Via SLAM, Griz beat writer Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial-Appeal uses his blog to express skepticism at national media claims Marc Iavaroni's job is in danger.Tillery insists that former Memphis GM Jerry West had been the cat pushing for Iavaroni's ouster last summer, both in owner Michael Heisley's ear and through the national media (namely, ESPN). But Tillery thinks Heisley, burned by scathing criticism to the Pau Gasol trade, is no longer listening to West ... or anyone.
Heisley no longer seeks or accepts advice. Whatever happens will be his decision without influence.Tillery adds all this up to a prediction Iavaroni has until at least January to get his Grizzlies on the right path. Monday night offered two promising events: Memphis beat the shorthanded but potent Rockets, and Iavaroni proved he had sway in the locker room by benching Rudy Gay for a tardiness infraction. Gay played his tail off once he got in, scoring 20 points in 24 minutes. Players don't do that if they want their coach fired. (Of course, the real news from Memphis-Houston was Darko Milicic's insane display of anger/strength.)
While the four early sackings have made writers like ESPN's Chris Sheridan predict there will be more blood, there's a distinct possibility we won't see any more changes until the summer. Sacramento GM Geoff Petrie seems distinctly content with Reggie Theus, Mike Dunleavy isn't going anywhere, and I remain dubious to the idea Maurice Cheeks could be canned after an admittedly slow start with a reinvented wheel.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Yes Iavaroni is safe until January and probably longer than that. These rumors from unnamed sources get old.
How could any coach succeed in his shoes? He was hired to bring the Phoenix style of offense to the Bluff City on a veteran laden squad that wasn't fast enough to run the offense. In the span of 18 months the team traded away every experienced player on the roster for draft picks, prospects and the ever out of reach free agent cap space.
He was hired to coach up tempo offense and is now mandated to play lock down defense but he has no one on the roster considered a lock down man on man defender.
Iavaroni has the faith of the team for now and Heisley doesn't want to waste any more money on this season. Iavaroni should make it past January and possibly to the end of the season. After that it is anyone's guess but Iavaroni's reputation shouldn't be harmed at all by the debacle in Memphis. This is one situation that wasn't his fault.