3 failures of Brooklyn Nets coach Steve Nash which led to him getting fired by the franchise
After a disappointing start to this season, the Brooklyn Nets are making some changes. Steve Nash has been let go by the Nets, the team announced on Tuesday.
Brooklyn has consistently disappointed on the court, and Nash appears to be the odd man out. The Nets' situation is trending in the wrong direction, with a 2-5 start this season after getting swept in the first round of the playoffs last season.
Many have speculated that roster changes would take place first. It appears as if the front office is hoping that a new head coach will be what the team needs. Assistant coach Jacque Vaughn is the acting head coach for now. Brooklyn hosts the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday night.
According to reports from ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and others, suspended Boston Celtics coach Ime Udoka will take over the Nets.
The Brooklyn Nets and Head Coach Steve Nash have agreed to part ways.
nba.com/nets/news/broo…
The Nets fired Steve Nash, sources tell ESPN.
Steve Nash's coaching record in the playoffs
When the Brooklyn Nets hired Steve Nash in 2020, they knew they were rolling the dice. Nash had never been a head coach and was about to be in control of one of the league's most talented rosters. With Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in the mix, Nash was expected to at least take the team to the NBA Finals.
That idea never came to fruition, as the Nets found themselves failing to live up to expectations on a regular basis. Nash would end up going a combined 7-9 in the playoffs, winning one playoff series in two appearances.
The closest he ever got to the NBA Finals was in 2001, when the Nets lost in seven games in the Eastern Conference semifinals to the Milwaukee Bucks. He ends his Nets coaching career with an overall record of 101-76
Steve Nash's handling of the Nets' superstars
Throughout his coaching tenure with the Brooklyn Nets, Nash has had to deal with numerous superstar personalities. Nash knew that it would be a challenge, but he had no idea of the obstacles that would arise.
Kyrie Irving found himself missing most of the season last year after refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccination. Kevin Durant has dealt with injuries during his entire time with the Nets. The team even had to trade disgruntled star James Harden after chemistry issues forced the organization to make a move.
Jacque Vaughn will serve as acting Nets head coach for tonight's game vs. Chicago. twitter.com/shamscharania/…
On top of that, Brooklyn acquired Ben Simmons last year, and he didn't make his debut with the team until this season. Nash's experience as a head coach can be viewed as a roller coaster.
Steve Nash's in-game adjustments and tactics
While Steve Nash had plenty of obstacles thrown his way, he wasn't completely off the hook for the team's lack of success, either. Nash regularly drew plenty of skepticism for his coaching performance. While Brooklyn possessed one of the most impressive rosters on paper, the Nets struggled to generate any sort of identity.
In terms of in-game adjustments, the Nets looked to play a lot of hero ball. The offense would often seem stagnant. Too many times, the offense came down to isolation plays involving Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. That would result in many supporting pieces just standing around and watching.
The Nets had the talent to be a dominant force across the league. Unfortunately, for the organization and Nash, it never seemed to come together. Brooklyn will now hope that a new coach will be just what the team needs. For Nash, time will tell if the former NBA legendary point guard will want to take to the sidelines again.