The Fisher firing is evidence of a major flaw in Jackson's vision and the way he's been running the show. He's not around to mentor Fisher, yet he wants to hire another coach who barely has head coaching experience in Rambis solely to prove the Triangle works.

Tom Thibodeau is a top 5 NBA coach. JVG is a top 5 basketball mind. Both guys have ties to the Knicks, history and WANT to be here. Not to prove their personal philosophy is correct. They want to win in NY. That's it. No ego. Just win in NY.

Dolan should let Phil go back to LA if that's what he wants to do. Thank you, Phil, very much for KP and even Rolo and Lance Thomas. Thank you.

Have the real Knicks running the show again. JVG as President of Basketball Operations. Thibs as coach. Give JVG carte blanche to build up the basketball staff any way he wants to.

That's my vote. Hand the keys back to the guy we never should've let get away.

fishmike wrote:Cant say I would have an issue.... the problem is Dolan's version of the "real Knicks" would be to make Allan Houston president

Houston can be JVG's assistant GM or something. Let him get some on the job training first.

crzymdups wrote:Phil is clearly half-invested in this job. He wants to install someone here who is going to coach exactly like him and it's never going to happen. He wants to go back to LA half the time or more.

The Fisher firing is evidence of a major flaw in Jackson's vision and the way he's been running the show. He's not around to mentor Fisher, yet he wants to hire another coach who barely has head coaching experience in Rambis solely to prove the Triangle works.

Tom Thibodeau is a top 5 NBA coach. JVG is a top 5 basketball mind. Both guys have ties to the Knicks, history and WANT to be here. Not to prove their personal philosophy is correct. They want to win in NY. That's it. No ego. Just win in NY.

Dolan should let Phil go back to LA if that's what he wants to do. Thank you, Phil, very much for KP and even Rolo and Lance Thomas. Thank you.

Have the real Knicks running the show again. JVG as President of Basketball Operations. Thibs as coach. Give JVG carte blanche to build up the basketball staff any way he wants to.

That's my vote. Hand the keys back to the guy we never should've let get away.

+1000000000000. Sign me up. I was thinking Tom Penn/Thibodeau (Penn's a smart guy who knows his talent and knows how the NBA works--been on my radar for a long time) but I would gladly take JVG/Thibodeau moving forward over Jackson and whatever puppet triangle coach he brings in. This guy dismisses more than half the talent out there because it doesn't fit his system, then flip side, players are outspoken about not wanting to play in his system. I mean what does that say? Speaks volumes to me...Now we're hearing (per Wojo) that one of the reasons Fisher may have been canned is because he actually tried to implement different schemes/strategies to add to/enhance the triangle and apparently Phil didn't want him to.. Joke. Rigid old geezer. F outta here with this dude's tunnel vision already. His way or the highway...Not a fan of Phil or his system as you can tell... With Melo clearly on the downside, I just feel this is gonna end badly. Gun to my head--I vote we turn the page on all of this asap--Melo, Phil Jackson, the triangle--ALL OF IT!

fishmike wrote:JVG will never come back though... pretty sure they trashed him when he left and view his exit as quitting on the team.

If Phil leaves our only hope is that Dolan doesnt hire a basketball person, rather a sports person like Checketts. Someone who understands the value of putting a team and proper management in place. Dolan's problem is he bypassed that hire thinking he hire the BB people, but all he really does is overly trust guys like Layden and Isiah who simply arent up to the job.

Fair enough. I think JVG is one of those guys who understands the business. He's been a great coach and also had the perspective of covering the entire league as a broadcaster. That kind of perspective greatly helped Steve Kerr.

I think JVG has made it clear he'd come back - he'd have to be wooed a little though. And be given full control of basketball decisions. You think JVG and Thibs would turn down a chance to turn around the Knicks? I really don't.

Anyway, I know it is likely a pipe dream. Though I think there is A LOT of truth to the rumors of Phil thinking about going back to LA this summer. I would say it is probably around 50/50 that he opts out or not.

Now Thibs is still very much a possibility IMO. The coach spot is the most likely chance to bring in a guy that most NY'ers want to see get the job. It's a slim chance that Rambis does so well that he sticks, but if he is only so, so then I think Thibs gets an interview.

dacash wrote:After seeing how thibs runs down his players, do the knicks really want him around melo?

yeah, that's fair. I do worry about that with Thibs.

crzymdups wrote:

wargames wrote:I am done with all dream scenarios, because even when they happen the knicks still struggle.

I honestly think the best case is that Phil stay here for five years and really build something.

But it does not sound like he wants to stick it out. And the Fisher firing really feels like it came about because Phil wasn't around enough.

I don't know if a part-time guy can really lead a culture change.

You gotta lead by example. How you gonna get on your coach for flying to CA on an off day when that's what you yourself do all the time? Phil set an example for Fisher and then fired him for it. People talk about the arrogance of Fisher slamming Rondo in the press - Phil slams players in the press all the time! Shane Larkin has small hands! etc etc etc.

Anyway, I just think Phil has to decide to commit to this job or he should take his bow and not do it. Doing it part time isn't gonna work.

And I am deeply grateful he gave us KP.

Surely Phil will want to give Rambis every opportunity to succeed. If he fails then he will be deep into another head coaching search. So Phil would still be far from finished with what he started. It seems that at the least Phil is here for another year.