Fansided

Power ranking NBA head coaches: 2015-16 season

By John Buhler

Oct 23, 2015; Manchester, NH, USA; Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens gestures from the sidelines during the second half against the Philadelphia 76ers at Verizon Wireless Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 23, 2015; Manchester, NH, USA; Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens gestures from the sidelines during the second half against the Philadelphia 76ers at Verizon Wireless Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 17, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Houston Rockets assistant coach J.B. Bickerstaff during the game against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center. The Rockets won 115-111 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 17, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Houston Rockets assistant coach J.B. Bickerstaff during the game against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center. The Rockets won 115-111 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports /

30. J.B. Bickerstaff, Houston Rockets

J.B. Bickerstaff enters a difficult situation with the Houston Rockets in mid-November. Rockets general manager Daryl Morey fired former head coach Kevin McHale in mid-November after the Rockets started the season with a 4-7 record.

Houston made it to the Western Conference Finals just last season but have had a rough time defensively in 2015-16, with a team defensive rating of 108.1, 26th in the league.

Bickerstaff, son of former NBA head coach Bernie Bickerstaff, seems to have the players’ endorsement, as well as Morey’s. Since taking over earlier this week, the Rockets have gone 1-2 under Bickerstaff’s direction.

While Houston is absolutely one of the more talented rosters in the NBA, if the club cannot develop a strong defensive identity under J.B. Bickerstaff the Houston Rockets may go from NBA Championship contender to a team missing out on the 2016 Western Conference Playoffs.

Inexperience as a head coach and a challenging situation aren’t exactly in J.B. Bickerstaff’s favor when taking over the Houston Rockets. The 5-9 Houston Rockets need to put together some winning streaks if they want to get back in the Western Conference playoff picture, fortunately for them it’s early in the season.

It’s too early to tell if Bickerstaff can help get them there.

Next: 29. Byron Scott

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