Le Basketbawl

As you are most likely aware by now the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday became the fifth NBA team to terminate their head coach since the start of the season. Maurice Cheeks, joins P.J. Carlesimo, Eddie Jordan, Randy Wittman, and Sam Mitchell as former NBA bench bosses. Has the blood letting stopped, or will there still be further victims in the coming days and weeks?

There are of course 30 franchises in the Association, eliminating the five teams that have already fired their coaches brings the total down to 25. There are currently, 4 untouchable coaches in the NBA, Greg Popovich in San Antonio, Jerry Sloan in Utah, Doc Rivers in Boston, and Phil Jackson with the Lakers. Cases could easily be made for including Mike Brown from Cleveland, and last season’s NBA Coach of The Year Byron Scott in New Orleans which reduces the total to 19.

Eight teams started this campaign with new coaches; Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Miami, Milwaukee, New York, and Phoenix, which brings the number of possible positions in play down to 11. It is pretty safe to assume that we can take the following teams from the list due to their records so far, Atlanta,  Denver, Houston, Orlando, and Portland, which brings us down to six teams. The teams that remain are Indiana, the L.A. Clippers, Golden State, Memphis, New Jersey, and Sacramento. Will all six of these coaches make it until the end of the season, or will they also join their former peers in the unemployment line? 

Indiana Pacers- Coach Jim O’Brien: Most likely will survive the season. Pacers Team President Larry Bird is not a man who is known for making rash decisions. The Pacers are a team in transition right now, as they try to work in new players acquired by trade or the draft. Bird knows that this campaign will have its peaks and valleys.

Golden State Warriors-Coach Don Nelson: Monta, Monta, Monta! The player that the Warriors had designated as the heir to Baron Davis took the planet’s most expensive moped ride during the Summer. The results were Monta Ellis being laid up at least another month, and causing a riff in the organization. Team ownership imposed a fine on Ellis over the objections of General Manager Chris Mullin and Nelson. What effect if any it has on their relationship is unknown. Nelson was talked into returning to the bench after last season and is most likely safe.

Memphis Grizzlies-Coach Marc Iavoroni: His days could easily be numbered in Memphis. There were reports right after the regular season ended that Iavoroni would be fired after his rookie year. He survived and is on the bench but Memphis at 8-15 should be playing better. Chris Wallace got the Grizzlies some players during the Summer, but the results have not shown up on the court.

Los Angeles Clippers-Coach Mike Dunleavy: With long time fixture General Manager Elgin Baylor gone and Dunleavy assuming most if not  all of his duties, one would think that the Clippers coach is entrenched. Not necessarily, when you are dealing with Donald Sterling, one of the most volatile owners in the Association. Los Angeles at 5-17 is playing without focus, Dunleavy should not assume anything.

New Jersey Nets-Coach Lawrence Frank: Almost assuredly will survive the season. Nets Team President Rod Thorn has given his coach a hodge-podge project to work with. If New Jersey ends up over .500 Frank could get an extension.

Sacramento Kings-Reggie Theus: Should survive the season, if only because of the Maloof brothers caving in to Tru-Warrior. When Joe and Gavin Maloof, allowed Ron Artest to go to Houston in the fire sale  that happened during the Summer, the franchise lost any hopes of contending this season. Theus deserves a Mulligan for the campaign.