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April 20, 2013

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Cavs, Pistons ax coaches, Collin quits 76ers

DETROIT Pistons head coach Lawrence Frank joined Cleveland Cavaliers Byron Scott and Philadelphia 76ers Doug Collins on the unemployment line on Thursday, as heads continued to roll just hours after the National Basketball Association regular season concluded.

Scott and Frank were both fired while Collins resigned his post, leaving three head coaching vacancies.

Frank spent two seasons with the Pistons without making much of an impact posting a 54-94 record and failing to make the postseason. The Pistons finished 11th in the Eastern Conference this season with a 29-53 record.

"We thank Lawrence for his hard work and dedication but we feel it is in the best interest of the franchise to make a change at this time," said Pistons president of basketball operations Joe Dumars in a statement.

Scott had steered the Cavaliers to a 24-58 record that put them last in the Central Division, 25 1/2 games behind division winners the Indiana Pacers.

During his three seasons in Cleveland, Scott's teams compiled a record of 64-166.

A frustrated Collins walked away from the 76ers' coaching job after a 34-48 season that tied Philadelphia for last place in the Atlantic Division with the Toronto Raptors.

The Sixers' season began to unravel after a knee injury sidelined center Andrew Bynum, who was acquired from the Los Angeles Lakers. Philadelphia missed the playoffs for the first time in Collins's three years as the coach.

Collins, who will remain with the franchise as an adviser, had a year left on a four-year deal worth US$4.5 million. The 61-year-old compiled a record of 110-120 in Philadelphia, moving his overall mark to 442-407 over 11 seasons as an NBA head coach, including stops in Chicago, Detroit and Washington.

"I don't have to drop my head, I didn't fail," said Collins. "A lot of it was out of our control and sometimes you have to realize that."

One coach believed to be on the hot seat was given a reprieve as Los Angeles Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak said on Thursday that Mike D'Antoni would be back next season.

D'Antoni lost 20 of his first 32 games on the job after being installed early in the season, but the Lakers qualified for the playoffs as the Western Conference's seventh seed despite losing Kobe Bryant to injury, with a 45-37 record.






 

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