April 22, 2014
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After a 54-28 record last season while taking the team to the playoffs and advancing to a 2nd round series for the first time in 13 years, Mike Woodson and the Knicks began an early vacation last week, finishing with a disappointing 37-45 record. With franchise player Carmelo Anthony able to bolt the team in free agency this summer and with this being the 1st time Anthony has missed the playoffs in his entire professional career, naturally some swift changes needed to be made.
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| Mike Woodson and Herb Williams |
“I have a tremendous amount of respect for Mike Woodson and his entire staff,” Jackson said in a press release announcing the move. “The coaches and players on this team had an extremely difficult 2013-14 season, and blame should not be put on one individual. But the time has come for change throughout the franchise as we start the journey to assess and build this team for next season and beyond.
“Everyone in this franchise owes a great deal of gratitude to what Mike and his staff have done. We wish him the best.”
Interestingly, Herb Williams, who survived 6 coaching changes in New York as an assistant and/or interim coach, was also (finally) let go. As of this writing, his firing was trending on Twitter even ahead of Woodson’s.
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Phil Jackson certainly has his work cut out for him, but NY Knicks owner James Dolan has bet the farm that Jackson is the man to run the storied but troubled franchise. Jackson earned 13 championship rings in his career — 11 as coach of the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers, and 2 as a player on the Knicks’ 1970 and 1973 championship teams. His basketball knowledge and championship pedigree is expected to change the atmosphere around the Madison Square Garden front office and among the team. Getting rid of Woodson and everyone connected with him was a huge 1st step toward righting the ship.
Disclosure: I am not now, nor have I ever been, a fan of the Knicks.
But I am very much familiar with their place in NBA history and to see what's happened to that franchise is pretty darn sad.
Who knows if PJ can return that franchise to greatness?!
Yes, I know he's coached great teams. But has he himself ever actually put a championship team together?
Well, time will tell if he's up to the task before him now.
And on a related note of NBA coahes being fired…..
I'm really into the playoffs this year and I'd say it's very likely a few other coaches will be "let go" by the season's end, beginning with those teams that get bounced in the 1st round of the playoffs.
Wow! That was abrupt. I wish them the best…you know, the grass is not always greener on the other side.
I think Phil can have the same success that Pat Riley did in Miami. Both of them were coaches that moved to executive office. Knicks need a lot of help but Phil and all his rings can attract talent. I like the Knicks and I hope they turn things around.
Hey BD! (waving Hi) ..lol
I'm curious about your thoughts concerning Carmello Anthony.
Does he stay with the Knicks or bolt for greener pastures (side-eying the Chicago Bulls)?
Agreed, truthiz. Anymore it appears that your job security is dependent on what you do now (in the current season) and not based on your history with the team. They can't all win but it appears that is all that matters.
Now that they've fired Woody and signed Lamar Odom, I see nothing holding back this juggernaut of a team for not 1…not 2…not 3…not4…NBA Championships…(facepalm).
Woodson had a very good season last year, yes, many things did not go right this season but the players are as much to blame as him and his coaching staff. He will survive though, he has enough credibility to get another coaching position if not something else.
Finally, a step forward! This should have happen earlier when Knicks are still in playoff contention!
I am sure bringing in Lamar Odom to play with Melo will level the egos and bring stability to this team.
So it's Wed. morning, April 23rd. I'm at work listening to Mike & Mike (ESPN online radio) expressing their SHOCK at the front page of the NY Daily News which is reporting it's already "Paradise Lost" between PJ and his boss James Dolan. As per "a team source"……
"Just one month into his role as Knicks president, Jackson has already clashed with the chairman of MSG over personnel decisions. Jackson is looking to remove several staff members, which is commonplace when a new administration takes over, but Dolan opposes removing certain employees."
And in the words of Mike (Greenberg) who had predicted the meddling outcome:
"Well THAT was quick! Predictable. But quick."
Hi Truthiz,
As you might remember, I am a longtime Knicks fan. This morning, Phil Jackson held a press conference basically dispelling the rumor of discord between he and James Dolan. According to Phil:
"Jim Dolan has been loyal to his promise to allow me to run the basketball operations."
NY beat writers traditionally look for ways to stir up rumor and sell their newspapers. I wouldn't put much stock in this one just yet.
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Thanks DJ!
I should have covered myself by inserting the words "IF TRUE" 🙂 !