San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich likes the hiring of coach Byron Scott.
Pittsburgh -- San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich had nothing but good words for former Cavs coach Mike Brown and General Manager Danny Ferry, as well as new coach Byron Scott.
Popovich hired Brown as an assistant in San Antonio in 2000.
"He's a good friend," Popovich said. "Mike did a fantastic job while he was in Cleveland. But in this business, circumstances often dictate what happens. Sometimes the circumstances have more to do with a coach's dismissal than anything he did as far as being a coach is concerned.
"He'll land some place if he decides to get back in because he is a very good coach and a very good man, and he knows how to handle people."
Asked whether he thought Scott was the right coach for the Cavaliers now, Popovich said: "Yeah, I really do. He's got the kind of experience I think is probably necessary considering the situation where some things have to be put back together again, confidence has to be built. You have to have somebody who's got the experience to know what is necessary to put that together again, and he has that kind of experience."
Ferry, who played for the Cavs and Spurs and started his front-office career in San Antonio, has rejoined the Spurs as vice president of basketball operations, and Popovich said it was "fantastic" to have him back, although he thinks Ferry likely will get another job soon.
"The humor level rises," Popovich said with a smile. "The sarcasm level rises. The fun, the enjoyment of the game rises. The only sad part is he's not going to be there long. I try not to think about that because it's so much fun to have him back."
Welcome home: Popovich also had great things to say about former Pittsburgh star DeJuan Blair, who started at center for the Spurs on Thursday. After playing in Mexico City earlier this week, Popovich sent Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker and Richard Jefferson back to San Antonio to rest.
"He's doing very well," Popovich said of Blair. "He's a hard worker, quick learner, very passionate about the game, wants to be a great player. What more can I ask? He has really worked hard to reduce his body fat, a significant difference from last year. It was a necessary thing, part of the process of being as good as he could possibly be. He deserves a lot of credit for the discipline he employed to get to where he is now."
Tait healing: Cavaliers Hall of Fame broadcaster Joe Tait remains hospitalized in Houston with pneumonia but is improving and hopes to return to Ohio soon. Trainer Max Benton returned to the team after spending several days with Tait. Scott Zurilla of the team's broadcasting department flew to Houston to stay with Tait.
In Tait's absence, Fred McLeod and Campy Russell were broadcasters for Thursday's game.
Mike Snyder and Jim Chones will handle Saturday's radio broadcast against CSKA Moscow. Snyder and Russell will handle Tuesday's game against Philadelphia in Cincinnati, and McLeod and Austin Carr will handle the preseason finale against Milwaukee in Columbus on Oct. 21.
The last word: From Scott, admitting he likes the Steelers, "Don't say that too loud."