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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
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – NOVEMBER 21: Head coach Tom Thibodeau of the New York Knicks reacts in the first half against the Chicago Bulls at United Center on November 21, 2021 in Chicago, Illinois, NBA Coaches. 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 Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /

NBA Coaches Seat Index: Tom Thibodeau, New York Knicks

2021-22 Record: 11-12

Record with franchise: 52-43 (54.7 percent) over two seasons

Tom Thibodeau? Why is he on this list? He has won 54.7 percent of his games over the past two seasons, leading the New York Knicks to their first playoff berth in years. The Knicks had a top-five defense last season, have a deep roster, and multiple young players continuing to grow. What gives?

First is the reality that the Knicks job has some of the most pressure in all of professional sports, from the gigantic platform to jaded fans to an owner in James Dolan who likes to step in and make his voice heard. Any Knicks coach, no matter their success, has their seat kept warm for them at all times.

Thibodeau stepped in and saw immediate success, but the underlying numbers always suggested the Knicks were playing over their heads. This season, the increased talent from signing Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier was supposed to offset regression; Fournier’s play this season has been an up-and-down roller coaster, and a somewhat desperate Thibodeau just removed Walker from the rotation entirely.

The other problem is that the Knicks are currently in 11th place, and there’s no team ahead of them obviously worse to overtake simply to make the play-in tournament. The Toronto Raptors and Indiana Pacers both lurk below them and have better point differentials. New York has fallen to an abysmal 22nd in defensive rating. If the Knicks don’t even make the play-in, things will get toasty.

Thibodeau is known for a message that wears thin after some time, and if ownership gets antsy about that happening already, it could get trigger happy and move Thibs on his way. That seems unlikely… but it’s not impossible, and the worse the Knicks play the hotter the seat gets.

Seat Index: 7.2 (metal bleachers in the summer)

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Prediction: Stephen Silas has seemed to right the ship to a certain extent, which may have saved his job. Add in how cheap the Rockets organization is, and he may escape a midseason firing. That leads us to Frank Vogel — the Lakers roster isn’t getting better, and LeBron has triggered an in-season coaching change before. Old LeBron buddy David Fizdale is on the Lakers staff as a replacement. This front office certainly isn’t going to admit they’re the ones who destroyed the roster with the Russell Westbrook trade. Frank Vogel.