Flip Saunders’ suffering is over.
The Washington Wizards have fired the head coach after an NBA-worst 2-15 start.
Even though the Wizards lost their first eight games of the season, Wizards’ management apparently had hoped to avoid firing Saunders, though, the writing was already on the wall. The Wizards were destroyed 103-83 by the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday, a game in which they trailed 62-32 at halftime after the 76ers shot 65 percent. With the game being Washington‘s third loss in a row, every one in the organization, including Flip himself, had to know that a change was coming.
However, as is the case with most coaching changes, the team’s losing ways cannot be pinned solely on Saunders. Second-year star John Wall has been all but invisible this season. Wall is averaging 7.2 assists per game this season, nearly a full assist less than the 8.3 per game he averaged in his rookie year. His shooting percentage has declined to .379 from the field this season from .409 in 2010-11.
Saunders, who was in the third year of a four-year, $18 million contract, has coached 16 seasons split between Minnesota, Detroit and Washington. The 56-year-old Saunders compiled a 638-526 record, including an atrocious 51-130 with the Wizards.
Assistant coach Randy Wittman will take over the head coaching duties. He previously was the head coach of the Timberwolves and the Cleveland Cavaliers. He will get his first test Wednesday when the 3-14 Charlotte Bobcats play at Washington.
