Talking about the next coach to be fired is always a fun sports debate (and important for bettors). But right now, it’s an interesting situation in the NBA. It doesn’t look like any one coach is sitting on a scalding hot seat. Instead, there’s a number of mildly warm situations that are starting to heat up. Let’s take a look at the coaches who are starting to feel that fire, and could even get fired if they don’t turn their teams around soon.
1. Steve Clifford, Charlotte Hornets
This is a surprise, but it’s real. Clifford did such an exceptional job with the Bobcats (now Hornets) last season, taking a team that was supposed to finish in the trash heap and leading it to the playoffs. However, star big man Al Jefferson got injured at precisely the wrong time, and Charlotte got swept. Even so, that was a big step for a franchise that hasn’t experienced much postseason success.
That’s why at the very least, this season was supposed to be a playoff season, especially in the second-rate Eastern Conference. The Hornets acquired Lance Stephenson from the Indiana Pacers in the offseason and they had seemingly upgraded their roster, so finishing no worse than seventh in the East was a baseline expectation.
Yet, the Hornets tumbled to a 4-15 start. They have moved up to 6-15, but they’re still 2.5 games out of the eighth spot in the East and have a lot of work to do. The team has the third-worst point differential in the East at minus-6.3 points. That’s worse than the New York Knicks.
The Hornets are bad on offense (94.2 points per game) and average on defense (100.5 points allowed per game). But beyond the numbers, this team was supposed to build on what they did last season, yet have somehow regressed. If they continue to struggle and don’t make a move toward the eighth spot, Clifford could feel some heat.
2. Lionel Hollins, Brooklyn Nets
It is true that Hollins might not have the hottest seat in the NBA, but he could be second. Defenders of Hollins will point out that he is in his first season with the Nets and that he should be given some leeway, but critics and people who think he’s on a hot seat will note that Avery Johnson got sacked by Brooklyn before New Year’s Day a few seasons ago. The Nets can and will be ruthless if they feel they need to make a change.
Why Hollins should be concerned is that the Nets have already waved the white flag on the season. They’ve shipped off Andrei Kirilenko and made Brook Lopez, Joe Johnson and Deron Williams available via trade. If they clear the deck, that could include Hollins, who hasn’t done much with this team. They were in the playoffs last year without Lopez in the lineup but are a borderline team with him back. Some of that responsibility could fall on Hollins.
3. Monty Williams, New Orleans
The hot seat isn’t very hot for Williams because New Orleans is still a fairly young team. However, where is the seat any hotter? It’s not in Sacramento, where the Kings have improved. It’s not Denver, which is just a little over a year into Brian Shaw’s tenure. Byron Scott of the Lakers, Quin Snyder of the Utah Jazz, Derek Fisher of the Knicks, and Stan Van Gundy of the Pistons all coach awful teams, but they’re in their first seasons. None of them is likely to be fired after this season, no matter what else happens.
Williams has to watch out at least a little bit because, with Anthony Davis on his team, people are going to begin to expect more of New Orleans before very long. There’s talent there with Jrue Holiday, Tyreke Evans and a slew of first-round picks. Yet, this team doesn’t even look like they’ll finish above .500.
If Williams doesn’t keep moving forward, he could fall under scrutiny very quickly, and the results might not be good for him.
