// The New York Knicks have now clobbered two opponents since Mike D’Antoni was fired resigned from his job, which makes it a cinch that Mike Woodson will not only be Coach of the Year but will be given a five-year, $25 million extension by Jim Dolan (pardon the hyperbole). In actuality, the Knicks (Dolan) are going to have t decide whether or not to make a serious run at Phil Jackson, who is spending a year (at least) in retirement and
And now, in the act Knicks fans have waited all season for…. Phil Jackson to the rescue! Imagine that, another Knick dream, shot to hell. It’s not happening. Friends say Jackson is still happy as a clam in retirement, living on the water in Playa Del Rey, about to undergo knee surgery, in a continuing effort to put his body back together and do things like bicycle though Europe. The Knicks are nowhere in his thoughts, at present. Since he does have a New York thing,
There are a variety of ways to quantify a player’s worth to his team, with a myriad of variables with which to play. One way is by utilizing NBA.com/Stats’ PIE (Player Impact Estimate)*, which measures a player’s overall contribution to his team. Perhaps not surprisingly, the Miami Heat’s LeBron James leads the league in PIE at 23.2 percent, and is the lone player in the league with a PIE above 20 percent. James is on pace to set new career
NEW YORK – Back in May 2008, Mike D’Antoni bolted the Phoenix Suns for the skyscrapers of the Big Apple. Although he spent five seasons coaching in the desert, he’s never felt the heat like this. Not even in Miami. Sadly, the sun seems to be setting on Mike D’Antoni’s tenure in New York, and Nate McMillan might make some sense as a potential replacement. (Assuming, of course, that Phil Jackson is not interested – a topic addressed on this site
Jim Buss is in over his head. Of course, with the Lakers’ predicament, Jerry Buss, his father, would be in over his head, too. Actually, that remains to be seen. But it goes back to their last time at such a crossroads, after trading Shaquille O’Neal to keep Kobe Bryant, when I wrote, “Mitch Kupchak is in over his head,” adding, “Jerry West would be in over his head, too.” Amazingly, Kupchak and the Buss family tunneled out of that one and were
LOS ANGELES — Some news for Knicks fans pining for the lost glory days of 1970 and 1973. We have the scoop on whether Phil Jackson is about to return, assume Red Holzman’s mantle and restore the greatness they last glimpsed 39 years ago. Nope. That’s “nope” as in, I don’t think it will happen now, and it’s not likely to happen any time this season. After that, we’ll have to see what happens to coach Mike D’Antoni, in the event he lasts the
csprtContainer(); It was a long night for Carmelo Anthony. It began with a visit with George Karl, which ended a prolonged silence with his former coach. It continued with another poor shooting night and loss with the New York Knicks, which is becoming far too common lately. And it ended with accepting the blame for the team’s troubles and remaining defiant, which is his style, on and off the court. Facing the Denver Nuggets on Saturday night for the first time since forcing
For those of you who had Mike D’Antoni in the first coach to be fired pool, we have some bad news. Sacramento Kings owners Joe and Gavin Maloof pulled a fast one today, canning coach Paul Westphal just seven games into the season. Keith Smart will coach the team tonight against the Milwaukee Bucks, who will be without Andrew Bogut again (he is in Australia dealing with a personal matter and won’t return until next week.) Westphal went 51-120 in his two-plus