Bill Fitch, the man who gave Rick Carlisle his first NBA assistant-coaching job, has natural interest in how his protege is faring. It helps that Fitch lives in Texas, just north of Houston, where Carlisle's Mavericks will face the Rockets tonight.
The Mavericks are 5-17. As we pointed out last night, Carlisle in 15 seasons as a head coach has had only one team finish below .500, his 2006-2007 Indiana team that finished 35-47.
Fitch, 82, says he regularly exchanges emails and texts with Carlisle, so he doesn't feel a need to trek to Toyota Center tonight to see whether this season has taken a toll on Carlisle.