Bzedelik Fired (merged)

[Evenstar]

Tuesday, December 28, 2004



ESPN.com news services
The Denver Nuggets, off to a 13-15 start, fired coach Jeff Bzdelik on Tuesday.




http://log.go.com/log?srvc=sz&guid=...3:175226:65&a=1&goto=http://www.register.com/

The team scheduled a 1:30 p.m. ET news conference.



"We felt we needed a change. I want to thank Jeff for all the hard work. He's a big part in turning this around," Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe told the Post. "But we want to build to the next level, and the team wasn't going in the right direction. Sometimes, you can use a change or a new voice."



Assistant coach Michael Cooper, who has a two-year contract and an option for a third year with Denver, could take over the team, the Post reported.



Cooper, who played for the Los Angeles Lakers, coached the WNBA Los Angeles Sparks to a 116-31 record and four playoff appearances.



Denver's next game is Friday against the Philadelphia 76ers.



Bzdelik was 73-119 as Nuggets coach.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1954408


we have a "winner"

 

[PacMan]

Bzedelik Fired

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

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

?

"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.

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

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.

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. "Right now, I'm going to stress defense," Cooper said. "I think that's one area that we have to pick up on."

 

[Kev.in]

It's about time. This guy is one of the worst coaches I've ever seen. Over a year there and you watch them and he still doesn't have them running any plays. Their "offense" looks like the Kings at their worst. Dribble around and chuck up a shot. Hopefully Cooper has something for them, just a few simple "go-to" type plays would really help guys like 'Melo and Kenyon Martin get some easier scoring opportunities.

 

[nAj jAn™]

No way the worst coach, he made the Nuggets a PLAYOFF Team... Its just that this year they have not yet develop team chemistry with the adding of K-Mart and also key injuries to Melo, Camb, and Nene...Too bad, I like Bzdelik and he's a great coach.. Hey they beat Minnesota! And I think they have a 5 winning streak before Melo got injured....then 6 straight loses... They miss Chris Andersen alot! And Nene in the starting five...

 

[VF21]

No way the worst coach, he made the Nuggets a PLAYOFF Team... Its just that this year they have not yet develop team chemistry with the adding of K-Mart and also key injuries to Melo, Camb, and Nene...Too bad, I like Bzdelik and he's a great coach.. Hey they beat Minnesota! And I think they have a 5 winning streak before Melo got injured....then 6 straight loses... They miss Chris Andersen alot! And Nene in the starting five...

Exactly.

You want to talk worst coaches ever? I can think of a couple who passed through Sacramento that might head that list...

I honestly think this might be an attempt to treat the symptom and not the illness, and I'm sorry to see it...

Having said that, I won't be sorry if Denver plummets into anonymity.

 

[Bricklayer]

Bzedelik actually accomplished a heck of a lot in Denver -- from teh moment he arrived he had them playing hard and organized, something they hadn't done ina decade.


Did appear he'd lost the team though, although I think part of that was because management had just totally undermined the guy. They've had a hard on for Cooper for a long time now, and were just looking for any excuse to fire Bzedelik.

 

[Ryle]

Bzedelik actually accomplished a heck of a lot in Denver -- from teh moment he arrived he had them playing hard and organized, something they hadn't done ina decade.


Did appear he'd lost the team though, although I think part of that was because management had just totally undermined the guy. They've had a hard on for Cooper for a long time now, and were just looking for any excuse to fire Bzedelik.

It always has to make you feel good as a head coach when you are in the last year of your contract and the team signs an Assistant Coach to a 3 year deal

 

[AriesMar27]

its all martin's fault.... he sucks.... losing lenard doesnt help either... and carmelo is a baby.... miller needs a hair cut.... receipe for disaster.

 

[LPKingsFan]

SIGN JEFF FIRE RICK














Just kidding...

 

[Padrino]

Bzedelik actually accomplished a heck of a lot in Denver -- from teh moment he arrived he had them playing hard and organized, something they hadn't done ina decade.


Did appear he'd lost the team though, although I think part of that was because management had just totally undermined the guy. They've had a hard on for Cooper for a long time now, and were just looking for any excuse to fire Bzedelik.

i would have to agree with you. i think denver more or less wanted an excuse to hire cooper. i dont think it was the right move, tho. front offices around the league dont seem to get it. the relationship between a head coach and his players is kindofa big deal. to go thru a portion, or half, or more than half of a season with a head coach just to see him yanked out and replaced when the going gets tough is really counterproductive, imo. detroit was an exception. they are a veteran team that played well under carlisle and brown last season. both are good coaches, and both deserve credit. but, with a young team like denver, i dont think its sucha good idea, leastways not mid-season. its a big adjustment. i wouldnt expect denver to fall off the map completely, but this slide theyre in wont be ending anytime soon, i predict.