Page 20 - ARUBA TODAY
P. 20

A20    SPORTS
               Thursday 20 February 2020






























































            Continued from page 17                                                                 All the losing had an effect  Jr. and Cedi Osman.
            "This was a very difficult de-                                                         on Beilein, who more than  Beilein  is  not  the  first  high-
            cision for me, but I want to                                                           once  acknowledged  he  profile  college  coach  to
            be clear — this was my de-                                                             was  feeling  beaten  down  flop in the NBA. Kentucky's
            cision  to  step  down  and  I                                                         by his team's struggles.     John  Calipari,  Rick  Pitino,
            truly appreciate the under-                                                            Beilein said he wouldn't be-  Tim  Floyd,  Mike  Montgom-
            standing and support of the                                                            ing  stepping  down  if  the  ery and P.J. Carlesimo are
            front office during this time,"                                                        Cavs didn't have a succes-   among a group who found
            Beilein  said  in  a  statement                                                        sion plan in place with Bick-  coaching  at  the  highest
            released by the team. "I find                                                          erstaff. Beilein is also looking  level problematic.
            losing very challenging and                                                            forward  to  the  chance  to  "While  it's  unexpected,  we
            this year has taken a much                                                             reconnect with his family.   understand and respect his
            bigger toll on me than I ex-                                                           "For  45  years  and  more  decision  to  step  down  as
            pected. I grew concerned                                                               than 1,300 games, my jour-   head  coach  of  the  Cava-
            for  the  consequences  this                                                           ney as a basketball coach  liers,"  Altman  said.  "I  was
            toll  could  potentially  take                                                         has  been  a  dream  come  excited  about  the  devel-
            on my own health and my                                                                true," he said. "I have never  opment of our young play-
            family's  well-being  down   In this Friday, Dec. 20, 2019 file photo, Cleveland Cavaliers head   been afraid of a challenge  ers,  who  have  all  shown
                                         coach John Beilein gives instructions to players in the first half
            the road.                    of  an  NBA  basketball  game  against  the  Memphis  Grizzlies  in   and have given each one  growth and maturity under
            "I  was  not  certain  I  could   Cleveland.                                           my all — sometimes to the  coach  Beilein.  ...  The  NBA
            be  at  my  best  for  the  re-                                       Associated Press  detriment  of  my  own  well-  is  a  unique  business  that
            mainder of the season and                                                              being."                      sometimes requires aggres-
            in  the  future.  That  would  preferred  sounding  board  full-time Houston coach af-  Cavs  general  manager  sive  risk-taking  on  impor-
            not  be  fair  to  the  players,  for Cleveland's players and  ter the season.         Koby  Altman  stood  by  tant long-term decisions to
            coaches and support staff."  he has head coaching ex-     Almost  from  the  start  of  Beilein  throughout  his  ten-  move  a  franchise  forward
            The  Cavs  went  just  14-40  perience  after  nearly  two  training  camp  there  were  ure. But as the All-Star break  and ultimately compete for
            under  Beilein,  who  the  full seasons in Memphis and  issues  for  Beilein  in  Cleve-  approached,  it  became  championships."
            Cavaliers  signed  to  a  five-  one with Houston.        land.  The  Cavs  didn't  em-  evident that a change was  Beilein's  departure  contin-
            year contract last May. The  Bickerstaff  took  over  the  brace  Beilein's  practice  necessary  in  order  to  sal-  ues  a  troubling  pattern  for
            team  said  he  will  be  reas-  Rockets 11 games into the  methods — he had his big  vage  a  season  that  from  the  Cavs,  who  have  been
            signed  to  a  different  role  2015-16 season when Kevin  men  doing  grade-school  the  start  was  devoted  to  plagued  by  coaching  in-
            within the organization.     McHale  was  fired.  He  led  level  fundamental  "Mikan"  developing the Cavs' core  stability  and  nearly  con-
            Associate head coach J.B.  them to a 37-34 record and  drills  —  and  players  grum-  of  young  talent,  which  in-  stant change over the past
            Bickerstaff will take over on  a playoff appearance, but  bled  that  he  was  treating  cludes guards Collin Sexton  few  years.  Bickertstaff  is
            an  interim  basis  for  Beilein.  took  his  name  out  of  con-  them like kids and not paid  and  Darius  Garland  along  Cleveland's seventh coach
            Bickerstaff had become the  sideration  to  be  the  next  professionals.              with  forwards  Larry  Nance  since 2013. q
   15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   24   25