Kevin McHale fired by Rockets after poor start

Show Caption Hide Caption Rockets fire Kevin McHale after poor start to season Details on McHale being out in Houston after just 11 games.

Kevin McHale was fired by the Houston Rockets, a person familiar with the situation told USA TODAY Sports.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team hasn't announced the firing.

J.B. Bickerstaff will take over on an interim basis and Chris Finch will be the associate head coach. Bickerstaff, 36, is the son of longtime NBA coach and current Cleveland Cavaliers scout Bernie Bickerstaff and is considered one of the bright young coaches in the league.

Bickerstaff, who helped make the Rockets a better defensive team last season, previously interviewed for the top job in Detroit and Phoenix.

The Rockets had high hopes for this season after advancing to the Western Conference finals last season, but have started off 4-7. It's been a troublesome start for the Rockets, who are No. 29 in defensive rating, allowing 106.5 points per 100 possessions, and No. 24 in offensive rating, scoring 98.5 points per 100 possessions.

All-Star guard James Harden is averaging 27.3 points but is shooting 37.2% from the field and 26.2% on three-pointers and committing 4.8 turnovers per game, and Houston is 29th in three-point shooting percentage (29%).

Injuries have also played a role in the slow start. Point guard Patrick Beverley (sprained left ankle) has missed four games, forward-center Donatas Motiejunas (back) has not played this season and forward Terrence Jones missed five games earlier this season.

The Rockets have lost four consecutive games, including three at home, and Boston handed Houston a 111-95 loss on Monday. The team had a players-only meeting on Tuesday, and Harden told reporters, "It was a good talk for us. It was good for us to kind of communicate. Each guy said what their role was and how every single night they're going to contribute to that role. After the talk, we had a really good practice. Guys communicated. We worked hard. Now, it's about carrying over. It's about going out there and carrying it to the floor."

While players tried to keep details of the meeting private, two themes emerged, three people told USA TODAY Sports on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the situation. Harden's play and aloofness have frustrated teammates, and McHale took the brunt of the blame for the team's play. Practices were not resulting in improved play in games.

A day after the players-only meeting, the Rockets dismissed McHale, a sign that management believed McHale could no longer reach the team. Rockets owner Les Alexander was not thrilled with the team's uninspired 0-3 start. Four consecutive wins tempered the anxiety, but Friday's road loss against Denver, the second of four consecutive defeats, made Alexander even more impatient.

Two years ago, Alexander told the Houston Chronicle, "I have enough money, but I don’t have enough championships."

Right now, the Rockets are over the luxury tax by nearly $2.5 million, and if owners are going to pay that tax, they want a team competing for championships.

McHale, who was given a three-year, $12 million extension a year ago, never got a chance to see if the results of players-only meeting carried over under him. Rockets management decided to make a change. In four-plus seasons with the Rockets, McHale had a 193-130 record.

Yahoo! Sports first reported the firing.