Memphis Grizzlies President of Basketball Operations Jerry West announced today that Mike Fratello has been relieved of his head coaching duties. Fratello led Memphis to a 95-83 record after he was hired on December 2, 2004 as the Grizzlies’ seventh head coach in team history. He led the Grizzlies to two postseason appearances, and became the franchise’s all-time winningest head coach in April. This season, Fratello led the Grizzlies to a 6-24 record. “I’d like to thank Mike for the contributions he made to the Grizzlies organization,” said West. “He is a great coach and friend, and he did an outstanding job guiding this team to two playoff appearances in Memphis. We just felt it was time to make a change and move in a different direction based on our record and future goals. We wish Mike the best in his future endeavors.”
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! Say it ain't so! The Czar was a fantastic coach! He, along with Hubie Brown, molded Pau into the strong defender he is today. I pray we don't replace Fratello with some lame offensive-minded coach just so they can sell more tickets
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! Say it ain't so! The Czar was a fantastic coach! He, along with Hubie Brown, molded Pau into the strong defender he is today. I pray we don't replace Fratello with some lame offensive-minded coach just so they can sell more tickets
Memphis Grizzlies President of Basketball Operations Jerry West announced today that Mike Fratello has been relieved of his head coaching duties. Fratello led Memphis to a 95-83 record after he was hired on December 2, 2004 as the Grizzlies’ seventh head coach in team history. He led the Grizzlies to two postseason appearances, and became the franchise’s all-time winningest head coach in April. This season, Fratello led the Grizzlies to a 6-24 record. “I’d like to thank Mike for the contributions he made to the Grizzlies organization,” said West. “He is a great coach and friend, and he did an outstanding job guiding this team to two playoff appearances in Memphis. We just felt it was time to make a change and move in a different direction based on our record and future goals. We wish Mike the best in his future endeavors.”
You broke your own rule of providing the link and no article.
But you redeemed yourself.
It was time for Fratello to go.
West wasn't giving Fratello the type of players suited to his coaching style, and Fratello wasn't running the up-tempo offense that West wanted.
Fratello will bounce back. Possibly down in Miami if Riley retires after this season, or somewhere else (Seattle? Minnesota? New Jersey? New York?).
I'd be cool with Paul Silas or Rick Adelman, who I think would work very well with our young guys like Gay, Warrick and Lowry and a good post passer like Pau
“I’d like to thank Mike for the contributions he made to the Grizzlies organization,” said West. “He is a great coach and friend, and he did an outstanding job guiding this team to two playoff appearances in Memphis. We just felt it was time to make a change and move in a different direction based on our record and future goals. We wish Mike the best in his future endeavors.”
Not surprising at all. For once I'd like to see an official announcement of a firing that included the actual truth.
The buzz in the Sonics' locker room before Wednesday's game vs. Chicago was an apparent blowup between Memphis Grizzlies GM Jerry West and coach Mike Fratello, who apparently got in each's other faces on Wednesday. West supposedly told Fratello that he needs to stop making excuses for the team losing. The Grizzlies are 5-16 and have the worst record in the league -- though, to their defense, they have played the entire season without Pau Gasol. Anyway, the players were saying that West never liked Fratello, and that he wanted to hire Eric Musselman all along, the reason West put Musselman on Fratello's staff before Musselman got hired by Sacramento. It was owner Michael Heisley who made the decision to hire Fratello. I don't have any insider knowledge, but to me that would seem to spell the beginning of the end for Fratello. There would seem to be no way he wins a power struggle with The Logo, although you have to wonder how the pending sale of the franchise factors into everything.
I'd be cool with Paul Silas or Rick Adelman, who I think would work very well with our young guys like Gay, Warrick and Lowry and a good post passer like Pau
Rick Adelman would be an excellent choice for that team.
Great offensive coach, and he knows how to handle players.
Mike seems like a good guy, but everytime I've seen him since he returned to coach the Grizzlies, it seemed like he was this close to hanging himself in the locker room. Maybe this is best for everybody.
Grizzlies fire Mike Fratello
