The Knicks do not own their first-round pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, so tanking does not benefit them. That’s why the reported firing of head coach Derek Fisher, a Phil Jackson acolyte who coached the Knicks to the fourth-worst record in the league since 2014, is a clear statement on his potential.
The Knicks are 23-31 this year, 12th in the Eastern Conference, and a putrid 1-9 in their last 10 games. Often, they are blown out of the game right from the start, which Fisher accepted blame for after they lost to the Nuggets Sunday.
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“I’ll take some responsibility for it -- whatever is or isn’t happening -- so that we’re ready to play right at the tipoff,” Fisher said. “I think we have to figure that out.” He also said the Knicks "lacked readiness, whether mental or physical,” before tip-off. He was also involved in an embarrassing off-court incident in the preseason in which he engaged in a physical confrontation with Grizzlies forward Matt Barnes at the home of Barnes’ ex-wife, reality TV star Gloria Govan.
Fisher was in the second-year of a five-year contract.
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Kurt Rambis is expected to be named interim coach, but speculation will heat up shortly about team president Phil Jackson descending courtside and trying to save the team.
Jackson, 70, is an unlikely candidate to take over the Knicks because of his age and failing health. Two options that should be at the forefront of the discussion are Tom Thibodeau, who went 394-295 as the Bulls head coach for five seasons, and was an assistant coach with the Knicks from 1996-2003.
Another option could be recently fired Cavaliers coach David Blatt, who excelled internationally, and would have the chance to coach rookie Kristaps Porzingis, who starred in Latvia before coming to the United States. Blatt was 83-40, and the Cavaliers were 30-11 (1st place in the East) at the time of his firing.
NBA insider Brian Windhorst has also mentioned Luke Walton, who replaced Steve Kerr earlier this season with the Warriors and went 39-4 in his stead, as well as Brian Shaw.
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