Scott Brooks Favored to Be the Next NBA Coach Fired

• Scott Brooks has jumped to the top of the NBA coach chopping block
• Luke Walton has found some short term security for now
• Who is the best value bet of the bunch?

Tyronn Lue’s sudden dismissal just six games into the post-LeBron era may have been surprising for some (read: me), but the oddsmakers have adjusted their numbers accordingly and their latest roll out looks pretty accurate.

If you happen to be the head coach of a certain underachieving, infighting squad based out of Washington, DC, you know the leash is short, and one false step could see two head coaches on the unemployment line less than two months into the NBA regular season.

Odds to Be the Next NBA Head Coach Fired

The Wizards are a Mess – How Much is Scott Brooks’ Fault?

Brooks’ unwavering desire to stagger the playing time of his All-Star backcourt duo of John Wall and Bradley Beal could be his undoing.

Through Washington’s abysmal 1-6 start, Wall and Beal have logged 206+ minutes together, and each a little more than 30 minutes in lineups apart.

This has been a constant critique of Brooks’ style dating back to his days with the Thunder when he had Russ and KD.

The look on Scott Brooks’s face going into a timeout down 18 points not even 15 minutes into the game… pic.twitter.com/8tBKHpnMQz

— Proven Veteran (@Truth_About_It) October 29, 2018

While this team is deeper than ever with emerging stars Kelly Oubre and Otto Porter, along seasoned role players like Markieff Morris, Austin Rivers and Jeff Green, not having Wall or Beal as the fulcrum of those units is a minus.

How wizards fans see John Wall vs everyone else pic.twitter.com/n8CgsCJoZW

— Abdi G (@Phoenix_6ix) October 25, 2018

The Wizards have just one five man combination on the floor for Beal and Wall, according to Basketball Reference. Beal’s unit is +30.7 points per 100 possessions in eight minutes. Wall and his four other mates are +7.8 points in over six minutes of play.

How Much is the Players’ Fault?

There is no coaching clinic to teach effort and professionalism. No coach needs to tell you in a close game to make sure to box out in case of a miss.

Kelly Olynyk game winner. Yes, you read that right.

(via @MiamiHEAT) pic.twitter.com/WTh5hADJu9

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) October 19, 2018

And if your players aren’t inspired enough to play hard when they are out there – you know, be professional – chances are you’re going to see more sequences like this.

This is how bad it’s gotten for the Wizards. After the air ball by Oubre, NOBODY picks up KD while he dribbles the ball up. He LITERALLY says “I don’t want to play no more…” It’s not even a challenge pic.twitter.com/ZQNSHaSkv4

— BBALLBREAKDOWN (@bballbreakdown) October 25, 2018

Also, when one of your franchise players looks out of shape and doesn’t seem totally focused on, you know, leading his team, maybe that’s an issue too.

John Wall on fans having unrealistic expectations on what athletes can & can't do in their free time: "You got a 9-5, what you do after your 9-5? You not about to sit in the house all day? I'm a grown man and I can do what I want to" pic.twitter.com/x41elPj1iJ

— Troy Haliburton + (@TroyHalibur) October 4, 2018

When you are surrendering the most points per game than any team in the conference at 122.4 and the second highest point differential, (-10.6), even if it’s not on the coach, those are all pretty key tune-out indicators. And remember, Dwight Howard has yet to suit up for them this year!

Austin Rivers says the struggles are not because of Scott Brooks: “It’s not on him. I’ll tell you that right now. It’s not on coach Brooks…Everybody says something like coach Brooks, but it’s not on him.” pic.twitter.com/2pidIv32Uu

— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) October 29, 2018

Who is the Best Bet of the Bunch?

The Wizards have OKC tonight and the Knicks Sunday. If they go blowout, no-show, this is as good a lock as you can get.

Conversely, there’s another coach that I really like to also get the axe, that happens to cross Brooks tonight. Billy Donovan may have bought himself some time after the Thunder righted the ship to the tune of three straight wins after an 0-4 start.

Billy Donovan wasn't a good NBA coach when he let OKC blow a 3-1 lead in the Western Conference finals his first season and he isn't a good NBA coach today. How he kept his job beyond Year 2 is baffling.

— Matt L. Stephens (@MattStephens) October 26, 2018

But there’s no tuning out their ever non-evolving offensive flow. This is a team that sort of mirrors the Wizards: star power, but almost no direction to get them to compete with the league’s best.

Donovan at +350 is nice. It’s the best value pick of the bunch.