In three-and-a-half seasons Atkinson's Nets went 118-190, including a trip to the playoffs last season. This year's squad underachieved in many respects. The Nets stand at 28-34 even though they are still very much alive for a playoff berth this season. The problem is the team has battled injuries and inconsistency all year, namely the loss to Kyrie Irving, who played in only 20 games this season. Irving went under the knife a few weeks ago to repair his shoulder.
It didn't help matters the Nets also signed Kevin Durant last off-season, and the future Hall of Famer has yet to suit up in a Nets uniform as he recovers from an Achillies tendon injury he suffered with Golden State in last season's NBA Finals.
To be fair Atkinson never had a full compliment of healthy players to work with this season. The fact the Nets were even in the mix this late in the season spoke volumes about the coach. In fact, Brooklyn had won two of its last three, including a 129-120 victory over the playoff bound Boston Celtics.
The problem for the Nets this year is the team has suffered three extensive losing streaks including a seven game skid in late December/early January.
Jacque Vaughn will take over as interim head coach for the remainder of the season. The former Spurs assistant was once the head coach of the Orlando Magic, where he compiled a 58-158 record.
The pressure is now on Marks to get the hiring of the next Nets head coach right. With Durant and Irving coming back next season, the expectations are only going to get ratcheted up yet again. It was believed that Atkinson was the right man for the job to handle the attention Brooklyn would receive when those two superstars returned. Now the Nets must find an experienced head coach with a winning pedigree.
Finding a head coach like that in the NBA is hard enough to do.
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