Part 5/8:
While the decision to fire Pierce may not have been entirely shocking to some, the timing still left many pondering the necessary course of action. The Raiders did not appear to have outright quit on Pierce during games, and there were periods of competitive play. However, the pervasive view that the Raiders lacked a legitimate playoff contender led to the conclusion that the organization needed to make a bold move to rejuvenate fan excitement. Notably, there were mismanagement issues during critical phases of games that raised questions about Pierce’s readiness for the role.