ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, January 17, 1996 TAG: 9601170044
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: PHOENIX
SOURCE: Associated Press
Westphal, dismissed by Suns president and owner Jerry Colangelo, may be the only NBA coach to replace and be replaced by the same man - Cotton Fitzsimmons.
Fitzsimmons, a senior executive vice president and TV color analyst for the Suns, said he was glad to return to the bench.
``Jerry took my sign off my desk,'' said Fitzsimmons, who will be the team's coach for the third time. ``It said, `Vice President of Nothing,' and he very politely removed that sign.''
Fitzsimmons warned reporters not to ask him about the coaching tactics of Westphal, saying each coach has his own style.
``If any of you want to ask me any negative questions about Paul and his coaching ... don't do it with me,'' he said.
Colangelo said he could wait no longer to make a move, coming on the heels of the Suns' fifth consecutive loss at home, an 89-74 defeat at the hands of the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday night.
The team, playing without injured stars Charles Barkley, Danny Manning, John Williams and Kevin Johnson, shot 38 percent, matched the franchise low of 28 field goals set in 1990 and scored the fewest points since the record low of 68 at Kansas City in March 1981.
Meanwhile, Dan Majerle, the player traded to Cleveland for Williams during training camp, got a three-minute standing ovation from Phoenix fans before the game and scored 20 points.
The Suns are 14-19 and have lost seven of their past 10 games.
Colangelo told Westphal a month ago he was unhappy with the team's play, and said Tuesday he had been considering a move since the Suns took a 2-0 lead in Houston in the second round of the 1994 playoffs, then saw the Rockets eliminate them in seven games.
The Rockets also ousted the Suns in seven games in the same round last season.
``I've been concerned about the path we were taking the last couple of years, and I was just biding my time, hopeful that things would take a turn for the better. It didn't happen that way,'' Colangelo said.
Fitzsimmons groomed Westphal as an assistant for four years before turning over the reins July 1, 1992 - only to replace him Tuesday.
When the Suns acquired Charles Barkley in June 1992, it set the tone for the team to reach the NBA Finals before losing to the Chicago Bulls in six games. Along the way, Barkley earned the league MVP award and the Suns set a franchise record with 62 victories.
They won 56 games the next season and 59 games and the Pacific Division title in 1994-95, but Barkley was hurt each time the Suns met the Rockets. He has missed five games this season, is shooting a career-low 46.7 percent and has been rumored to be trade bait.
Colangelo said Barkley asked him where he stood, and he told Barkley he wouldn't trade him except for another star.
Fitzsimmons, 65, was 97-67 with the Suns from 1970-72 and 217-111 from 1988-1992. He has an 805-745 record in a 19-year coaching career with the Atlanta Hawks, Buffalo Braves, Kansas City Kings, San Antonio Spurs and Suns.
Colangelo acknowledged Fitzsimmons' reputation as a fiery coach who coaxes maximum effort from his players.
``I am not promising anything,'' Fitzsimmons said. ``I don't ever say that we are going to win. I would say that we will play hard, we'll play together and we'll outhustle our opponents.''
The Suns will get a chance to prove that tonight when they entertain Orlando. They play nine of their next 10 games on the road.
A four-time NBA All-Star, Westphal played six of his 12 seasons with Phoenix, where his No.44 was retired in 1989. He had never had a losing season in his coaching career before this year, on the college level (82-27 at Grand Canyon) or in the NBA (191-88 in 31/2 seasons, 25-19 in the playoffs).
LENGTH: Medium: 76 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP. Paul Westphal led the Suns to the NBA Finals threeby CNByears ago, but now he's out of a job. KEYWORDS: BASKETBALL