After Larry Bird was named NBA’s Executive of the Year for his work as president for the Indiana Pacers he is looking to leave. This marks the second time Bird has come in to help the Pacers and then left them to fend for themselves. Before working in the front office Bird coached the Pacers from 1997-2000. The Pacers were just starting to turn around so why leave now?
Many people think it’s because of Bird’s health issues. Bird still suffers from a bad back which makes it hard for him to sit for long hours. As president a lot of his work involves him sitting and reviewing tapes of players or working behind a computer. I think that maybe this contributed some but overall I don’t he was happy with the team.
As you may remember during game 5 against the Heat Bird said the Pacers, “went soft.” I’m not sure what series he was watching but it’s not “soft” when one of your players has caused two Heat players to bleed from the head. Pacer Tyler Hansbrough elbowed both Udonis Haslem and Dwayne Wade in the head. Not to mention Lance Stephenson making choke gestures toward LeBron James while he made free throws. If anything I would say the Pacers played pretty tough, a little too tough. Regardless if the Pacers had made it to the Finals, I don’t think Bird would be stepping down.
-M
Tags: bad back, coach, coaching, done, Dwayne Wade, front office, happy, indiana pacers, injury, lance stephenson, larry bird, leaving, Lebron James, miami heat, now, president, soft, sore, stepping down, tyler hansbrough, udonis haslem, unhappy, why
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