Mike Woodson Fired: Knicks Coach Gets The Ax; Who Will Phil Jackson Hire Next?
The New York Knicks are the NBA's most valuable franchise. They are also among the most dysfunctional. The inconsistency they've had on the court over the last decade has culminated in an embarrassing 37-45 record. Newly minted team president Phil Jackson is attempting to steer the franchise into that of an NBA champion.
"I have a tremendous amount of respect for Mike Woodson and his entire staff," Jackson said. "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.
Kind words... Jackson continued by saying that: "Everyone in this franchise owes a great deal of gratitude to what Mike and his staff have done. We wish him the best."
One of the biggest problems the team has faced, apart from the myriad injuries and poor teamwork on the court, is its coaching staff. Thus, the 13-time NBA champion Jackson has cleaned house. Mike Woodson and his entire staff are now free agents so to speak.
This tidying up, or spring cleaning if you will, had been expected for months, even before Jackson's mid-March hiring. Mike Woodson had clearly lost his mojo. He couldn't recapture the success they had the last season, in which they won 17 more games and captured the Atlantic Division crown. The 2012-2013 season also saw the Knicks have some playoff success. The Carmelo Anthony-lead squad stormed through the first round, beating the Boston Celtics in six games. But their surprising, fan base rejuvenating run had no answer for the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Woodson has yet to comment about the firing, only telling ESPN that he'd rather not talk about the change in leadership at the moment.
"I'm in my office packing as we speak," Woodson stated earlier today. "I'm not really entertaining anything with the media right now. I'm just trying to clear my head. That's what I'm doing. ... I'm fine. I have been doing this a long time. I'm good, really good. It's time to move on."
Woodson's expected replacement is NBA on TNT analyst Steve Kerr. The former Chicago Bulls sharpshooter won three titles playing under Phil Jackson (when he was still a coach) back in the late '90s.
What do you think the New York Knicks' record will be next season under the leadership of Jackson and (presumably) Steve Kerr? Will they ever win a title, let alone repeat as champs like the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers of yesteryear? Let us know in the comments section below.
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