In the midst of a tumultuous time for the Memphis Grizzlies, star center Marc Gasol claims he didn't ask for the firing of former head coach David Fizdale, who was removed from his post on Monday after sitting out Gasol for the entire fourth quarter in a 98-88 loss to the Brooklyn Nets.
Gasol noted he did have a conversation with managing owner Robert Pera, but it took place after the decision to fire Fizdale was taken, according to Ronald Tillery of The Commercial Appeal.
The Spaniard and the second-year coach had been known to butt heads and it wasn't any more evident than when Gasol rhetorically asked himself if he did indeed trust the coaching staff.
Gasol said he's not concerned about being perceived as a coach killer, despite the multiple reports of their disagreements and consequent distance.
“That's alright. There's nothing I can do about that,” said Gasol. “All I can do is win, own my part, take responsibility for the record we have right now.”
“Nobody likes a coaching change during the season.”
Things don't get any easier for the Grizzlies, now up to face the San Antonio Spurs twice in a row before taking on the likes of the Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Toronto Raptors, and the Oklahoma City Thunder — all teams that have made some noise this season and all of them clustered into the next two weeks.
Memphis is still without floor general Mike Conley and will face a tough stretch having to pick things up after an eight-game skid with new coach J.B. Bickerstaff.
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