Last season, we saw several NBA coaches get fired by the end of the year. The Memphis Grizzlies and the Denver Nuggets fired their coaches right before the playoffs. This season, things might be different.<\/p>\n
In the NBA, a coach\u2019s reputation can change overnight. Mike Brown won Coach of the Year in Sacramento, and the team still let him go. Pressure comes with the job, and for some coaches, that pressure begins from day one. Let\u2019s take a look at some coaches who might get fired even before Christmas.<\/p>\n
One might say that the Kings need stability and continuity from their coach. Yet, in Sacramento, coaches do not last as long. The last coach who was there for more than three seasons was Rick Adelman. The Kings haven’t reached a similar mark in 20 years.<\/p>\n
Doug Christie will have his hands full<\/a>. The Kings look like one of the messiest rosters in the league. They have plenty of guards who need the ball in their hands, and they added Russell Westbrook<\/a> to the mix. At the same time, they do not have versatile big men or defenders, and their shooting and spacing are scarce.<\/p>\n Management might expect the Kings to compete for a playoff spot. Those are the expectations when you are close to paying the luxury tax. The biggest challenge is finding a rotation that can work around Westbrook. Playing him with Zach LaVine<\/a> and DeMar DeRozan<\/a> means almost no spacing. If they come out of the gate and lose several games, Christie might be out. He was 27-24 last season, but can he keep the winning percentage?<\/p>\n The New Orleans Pelicans traded a juicy Milwaukee Bucks pick swap to draft Derik Queen<\/a>. That trade might haunt them, even if Queen turns out to be a great player<\/a>. But right now, the Pelicans are in the same spot as the Kings. They have an expensive roster, with pieces that do not fit as much. And they’ve already started losing players due to injuries, with Kevon Looney<\/a> expected to miss time with a ligament sprain in his knee.<\/p>\n Their center rotation will suffer, and the team wants to win. Zion Williamson<\/a> looks to be in great shape, but will he be healthy? The Pelicans are close to the luxury tax, and that means competing for a playoff spot at least. Last season, they were among the worst teams in the league. If that trend continues early on, Willie Green might be out the door.<\/p>\n Nick Nurse was hired by the Philadelphia 76ers to deliver a championship. This will be his third season, but he may have to answer more questions about injuries than competing. Last summer, the Sixers were deemed the winners of the offseason, but due to injuries, they finished with one of the worst records in the league.<\/p>\n Nurse has to find a way to maximize his three stars, Joel Embiid<\/a>, Paul George<\/a>, and Tyrese Maxey<\/a>, all while keeping them fresh for the playoffs. That is a tough task. With George already scheduled to miss time<\/a>, Nurse will have to find a way to rack up some wins. Philly cannot start the season slowly, even in the Eastern Conference.<\/p>\n The Milwaukee Bucks might be the franchise with the most to lose this season. The Eastern Conference is wide open, and they have a top-three player on their roster. At the same time, rumors<\/a> over Giannis Antetokounmpo<\/a>‘s future are heating up.<\/p>\n Doc Rivers is a championship coach, but he hasn\u2019t made the Finals since 2010 with the Boston Celtics. The Bucks do not have many more rabbits to pull out of the hat. They made their big move this summer by waiving and stretching Damian Lillard<\/a> and then signing Myles Turner<\/a>. Now, it is all up to Rivers to figure out a way to win games, and do it fast. Last season, he survived a 2-8 start. The Bucks might not be so patient this year.<\/p>\nWillie Green \u2013 New Orleans Pelicans<\/h3>\n
Nick Nurse \u2013 Philadelphia 76ers<\/h3>\n
Doc Rivers \u2013 Milwaukee Bucks<\/h3>\n
Darko Rajakovic \u2013 Toronto Raptors<\/h3>\n