None of the last 100 NBA coaches got more seasons than Cheeks without eventually winning a series.
So Flip Saunders (and KG) got the Wolves into playoffs 7 times without winning a series, going 7-22 in games. Each time they were the underdog and never upset anyone.
Given an 8th shot, and with career years from Garnett and Cassell, they reached the 3rd round in 2004.
So Saunders was a bit faster to a series win and far more consistent about making playoffs. After drought, won 2 series 4 times in 5 years.
10 year plus years to coaching success? It might happen more often with more chances
for coaches without playoff succeeds to get one, but the more coaches who get 10 plus years, the less opportunities for others.
Long ago I found that coaches usually got cutoff is no playoffs in first 5 years and if not a second one by year 7 -8. Cheeks and a handful of others got extra time.
What job do you want him to interview for or get? Or to have gotten previously?
The early Pistons firing must be viewed pretty negatively. Took me a bit to find the details about the player confrontation 5 days before he was fired. A catalyst but not the only basis.
Most used 5 lineups all negative, from moderate to bigly. 18 of 20 most used pairs negative. Probably not fixable with same Coach. Brief retrospective look suggests they should have played rookie KCP more and played smaller up front more.
Dumars was firing a lot of coaches in those years Time ran out on him months later. He didn't know how to fix things either.
Trading Drummond back then would have been bold and probably correct. Would have been very different look.
Some Coaches on the interview circuit will be available as mid-season replacements. Active assistants usually aren't except for own team. Might an assistant get permission to leave mid-season? When were last such cases? Draft compensation for an assistant? Doubtful but should some assistants not currently under contact, sit out a few months in the name of flexibility? Would any teams re-hire such a guy as an assistant late in season (with them or not)? I doubt there is such action but my point is that there are theoretical possibilities for different action.
Who takes over for Popovich and when will likely get increased attention. The conflict between the NBA schedule and the Olympics might become a big deal though it could break several ways- Popovich leaves for Olympics (with temp replacement or retirement), passes on Olympics or maybe he can do both (at least for late Olympic games) if not in playoffs?
Any threshold Carlisle has to meet to avoid ouster? Not expecting ouster but I'd have a threshold.
What is the threshold with Budenholzer? May vary depending on Giannis- words and / or actions.
Nash, didn't hear contract length. How long will he last? At moment I doubt he becomes a long-term coach. But maybe he hops from one place to another.
What about Kerr? Where is he in 2-3 years? Still with Warriors, somewhere else? Back to commentary or front office? Retirement? Politics?