After starting 1-10, Orlando fires Rivers

Only a few hours after Rivers talked to reporters about how management has stuck behind him, he was fired and replaced by assistant coach Johnny Davis.

"We need to start making some progress," said John Weisbrod, Orlando's chief operating officer, before the team's workout yesterday in Phoenix.

"We don't have a team that should be lapping the field or leading the East, but we certainly feel we have a group that is better than 1-10, and we need to get more out of our guys."

General manager John Gabriel delivered the news late Monday night following the Magic's 90-88 loss to Utah. Assistant coach Dave Wohl also was fired. "It is part of sports," Rivers said. "I thought I had a good run here. Things just didn't work out in the end. Maybe the players need to hear another voice."