Who doesn't like a list, especially on a Monday morning when that's about all you can handle?Training camps are opening, so here are five coaches likely to start feeling the heat if their teams don't get off to good starts.
Mike Dunleavy, L.A. Clippers: The Clippers head into the season with expectations, which might not be the best news for Dunleavy. He's got to figure out a way to reconfigure his relationship with Baron Davis so that the veteran point guard once again can thrive. If Dunleavy and Davis aren't on the same page, there's no hope in L.A.
Mike Woodson, Atlanta: Woodson is in a tricky spot. After advancing to the second round of the playoffs last season, the logical conclusion would seem to be that this is the year to take the next step. Only with Boston, Cleveland and Orlando, just how are the Hawks going to do that? It's going to be tough, and Woodson's the one who'll get blamed if Atlanta can't break through.
Lawrence Frank, New Jersey: Hard to believe, but Frank is starting his sixth full season with the Nets, and that's really the only reason we're putting him here. It's more a numbers thing, a percentages play, if you know what I mean. In the ruthless world of hiring and firing NBA coaches, Frank seems due.
Byron Scott, New Orleans: The Hornets took a step back last season, winning fewer games than the season before and getting thumped in the first round of the playoffs by the Denver Nuggets. It's clear New Orleans believes the acquisition of Emeka Okafor will put them back with the elite teams in the Western Conference. You know what that means for Byron Scott if it doesn't.
Jim O'Brien, Indiana: Let's face it, O'Brien's two years in Indiana have been pretty nondescript, and it's not like this season is setting up to be anything special. The Pacers are coming off back-to-back 36-win seasons, and they're banged up to start 2009-10. It's a little bit of a double-whammy for the Pacers, who aren't likely to be good or entertaining. Yes, O'Brien signed an extension last week but that's only going to make the decision that much more awkward if things go South.
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Comments (Page 1 of 1)
mike has been doing nothing all of his career in coaching beat la
How can you not mention John Keuster in Detroit? We (meaning Dumars) have fired three of the best coaches in the league since 2003. Rick Carlisle. Larry Brown. Flip Saunders. All gone despite winning, winning, winning, and then winning some more. One of Dumars's closer friends in the league was hired to replace Saunders, and Curry got the boot after just one season in which most of the problems were caused by Dumars himself. To me, Keuster is in the most heated seat in the league right now.
Alvin Gentry should be on the list, not Woodson or Scott. Phoenix has Richardson, Barbosa, an aging Nash and Hill, and Stoudamire. What else? Can`t coach quality if it isn`t on the roster.
While you are at it, you might as well make a list of 10 GMs who are going to feel the heat. Any team which figures to miss the playoffs, folks have to suspect the GM may be the main one not getting the job done.
Wow, not to mention all of the asshole GM's who have been "rebuilding" for more than a decade. Sorry Charlotte. Sorry Indiana, but I think it's time you stop relying on the lottery and pull in a star player. Tho`, I must say the Thunder seem to be headed in a good direction. But c`mon, it`s ONLY rare (yes, with sarcasm) that you get a Kevin Durant on your team. I remember my aunt once told me that it at some point in the league, you'd watch a team ranked about 25th in the league play a top 3 ranked team and wouldn`t bet on a team. Why? Because the league was COMPETETIVE. I wonder what happened? Hmm... let's ask the GMs. Don`t point fingers at the coaches. There aren`t anymore Isaiah`s in the league (as a coach)... and hopefully... possibly there wont be for a long time.
mike and the clippers deserve each other,hope he gets caned first week of the new season