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NBA Coaches Hot Seat Watch: 5 coaches at risk of being fired

By Josh Cornelissen

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 08: Head coach Frank Vogel of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on October 08, 2021 in San Francisco, 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 Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 08: Head coach Frank Vogel of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on October 08, 2021 in San Francisco, 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 Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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NBA Coaches
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 09: Head coach Stephen Silas of the Houston Rockets reacts to a play during the third quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on April 09, 2021 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 Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) /

NBA Coaches Seat Index: Stephen Silas, Houston Rockets

2021-22 Record: 7-16

Record with franchise: 24-71 (25.3 percent) over two seasons

Stephen Silas was dealt an absolutely nasty hand by the Houston Rockets when he was hired prior to the 2020-21 NBA season. James Harden publicly ignored league COVID protocols, partied his way through training camp, and showed up just in time to sleepwalk through Houston’s first few games.

When he was traded, the front office elected not to give Silas many useful players back; Houston got an injured Victor Oladipo and Dante Exum, while Jarrett Allen, Caris LeVert, and even Taurean Prince suited up elsewhere.

From then on, he was at the helm of a tanking team, and Houston plummeted to the bottom of the standings and didn’t let up, finishing with the league’s worst record and winning the No. 2 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.

Four first-round picks meant a lot of young talent to try and develop. At the same time, however, the front office didn’t figure any solutions out with their veteran players like John Wall and Eric Gordon, and they even signed another veteran big man in Daniel Theis.

This front office has no idea how they want to handle this rebuild, and that has stuck Silas in the lurch. Is he supposed to be showcasing veterans for potential trades? Is he supposed to give these first and second-year players as many minutes as they can handle? Is he allowed to try and win games?

Silas’ seat was scorching-hot until two weeks ago, when Jalen Green went out with an injury and the Rockets immediately got a boost. They have now won six-straight games, an incredible reality given that they lost 15-straight immediately prior. The win streak is mostly over their fellow bottom-feeders, but it has probably saved Silas’ job for the time being.

When Silas was hired he thought he was going to lead a team contending around James Harden, and now he is forced to jam together parts that don’t work with one another. He hasn’t done anything much with those parts, but it’s a tough situation for him to be in.

He has to prove over the course of the season that he has something to offer when this team is one day good again; if not the Rockets will move on.

Seat Index: 7.8 (sitting directly on the space heater)