http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/b...dy-knicks-head-coaching-job-article-1.3937619
According to reports, Mills and Perry are traveling to Los Angeles to meet with Woodson. Logic says that the Knicks will also meet with Mark Jackson, who resides in the L.A. area, and David Fizdale who grew up in L.A.
Woodson, an assistant coach with the Clippers, has the support of Garden Chairman James Dolan, which is crucial. Unless you really believe Dolan is not involved with making basketball decisions. (And other than hiring Phil Jackson, refusing to sign off on hiring Steve Kerr and eventually firing Phil he’s really not involved.) Mills and Perry have discussed hiring a younger coach and that would in theory disqualify Van Gundy, Woodson and even Doc Rivers, who as of now doesn’t appear to be a candidate to replace Jeff Hornacek. Several league executives believe the race is down to three men but in no particularly order: Fizdale, Jackson and Jerry Stackhouse, who arrived in New York on Monday to being his interview process.
Mills and Perry have also said they wanted a coach who can communicate and relate to today’s player. That coded language is confusing. Are they looking to see if Stackhouse has the same musical tastes as Tim Hardaway Jr.? That doesn’t matter.
If you really want to know how well a coach communicates with his players just watch hours of their game films. The film never lies.
Fizdale and Jackson have previous head coaching experience. Stackhouse is the head coach of the Toronto Raptors G-League affiliate. Mills and Perry should sit down and pour over tape of games the three have coached. Then begin a vetting process by talking to people and players they’ve worked with.
Fizdale had a famous feud with Marc Gasol in Memphis that cost Fizdale his job. A source familiar with that situation believes the experience will only make Fizdale a better coach. Others wonder if he and Kristaps Porzingis will clash.
Jackson turned a lottery team in Golden State into a playoff team. He had issues with coaches on his staff. That rubs some teams the wrong way. Others believe Jackson, as a rookie coach, deserved the benefit of the doubt and that he will also learn from that experience.
Stackhouse is the great unknown because he’s never coached at the NBA level. But know this about Stackhouse; he is old school and that’s a good thing. He is no nonsense. He has a system that he believes in and he’s sticking with it.
It makes sense that Mills and Perry want to work with their head coach but from everything you hear, Fizdale, Jackson and Stackhouse are not “yes man.” And that’s a good thing because ultimately the wins and losses fall on them.
Van Gundy wasn’t a “yes man” during his time in New York and that annoyed some Garden employees. The results, however, speak for themselves.
JVG would have been a terrific choice but the current regime is not interested. That’s fine. If the next coach – Jackson, Fizdale or Stackhouse – is half as good as Van Gundy, then Mills and Perry will have done a great job.
According to reports, Mills and Perry are traveling to Los Angeles to meet with Woodson. Logic says that the Knicks will also meet with Mark Jackson, who resides in the L.A. area, and David Fizdale who grew up in L.A.
Woodson, an assistant coach with the Clippers, has the support of Garden Chairman James Dolan, which is crucial. Unless you really believe Dolan is not involved with making basketball decisions. (And other than hiring Phil Jackson, refusing to sign off on hiring Steve Kerr and eventually firing Phil he’s really not involved.) Mills and Perry have discussed hiring a younger coach and that would in theory disqualify Van Gundy, Woodson and even Doc Rivers, who as of now doesn’t appear to be a candidate to replace Jeff Hornacek. Several league executives believe the race is down to three men but in no particularly order: Fizdale, Jackson and Jerry Stackhouse, who arrived in New York on Monday to being his interview process.
Mills and Perry have also said they wanted a coach who can communicate and relate to today’s player. That coded language is confusing. Are they looking to see if Stackhouse has the same musical tastes as Tim Hardaway Jr.? That doesn’t matter.
If you really want to know how well a coach communicates with his players just watch hours of their game films. The film never lies.
Fizdale and Jackson have previous head coaching experience. Stackhouse is the head coach of the Toronto Raptors G-League affiliate. Mills and Perry should sit down and pour over tape of games the three have coached. Then begin a vetting process by talking to people and players they’ve worked with.
Fizdale had a famous feud with Marc Gasol in Memphis that cost Fizdale his job. A source familiar with that situation believes the experience will only make Fizdale a better coach. Others wonder if he and Kristaps Porzingis will clash.
Jackson turned a lottery team in Golden State into a playoff team. He had issues with coaches on his staff. That rubs some teams the wrong way. Others believe Jackson, as a rookie coach, deserved the benefit of the doubt and that he will also learn from that experience.
Stackhouse is the great unknown because he’s never coached at the NBA level. But know this about Stackhouse; he is old school and that’s a good thing. He is no nonsense. He has a system that he believes in and he’s sticking with it.
It makes sense that Mills and Perry want to work with their head coach but from everything you hear, Fizdale, Jackson and Stackhouse are not “yes man.” And that’s a good thing because ultimately the wins and losses fall on them.
Van Gundy wasn’t a “yes man” during his time in New York and that annoyed some Garden employees. The results, however, speak for themselves.
JVG would have been a terrific choice but the current regime is not interested. That’s fine. If the next coach – Jackson, Fizdale or Stackhouse – is half as good as Van Gundy, then Mills and Perry will have done a great job.
