Grizzlies Hire Marc Iavaroni

[-BHZMAFIA-]

Paper Says Grizzlies Hire Assistant Suns Coach
Last Edited: Monday, 21 May 2007, 9:49 PM CDT
Created: Monday, 21 May 2007, 9:49 PM CDT
By Matt Stark

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WHBQ FOX13 myfoxmemphis.com) -- The Salt Lake Tribune is reporting that Marc Iavaroni will be the next head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies.

The paper doesn't cite any sources in its story, and Grizzlies majority owner Michael Heisley and team president Jerry West were unavailable for comment.

Iavaroni did confirm last week that he had an informal meeting with Memphis owner Michael Heisley about the Grizzlies' vacant head coaching position.

"I had a nice dinner conversation with Michael Heisley and got to know him better and really liked what I heard," Iavaroni said. "We struck a very good chord."

Iavaroni has been an assistant with the Phoenix Suns since the 2002 season, and has 14 years of NBA experience as both a player and coach.

It was also on Hoopshype from the Salt Lake Tribune, if this is true then maybe things are starting to already look up. This was their first coaching option and it looked like they didn't waste anytime to start talking to him once the Suns were eliminated.

[TSquared]

who the hell in the world is he?

[frenchy]

http://www.nba.com/coachfile/marc_iavar ... l?nav=page

You will find all information about him.

It is a very good news for the grizz if it is true. Not let see tonight is they can get the 1st pick in the draft.

[Dan's Brain]

I think Iavaroni's earned his stripes in Phoenix. I'm sure he'd be able to make the most of this opportunity.

[maes]

Should be a very good coach, experienced a lot of success on both the player & coaching level. Was hoping the Sonics would sign him.

[[Q]]

this guy's name annoys me. it's like a comboonation between Iago from Aladdin and pepperoni.

[Its_asdf]

Iavaroni was also linked to being signed by the Raptors when Mitchell's contract situation was still up in the air because of the Colangelo connection, but now that he's resigned I guess Toronto is out of the question.

Iavaroni was supposedly one of the architects of the Phoenix run and gun style that they imploy, which is why he is so sought after this off-season.

[maes]

He's also considering Seattle now:

League sources said Tuesday night that Phoenix vice president David Griffin and assistant coach Marc Iavaroni, who are considered the leading candidates for the GM and coaching job in Memphis, will consider the Sonics after the lottery shakeup. The Grizzlies entered the lottery in second place and fell to fourth.

Amazing what a lottery ball will do for a team.

[Indy]

who the hell in the world is he?

I've been a big fan of Iavaroni for a long time. I would love for him to be the next Pacers coach, but despite what a lot of people may think, Marc is more suited to take over a team that is veteran and are just a step away from a championship.

Iavaroni is extremely tough on players, and with Mike Fratello not coaching he'll the biggest screamer for a head coach in the league. He's a tough guy who does not take shit. People assume since he coaches in Phoenix in a very lax player friendly system that he coaches that way but he's really the total opposite. I think he'll make a great head coach, but the players better be very well disciplined, and the Pacers have too many players that are not. (Dunleavy, Tinsley, Diogu, Harrison would all have to go.)

[Dro]

Iavaroni was supposedly one of the architects of the Phoenix run and gun style that they imploy, which is why he is so sought after this off-season.

While that is true, Iavaroni is the most defensive-minded assistant the Suns have. Actually, a lot of the hard-core fans here in Phoenix would rather have D'Antoni be Iavaroni's assistant. Great coach, but looks like he's following the ping-pong balls. I look forward to seeing how he can develop Durant if he does indeed go to Seattle...

[-BHZMAFIA-]

http://www.commercialappeal.com/mca/gri ... 95,00.html

A week after failing to win the NBA draft lottery, the Grizzlies made their first major acquisition of the offseason.
The team hired Marc Iavaroni as its head coach and an announcement could come as soon as Thursday, according to an NBA source familiar with the negotiations. Iavaroni, an integral part of the Phoenix Suns' coaching staff the past several seasons, received a three-year contract to help reshape the Grizzlies after they failed to reach the playoffs for the first time in four seasons.

Memphis finished with the league's worst record (22-60) but will pick fourth in the June 28 draft despite owning the best odds of selecting first or second.
A person with knowledge of the coaching search said that while Iavaroni was among the leading candidates Larry Brown stood a great chance of becoming the Grizzlies' coach had they secured one of the top two picks.

The Griz, though, didn't just settle.

Iavaroni is considered one of the better creative minds working through the assistant coaching ranks. He obviously has comes with a handle what's needed to play an up-tempo offensive style. Iavaroni has served as lead assistant for the past 3 1/2 seasons of his five-year stint with the Suns, who have led the league in scoring since 2004-05.

His background also indicates that he'll demand solid defense, having worked under former Griz coach Mike Fratello and Miami's Pat Riley in his career.

Iavaroni is also seen as someone who can nurture the skills of budding big man such as Pau Gasol. Iavaroni is credited with playing a major part in the development of center Amaré Stoudemire.

Iavaroni also played in the NBA for seven seasons. He was a starter as a rookie on the 1983 World Champion Philadelphia 76ers.

Finally some good news.

[[Q]]

what has Mr. Macaroni done? I haven't heard anything about him until now.

[-BHZMAFIA-]

what has Mr. Macaroni done? I haven't heard anything about him until now.

Iavaroni is considered one of the better creative minds working through the assistant coaching ranks. He obviously has comes with a handle what's needed to play an up-tempo offensive style. Iavaroni has served as lead assistant for the past 3 1/2 seasons of his five-year stint with the Suns, who have led the league in scoring since 2004-05.

His background also indicates that he'll demand solid defense, having worked under former Griz coach Mike Fratello and Miami's Pat Riley in his career.

Iavaroni is also seen as someone who can nurture the skills of budding big man such as Pau Gasol. Iavaroni is credited with playing a major part in the development of center Amaré Stoudemire.

[Drex]

So the Grizz will lead the league in scoring, they'll have solid defense, AND Pau will turn into Amare? Give them the trophy already.

[magius]

no. now that west is leaving they will trade away pau for peanuts, and waive their draft picks.

[Anthony15]

So the Grizz will lead the league in scoring, they'll have solid defense, AND Pau will turn into Amare? Give them the trophy already.

Pau will stay Pau, the pick might change something, but will not make a big difference, they'll still be in the lottery next year.

[---]

I'm gonna say the Grizz will be in the playoffs next year. They tanked it this season and that injury with Pau didn't help. Rudy Gay was arguably their best player behind Mike Miller (not including Pau because of the injuries) and he didn't even get 30 minutes a game. I know he's a rookie, but he played very well for the most part, especially defensively where the Grizzlies were hopeless. If they really wanted to win, wouldn't they of let Rudy run loose? It was their only chance after the long time without Pau resulting in a disappointing record.

[-BHZMAFIA-]

Well if the Grizzlies let 11 million in capspace go to waste this off-season I would be upset. I think the only other teams that have more caproom than them are Orlando and Charlotte. Memphis might pick up David Griffin for the GM position since him and Iavaroni are best friends. There is really nothing wrong with the roster that Memphis had and nothing completely different from last year with the exception that they lost Battier, Bobby Jackson and Eddie Jones. They replaced them with Rudy Gay, Chucky Atkins and Tarrence Kinsey basically and so far Kinsey and Gay have produced. If Memphis can make a solid move that can bring in someone who can be affective and sell tickets, they will easily be back in the playoffs.

[Indy]

what has Mr. Macaroni done? I haven't heard anything about him until now.

Unbelievable. Probably the most high-profile assistant in the NBA, one of the most famous modern basketball philosophers and this thread is littered with people not knowing about him.

[magius]

if gay becomes the grizzly superstar, i wonder how you market that. maybe they should relocate to san fran.

[MaD_hAND1e]

He should just consider adding an r into the name

[Its_asdf]

what has Mr. Macaroni done? I haven't heard anything about him until now.

Unbelievable. Probably the most high-profile assistant in the NBA, one of the most famous modern basketball philosophers and this thread is littered with people not knowing about him.

I'm also pretty suprised not too many people know about him, a lot of the other forums I browse around in tend to praise him as a god.

The Grizzlies showed that they excelled under a fast-paced system and rightfully so with the type of players that they have. Adding "Mr. Macaroni" is a really smart move.

[maes]

I actually think Macaroni is most famous for being on those Sixers teams with Dr J & Moses Malone.

I also think Grizzlies are 1st round next year, they were a 49 win team in the tough WC 2 years ago, they were just tanking this year.

[-BHZMAFIA-]

In the press conference he said some pretty good things. He was completely ignoring the question of the Grizzlies trying to get David Griffin as the GM, but he compared Rudy Gay to being just as dominant and motivated as Stoudemire. He also mentioned that he likes Pau, so I wouldn't expect him to be going anywhere and called the #4 pick an asset. He is excited about Hakim and he talked about the importance of fastbreak defense and attacking the defense during the first part of the clock. Another thing he said is the Grizzlies will run, but it will all start with defense. So, he said some promising things, I can't wait to see whats in store next for the off-season.