April 11, 2011STEINMETZ ARCHIIVEWARRIORS PAGEWARRIORS VIDEOMatt Steinmetz
CSNBayArea.com
Those expecting a quick decision on the fate of Warriors coach Keith Smart are likely to be disappointed.We're entering evaluation mode.Warriors owner Joe Lacob indicated during a brief conversation on Monday that an announcement on Smart won't be coming immediately following the season, and that it might be a couple of weeks or more before any decision is made on the coach's future.The Warriors' season comes to an end Wednesday night against the Portland Trail Blazers at Oracle Arena.Smart replaced Don Nelson on Sept. 27, less than a week from the start of training camp. He was given a one-year deal with only a partial guarantee for 2011-12.
Lacob officially took over the Warriors in November, but he has acknowledged he had a hand in the coaching change. Lacob has been consistent regarding his approach to both Smart and general manager Larry Riley -- saying he will wait until the end of the season and then evaluate them along with all of basketball operations.Conventional wisdom remains that Riley likely will have his option for 2011-12 picked up, and he will return. But Smart's situation is more unclear.Smart took an injury-depleted, 26-win team from last season and has it at 35-45 with two games remaining. That will rank among the the top-five most improved teams from a season ago.In the first weeks of his tenure, Lacob talked about making a "bold" move and then expressed disappointment when the Warriors couldn't make a deal at the February deadline.
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