With Vaughn gone, Ollie is new top dog in charge

 

Kevin Ollie is a grinder. A former 13-year NBA journeyman that's seen it all. He doesn't mince words when he talks, which will be a fresh perspective for a Nets club searching for an identity.

As Ollie put it himself, he's searching for "hunters" and those that fit that mold will play. The Nets have looked like a lifeless and joyless team since the 13-10 start. Anytime a coaching change takes place, it infuses energy into a struggling club.

Ollie and Brooklyn have a chance to put a stamp on his first game in Toronto on Thursday.

The Nets have the easiest remaining schedule, but the way things have gone in Brooklyn, not a single opponent should be overlooked.

Ollie has been named the interim head man and general manager Sean Marks told reporters on Tuesday that the organization will "cast a wide net" in search of a full-time coach. Ollie will certainly be in the mix, depending on how things pan out over the final 28 games. 

Marks won't make the same mistake he did with Vaughn by removing an interim tag prematurely and extending Ollie before the Nets GM looks at all coaching options. 

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The Nets have a great coach on staff, but it's not Jacque Vaughn

Jacque Vaughn may have signed a multi-year extension less than a year ago on February 21, 2023, but early returns for his tenure as head coach have been less than promising. 

Yes, Vaughn was head man when the Nets won 12 straight games last season , including an 18 -2 stretch with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving leading the way. However, everything went south from that point on with Vaughn. 

The Nets stumbled into the sixth seed in the conference in the aftermath of the Irving and Durant trades.  Brooklyn was swept with relative ease by the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the 2023 NBA playoffs.  

Vaughn also took over as the interim Nets head coach back in 2020, during the NBA bubble season with the team being swept out of the first round by the defending NBA champion Toronto Raptors. 

Vaughn has an 0-8 playoff record and has been reluctant to play young budding star Cam Thomas, whose offensive prowess is unmatched, but his defense needs some improvement. 

Even veteran point guard Spencer Dinwiddie has spent critical moments on the bench and looks visibly discontent with his role on the team. 

The Brooklyn Nets started the season as one of the surprise stories in the NBA at 13-10, but have gone 3-14 since that point. 

The assistant coach that the team has seemed to respond to and has a great understanding of opponents is none other than Kevin Ollie. Ollie won the 2014 NCAA National Championship with his alma mater, UConn.

Ollie was investigated by the NCAA for compliance issues and ultimately was relieved of his duties as head coach. 

A long-time NBA veteran, Ollie joined Vaughn's staff this season. With the Nets experiencing a talent deficit and coaching deficit, a change might be needed in a leadership position and Ollie can more than fill those shoes. 

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