Joshawaggie Posted January 23, 2007 Share Posted January 23, 2007 http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2740436Struggling Wolves fire Casey, promote WittmanESPN.com news servicesMinnesota Timberwolves head coach Dwane Casey was fired Tuesday, halfway into another season mired in mediocrity."I've been in basketball 29 years, and this is going to be my first time out of basketball," Casey told ESPN.com's Chris Sheridan. "But you understand what you're getting into when you enter this business."Assistant coach Randy Wittman will take over the head coaching duties, ESPN's Ric Bucher reported.The Timberwolves are 20-20 and currently in the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference, but it was not enough to salvage Casey's job."I'm not bitter," Casey told Sheridan. "It's a situation where today we're in the playoffs. I'm proud that I've given them a lot of hard days' work and never shortchanged them."Casey thought the "trigger games" were an embarrassing blowout on their home court Jan. 17 at the hands of the Atlanta Hawks and the Jan. 19 double-overtime home loss to the Detroit Pistons, a game in which guard Ricky Davis was seen leaving the court, apparently irritated that he had been benched, and star forward Kevin Garnett was ejected after instigating a fight with the Pistons' Antonio McDyess.Both players were suspended one game following the incidents -- Davis by the team and Garnett by the league.The Timberwolves are in Portland, where the news was delivered to Casey by team executives Jim Stack and Fred Hoiberg. Casey also spoke with McHale.Casey was hired by the Timberwolves on June 17, 2005. Longtime coach Flip Saunders was fired during the 2004-05 season and vice president of basketball operations Kevin McHale filled in for the remainder of that season.Minnesota was 33-49 last year in Casey's first season.Wittman spent a total of nine seasons with Minnesota, also serving as an assistant coach from 1994-95 to 1998-99. He served as head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers for two seasons, compiling a 62-102 record (.378) from 1999-2001. Prior to his first stint in Minnesota, Wittman spent one season each as an assistant coach with Indiana (1992-93) and Dallas (1993-94). @josh_j12 CFA- Fargo Bobcats Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJTank Posted January 24, 2007 Share Posted January 24, 2007 TimmberrrrrrrrrrrrrrSorry could not resist this team has not been the same since Latrell Sprewell shutdown the 2004/05 season. www.sportsecyclopedia.com For the best in sports history go to the Sports E-Cyclopedia at http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joshawaggie Posted January 24, 2007 Author Share Posted January 24, 2007 This firing was a lil puzzling indeed, considering that they are actually in the playoff hunt this year. Oh well, maybe we can get a nice trade happening to boost this team into the playoffs... like maybe a Gasol or Kirilenko.. both have been the subject of trade talks... @josh_j12 CFA- Fargo Bobcats Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dfwabel Posted January 24, 2007 Share Posted January 24, 2007 TimmberrrrrrrrrrrrrrSorry could not resist this team has not been the same since Latrell Sprewell shutdown the 2004/05 season.While they did reach a WC finals, this team has never been the same since the Joe Smith tampering incident. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitedawg22 Posted January 24, 2007 Share Posted January 24, 2007 TimmberrrrrrrrrrrrrrSorry could not resist this team has not been the same since Latrell Sprewell shutdown the 2004/05 season.While they did reach a WC finals, this team has never been the same since the Joe Smith tampering incident....or since (insert favorite asinine Kevin McHale transaction). oh ,my god ,i strong recommend you to have a visit on the website ,or if i'm the president ,i would have an barceque with the anthor of the articel . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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