Pax on the Score

And no Mike North, happy holidays!

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I did a quick paraphrased transcription. Hopefully it doesn't get to omessy in terms of changing the POV (as in, I hope 'I' means Paxson in all cases). The questions are in italics.

Had high expectations coming off of last year. Never any guarantees, but felt they were on the right track...and right out of the gates didn't play well. The firing was never an easy thing to do and the timing was horrible, but there's never a good time. It's to try and salvage the year. Feel that players can get some life and turn this thing around. Puts the onus on the players, if they thought coaching was holding them back it is no longer an excuse now.

Let Scott go because team was playing poorly, which sends a signal that he was doing everything wrong, however that isn't the case. It's always a combination of things. Felt that the players weren't listening, but coaches have a responsibility to get try and get the players to respond. It's a two way street, and additionally communication needed between himself as GM and the coach.

I felt the team has played as poorly lately as they have the past three or four years. Not playing together, unorganized, which falls on the players a lot but also includes the direction from the sideline.

Now what? Inside or outside the organization for a coaching change?

Need to do things differently on both ends. We are a perimeter team but there are a lot of those in the league since post players are scarce. I think we can post Luol Deng more, for example. On defense, use length and athleticism, and not be so standard when defending the screen/roll. Hard to change everything midseason and its hard to change core beliefs, but want to get more minutes for the young guys and become a playoff team again.

"I want to see whoever's in charge for us to come up with rotations on the floor that are good for us."

Interviewing Boylan Wednesday, whether it's him, Pete Myers or outside the organization, the decision hasn't been made regarding the long-term. The move now had to be made. When Bill Cartwright was released there were ideas going forward in place to hire Skiles. In this case, still have things long-term to look at, but short-term is important, i.e. getting the group back together and ready to play.

What about the young players, specifically Tyrus and Thabo? How is their confidence?

We'll find out. Some of the guys do lack confidence, and that's not all on Skiles. Skiles did a great job for a while, got respectability and accountability back, and on personnel decisions worked together and made moves based on his style of coaching and who he could have success with, so it's not all with him. Sometimes confidence is on the players not fighting through it. Right now some of the young guys don't have the confidence needing to play, and I had counted on them being able to contribute this season. Thabo isn't the offensive player I thought he'd be but he is still a long defender. Won't play 30 mintues a game but as of now just need to get his confidence back. Tyrus has had erratic minutes, but when given plenty of minutes he's responded. Don't think Tyrus' confidence is a problem as he's a naturally confident person.

When was the move in mind, and why no replacement plan in place beforehand?

Doesn't always work that way. The two uninspired games over the weekend did not sit well. When seeing the same things done over and over, clearly there were some things about the coaching that I wasn't pleased with, and it was time. Team was dead and lifeless. In the past slow starts, by this time there was better play, this year they haven't found it. When Skiles was hired it was a long turnaround, getting accountability first and making personnel changes to tie into that. So there's likely no quick fix.

Ben Wallace question: can he get back and overcome injuries (or whatever) to get what the team needs from him?

That's on him now. I have talked to him several times one-on-one.  His injuries have been a part of it, and in training camp he had passion and energy that he doesn't see now. Happens with all players sometimes in regards to coaching. Don't have to like the coach, but the whole roster needs to respond. Only Nocioni has been playing at level he was last year. Not ideal to go into San Antonio tonight, but it'll be a challenge and up to them. If they felt that this was holding them back, they no longer have that excuse.

Fallen in love with players question? Building up assets with possible trades in the future. Trade deadline coming, etc.

Will have eyes open, but lack of previous deals not about liking own players. Anybody who thinks the Lakers were wanting to trade Kobe was mistaken. Couldn't throw everything at the Lakers because of Kobe's no-trade clause. We were in on the Garnett stuff. The criticism is fair but there are things in the way of making trades.  Kirk's base-year status is an example. Starts with me, we felt really good coming into the season and the group hasn't responded. It was the right thing to do to make a move and put pressure on the players on the floor, and myself off the floor. Have to play together and come together as a team, from Wallace on down. If they don't there will be changes made.

I thought the parts in the middle about specific problems with the coaching style (too "standard") were very interesting. Along with saying he wants Tyrus out there more, of course.