http://www.nypost.com/sports/knicks/25850.htm

LAIMBEER ASSURES KNICKS FANS: 'ALL I DO IS WIN'

By MARC BERMAN

July 8, 2005 -- LAS VEGAS — Bill Laimbeer has a message for skeptical Knicks fans: I'm a winner.

With Larry Brown's Knicks candidacy on shaky ground after his wife Shelly guaranteed in The Post he'll be back in Detroit next year, Laimbeer, the coach of the WNBA's Detroit Shock, has a legitimate shot at the Knicks head coaching job if team president Isiah Thomas bypasses interim coach Herb Williams.

One good sign for Laimbeer, The Post has learned, is Thomas called him on the phone two days after the NBA draft to ask him what he thought of the Knicks' four young additions: draft picks Channing Frye, David Lee and Nate Robinson; former Sun Quentin Richardson.

Hiring Laimbeer would be a risky move for Thomas. Laimbeer has coached only women. He has no NBA coaching experience, not even as an assistant. But Williams didn't set the league on fire either as interim coach last season (16-27).

Laimbeer cleared up a misperception that he has told a Piston official he will get the Knicks' job if Brown doesn't.

"That is not true, I didn't say that," Laimbeer told The Post from his cell phone before his Shock faced the Washington Mystics at MCI Center. "I basically said, I think if Larry Brown was not going to coach the Pistons and was going to coach somewhere else, he would be the No. 1 Knicks priority. If not, I felt I was right there — a person right there in having an opportunity for the job. Not that I'd get it. But I'd be in the mix. The way it came out wasn't right but I could see the jump to it when it's retold third-hand."

Laimbeer, a central figure of the two championship runs by the Pistons' "Bad Boys," led the Shock to a 25-9 record and the WNBA championship in 2003. The Shock were 17-17 last season, knocked out in the first round of the playoffs. Without their star, Swin Cash (just activated), the Shock have bumbled to a 6-7 record this season.



"I grew up in a team atmosphere; all coaching situations are a team thing," Laimbeer said. "You have staff, management, personnel, video people. X's and O's are implemented, but it's a mindset of winning and I've won my whole life. It's a mental thing. It's about being a leader. I'm not saying I'm the greatest leader in the world. But all I do is win. I enjoy winning."

Laimbeer was one of the dirtiest players around and was not well-liked at the Garden. His abrasive coaching style could backfire with the baby Knicks, whereas Williams' softer demeanor could be a better fit. Thomas is using these months to create a database for the future, so Laimbeer would be in line if Williams doesn't get through the season.

Laimbeer's not concerned about Knick fan reaction. "I would answer that question by going back to when I'd walk around the streets of Boston," Laimbeer said. "Fans would come up to me and say the same thing, I hated you when you played, but we miss it now when it was so competitive. When I was in New York doing ESPN two years ago, New Yorkers would say it too. I was competitive and the team was very successful and there was a fair amount of animosity between some teams back then."

Laimbeer has had two three-hour interviews with Thomas, his former Pistons teammate. Williams said over the weekend Laimbeer shouldn't feel so ****y, saying he was "confident" he would be the man if Brown stays in Detroit.

"Have you ever seen a comment from me that I'm confident?" Laimbeer asked. "We had two very good interviews. Isiah is a great basketball man. The rest is up to the Knicks organization."

I prefer him to Herb.

Let Herb take a shot with the new roster we have, if he fails, and no better candidates become available, Laimbeer will be an option.

His abrasive coaching style could backfire with the baby Knicks, whereas Williams' softer demeanor could be a better fit.

This guy gets paid to write?

I can't remember where I saw this, but they had a piece on tv about laimbeer and they seemed to emphasize he doesn't scream at players, that he's rather low key- not sure how you get abrasive out of that?

And does berman watch games? Soft demeanor didn't exactly cut it here with this group with Herb and Lenny & even Chaney is 'soft'.

I've said I didn't see Laimbeer as such an upgrade over herb, but maybe change for change's sake is the approach.

I say get the WWE involved with a cage match. Whoever climbs out, gets the seat

Posted by Rich:

Posted by jaydh:

Let Herb take a shot with the new roster we have, if he fails, and no better candidates become available, Laimbeer will be an option.

Herb had his shot, and overplayed his vets, and failed to give the young players playing time. The result was a worse draft position and less development. To me, that showed bad judgment and poor character.

Put yourself in Herb's position...you were an interim head coach with no garauntee for next year. You could either play your veterans and try to win as many games as possible (even though it would hurt the team's lottery position), or you could play the young players, have an even worse record than before, and never get a head coaching job again in the NBA. we would have all liked the Knicks to tank at the end but it is unfair to say that Herb shouldn't have played the veterans, given his situation.

Laimbeer has not won a SINGLE NBA game. Ever.

What gives Laimbeer the advantage over Herb Williams who has toiled for the Knicks for the past 13 years

What REALLY makes Laimbeer that much better than Herb?

Please provide a clear, substantive answer.

Posted by Rich:

Posted by jaydh:

Let Herb take a shot with the new roster we have, if he fails, and no better candidates become available, Laimbeer will be an option.

Herb had his shot, and overplayed his vets, and failed to give the young players playing time. The result was a worse draft position and less development. To me, that showed bad judgment and poor character.

couldn't have said it better myself. Herb had his shot! its not like the players were completely unfamiliar with his style. He's been on the Knicks sideline for yrs! Why give him a chance only to fire him in December after a terrible start

Isiah should just coach the players he drafted

Posted by misterearl:

Laimbeer has not won a SINGLE NBA game. Ever.

What gives Laimbeer the advantage over Herb Williams who has toiled for the Knicks for the past 13 years

What REALLY makes Laimbeer that much better than Herb?

Please provide a clear, substantive answer.

The Knicks need a personality that will challenge his players and say and do some off the wall stuff.....get out there and defend the team and attack the media.

Herb is a quite humble Rastafarian type of guy. He's has no worries and is just Irie all de time.....


Bill is the charecter that the Knicks need in those trenches to light a fire on the ass of these Knicks when they need it.

Bill also has a savy, almost ****y swagger about him. Hopefully that will reflect on the court.

Besides.......Doc Rivers did it! Why not Bill Laimbeer? I think Isiah is just wasting time not hiring him already.



[Edited by - enyspree on 07/08/2005 11:33:54]

Well, Herb got a shot and his team laid down on him down the stretch of the season. This gives him a -1. Laimbeer has yet to get a chance, so he is at a 0. Laimbeer wins.