More details emerged Tuesday regarding the firing of Memphis Grizzlies head coach David Fizdale.
Grizzlies general manger Chris Wallace told reporters that there was definitely tension between the now-jobless Fizdale and star player Marc Gasol, according to Ronald Tillery of the Commercial Appeal.
But Wallace also conveyed that the firing had more to do with the team's current eight-game losing streak, and said Fizdale's firing was necessary.
“We needed to have a change to try to save the season,” Wallace said. “Looking at where we were headed, there just weren’t a great deal of positive trends. We hope to get a positive reboot.”
Wallace announced J.B. Bickerstaff as the team's interim head coach.
Fizdale's firing was not popular among the league, prompting several NBA players to speak out and all but demand answers for Memphis' decisions to let him go. Among the players were LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, who both played on the Miami Heat while Fizdale was an assistant coach there.
I need some answers. Feels like my man was a fall guy
— LeBron James (@KingJames) November 27, 2017
I need answers!!! WTF https://t.co/z39oNRQok0
— DWade (@DwyaneWade) November 27, 2017
Perhaps Wallace's comments shed some light into the inner workings of the organization's decision to fire Fizdale, who led the team to a playoff berth last season.
But something that gets lost in this situation is point guard Mike Conley, who has missed the last seven games due to a sore left achilles injury he suffered early in the season.
Conley might be the Grizzlies' most important player, and not having him in the lineup has almost certainly contributed to the eight-game losing streak.
But that was not a point Wallace seemed to bring up during the press conference.
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