The Knicks Fix

Billy Donovan's name was definitely one that would have come up had James Dolan decided not to stick with Isiah Thomas. It's a moot point now, but considering the reaction to his hiring in Orlando today -- most fans wished the Magic found someone with experience and wished Donovan stayed at Florida -- you know things would have been 10-times as pressureized if he came to New York.

He's in a good situation there and very similar to what Rick Pitino had when he came to the Knicks in 1987-88. A young big man on the rise -- Dwight Howard -- a good young point guard -- Jameer Nelson -- and everyone's attention.

I often wonder how things might have gone if Pitino had stuck it out with the Knicks instead of going back to the college game. The NBA season is a grind and some coaches who are so intense like that tend to burn out. You have to wonder if Donovan can maintain his style throughout the long NBA season. And if he can, will the players keep listening.

Donovan would have been a nice story if he became Knicks coach because of his Rockville Centre roots -- he played for high school coaching legend Frank Morris at St. Agnes -- and also his brief stint with the Knicks in 87-88. Donovan played just 44 games that season and averaged 2.4 points per game and a little less than 2 assists.

But he sure had some shorty shorts, as evidenced in this rare photo I found.

Regardless of where he wound up and whatever odds are against him because of the weak track record of college coaches in the NBA (none of the previous guys came in with a pair of NCAA titles under his belt), it's great to see yet another kid from Long Island make it. One of the things I noticed being here in Orlando for the predraft camp, with so many NBA coaches and assistants and scouts around, is there are a ton of guys from the New York area, including Long Island.

And during the ESPN broadcast of the Spurs Game 5 clincher over the Jazz, it was hard not to notice that even the broadcasting crew was all New York: Mike Breen, Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy.

Quick P.S. -- I always give LeBron James a lot of beef because I haven't been impressed with his game as compared to the hype that goes with it. After watching him the past few games against the Pistons, especially last night, yo, LB, I'm impressed. Wow.