Truth & Rumors > NBA

At first, I could not understand why Mark Jackson would be preferred over more experienced candidates like D'Antoni and Avery Johnson. However, looking back at the past few coaches in New York, it all makes sense.
Coaching the Knicks is a tall order and a tough task. Even established coaches like Nellie and Larry Brown have had trouble with it. When an established coach fails, it looks bad for the franchise (the Knicks). However, when a rookie coach fails, the franchise can point the finger at the coach's inexperience without looking bad itself.
That's why the Knicks would rather go with a newcomer. Of course, they do want him to succeed, and if he does so, they can continue the relationship beyond the initial contract.
However, given their embarassing performance the past few years, they are nervous about bringing in someone of the caliber of D'Antoni and then being responsible for frustrating him and wasting his time, should things not work out - and things have not been working out for the Knicks for some years.
- JL

Could be.

I'm surprised that Johnson doesn't get more attention in the Bulls & Knicks conversations. He's got the highest winning percentage of ANY coach who's coached 250 or more teams, and had a great track record in Dallas.

Duh...that's 250 or more "games".

Only Larry Brown has coached 250 or more teams.

Sean Avery would be a beast with the Bulls - hope his spleen healed :-P

^^^ ignore that.. dunno how the **** that ended up in here

But we would have to listen to Johnsons whiney voice after every game ...

Then we would have to listen to Johnson's whiny voice after every game. Please don't.

The Knicks want Jackson for one reason, a fall guy. It will be impossible for him to succeed with the player personnel and cap room available to him, and in 3 years when the teram can move forward, he'll be fired. Jackson is out of his mind to go anywhere near Madison Square Garden. This would be much more difficult for an established coach.

Sorry! ...when the team can move forward.

I really don't think - in Walsh's mind- that he is planning on failing.
That being said, he's a realist and KNOWS we will suck for minimum 2years.\

I think heis rightfully exploring ALL options....there is no Phil Jackson out there, so he is taking his time - good for him.
Are we really that excited about any of these guys?
Does any knick fan really think ANYONE out there will succeed with this current roster?
We need to have a long-term gameplan and defensive philosophy set in place so when (if) we ever get out of the cellar, we can STAY good for years to come

There's more to coaching in New York than just being a good coach. You have to be able to handle the media and the fans there. Jackson is from New York and could handle both I'm sure. The fans would give him more time to win because he's from there and he's a new coach.

As goofy as the Knicks have been with Larry Brown then Isaiah Thomas, why would they choose a guy who has never coached? If Mark Jackson has been a coach please tell me. Sounds like a good idea but maybe a bad choice when there are good proven ones out there like Avery Johnson and Mike D'Antoni.

Actually I question why Jackson would even want a job he cannot succeed at. When (not If) he fails his career in coaching is done. I think he sees this as an opportunity to avoid puting time as an assistant. What he doesn't seem to see is that he would be better off anywhere but New York.

How many jobs has Tim Floyd had in the NBA? Just because you "fail" at one job, doesn't mean another job won't open up. And let's not forget, the reason the Knicks sucked was because Isiah was making all the decisions. Now Walsh comes in and can try and turn this team around.

How many jobs has Tim Floyd had in the NBA? Just because you "fail" at one job, doesn't mean another job won't open up. And let's not forget, the reason the Knicks sucked was because Isiah was making all the decisions. Now Walsh comes in and can try and turn this team around.

jj730 | 05/08/08, 10:43 AM

But Floyd had a good coaching record at the college level and even when he sucked with the pros other teams felt that he still has some potential. Mark Jackson is a rookie coach and will ruin his career at the start if he takes on that train wreck.

I really hope he succeeds and proves all of us wrong though. He is a great guy.

I agree it would be nice if he served some time as an assistant for a year or two. But the reason the Knicks sucked wasn't just bad coaching, it was bad GM decisions( Jeffries, Jerome James, etc.) Now that they have someone who has common sense, I think they could be headed in the right direction.

i don't see jackson as a coach...he wasn't mr team when he played..remember in salt lake when was trying to split the team away from stockton???? i don't see him doing well, but i've been wrong at least one other time....