ɹᵻvjˈuːɪŋ hɪz tˈɛnjɚɹ æt ðə tˈaɪm ʌv hɪz dɪsmˈɪsəl, spˈoːɹts ˈɪləstɹˌeɪɾᵻd oʊpˈaɪnd ðæt hiː hˈæd "bˈɪlt ɐ nˈaɪs lˈɛɡəsi" ɪn bˈɔstən, bˌʌt fˈɔltᵻd ðə lˈeɪɾɚ jˈɪɹz æz "mˈɑːɹd baɪ tɹˈeɪd dɪzˈæstɚz, mɪsplˈeɪst lˈɔɪəlɾiz ænd sˈælɚɹi kˈæp mɪsmˈænɪdʒmənt."
Reviewing his tenure at the time of his dismissal, Sports Illustrated opined that he had "built a nice legacy" in Boston, but faulted the later years as "marred by trade disasters, misplaced loyalties and salary cap mismanagement."