Welcome Back, Randy Ayers
Randy Ayers is back for a second stint with the 76ers.
News item: Radny Ayers is back for a second stint with the 76ers. He spent six seasons as the lead assisdtant to Larry Brown, then succeeded him in 2003-04.
Reaction: I thought Ayers did his best work under Brown, particularly in helping develop young players. Ayers and then-Sixers assistant John Kuester (now the head coach of the Detroit Pistons) spent countless hours drilling guys before and after practices and shootarounds and in pre-game sessions.
That, of course, didn't happen. That was probably the beginning of the end for Ayers. In retrospect, he never had a chance.
Ayers became the head coach after King went through interviews and calls with Tubby Smith, Jeff Van Gundy, Mike Fratello, Mike Woodson, Terry Stotts and, yes, current Sixers head coach Eddie Jordan. Some of them, for their own reasons, didn't want to come.
Since leaving the Sixers, he has logged two seasons as an assistant with the Orlando Magic and two under Jordan and interim coach Ed Tapscott with the Washington Wizards. In one season with the Magic, he helped the defense improve from allowing 101.8 points per game to a more manageable 96.0. That's the sort of work that obviously would be beneficial to the Sixers.