Detroit Pistons coach Michael Curry was fired on Tuesday after a single season with the team and a dismal 39–43 regular-season performance that culminated in a four-game first round playoff sweep by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“I want to thank Michael for his hard work and dedication to the organization,” Pistons president of basketball operations Joe Dumars stated on the team’s Web site www.nba.com/pistons.
“However, at this time, I have decided to make a change … this was a difficult decision to make.”
The 40-year-old Curry is a former Pistons player with eight years of play in the NBA. He took charge of the Pistons in June 2008 after their loss to the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals.
The Pistons went on a steady decline this season after point guard Chauncey Billups was traded for Allen Iverson. The trade was viewed as highly unpopular as Billups shined for the Denver Nuggets and Iverson fizzled out in Detroit and ended the season on the injury list.
“It’s been a very tough year,” Dumars said Monday, who now has the task of retooling the franchise while it remains in transition.
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