Coaches on the hot seat.

[KB21]

Hey, guys. It's been a while.

http://www.sportingnews.com/voices/sean_de...y/20021025.html

1. Lowe. He's done a good job working with the team's young players,

but the Grizzlies have not won thus far. Lowe is a great teacher, and

he is hoping that his ability to tutor young players outweighs the lack of

immediate results. West, however, might look to install his own coach

when the opportunity arises.

2. Lon Kruger, Hawks. Atlanta has been held back by injuries, and

has gone just 58-106 under Kruger. The Hawks have played well at

times, but have failed to be consistent. Atlanta made a major move by

acquiring Glenn Robinson, and the team is expecting to be in the

postseason -- it has even offered a partial refund to seasons ticket

holders if the Hawks come up short in their playoff drive.

Problem is, Kruger will have to get some disparate pieces to fit

together quickly. He has to hope Robinson fits in well, Theo Ratliff can

stay healthy and Jason Terry can handle the point. If the Hawks fail to

earn a playoff berth, it won't be Kruger's fault, but he could be the fall

guy.

3. Don Chaney, Knicks. Chaney's tenure with the Knicks has been

cursed. The ever-cautious Knicks gave Chaney a one-year contract

extension for this season, partly because there is no other coach willing

to take over this mess.

When Chaney's contract is up, he would be wise to simply walk away

and let someone else deal with the headache. The team finished the

season 20-43 with Chaney last year, and already this season, the

Knicks are dealing with injuries to Latrell Sprewell and Antonio

McDyess, not to mention the mess that has come with Sprewell's

off-court problems. This came after the team failed to get the type of

players that can play Chaney's up-tempo style.

So, you've got obvious on-court deficiency combined with major

off-court problems. Who needs that?

4. Lenny Wilkens, Raptors. Wilkens is entering the third year of a

four-year deal, and the Raptors would be hesitant to cut him in the

middle of the contract -- especially considering the coaching fiascoes

the team endured before Wilkens. Remember, it was Wilkens who

brought legitimacy to the franchise. But Wilkens, who preaches

defense first, has not been able to get his team to play with

consistency.

As the Raptors halfheartedly trudged through a large part of the

2001-02 season, Wilkens was criticized for being too lenient on his

players. This year's team has less talent and depth than last year's, but

with Vince Carter returning, expectations are high.

5. Isiah Thomas, Pacers. Like Wilkens, Thomas is in the middle of a

contract, which means he is not likely to get fired. But, certainly, there

is pressure on Thomas. He got Jalen Rose traded last winter, and

wound up with the kind of defense-minded players he likes. He added

a new, varied offense this summer and has a deep rotation.

Of course, Thomas has not done much as a coach thus far in two

seasons at the helm in Indiana -- he has bagged two eighth-seed

playoff appearances with a roster that has far more than the

eighth-best talent in the East. Thomas has pretty good excuses -- there

were major changes his first season after Larry Bird retired, and there

were further changes last season with the Rose trade. But he

shoulders his part of the blame.

He can establish himself as a coach and judge of talent with a top-4

finish in the East, but another mediocre season this time around will put

his already shaky credentials as a coach further in doubt.