I mean what a crazy move this is from the Pacers. I thought Nate McMillan was one of the better coaches in the NBA and just like that he’s gone. It makes little to no sense because this man has helped develop players like Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis into bonafide All-Stars. I just don’t see the logic in firing a coach who has helped this franchise out for the last couple of seasons. Now you may be questioning my take on this and say “But SmallDog, McMillan has a 3-16 playoff record. How could you defend that?” Well, you stupid idiot I don’t need to, this guy will.
I’m a big-time excuse guy and Nate McMillan is allowed to use the last two seasons as an excuse. If you lose two of you’re All-Stars in back to back seasons, no shit you’re not going to have any luck. Not to mention Oladipo is still recovering from that 2019 tendon injury this year. Also, the Pacers just gave McMillan an extension 14 days ago, why fire him. This reminds me when the Knicks could have opted out on Phil Jackson, kept him, paid him $24 million, only to fire him soon after. Just a bizarre move by the Pacers.
So what now Indiana. Are you going to get Mike D’antoni? I guess you can see it as an upgrade, but what McMillan was doing was not broke. If I was the GM of the Pacers I would say fuck D’Antoni and go after Kenny Atkinson. Atkinson was the guy I wanted the Knicks to get, and I feel that he is the best available head coach right now. He will be able to drop right into that spot and just hope the Pacers stars stay healthy for him.
Now for McMillan, he was doing a really good job for whos best player in the bubble was T.J. Warren. He will find a job with ease in the coming weeks. The Bulls recently fired Jim Boylen, so I can see him as a good fit there. They have a nice young team that can use a coach that can develop their young core of players. The 76ers are also looking for a new coach, but I don’t think anyone should go to that poorly run franchise and have to deal with $260 million of Al Horford and Tobias Harris. McMillan should head to Chicago and thrive with that young team (as long as Chicago does not blow it up.)
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