| | LOS ANGELES -- Chris Ford was fired as coach of the Los
Angeles Clippers on Thursday, following humiliating losses to
Golden State and Phoenix by a combined 77 points.
|  | | Like so many before him, Chris Ford couldn't find an answer to the Clippers' puzzling ineptitude. |
Ford was in the second year of a three-year contract with the
Clippers, who are 11-34 including 16 losses in the last 18 games.
Ford, 51, was replaced by assistant Jim Todd, whose first game
as interim coach is Saturday night against Dallas.
"Chris is a good person and his efforts should be
acknowledged," said Elgin Baylor, the team's vice president of
basketball operations. "But it has simply reached the point where
the gap between the actual results and where we think we should be
-- based on our talent level -- is just too wide.
"I just think it was time to make a change. We thought we'd be
a lot better record-wise than we are now. It's always tough when
you lose, it's tough when you have to dismiss someone. He was OK
with it, handled it very professionally."
Ford was hired in January 1999 -- shortly before the start of the lockout-shortened 1998-99 season. The team went 9-41, but had high hopes before this season based on a nucleus of several talented
young players led by Lamar Odom, the fourth pick in last summer's draft.
But things haven't worked out.
"This is pretty bad," Ford said after a 114-68 loss at Phoenix
on Wednesday night. "Feeling sorry for yourself doesn't help. If
you have to get mad, you should take it out on the opposition."
Starting point guard Eric Murdock called the defeat
"embarrassing," and a night earlier, following a 107-76 loss to
Golden State at home, several players said the team was
"unprepared."
Todd, 47, coached the Clippers to two victories in as many games
in December when Ford was unable to coach because of back spasms.
"Jim did a good job earlier this year," Baylor said. "There
are no guarantees, but if he does well and the team responds, it
would certainly make him a viable candidate for long-term
consideration."
Baylor said Todd would have the job at least through the end of
the season.
The Clippers practiced under Ford on Thursday, with the change
being made afterward. They hope to hire an assistant to replace
Todd.
"I'm not sure what kind of changes we're going to have," Todd
said. "This has happened kind of rapidly here. We'll probably try
to do some of the things we were doing, some of the things we did
when I was fortunate enough to take over for those two games we
were able to win (against Golden State and Sacramento)."
Asked about the change, Todd said, "It was definitely
difficult. I'm happy for myself and unhappy for him. He's the one
who gave me a shot to go to the NBA."
Todd said he had spoken with some of the players about the
change.
"Everyone seems to be happy right now," he said. "Of course,
we haven't played any games yet. We were happy with the way things
were going there (in December). That's what we're going to build
on."
Ford previously coached the Boston Celtics for five seasons and
the Milwaukee Bucks for two following a 10-year playing career.
Ford hired Todd in Milwaukee.
The Clippers had the first overall selection in the 1998 NBA
draft _ center Michael Olowokandi. He has been a disappointment in
1½ pro seasons.
Among the other talented young Clippers are forward Maurice
Taylor and guard Derek Anderson. Both are eligible for free agency
after the season.
"We have a young, athletic team," Baylor said. "I would like
to see us be more active defensively, running at every opportunity.
Players have a responsibility, too."
Taylor missed practice Thursday. Team spokesman Joe Safety
called the absence unexcused, saying late in the day that it was
yet to be explained.
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