Nets fire P.J. Carlesimo after dreadful playoff exit

Even before last night's loss, it wasn't likely that Carlesimo would remain at the helm of the Nets for the 2013-14 season. Now it's official that he won't

Serving as the interim head coach of the Brooklyn Nets for around four months (starting in late December and ending in early May) after the team fired Avery Johnson, P.J. Carlesimo led the Nets to their first playoff berth in awhile, finishing the regular season as the East's #4 seed with a 49-33 record. But Brooklyn fell apart in the playoffs, losing Games 2-4 of their series vs the Bulls, capped off with a blown 14-point lead in Game 4 that led to a triple-overtime classic loss. And then, less than a full day later, Billy King and the Brooklyn front office relieved Carlesimo from his head-coaching duties, firing him for a terrible playoff effort.

Down 3-1, the Nets fought back by winning at Barclays and at United Center to tie up the score at three games apiece. Then, last night, in a do-or-die Game 7 in Brooklyn, Carlesimo's squad never led as it was thoroughly outplayed from start to finish by an injury-decimated Chicago Bulls team that clearly wanted the series win more. Rightfully so, that lack of killer instinct and drive in an incredibly-important game sealed P.J.'s fate, and he'll be on the job hunt this offseason, just like the Nets will be on the search for a new coach, one who can lead this team past the 1st round.