nyknickzingis wrote:Jackson showing his smarts with the Robin Lopez pick up. 24/15/3 last night. The team has been able to win at a decent rate without Porzingis. Imagine the team with a better more consistent Porzingis and a big upgrade at one of the guard spots.

Phil's doing plenty good for the team. Rambis hasn't been very impressive, but he hasn't shown to be incompetent either. I rate his job as a C or B-. I don't think Fisher was a better coach. Rambis didn't have the team when healthy, or when Afflalo was playing very well. He inherited the team when they were already on a downward spiral, many players were unhealthy and Afflalo totally lost what he was bringing early on in the season.

Question we should ask is if Fisher had stayed on finished with 32 or 33 wins, would we all be so hot if Phil kept him another season? I don't think so. I think Fisher and Rambis are on the same level, but I trust Rambis a little more because of experience and his consistency in strategic methods. When you break down our Knicks talent wise, 32 or 33 wins is right about where they should be. Coaching this season hasn't added value, but I don't think they've lost value. Look at the Kings, they have 31 wins and far more talent than us with a proven good coach in George Karl. Just because Thibs had success in Chicago, doesn't automatically mean he'll translate that success to NY. Chicago was built on very good defensive base. Knicks don't have the same quality defenders. Jimmy Butler, Noah, Gibson, Deng. Obviously I'd rate him a better coach than Rambis, but I question whether any coach can make the current Knicks set up more more competitive than Fisher/Rambis did. Huge holes at point guard, shooting guard, and also no consistent 2nd all-star or scoring option to Melo (KP is that sometimes, but not consistently yet). This was a 35 win team at best, in my opinion, guys.

One thing being overlooked is that with Rambis in charge, Phil Jackson himself is adding some value as a coach instead of just an executive. This is an area where there can be no dispute on how great he was. He was the greatest coach in the NBA ever. He'll be attending practices, taking a more vocal part of all the aspects. Already mentioned how Phil is more involved in the practices since Rambis took over. I think in a year we'll have a different take on this if it happens. I am not upset because I think either way we're in a good position. If Rambis works out with Phil being the shadow coach, we'll be in the playoffs and a better FA destination in 2017. If it doesn't work out, Phil's back in LA, we'll have a high lottery pick in 2017 and Porzingis nearing the prime of his career with lots of capspace and a new executive to take Phil's spot. Longterm we're in a good place either way. Worst thing we can do right now is try to cash in on veteran free agents on longterm deals, hire a proven coach and become the Sacramento Kings type of franchise, or the type of franchise we've been before so many times.

this is a good post. when afflalo is the big free agent signing, fisher was essentially forced to start him. the mistake he made was not benching afflalo sooner, but then that would have created the sort of discord that a young and fragile team could not really afford. does not help that afflalo is not a real pro, and sulks and gets disgruntled. i like it that rambis and jackson are working together far more closely to the effect of trying to really institute the triangle going forward, as opposed to the half-measures that were so plain to see in so many games and possessions. i have no issue with rambis being hired as the coach of the knicks for two or three years, which would coincide with melo's contract ending. make of that what you will.

crzymdups wrote:

nixluva wrote:
I actually don't believe that Phil feels this way. So far really it's all just rumors. Phil never fully committed to the idea of Rambis getting the job without earning it. He said that Rambis had to perform, in order to keep the job.

You realize this is not rumors, right? There are many people who actually cover the team on a daily basis and have behind the scenes access saying Rambis is his top choice. Even Ramona Shelburne essentially reported this in her article from a few weeks back - she said he wanted Rambis and he might offer to coach home games to make it happen.

Really what "wanting Rambis" means for Phil is someone he knows will run the Triangle.

And we all know that's true. Phil has been pushing the Triangle and his legacy rather than what's best for the team since the moment he arrived. The one exception, thank god, is the KP draft pick.

It is just rumors. You really think Phil tells these idiot media people what he's planning on doing?? No way in hellz does he tell the media. The only people in the Knicks organization that might know are J.Dolan and S.Mills and that's it.