The head coach in the NBA is a temporary position, as no other occupation on the management side experiences as much turnover.
Winning games used to be enough to keep the hyenas at bay, but as the years have gone by, the grace period for NBA coaches proving their value gets shorter and shorter. Gone are the days when teams would stick with a coach if they believed in his philosophy and approach, as franchises seem to have less patience and a more specific definition of "progress."
For example, Doug Moe coached nine and a half seasons in Denver, winning more than 50 games just twice and making it out of the first round of the playoffs four times (and the conference finals only once). In today's NBA, it's doubtful he would have lasted longer than his third full season, a 38-44 campaign.
Last season, we saw 12 teams change head coaches, most notably: George Karl in Denver (despite winning 57 games in the regular season), Vinny Del Negro in Los Angeles (despite winning 56 games en route to the first division title in franchise history) and Lionel Hollins in Memphis (despite winning 56 games en route to the first conference finals appearance in franchise history).
With so many new faces, one would expect there to be a refrain from coaching turnover, but this is the NBA, and the seat is always sizzling for someone. Here are five coaches who will feel the heat this season, as well as five new faces who soon could join the head-coaching ranks.
Mike Woodson | New York Knicks
Regular-season record: 72-34 (.679)
Playoff record: 7-10 (.412)
Despite leading the Knicks last season to their first division crown in almost 20 years, Woodson has make-or-break employment status heading into this season, through no fault of his own.
Miami still is the class of the conference (and the league), and the offseason improvements of Indiana, Chicago and Brooklyn all make the top of the East even more competitive, squeezing New York possibly out of a top-four seed. In another town, the context of Woodson's predicament would be understandable, particularly with the roster constraints the Knicks have due to their taxpayer status. But New York is an unforgiving town, and both the fan base and ownership expect superlative results immediately. The Knicks improved by making it past the first round last season, but were clearly outmatched by the Pacers in the second round.
Further complicating matters, the shocking switch in basketball leadership from Glen Grunwald to Steve Mills with the start of training camp just days away can't come as good news, as an incumbent head coach under a new regime usually spells doom.
Mike D'Antoni | Los Angeles Lakers
Regular-season record: 40-32 (.556)
Playoff record: 0-4 (.000)
The man Woodson replaced as head coach of the Knicks is experiencing his own discomfort, as D'Antoni also faces a make-or-break season at the helm of the Lakers. Like Woodson, D'Antoni is tasked with taking a limited roster to battle in a conference where almost every team improved from the previous season. The double whammy of losing Dwight Howard and having him join the Houston Rockets (who the Lakers beat out for the seventh seed last spring), along with the uncertain status of injured guard Kobe Bryant, makes D'Antoni's job more difficult.
Unlike Woodson, D'Antoni faces the very unique challenge of being judged not only against the team's performance, but against the Ghosts of Lakers Past, namely Phil Jackson. The timing of the publishing of excerpts from Jeanie Buss' updated memoirs, in which she says she felt D'Antoni's hire over Jackson was a "betrayal," could not have come at a more inopportune time, as it further stokes the fire over an irate fan base infatuated with the legend of Jackson. The truth is the Lakers' roster as currently constructed is too far from redemption for even the Zen Master. However, that matters very little to the mob with the torches and pitchforks outside of the Staples Center calling for D'Antoni's head.
Monty Williams | New Orleans Pelicans
Regular-season record: 94-136 (0.409)
Playoff record: 2-4 (0.333)
Head-coaching hot seats and impatience are not exclusive to big-market teams. Down in New Orleans, Williams enters his fourth season at the helm of the Pelicans (formerly the Hornets). The Pelicans recently have been fixtures at the bottom of the standings, as the franchise attempted to rebuild after the exodus of Chris Paul, but underwent a massive talent overhaul this summer, trading for All-Star point guard Jrue Holiday and signing restricted free agent Tyreke Evans, signifying an end to the "being bad" part of the rebuild and the commencement of "being good." With a ton of financial resources committed to this team over the next few seasons, the current expectation for New Orleans is competing for a playoff berth, if not clinching one outright.
This puts the onus on Williams to coax a roster of somewhat incongruent pieces to overachieve in a tough Western Conference. Also, Williams has coached the slowest or second-slowest pace in the league every year he's been head coach. With a roster of young athletes seemingly built to run, it will test Williams' ability to forgo a style that he has been comfortable with for almost his entire coaching career.
Tyrone Corbin | Utah Jazz
Regular-season record: 87-89 (.494)
Playoff record: 0-4 (.000)
It doesn't seem that long ago when Jerry Sloan abruptly resigned midseason and Corbin took over the helm for the Jazz. The roster has changed radically since then, moving toward younger prospects like Derrick Favors, Gordon Hayward and Enes Kanter with an eye for tomorrow.
"Tomorrow" is just around the corner for Utah, since the main franchise cornerstones all have 2-3 years NBA experience. For players like Favors and Hayward, rookie contract extensions are due, and if the team is going to invest long-term dollars in the talent, it stands to reason that there is an expectation for return on investment, and Corbin will be held responsible. Corbin is entering lame-duck status on the last year of his deal, and the Jazz will have to show considerable improvement to justify retaining him.
Randy Wittman | Washington Wizards
Regular-season record: 47-83 (.361)
Playoff record: N/A
The good news for Wittman: His main three pieces, John Wall, Bradley Beal and Nene, are all healthy and ready to go. When those players were in action together, the Wizards were 15-7, including 10-2 at home. The bad news is if he doesn't get them to replicate the feat over 82 games, chances are Wittman doesn't get an encore, as he is entering the last year of his contract. The Wizards have missed the playoffs for five straight seasons, and haven't won 50 games in a season in almost 35 years, so history isn't exactly on his side.
Like New Orleans, Washington was a rebuild situation that is ready to move on from being bad to being good; they've invested heavily, with a payroll approaching the tax threshold. If the Wizards don't at least look competitive in that capacity, expect some changes to be made. As owner Ted Leonsis said, "we live in very accountable businesses, and we're all accountable."
Winning games used to be enough to keep the hyenas at bay, but as the years have gone by, the grace period for NBA coaches proving their value gets shorter and shorter. Gone are the days when teams would stick with a coach if they believed in his philosophy and approach, as franchises seem to have less patience and a more specific definition of "progress."
For example, Doug Moe coached nine and a half seasons in Denver, winning more than 50 games just twice and making it out of the first round of the playoffs four times (and the conference finals only once). In today's NBA, it's doubtful he would have lasted longer than his third full season, a 38-44 campaign.
Last season, we saw 12 teams change head coaches, most notably: George Karl in Denver (despite winning 57 games in the regular season), Vinny Del Negro in Los Angeles (despite winning 56 games en route to the first division title in franchise history) and Lionel Hollins in Memphis (despite winning 56 games en route to the first conference finals appearance in franchise history).
With so many new faces, one would expect there to be a refrain from coaching turnover, but this is the NBA, and the seat is always sizzling for someone. Here are five coaches who will feel the heat this season, as well as five new faces who soon could join the head-coaching ranks.
Mike Woodson | New York Knicks
Regular-season record: 72-34 (.679)
Playoff record: 7-10 (.412)
Despite leading the Knicks last season to their first division crown in almost 20 years, Woodson has make-or-break employment status heading into this season, through no fault of his own.
Miami still is the class of the conference (and the league), and the offseason improvements of Indiana, Chicago and Brooklyn all make the top of the East even more competitive, squeezing New York possibly out of a top-four seed. In another town, the context of Woodson's predicament would be understandable, particularly with the roster constraints the Knicks have due to their taxpayer status. But New York is an unforgiving town, and both the fan base and ownership expect superlative results immediately. The Knicks improved by making it past the first round last season, but were clearly outmatched by the Pacers in the second round.
Further complicating matters, the shocking switch in basketball leadership from Glen Grunwald to Steve Mills with the start of training camp just days away can't come as good news, as an incumbent head coach under a new regime usually spells doom.
Mike D'Antoni | Los Angeles Lakers
Regular-season record: 40-32 (.556)
Playoff record: 0-4 (.000)
The man Woodson replaced as head coach of the Knicks is experiencing his own discomfort, as D'Antoni also faces a make-or-break season at the helm of the Lakers. Like Woodson, D'Antoni is tasked with taking a limited roster to battle in a conference where almost every team improved from the previous season. The double whammy of losing Dwight Howard and having him join the Houston Rockets (who the Lakers beat out for the seventh seed last spring), along with the uncertain status of injured guard Kobe Bryant, makes D'Antoni's job more difficult.
Unlike Woodson, D'Antoni faces the very unique challenge of being judged not only against the team's performance, but against the Ghosts of Lakers Past, namely Phil Jackson. The timing of the publishing of excerpts from Jeanie Buss' updated memoirs, in which she says she felt D'Antoni's hire over Jackson was a "betrayal," could not have come at a more inopportune time, as it further stokes the fire over an irate fan base infatuated with the legend of Jackson. The truth is the Lakers' roster as currently constructed is too far from redemption for even the Zen Master. However, that matters very little to the mob with the torches and pitchforks outside of the Staples Center calling for D'Antoni's head.
Monty Williams | New Orleans Pelicans
Regular-season record: 94-136 (0.409)
Playoff record: 2-4 (0.333)
Head-coaching hot seats and impatience are not exclusive to big-market teams. Down in New Orleans, Williams enters his fourth season at the helm of the Pelicans (formerly the Hornets). The Pelicans recently have been fixtures at the bottom of the standings, as the franchise attempted to rebuild after the exodus of Chris Paul, but underwent a massive talent overhaul this summer, trading for All-Star point guard Jrue Holiday and signing restricted free agent Tyreke Evans, signifying an end to the "being bad" part of the rebuild and the commencement of "being good." With a ton of financial resources committed to this team over the next few seasons, the current expectation for New Orleans is competing for a playoff berth, if not clinching one outright.
This puts the onus on Williams to coax a roster of somewhat incongruent pieces to overachieve in a tough Western Conference. Also, Williams has coached the slowest or second-slowest pace in the league every year he's been head coach. With a roster of young athletes seemingly built to run, it will test Williams' ability to forgo a style that he has been comfortable with for almost his entire coaching career.
Tyrone Corbin | Utah Jazz
Regular-season record: 87-89 (.494)
Playoff record: 0-4 (.000)
It doesn't seem that long ago when Jerry Sloan abruptly resigned midseason and Corbin took over the helm for the Jazz. The roster has changed radically since then, moving toward younger prospects like Derrick Favors, Gordon Hayward and Enes Kanter with an eye for tomorrow.
"Tomorrow" is just around the corner for Utah, since the main franchise cornerstones all have 2-3 years NBA experience. For players like Favors and Hayward, rookie contract extensions are due, and if the team is going to invest long-term dollars in the talent, it stands to reason that there is an expectation for return on investment, and Corbin will be held responsible. Corbin is entering lame-duck status on the last year of his deal, and the Jazz will have to show considerable improvement to justify retaining him.
Randy Wittman | Washington Wizards
Regular-season record: 47-83 (.361)
Playoff record: N/A
The good news for Wittman: His main three pieces, John Wall, Bradley Beal and Nene, are all healthy and ready to go. When those players were in action together, the Wizards were 15-7, including 10-2 at home. The bad news is if he doesn't get them to replicate the feat over 82 games, chances are Wittman doesn't get an encore, as he is entering the last year of his contract. The Wizards have missed the playoffs for five straight seasons, and haven't won 50 games in a season in almost 35 years, so history isn't exactly on his side.
Like New Orleans, Washington was a rebuild situation that is ready to move on from being bad to being good; they've invested heavily, with a payroll approaching the tax threshold. If the Wizards don't at least look competitive in that capacity, expect some changes to be made. As owner Ted Leonsis said, "we live in very accountable businesses, and we're all accountable."
