Fansided

5 NBA coaches on the hot seat

By Seth Partnow

May 29, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Scott Brooks speaks to the media after the loss to the San Antonio Spurs in game five of the Western Conference Finals of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center. San Antonio won 117-89. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
May 29, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Scott Brooks speaks to the media after the loss to the San Antonio Spurs in game five of the Western Conference Finals of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center. San Antonio won 117-89. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 15, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards head coach Randy Wittman reacts on the bench against the Indiana Pacers in the fourth quarter in game six of the second round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Verizon Center. The Pacers won 93-80, and won the series 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
May 15, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards head coach Randy Wittman reacts on the bench against the Indiana Pacers in the fourth quarter in game six of the second round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Verizon Center. The Pacers won 93-80, and won the series 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

RANDY WITTMAN

Though he got a “vote of confidence” from management with a three-year contact extension in the offseason, Randy Wittman shouldn’t rest easy. After surprising the Bulls in their 2014 playoff opener and having one of the very best offseasons in the NBA, big big things are expected in D.C. A lot can go wrong to disrupt the teams’ continued ascent.  Paul Pierce my struggle to settle into his new role of corner spot-up shooter, while not being able to replicate any of Trevor Ariza’s defense. Nene might get hurt. Marcin Gortat might not live up to his new contract.

More pertinent from Wittman’s perspective is if the Wizards’ offense continues to produce the long two-point jumpers which plagued John Wall and Bradley Beal last season. While some of that issue is on the players themselves and their shot selection, it’s Wittman’s job as a coach to either instruct them away from those shots or to design sets which don’t put them in positions where those shots seem wise and available. Unfortunately, the general reporting from the Wiz camp last year was Wittman liked those shots as examples of “taking what the defense gives.”

Further, expectations might be a little too high. The win over the Bulls wasn’t exactly a fluke, but the circumstances and match up were, with Chicago limping into the series after slogging through a season largely bereft of Derrick Rose. Making the second round in last season’s historically week East might prove to have not been much of an accomplishment. Though his long-term deal would make firing him painful for the Wizards, a return to the bad old days could see Wittman on his way out.

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