The NBA Eastern Conference's longest-tenured coach doesn't know if he will hold that title beyond the next two games. Terry Stotts has held the unenviable task of being the head coach of the Hawks since he replaced Lon Kruger on Dec. 26, 2002.

Since then, Stotts has posted a 51-84 record. Among coaches with at least 100 games, he has the third-worst winning percentage in the history of the franchise (.377) --- just above Kruger (.361), who coached from 2000-02, and Andrew Levane (.328), who had stints in Milwaukee (1952-54) and St. Louis (1961-62).

"It goes with the territory," Stotts said before what could be his last home game on the bench against the New Jersey Nets tonight. "Every year, there is speculation about half the coaches in the NBA [being fired]. That's part of the job. It used to be if you were a non-playoff team. Now if you're a playoff team it's present."