It’s the most wonderful time of the year with the holiday season upon us but it also means the first couple of months of the NBA season are in the books and that is a big enough sample size to assess which teams have overachieved and which have underachieved based on expectations. Those that have underachieved will continue to make adjustments and it won’t be a major surprise if at least one head coaching change is made somewhere around the association. Here is a look at the five NBA head coaches on the hot seat heading in to the Holiday season.
George Karl, Sacramento Kings
It seems as though Karl has been on the hot seat since he arrived in Sacramento and when you consider the dysfunction that has engulfed the organization over the past couple of years, it only makes sense that he will remain on the hot seat following a 9-15 start. Regardless of the level of talent on the roster, the Kings’ ownership feels this team should be good enough to compete for a playoff spot so it’s only a matter of time before they start to point fingers when it comes to why this team isn’t living up to their expectations. Karl doesn’t need a miraculous turnaround to ease the pressure but he does need to change the trajectory of the team. If he can show that he’s turning things around, he’ll keep his post for the foreseeable future.
Dave Joerger, Memphis Grizzlies
One team that should be able to contend in the Western Conference again this season is Memphis, which is coming off three straight 50-win seasons but is off to a slow start at 14-12. Joerger has done a tremendous job with the Grizzlies over the past couple of years but there has been some talk about Memphis potentially being interested in former Chicago Bulls’ head coach Tom Thibodeau and if the Grizzlies decide they have to shake things up then it could be Joerger that takes the fall for the team’s slow start.
Lionel Hollins, Brooklyn Nets
Brooklyn has followed up a 1-9 start with a 6-8 run but the Philadelphia 76ers are the only Eastern Conference team with fewer wins than the Nets right now so it’s pretty obvious that Hollins is on the hot seat with 2016 approaching quickly. Brooklyn isn’t as talented as it was even a year ago and General Manager Billy King has said that no one person specifically is responsible for Brooklyn’s slow start but with several intriguing options available on the head coach free agent market it wouldn’t shock anybody if the Nets decided to make a move.
Randy Wittman, Washington Wizards
Some will choose to blame the Wizards’ struggles on a combination of injuries and a slow start to the season but Washington is 10-13 and sits at the bottom of the Southeast division right now so there is every reason to believe Wittman’s job is in jeopardy. Wittman has had his name circled as a coach on the hot seat in each of the last two seasons and any good last year’s playoff series win over the Toronto Raptors did for him will be wiped out if the Wizards don’t turn things around soon.
Byron Scott, Los Angeles Lakers
It seems the combination of the Kobe Bryant farewell tour and the Lakers actually wanting to tank could keep Scott’s job safe for the remainder of the season but there is no doubt that he should be on the hot seat right now. Los Angeles has just three wins through its first 24 games while D’Angelo Russell and Julius Randle have spent most of the season watching from the bench so while the Lakers want to make sure they finish in the bottom-five in order to keep their protected first round pick it’s clear that Scott’s long-term future with the club should be in question right now.
