Report post Posted January 26, 2004 Fuck Jason Kidd. Scott was doing a fine job as Nets coach. Everyone loses to a bad team once in a while. Hell, we just lost to a Stackhouse-and-Arenas-less Washington by double figures. Plus, they were clearly still going to win their division. I'm confident Scott will find another job, though. Terry Stotts' future can't be THAT long. I don't think I need to elaborate on my feelings for Kenyon Martin. It doesn't matter though, coaching change or not, the guard will still be changing in the East this year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Fett 0 Report post Posted January 26, 2004 Anyone notice how there’s been five firings so far this season and all five have been firings of black coaches (Doc Rivers, Bill Cartwright, Frank Johnson, Don Chaney, and Byron Scott). Is it just owners keeping them on a shorter leash, or players not taking orders from them, or is it just a coincidence? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lomasmoney 0 Report post Posted January 26, 2004 The guy has led them to back to back Finals and he gets fired while in FIRST PLACE in the division. The owners need to trade Kidd and Martin since the players are the problem not the coach. Scott will have a job soon because he is a damn good coach who took a slightly above average team to the finals two years in a row. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
alfdogg 0 Report post Posted January 26, 2004 I don't see Martin with the Nets after this season, regardless of this. After his shittastic performance in the Finals last year, he STILL asked for the max salary. The Nets were trying to trade him for RASHEED WALLACE in the offseason. When negotiations for an extention were broke off, the sides were more than $20 million off, if I recall. I would be very surprised if they re-sign him. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steviekick 0 Report post Posted January 26, 2004 All this makes it harder to like the Nets. Makes me mad. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkktookmybabyaway 0 Report post Posted January 27, 2004 Anyone notice how there’s been five firings so far this season and all five have been firings of black coaches (Doc Rivers, Bill Cartwright, Frank Johnson, Don Chaney, and Byron Scott). Is it just owners keeping them on a shorter leash, or players not taking orders from them, or is it just a coincidence? OMG it's a conspiracy!!!! Seriously though, I never understood the Scott hate, but oh well... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vern Gagne 0 Report post Posted January 27, 2004 I've liked Scott since his days playing for the Lakers. So it's too he was fired. I could see a return to the Lakers in some capacity. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Redhawk Report post Posted January 27, 2004 Scott's status was made even more tenuous by persistent reports that he lacked the support of star guard Jason Kidd, who berated Scott after an embarrassing 110-63 loss in Memphis on Dec. 13. Sorry, but when you get beat like that, it's not the coach's fault. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vern Gagne 0 Report post Posted January 27, 2004 I don't understand why all the credit to the Nets sucess has been given to Jason Kidd. Byron Scott became the coach, the same year the Nets started winning. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Redhawk Report post Posted January 27, 2004 I don't understand why all the credit to the Nets sucess has been given to Jason Kidd. Byron Scott became the coach, the same year the Nets started winning. More appropriately, why does all the credit go to Kidd but all the blame goes to Scott? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sass 0 Report post Posted January 27, 2004 I can see Scott taking over for old Hubie Brown down in Memphis shortly here (West and Scott still keep in touch from what I understand). I think that once Phil Jackson retires from coaching, I could see Byron returning to the team as their head coach and successor to Coach Jackson. As a Lakers fan I wish Byron the best of luck. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
alfdogg 0 Report post Posted January 27, 2004 I thought Scott came a year before Kidd? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vern Gagne 0 Report post Posted January 28, 2004 You're correct. The Nets did have alot of injuries up until Kidd's first year on the team though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
