Will Knicks candidate list grow?

Posted: Tuesday April 22, 2008 06:46AM ET

If Donnie Walsh waits long enough, the field of qualified candidates could grow in the coming weeks as teams are eliminated from the playoffs. Dallas Coach Avery Johnson could be in jeopardy if the Mavericks lose their first-round series to the Hornets. The same goes for Flip Saunders in Detroit and Sam Mitchell in Toronto. Walsh could reach out to three other assistant coaches who interviewed in Indiana last year: Brian Shaw of the Lakers, Chuck Person of the Kings and Johnny Davis, a former Pacers assistant now with the Grizzlies.

New York Times

Flip Saunders , AP

Flip Saunders , AP

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Donnie Walsh had better be careful with this approach.
Is it really a good idea to hire a coach who could not get his team past the first round of the playoffs, and who is available on the market only because of that letdown?
For example, if Avery Johnson were available because of that, I'm not sure it would be a good idea to hire him. You may end up with someone who has problems like Isiah.
Okay, I take that back. No one would be as bad as Isiah. However, Walsh should just be careful to get an experienced coach who can handle the Knicks.
- JL

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I agree Jay-

we need an experienced guy because of the current roster and culture of mediocity.

But even more, we need a coach that will preach DEFENSE and teamwork

No flip saunders- who can't get the pistons to play D
no sam mitchel- nice guy- but can't get the raptors to be tough

Even though Avery & carlisle had moderate success- I like their philosophies

No mark Jackson - yeah, he 'can't be worse than Isiah'- but is that what credentials are made of nowadays?

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Oh- yeah
Chuck Person ?
is this the same pig from the 80's I'm thinkning of?
the man who never saw a shot he didn't like & never played a lick of defense?
- yikes-

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I don't think Mark Jackson should get the job because we don't know what he can do yet. There are plenty of experienced coaches available.

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The Knicks aren't going to turnaround in one season. It's going to take some time. Why not get a young coach who can relate to the players in today's game? A veteran coach might get frustrated with the "talent" that the Knicks have.

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Walsh will fail miserably until he realizes that the CURRENT ROSTER is his biggest problem. Buy out some of these contracts, and rebuild from the ground up. Jefferies, Fred Jones, Jerome James, "Mybury", Q Rich, Curry, should all be provided with transportation out of New York. Then get a coach with a penchant for developing talent.

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"The Knicks aren't going to turnaround in one season. It's going to take some time. Why not get a young coach who can relate to the players in today's game?"

-the problem is if the 'young' coach doesn't improve the team & 3 years down the road- you're in teh same position

you just don't know with jackson-
what is his philosophy>? what has he done to improve a team int he past? how does he handle veterans? practice?
- all unknowns-
he's never even been on someones staff.......

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you just don't know with jackson-
what is his philosophy>? what has he done to improve a team int he past? how does he handle veterans? practice?
- all unknowns-
he's never even been on someones staff.......

jgb | 04/22/08, 12:10 PM

If Mark Jackson comes in and wins 30+ games next year that will be considered great. And with this roster full of egos and personalities you need someone who you think can come in and get respect from the players. I know people want to ship out Marbury, Curry, Randolph and some others, but that probably won't happen. I think Jackson is someone who can relate to some of these players. He's probably played against a good amount of them before he retired.

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The coach is going to be irrelevant until they get rid of the overweight players and those that can't play ball at all.

Since the Knicks are stuck with these guys why not bring in a coach like Jackson and let him learn on the job for the next 2-3 years until contracts expire?

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Kdawg makes a good point. The Knicks will not be competitive for a few years, so Walsh should hire a coach that he can use as a scapegoat in 2 years. I say give Jackson a shot, then if he's not the second coming of Red Holzman Walsh can bring in a heavyweight coach as cap space opens up.

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Sorry Kdawg, but New York has had enough losing. They need an experienced coach that doesn't put up with junk. 3 more years of losing records? Not gonna gonna cut it in the Big Apple, especially if Boston wins the championship...

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Sorry Kdawg, but New York has had enough losing. They need an experienced coach that doesn't put up with junk. 3 more years of losing records? Not gonna gonna cut it in the Big Apple, especially if Boston wins the championship...
CanofOil...Un'can'ny... | 04/22/08, 08:20 PM
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Bringing in an experienced coach in Larry Brown didn't help much. Hire Jackson. There is nowhere to go but up.

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out of that list I'll take the Rifleman!!!!!!

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Gee, Irish, they're's nowhere to go but up anyway.

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I think growing is just what they need. Now that that's done, who thinks the Spurs looked a little old last night? You can see the age catching up with them, I mean when Tim dunked on Amare the second time, I thought wow he's so old. Let's not even begin to talk about Parker, I mean where is his head at? He needs to get in the game, only 41 points. Man he's probably just thinking of which island he'll take Eva to after the season's over. They are done. I think the Suns will roll off 4 straight. You can just see it in their eyes, the hunger, the longing, the focus. Suns in 7 baby. (HA!)

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LOL! Good one jpd.

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