We’ve already seen a few NBA head coaches get canned this season and rest assured that more pink slips are on the way. A number of coaches need their teams to make the playoffs just to keep their jobs, starting with Oklahoma City’s Scott Brooks.
1. Scott Brooks, Oklahoma City Thunder
This is the most obvious example of a coach on the hot seat. The Thunder are supposed to be in contention for championships, not fighting for their life just to squeak into the playoffs as the eighth seed. It’s true that Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant have missed a lot of games this season due to injuries, but at the end of the day, it’s all about winning and this team hasn’t got it done. Brooks was given a reprieve when his team was shorthanded but it’s not as if they’ve been unstoppable with everyone in the lineup. They were seven games under .500 at the start of December but are only three games over .500 at this point.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k26kvxPixcQ
With a starting five that has Westbrook and Durant – two of the top five players in the game right now – Oklahoma City should be competing for the top spot in the conference. Yet, they’re very likely to be the number eight seed – at best – in the Western Conference. While that is a 10-game swing, to put in perspective, they finished last season 36 games over .500.
Brooks has not found a way to get the best basketball out of Serge Ibaka, Kendrick Perkins hamper this roster, Reggie Jackson has turned sour and Jeremy Lamb is wasting away on the bench. Personnel is not being used as well as it could be, which is why Brooks has to at least get to the playoffs in order to justify staying on. Oklahoma City also has to do better than a 12-17 road record or a paltry two-point scoring differential (technically 1.9).
2. Steve Clifford, Charlotte Hornets
It is really this simple: Charlotte was a playoff team last season thanks to the really good job Clifford. However, Charlotte was supposed to be better this time around considering the valuable experienced they gained last season and the fact that they swiped Lance Stephenson from the Indiana Pacers. This was supposed to be the move that was going to make Charlotte more of a contender in the East – at least a team that would finish comfortably above .500 without need of having to scramble for a playoff spot in the final weeks of the season. Yet, with a 22-30 record, Charlotte is clearly much worse than last season. The Hornets are still in decent shape to get a playoff berth, but that’s because the East is so bad. If Brooklyn, Boston or Detroit overtake Charlotte for one of the last two playoff spots in the East (Miami being the other team currently in playoff position), Clifford could easily be shown the door. This team was supposed to do much better than average 94.3 points per game with Stephenson in the fold.
3. Lionel Hollins, Brooklyn Nets
The Nets are a mess and everyone knows it. There might be a change of ownership and so if the Nets don’t make the playoffs, Hollins could be part of the extreme makeover. It wouldn’t be fair but if a new owner comes in and sees that a team that is complete shambles, he’ll become a victim of circumstances. There’s no questioning that this franchise needs a fresh start.
The fact that the Nets – currently 21-31 – will almost certainly have a losing record whether or not they get into the playoffs, is likely going to be the nail in his coffin.
4. Monty Williams, New Orleans Pelicans
The Pelicans are fighting the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Phoenix Suns, two good teams, for a playoff berth. However, with a superstar player such as Anthony Davis on the roster, there are increasingly higher expectations for the Pelicans franchise.
It feels like Monty Williams has helped this team climb out from out of the basement to the main level, but he’s not the man capable of taking them to the penthouse suite. While it may seem like they’re so close to a playoff spot, make no mistakes about it: this team is only one game above .500 at this point and are nothing more than first-round playoff fodder if they get in. The Pelicans should look for someone who can take this team to the next level.
