NBA Rumors: Ranking the Hot Seats of NBA Coaches Doomed to Fail

No job in professional sports is as dangerous as a NBA coach. Job security is reserved for legends like Phil Jackson, Pat Riley and…oh wait they don’t coach anymore.

Nobody’s job is safe in the NBA, and a bad month or two earns a pink slip in a hurry. We’ve already seen the Sacramento Kings axe Paul Westphal a mere week and a half into the season. He didn’t even know all the players' names yet!  

As expected, there are already multiple teams that have gotten off to rotten starts. Whether it is due to injuries, a tough schedule or just flat out bad players, the excuses are already getting tossed around.

That’s not good enough for inpatient owners. Here are five coaches whose seats are getting hotter with every loss.

 

5. Avery Johnson, New Jersey Nets

The Nets are a hopeless mess and somebody needs to be blamed.

Injuries to Mehmet Okur (back), Damion James (foot), Brook Lopez (foot) and DeShawn Stevenson (knee) are crippling a team already short on talent (via NJ.com).

Blame the players all you want, but a 2-8 record and five-game deficit in the Atlantic Division two weeks into the season is unacceptable.

The team is scoring 87 points a game—third worst in the NBA.

Johnson has done nothing to alter the horrific franchise, and it might be time to shake things up once again. 

4. Mike D'Antoni, New York Knicks

The Knicks have played eight uninspired basketball games thus far, and D’Antoni’s string continues to get shorter.

Many experts believed the Knicks were sleeper title contenders—instead they are losing back-to-back home games to the Raptors and Bobcats.

Amare Stoudemire isn’t being utilized properly in the offense and Carmelo Anthony isn’t passing the ball. The way he has yanked around the minutes of Iman Shumpert has been bizarre as well.

It seems as if D’Antoni is feeling the heat and is doing everything he can to ensure Phil Jackson doesn’t swoop in for his job.

The temperature is rising. 

3. Alvin Gentry, Phoenix Suns

This is basically a no-win situation for Gentry. He resurrected the Suns two years ago and infused his passion and energy into an appearance in the ‘10 Western Conference finals.

Now the Suns are as lackluster as it gets.

The roster has little talent and their best player is reaching the twilight of his career. With no young talent on the roster, this team is going to be bad for the foreseeable future.

It’s not Gentry’s fault, but he’ll take the brunt of the blame for the foolish moves made by management. 

2. Scott Skiles, Milwaukee Bucks

The Bucks have the talent but aren’t getting the results. The team is 0-6 on the road and averaging a dismal 91.6 points, which is 22nd in the league. Skiles players don’t seem to be playing with much energy and passion. That falls on coach Skiles.

The real concern is the teams they’ve been losing to. Charlotte, Utah, Sacramento and Phoenix are all bad losses. Their wins are against the winless Wizards and the Timberwolves.

In other words, the Bucks haven’t played one above-average game yet and are already burning through the easiest part of their schedule. The slate only gets tougher, and you have to wonder if Skiles can survive a second consecutive non-playoff season after shocking the Eastern Conference two seasons ago. 

1. Flip Sanders, Washington Wizards

Coming off a 19-63 record last year, the young Wiz needed to get off to a strong start. A 0-8 start later, and this team has the worst record in the NBA.

John Wall is regressing and the team is full of black holes. Ball hogs litter the roster. Nick Young had eight assists after his first 75 shot attempts. JaVale McGee and Andre Blatche had a combined eight assists on 145 shots.

There is no ball movement and too many players concerned for their own stats before the team.

Add a verbal dispute between Rashard Lewis and assistant Sam Cassell and the pressure is mounting in DC.

Sanders is my best bet to be the next head coach looking for a new gig.