Byron Scott Fired....Who's Next? - (CelticsBlog)

pItrsquo;s a tough job. You have to be a leader, be a bit mad, and have significant people and organizational skills to be successful. And you have to have itrsquo; ndash; what ever itrsquo; is./p pThe news of the firing of a rel=nofollow target=_blank href=http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/NOH class=sbn-auto-linkHornets/a Head Coach a rel=nofollow target=_blank href=http://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/98699/Byron_Scott class=sbn-auto-linkByron Scott/a rippled through the nets of NBA newswires.nbsp; a rel=nofollow target=_blank href=http://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/98699/Byron_Scott class=sbn-auto-link/a br /br /First, new comer a rel=nofollow target=_blank href=http://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/21542/Emeka_Okafor class=sbn-auto-linkEmeka Okafor/a is slow to recover from a toe injury, then Rondo challenges a rel=nofollow target=_blank href=http://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/21662/Chris_Paul class=sbn-auto-linkChris Paul/a, and now Byron is gone. Things ainrsquo;t so easy in the Big Easy, and got worse with Paul's ankle inury. span style=line-height:9px;nbsp;/spanWith a 3-6 record to start the year, after winning 49 games last year, I guess someone had to be blamed. It will always be the coach.nbsp; br /br /Honestly, I was surprised the Hornets held it together as long as they did after the first attempt to trade a rel=nofollow target=_blank href=http://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/21669/Tyson_Chandler class=sbn-auto-linkTyson Chandler/a to the a rel=nofollow target=_blank href=http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/OKC class=sbn-auto-linkThunder/a. That was as direct a sign of financial needs taking precedence over winning as you can get .nbsp; Yes, that can affect team morale./p pSuch a move would not be surprising for a non-contending club, but for a team with playoff aspirations, it was an eyebrow raiser. Then, reminiscent of a Denver flip flop, they tried to compete, even adding a rel=nofollow target=_blank href=http://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/21842/Antonio_Daniels class=sbn-auto-linkAntonio Daniels/a later in the year. nbsp;nbsp;The Hornets had added our own a rel=nofollow target=_blank href=http://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/21888/James_Posey class=sbn-auto-linkJames Posey/a the summer before, hoping that he was that final piece. My how things change. This roster was never deep./p pScott was Coach of the Year just two years ago. The head coach position is, at best, precarious. a rel=nofollow target=_blank href=http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AseHplme_H4cmgQblYvEyya8vLYF?slug=mc-bowerhornets111209prov=yhootype=lgnsYahoo! Sports Marc Spears reports/a that it was intimated that there were chemistry issues and philosophical differences between Scott and some players./p a rel=nofollow target=_blank href=http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AgrZmMOQ2lcTJMMjqCNgdNy8vLYF?slug=aw-paulhornets111309prov=yhootype=lgnsAdrian Wojnarowski has more on Byron./a Ironically, Scott was ousted from New Jersey largely because of Jason Kidd. This time he makes sure he has a good relationship with his star point guard, Chris Paul ndash; but loses much of the rest of the team. Go figure.br /br /Wojo reports a rel=nofollow target=_blank href=http://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/21663/David_West class=sbn-auto-linkDavid West/a says they lsquo;didnrsquo;t really run many playsrsquo;, and said they needed a change. It was suggested that CP3 doesnrsquo;t really like Jeff Bower. Now the Hornets 'franchise' goes down with an injury. He left the arena last night on crutches. pThe devastation in the Crescent City is approaching Katrina levels. There is no truth to the rumor that the Hornets owners, the Shinns, who are as much responsible for the current situation as anyone, are calling FEMA for help. But blame is also shared by Bower, who was lauded a few short years ago. br /br /Some Hornetsrsquo; management were unhappy that Scott was playing rounds of golf amid such a start, even requiring the teamrsquo;s to lsquo;push back a departure datersquo; to accommodate on one occasion. Coach Scott was 'linking it' with Chris Paul.br /nbsp;br /Doctors had cleared Emeka Okafor to play at least a week before he actually did. Players were starting to wonder. Did Scott appear to be too lax with players? br /br /If so, that would only be another tiny stick on the fire. The 58 point loss to the a rel=nofollow target=_blank href=http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/DEN class=sbn-auto-linkNuggets/a in last yearrsquo;s playoffs was a telltale sign that things werenrsquo;t right in the Big Easy.br /br /Irsquo;m wondering how happy James Posey is at the moment.br /br /So GM Jeff Bower takes over. Never a head coach but with adequate sideline experience, and with Tim Floyd at his side, they will try to resurrect this season. Chris Paul holds that team together. Depending on the extent of his recent injury, an already disastrous start could become a wasted season.nbsp;/p pbEconomic Uncertainties/b/p pFor other teams, the only fringe benefit from such a team's decline, if the team's direction isn't righted, might be a fire sale on its roster.Though the Shinn's are spending above the cap currently, the previous idea to pair down salary might re-surface. And if you are spending over the cap for a team that hasn'tnbsp; even played .500 ball this season, who would blame them?/p pHard economic times haven't shaken out of the U.S. economy yet. Even in a cash rich off season coming up, teams might not have as much money to dispense as before with a lower cap. A new CBA is being negotiated and the possibility of a lock out isn't out of the question. That could all lead teams like the cash starved Hornets to make Draconian moves./p pThe next question is...who...other than David West and CP3, would you want from that roster?/p pNo one's taking Peja's $29 million off their hands. Okafor, Posey, Mo Pete? Solid players all, but financially, not a bargain among them./p pBut that's getting ahead of the game. Can Bower, a healthy CP3, and a healthy Emeka Okafor save this season?/p pnbsp;/p pIn the meantime rumors are surfacing that Don Nelson' s Golden State job might in jeopardy, as well as Mike Dunleavy's in Clipperland. Let's take a tour around the league of possible shaking knees or...let's call it a jump up on the hot tin roof. Some other 'cats' might be feeling the heat. Remember the domino effect or serial firings last season?/p pbr /br /bWhat other head coaches else could be in jeopardy?/bbr /br /a) No doubt, the a rel=nofollow target=_blank href=http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/ATL class=sbn-auto-linkAtlanta Hawks/a head coach ba rel=nofollow target=_blank href=http://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/99601/Mike_Woodson class=sbn-auto-linkMike Woodson/a/b is on the hot seat this season. You might wonder why.br /br /He has finally gotten a rel=nofollow target=_blank href=http://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/21573/Josh_Smith class=sbn-auto-linkJosh Smith/a to stop taking threes and J-Smoove appears to be playing more within the offense and around the hoop more ndash; where he should be.br /br /At 7-2, and a trophy win over the Celtics in Boston, they are off to another fast start. Can they sustain it? They have a rolling offense (107.8 =4th best) but their defense is giving up 6 points more than last season? Does it matter when you are 7-2?br /br /The big question here ishellip;. What will be required of this team for Woodson to get a new contract?br /br /Another what ifhellip;..br /br /b) The Cavs started 3-6? Would Coach ba rel=nofollow target=_blank href=http://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/98768/Mike_Brown class=sbn-auto-linkMike Brown/a /bbe packing his belongings? Remember all the post playoff murmurings about alleged Cavs management unhappiness with Brown?br /br /Cleveland seems to have righted the ship. They just beat a surging and defensive minded a rel=nofollow target=_blank href=http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/MIA class=sbn-auto-linkMiami Heat/a. After starting 0-2, they are now 6-1 over their last seven. br /br /bInteresting statistic: Shaq has not had an offensive rebound for 4 straight games. /bbr /br /c) The a rel=nofollow target=_blank href=http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/MIN class=sbn-auto-linkTimberwolves/a are off to a horrible start at 1-9. a rel=nofollow target=_blank href=http://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/35085/Kevin_Love class=sbn-auto-linkKevin Love/a out is only part of their troubles. Will ba rel=nofollow target=_blank href=http://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/98759/Kurt_Rambis class=sbn-auto-linkKurt Rambis/a/b get the whole year to work with this team, if things continue as they are?br /br /d)b a rel=nofollow target=_blank href=http://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/98749/Lawrence_Frank class=sbn-auto-linkLawrence Frank/a /bndash; the a rel=nofollow target=_blank href=http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/NJN class=sbn-auto-linkNets/a are decimated with injuries. They werenrsquo;t going to be all that good if all were healthy. Will he become the fall guy for the 0-9 Nets? It appears so, but it might not happen until the year is over. Can Frank fight the odds, do well enough with what he has to rise a a phoenix? Odds are against it.br /br /e) bMike Drsquo;Antoni /bndash; the a rel=nofollow target=_blank href=http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/NYK class=sbn-auto-linkKnicks/a are 1-9. Why do I feel that he wonrsquo;t be blamed? Oh yeah, Donnie Walsh hired him. br /br /f)b Flip Saundersrsquo;/b a rel=nofollow target=_blank href=http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/WAS class=sbn-auto-linkWizards/a are missing a rel=nofollow target=_blank href=http://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/21838/Antawn_Jamison class=sbn-auto-linkAntawn Jamison/ahellip;but they are still playing terrible ball. This one surprises mehellip; and probably everyone else. What is the problem with the Wizards? They are 2-6. Worse they are have lost their last 5 and havenrsquo;t scored over 90 points in any of those games.nbsp;nbsp; Wait a minute. Whew. They just signed a rel=nofollow target=_blank href=http://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/21500/Earl_Boykins class=sbn-auto-linkEarl Boykins/a. Everything is going to be fine now.br /br /g) ba rel=nofollow target=_blank href=http://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/98836/Lionel_Hollins class=sbn-auto-linkLionel Hollins/a /bndash; he didnrsquo;t want Iverson in the first place. Can he get the team back on track? They are 1-9 and on a 8 game losing streak. br /br /h) ba rel=nofollow target=_blank href=http://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/98729/Paul_Westphal class=sbn-auto-linkPaul Westphal/a/b has the lowly a rel=nofollow target=_blank href=http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/SAC class=sbn-auto-linkKings/a off to a solid 5-4 start, including an impressive win at Utah. His job is more than safehellip;if they play anywhere near this level for the rest of year.br /br /I)nbsp; ba rel=nofollow target=_blank href=http://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/21522/Mike_Dunleavy class=sbn-auto-linkMike Dunleavy/a/b ndash; he wonrsquo;t fire himself as the GM of the a rel=nofollow target=_blank href=http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/LAC class=sbn-auto-linkClippers/a. But now Donald Sterling may do the job himself. What would it take for his removal? The team is without the number one pick a rel=nofollow target=_blank href=http://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/71901/Blake_Griffin class=sbn-auto-linkBlake Griffin/a and shooting guard a rel=nofollow target=_blank href=http://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/35057/Eric_Gordon class=sbn-auto-linkEric Gordon/a. They are 3-7. The league's most frugal owner has spent like a drunken sailor of later ($59 mil) compared to his previous history.br /br /J) And last but not least ndash; ba rel=nofollow target=_blank href=http://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/98865/Don_Nelson class=sbn-auto-linkDon Nelson/a/b. His a rel=nofollow target=_blank href=http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/GSW class=sbn-auto-linkWarriors/a are 2-5. Will trading ingrate Stephen Jackson allow this team to play better ball? Donrsquo;s not going anywhere with his contract..or is he? Will we get to watch another year of The Don in action? I still have fond memories of his resurrection of the Warriors a few years ago, culminating in a Dallas take down. will his friend Larry Riley gong him?br /br /Coaches are an unbelievably positive, tenacious group. Sometimes get out of hand. Someone has to pay for under performing teams. Often coaches are part of the problem. Sometimes, it's just easier to fire one man than trade many players./p pnbsp;a rel=nofollow target=_blank href=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08tYrBCgXlUNR=1feature=fvwpCat On A Hot Tin Roof..../abr /bBrick: You'll make out fine. Your kind always does.br /Maggie: Oh, I'm more determined than you think. I'll win all right.br /Brick: Win what? What is, uh, the victory of a cat on a hot tin roof?br /Maggie: Just stayin' on it, I guess. As long as she can./bbr /br /So, what is the victory of a cat on a hot tin roof in the NBA?br /br /Maggie knew. Just staying on it, I guess. As long as he can./p pWho's next?/p pa rel=nofollow target=_blank href=http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/78rUgw0er-WwO4_5YYV18vwB4Lw/0/daimg src=http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/78rUgw0er-WwO4_5YYV18vwB4Lw/0/di border=0 ismap/abr/ a rel=nofollow target=_blank href=http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/78rUgw0er-WwO4_5YYV18vwB4Lw/1/daimg src=http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/78rUgw0er-WwO4_5YYV18vwB4Lw/1/di border=0 ismap/a/p