Rockets owner: J.B. Bickerstaff to coach remainder of season

The Houston Rockets are apparently done making changes on the bench for the time being.

After firing head coach Kevin McHale on Wednesday, the Rockets announced that assistant J.B. Bickerstaff would take his place on an interim basis. Owner Les Alexander later told ESPN's Calvin Watkins that the interim period will last at least until the end of the season, after which Bickerstaff will be evaluated and the Rockets will determine how to proceed.

After finishing 56-26, winning the Southwest Division, and coming within three wins of the Finals last season, the Rockets are off to a 4-7 start, ranking 27th in point differential and 29th in team defense.

Bickerstaff, a defensive specialist, is in his third stop of an 11-year career as an NBA assistant coach, having worked under his father - Bernie Bickerstaff - in Charlotte, and under McHale in both Minnesota and Houston.

This will be his first stint as a head coach at any level.