Hoops Habit
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NBA: 5 coaches on the hot seat heading into 2019-20

By Jordan Foote

OAKLAND, CA - DECEMBER 1: View of the game ball and This is Why We Play logo before the game between the Golden State Warriors and the Houston Rockets on December 1, 2016 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - DECEMBER 1: View of the game ball and This is Why We Play logo before the game between the Golden State Warriors and the Houston Rockets on December 1, 2016 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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5. Brett Brown

Brett Brown is the epitome of the Philadelphia 76ers’ former “The Process” mantra. Going from winning a combined 47 games between the 2013-2015 seasons to posting back-to-back 50-win seasons in 2017 and 2018, it’s been one heck of a ride for the head coach entering his seventh campaign with the team.

Losing in the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs two seasons ago, the youthful 76ers were expected to be right back in that same spot a year later. They were, except the ending was even more painful this time around:

If not for one of the most impressive shots in NBA history, Philadelphia could have advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since the 2000-01 season. At the end of the day, neither Brett Brown nor his players could have done too much differently to stop that ball from finding the bottom of the net. It’s simply a part of the sport.

On the other hand, though, some were speculating that Brown’s seat was quite hot before the team advanced as far as it did in the playoffs. Losing to the eventual NBA champions isn’t the end of the world but for a team that had championship aspirations and expectations last season, it’s not acceptable.

With Jimmy Butler now in Miami in exchange for up-and-coming wing Josh Richardson, the newly-signed Al Horford anchoring the middle of the floor alongside Joel Embiid and the re-upped Tobias Harris, it’s championship-or-bust in Philly (again). Brown has been there for the organization every step of the way but if the final product is a third-straight second-round exit, perhaps those rumblings could resurface.