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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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Oct 30, 2015; San Antonio, TX, USA; Brooklyn Nets head coach Lionel Hollins reacts during the second half against the San Antonio Spurs at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 30, 2015; San Antonio, TX, USA; Brooklyn Nets head coach Lionel Hollins reacts during the second half against the San Antonio Spurs at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /

27. Lionel Hollins, Brooklyn Nets

After leading the Memphis Grizzlies to the Western Conference Finals in 2012-13, Lionel Hollins has had to deal with a great deal of adversity. Memphis chose to not keep their head coach, opting to go with Dave Joerger at the start of the 2013-14 NBA season. Hollins took over the Brooklyn Nets last season for Nets legend Jason Kidd, who departed for the Milwaukee Bucks job.

By the time Hollins got to Brooklyn, the title contending possibilities of this highly priced team of aging veterans were already out the window. The front office had already jeopardized the Nets’ future by giving away future first round picks like candy at Halloween. This put Hollins’ hands behind his back from the onset of 2014-15.

Lionel Hollins did lead the sub-.500 Brooklyn Nets to the eight-seed in the 2015 Eastern Conference Playoffs, taking the Atlanta Hawks to six games in the opening round. The problem is Hollins’ inherently cranky nature as a head coach isn’t doing anybody any good with regards to the salary cap purgatory the front office put themselves in.

Brooklyn will inevitably finish with one of the five worst records in the NBA this season, but their Atlantic Division rival in the Boston Celtics own the Nets’ first round pick, stemming from the Kevin Garnett/Paul Pierce signings, neither of which are still with Brooklyn.

Regardless of blame, Lionel Hollins’ Brooklyn Nets have a 2-11 record, are 29th in team offensive rating (99.0), 28th in team defensive rating (108.3), and don’t control their first round pick in the upcoming draft. There isn’t a worse situation in the NBA than in Brooklyn and Lionel Hollins’ frequent frustrations aren’t helping his team play any better.

Next: 26. Alvin Gentry

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