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Slow start brings end to Rivers' tenure with Magic
By John Denton, Florida Today
SALT LAKE CITY ? Doc Rivers, the longest tenured coach in the NBA's Eastern Conference, was fired early Tuesday morning by the slumping Orlando Magic. General manager John Gabriel informed Rivers of the decision after the team returned to its hotel in Salt Lake City following Monday night's 90-88 loss to the Utah Jazz. (Related item: Orlando-Utah game report)
A slow start cost Doc Rivers his job as Orlando coach.
By Peter Cosgrove, AP
The loss was the Magic's 10th straight defeat since its sole victory, a come-from-behind win in New York to open the season three weeks ago. Rivers' job has been on the line since a disappointing preseason and a squandered playoff lead last season.
"We had become increasingly concerned that this team was not about to right itself and get back on track," Orlando Chief Operating Officer John Weisbrod said. "There was a culture of losing developing that was very concerning and we felt now was the time to make a move."
Rivers will be replaced by Johnny Davis, an assistant the past five seasons in Orlando. Davis has been in the NBA as either a player, front office executive or assistant coach for 25 years, and was head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers during the 1996-97 season.
Assistant coach Dave Wohl was also fired by the Magic. Davis is expected to fill the two coaching vacancies in the coming days.
"It's tough to point to one particular game or one event," Weisbrod said. "But this is something that we have been talking about since the beginning of the year... I just thought the earlier we did this the sooner we could start to change the course of this season."
The Magic (1-10) face Phoenix on Thursday and Sacramento on Friday before returning home. Davis' first home game will be Monday against the Indiana Pacers.
Weisbrod believes that Davis ? who has worked with the Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Clippers, Portland Trail Blazers, New Jersey Nets and the Magic ? can salvage the season. Davis is close to Magic star Tracy McGrady and has been credited with helping him to develop into one of the NBA's best young players.
"Johnny has a great temperament. He's intense, yet has a very patient disposition," Weisbrod said. "He prides himself on making players better ... We felt strongly that he's the right man for this job."
Rivers, named the Magic's fifth head coach in June of 1999, found instant success in the NBA. He won the NBA's Coach of the Year award in his first season, guiding a rebuilt roster to a 41-41 record and within one game of the playoffs.
He guided the Magic to the playoffs each of the past three seasons, only to lose in the first round each time. He had a 171-168 record in four-plus seasons with the Magic. His teams finished fourth in the Atlantic Division three times and third once.
In the days leading up to his firing, Rivers pleaded that he be judged on his previous work instead of the current team's struggles. With superstar forward Grant Hill out injured because of an ankle injury the past three years, Rivers felt that he had gotten the most out of a hamstrung franchise.
Rivers also had some much-publicized run-ins with team leaders Horace Grant and Darrell Armstrong. Rivers and Grant nearly came to blows last fall on a plane ride home from Chicago and Grant was ultimately waived by the franchise.
Armstrong, a sparkplug for the Magic for nine seasons, feuded regularly with Rivers last season when he was demoted to back-up point guard. Rivers decided not to re-sign Armstrong, who moved to the New Orleans Hornets.
By John Denton, Florida Today
SALT LAKE CITY ? Doc Rivers, the longest tenured coach in the NBA's Eastern Conference, was fired early Tuesday morning by the slumping Orlando Magic. General manager John Gabriel informed Rivers of the decision after the team returned to its hotel in Salt Lake City following Monday night's 90-88 loss to the Utah Jazz. (Related item: Orlando-Utah game report)
A slow start cost Doc Rivers his job as Orlando coach.
By Peter Cosgrove, AP
The loss was the Magic's 10th straight defeat since its sole victory, a come-from-behind win in New York to open the season three weeks ago. Rivers' job has been on the line since a disappointing preseason and a squandered playoff lead last season.
"We had become increasingly concerned that this team was not about to right itself and get back on track," Orlando Chief Operating Officer John Weisbrod said. "There was a culture of losing developing that was very concerning and we felt now was the time to make a move."
Rivers will be replaced by Johnny Davis, an assistant the past five seasons in Orlando. Davis has been in the NBA as either a player, front office executive or assistant coach for 25 years, and was head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers during the 1996-97 season.
Assistant coach Dave Wohl was also fired by the Magic. Davis is expected to fill the two coaching vacancies in the coming days.
"It's tough to point to one particular game or one event," Weisbrod said. "But this is something that we have been talking about since the beginning of the year... I just thought the earlier we did this the sooner we could start to change the course of this season."
The Magic (1-10) face Phoenix on Thursday and Sacramento on Friday before returning home. Davis' first home game will be Monday against the Indiana Pacers.
Weisbrod believes that Davis ? who has worked with the Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Clippers, Portland Trail Blazers, New Jersey Nets and the Magic ? can salvage the season. Davis is close to Magic star Tracy McGrady and has been credited with helping him to develop into one of the NBA's best young players.
"Johnny has a great temperament. He's intense, yet has a very patient disposition," Weisbrod said. "He prides himself on making players better ... We felt strongly that he's the right man for this job."
Rivers, named the Magic's fifth head coach in June of 1999, found instant success in the NBA. He won the NBA's Coach of the Year award in his first season, guiding a rebuilt roster to a 41-41 record and within one game of the playoffs.
He guided the Magic to the playoffs each of the past three seasons, only to lose in the first round each time. He had a 171-168 record in four-plus seasons with the Magic. His teams finished fourth in the Atlantic Division three times and third once.
In the days leading up to his firing, Rivers pleaded that he be judged on his previous work instead of the current team's struggles. With superstar forward Grant Hill out injured because of an ankle injury the past three years, Rivers felt that he had gotten the most out of a hamstrung franchise.
Rivers also had some much-publicized run-ins with team leaders Horace Grant and Darrell Armstrong. Rivers and Grant nearly came to blows last fall on a plane ride home from Chicago and Grant was ultimately waived by the franchise.
Armstrong, a sparkplug for the Magic for nine seasons, feuded regularly with Rivers last season when he was demoted to back-up point guard. Rivers decided not to re-sign Armstrong, who moved to the New Orleans Hornets.
