The usual suspects have been named by ESPN, specifically from the Phil Jackson stable of former players and assistant coaches.
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The New York Knicks fired coach Derek Fisher today, less than two seasons into his failed tenure as a first-time coach.
Fisher firing comes in the middle of his second season with the New York Knicks, according to the Associated Press.
Kurt Rambis will serve as the interim coach. The nine losses were by an average of 10.7 points, but six games were decided by eight points or less.
Barnes was also cited for writing on Instagram on New Year’s Day: “being stuck in the “triangle offense” w my ex & snitch, I mean former teammate & friend”. It also took Fisher too many games to try to figure out the player rotation.
The Knicks president told reporters that he felt the time was right to drop Derek Fisher as the team’s coach. This season brought increased expectations after the signings of players like Robin Lopez and Arron Afflalo, and the drafting of Kristaps Porzingis and Jerian Grant.
– Fisher finished with the second-worst winning percentage in Knicks history (.294), just ahead of Larry Brown (.280). Yet, Memphis Grizzlies forward Matt Barnes got the last laugh with a simple photo on Instagram. The system of basketball is what’s important, and this happens to be the system we’re familiar with, but it’s not paramount.
“He’ll go on to be a coach again”, Bryant said before Monday night’s game at Indiana. “He knows it’s serious, but still just a game”. “At some point. I’ll have to have a relationship with someone who coaches this team”. Fisher took some of the blame for the team’s rough starts after Sunday’s loss against the Nuggets. Fisher and the Knicks started with a 23-31 record.
Derek Fisher went 40-96 in his 1½ seasons as the Knicks’ head coach. Brooklyn had already dumped Lionel Hollins.
“This is a very talented team with strong character and I am confident they will succeed”, Fisher said.
“Obviously, I’m disappointed, but have learned an enormous amount from this experience and hope to grow from it”, he said.
It was understood that Fisher, who played for Jackson when he coached the Los Angeles Lakers and helped him win five championships there, would be learning on the job last season. The success of Luke Walton with the Golden State Warriors might be able to entice Jackson to pick him. Walton on several occasions has noted Jackson’s influence on his decision to enter coaching as well as his style on the bench.
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So while Thibodeau’s name is near and dear to the hearts of longtime Knicks fans – his rise began as an assistant here under the beloved Jeff Van Gundy – it’s hard to envision how he and Jackson could fit together.
