13 Rules: NBA Random Thoughts

This week we take a look at coaches on the hot seat and some that could end up on the hot seat.

1. Steve Clifford, the Charlotte Hornets coach, is definitely a coach on the hot seat. With new owners and a new management team that has one of the worst teams in the league it doesn’t look good for Clifford. He is well respected in the coaching community. He is in the wrong place at the right time so It is doubtful Clifford will survive.
2. Billy Donovan of the Chicago Bulls could be a coach on the hot seat. The Bulls have been mediocre for the last few years and if things get hot for Arturas Karnisovas, their executive vice president, Donovan could be in trouble. He will probably keep his job because he has two more years after this season on his contract and the Bulls aren’t known to spend.
3. JB Bickerstaff of the Cleveland Cavaliers could be a coach on the hot seat. Though his team has had their share of injuries the Cavs have high expectations. Because of those injuries they have dropped from third to fourth in the Eastern Conference. The Cavs need to get out of the first round of the playoffs.
4. Two interim coaches that probably are on the hot seat are Brian Keefe of the Washington Wizards and Kevin Ollie of the Brooklyn Nets. Keefe actually has the Wizards playing hard and they recently had a three game winning streak. With first year management I think they will look to hire a new coach. Kevin Ollie with the Nets is definitely a coach on the hot seat. Since he took the job his team has struggled and recently ended their six game losing streak. Ollie’s chance of returning next year are not real good because of their poor play since he took over.
5. Two coaches that could be on the hot seat are Darwin Ham of the LA Lakers and Frank Vogel of the Phoenix Suns. Both would be long shots to lose their job. Ham was in trouble earlier in the year when there were rumors that players were unhappy with him. If the Lakers lose in the play-in game he could be out. Vogel is coaching an underachieving team with an owner with high expectations. Like Ham a quick exit in the playoffs could be the end for him.

Random Thoughts

6. With the Celtics blowing a big lead the other night to Atlanta everyone is pointing to the Celtics inability to execute down the stretch and they are correct it was a problem. I haven’t read much about the ease the Hawks guards were getting wherever they wanted and any shot they wanted offensively. Jrue Holiday and Derrick White did not play and the Celtics defensively at the guard spots were being broken down. This was apparent when Joe Mazzula used Jaden Springer in the fourth quarter. Springer is reputed to be a good defender. He hasn’t played that much since they acquired him. The game displayed how important White and Holiday are to the Celtics success.

7. Somebody please tell the Portland Trailblazers, Toronto Raptors and Detroit Pistons their seasons aren’t over yet because they are playing like it. The draft isn’t real good this year so I don’t think they are tanking. Lately it is very rare to see three starters on any of those teams playing in the same game.