The New York Knicks on Friday named Mike Woodson their next coach, removing the interim tag from his job title.

Woodson took over as coach of the Knicks an interim basis when Mike D'Antoni stepped down March 14. Under Woodson, the Knicks finished the regular season 18-6 and in seventh place in the Eastern Conference.

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He coached the team to a win in Game 4 of its first-round playoff series against the Miami Heat, which snapped the franchise's NBArecord 13-game postseason losing streak.

When D'Antoni first stepped down, Phil Jackson, the former Knicks player and Bulls and Lakers coach, and Kentucky coach John Calipari were mentioned as potential replacements.

But there was no indication that the 66-year-old Jackson would come out of retirement -- one team source said the Knicks did not reach out to Jackson -- and Calipari repeatedly has denied interest in leaving Kentucky. New York was hesitant to reach out to Jackson because of his age and the hefty contract offer that it would likely take to entice him to take the job.

Woodson previously coached the Atlanta Hawks for six seasons, leading the team to the playoffs three times.
http://espn.go.com/new-york/nba/story/_/id/7972933/new-york-knicks-name-mike-woodson-next-coach-remove-interim-tag

gunsnewing wrote:Alan Hahn Twitter
Knicks statement on Woodson: “Mike took over the team under challenging circumstances and made it clear, starting on day one, that he was going to hold every player on our roster accountable. We saw a significant improvement since Mike took over and believe our team will only keep improving under Mike’s direction.” -- MSG executive chairman James Dolan
8 minutes ago

"significant improvement"...Dolan's favorite phrase.

Ira wrote:Good move. He's a solid coach who's expertise is defense. I'd like to see him take a page out of Phil Jackson's book and hire a good offensively minded coach.

Certainly would not be a bad idea. I was never a fan of bringing in Woodson as defensive coordinator because I didn't see how the defense would improve when system and offensive philosophy was still going to be Dantoni's SSOL. It improved somewhat but under Woodson's system once he finally took over the Knicks became a defensively oriented team of 12 guys buying in. New York and Playoff basketball,

In this case bringing in a good offensive coach who's system fits with Woodson's defense and the personnel would be great for Woodson & Knicks

CashMoney wrote:50+ wins....here we come!

I truly do wish you well but you have a very tall and very steep mountain to climb.

If during the course of your new contract you become tired of the mismanagement, Dolan's lack of vision or Melo's sticky hands, you are more than welcome to pull a .

Lets all raise our glasses to usher in a new era of NYC basketball!

loweyecue wrote:Can someone please poison Dolan?

Bonn1997 wrote:

loweyecue wrote:Can someone please poison Dolan?

I heard that he left ownership of the team to Isiah Thomas in his will.

Maybe they can poison each other? Dolan to get out of whatever the Snake is holding over him, and then Isiah to speed up the transition of ownership?