Five NBA Coaches On the Hot Seat
Eddie Jordan can’t be fired til Gil comes backWe live in the “what have you done for me lately” age. It’s not unheard of to watch someone on the bench go from Coach of the Year to the hot seat. (Not that we’re saying Byron Scott‘s job is in danger even though the Hornets are 5-5.)
However, there are a host of NBA coaches whose jobs aren’t exactly safe right now:
* Randy Wittman – There were rumblings over the weekend that Wittman should be concerned about his job after the Wolves dropped seven straight. Then they lost their eighth game in a row.
Asked how he’s dealing with the pressure of his job, Wittman summed it up pretty well.
“I sleep in a padded bedroom now.”
* Reggie Theus – I don’t understand this one. Though Joe Maloof said something about how he expects more out of Theus, the Kings are 5-8 despite not having Kevin Martin for a chunk of games. Since the start of the season, Theus has gotten this team to play much better defense too – after surrendering 111.8 points over their first four, the Kings have limited that number to 99.1 over their last nine.
* Eddie Jordan – Jordan can thank Gilbert Arenas for his job security. After the Wiz paid Gil over $100 million this summer, Jordan’s job is protected until Arenas gets back on the floor. If they go 1-8 with Agent Zero in the lineup though, things will be different.
* Mike Dunleavy, Sr. – Does the Clippers’ management have to make a decision between Mike Dunleavy, Sr. and Baron Davis? Clearly the Clippers are awful, and their new star is not happy. That sounds like the recipe for firing a coach, no matter the history that he has with a team.
* Larry Brown – MJ wouldn’t realistically fire him now. But Brown effectively puts himself on the hot seat. Even if Jordan doesn’t dismiss him, Brown might be the first guy who leaves his job of any coach this season. And if that happened, it would probably be because he had enough of the struggling Bobcats.
Who do you think is or should be on the hot seat?
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November 20th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
fallinup says:
After watching that poor excuse of a game from Chicago. Del Negro should be. I don’t give a damn if he’s a rookie coach…that dude shouldn’t be coaching. No experience as a head coach truly showed last night. I had never been so disgusted.
Well maybe I have. But what I do with my own shitty pants is my business.
November 20th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
Austin Burton says:
Funny how Del Harris and Bernie Bickerstaff took jobs as Del Negro’s assistants, no doubt waiting for his midseason firing so they can take over. They might even be sabotaging him as we speak: “Yeah, Vinny, I think you should put in Aaron Gray right now. I think he’d be a good matchup for Stoudemire.”
November 20th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
that's whats up says:
DIME, what’s the scoop on the Bobcats trade???
Who’s going where??
November 20th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
fallinup says:
“No really, Vinnie. Keep running that high screen, then just let Hughes or Gordon dribble for 15 seconds…then settle for a perimeter shot from the top of the key. I now it hasn’t worked for 3.9 quarters, but it’s bound to work sometime!”
November 20th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
itsakademiks says:
lol @ fallinup
i wonder what rose was thinking last night
November 20th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
dapro says:
Vinny looks lost but seriously, Paxton should be fired first
November 20th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
marcus the great says:
funny, earlier this week i was thinkin with the wizard’s struggles a shake up will be coming, and i thought EJ would be the first to go. i dont think its his fault, but thats how the league works
Dunleavey seems like a top candidate to get the axe as well
lol @ AB and fallinup
November 20th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
Dennis Castro says:
Not that he’s on the hot seat, but Mo Cheeks has been making some head scratching calls.
Like last night staying with Dalembert to guard Jefferson when Al was straight up abusing him in the post in the final 3 mins or so.
Why not switch Brand on him. And why wasn’t a shooter on the floor to open up the half court set with the game on the line?
Mo has a grace period, being that adding Brand drasitically changes the complexion of the team, but if he keeps it up, his grace period will end up being very short.
November 20th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
itsakademiks says:
Gilbert Arenas–
“I definitely want to wait until after New Year’s. … It will give me time to get in shape. Plus I want to learn the new playbook,” he added.”
lol maybe the rest of the team shoulda took this advice…
November 20th, 2008 at 5:58 pm
Gerard says:
Eddie Jordan should be held accountable, but I still think he’s a decent coach.
November 20th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
Luigi says:
i like how gil likes last place…amen brotha. we want GRIFFIN!!! BLAKE GRIFFIN FOR WIZARDS #1 Pick overall in 2009!
Campaign with me?