Houston Rockets: Top 5 Candidates to Replace Kevin McHale

April 18, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; ESPN broadcaster Mark Jackson (left), broadcaster Jeff Van Gundy (center), and broadcaster Mike Breen (right) talk before game one of the first round of the NBA Playoffs between the Golden State Warriors and the New Orleans Pelicans at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

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May 14, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard (12) celebrates with assistant coach J.B. Bickerstaff the 119-107 victory against the Los Angeles Clippers during the second half in game six of the second round of the NBA Playoffs. at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

5. J.B. Bickerstaff

With Kevin McHale out of the picture, the Houston Rockets will turn to J.B. Bickerstaff as the interim head coach. That’s a tall task with an undetermined shelf life, which increases the pressure exponentially.

If Bickerstaff can right the ship during his interim tenure, there’s no reason to believe he shouldn’t hold onto the job.

Bickerstaff has been an assistant on Houston’s coaching staff since 2011. He previously spent time as an assistant from 2004 to 2007 with the Charlotte Bobcats and 2007 to 2011 with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

He’s very young for a coach, but experience isn’t an issue for the 36-year-old.

Bickerstaff already has a rapport with the players having been there for as long as he has. He knows what worked for Kevin McHale in 2014-15 and is being trusted to restore the team’s identity a season later.

Bickerstaff isn’t the top candidate, but he could blow the other four out of the discussion by shining under his interim tag.

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