08-27-2003, 08:45 PM
I guess Larry Bird got his way and Thomas is gone. It's no secret that these 2 have never gotten along but when Bird was hired all talk of their dislike of each other was blown off as umimportant, strange how things have changed. Here's the article from espn.com
Isiah Thomas was fired Wednesday as head coach of the Indiana Pacers, a surprise move that came only seven weeks after Larry Bird as president of basketball operations.
Thomas will be paid for the final season remaining on his contract.
"After looking at film, seeing how things were and evaluating the basketball operations, I detected the team's chemistry wasn't what it should be," Larry Bird, the team's director of basketball, said in a statement. "A change was necessary and a fresh start was important."
Bird rejoined the franchise in his current role last month.
Thomas, an NBA Hall of Famer, led a young Indiana team into the playoffs each of his first three seasons, but they were knocked out in the first round each year. He was 131-115 in three years.
Pacers president Donnie Walsh said the search for a replacement would be immediately. Among the possibly replacements is former Detroit Pistons coach Rick Carlisle, a former Pacers assistant when Bird as coach.
Thomas won two championships as a player with the Pistons.
Isiah Thomas was fired Wednesday as head coach of the Indiana Pacers, a surprise move that came only seven weeks after Larry Bird as president of basketball operations.
Thomas will be paid for the final season remaining on his contract.
"After looking at film, seeing how things were and evaluating the basketball operations, I detected the team's chemistry wasn't what it should be," Larry Bird, the team's director of basketball, said in a statement. "A change was necessary and a fresh start was important."
Bird rejoined the franchise in his current role last month.
Thomas, an NBA Hall of Famer, led a young Indiana team into the playoffs each of his first three seasons, but they were knocked out in the first round each year. He was 131-115 in three years.
Pacers president Donnie Walsh said the search for a replacement would be immediately. Among the possibly replacements is former Detroit Pistons coach Rick Carlisle, a former Pacers assistant when Bird as coach.
Thomas won two championships as a player with the Pistons.
