Mike Dunleavy Thinks Six Years Isn't Enough Time To Judge Him

Here’s the deal with NBA coaches: if your name isn’t Phil Jackson, Gregg Popovich or Jerry Sloan, you almost never get more than five years to prove yourself. That’s just how it is.

Apparently, Mike Dunleavy didn’t get that memo. He’s entering his seventh year with the morbid franchise, but he actually believes he deserves more time to prove himself.

Dunleavy’s main argument for keeping his job entailed giving him a chance to coach a complete lineup, which is without Blake Griffin (stress fracture in left knee), Eric Gordon (strained left groin), Kareem Rush (season-ending anterior cruciate ligament injury to his right knee) and Marcus Camby (lower-back bruise.

“When’s the last time you ever saw an interim coach come in and the team be successful and make a playoff run?” Dunleavy said after Thursday’s practice. “It’s not happening. Nobody knows these guys better than I know them. Give a coach a chance to coach Eric Gordon and Blake Griffin. After that, fine. Let the chips fall where they may.”

To review: Dunleavy coaching record with the Clippers is 198-307. But sure, it’s all because of injuries.

In a related story, Clippers fans have started a petition to get Dunleavy fired (HT: Ball Don’t Lie). Perhaps they can now add “lack of self-awareness” to the list of grievances.