Official Knicks Coaching Search Thread pt. 2 (update: poll added 6/18/25)

[thebuzzardman]

ok, so the video says it was introduced last october. was it Jenkins that broke it out?

I thought those new euro assistants were hired this season, so it couldn't have been them.

someone's timeline is funky here.

It's the Finnish coaches system. Not Jenkins. Who was fired.

F*ck hiring White Fizdale.

Incorrect, this system Memphis used last season was brought in by LaRoche. It worked well at first, as Grizzlies led the league in scoring after 25 games, but the gimmick got found out, and LaRoche was fired along with Jenkins. The offense favoured by Iisalo is very different and focuses on P&R with a top-scoring ballhandler. After he was appointed interim HC they started running Morant-Edey pick'n'rolls and Ja in general was restored to a dominant role. Iisalo teams with TJ Shorts (who is now coming to Memphis) in that role had the highest offensive rating in Europe both in Bonn and Paris.

Do you search for the words Finn or Finnish regularly?

[thebuzzardman]

Why? I like him based on vibes and post game press conferences etc - seems like an incredibly smart basketball mind.

Coaching is a lot more than that obviously - managing the players egos, motivating them, the systems ran on offense/defense - rotations, in game adjustments, etc etc

But from what little I know about him - I don't see why he would be a disaster.

Yes. Let's hire the rah rah guy from the Grizzlies. That worked out well in the past.

I don't view him as a rah rah guy - I view him as a smart Xs and Os coach.

Two different assistants ran his offense. Who will run it on the Knicks? If he brings a good assistant, I guess. Maybe.

[thebuzzardman]

It sounds like this season's Memphis offense had nothing to do with Jenkins then?

We would have to go back to the 2022-23 season when they were last healthy under him and the Grizzlies were 15th in offensive rating. The Kings were actually 1st under Mike Brown that year...interesting

Grizzlies were 4th offense in 2021-2022 the year they won 56 games (also 6th in defense)

2022-23 they were 11th offense on nba.com and 3rd defensively. If you look at their roster it's hard to imagine it could/should be rated very high offensively. Morant is a shoot first PG that can't shoot (46/30/75 splits that year) taking 20 shots a game. They have a lot of good to very good players that are athletic and can defend etc - but if Bane is your #2 and Dillon Brooks your #3 essentially that's a questionable offensive roster at best. Also Morant missed 23 games, JJJ missed 19, bane missed 24

2021-22 when their offense was 4th it was largely driven by Ja having a great year as brooks was their #2 option with 43/31/85 splits

Well, OG and Mikal aren't that great offensively so it's possible the Knicks have found their man!

[GONYK]

Yes. Let's hire the rah rah guy from the Grizzlies. That worked out well in the past.

I don't view him as a rah rah guy - I view him as a smart Xs and Os coach.

Two different assistants ran his offense. Who will run it on the Knicks? If he brings a good assistant, I guess. Maybe.

My guess would be Borrego. We're keeping tabs on people we interviewed the first time around.

[Jay10]

Read on Twitter

It would have been nice for Shams to say this before he started a sh*tstorm over this

Have to get those clicks first.

[god shammgod]

yes, teams find out through back channels if coaches are interested in leaving. then they ask permission. that's what happens all the time. asking a bunch of teams officially to interview their coach prior to this doesn't happen. and you know how you know this....because you can't point to one other time it's ever happened lol

[Jay10]

Does Leon ask Woj to come out of retirement this one last time just to troll Shams?

[stuporman]

Yes. Let's hire the rah rah guy from the Grizzlies. That worked out well in the past.

But does he have a 'take that for data' viral moment? This is the crucial point.

There's some clips of him yelling, so that might qualify

What about cussing at reporters in a press conference...then he's our guy.

[NYKinMIA]

yes, teams find out through back channels if coaches are interested in leaving. then they ask permission. that's what happens all the time. asking a bunch of teams officially to interview their coach prior to this doesn't happen. and you know how you know this....because you can't point to one other time it's ever happened lol

we're innovating the coaching search game.

this shyt is so meta! (whatever that means)

[BigJimFinn]

It's the Finnish coaches system. Not Jenkins. Who was fired.

F*ck hiring White Fizdale.

Incorrect, this system Memphis used last season was brought in by LaRoche. It worked well at first, as Grizzlies led the league in scoring after 25 games, but the gimmick got found out, and LaRoche was fired along with Jenkins. The offense favoured by Iisalo is very different and focuses on P&R with a top-scoring ballhandler. After he was appointed interim HC they started running Morant-Edey pick'n'rolls and Ja in general was restored to a dominant role. Iisalo teams with TJ Shorts (who is now coming to Memphis) in that role had the highest offensive rating in Europe both in Bonn and Paris.

Do you search for the words Finn or Finnish regularly?

No, I follow the Knicks team forum as it is likely the most active one, and the team was interesting this season; so is the resulting coach situation.

[TheGreenArrow]

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=W09F6FrMDfp5_y1gKYgF1g

According to SNY's NBA Insider Ian Begley, the read on the Knicks' coaching situation is that it will continue into next week and heading into the weekend Taylor Jenkins and Mike Brown are among the coaches on New York's radar.
With regard to the Knicks getting denied permission to speak with current head coaches, at least one of those coaches was able to benefit financially from New York’s interest, per Begley

[TheGreenArrow]

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=W09F6FrMDfp5_y1gKYgF1g

[thebuzzardman]

Incorrect, this system Memphis used last season was brought in by LaRoche. It worked well at first, as Grizzlies led the league in scoring after 25 games, but the gimmick got found out, and LaRoche was fired along with Jenkins. The offense favoured by Iisalo is very different and focuses on P&R with a top-scoring ballhandler. After he was appointed interim HC they started running Morant-Edey pick'n'rolls and Ja in general was restored to a dominant role. Iisalo teams with TJ Shorts (who is now coming to Memphis) in that role had the highest offensive rating in Europe both in Bonn and Paris.

Do you search for the words Finn or Finnish regularly?

No, I follow the Knicks team forum as it is likely the most active one, and the team was interesting this season; so is the resulting coach situation.

Unfortunately, the Knicks seem to be settling for Brown or Jenkins, so interesting might not be the operative word anymore.

[TheGreenArrow]

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=W09F6FrMDfp5_y1gKYgF1g

Wow Austin absolutely obliterates the Knicks here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not a good look at all for Leon and co!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[kNicksGmen]

It sounds like this season's Memphis offense had nothing to do with Jenkins then?

We would have to go back to the 2022-23 season when they were last healthy under him and the Grizzlies were 15th in offensive rating. The Kings were actually 1st under Mike Brown that year...interesting

Grizzlies were 4th offense in 2021-2022 the year they won 56 games (also 6th in defense)

2022-23 they were 11th offense on nba.com and 3rd defensively. If you look at their roster it's hard to imagine it could/should be rated very high offensively. Morant is a shoot first PG that can't shoot (46/30/75 splits that year) taking 20 shots a game. They have a lot of good to very good players that are athletic and can defend etc - but if Bane is your #2 and Dillon Brooks your #3 essentially that's a questionable offensive roster at best. Also Morant missed 23 games, JJJ missed 19, bane missed 24

2021-22 when their offense was 4th it was largely driven by Ja having a great year as brooks was their #2 option with 43/31/85 splits

Well, OG and Mikal aren't that great offensively so it's possible the Knicks have found their man!

fair lol but I would put JB and Kat as LEVELS above anyone on any of those grizzlies teams. After that Bane is probably a decent amount better than Bridges and OG - but I would take Bridges over Dillon Brooks. OG and JJJ are similar offensively. JJJ has more size and a better post game.

The main point being JB is way better than Morant. And Kat is like Larry Bird compared to anyone the grizzlies ever had.

[thebuzzardman]

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=W09F6FrMDfp5_y1gKYgF1g

Wow Austin absolutely obliterates the Knicks here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not a good look at all for Leon and co!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well there it is. Austin Rivers has spoken.

[spree8]

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=W09F6FrMDfp5_y1gKYgF1g

Wow Austin absolutely obliterates the Knicks here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not a good look at all for Leon and co!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sounds like Leon been watching too much Sopranos. Thibs got no filter tho… “hey happy to have you, I wanted Derrick tho, but you’ll be ok” You can’t make this shyt up lol

[stuporman]

It would have just been easier if they wacked him...

[RHODEY]

Do you search for the words Finn or Finnish regularly?

No, I follow the Knicks team forum as it is likely the most active one, and the team was interesting this season; so is the resulting coach situation.

Unfortunately, the Knicks seem to be settling for Brown or Jenkins, so interesting might not be the operative word anymore.

It may not even be settling. Because Who out there is flat out better for our squad? Maybe/probably Bryant but he's more risky since hes never been head coach at the NBA level. And we may note time to spare for him to learn those nuances.

We just need a good coach that can motivate as well as Thibs, while having the adaptability to adjust the lineup and who has some offensive creativity. Neither guy you mentioned is a flashy name but I think both could the bill. Jenkins already had a 56 win season so there's that.... Brown was part of those very solid Kings teams that eventually flamed out. What could they do with our roster over some talented but more knuckle headed squad?

[Enzo954]

Austin Rivers has been whining about the Knicks ever since they traded him. His bitterness has been on display for many years. He can't seem to get over it for whatever reason. I think he really wanted to be here and he seemed crushed when it happened.