The crazy carousel that is coaching in the National Basketball Association (NBA) never fails to amaze. Once again, following the completion of the 2013 NBA season, the world of head coaching began it's continental shift. Coaches are being fired, hired, and retired. One leader (Doc Rivers) even got traded (essentially).The Los Angeles Clippers, an organization that just fired the coach who brought them their most successful season in franchise history, gave up a 2015 first-round draft pick in order to get Boston to release their coach and rejuvenate his career with a plane ticket to lob city. Apparently, flipping a franchise (that started from the bottom *cue Drake*) in a 180 degree turn for the better was not enough for former Clipper lead man Vinny Del Negro. This, my fellow basketball fans, is why there is no occupation with worse job security than that of an NBA head coach. After one firing and one hiring, Clipper fans don't even know if they have a coach. The Doc Rivers deal was on, and then off, and then on, and then off. Then it was official. Then the language in the contract had to be sorted out. I guess we'll never truly know when it's safe to say Doc runs the show in L.A. When the is ball tossed up for the opening tip to commence the Clippers 2013-2014 regular season, perhaps he will be safe. Or perhaps not. Coaches get fired all the time mid-way through the season.
Avery Johnson of the Nets, Scott Skiles of the Bucks, and Alvin Gentry of the Suns all got fired mid-season. Their respective replacements, P.J. Carlesimo, Jim Boylan, and Lindsey Hunter all too are being let go. On top of that, 13 teams have made NBA coaching changes this season. In a league consisting of 30 teams, that means nearly half of the organizations will be experiencing a change in culture. Second to only Greg Popovich, baby-faced Erik Spoelstra, who has spent five seasons at the helm in Miami, is the second longest tenured coach in basketball's most prominent league. And it seems like he just got the job. So why all the changes? Why do so many coaches keep losing their jobs?
It appears each franchise is no longer satisfied with home runs. They want grand slams. Each team wants the biggest name and the most recognized face to be in charge. This is the reason the Detroit Pistons fired Rick Carlisle back in 2003 before they won their championship under Carlisle's replacement, the legendary NBA and NCAA champion Larry Brown. This might also be the reason Cleveland fired Mike Brown (who is now back with the Cavaliers) in 2010 after he won NBA Coach of the Year following his team's 66-win season. Similarly, the Nuggets might have been thinking the same thing when they just recently let go of this year's NBA Coach of the Year and proven winner, George Karl. Or perhaps not, since the Nuggets did not end up with a man with a proven tract record. Instead, they got Brian Shaw, who seems like he's been a head coaching candidate (but was never offered a job) for the past eight to ten years now. I thought the Grizzlies and Nets would at least bring in a bigger name. The Grizzlies fired Lionel Hollins, who also had his team finish with their best win-loss record in franchise history. He was replaced by someone under him. Yes, an assistant. His own assistant. An assistant I have never heard of. Dave Joerger is the name. I wonder how many months he'll last as coach. Like I previously stated, the Nets got rid of their interim coach. Not for Stan or Jeff Van Gundy. But for Jason Kidd. Yes, the same man who was just playing point guard in this season's playoffs and has zero coaching experience. Don't get me wrong, I believe Kidd to be one of the all-time greats and anticipate him thriving as a coach down the line, but not immediately. I don't see him as a grand slam head coach. What I find most fascinating about all of this is that the two most successful franchises in NBA history are getting the raw end of all the chaos.
The Lakers, after firing Brown, appeared to be in prime position to hire Phil Jackson, the Zen Master who doesn't even have enough fingers for all his Championship rings. Instead, they made one of the worst decisions in franchise history and hired Mike D'Antoni, a man who preaches a style completely opposite to what the Lakers need to be playing. D'Antoni inherited an old, injured team, and expected them to run, gun, and play little defense. Even Phil was surprised when he didn't get another shot at incorporating the triangle offense back into Lakerland. As for the purple and gold's greatest rival, the Celtics find themselves coachless. The franchise with more NBA titles than any other doesn't even have a coach. This, to me, sums up how overwhelming the world of coaching can be.
If there is one thing to learn from all of this madness, it's that it is madness. The NBA coaching world is a transient job for most. Coaches are shipped from team to team, year after year, regardless of if they win or not. There is little to no job security (except for Greg Popovich). In fact, I wouldn't be surprised to see Coach Spoelstra get fired following the Heat's Championship. Now that might be a stretch but the fact of the matter is that coaching in the NBA is a thankless job. Since the Heat won, Lebron is the man. But if the Heat would have lost, Spoelstra would have been crucified for not being able to win with a team full of superstars. Neverthless, for the time being, he is safe. Most coaches in the NBA, however, are not. The market for NBA coaches is ever-changing and ever-busy. The next change will probably be made within hours of me writing this.
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