Within the National Basketball Association's Western Conference are three franchises that have provided their cities' fans with a lot to cheer for and be excited about. The Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, and Denver Nuggets each enjoyed exemplary seasons in 2012-13, all finishing high in their divisions and making the playoffs. The Clippers actually did something unheard of for that franchise: they flat-out WON their division after playing second fiddle within their own city for so many years to the Lakers. The Grizzlies went far into the playoffs, making it to the Conference finals. And the Nuggets, with their fast style of play, won for their head coach the league's prestigious Coach of the Year award for 2012-13. Yes, for Los Angeles, Memphis, and Denver, their respective coaches Vinny Del Negro, Lionel Hollins, and George Karl must feel pretty confident, respected, and accepted...right? Well, not exactly...all three were summarily fired immediately after their season ended! [Caveat: Hollins wasn't technically fired: his contract just wasn't renewed.]
Ironically, there seems to be an almost circular shuffling around with these coaches and teams! Denver now wants Hollins. I don't get it: it is as if every NBA franchise owner is suffering from the delusion that their team alone has the talent to win it all...and if it doesn't, regardless how ultimately successful it was, that "failure" must be the head coach's fault. Well, I really liked Lionel Hollins as a coach and will follow him in the future, pulling for whichever team is wise enough to sign him. As for the Memphis Grizzlies, I'm finished rooting for them...
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