The 2015-16 NBA season has just gotten underway but it’s very clear that a number of coaches are not built to last. Basketball front offices have developed a habit of canning coaches before Christmas and it looks as if at least one of them will get a pink slip before the New Year. Here are the four head coaches on the hot seat right now:
George Karl
Sacramento Kings
Karl appeared to be on the hot seat almost immediately after he was hired after he told management that his star player DeMarcus Cousins should be traded. It seemed like the two had managed to temporarily put their differences aside but then came news of a profanity-laced tirade from Cousins to Karl following a game. Then came a players only meeting. Then came rumors that ownership is still trying to court John Calipari. On top of that, they have struggled out of the gate this season with just three wins through their first 10 games. The good news is that the Kings have won two straight to ease some of the pressure but there’s a lot of veteran parts on this lineup that could be trade bait if things go sour. Rajon Rondo, Kosta Koufos and Marco Belinelli have all started the season very well and could be moved if the Kings decide that Karl’s not the right man for the job and that this team needs a full reset.
Alvin Gentry
New Orleans Pelicans
Would the Pelicans really fire Alvin Gentry this soon into his tenure? It’s looking more and more like it by the day as the Pelicans are a pathetic 1-8 to start the season. Remember, this comes on the heels of the Pelicans looking like a team on the rise. They made the playoffs last season and actually gave the eventual champion Golden State Warriors a bigger challenge than most people expected. Instead of staying the course, the Pelicans still fired Monty Williams and replaced him with Gentry. Gentry was supposed to take this team to the next level but most people assumed that level would be up. Instead, he’s taken them directly to the basement as no team in the NBA has less wins than the Pelicans. What’s troubling is that the season might already be lost for New Orleans. They were hoping to challenge for a better playoff spot than No. 8 but considering they’ve already dug themselves such a hole, they will have a tough time making the playoffs, let along getting out of the first round, which was their goal.
Byron Scott
Los Angeles Lakers
Some thought the Lakers might be mediocre, others thought they might be bad. As it turns out, they’re among the worst of the worst and they’re getting worse by the day. Scott is at fault because he’s messing with the team’s development, which could end up costing him his job. He’s not holding Kobe Bryant accountable – especially on defense- and he’s messing with D’Angelo Russell’s role. The team’s identity is completely unclear and it looks like Scott is clueless.
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Dave Joerger
Memphis Grizzlies
For the Memphis Grizzlies, success is measured by how far they go in the playoffs. We know this is a team with championship pedigree. They’re just a piece or two away. They’ve also won at least 50 games in each of the last three seasons. That’s why alarms are going off right now as the Grizzlies have lost six of their first 10 games. Not only that, they’ve only won once in their last five and have suffered some fairly egregious losses so far this season. They lost by 50 to Golden State on November 2nd and 19 at Portland on November 5th. Even more concerning is the fact that Memphis – long known as one of the top defensive teams in the NBA – has fallen off in that regard. They’re allowing 100.6 points per game, which is 14th in the NBA. Last year, they were second at 95.1. Their offense is a concern too as their 91.3 points per game this season is the lowest in the NBA. This team was supposed to be a championship contender but has all sorts of flaws right now. That could cost Joerger his job.
