The Houston Rockets have fired head coach Kevin McHale just 11 games into the NBA season.

J.B. Bickerstaff has been named the interim coach after McHale's tenure was brought to an end following a poor start to the new campaign.

Going into the season, the Rockets were expected to challenge the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference.

But, while the Warriors have surged to a 12-0 record, Houston have begun the season 4-7.

"The team was not responding to Kevin McHale," general manager Daryl Morey said. "We had to make a tough call. There is no time to wait in the Western Conference."

McHale joined the Rockets in 2011 and was in the first season of a three-year extension he signed last December. He took Houston to the playoffs in each of the last three seasons.