On Wednesday, the Rockets fired coach Kevin McHale, 11 games into the first year of a three-year, $12 million extension he signed in December 2014. That's 11 games into the first season after McHale led Houston to the Western Conference finals.
Rockets owner Leslie Alexander told ESPN.com's Calvin Watkins that assistant J.B. Bickerstaff will be the interim coach for the rest of the season. However, general manager Daryl Morey suggested that if the Rockets don't win, changes will continue.
We will see. But by examining the issues that have plagued the Rockets this season, one candidate stands out as the best long-term replacement for McHale: Tom Thibodeau.