Larry Bird: Pacers coach safe for now

[garnett_21]

INDIANAPOLIS (AP)—The Indiana Pacers don’t believe quick fixes and knee-jerk reactions are the way back to the playoffs, so they are giving Jim O’Brien the rare chance to keep guiding an NBA team after back-to-back losing seasons.

In the past five years, just nine other coaches have received the chance O’Brien has been given. During that span, only four—Mike Woodson, Byron Scott, Mike Dunleavy and Bernie Bickerstaff—have lasted through at least three consecutive full losing campaigns.

Pacers president Larry Bird plans to stick with O’Brien, and history shows his patience might pay off.

The Pacers are taking the approach that worked for Portland with Nate McMillan, New Orleans with Scott and Atlanta with Woodson. Each of those teams had at least two straight losing seasons with their current coach before developing a collection of young talent while keeping the coach for stability, then turning the corner. Those three teams currently are in the playoffs, and Bird hopes for the same success with O’Brien.

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Hope it pays off for them - they have a good young team...hope they become successful over the next year or two.

[gladdyontherise]

They better hope they start improving, they need to get Granger some help!

[angel0430]

They need to get some other players so they can help Granger,