Phil Jackson is giving New York Knicks head coach Mike Woodson autonomy.
For now.
Speaking with reporters after practice on Wednesday, ahead of the Knicks’ Friday night about against the Toronto Raptors, Woodson revealed that Jackson hasn’t been as “hands on” with the team and is instead letting them do their thing, according to ESPN New York’s Ian Begley:
He’s letting me coach. That’s all you can ask at this point. At the end of the day, we’re trying to get this team in the playoffs and I’m sure when the time comes for Phil and I to talk we’ll talk.
[…]
I gather he’s kind of staying out of the way and letting me do my thing in terms of trying to get this team in the playoffs. That’s OK. I’m sure when the time comes he and I’ll have a chance to sit down and talk and see where we are. But first things first, guys, make no mistake about it, we’re in a playoff race trying to get this eighth spot. That’s where everybody’s focus should be.
How much longer the playoffs will remain a focus remains to be seen.
The Knicks’ recent two-game losing streak obliterated their postseason chances. For them to steal eighth place from the Atlanta Hawks, they must win their remaining four games and hope Atlanta goes 1-3, or they can go 3-1 and hope the Hawks lose out. If their playoff dreams were on life support before, they’re all but dead now.
Most people expect Woodson’s future to follow suit. Though he coached the Knicks to 54 wins last year, this season has been a crapshow rife with bad rotations, poor decisions and untimely confusion. One year removed from being a Coach of the Year candidate, Woodson now finds himself on the brink of becoming a glorified scapegoat.
In a way, his departure is about more than his personal shortcomings. Truth told, if the Knicks somehow managed to sneak into the playoffs and make a surprise Eastern Conference Finals appearance by dethroning both the Indiana Pacers and Miami Heat, I still doubt Woodson would keep his job. At this point, there doesn’t seem to be anything he can do, because he’s not one of Jackson’s guys.
Jackson has the kind of power no New York-based executive has had before him. Owner James Dolan isn’t going to give him agida over anything. And now that he has his paws on this team, he’ll want to leave his mark by bringing in his own people.
That could mean hiring Steve Kerr. That could mean hiring Derek Fisher. That could mean crossing his fingers and hoping like hell the Chicago Bulls’ front office goes on a stupid pill-binging, cocaine-snorting excursion that prompts them to do the unthinkable—and yet conceivable—and fire Tom Thibodeau.
Whatever it is Jackson plans on doing or hopes to do, bet on it not including Woodson. He had a good run (sort of), but his tumultuous tenure appears to have run its course. So cherish these last four games, Woody, win or lose, playoffs or not. They may very well be your last as coach of the Knicks.
Dan Favale is a firm believer in the three-pointer as well as the notion that defense doesn’t always win championships. His musings can be found at Bleacherreport.com in addition to TheHoopDoctors.com.
