The Cleveland Cavaliers fired head coach Paul Silas today and named assistant Brendan Malone as interim head coach. Silas's son, Stephan, who had served as an assistant coach with the club was also dismissed.

'They didn't think the team was performing as well as it should be and they wanted to make a change,' Paul Silas told the Associated Press.

The Cavs have struggled of late, losing nine of their last 12 games and nine straight on the road. Although they were leading their division for most of the regular season, the talent laden Cavaliers are now fighting for their playoff lives.

'We believe in our players, and that progress just wasn't being made,' General Manager Jim Paxson said at a news conference Monday. 'We have 18 games left in this season. We're fifth in the Eastern Conference right now, and we felt that if we didn't make this decision that we were jeopardizing our ability to be a playoff team this year.'

The Cavaliers became the ninth NBA team to change coaches this year.

Silas's career NBA coaching record is 355-400 including stints with the Clippers, Hornets and Cavs.