Knicks coach David Fizdale plans to keep his emotions in check today as he returns to Memphis to face the team that fired him after 19 games last season, writes Zach Braziller of The New York Post. Fizdale took the Grizzlies to the playoffs during his first season with the organization, but was discarded last year as the team got off to a rough start highlighted by an early-season injury to Mike Conley and Fizdale’s feud with Marc Gasol.
Fizdale became one of the hottest free agents on the coaching market, interviewing with several teams before accepting the job in New York. He insists he’s not bitter about the experience in Memphis, saying it taught him lessons that made him a better coach.
“Probably the emotional part will be me remembering the good part of it,” he said. “I got a standing ovation in that building from a great fan base, and that’s the moment I’m going to remember, in the playoffs when we fought our butts off against the Spurs, and those guys being able to give me that moment as a young coach, and to share that moment with them. I’ll never forget that.”
There’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- Heat forward James Johnson, who spent three and a half seasons in Toronto, believes Kawhi Leonard will find a lot to like about the city, relays Ira Winderman of The Sun-Sentinel. Leonard is averaging 24.4 points per game and has propelled the Raptors to a 16-4 start, the best record in the league. “I think guys are more focused on winning now and getting to a team that can get to those Eastern Conference finals or can get to the championship series,” Johnson said. “So I don’t think it’s about place anymore. It’s about building the right team.”
- The slumping Celtics are having trouble finding the right roles for the younger players who helped them reach the Eastern Conference finals last season, writes Tim Bontemps of ESPN. Terry Rozier has struggled in his return to a reserve role, Jaylen Brown‘s shot has been off all season and Jayson Tatum is settling too often for long two-point shots.
- X-rays were negative after Brown landed hard on his back late in last night’s game, according to Steve Bulpett of The Boston Herald.
- The Celtics were counting on a draft pick bonanza in June with picks possibly coming from the Kings, Grizzlies and Clippers, but based on the current standings all of those would be later than Boston’s selection, tweets Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe.
Celtics might consider balancing out the rotation by moving 1-2 guys to the bench. That could open some things up for Gordon Hayward offensively, allow Kyrie to do a lot of what he did last year around their defense by leading offensively, and still let young guys like Rozier and Tatum get most of their touches off the bench. Maybe start Marcus Morris, who doesnt need the ball as much. Kyrie, Brown, Hayward, Morris, Horford starting 5
Tatum, Rozier, Baynes, Smart, Ojeleye off the bench
pg kyrie
sg rozie
sf tatum
pf mook
c baynes
refs get their quota on calling cheap fouls baynes/mook. also it allow horford to remain fresh at end of games/season. it’s also their fastest line-plenty with plenty of season remaining for hayward/brown to figure things out. brad also needs to coach against opposing teams vs playing certain players together because on paper it looks good.
I’d put Kyrie on the bench… He’s been a sieve on D and he’s playing a ton of hero ball. Honestly though, if the shots don’t start falling, idk that any moves will matter. They are still getting good looks, just not hitting. Another thing, they aren’t posting Al Ain the post this year. That IMO is a problem. He’s an elite passer and unselfish. Post him and use off ball screens and cut actions. Either way, Brad will figure it all out sooner than later.
Good post, informative, except for the idea of posting up Allen Iverson.
Kidding, Al Horford.
Some fonts do not distinguish properly between eye and el. AI or Al?
@Dionis & @Dionls might agree
Just a side comment….does any media outlet have any other picture of Fizdale, other than this one where his hands are up and his face looks like he’s pushing out a massive s h i t, after 7 days of not going to the bathroom? I swear, this is like the only picture I’ve ever seen of this guy, or some similar variation at a different angle.