4:00pm: We hosted the weekly live chat.
3:00pm: We’re barely four weeks into the NBA season, and only seven teams are more than five games above or below .500. Still, the Hornets and Rockets seem to have already drawn some significant conclusions. Charlotte, at 8-6, agreed to an extension with Steve Clifford a week after the Rockets, then 4-7, fired Kevin McHale. The Mavs also signed their coach to an extension at the beginning of the month, though that was no surprise, as Rick Carlisle had built a reputation as one of the league’s elite coaches in his time with Dallas, and before that with the Pistons and Pacers. Clifford has a sub-.500 record with the Hornets, and McHale was fresh off a Western Conference Finals appearance with the Rockets, so it would appear this season’s results played much more heavily into those moves. It’s fodder for discussion in today’s chat.