NBA · ot: BREAKING NEWS: Nuggets Fire Coach Jeff Bzdelik (page 1)

its on espnews right now

[Edited by - NYK3 on 12/28/2004 12:56:07]

Now we may get a chance to see who is the one of the better coaches available out there.

Posted by MaTT4281:

Now we may get a chance to see who is the one of the better coaches available out there.

Lenny?

Michael Cooper is getting the nod for now.

He we bought in to replace jeff if this situatioun occured. This should be no suprise to anyone.

Nuggets fire Bzdelik
By Chris Tomasson, Rocky Mountain News
December 28, 2004

The Denver Nuggets have fired head coach Jeff Bzdelik and replaced him on an interim basis with assistant Michael Cooper.

Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe and Cooper confirmed the change this morning. The Nuggets have called an 11:30 a.m. MST press conference to make it official.


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"It came out of left field," Cooper said.

Rumors have swirled since late last season about the possible ouster of Bzdelik, hired before the 2002-03 season. His Nuggets, projected to one of the top teams in the Western Conference, are 13-15, having lost six consecutive games and eight of their last nine.

But injuries have been a problem lately. Star forward Carmelo Anthony has missed the past five games due to a sprained ankle. And star forward Kenyon Martin also sat out Monday's game, a 104-101 loss at Golden State.

"We've had a third of the season," Vandweghe said. "I know we've had injuries, but I just don't think we've been trending well. Jeff worked hard, but sometimes a change of voice is necessary."

Vandeweghe gave Bzdelik news of the change with an early-morning phone call.

"He thanked me for the opportunity and said he was sorry that it didn't work out," Vandeweghe said.

Bzdelik went 17-65 in 2002-03 before steering the Nuggets to a surprising 43-39 mark last season and leading them to the first round of the playoffs. However, Vandeweghe and Bzdelik never seemed to get along.

Bzdelik leaves Denver with 73-119 mark.

"I'm obviously hurt for coach Bzdelik and his family," said Cooper, who learned of the move from Vandeweghe about 1 ½ hours before the scheduled press conference. "It's a very difficult situation."

Cooper, a former NBA defensive star with the Los Angeles Lakers, is in his first season as a Nuggets assistant. As head coach of the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks, he won titles in 2001 and 2002.

"He will be able to help us with defense and the running game," said Vandeweghe, who said Cooper will be evaluated as the season progresses and will be considered to be permanent job.

tomassonc@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-892-5125

bzdelik was a lame duck coach anyways. usually that's a recipe for disaster. this one falls on kiki's shoulders. he brought in kmart for $90 mil, didn't have a real starting SG nor a decent backup. bzdelik became the scape goat so now it's up to the next guy. cooper will be the interim and i wouldn't doubt it one bit if phil jackson becomes the coach next season.

[Edited by - djsunyc on 12/28/2004 14:01:03]

btw, i'm just waiting for the usual suspects (chad ford, etc) to start defending kiki on this move and how brilliant and foresight he had for getting cooper as an assistant coach.

Difference of opinion

by Steve Kerr, Yahoo! Sports
December 28, 2004


The firing of Jeff Bzdelik on Tuesday comes as no surprise.

The Denver Nuggets have lost six straight games and are floundering at 13-15 after entering the season with high hopes. Still, general manager Kiki Vandeweghe's decision to replace Bzdelik with assistant Michael Cooper is based more on a difference in philosophy than on Denver's losing streak.

Bzdelik comes from a very defensive-minded background, having cut his teeth under Pat Riley in both New York and Miami. He prefers a slower-paced, more physical brand of basketball that emphasizes defense.

Vandeweghe, on the other hand, spent much of his playing career in the up-tempo style taught by Doug Moe. He wants his club to mirror those Nuggets teams of old, taking advantage of the team's young talent and Denver's high altitude by running opponents into the ground.

Even last season, when Bzdelik was having great success leading the Nuggets to the playoffs, Kiki quietly seethed while watching his team struggle offensively. Vandeweghe wanted a coach who was more imaginative offensively and who would install an offense that created more shots and opportunities for his young players, particularly Carmelo Anthony.

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That is why Bzdelik was not offered a contract extension after his successful showing last season. By making the playoffs, Bzdelik's contract automatically guaranteed him another year on his deal. But the fact that Vandeweghe wasn't interested in a long-term deal was telling.

Cooper now has his opportunity to coach in the NBA, and he will install an up-tempo, attacking offense in Denver. Cooper was Kiki's choice from the beginning, as he hired him in the offseason as an assistant to Bzdelik but with the idea of grooming him as a head man.

As for Bzdelik, he is a good young coach who was hurt by his team's injuries this season. He has earned another opportunity in the NBA, perhaps with a team looking to improve defensively.

Ehmmm... Is he talking about us?

[Edited by - knicksfan on 12/28/2004 16:55:21]

He's younger and more athletic than Lenny is. Why not do it? He also has a little more intellectual flexibility than Lenny (at his age) does. Of course, the change shouldn't be made until the next losing streak.

very shocking, I was always very surprised by the way they treated Bzdelik like trash the entire time he was there...

Posted by teslawlo:

very shocking, I was always very surprised by the way they treated Bzdelik like trash the entire time he was there...

i 100% agree. this guys was a hard working and demanding coach. they wouldn't be here without what he did last year and the year before.

Why would Isiah even considered hire Bzdelick when he has Agwire and other members from the current coaching staff that can do if not the same but a much better job than Bz????? Isiah needs a coach that is from the same school as he is to run his team.

Posted by raven:

Posted by teslawlo:

very shocking, I was always very surprised by the way they treated Bzdelik like trash the entire time he was there...

i 100% agree. this guys was a hard working and demanding coach. they wouldn't be here without what he did last year and the year before.

diderot,
i dont see why you quoted us as i personnaly dont think bzedhlik (f*** spelling) would be a better coach than suhr or aguirre too.

Bzdelick is not that great of a coach. What has he won so far? nothing. he failed to get along with his young super-star, and that along lost him his job. Did he even play the game of basketball at any level??? Frankly, Musselman did a better job than he did. He was lucky last season to coach Melo, and if it wasn't for Melo and the supportive cast, Bzdelick's name wouldn't have gotten mentioned amongst NBA coaches. Give me Agwire, he has coached our front-court admirably, he would definitely command the big men's respect. He won as an undersize PF, he can win as a coach if given a freaking chance. One thing is for sure, with Agwire as a coach, this team would be playing defense every night.