[Speedy]

By Marc Stein
ESPN.com

The Warriors made a much-needed credibility move Thursday by promoting Chris Mullin before the coming-soon firing of coach Eric Musselman. The assumption in some circles held that Golden State's upper management would force Garry St. Jean to fire the coach, thereby allowing Mullin to step into his new role controversy-free.


Of course, the more widespread perception around the league is that Mullin has been the chief decision-maker on the Warriors' basketball staff for months. Formally making the switch now ends the charade.



Another widely held suspicion about the Warriors has Mullin naming former teammate Rod Higgins as Musselman's replacement. Higgins certainly appears to be the top candidate, and Spurs assistant Mario Elie is another interesting name, but don't rule out a run at Byron Scott.


Not because it would give the Warriors a shot to recruit Kobe Bryant -- although Kobe has said he'd love to play for his old teammate someday -- but because Byron is a tough guy and a proven winner. The Warriors could use both commodities.



The Warriors would be wise to consider Byron Scott as their next head coach.
And Byron's highly available. He hasn't been mentioned prominently for any job lately, in part because his ABC colleague Doc Rivers -- now being increasingly mentioned in Dallas as a potential replacement for the under-fire Don Nelson -- has emerged as the darling of this summer's coaching market.


There is a link between Mullin and Scott, incidentally, albeit a somewhat distant link. They never played together, but both served in the same elder-statesman role late in their playing careers with Indiana, Mullin after Scott.



Now you know why the Grizzlies, no matter what you hear about the Lakers being Feared By All, would have preferred to play L.A. instead of the Spurs in Round 1, in spite of the torment this would have caused Jerry West. Memphis' success is built largely on its transition game and 3-point shooting. The Lakers would have given the Grizz a chance to play at their preferred speed. San Antonio rarely does.



Don't know about you, but I'm curious to see Bobby Jackson's reaction Saturday night in Dallas when Antawn Jamison gets the Sixth Man Award before the game. Knowing how competitive Jackson is, it might make him mad enough to rescind his plan to sit out the entire playoffs and suit up before the end of the first round.



You watch: New Orleans' Tim Floyd will be replaced faster than Boston's John Carroll, an interim coach, after the first round ends.