Grizzlies Fire Fratello After 6-24 Start

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) _ The Memphis Grizzlies fired coach Mike Fratello on Thursday after an NBA-worst, 6-24 start. The Grizzlies' career winningest coach, Fratello had a 95-83 record and had guided

Thursday, December 28th 2006, 4:50 pm

By: News On 6

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) _ The Memphis Grizzlies fired coach Mike Fratello on Thursday after an NBA-worst, 6-24 start. The Grizzlies' career winningest coach, Fratello had a 95-83 record and had guided Memphis to consecutive playoff appearances.

He started the season without All-Star center Pau Gasol, who broke his foot this summer in the world championships and missed the first 22 games.

``Unfortunately, this season has been one of disarray starting this past summer,'' Fratello said in a statement.

Jerry West, Grizzlies president of basketball operations, announced the move, calling Fratello a great coach and friend.

``We just felt it was time to make a change and move in a different direction based on our record and future goals. We wish Mike the best in his future endeavors,'' West said in a statement.

The change was made following the Grizzlies' 112-96 home loss to Milwaukee on Wednesday night, the fifth straight defeat and 11th in 12 games for Memphis.

``In your own homecourt, you're getting booed and yelled at from your own fans,'' Gasol said after the loss. ``It's just hard. There's too many defensive breakdowns right now, and too many easy layups right now. The whole thing is getting to our head, and it's affecting on every aspect of the game.''

The Grizzlies started on a youth movement this offseason, drafting Rudy Gay and Kyle Lowry for a more up-tempo pace. They traded veteran Shane Battier and let center Lorenzen Wright leave as a free agent.

But Fratello, who replaced Hubie Brown on Dec. 2, 2004, was criticized heavily for sticking with his deliberate style. He took the Grizzlies to the playoffs the past two seasons but they were swept in the first round.

The Grizzlies didn't announce a new head coach, and said they would look for an interim head coach immediately.

The Commercial Appeal newspaper reported on its Web site that Tony Barone Sr., the team's director of player personnel, was asked to take over. Club officials were mulling other options while waiting for his decision, the paper said.

Barone has been a head coach, but not in the NBA. He coached at Texas A&M from 1991-98, following a six-year stint at Creighton.

The Grizzlies scheduled a news conference for Friday morning.

Fratello left his television career to take over the Grizzlies after Brown retired for health reasons. He had coached the Atlanta Hawks for eight seasons _ where he was the NBA coach of the year in 1986 _ and the Cleveland Cavaliers for six before going into broadcasting.

He ranked 19th on the NBA's career wins list and 21st in games coached when he joined the Grizzlies. On March 4, 2005, he became the 19th coach to win 600 games.

Memphis had lost 11 of 16 to start the 2004-05 season but finished Fratello's first season with 45 victories. He couldn't repeat that success this year.

``I am sorry I have not been able to find a way up to this point to turn things around, and I understand why a change needs to be made,'' Fratello said. ``Things will get better with both an abundance of home games coming up and the eventual return of Lawrence Roberts and Kyle Lowry from their injuries.''