Just like hiring and firing Mike Fratello cured all their problems.

Just like elevating Tony Barone cured all their problems.

Just like chasing Andy Dolich out of town cured all their problems.

Just like trading Pau Gasol to the Lakers cured all their problems.

Just like bringing in Jerry West cured all their problems.

Just like replacing West with Chris Wallace cured all their problems.

Just like getting rid of those pesky local owners cured all their problems.

Just like - might as well trace it all the way back to the beginning - moving to Memphis cured all their problems.

Yes, the Grizzlies fired Iavaroni and replaced him with Hollins Thursday. Anyone think the problems might still remain?

I mean, LIONEL HOLLINS? That's it? That's the answer to this mess?

The good, gracious Grizzlies assistant who served as interim coach when Brian Hill was fired and Hubie Brown resigned?

Hollins' record as interim head coach of the Grizzlies: 18-46. So, by all means, let's give him the job full-time!

And, yes, that's probably an unfair shot. Hollins might well do better as the permanent guy.

But for an organization that has a hard-earned reputation for doing things on the cheap, replacing Iavaroni with Hollins seems decidedly, oh, what's the word I'm looking for ...

Cheap!

As in, why pay an extra penny when the franchise is going to lose three out of every four games anyway?

Why talk to Avery Johnson or Jeff Van Gundy or any other coach who might cost more than the minimum?

A coach like that might ask the team to spend actual money on players, too. There's no telling what sort of trouble that could cause.

Besides, the Grizzlies have embarked on a three-year-plan, remember. Heisley probably wants to wait and hire an experienced coach in three years.

In the meantime, he'll have plenty of "flexibility," if not any actual "fans."

You remember fans, right? They're the people who pay money to go and watch games?

They don't ask for much, really. Just some reason to watch and to hope.

They like to see effort and teamwork. That's why Iavaroni ultimately drove them nuts.

Iavaroni's Grizzlies didn't run and didn't hustle. They didn't defend and didn't share the ball.

So, yes, absolutely, Iavaroni had to go. But if you think the switch from Iavaroni to Hollins is going to repair everything that ails this franchise, I have a seat in Christian Laettner's owner's box I'd like to sell you.

The organization that fired Iavaroni to save the day is the same organization that hired Iavaroni to save the day. It's the same organization that has been through eight head coaches (counting interims), four personnel guys (Dick Versace, Billy Knight, Jerry West and Wallace) and two cities (and two countries, for that matter) in the last nine years.

So was Iavaroni the problem? Or is maybe the organization the problem? And if the organization is the problem, what does that makes Hollins?

It makes him the next one to blame when it all goes bad, of course.

At least his severance will be cheap.

To reach Geoff Calkins, call him at 529-2364 or e-mail calkins@commercialappeal.com

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Lionel Hollins Bio

Age: 55

Playing experience: Drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers in 1975 out of Arizona State. Played on the Blazers' championship team in 1976-77. Also played for the 76ers, Clippers, Pistons and Rockets with one All-Star appearance in a 10-year career.

Coaching experience: This will be his third stint as Grizzlies head coach. He was interim coach twice (in 1999-2000 in Vancouver and in 2004) where he compiled a 18-46 record. He's also been an assistant for the Suns and the Bucks.

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Marc Iavaroni file

Spent seven seasons in the NBA as a player, suiting up for Philadelphia, San Antonio and Utah.

Became ninth head coach in Grizzlies history on May 31, 2007, coming to team following five seasons as an assistant with the Phoenix Suns.

Coached Grizzlies to 22-60 record in first season.

Fired on Thursday after coaching team to an 11-30 mark in 2008-09. Iavaroni is the seventh NBA coach fired this season.