The Nets and Kenny Atkinson part ways

[vincecarter4pres]

I think Sean is way too smart and savvy to be looking at typical retreads like Mark Jackson. That’s pure conjure.

We will look for the best fit for this group as possible but it will be someone that has experience coaching superstars. You can bank on that.

I think a retread yes man and what you mention in your 2nd paragraph are identical in most instances.

[vincecarter4pres]

Watching Marks' press conference was crucial in settling me down. I'm still sad and upset, but that's life.

I think the key to understanding all this is that Kenny himself was evidently the one who felt the need to go as much as anyone else. It's just as much that he dumped the Nets as 'the Nets dumped him.' If he still wanted to be coaching here, he probably would be.

Parting ways now doesn't make sense from a narrative standpoint, but I can see the sense in Kenny de-stressing in preparation for his next gig, and I can see the sense in a 20-game experiment in Vaughn.

This isn't a happy day, but it sounds very much like this parting was going to happen no matter what. And now we have oodles of time to make the best possible coaching decision. It'll probably work out okay, and I don't remotely expect a drooling idiot like Mark Jackson to be hired.

Yes there is a lot of Truth to this, but I think the why is this happening has to be questioned and looked at from Kenny's viewpoint.

I'm sure people have had jobs here in their respective fields where you're like, "I loved it here at one point, but I need out. The boss/management make this place unbearable. I'm thankful they gave me this opportunity and guided me and let me find myself in this profession, but everything has changed and now that I've become one of the best guys in this company, suddenly they're taking away my freedom and decision making responsibilities and want to make me change the way I do everything to their plan. It was a false pretense. I got better and more head strong than they anticipated, and so I can't be their trained intelligent puppet anymore, cause we butt heads constantly and they no longer like my opinions and confidence. It's a shame cause I'd have loved to work here till retirement, but they preached partnership and team while I was learning the ropes and now that I've arrived to them I'm too involved, I should just sit down, shut up and stay in my place, they made me."

[vincecarter4pres]

There really isn't anything to indicate what he's saying. Dinwiddie comes across as well spoken, and a likeable dude among NBA players. You can see it in his interactions with his teammates, and the things he says when it comes to prioritizing team. D Lo was just here at Barclays not long ago, calling Dinwiddie "my dude", hugging him, and talking to him at Barclays.

I've spoken to Dinwiddie directly and his business manager, all great guys. I had a positive interaction with Dinwiddie, so anything otherwise just seems like some unjustified haterade sippin'

Who are you ? Are u an insider ?

Not to speak for him, but he doesn't post much on here anymore, he's a long time Nets fan and poster on here who's also an emcee. IIrc from JC and/or Edison. He had a video he posted on here recently, I'll try to find it. Never met him in person, but has always been a cool dude on here.

[vincecarter4pres]

There’s a ton of speculation and hypothesizing going on in this thread with very little reliable information to base it on.

First, I want to thank Kenny for his service here. I didn’t think Kenny was perfect but I totally did not expect him to be fired.

Second, I know the Nets like to be secretive to a fault (e.g. almost never giving timetables for players return from injury) but this is huge. The fanbase deserves a better explanation, (unless there are legal issues involved).

We need to know why the Nets thought it was best to let Kenny leave right now as opposed to the end of the season.

The season can’t be saved. Our two best players are out for the season. Outside of a colossal collapse, we’re a 7th or 8th seed.

What difference does it make to fire him now? It’s baffling.

Yup, agree with all of this NyCe.

Whatever the behind the scenes was, although they can't let all of it out, they need to be more thorough in their explanation.

[vincecarter4pres]

I find it pretty fken suspect that Din had 2 2pt field goal attempts and got to the line ONCE while hoisting 0 for 7 from 3 in that Memphis game, 1 game after he's benched for Chiozza in the 4th in a comeback victory.

I respect din. I think he's a smart, dude. Sometimes I think he lacks perspective and wisdom and I think he does **** that his future self would lovingly slap the **** out of him for.

Like I don't think he's a guy who the organisation would change directions on this magnitude for. But I think he is a guy that would get in other players ears and lobby for what he thinks is best.

Obviously all speculation.

This is basically what I've been getting at.

[MrDollarBills]

Just took a gander at the GB's thread on this subject.

100% of the posts are about Kyrie and how he allegedly got Kenny fired.

Get ready for the narrative tomorrow.

I'm sorry, but this has made me lose confidence in Sean Marks and Joe Tsai.

[vincecarter4pres]

I think there was only one person who was in complete denial about that. He'll still probably find a way to deny it.

I can't lie, today has made me very nervous about what's happening. It seems so messy.

Based on LeVert's comments, he wasn't one of the guys that pushed to get Kenny fired. I believe him.

the gritty nets era is over

the mecenary era is starting

KEnny is just the first dominoe. mark is going to package a bunch of these guys for a star.

i thought we had the perfect balance of stars to win now but depth and assets to sustain beyond that

this is billy-kingish

I wouldn't go that far Prok.

It feels like the writing has been on the wall for awhile now that they would make big moves, really from day one of KD and Kyrie, really even before that when a maybe more realistic goal was re-signing DLo and landing one of Butler or Tobias Harris. The goal would always be to strike when the iron was hot, hopefully just keeping one or 2 of our organic guys, those being LeVert, DLo, Allen and Spence, for the most part.

You sign KD and Kyrie, that aspect gets kicked into overdrive a little something.

My only hope is it's either a move for a true star, or if it's moves for fit, it's not just some awful value stuff. My fear is it's for any sort of star for all the assets, like a Westbrook style move, where it's another getting older, relies on athleticism, doesn't fit with our other guys at all, overrated star kind of move.

Westbrook made sense for Houston, he wouldn't on a roster like this, especially when you suck all the injury insurance backups off the roster.

I'm not literally saying Westbrook for all those reading this, before I get killed with the, "Why would Houston trade him!", replies.

But I'm hoping we don't do stupid things, like trading everything which isn't tied down for Aaron Gordon, or Allen and LeVert for Vucevic, or go for broke with Blake Griffin, etc.

There's only so many players out there who are available, I get that, but you'd be correct, it does become Billy King-esque if they start making moves to make moves, overpaying out the wazoo and bringing in aging big names with suspect fit and impact.

[vincecarter4pres]

Just took a gander at the GB's thread on this subject.

100% of the posts are about Kyrie and how he allegedly got Kenny fired.

Get ready for the narrative tomorrow.

I'm sorry, but this has made me lose confidence in Sean Marks and Joe Tsai.

It's running rampant on Twitter as well.

Many in the know warned about Tsai both publicly and privately. He's going to be judged by championships first. Then by sustainability years later after the smoke has cleared.

[vincecarter4pres]

Read on Twitter

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It's funny to see prokorov, who called others out for being knee jerk so many times, is now having arguably the most knee jerk reaction out of all of us. Marks is somehow now Billy King esque, we fired a top 5 coach, and we have horrible, meddling ownership

I'll be honest, Idk if any of this is untrue.

Billy King-esque is where he loses me, though we'll see to summer the moves he actually makes. And he signed KD and Kyrie, this is no Deron and JJ.

But Kenny very well might be a top 5 coach in this league, or at least close to it in current form. I don't know that's hyperbole.

And the meddling owner? That seems pretty much reported as fact as of now. Going to the players directly and then calling for Kenny's head. Whether it's the right move or not, it's not really his place to do, unless he wants to be one of these James Dolan, Vivek Ranadive, or Michael Jordan types. It's his toy, he can do what he wants with it and maybe on the upside he's just involved like a Mark Cuban, Paul Allen or Tilman Fertitta, which is not the greatest either, but won't kill a franchise.

But it's troublesome when you have a guy as revered as Marks, who a hands on to a disastrous fault owner like Prokhorov even stepped to the side for and the reports are Tsai is still going over his head and behind his back to poll players directly and then influencing major decisions.

[MrDollarBills]

Just took a gander at the GB's thread on this subject.

100% of the posts are about Kyrie and how he allegedly got Kenny fired.

Get ready for the narrative tomorrow.

I'm sorry, but this has made me lose confidence in Sean Marks and Joe Tsai.

It's running rampant on Twitter as well.

Many in the know warned about Tsai both publicly and privately. He's going to be judged by championships first. Then by sustainability years later after the smoke has cleared.

Joe isn't going to take the heat for this.

Irving is going to be destroyed tomorrow and for the foreseeable future until the Nets start winning big.

Is that fair? I don't have enough information to believe so. I just find it hard to wrap my head around guys who aren't playing calling for Kenny's head.

Well, whatever. I hope whoever wanted him gone is prepared for what happens next.

[vincecarter4pres]

Just took a gander at the GB's thread on this subject.

100% of the posts are about Kyrie and how he allegedly got Kenny fired.

Get ready for the narrative tomorrow.

I'm sorry, but this has made me lose confidence in Sean Marks and Joe Tsai.

It's running rampant on Twitter as well.

Many in the know warned about Tsai both publicly and privately. He's going to be judged by championships first. Then by sustainability years later after the smoke has cleared.

Joe isn't going to take the heat for this.

Irving is going to be destroyed tomorrow and for the foreseeable future until the Nets start winning big.

Is that fair? I don't have enough information to believe so. I just find it hard to wrap my head around guys who aren't playing calling for Kenny's head.

Well, whatever. I hope whoever wanted him gone is prepared for what happens next.

Yeah I agree with you and what you said prior, Kyrie will take the heat for this no matter if it's warranted or not. I was just adding to that with your second thought/concern about Tsai. And in the now and maybe forever Kyrie is judged on this, but if Tsai turns out to be a meddlesome owner who ruins things, he will also be a common and constant media target, we haven't gotten that far yet though.

[Paradise]

I’m more eager to see what a non Kenny coached team looks like now with his current staff.

Are we running the same sets? Are we changing rotations? Are we shooting more mid range and taking more post up plays?

That will speak for itself and a reason for the move. We’ll see if we look the same or different as the season moves on because there will be an edict to change something about the offense or defense if we’re going to do something like this in season.

[vincecarter4pres]

I’m more eager to see what a non Kenny coached team looks like now with his current staff.

Are we running the same sets? Are we changing rotations? Are we shooting more mid range and taking more post up plays?

That will speak for itself and a reason for the move. We’ll see if we look the same or different as the season moves on because there will be an edict to change something about the offense or defense if we’re going to do something like this in season.

I'd think more than anything we"ll see lineup and rotation changes. Wouldn't be shocked to see different starters today.

Someone said it much earlier in this thread, if you're not going to immediately make wholesale changes on the court, then why push for the move now, from either side?

[MrDollarBills]

I’m more eager to see what a non Kenny coached team looks like now with his current staff.

Are we running the same sets? Are we changing rotations? Are we shooting more mid range and taking more post up plays?

That will speak for itself and a reason for the move. We’ll see if we look the same or different as the season moves on because there will be an edict to change something about the offense or defense if we’re going to do something like this in season.

I'd think more than anything we"ll see lineup and rotation changes. Wouldn't be shocked to see different starters today.

Someone said it much earlier in this thread, if you're not going to immediately make wholesale changes on the court, then why push for the move now, from either side?

If DJ and Prince are starting today, you have to consider them to be two prime suspects regarding who told Tsai that Kenny needed to go.

[MrDollarBills]

It's running rampant on Twitter as well.

Many in the know warned about Tsai both publicly and privately. He's going to be judged by championships first. Then by sustainability years later after the smoke has cleared.

Joe isn't going to take the heat for this.

Irving is going to be destroyed tomorrow and for the foreseeable future until the Nets start winning big.

Is that fair? I don't have enough information to believe so. I just find it hard to wrap my head around guys who aren't playing calling for Kenny's head.

Well, whatever. I hope whoever wanted him gone is prepared for what happens next.

Yeah I agree with you and what you said prior, Kyrie will take the heat for this no matter if it's warranted or not. I was just adding to that with your second thought/concern about Tsai. And in the now and maybe forever Kyrie is judged on this, but if Tsai turns out to be a meddlesome owner who ruins things, he will also be a common and constant media target, we haven't gotten that far yet though.

Most people can't even name the Nets owner. It's going to be Kyrie, Kyrie, Kyrie.

If players had an issue they should have gone to Marks. To hear that the owner is going around polling the players isn't a good sign. Firing a guy in the middle of a playoff race with 20 games left to go following blow out victory is mind numbing.

All of this stinks. I can't see how there are positives to this. Nevermind the fact that there aren't many candidates out there better than Kenny.

I don't want Tyrone Lue. He's a joke as far as coaching is concerned

[Claud]

The optics for the team aren't great but from everything that's being reported it seems like the split was inevitable.

If they were just waiting for the summer to part ways anyway then it was for the best that they did it now.

Kenny gets tons of different options now compared to the summer in terms of job opportunity.

Plus we get to see this group with another voice at the helm for 20ish games to see if anything could be salvaged.

I read a report which stated Kenny wanted to leave because he didn't want to coach KD and Kyrie.. what ridiculous BS.

That sounds like 100% spin.

It's no secret this group didn't gel or played as hard compared to the last few years. Dynamics change, that's the NBA where players make all the rules.

Most of us had doubts about Kenny coaching a contender-type team vs. a rebuilding young team but I thought he'd be given a chance since he's been here since day 1 of the rebuild with Marks but it looks like things were a lot worse internally than we imagined.

Dinwiddie has that Diva DNA and got pissed he got benched in Boston so played like a bitch vs. Memphis. Also seems annoyed that Caris has the ball more now that he's been cooking.

Prince was being benched due to sucking for months.

DJ was a backup because he IS washed compared to his prime years.

Kurucs and Claxton were not happy campers either.

Point is I doubt it was just DJ/KD/Kyrie who pushed for this. There were a number of players who weren't being maximized.

Kenny is a great developmental coach, great culture guy, good offensive system(not great) and awful defense system.

We need someone who commands respect from our stars/vet on day 1 AND someone who can take our young talents to the NEXT level.

If we can get that in our next coach then this move would have been a success, otherwise its a side move at best.

[DarkXaero]

Read on Twitter

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It's funny to see prokorov, who called others out for being knee jerk so many times, is now having arguably the most knee jerk reaction out of all of us. Marks is somehow now Billy King esque, we fired a top 5 coach, and we have horrible, meddling ownership

I'll be honest, Idk if any of this is untrue.

Billy King-esque is where he loses me, though we'll see to summer the moves he actually makes. And he signed KD and Kyrie, this is no Deron and JJ.

But Kenny very well might be a top 5 coach in this league, or at least close to it in current form. I don't know that's hyperbole.

And the meddling owner? That seems pretty much reported as fact as of now. Going to the players directly and then calling for Kenny's head. Whether it's the right move or not, it's not really his place to do, unless he wants to be one of these James Dolan, Vivek Ranadive, or Michael Jordan types. It's his toy, he can do what he wants with it and maybe on the upside he's just involved like a Mark Cuban, Paul Allen or Tilman Fertitta, which is not the greatest either, but won't kill a franchise.

But it's troublesome when you have a guy as revered as Marks, who a hands on to a disastrous fault owner like Prokhorov even stepped to the side for and the reports are Tsai is still going over his head and behind his back to poll players directly and then influencing major decisions.

There's no way Kenny is a top 5 coach in the NBA. Are you really gonna tell me that there aren't at least 5 coaches in the NBA that you'd take over Kenny? I have been fair in evaluating Kenny, and I've given credit where its due. I think he did an excellent job in his first 3 years here, overall, and last season was a tremendous overachievement season for us. But off the top of my head, Pop, Stevens, Spo, Carlisle, Bud, Malone, MacMillan, D'Antoni, Doc, Snyder, Nurse are all better.

I'm not interested in getting into a crappy argument with prokorov here about this, but Kenny did not coach well this season. Sure, the injuries are a very legitimate excuse, at least on the surface (which is why I never said that Kenny should be fired this year or end of year). But I believe that we've held double digit leads in like 16 games that we've lost, which is an absolutely absurd amount. Then there is the consistent theme of terrible late game execution where we've seemed to lost the majority of our close games this year, which is the opposite of last year. A lot of that absolutely does fall on Kenny, who has consistently struggled with in-game management in his time here, and we've struggled in late game situations in three out of his four seasons here. His rigid rotations and lack of adjustments have always been a big criticism against him. We rank as the second worst 4th quarter team in the NBA this year for a reason. There are legitimate reasons to see why Marks was perhaps unhappy with Kenny.

The meddling owner thing is coming from unreliable sources. If Woj or Shams or one of the other reliable NBA reporters says that Tsai went behind Marks' back, then I'll believe it. But as of now, I don't see any reason to believe that, I do think it was a 3 way mutual decision (Marks, Kenny, Tsai). So far the only reliable source who has went into some details is Woj, and he's saying that the relationship between Marks and Kenny had been deteriorating for some time now, so this was due to happen. I ain't buying stuff about Tsai going behind Marks' back, or Kyrie pushing Kenny out, unless it's someone reliable reporting it. If Kyrie & KD were responsible for Kenny getting fired, it wouldn't have happened now, with 20 games to go in the season, and them not playing this season.

[Hello Brooklyn]

I like Kenny but some of you guys are seriously overrating him.

He is a great player development guy. I'm not convinced hes the right guy to get us to the next level.

Last year was a great job by him. This year has been less impressive. We have been underachieving and keep blowing 4th Q leads.

I would have kept Kenny. But if Marks feels like they need somebody else for next year then I'm ok with it.

The proof will be how we do next year.

[vincecarter4pres]

I wouldn't personally put Kenny top 5. I'd probably have him right on that top 10 bubble. And although I agree, he has a lot of suspect moments this year, it's still relatively remarkable the record he has this team at this year with all the injuries and lack of star talent. I feel like most coaches would be looking at an 18 win record at this juncture in the season given the same set of circumstances tbh.

All that said, if they don't think he's their guy, he isn't their guy and both said F it, let's just cut the **** now and get on with it. Still the timing is odd, even given the fact this has likely been a season long struggle between him, Marks and the players. And the lack of explanation given the circumstances is appalling. Lastly, this raises much concern, between the power struggle and over empowering of the players, the reports of Tsai getting overly involved, Kyrie either having a major part or not, but still taking all the blame and nothing from KD at all in the media. Marks with a lot of BS canned response. These things are the red flags.

[therealbig3]

I liked Kenny a lot, I think he's one of the better coaches in the league.

I'll be honest, my patience with Kyrie is at an all-time low. This has been a bust of a season on his part (yeah, he's been hurt, but he wasn't exactly lighting the world on fire when he played...a consistent theme of a team playing better without you across multiple seasons in a large sample size is very daming, IDC what anyone says), and I mean, nobody is firing a head coach without the star player being aware of what's going on. At minimum, he didn't exactly go to bat for Kenny and fight for him to stay.

He better put up or shut up next season. For all the trash talk we've gone back and forth with regarding Kemba vs Kyrie...anyone that still takes Kyrie is insane at this point.