All eyes are on LeBron James and Tony Parker as they battle it out on the court for NBA supremacy. The two superstars have been taking turns slashing through the lane, making unbelievable shots and simultaneously dropping dimes and jaws in a single motion.
All the while, Erik Spoelstra and Gregg Popovich, their respective coaches, are scrambling behind the scenes, frantically drawing up plays, barking out orders, stroking player egos and using every trick in the book to give their team that miniscule edge that can make the difference between making history and being history.
We’d imagine that regardless of the victor, both Spoelstra’s and Popovich’s jobs should be safe. For Spoelstra, this is his team’s third consecutive trip to the Finals. Sure, the stacked roster in South Beach and the best player on the planet gives him a head start on the competition. Still, an uber-talented squad doesn’t always turn into a championship one. If you don’t believe me, just go ask the Lakers.
Additionally, if the Heat lost much of the blame would likely fall on the shoulders of Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade, who have struggled with consistency for much of the playoffs. For Popovich, it’s his first trip to the Finals since 2007, but the 14 consecutive 50-win seasons (including with last year’s shortened 66-game schedule) and four titles pretty much make him the closest thing to an untouchable in the NBA. Only the retired Phil Jackson’s name holds more weight in the NBA than Pop’s, so it makes sense that he should be safe and sound.
In today’s NBA, though, common sense doesn’t seem to be so common. Following the trend of numerous other sports leagues, wins don’t always add up to job security. These days it seems to be more about power and control.
How else do you explain George Karl getting booted from the slopes in Denver after a season in which he won 57 games and was named Coach of the Year with a team filled with .500 talent? Sure, the team lost in the first round (again), but that was largely due to injuries suffered by some of its top players down the stretch. Ultimately Nuggets owner and President Josh Kroenke (yes, the guy with the sweet shooting stroke back in the day at Mizzou) wanted to put his own stamp on the team, so Karl was sent packing.
In Los Angeles, Lakers coach Mike D’Antonio was arguably the most disappointing coach of the 2012-13 season yet he’s as safe as Vince Coleman stealing home plate.
Meanwhile, the Clippers have shipped Vinny Del Negro out of town after posted a 56-win season that brought the team out of the shadow of the Lakers essentially for the first time ever. Del Negro’s career .557 winning percentage with the club is the highest in franchise history, but apparently All-Star point guard Chris Paul wasn’t his coach’s biggest fan, so owner Donald Sterling let him walk.
Similar story in Memphis, where Lionel Hollins helped lead the team set the mark for best winning percentage in franchise history in each of the past two seasons and led the Grizzlies to its first trip to the Western Conference Finals. No raise, no bonus, just a one-way trip to the unemployment line.
Coaching life in the NBA is cutthroat, ladies and gentlemen. Survival in today’s game is as much about politics and relationships as results. Coaches are no longer revered, respected and given carte blanche power over their teams. They must pander to presidents, GMs and star players or win championships.
In recent years, excellent coaches such as Jerry Sloan and Stan Van Gundy have bitten the dust due to player feuds. Avery Johnson was axed after winning Coach of the Month. Now the Nuggets have one-upped Brooklyn by firing Karl.
This season the Lakers, Nuggets, Grizzlies, Cavaliers, Pistons, Bobcats, Bucks, Nets (two coaches), Clippers, Hawks, Suns and Kings have all fired coaches or allowed their contracts to expire. Many of the men on the cut list will find themselves back on the bench leading or assisting in different area codes next season. Aspiring coaches like Pacers assistant Brian Shaw will continue to claw and fight for a head coaching opportunity. Proven but previously-ousted guys like Sloan, Jeff and Stan Van Gundy will poke their heads out once in a while, listening and lying in wait for the right deal.
But if there’s one thing that’s certain, it’s the NBA coaching carousel will keep turning. GMs are generally in charge of the  drafts, trades and contracts. Still, when things go awry they’re still in charge of the hiring and firing, and a new or refurbished coach will generally buy them two or three years off the hot seat. Let the cooldowns begin.
Follow Ishmael H. Sistrunk and In the Clutch on Twitter @IshmaelSistrunk and on Google+.
