The Nate Bjorkgren era of the Indiana Pacers came to end just about as soon as it started.
In reality, really nothing went well for Bjorkgren at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. There was the sense of new hope with the 3-0 start and taking down the Boston Celtics in the early season thriller; But then the train started to skid.
Injuries, drama, and losing usually does not mix.
First there was the last chapter of the Victor Oladipo saga. One minute he was committed, the next he had Miami dreams. Then T.J. Warren got hurt. And as it kept on cycling, it turned out to be too late to save any hope for the ship to be turned around.
Kevin Pritchard was left with no choice. So, the Pacers find themselves in the same position as close to nine months ago.
And Bjorkgren is going to ride out into the sunset quietly.
So long.
Scott Agness is about as dialed in as anybody covering the Blue and Gold. The host of of the Fieldhouse Files Podcast dropped by to chat with Jeff Rickard and Big Joe Staysniak on The Fan Morning Show Thursday to give the scoop of what exactly happened behind the scenes.
“As a head coach you have to know how to communicate with each guy,” Agness said. “I always believed that some guys need to take it tougher than others. Some need a hug. And Bjorkgren didn’t really have an understanding there in a shortened season where he maybe didn’t know his guys well enough. There wasn’t one time either where I saw Nate look at an assistant coach and ask what’s going on out there.”
Does Bjorkgren coach again in the NBA? Maybe as an assistant initially.
Yesterday in his press conference, Pritchard used the word ‘experiment’ with trying to strike gold with a young and up-and-coming coach. In this case, the experiment failed.
As things look like they may be spiraling downward, it’s on Pritchard’s shoulders to ensure that Indiana aces the next exam.
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