This is how fast things turn in the NBA — Avery Johnson was the NBA coach of the month in October and November but now has been fired in December.
The Brooklyn Nets — who have gone 3-10 in December with one of the worst defenses in the NBA and an offensive leader in Deron Williams who is struggling — have fired Johnson as coach. The story was broken by Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports and confirmed now by the team itself.
P.J. Carlesimo will take over as the interim head coach. They are expected to look outside the organization for his replacement (Phil Jackson’s ears are burning, but I wouldn’t expect that one).
This really shouldn’t be a shock after Nets CEO Brett Yormark tweeted an apology to fans for how the team played on Christmas Day (a blowout loss to the Celtics). When your boss apologizes to your customers for you, then you are in trouble.
Or, look at what Nets forward Gerald Wallace said Wednesday after a 15-point loss to the Bucks, via the New York Post.“We’re a way better team than what our record is,” Gerald Wallace said. “I’m [bleeping ticked] off about us losing, and especially the way we’re losing....
“It’s mind-boggling that we’re in the situation we’re in,” Wallace said. “As good of a team as we are, as good as started off ... you saw the potential we had as a team, and the talent we have as a team. And yet, still, instead of team, it’s more of ‘I.’ ”
The Nets got off to an 11-4 start this season but have fallen apart since, going 3-10. And with that has come some friction off the court. Williams has said the Utah flex offense fit him better and he has continued to shoot just less than 40 percent on the season (and he keeps launching 5.5 threes a game despite shooting 29.5 percent from there). Not shockingly, the Nets offense has started to regress the past 10 games, down 3 points per 100 possessions from their season average.
But that’s not the end of the floor that is the real problem. Brooklyn’s defense — which was always going to be their challenge with this roster — has been bottom five in the league the last 15 games. In the last five games this season they have given up 109.2 points per 100 possessions — which is worse than the Bobcats season average (and they are clear and away the worst defensive team in the league).
Just changing coaches is not going to solve the Nets issues. Brooklyn overpaid Lopez and Kris Humphries and took on maybe the worst long-term contract in the NBA in Joe Johnson. All of them are overpaid and questionable fits together. Wallace brings energy every night but is past his prime. The Nets have more than $70 million in salary commitments (putting them over the salary cap and current luxury tax line) for three more seasons AFTER this one.
GM Billy King has pretty much locked the Nets into this roster for the next few years, it’s going to be hard to make player changes (unless you think other teams want to take on Brook Lopez’s max deal), meaning the only change you can make is the coach. So that’s what the Nets did.