Playoff success not enough to keep NBA coaching jobs

How much is enough? In recent years, successful NBA coaches have been terminated despite having winning records. Even playoff appearances have proven not to be sufficient for NBA owners. The latest fatality of the NBA's coaching fraternity was Cleveland Cavaliers head coach David Blatt.

David Blatt / Wikimedia Commons

Blatt, who led the Cleveland Cavaliers to the NBA finals in his first year in the league, was relieved of his coaching duties on January 23, 2016. He led the Cavaliers to a 30-11 start before he was let go by the Cavaliers.

A main reason for Blatt’s release was his tumultuous relationship with Cavaliers’ superstar LeBron James. In many situations throughout Blatt’s time in Cleveland, James would override his decisions, most notably in Game Four of the 2015 Eastern Conference Semifinals. Blatt called a late-game play that had James pass the ball, but James decided to take the shot.

“When that play was drawn up, I scratched it,” James said during the postgame conference. “I just told coach, ‘Give me the ball. We’re either going to go to overtime or I’m going to win it for us.’ It was that simple.”

Another major problem during Blatt’s stint as head coach in Cleveland was the disconnect in the clubhouse. Blatt regarded himself as a veteran coach, as he coached in Europe since 1993; however, the team viewed him as a rookie, as this was Blatt’s first season as an NBA head coach. Former Cavalier and current New York Knick Lou Amundson saw the tension in the clubhouse first hand.

“It didn’t feel like it should feel,” he told the New York Post. “I just think the atmosphere and energy wasn’t there. It wasn’t a healthy atmosphere.”

Blatt’s inability to control the clubhouse atmosphere was likely a large factor in his firing.

David Blatt is not the only coach to be fired after an excellent season. Tom Thibodeau coached the Chicago Bulls for five season before his firing at the end of the 2014-15. Thibodeau won the Coach of the Year award in his first year as head coach, where he led the Bulls to a combined 255-139 record during his tenure.

He got the most out of his Bulls teams, leading them to the playoffs in all of his five years as head coach, including a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals. Many of their wins came without star player Derrick Rose, who was marred by injuries while Thibodeau coached the Bulls.

Thibodeau’s accomplishments, however, were ultimately not enough for him to keep his job. The Bulls fired him, citing a lack of communication between him and the Bulls front office.

“Obviously there was a break down,” Bulls’ executive vice president John Paxson said in a conference announcing the firing. "It is our strong belief that there needs to be a culture of communication that builds a trust throughout this organization. … When that culture becomes sacrificed, it becomes very difficult to evolve and grow. And [Thibodeau’s firing] was about giving this team an opportunity to grow into the future.”

Stan van Gundy’s conflict with his star player was the reason he was fired despite a successful record. Van Gundy converted the Orlando Magic from a mediocre team to championship contenders. The year prior to his hiring, the Orlando Magic finished with a sub .500 record; however, in the first year under him, Orlando immediately made a jump to 52 wins, a 10 win difference from the prior season.

The Orlando Magic made several playoff runs throughout van Gundy’s five year tenure with the team, making the playoffs ever year van Gundy’s leadership. Van Gundy’s playoff success included a trip to the NBA finals as Eastern Conference Champions. Van Gundy references his relationship with Dwight Howard, then Orlando’s star player, for his firing.

"I think [Magic CEO Alex Martin’s] comments are based on the fact that Dwight and maybe others didn't like me…and thinking somehow that's important," van Gundy said.

Although there are different circumstance surrounding these three firings, they all have one thing in common: each of these coaches conflicted with a star player or the front office. In the NBA, where stars control the market, coaches may never get the benefit of the doubt, no matter how successful they are.

By: Bruce Mayfield and Michael Stern