The Knicks Thread....

[air gordon]

do you think the zenmaster would exercise his opt out clause after next year??! that is very interesting a GM has the chance to bail after 2 years on the job.

keep thibs in the EAST!

[mp3]

Now that a position opened up with Lakers I have no doubt that he bails and he can take the triangle with him too.

Then we might be able to hire a real coach instead of a Jackson puppet

[Jeffx]

Memo to Kurt Rambis; Jerian Grant's not going to get any better on the bench.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baske ... -1.2580236

[mp3]

Last night's loss was a joke, Rambis is a bad puppet coach and we need change even if that means Phil Jackson goes and we hire a top "non triangle" coach

[Jeffx]

More BS from Rambis - Sasha Vujacic shouldn't even be in the NBA;

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baske ... -1.2581795

[Andrew]

“We like the energy Sasha brings. We need some more speed in that starting group, somebody who can run the floor, push the basketball and play at a higher level of activity.”

That seems a step above " good locker room presence" in describing players who really don't bring much to the table. I mean, that can be a positive attribute, as long as it's combined with some other talents. Before his injuries, I'd say that Joakim Noah brought energy to the Bulls, but his "energetic game" also included defense, rebounding, playmaking from the pivot, and a bit of scoring here and there. "Energy" wasn't his only contribution.

It seems like Rambis is spouting a bunch of buzzwords to justify giving time to a player he likes better, who doesn't deserve minutes ahead of the guy he doesn't like quite as much for whatever reason.

[Jeffx]

It's nice to know Phil Jackson has time to go on vacation while his franchise is crashing and burning, and the Afflalo/Rambis rift is growing wider and wider.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baske ... -1.2583474

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baske ... -1.2582805

[Andrew]

Fair enough that the vacation may rub people the wrong way, but grumbling about what he's Tweeting is a bit much. Putting aside that people got way too upset over his Stephen Curry/Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf comparisons - conveniently missing the point that he was comparing style, not skill level or performance - the fact that he dares to Tweet about Birdman and other random things doesn't mean that's all he's doing with his time. That's a couple of minutes out of his day, same as anyone else who has a job but spends some of their free time posting thoughts on social media. Then you've got a snarky shot at millenials in there, just because. It feels like Isola is stuffily trying to make a bit too much of things there.

That said, I wouldn't disagree that Jackson hasn't done a stellar job, and to some extent, it seems like he's fiddling while Rome burns. As much as he's scoffed at the suggestion over the years, I think he's proving Red Auerbach's criticism to be true. He's had a lot of success when a team is more or less ready-made for him, but he's not so great at building teams himself, or handling business in the front office.

[Jeffx]

Phil needs to check his ego and think outside the box, like Danny Ainge did.

[Jeffx]

From Rambis' remarks, it's obvious the Knicks "braintrust" is trying to make Afflalo so ticked off he decides to opt out.

[Andrew]

Maybe not the worst decision to be rid of him, though kind of an immature and passive-aggressive way to do it.

[air gordon]

not sure how much knicks fans put into credence an article put out by Berman of the ny post
http://nypost.com/2016/04/04/if-rambis- ... %20buttons

what did catch my eye was the part on thibs:

For those tabbing Tom Thibodeau, who looks even more attractive because of the Fred Hoiberg disaster, it’s not happening. The Knicks also are getting a strong sense that Luke Walton is not leaving the Warriors this soon.

Thibodeau has as much a shot as a Fisher redux. Jackson speaks with Chicago’s Paxson brothers and doesn’t seem impressed with the former Bulls coach, who revels in crisis and chaos. Jackson knows this Knicks organization has had enough of that.

[Andrew]

Interesting. I'm not surprised Walton isn't that interested in leaving the Warriors, though. I'm sure he'd like a shot at a permanent head coaching gig at some point, but not while he can be a part of something special, and not with the Knicks in their current state.

[benji]

The New York Knicks are giving strong consideration to making Kurt Rambis their full-time head coach, according to league sources.

Sources told ESPN.com that Rambis, who has served as the Knicks' interim coach since Derek Fisher was fired Feb. 8, is the preferred choice of team president ‎Phil Jackson, who sources say is pushing for a new multiyear deal for Rambis

[Andrew]

I think everyone saw that coming.

[Stress Fracture]

Phil's sticking with the triangle even without complementary players. Pretty interesting.

[mp3]

From Rambis' remarks, it's obvious the Knicks "braintrust" is trying to make Afflalo so ticked off he decides to opt out.

And Melo yo waive his No trade agreement if we find a deal he likes.

Honesty I'd rather Phil Jackson went at this point, the only good he did was take a huge gamble on KP which paid off and Derrick Williams was a good scoring option when they played him but other than that he brought in Sasha/Afflalo/O'Quinn/KS that have sucked and they didn't give Grant a chance either.

As long as Phil is here he will want his guys coaching and won't move away from the triangle.

Give me Thibs

[Jeffx]

Rambis.......smh........this franchise is doomed.

[Jeffx]

Phil's blaming everyone but himself;

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baske ... -1.2601917

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baske ... -1.2601683

[Andrew]

“There are critics? Who are these people? Why would people even say that? Do they have 11 championships to show you when they talk about that?” he said. “They got a lot of excuses. That’s the way it is. That discussion doesn’t have to go on.”

Those 11 championships are certainly a factor when we're talking about the best coaches all-time, but they're kind of irrelevant as far as his work with the Knicks, and they certainly don't negate any criticism.

[mp3]

Phil supports Rambis as full time coach next year, all the players felt that Rambis talked down to them and Melo (and me) wants Thibs.

I've never wanted Dolan to step in before but I kind of want him to over rule Phil and hire a decent coach.

If Phil goes he goes so be it, Phil is a legend but I think he's stuck in the pasted with him methods and system, the league has changed and he should too.

[Andrew]

Oh, be careful what you wish for there. If Dolan overrules Phil, Isiah Thomas will probably end up getting the job...and Phil's job, too.

[Jeffx]

“There are critics? Who are these people? Why would people even say that? Do they have 11 championships to show you when they talk about that?” he said. “They got a lot of excuses. That’s the way it is. That discussion doesn’t have to go on.”

Those 11 championships are certainly a factor when we're talking about the best coaches all-time, but they're kind of irrelevant as far as his work with the Knicks, and they certainly don't negate any criticism.

Phil's arrogance is why he will fail. Pat Riley didn't run Showtime when he coached here. He adjusted to his talent. Phil has 11 rings as coach, but he's a novice GM. What A-List free agent wants to come to a toxic organization with a bad owner, a puppet coach and play an outdated system? But of course it's the media's fault LaMarcus Aldridge wanted no part of this mess.

[Andrew]

As I've said before, I think Red Auerbach's criticism is proving to be accurate. When handed a ready-made team that simply needed guidance, or in the case of the Lakers circa 2008-2010, when the right move was made to bolster the roster, Jackson has been successful. When it comes to building a team himself, however, it's not his strong suit, and his past success has made him stubborn in his approach.

Too bad Donnie Walsh was run out of town.

[Jeffx]

Dolan blamed Walsh for losing LeBron James, blew up Walsh's long term plans to get Anthony and pushed him out. He won't pull a power play with Phil.

But if I'm Dolan I say to Phil, "you want to hire your own coach, fine....but you have to stay for the duration of your contract. No opting out after next season."