Hot Around the Collar: Several NBA Head Coaches Already on the Hot Seat

Since I just finished writing my annual column ranking the NBA's head coaches, I figured now was as good a time as any to take a sneak peek at the coaches that are already on the hot seat before the 2006-07 season get underway.

Some could possibly make it through the entire season and some may not, but one thing's for sure, at least a couple of these guys won't be back for the 2007-08 season.

Doc Rivers: Boston Celtics
If the Celtics don't make the playoffs this year, Rivers will undoubtedly be made the scapegoat for the Celtics failures. However, I am going on record right now to say that Boston GM, Danny Ainge should be headed out the door right beside Rivers if the Celtics fail to make the playoffs. The Celtics, should have enough talent to make the playoffs, especially in the weak Atlantic division, but if either think that starting Sebastian Telfair over Delonte West at point guard is the answer, they had better think again.

Eddie Jordan: Washington Wizards
I don't care if Jordan did recently sign a new three-year contract extension - if he doesn't get the Wizards to play some semblance of defense, then I think GM Ernie Grunfeld will pull the trigger in favor of another coach who can get the offensively talented Wizards to play some defense. Besides, it's not like this is a new problem for the Wizards. This team has had the exact same problem the last two years - one that Jordan should have dedicated himself to fixing before the 2005-06 season ever began.

Isiah Thomas: New York Knicks
Knicks owner James Dolan has already shown that he is totally clueless by giving Hall of Fame coach Larry Brown $50 million over five years to fix the mess that the Knicks have become and unceremoniously firing him after just one season. If Dolan or Thomas, for that matter, had half a brain between the two of them, they would have immediately found a way to ship head case supreme Stephon Marbury out of New York instead of bringing in more head cases like Steve "Franchise Killer" Francis. At any rate, it the Knicks don't win at least half of their games (they won't) Thomas should be gone too.

Sam Mitchell: Toronto Raptors
I really like Sam Mitchell, but he is going to be on a short leash this season, especially since the Raptors have a new general manager in Bryan Colangelo, who knows exactly what it takes to build a winning franchise. As a matter of fact, I'm going to say that it is not a matter of if, but when, Mitchell will be let go. Every basketball insider already knows Colangelo is set to hire Suns assistant Marc Iavaroni as his next head coach.

Jeff Van Gundy: Houston Rockets
The Rockets have underachieved for Van Gundy almost since his arrival a couple of seasons ago and have set up the former coach of the Knicks for an unceremonious departure should they once again fail to qualify for the postseason. I'm just speculating here, but wouldn't it be funny if both Thomas and Van Gundy were fired and Van Gundy ended up in New York again?