The Houston Rockets have endured a disappointing 4-7 start to the 2015-16 NBA season, and the first significant change made to improve the team has come on the bench.
Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reported Wednesday, citing sources, that the Rockets fired head coach Kevin McHale. Rockets general manager Daryl Morey later confirmed the move to reporters.
J.B. Bickerstaff, will become interim head coach, league sources tell Yahoo. Assistant Chris Finch will become associate head coach.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 18, 2015
Houston's 4-7 start demanded change to right season; Bickerstaff will be charged w/ restoring defensive mindset that he installed year ago.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 18, 2015
McHale was in his fifth season coaching the Rockets. He won 50-plus games in each of the last three seasons, and in 2014-15 he guided Houston to its first Western Conference Finals appearance since 1996-97. The Rockers were eliminated in Round 1 in each of the previous two campaigns.
Houston came into this season with an abundance of talent and a pretty deep bench, but lackluster defensive play and a lack of effort from star players have cost the Rockets in several games.
Luckily for them, there’s still enough time to turn things around, but it must happen soon because making the playoffs in the West could require at least 50 wins.
UPDATE: The Rockets confirmed the personnel change on their official website.
Thumbnail photo via Troy Taormina/USA TODAY Sports Images
