Avery Johnson as Knicks coach?

by Starkstastic on Apr 30, 2008 4:00 PM EDT Comment 13 comments

(Editor's Note: Now that Avery's actually free, Starkstastic's diary from a couple days ago deserves another look. AJ as the Knick coach...what do you think?)

There has been no mention of this as far as I've seen. I think it's at least worth discussing, as Johnson's exit in Dallas seems likely. Mark Cuban and Co. were head over heels for this guy back in 2006 when the Mavs made it all the way to the NBA Finals, even taking a 2-0 series lead before the refs, ahem, Dwayne Wade and the Heat took over and won 4-2. We all remember Dallas's exciting, if not epic collapse to Golden State in last year's playoffs. Now it looks as if the same disappointing fate awaits Avery Johnson's club. Chris Paul has been unstoppable. J. Kidd has looked like absolute shit, something that makes me very happy. New Orleans looks younger, faster, hungrier, and even more talented. If Dallas can't get their act together the team may have to be blown up -- including getting rid of the coach. I anticipate a lot of you dismissing AJ as a solid candidate for his excitability and need for control issues, but the above picture of Johnson fisting Eddy Curry and the rest of New York's lackluster roster into giving a shit gives me hope for the future. All of the big personalities are not in the Knicks' long-term plans anyway, so who cares if player and coach end up clashing? Expectations are low, right? Primary objectives are to get under the cap while getting more competitive now, right? Why not Johnson? Don't get me wrong, I think several of the candidates already mentioned elsewhere could be nice fits. Mark Jackson is intriguing, and he has no shortage of praise from others who know him from around the league. Rick Carlisle is battle-tested and proven. I just don't feel an A-List coach is necessarily the answer. Herb Williams has great rapport with the players and within the organization; as a fan I would like to see someone from the outside coach so as to signify a complete regime change from Isiah. Even Paul Silas is an interesting wildcard because of his ties to LeBron. Obviously, Dallas is not done yet and there's no guarantee Cuban would fire his coach anyway. Even if this happens, New York could very well have found a coach already. All I'm saying is if Johnson becomes available and the Knicks are still looking, he should get a look. What do you guys think?

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Comments

I had paragraphs in there

Sorry, didn’t mean for this to look like some jumbled mess.

Can I Live?

Mutombo Finger Wag

by Starkstastic on Apr 24, 2008 12:40 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

is he giving LJs "L"

right there?

Ewing with the step...YES! and the foul!

by Anthony Masons Haircut on Apr 24, 2008 8:48 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Great article man

I agree that Johnson should get a look. He could light a fire under their asses… I just think that he’ll want to go elsewhere instead. I don’t think he seems too interested in trying to coach Marbury.

AIM: ThatsNoooGood

by JoshL on Apr 25, 2008 9:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I like him

Young but experienced, a balance missing with most other candidates.

by HoyandKnicksfan on Apr 30, 2008 6:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i'm mixed.

He’s got the experience and the success, but does he really have the patience to turn around a team in such a sorry state? Can he deal with the NY media? Do we really wanna hear his voice every day?

Posting and Toasting: Unabashed Knicks fanaticism with the occasional poop joke.

by Seth on Apr 30, 2008 7:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i'd say no

I think he’s one of these shitty coaches that starts out coaching a perennial contender so everybody thinks they’re a great coach, but isn’t. so, no. On the other hand, he talks funny and once slapped Josh Howard in the testicles during a nationally televised playoff game, so he can’t be that bad.
Also, you have to remember this: Isiah Thomas’ favorite play was calling “one man isolation at the top of the key” for Jamal Crawford and he also really hated practices. So pretty much anybody’s an improvement.

The Son of Dippin.

by Barnesgasm on Apr 30, 2008 8:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

YESSSSSSSSSSSSS

I say we MUST get him.

NO Coach is turning the knicks around. We just need to change the culture to one more suited toward hard work and practice, without him being an asshole. and in terms of actual ON THE COURT coaching, he beats out most candidates available. All we need from the next coach is this:

A. Get the knicks to work hard(er) or something
B. Get the knicks to pass the fucking ball
C. Get the knicks to play some semblence of D.

waaaay 2 serious about the yanks and knicks? maybe... oh well

by Prezs2ReprsntMe on Apr 30, 2008 8:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Also

also who on the mavericks pre-J Kidd sucked at D?

Dirk even became somewhat of a defender under him, he went from horrendous to acceptable. Howard=good D, Harris=good D, Diop, Damp, Bass, Eddie Jones, Devean George…Johnson is all for the defensive culture, maaaaan!!

the only reason he’s out is cuz someone Cuban wants to blame someone for trading away their best perimeter defender/transition player for an old guy who can pass reallly well and not do much else at his age.

This is just like when in fantasy baseball when a historically good pitcher loses 4 games in a row, and he gets dropped by mad ppl. Its a steal! buy low!

waaaay 2 serious about the yanks and knicks? maybe... oh well

by Prezs2ReprsntMe on Apr 30, 2008 8:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

sorry to continue ranting but

his one knock is what? Playoff collapses!

HE WONT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THAT HERE!!!

waaaay 2 serious about the yanks and knicks? maybe... oh well

by Prezs2ReprsntMe on Apr 30, 2008 8:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Agree...

This is a no-brainer. Donnie Walsh must have purposely waited this long to hire a coach for a reason – he wants to pick one of the following, sure to be fired coaches: Flip Saunders, Avery Johnson, George Karl, or Doc Rivers (if the Celtics don’t make it to the Finals). And of those guys, Avery Johnson is the best fit by far….

by stopmikelupica on Apr 30, 2008 11:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I have to say

I didn’t actually think Johnson would get fired. He definitely doesn’t deserve it. Now that he’s officially available I’m warming up to the idea of him coming to the Knicks more and more.

But Seth is right, I don’t know if I can listen to the guy talk to the press everyday.

Can I Live?

Mutombo Finger Wag

by Starkstastic on May 1, 2008 1:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs