PJax:

“I’d like to have a prior relationship with a coach so that we know that we’ve gone through some kind of issues together,” Jackson said last month. “We’ve dealt with some kind of battle situations. We’ve had conflicts, we’ve had disagreements and we know how to work things out. Those, I think, are part and parcel I think to having a relationship with people that can work together that can still disagree and come to terms.”

“But Derek is one of those lead guards that had a real good concept of the game and liked doing the skill work and the drill work that’s necessary to hold guys to the premises of how to execute. Watching these playoffs and seeing teams execute against pressure defense brings me right back to what basketball is all about. It’s about being prepared to do these types of things that break down defenses that have pressure in situations in playoff games like this. That’s the way I was schooled in coaching and that’s the way I intend to school a coach that comes to work for us.”

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/knicks/jackson-hooked-fisher-knicks-coach-article-1.1822926#ixzz34CrMx15y

Fish:

“I think I’ve always — for the last decade — really felt my purpose in life and calling was to be in a leadership position or some position of impact on other people,” he said earlier this month. “Somehow I’ve been blessed to positively impact other people.
“Coaching allows me to positively impact other people’s lives, to help people find success when they haven’t or have — working together for a common goal. There’s a love for helping other people. Not playing anymore — if that’s what it’s to be — coaching or being in the front office or being in a role where I can positively impact others and work together for a common goal is exciting to me.”

We're absolutely rolling the dice on this one. $25M/5 years on a rookie coach (more than what was offered to choice 1A) screams desperation - but I do like the fit more than Kerr. Little less headstrong, little more relatable to the players.

Here's hoping Phil does a lot of backseat driving on year 1.

MaTT4281 wrote:I don't have a problem with this signing - in fact, I'm optimistic for the Phisher era - but I am shocked at how unanimously thrilled everyone seems to be here (this board is divided on everything - bring back the Gallo vs. Wilson threads!)

We're absolutely rolling the dice on this one. $25M/5 years on a rookie coach (more than what was offered to choice 1A) screams desperation - but I do like the fit more than Kerr. Little less headstrong, little more relatable to the players.

Here's hoping Phil does a lot of backseat driving on year 1.

Fans want to extrapolate the past success of a coach, starphuch it, and feel good about it going forward. How do you do that with a guy that never coached? You don't. You look at the potential.

Its why many got so excited about Melo. Its not about how Gallo, wilson etc did, because that team like every NBA team is never frozen in time. Other trades could have been made, who knows. I know Melo did a great job but the win totals and playoff history with MELO on the knicks has not lived up to the expectation.

Knicks with Phil did not hire a starphuch coach. We will have players in who will play the system. Everyone on board. Phil wanted a guy he can trust. He got one.

He has Cartwright, perhaps walton for his bench. Guys he can trust.

holfresh wrote:

TeamBall wrote:

holfresh wrote:

nixluva wrote:

holfresh wrote:None of these guys were on the coaching radar before Phil got a job...In fact, Fisher wanted a front office job..But If I plan to lay on my couch next year and someone offered me 25 mil to coach, Ill take it...

You my friend are LOST!!! SMDH. You can't be this out of touch with what's going on that you can't see how this is a great day for the Knicks. Doesn't matter if people thought of Fish or Kerr before Phil. The thing is that Phil has put a lot of thought into how he wanted to build this franchise and that started with a fresh mind not a retread. He wants a clean mind that is open to new things and willing to learn. Someone who knows about winning and understands Phil and his ways. That's how you build a winning culture. This is a good thing and not something to knock because your mind is locked into a standard way of thinking and the same old way coaching tree.

Phil wants a coaching tree he can call his own...

Having some continuity from the top down for once seems like a good thing to me.

Who would you have wanted?

I don't think I would have an issue if Phil spoke to a full compliment of coaches and came out with a rookie head coach..He only spoke to people he knew...No Mark Jackson??..No Hollins...No Fred Hioberg??..Shaka Smart??..John Thompson Jr??..Billy Donovan, although he won't leave...Guys who have really done it..It's not only about X's and O's...Doc Rivers was an all motivational coach in Orlando and learned the X's and O's in Boston...Mark Jax could have done the same under Phil...I think a really good coach needs to be motivational as well...None of Phil disciples panned out, anywhere...Even JVG has a coaching tree...Let's see if Kerr runs the triangle in GS...

a) a great basketball mind

b) a young coach with ideas and energy

c) someone comfortable with the triangle and the style of play Phil wanted to instill

d) someone Phil had worked with, fought with, resolved conflicts with and had a prior relationship

e) a leader

You talking about Fisher laying on coach or taking $25mm? You clearly know nothing of this guy. If he retired he was probably going to move into the front office. Another option was politics and running for often... he's been upfront about that. This is a guy who is a leader and knows he's a leader.

Im very excited about the hire because of the relationship between head coach and the guy running the team. This is finally a long term fit. There may be growing pains but with these guys its easier to be patient than with.

Holfresh whats your real beef here? You had no problem throwing all your fanhood behind Isiah Thomas who had a very average career as an exec and coach before the Knicks, yet everything Phil does rubs you the wrong way. Whats the story?

MaTT4281 wrote:I don't have a problem with this signing - in fact, I'm optimistic for the Phisher era - but I am shocked at how unanimously thrilled everyone seems to be here (this board is divided on everything - bring back the Gallo vs. Wilson threads!)

We're absolutely rolling the dice on this one. $25M/5 years on a rookie coach (more than what was offered to choice 1A) screams desperation - but I do like the fit more than Kerr. Little less headstrong, little more relatable to the players.

Here's hoping Phil does a lot of backseat driving on year 1.

fishmike wrote:

nixluva wrote:This is a good move for this franchise. Phil told us what he wanted to do and he's proceeding with the plan. That's all we can ask right now. From what I've seen Phil has been doing the right things BB wise.

anyone can fail. Any number of bad things can happen to derail this franchise. But so far we have had great transparency with Phil and his motives and that + a guy with 11 rings pulling the strings is all you can ask for.

Yea i'm not really worried about the possibility that things don't work out as we hope. IMO success isn't luck. I've worked hard and smart in my life and had success in projects over the years and learned from the failures. In my experience you make sound decisions and things will work more often than not. The Spurs aren't just lucky. They got a break with Duncan and then followed that up with great planning and decision making. That's what I look forward to here with Phil changing the culture and making smarter decisions.