As the NBA season gets closer to December, there are always rumblings about coaches getting fired.
So, who are the coaches on the hot seat early in the NBA season?
Could Doc Rivers be worried in Philadelphia?
That is unlikely because Daryl Morey does not usually make snap decisions.
In addition, the franchise is trying to figure out the Ben Simmons saga.
The San Antonio Spurs began the season 4-11, but will they be getting rid of Gregg Popovich this year?
The answer to that question is a no.
In Minnesota, Chris Finch is coaching his first full season, so will the Timberwolves fire him?
Well, he just got back-to-back victories over the Sacramento Kings and Spurs.
Also, the 6-9 start does not put him in the hot seat just yet.
There are also a couple of first-year coaches who are at the bottom of the standings.
Jamahl Mosley and his Orlando Magic are an Eastern Conference-worst 4-11.
Willie Green‘s New Orleans Pelicans are an abominable 2-14.
Neither of them is on the hot seat though because the two franchises will most likely give the coaches a longer leash.
Here are the three surprising head coaches on the hot seat:
3. Luke Walton, Sacramento Kings
Well, this is familiar territory.
Luke Walton has yet to get the Kings above 31 wins in back-to-back 72-game seasons.
Can he do so this season?
He was seemingly worried about the hot seat earlier this week, as he got his Kings to destroy the lowly Detroit Pistons.
Luke Walton heard his job was on the line and decided to get serious pic.twitter.com/Zhh0LOsOkZ
— 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒆 🌩 (@Three_Cone) November 16, 2021
They jumped out to that 26-point lead and finished with a 22-point win.
Unfortunately, two days later, the Kings lost for the fifth time in their last six games.
They lost by 10 points in Minnesota to close out the road trip with a 1-3 record.
The Kings are falling fast.
Will Harrison Barnes, De’Aaron Fox, and Buddy Hield be able to string together some wins?
They have not shown the ability to consistently play winning basketball, so it may be tough to save Walton’s job.
2. Dwane Casey, Detroit Pistons
The Pistons began the season 1-8, but have won three of their last five games.
However, it is going to take more than just a few wins to get Dwane Casey out of the hot seat.
The team has the 28th-best offensive rating in the league.
Detroit ranks dead last in the NBA in offensive and defensive effective field goal percentage.
If this team cannot score, then Casey and the Pistons will not be able to get in the win column often.
Therefore, this could be Casey’s fourth and final season in Detroit.
1. Stephen Silas, Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets were not expected to do much this season, but it was unexpected to see 13 losses in a row.
Stephen Silas was not expected to be on the hot seat this early in the season.
Therefore, he has to be at the top of this list.
It is not his fault that John Wall is not playing, but a change of coaching may be needed:
The Rockets are 1-14.
On pace to finish the season 5-77, which will by far be the worst single-season record of all time.
They are currently playing without a point guard and are paying John Wall $44 million to not play this season. pic.twitter.com/OpxCcZrmwz
— StatMuse (@statmuse) November 18, 2021
On the bright side, the Rockets have a great rookie with Jalen Green.
He is second on the team in scoring with 14.4 points per game (Christian Wood: 16.1).
Houston has done well in terms of getting to the free throw line.
Green leads the team with 39 free throw makes, with fellow rookie Alperen Şengün just three behind.
The second overall pick does have the 19th-most turnovers in the NBA this season, but he likes to show off the history of the Rockets.
Jalen Green paid homage to a Houston legend with his Yao Ming T-Shirt 🙌 @brkicks pic.twitter.com/TdljCMAZpw
— NBA TV (@NBATV) November 11, 2021
If Green can have anywhere as close to the impact that Yao Ming had, then Rockets fans will be very excited.
Silas may not be around to see his development though.
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