Is there any chance at all Phil takes over at any point?

[moocow007]

In the immortal words of Bill Russell, there are two chances. Slim and none and slim left town. I don't see Jackson tarnishing what's left of his legacy by taking the helm of a floundering team. He's also said many times that he's just not up to it health-wise

Jackson's legacy is already tarnished by what he's done in NY as a VP of Ops. Now of course he can always "qualify" his greatness with the words "head" and "coach" but the best way to not have to qualify his greatness at all is to actually prove that his moves in the front office is not the reason that this team still stinks to high heaven.

I don't agree Moo. In my opinion it doesn't matter what he does or doesn't do as the head of basketball operations with us or anyone else. Ask anyone to name the greatest coaches of all time and Jackson's name will always be in that conversation.

It depends. If you take a look at a guy like Jordan you can see some of that heaviness from his inability to parlay his playing success into the front office dragging on his overall legacy. No it still won't put a big dent in it, but it will still show up as a noticeable mark. Same with Jackson especially since he's in the spotlight in NY. But yeah, it's not going to tarnish his greatness as a head coach but I think it will be something that will be brought up again and again.

[KnicksGadfly]

Nope, and we shouldn't hope for a take-over. If he takes over, he's gonna try to win. And we don't have the pieces or talent to make it happen.

[Hemispheres]

I don't want to ever say 0%, but this is about as close as it gets to it. It ain't about his legacy, it's about his health and age. Virtually no chance.

[Adelheid]

He is not going to tarnish his record, period.

[dakomish23]

I think so

But only if we see another season where we go all in for winning

Like we add Chris Paul or something and we're still not runnnign the triangle gen perhaps Phil steps in


But right now he's got a job with no accountability, a massive paycheck and multiple scapegoats in place
I don't think he places himself any further in the crosshairs

That fool would try to run the triangle if he landed CP3. I couldn't imagine a more Knicksy thing to do. Finally land a two way, top 5 PG who's still got plenty left in the tank, only to take the ball out of his hands. It's infuriating just thinking of the absurdity that seems to have no limit with regime.

[GONYK]

I think so

But only if we see another season where we go all in for winning

Like we add Chris Paul or something and we're still not runnnign the triangle gen perhaps Phil steps in


But right now he's got a job with no accountability, a massive paycheck and multiple scapegoats in place
I don't think he places himself any further in the crosshairs

That fool would try to run the triangle if he landed CP3. I couldn't imagine a more Knicksy thing to do. Finally land a two way, top 5 PG who's still got plenty left in the tank, only to take the ball out of his hands. It's infuriating just thinking of the absurdity that seems to have no limit with regime.

He should. Chris Paul would absolutely kill it in the Triangle.

To think otherwise is to just not understand the offense.

[dakomish23]

I think so

But only if we see another season where we go all in for winning

Like we add Chris Paul or something and we're still not runnnign the triangle gen perhaps Phil steps in


But right now he's got a job with no accountability, a massive paycheck and multiple scapegoats in place
I don't think he places himself any further in the crosshairs

That fool would try to run the triangle if he landed CP3. I couldn't imagine a more Knicksy thing to do. Finally land a two way, top 5 PG who's still got plenty left in the tank, only to take the ball out of his hands. It's infuriating just thinking of the absurdity that seems to have no limit with regime.

He should. Chris Paul would absolutely kill it in the Triangle.

To think otherwise is to just not understand the offense.

He might, but I'd rather see CP3 do what he does best in the NBA

[GONYK]

That fool would try to run the triangle if he landed CP3. I couldn't imagine a more Knicksy thing to do. Finally land a two way, top 5 PG who's still got plenty left in the tank, only to take the ball out of his hands. It's infuriating just thinking of the absurdity that seems to have no limit with regime.

He should. Chris Paul would absolutely kill it in the Triangle.

To think otherwise is to just not understand the offense.

He might, but I'd rather see CP3 do what he does best in the NBA

The Triangle would put him in position to do that constantly. Not a bad thing to be open to, since CP3 hasn't won anything significant playing his style.

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[Kinglee]

I don't think Phil's legacy is tarnished at all. he's a hof coach that had the greatest player of all time and then a player who mimicked the greatest player of all time.

No one expected him to lift the Knicks up to anything respectable...I sure didn't, and that was well known.

But really, Phil isn't able to go through a seasons grind of coaching, and no player of ring status is joining the Knicks especially if the think Phil is about to parade the sidelines.

Most players hate the triangle.

This should be echoed 1000 times. All this talk about how certain players on our team aren't buying into the triangle and nonsense. Most players hate the damn triangle and we've heard complaints for some years now. Now opposing players aren't even a fan of Phil Jackson because of how he handled this season. Phil backed us into a corner where now we need our draft pick to become a superstar overnight because he done pissed off every opposing star in the league.

I don't want him coaching the team. I want him gone. I want a coach that adjust to his players and does his best to utilize his best players. Stop forcing players into a system they don't want to play and if you're going to force it down their throat, acquire players that are happy to play it.

As for now keep the guy away from the sidelines and get him off the damn team. This is getting more ridiculous than the Isiah era.

[ChaosHamster]

If he sees that team can be contender in 2-3 years..

So basically - no.

[Jeff Van Gully]

Nope, and we shouldn't hope for a take-over. If he takes over, he's gonna try to win. And we don't have the pieces or talent to make it happen.

wait... we're not trying to win? what are we trying to do?

[moocow007]

He should. Chris Paul would absolutely kill it in the Triangle.

To think otherwise is to just not understand the offense.

He might, but I'd rather see CP3 do what he does best in the NBA

The Triangle would put him in position to do that constantly. Not a bad thing to be open to, since CP3 hasn't won anything significant playing his style.

Watch on YouTube

Maybe if Phil Jackson was actually the coach but it's pretty clear that none of the guys currently on the coaching staff can teach it well enough for it to be a viable enough option for Chris Paul to want to subject himself to it.

[j4remi]

Maybe, we'd need cloning technology to really improve fast so we could clone a younger version with enough health to handle the travel and stress...but maybe.

[Bill Pidto]

I voted yes just because that's what I hope happens. Will it? I think if next season is a dud again that Dolan will "insist" that Jackson coach. Whether Jackson does or quits is the question should that scenario play out. Let's be real, if the Knicks struggle again next season, someone is going to have to take the blame. The most likely "escapegoat" will be the head coach so Hornacek IMO will be the first to go. Should that potential inevitability occur, I can't see Dolan agreeing to paying 3 head coaches at the same time in addition to paying for the most expensive front office executive in NBA history to stink up the joint. Will Jackson take on the challenge (which IMO Dolan can, should and will make if they stink next season)? Or will he figure out a way out? He doesn't have an opt out for next offseason, that's this offseason. So he can't simply make a break clean. Maybe that's what Dolan is planning and why Dolan seems so gung ho on "sticking by" Jackson this offseason.

I disagree with you totally. That's kind of an extreme take. No way Dolan "forces" an older man like Phil who has health issues to coach the team just because he doesn't wanna pay another coach. Dolan of all people doesn't want to pay? At worst he'll just fire Phil and hire his replacement if he's that angry about another losing season. I'm sure Phil told Dolan from day one, three years ago, that he's not going to coach.

If the Knicks struggle again next year, it should be because they have finally committed to a rebuild, and if there is any hooplah about that, and any pressure to fire Phil and especially Jeff over it, I will blame that on the fans being petulant. But no way does Phil cave and coach the team himself. If reports are true that he's still determined to trade Melo, then he knows damn well what he's getting himself into with a youth movement, so your expectations that the team should win or Phil should be held to the fire are unreasonable.

A youth movement is what the fans are bargaining for at this point. Are we setting the bar too high for the young Knicks already?

[MaseInYourFace]

I don't think Phil is as unhealthy as some make it out to be but does he want to be a full time head coach? He does but I don't think he wants to do the grind anymore. It's understandable. Phil is old. I have no problem with that just wish he would let his coaches coach and stop force feeding the triangle.

[MaseInYourFace]

i don't really buy that he's completely unable. if he really had a contender on his hands, i think it would be difficult for him but he would push through and do it to win another ring. this team, that he put together, is just not worth it for him to exert himself.

Yes I agree and with orgs like AARP and AAAD behind him and the weight of some labor laws if Phil really wanted to coach he would be able to with some accommodations for his age and physical limitations.

[MaseInYourFace]

My thinking is that Phil is going full-blown Triangle from here on out. I think there's a chance Dolan decides to fire him at the end of the year. But if he doesn't then I think Jeff is gone because he's not the Triangle expert which Phil will want. Dolan won't let him hire a new coach so it would be Phil. Phil knows Rambis is trash. So...if he's not fired and wants to go full-blown Triangle (both very possible) I think he'll be forced to take over.

I really don't think Dolan will fire Phil. Phil managed to gain Dolan's confidence so unless a public scandal forces Dolan's hand or they have some kind of falling out it ain't happening. Dolan is extremely loyal, to a fault.

[dakomish23]

Anybody listen to the lockdown podcast? They said PJax falls asleep in meetings

[KnicksGadfly]

Nope, and we shouldn't hope for a take-over. If he takes over, he's gonna try to win. And we don't have the pieces or talent to make it happen.

wait... we're not trying to win? what are we trying to do?

We should be trying to build a team that can win and become a contender. Technically, Phil tried to win this year, and you see what happened. We can either try to win now (which I think Phil would aim to do, if he was a coach), or take a few steps back at the present for a brighter future.

It also kind of stinks, because KP's contract is really good for an impact player, and it would have been nice to take advantage of that.

[Jeff Van Gully]

Nope, and we shouldn't hope for a take-over. If he takes over, he's gonna try to win. And we don't have the pieces or talent to make it happen.

wait... we're not trying to win? what are we trying to do?

We should be trying to build a team that can win and become a contender. Technically, Phil tried to win this year, and you see what happened. We can either try to win now (which I think Phil would aim to do, if he was a coach), or take a few steps back at the present for a brighter future.

It also kind of stinks, because KP's contract is really good for an impact player, and it would have been nice to take advantage of that.

right. build a contender. i get it.

so, next year, are you suggesting the players should not play to win?