"It's the reality of the business," he said. "I'm certainly not complaining about it."

Nor should he. It's a high-risk, high-reward line of work that Skiles, who makes $4 million a year to coach the Milwaukee Bucks , chose. In a time when the average working guy is having trouble meeting the bills and/or keeping a job, it's hard to sympathize with someone who is lavishly paid to go away, even if it does happen on Christmas Eve.

But even for the NBA, which generally exercises less patience than other leagues, the current pace at which coaches are dropping is unprecedented. Six have been fired barely two months into this season, double the rate of the pre-Christmas record. Take it back to the end of last year, and almost half the jobs, including the one Skiles currently holds, have turned over.

"It's not good for my profession, that's for sure," Skiles said.

In some places it's understandable, especially in this economy. Sacramento, which recently fired Reggie Theus, is last in the league in attendance. The Bucks might have arena issues, but the Kings really have problems, with no solution to the worst building in the league. Consequently, finances are a big part of why some owners are panicking.

Orlando's Stan Van Gundy, who once lasted a year as head coach at the University of Wisconsin, recently told the San Francisco Chronicle that the speed at which the dismissals have come stuns him. "Once it starts, it's easier for the next (owner) because it doesn't seem so ridiculous to fire your coach early in the season because somebody else did it. Now five other teams have just sort of jumped on the bandwagon."

But should anyone really be surprised? The only uncertainty involves who's next. It could be Mike Dunleavy, whose Los Angeles Clippers were blown out of the Bradley Center on Saturday night by the team that once gave him a 10-year contract.

Like the economy that has played a part in some of the firings, it could be worse.

"I played and coached a year in Europe where if you lose three games in a row, you get fired," Skiles said. "You'd have four or five coaches in one year. I certainly hope we're not in any way moving in that direction."

Herb Kohl has been as quick with the hook as anyone. In the last 11 years, the Bucks have had six coaches. With the exception of George Karl, four of the five before Skiles either had little or no experience. They were bad hires that the senator quickly terminated, even if he had to pay them all to leave.

With Skiles, the Bucks have finally gotten it right. They have preserved the most difficult stretch of their schedule and are playing well. But even Skiles was let go in Phoenix and Chicago, and there is no guarantee he will outlast his contract in a league that doesn't abide for long anyone not named Jerry Sloan, Phil Jackson, Gregg Popovich or, for now, Doc Rivers.

That's the business Skiles gladly accepts.

"If you're a GM and you hire a coach and if at some point things don't go well, you probably need to look in another direction," Skiles said. "If you don't think he's good after watching him work, then let him go. Don't let media or fan pressure force you into a situation where you need to do something else."

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