Paul Silas leapfrogs to Charlotte Bobcats head coaching job
Only two months ago, Paul Silas joined the Charlotte Bobcats as interim coach. His job description at the time was to resurrect a stumbling team that had lost its drive, confidence and finesse under his fiery predecessor Larry Brown.
But little did he or anyone for that matter know at the time that it will take Silas only 56 days to bag the ultimate job of head coach – the fourth in the history of the franchise.
On Wednesday night, Charlotte Bobcats General Manager Rod Higgins announced that the team had extended the contract of Paul Silas for the 2011-12 season and removed the interim tag, effective immediately.
“It’s a very exciting day for me, knowing I’ll be here this year and next year and have a chance to really make this team special,” a jubilant Silas said at a news conference. “There’s a long way to go, but we’re getting there.”'
The quick turnaround of fortunes for the 67-year-old veteran coach started when Bobcat’s majority share holder and owner Michael Jordan fired legendary coach Larry Brown earlier this season.
Brown had marshalled the Charlotte Bobcats to a successful campaign last season. The Bobcats finished with a 44-38 record and marked the first time ever that the franchise had made it to the playoffs. But after being swept away by the Orlando Magic in the
first round of the playoffs, things started to sour under the well-travelled Brown. Brown’s style of play demanded a well-oiled offense that struck with venom when given an opportunity and mostly relied on slowing down the game. Jordan, on the other hand,
stressed on introducing younger players and to bring more energy to the game.
To further complicate matters, Jordan did not re-sign point guard Raymond Felton this season and traded Tyson Chandler essentially to slip under the luxury tax threshold. The moves left Charlotte with a younger team, one that didn’t mesh with Brown’s precision
offense.
A lacklustre start to the season, marred by a string of low key performances added fuel to fire. The listless display of the team left Brown frustrated and he publically criticised the players many times. A 31-12 fourth-quarter meltdown against the Oklahoma
City Thunders on December 22, that preceded a four-match losing streak, proved to be the last straw for Brown.
Jordan fired Brown the same night and brought in interim coach Paul Silas who took over the reins with a 9-19 record.
Silas introduced a more attacking style of play, a move that went well with the young team. The Bobcats have gone 15-13 since then and seem to be enjoying his ‘run and have fun’ tactics. To add to that, the Bobcats are within striking distance of the Indiana
Pacers for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot. Silas believes the Bobcats have a ‘very good shot’ at making the postseason for the second straight season.
Silas said his main goal when he took up the job was to change the atmosphere and the team’s attitude and to make it more confident. “I think we’ve begun to accomplish those goals,” he said.
Silas has been instrumental not only in turning the Bobcats’ season on its head, but has also raised the intensity level and inculcated a fighting spirit in several of his players. The most prominent of them being point guard DJ Augustin and shooting guard
Gerald Henderson – the duo that refused to blossom under Brown.
“I came in and established the way we wanted to play. I think the main thing is the players changed the way they were playing. From walking the ball up the court to running it up, establishing themselves shooting the basketball much better and having some
fun playing,” Silas said while explaining his style of coaching.
Things seem to be flowing in the right direction for Silas and the Bobcats at the moment. Silas’ confirmation at this juncture of the season will add more stability and belief in the team that has taken down the likes of the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles
Lakers in the past two weeks.
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