Houston Rockets: 5 Best Candidates For Head Coaching Job

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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Apr 8, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; ESPN broadcaster Mark Jackson watches warmups before the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Phoenix Suns at the American Airlines Center. The Mavericks defeated the Suns 107-104. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Mark Jackson

Say what you want about Mark Jackson and the way he exited his head coaching gig with the Golden State Warriors — no really, go ahead and say what you want, because it’s probably fair game at this point — but the man did accomplish a few major goals there, posting a 98-66 record in his last two seasons for a franchise in desperate need of a culture change.

That’s exactly where the Houston Rockets are right now, even with a superstar in James Harden. This organization desperately needs a head coach who can institute a respectable defense, win over a locker room and unify the players with an “us against the world” kind of mentality.

MJax may not be the long-term solution, but coming off a season in which the Rockets were arguably one of the most depressing playoff teams of all time, beggars can’t be choosers.

The Rockets already have a top-10 offense in place by virtue of Harden and Daryl Morey’s “three-pointer or layup” philosophy. Defense is where Houston desperately needs to improve, and though Jackson often clashed with management in Golden State, getting the Rockets’ star player to buy in on the defensive end is what this franchise needs right now.

Next: No. 2

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