The New York Knicks Fire Derek Fisher, Finally
The New York Knicks fired head coach Derek Fisher on Monday. After the first 53 games of this season, the team was 23-31. They were also in the midst of a five-game losing streak. James Dolan and the Knicks leadership finally made the decision to fire Derek Fisher. Where does the team go from here? In two seasons, Fisher’s Knicks won a grand total of 40 games. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reports that Knicks officials were convinced Fisher was not transitioning to the role of head coach effectively. But now Dolan and Knicks official must find someone who can lead this franchise back to respectability.
Whoever leads the team going forward faces a huge challenge. There is a huge hole at the point guard position. Rookie phenom Kristaps Porziņģis has hit the rookie wall. Porzingis needs to be surrounded with more superstar talent to lead the Knicks back to greatness.
Fisher Was Hurt By Scandals
In October, Fisher and current Memphis Grizzlies Matt Barnes got into a fight in Los Angeles. The New York Post reported Matt Barnes drove 95 miles to
“beat the s—t out of him [Fisher]” when he found out Fisher was romancing his estranged wife…. The 6-foot-7 Barnes…made a fast break from his team’s California training camp when he was tipped off that Fisher was making time with sultry “Basketball Wives LA” star Gloria Govan in the home Barnes once shared with her.
In today’s press conference, GM Phil Jackson said about the incident with Barnes, “No one’s happy about that happened or what came out of that. It was embarrassing for us and for Derek. But that had nothing to do with what’s happened here today.” So once again, the Knicks are in turmoil, and assistant coach and ex-Laker Kurt Rambis has been named interim head coach.
James Dolan and Phil Jackson are lost. They can’t focus on the Knicks’ play on the court when all their focus is on tabloid news stories and the inexperience of a first-time head coach. What a disaster.
The Next Knicks Head Coach
With Phil Jackson’s insistence that the New York Knicks run his triangle offense, the next head coach should be a former Jackson disciple. The early speculation is that former Lakers’ player and NBA assistant coach Brian Shaw is under consideration. Another name in the mix is apparently Luke Walton.
The Knicks made the right decision to fire Derek Fisher. What confidence can Knicks fans have that they can make more than one right decision?