Hawks fire head coach Pierce after poor start

The Atlanta Hawks fired head coach Lloyd Pierce following the team’s lackluster start to the NBA season.

A statement from the Hawks said Pierce had been “relieved of his duties” as the team attempted to reinvigorate their season.

Atlanta are currently 11th in the Eastern Conference standings with 14 wins and 20 defeats, just outside the playoff places.

“We would like to thank Lloyd for his work and commitment to not only the Hawks organization but the city of Atlanta,” Hawks president of basketball operations Travis Schlenk said in a statement, days before the All-Star break.

“We have high expectations for our team on the court and we believe by making this change now that we can have a strong second half of the season,” Schlenk added.

Per ESPN, assistant coach Nate McMillan, who spent five seasons manning the sidelines in Indiana, is taking over as Atlanta’s interim head coach.

The Hawks have been playing without key players due to injuries, including youngsters De’Andre Hunter and Cam Reddish as well as free agent signing Bodgan Bogdanovic, who’ve appeared in only nine games this campaign.

Pierce took over as Hawks head coach in 2018, compiling a 63-120 record in his 183 games in charge.

He’s the second coach to be shown the door this season, after cellar-dwelling Minnesota dismissed Ryan Saunders last week. (AFP)