Breen will ask Jax, JVG about Knicks on ABC
The Knicks will be a topic of discussion during today's ABC broadcast of the opening game of the Spurs-Suns series, which tips-off at 3 p.m. Eastern. Sometime during the broadcast, play-by-play announcer Mike Breen is expected to broach the subject of the Knicks coaching vacancy with his partners, Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy, whom Donnie Walsh acknowledged are on his list of candidates.
Both Jackson and Van Gundy will offer a few thoughts -- really more of a statement -- about the Knicks job.
As you know, Fixers, I have been promoting JVG on this blog. It is most likely he would only talk to Walsh if he is contacted, but would not approach the Knicks looking for an interview because he would be happy to see Jackson get the job. The two are very close.
Van Gundy, who as you all know resigned as the Knicks coach in Dec. 2001 amid uncertainty about his future, said this week that he had no plans to coach in 2008-09. But those close to him know the one job that would always make him bend the rules is New York, where he was one of the most popular coaches in franchise history.
One longshot scenario could be that Jackson asks Van Gundy to join him on the bench as an associate head coach. A person close to Van Gundy who I spoke with yesterday said he's be surprised if Van Gundy would take an assistant coach position.
There will be others for Walsh to consider, including former Chicago Bulls coach Scott Skiles, who has already reached out to Walsh through an intermediary. It is believed that Memphis coach John Calipari has kept tabs on the situation; he has a mutual-friend connection with Walsh, but isn’t believed to be a top choice. Sacramento Kings assistant Chuck Person, a Walsh protégé, is likely on the interview list for some capacity. Longtime Knicks assistant Herb Williams will get an interview, but doesn’t appear to be among the favorites. And highly-regarded Celtics assistant Tom Thibodeau will have to seek permission to interview during the playoffs if he wants a shot.
As far as Isiah still remaining with the organization and the outrage some of you have, consider the alternative. James Dolan took the step not many thought he would make by hiring a respected basketball man to take over the franchise and gave him full autonomy. If the one caveat was to keep Isiah employed so he can "work" off the remainder of his contract instead of giving yet another person a hefty severance to walk away, I think it's a reasonable compromise.
I don't expect we'll see or hear much from Thomas in his new role.
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Jeff Van Gun-dy
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Jeff Van Gun-dy
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Jeff Van Gun-dy
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Jeff Van Gun-dy
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Butch Beard on the short list? Heard he's doing a bang-up job over at Morgan St.!
If both candidates are willing, bringing Van Gundy back as coach with Jackson as an assistant would be brilliant.
Happy to see today that the NYTimes has named Mario Elie as a possible interview. He's been building his coaching resume for some time now with San Antonio and Golden State. Huge character guy who led his teams despite being one of the lesser talented athletes. A guy that beat you by imposing his will on the game and making winning plays. That's the kind of coach we need to turn these guys around. There is no cavalry coming over the hill, the only changes will be subtractions, so the only way to win in the near future is to play tough, aggressive, defensive minded ball and outwork teams.
One of the joys of a Mark Jackson candidacy is Mark Jackson jokes. Old timers will remember the fun to be had at Mark's expense. Just saw this one from Mike Breen:
Knicks play-by-play man Mike Breen interjected that in considering Jackson, teams must be aware he might install himself as a player/coach in an effort to move from second to first on the career assists list. His 10,334 trail John Stockton by 5,472. "In the 13 or 14 years it will take him to pass Stockton," Breen cracked, "he could destroy a franchise."
Alan, the people who are disgusted with Isiah being retained aren't worried about seeing or hearing from him in his new role. We're worried about Dolan seeing and hearing from Isiah on a regular basis as he works behind the scenes to get back the power that he lost.
The more Isiah is around Dolan and the closer they get, the worse it is for the Knicks and Knicks fans. There's no disputing that.
Remember Isiah jumping on the corporate jet to Memphis when he learned that Dolan would be meeting with Larry Brown? He knew that as long as he had Dolan's ear, he would be ok no matter what anybody else said. Unbelievably, that's still the case.
Isiah is a power and money hungry snake while Dolan is a moron with a man crush on Isiah. That's a horrible combination and needs to be broken up.
I LIKE THE IDEA OF JAX AND VAN GUNDY AS ASST
would van gundy really do that?that is curious...
i am still freaked out that walsh said he will be bouncing ideas off of isiah "i want my job back" thomas.
why would you add isiah to your inner circle?
he is an idiot and a snake
he built this carwreck of a team and now walsh wants to get his ideas...
STRANGE....it smacks of dolan influence
i think walsh is making a big mistake keeping isiah inside MSG!
it makes me question walsh's decision making process...
if he thinks isiah has anything to offer helping the knicks that is not draft related he is a FOOL.
Isiah Thomas will be to Jim Dolan what Marc Berman and Peaceman are to Stephon Marbury.
Just another obedient puppy to run errands.
What about hiring Van Gundy AND Jackson and having Jackson gain some bench experience behind JVG.
That's what I'd love as a fan and they'd work together well.
"As far as Isiah still remaining with the organization and the outrage some of you have, consider the alternative. James Dolan took the step not many thought he would make by hiring a respected basketball man to take over the franchise and gave him full autonomy. If the one caveat was to keep Isiah employed so he can "work" off the remainder of his contract instead of giving yet another person a hefty severance to walk away, I think it's a reasonable compromise."
the alternative to me would have been to fully kick isiah to the curb (Layden wasn't rewarded with courside seats for the job he did) and actually consider hiring (or at least interviewing) someone else who isn't necessarily so Isiah-friendly like Jerry C. or Jerry W., who, at the very least, are Walsh's equals.
and what "work" will isiah do?
Is it opposite day? in other words, would walsh ask for isiah's opinion and than do the contrary, like George from Seinfeld when he started to work for the yankees?
Did Mike Breen play ball at all . Was not sure if he played Division 3, because he is always trying to make the audience believe he played
Donnie needs to reassign the whole roster to the D league.
I don't like the Spurs and the Suns but I like seeing them beat each other up. It reminds me of the old Knicks & Pacers rivalry.
Agent Zero choked against The Queen today. Another Automatic Gag for Gilbert. Pistolwhips topped by The Queen and her court.
If Jeff Van Gundy wants to come back...he ought to be Donnie's first choice. He is one of of the greatest things to happen to the Knicks organization. It's more than just fate that the day he left is the day everything went to the toilet for this franchise. Perhaps if the Dolan's had shown some loyalty, and dedication (and perhaps if scott layden had never graced us with his deplorably presence) JVG would be here and we wouldn't have had to endure Isiah Thomas and Larry Brown for that matter. Jeff Van Gundy can heal the misery which has plauged us Knicks fan for 4 years.
Let's get this straight, knowing how far ABC's journalism has fallen...Exhibit A the Obama - Clinton debate the other night...that it is news that an announcer is going to ask the color announcers about the Knicks job? Has the bar been set so low for journalism that this blogger, the Knicks beat reporter, thinks it is news that an announcer asks a question. Where is Murrow when you need him?
let's get
ewing
m.jaxz
oakley or starks
on the coaching roster..
the most important thing other than we need a coach is an interior defender we don't need another season of swiss cheese D.
stay tuned for more KnowLedge
How about Pat Riley?
i don't really understand the reasoning behind choosing jackson. can somebody explain this to me? he doesnt have any experience, not even as an assistant. what makes him qualified to jump right into the head coaching spot? especially for the knicks, who cant afford to really gamble this time around
Washington 84, Cleveland 84, 2:38 left on the clock.
Agent Zero bricks three straight and commits a couple of slaps.
The Queen sinks a pair of jumpers.
Cavs win.
Donnie Walsh'd be a damn fool to bring Agent Zero and his luxury ride with the Automatic Choke to New York after his Marbury Redux Saturday afternoon.
larry,
Don't be too hard on the scribe. He's a decent hockey writer. With two brothers. Both named Darrell.
It's a very bad omen; and a worse decision by Donnie Walsh to keep isiah thomas in any capacity in New York.
I, for one, am very close to cancelling the Knicks, cablevision, merchandise, and tickets for life as a result.
Donnie Walsh......I do know basketball and I know you must know better. The one thing you didn't need when starting this job is less sleep. And with that one extremely toxic decision to retain the man you know should not be; will/should cause many things that you do not need.
Unfortunately for us here in New York; you got out-negotiated by yourself for all the wrong reasons and you know it. But maybe even worse for you; is that we New Yorkers know it.
You were gone for too long; Donnie. You obviously forget where you came from. This city never sleeps.