April 14, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets assistant coach Kelvin Sampson prepares for a game against the Sacramento Kings at the Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

The  Milwaukee Bucks are down to three finalists for their head coach position, Charles F. Gardner of the Journal Sentinel reports.

The three finalists are Los Angeles Lakers assistant coach Steve Clifford, Atlanta Hawks head coach Larry Drew and Houston Rockets assistant coach Kelvin Sampson.

Clifford is set to meet with Milwaukee for the second time on Tuesday while Drew and Sampson have their second interviews on Wednesday.

The Bucks could announce their head coach later this week.

Milwaukee finished with 38-44 record which earned them eighth seed in the Eastern Conference, but the Bucks were swept in four games by Miami in the first-round.

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December 28, 2012; Oakland, CA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers associate head coach Michael Curry (right) instructs point guard Jrue Holiday (11, left) during the fourth quarter against the Golden State Warriors at ORACLE Arena. The Warriors defeated the 76ers 96-89. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

The Philadelphia 76ers are now looking for their eighth head coach in 11 seasons after Doug Collins resigned as head coach.

As Sixers begin to ramp up their coaching search, their star point guard Jrue Holiday already has their head coach in mind, according to John N. Mitchell of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Holiday, who averaged 17.7 points and eight assists per game cast his vote in favor of the promotion of associate coach Michael Curry.

“I’ve known him for the last three years,” Holiday said Wednesday in a telephone interview. “He’s somebody I trust, and somebody I’d love as a head coach.”

Curry is known for his defensive strategies, which helped the Sixers allow only 96.5 points per game (ninth in the NBA).

“I think he was the glue to our team last year,” Holiday said of Curry. “Obviously we were defensive-based, which is big for us. That was our calling card, and Mike was responsible for that.”

Holiday isn’t the only player on Philadelphia’s roster that feels the same way.

Philadelphia’s former No. 2 overall pick Evan Turner thinks Curry would be great for the organization as well.

“We really don’t have a lot of room to start all over again when you look at us,” said Turner.  ”I think it would be great for the organization. We respect Mike.”

Should the 76ers organization listen to its star players, or look for other answers after their disappointing 34-48 season?

Curry, 44, played 11 years in the NBA and coached the Detroit Pistons for one season (2008-09) guiding them to a 39-43 record and a playoff berth.

For more NBA news, follow Reginald on Twitter: @McIntyre_II