End of Season Thoughts Part I: Coaches

The NBA regular season came to a close today and there are many items to discuss as we move into the playoffs and the upcoming feeding frenzy that will be this off season. We'll have a look at the end of season notes in four parts:

1. The coaches
2. Playoff predictions
3. End of season awards
4. The 2009 Draft in retrospect.

THE COACHES

The beginning of the off season is a trying time for coaches of teams who haven't met expectations. One coach (Eddie Jordan) has already been let go. Heck, Avery Johnson was fired by the Mavs a couple of years ago on the plane home from the last game. Head coaches have a tough job in a league that expects immediate success. With that in mind, a look at all 30 head coaches, including those who have nothing to fear and those who may be out by the time I finish this column.

DEFINITELY GONE

1. Eddie Jordan, 76ers - Obviously this has already happened but he would have been number one anyway.
2. Kiki Vandeweighe, Nets - Had no business being named the coach in the first place.
3. Jeff Bower, Hornets - See above.
4. Kim Hughes, Clippers - Didn't really stand a chance in the first place.
5. Jay Triano, Raptors - Toronto falling out of the playoffs officially sealed his fate.

MIGHT GET ANOTHER SHOT
6. Flip Saunders, Wizards - I think Saunders is a fine coach who was put in a terrible situation and didn't click with his players. Not sure he wouldn't prefer to take the ax and start over somewhere else.
7. Jim O'brien, Pacers - For some reason he's gotten the vote of confidence from his front office. O'brien is, in my mind, the unquestionable worst coach in the NBA.
8. John Kuester, Pistons - Like O'brien, he's been given the vote despite limited success.
9. Vinny Del Negro, Bulls - If O'brien is the worst coach in the league, Del Negro is the second worst. The confrontation with GM Jim Paxson likely spells the end for one of them, but the players seem to like Vinny and he got them into the playoffs. If they make a little noise, it would be hard to fire him.

MID-SEASON TARGETS

10. Erik Spolestra, Heat - The Heat are rolling into the playoffs but after they lose in the first round, there will be pressure to win next year. With or without Wade, Spolestra will be on the block next year.
11. Paul Westphal, Kings - One of the least talented teams in the league with little fan support, the dysfunction will get to Westphal eventually.
12. Kurt Rambis, Wolves - If the Wolves mesh early, he's golden. If they struggle, he's gone.
13. Don Nelson, Warriors - It's not a question of, "will this end ugly" but, "when will it end ugly?"

14. Mik D'antoni, Knicks - The wildcard. If the Knicks can't land a legit free agent or two this off season, D'antoni and his broken system are gone by January.

PROBABLY SAFE FOR NOW

15. Alvin Gentry, Suns - The Amare Stoudemire situation will have serious impact on Gentry's status next year. He's not a good coach, but he's well liked and he employs a good system.

16. Stan Van Gundy, Magic - Eventually, either he'll wear himself out or he'll wear out his players. If the Magic gets bounced early in the playoffs, Van Gundy will take a lot of heat.

17. Doc Rivers, Celtics - The whole Celtic infrastructure is shaky. I think they've got one good run in them but that could collapse quickly.

SAFE THROUGH NEXT SEASON, BARRING A HUGE COLLAPSE

18. Rick Carlisle, Mavericks - The Butler/Haywood trade may have done more for Carlisle than anyone else.

19. Lionel Hollins, Grizzlies - Everyone loves him there but the expectations were exceedingly low.

20. Mike Woodson, Hawks - It still shocks me that he's made it as long as he has but he's done a great job.
21. Mike Brown, Cavs - This all depends on Lebron. If he goes elsewhere this off season, Brown might not see 2011. If he does come back, though, Brown is safe until Lebron is done with him.
22. Rick Adelman, Rockets - Coached the heck out of a less than talented team without his best player.
23. Scott Skiles, Bucks - Doesn't quite hit the untouchable category because he's hard to play for longterm and the expectations this year were very low. Fans will grumble next year if the Bucks don't come out hot.
24. Nate McMillan, Blazers - I think this is his last year of getting a pass. Last year it was youth, this year injuries. If the Blazers aren't a Top-3-in-the-West team next year, he might be on the hot seat.

UNTOUCHABLE

25. Larry Brown, Bobcats - He'll stay in Charlotte as long as he wants to. Meaning he may already be gone.

26. George Karl, Nuggets - I've never thought Karl was that good of a coach but the Nuggets have fallen apart without him on the bench. If he's healthy enough to coach, he's earned himself another year or two.
27. Scott Brooks, Thunder - Likely the Coach of the Year and his players would kill for him.
28. Gregg Popovich, Spurs - Even in a down year, Pops has done more for the Spur franchise than anyone else, ever, except Tim Duncan. At some point, when the Spurs go into rebuilding, his welcome will wear out but he'll step down before then.
29. Jerry Sloan, Jazz - Will be allowed to stay as long as he wants.
30. Phil Jackson, Lakers - Like Pops and Sloan, Jackson will be allowed to stay as long as he wants to.

Tomorrow: Playoff Predictions