The coaching carousel that has been the NBA the past month has disconcerted many, particularly when winning coaches such as Rick Carlisle (Detroit) and Paul Silas (New Orleans) found themselves unemployed.

Nine teams have made postseason coaching changes, more than a fourth of the league's 29 organizations. But NBA commissioner David Stern isn't bothered.

''I actually think there are many teams that believe their teams should be better than they demonstrated this past year,'' Stern said in a news conference before Game 2 of the NBA Finals.

``Whether they are right in that belief or not, I tell you it's optimistic to be able to invest in their basketball and their teams. So, I think that's a positive sign.''