The New Jersey Nets have confirmed that they have fired head coach Lawrence Frank after starting out the NBA season 0-16. The team will use assistant coach Tom Barrise as the bench boss in their game Sunday night against the Los Angeles Lakers. A choice has not been made of who will replace Frank for the rest of the season although Barrise and New Jersey General Manager Kiki Vandeweghe are rumored to be the two leading candidates. 

Right now New Jersey does not have a boatload of talent and what they do have is mostly inured at the present time. That is not Frank’s fault. New York Vinnie has never really been that impressed with Lawrence Frank during his stint with the Nets. He was brought in as an interim coach after New Jersey fired Byron Scott and won his first 13 straight games. The interim was soon removed from his title and has been on the bench since 2004.

When Frank had talent he did well; now that he has little he is no longer doing as well. It is a very simple formula that has been around since they started playing sports. You have guys who can play you will win, and if they can’t then you won’t and that is the Frickin Bottom Line!

Frank was expected to be fired at the conclusion of the road trip however the Nets management decided to make the move before the game against the Lakers. Ironically Frank’s coaching career with New Jersey started and ended with streaks; just the opposite kind. He won his first 13 straight games after taking over for Byron Scott in the 2003-2004 season; and would end his tenure with the 16 game losing streak. Another bit of irony is that Frank has now been the second NBA coach that has been fired this season. The first coach terminated was the man that Frank replaced as the New Orleans Hornets fired Byron Scott earlier this month.