RIP George Irvine

flow · Post #1 » by **flow** » Tue May 9, 2017 7:45 pm

Former Pistons coach George Irvine has died of cancer.

He was on Alvin Gentry's staff and became interim head coach when Gentry was fired in early March, 2000. Irvin wasn't a great head coach, but he opened up the offense and the team responded to him, playing better (and more entertaining) than they had under Gentry and winning 12 of 17. But then Grant Hill went down with his infamous ankle injury in the last week of the season, and though the team managed to make the playoffs, they got swept by the Heat in 3 games.

Irvine was retained as head coach for the next season, but the team went 32-50 and he was relieved of his duties at season's end. He had a bright offensive basketball mind.

MotownMadness · Post #2 » by **MotownMadness** » Tue May 9, 2017 8:31 pm

Alexander · Post #3 » by **Alexander** » Wed May 10, 2017 12:01 am

This is sad. I played middle school basketball with his stepson. He seemed like a solid enough guy and came to a game or two, IIRC.
Michael Curry's oldest son was the year ahead of us, as well.
I wish I had known more about the game back then so I could have picked their brains.

Canadafan · Post #4 » by **Canadafan** » Wed May 10, 2017 12:50 am

RIP. I remember him being our coach like it was yesterday. Time flies

Pharaoh · Post #5 » by **Pharaoh** » Wed May 10, 2017 1:00 am

RIP

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