The Denver Nuggets introduce new head coach Brian Shaw

Brian Shaw was fired as head coach of the Denver Nuggets after less than two seasons on the job.  Before he took this position, he was an assistant coach on the Indiana Pacers.  Now his former players Paul George and David West are speaking out in defense of their former coach and putting it on the Nuggets players.  NBA veteran Kevin Garnett also did the same.

via Scott Agness of Vigilant Sports:

Pacers were in practice when news of B-Shaw being fired came out. All very aware of the news, guys that were here with him were upset.

David West on Brian Shaw being fired: “That’s bullsh-t. No grownups on the roster. You can’t win without grownups.”

Paul George took to his Twitter account and questioned how they couldn’t play for Shaw.

*photo in gallery above*

This is what Kevin Garnett had to say when asked if he expected that kind of effort from the Nuggets after they picked up a 100-85 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

“To be honest, they quit on Brian Shaw, I thought they’d quit again. A quitter is a quitter. That was my take on that, but if you’ve got any kind of self-pride about your future, then you want to anticipate someone playing hard. I didn’t really think about the Denver Nuggets and how they was going to come out tonight, I was more concerned about us and us going forward and being better.”

Many people agreed that there was serious locker room tension and the players had given up on Brian Shaw.  But it’s not all on the players, Shaw didn’t have the ability to control the team.  The Nuggets have won two straight games (over the Minnesota Timberwolves and Milwaukee Bucks) since Melvin Hunt took over as interim head coach.

Shay Marie