02-10-2004, 03:11 PM
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#1 (permalink)
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Addict
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Randy Ayers Fired
http://www.sportsline.com/nba/story/7077069
Quote:
Sixers fire coach Ayers, name Chris Ford as replacement
Feb. 10, 2004
PHILADELPHIA -- Randy Ayers was fired by the struggling Philadelphia 76ers during his first season as their coach, and assistant Chris Ford was promoted to replace him Tuesday.
COMMENTARY
by Mike Kahn
Philadelphia went 21-31 under Ayers and is 1½ games behind the Boston Celtics for the final playoff berth in the Eastern Conference.
"Randy is a great friend, but a change was needed," 76ers general manager Billy King said. "Our goal is to put a team out there that plays hard every night. ... A lot of things haven't gone well for us. It's not fair to point the finger at one person."
Ford was given the job on an interim basis. He joined the 76ers' coaching staff last summer after two seasons as the coach at Brandeis. He led the Boston Celtics to division titles in 1991 and 1992, and he has also coached the Bucks and Clippers.
The 76ers' next game is at home Wednesday against Washington.
All but one of the 15 Eastern Conference teams (Atlanta, with Terry Stotts) have changed coaches since the end of last season. Now the 76ers have done it twice in that span.
Ayers took over after the resignation of Hall of Fame coach Larry Brown, now with the Detroit Pistons.
Ayers seemingly lost control of the team. In recent weeks, All-Star guard Allen Iverson ripped his teammates for lacking heart and said changes had to be made. Glenn Robinson griped about his playing time, and other players also had complaints.
"There wasn't one thing," King said. "You have to do an overall evaluation. This was a very difficult decision. I've known Randy personally and professionally for a long time.
"I still think he's a good coach, but it just didn't work for us."
Ayers was far down on King's list of candidates after Brown stepped down. King initially tried to get permission to speak to Portland coach Maurice Cheeks, a former 76ers star. Also, former Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy and Kentucky coach Tubby Smith said they weren't interested after speaking to King. Van Gundy took over in Houston, replacing Rudy Tomjanovich.
King also interviewed former New Jersey Nets assistant Eddie Jordan, who was hired by Washington, former Atlanta coach Mike Fratello, Hawks then-interim coach Terry Stotts, 76ers assistant Mike Woodson and Miami Heat assistant Bob McAdoo.
"When I hired Randy, I felt he was the best qualified coach," King said.
Ford went 311-358 in nine seasons as an NBA head coach. His best season was his first, when the Celtics went 56-26 and reached the second round of the playoffs.
He won NBA championships with the Celtics as a player (1981) and an assistant coach (1984, 1986).
AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service
Copyright 2004, The Associated Press, All Rights Reserved
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Last edited by AL9045; 02-10-2004 at 03:13 PM..
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