FIRING COACHES NOT THE ANSWER

(April 30): The Suns and Mavericks were not going to win an NBA title as they were constituted before deciding to make block-buster trades in mid-season. So they gambled. And they lost, each being eliminated last night from the playoffs.

Now they are stuck – Phoenix with Shaquille O'Neal and Dallas with Jason Kidd -- for at least another season because of contractual considerations – with a pair of future Hall of Famers who are clearly past their once-glorious primes.

The knee-jerk reaction in these types of situations is to fire the coach.

But will the Suns be better off getting rid of Mike D'Antoni, who guided them to a 232-96 record and two West finals appearances during his four full seasons on the job?

His greatest sin is having been ousted three times in the playoffs by San Antonio, the best team of its NBA era. Don't think that any number of teams will instantly make a play for D'Antoni if the Suns are foolish enough to cut him loose.

Then, there's the case of the Avery Johnson in Dallas, just one year removed from a 67-win season. But a pair of first-round losses, to the Warriors last year and to Hornets this year, could have sealed his fate.

My approach would be to keep both men and allow them a summer and a training camp to incorporate and adapt the talents of their dimming stars into their new teams. Frankly, do your really there are other coaches out there who will do a better job? I don't.

Or did escape your notice that the top three finishers in this year's Coach of the Year voting – Byron Scott, Doc Rivers and Rick Adelman --all were fired by teams that went south immediately following their departures? Just asking.

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