Orlando
Philip Maymin
Basketball News Services
Two things happened with last night's 102-110 loss by the Magic to the LA Clippers, their sixth in a row: the Magic went from being the eighth seed to lottery-land, and Johnny Davis went from being head coach to unemployment-ville. Magic GM John Weisbrod announced the firing this morning at 7am with the Magic in the middle of a five-game Western Conference road trip and with just 18 games remaining. It was not a surprising move and is a last-ditch attempt to stir something in the Magic to spur them back into the playoffs. Assistant coach Chris Jent was elevated to interim head coach, instead of lead assistant Paul Westhead. Did Westhead want a Davis-like multi-year deal in order to take over the reigns today?
Davis was a lame duck coach installed by Weisbrod's predecessor. Davis was not expected to remain with the organization after this summer unless he stumbled into a phenomenal and deep playoff run. Davis was 51-84 in two seasons with the Magic after being named the replacement for Doc Rivers early last season. When that firing was announced, Davis demanded a two-year deal in order to accept being a head coach so that his players would not consider him a one-and-done lame duck coach. But he's done anyway, as is assistant coach Ron Ekker, who was also released.
Could Westhead, who boasts 30+ years of coaching experience and a resume that would make him an instant contender for the job, have tried to pull a Davis and get a multi-year deal? If so, Weisbrod did the right thing in refusing. He can now spend a leisurely summer finding the best possible replacement candidate of the currently available and possibly soon to be available head coaches. No need to enter into a long-term contract for the remaining 18 games. All the Magic need are a firm, disciplined voice, and a little luck. A long-term head coaching contract doesn't give you that.
Interim coach Chris Jent is a former Rocket and Knick who won a ring in 1994 after playing just 3 games and a total of 78 minutes. His time as a Knick was even shorter: 3 games and 10 minutes in 1997. And that's the extent of his NBA career. On a per-48 minute basis, however, he was quite a talented and versatile forward: his career per-48 averages are 20.2 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 4.4 assists. Those are Grant Hill or Steve Francis like numbers.
Speaking of whom, the two were unable to stop the Clippers last night, despite Francis's 10 assists and ZERO turnovers, despite Hill's game-high four steals, and despite Dwight Howard's career-high 29 points on 14-of-17 shooting. The Clippers, behind Corey Maggette's 31 points and Elton Brand's 13 and 12 double-double, were just too much. The Magic actually outplayed the Clippers in some very important facets of the game: they had a better shooting percentage, they hit more total field goals, and they dominated the paint. But they lost both the rebounding and free throw shooting battles, and the charity stripe especially was the kicker, as the Clippers got to the line 37 times compared to just 23 for the Magic.
NEXT GAME
The Magic (31-33, third in the Southeast) now have a day to come to their senses before heading to Seattle (43-20, first in the Northwest) tomorrow night, Friday, March 18th. The game starts at 10:30pm Eastern and will be broadcast on Sun Sports and NBA League Pass.
TEAM NOTES
Dwight Howard had a game-high 12 rebounds, tied with Elton Brand.
The starters played 85 percent of the total minutes available, and each was in double-figures.
Jameer Nelson fouled out after 43 minutes, 22 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists.
INJURY UPDATE
Doug Christie(bone spurs) andAndrew DeClercq(knee) are on the injured list.
Local6.comwrites: The Orlando Magic have fired head coach Johnny Davis with 18 games remaining in the season, according to Local 6 News.General manager John Weisbrod made the decision to fire Davis after the team's sixth loss in a row in California. Weisbrod announced the move just before 7 a.m. Thursday. Magic assistant coach Chris Jent has been named interim head coach. Davis was named Orlando's head coach on Nov 17, 2003. The Magic also fired assistant coach Ron Ekker Thursday. Meanwhile, Corey Maggette had 31 points and eight assists while Elton Brand and Chris Kaman each posted double-doubles as the Los Angeles Clippers downed struggling Orlando, 110-102, at Staples Center.
WESH.comwrites: Davis was replaced on an interim basis by assistant coach Chris Jent, a former Houston Rockets player who won a championship in 1994."We work in a bottom-line business ... It is our responsibility to do everything possible to create the best opportunity for success," Weisbrod said.
John Denton ofFlorida Todaywrites: Assistant Chris Jent was named interim head coach. He has never been a head coach at any level of basketball.Magic general manager John Weisbrod, on the West Coast with the team, had said repeatedly earlier in the season that Davis’ job status was safe through the end of the season. But that changed when the Magic went into their recent funk... Curiously, the Magic passed over Paul Westhead, Davis’s lead assistant, for the head coaching job.Westhead has more than 30 years of coaching experience, including seven seasons as a head coach in the NBA. He will remain on the staff and serve under Jent the rest of the season.
Brian Schmitz ofThe Orlando Sentinelwrites: "We work in a bottom line business," Magic general manager John Weisbrod said in a statement. "It is our responsibility to do everything possible to create the best opportunity for success. We will continue to do everything possible to make this team better and feel at this time that we need a new voice and direction," he said. "The organization is grateful to Johnny for his work and loyalty, and I wish he and his family the best."