The Houston Rockets have just fired head coach Kevin McHale, the team confirmed today. His assistant J.B. Bickerstaff will take the reins on an interim basis.
Rockets general manager Daryl Morey addressed the media following the announcement, explaining the reasons that lead to the shocking decision. He said that 'the team wasn't responding to McHale' and given the cutthroat nature of the Western Conference, the decision had to be made sooner rather than later.
Speaking with the Houston Chronicle, McHale acknowledged his recent struggles with the team; but believed he could have still righted the ship given enough time.
"We were starting to address some of the issues that were the reason I was let go," Said McHale.
"We just weren't playing with any juice, with any rhythm. We haven't been able to get the problems solved. We probably had more meetings in last six weeks than in my previous four years here. It wasn't working."
This McHale's 5th season with the team and 1st under the new 3-year, $12 million extension he signed last December. He was coming out of one of the best seasons in franchise history as the Rockets finished no. 2 in the West with a 56-26 record.
In the Playoffs, the team made it to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 1997. They were eliminated by the eventual champions, the Golden State Warriors.
Big names around the league have already chimed in on the decision.
San Antonio Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich said, "You always hate to see a colleague get fired, especially somebody who took a team to the Western Conference finals last year, and won more games than I think they've won in a long time or ever last year, I'm not sure."
McHale's former teammate and current Celtics GM Danny Ainge told the Boston Herald that he would be welcome in the organization.
"I told Kevin that today we've got a spot for him. I know we could figure something out for him in some capacity, but I think he's just in a wait-and-see mode."
