After three-plus seasons, the Indiana Pacers have decided to part ways with Jim O’Brien according to Pacers beat-writer and Indiana Star writer Mike Wells.
The Pacers have struggled to close games in the fourth quarter all season en route to a 17-27 record. O’Brien was a combined 121-169 in his tenure as Head Coach of the Pacers.
The decision comes after a 110-89 loss to the Chicago Bulls on Saturday night which marked the Pacers seventh loss in their last eight games.
The firing is a shock to Pacers fans as the same Mike Wells reported just days earlier that his job was presumably safe.
“The hot topic surrounding the team is coach Jim O’Brien. Barring a sudden change of thought, the Pacers have no intention of replacing O’Brien, who is in the final year of his contract,” said Wells.
“They wouldn’t move any of the assistants up and there’s no point in bringing in somebody from the outside because the players would have to learn the new coach’s system on the fly over the final 41 games of the season,” said Wells.
For those wondering if Larry Bird would make a return to the coaching ranks, Wells addressed that issue as well.
“I said it last summer, and I’ll say it again, there’s only one person to coach this team if there’s a change. His name is Larry Bird. Bird has no intention of coaching.”
If Larry Bird won’t coach the team, who will coach this team? Stay tuned to The Sports Bank for an update on the Indiana Pacers coaching status.
Was it time for Jim O’Brien to go or was this the wrong time? Let me know by commenting below!
Nick Grays is a senior editor at the Sports Bank where he covers the Wisconsin Badgers, Green Bay Packers, Indiana Pacers and Milwaukee Brewers. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here or visit his blog Nick Knows Best.