Hoops Habit
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5 NBA head coaches on the hot seat as the playoffs approach

By Daniel Lubofsky

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 11: Luke Walton of the Los Angeles Lakers and Alvin Gentry of the New Orleans Pelicans greet each other before the start of a basketball game at Staples Center April 11, 2017, in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 11: Luke Walton of the Los Angeles Lakers and Alvin Gentry of the New Orleans Pelicans greet each other before the start of a basketball game at Staples Center April 11, 2017, in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
(Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /

2. Terry Stotts

Since taking over as the head coach prior to the 2012-13 season, Terry Stotts has done a fantastic job at maintaining the status quo for the Portland Trail Blazers, with five consecutive postseason appearances and a sixth just on the horizon. Unfortunately, it’s what the Blazers haven’t done in the trips to the playoffs that have their beloved head coach on the hot seat.

In those five appearances, Portland has as many second round appearances as it does first round sweeps, including last season’s disheartening loss to the Pelicans as the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference.

It’s always a nice accomplishment to make the playoffs, but after a certain number of years, expectations change. Suddenly, it’s not good enough to just make it. Ownership and the front office want to go higher than ever before, and if that isn’t possible, they make shake things up just to rid themselves of the stale mediocrity they’ve grown accustomed to.

Unfortunately for the Blazers, there’s a very high chance they face the same fate for a third consecutive season in the loaded Western Conference, which would likely resurface all the lingering questions surrounding this talented but flawed group of players.

Many believed last year’s failure of a season would lead to drastic changes. It didn’t, but if Portland suffers another first round demise, it will be hard for the team to justify running it back again without at least a single new face to foster a new sense of hope, and when it comes to making those types moves, it’s usually the head coach who goes first.