5 NBA Coaches on the Hot Seat Who Could Join Fired Paul Westphal

After losing out on his feud with DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento Kings head coach Paul Westphal became the first casualty of the 2011-12 season when he was fired on Thursday.

Westphal was the first, but likely won't be the last, as there are some struggling teams out there that could pursue a coaching change very soon.

Here is a look at the next crop of coaches who could be fired soon.

Flip Saunders, Washington Wizards

The Wizards are winless and they are awful.

Dating back to last season, Saunders' team has won only a handful of games and eventually, a change is going to have to be made.

He's had no success in Washington, and there is no light at the end of the tunnel.

Mike D'Antoni, New York Knicks

D'Antoni and the Knicks are underachieving big time, and ultimately, he's going to be the one to blame.

He's not a good in-game coach and seems unwilling to adjust his system to fit his personnel. A team with one of the best frontcourts in the game and a below-average backcourt shouldn't be living behind the three-point line.

Then there is the Knicks defense, which has always been horrendous under his watch.

Not all of New York's problems are his fault, but a majority of it can be thrown his way.

Avery Johnson, New Jersey Nets

Johnson is likable but sometimes, the results have to be there.

He's had no success in New Jersey and granted, he lost Brook Lopez for the first couple months of the season, but this Nets team is bad all the way around.

They can't score and they aren't good on the defensive end.

One way to keep Deron Williams in New Jersey is by winning, and that's not happening on Johnson's watch.

Rick Carlisle, Dallas Mavericks

Carlisle's seat might not be hot, but it may be starting to warm up.

The defending champs are not very good, and Carlisle doesn't seem to have any answers at the moment.

Dallas is still a talented team, and a shakeup might be in order to get them going.

Mark Cuban is known for the bold move, so keep an eye on Carlisle.

Alvin Gentry, Phoenix Suns

It's rebuilding time in Phoenix, and even though Gentry got his contract extended through next season, the more the Suns struggle, a coaching change might make sense.

This is especially true if a decision on the future of Steve Nash doesn't have him in a Suns uniform past the trade deadline.