DEBATE: Should Mark Jackson be the next Knicks coach?
JIM: JUST SAY NO TO JAX
Someone please explain to me Mark Jackson's credentials to be the next head coach of the Knicks.
Yes, he's a New York City kid, a St. John's guy, a great NBA point guard, knows the game inside-out and has been a talented broadcaster. All of that is true. But please tell me how does that guarantee that he will be a good head coach? Shouldn't the Knicks look for someone with, say, coaching experience?
What a concept!
Hey, if the Knicks want Jackson and Jackson wants the Knicks, fine. Make him an assistant coach. He can see the innerworkings of coaching for a year, two or three, and maybe by then the time will be right to elevate him.
Oh, I can hear Knicks fans squirming. You want him as coach. I've read the message boards. He is exactly what the Knicks need in their next coach, you say. That doesn't make sense to me. Why is he above having to pay his dues? Isn't the risk for complete failure pretty big here, considering his zero years of coaching experience?
Jackson has already been passed up. Last year Reggie Miller complained on WFAN that the Pacers didn't give him a look when they were looking for a coach, and St. John's never considered him in 2003 when he wanted that job.
Who knows? Maybe Jackson will someday be a great NBA coach.
But I'd like to see him earn the opportunity by coaching somewhere else instead of have it handed it to him.
ANTHONY: JAX WOULD BE GREAT P.R.
Jim, you're missing the point about the next Knicks coach.
The only way for the Knicks to become a championship contender is to stink for the next 2-3 years so they can get under the cap and sign LeBron James when he becomes an unrestricted free agent. So the coach for the next 2-3 years can't be judged on wins and losses, but rather on how he erases the funky stench of the Isiah Thomas years and restores some semblance of pride to MSG.
Jackson is a smart guy, a smooth operator type guy, and a former very good point guard. Sounds a lot like Isiah, no, except that Isiah was a former great point guard.
But the difference is that Jackson isn't going to have power over personnel like Isiah did. He's just going to coach the (lousy) players Donnie Walsh gets for him. He'll be the face of the franchise in a good way, just as Thomas and Stephon Marbury were the faces of the franchise in a very bad way. He'll be good P.R. for an organization that needs it.
Jackson may learn from his mistakes over those 2-3 woeful seasons so he can be a top-flight coach by the time LeBron signs on. Or he might not. Doesn't matter. When LeBron is ready to sign up, he's going to pick the coach anyway.
Until then, Mark Jackson is the only choice that makes sense.
***
What do you think, Knicks fans? Should it be Mark Jackson, or should it be someone else? Let us know.
Thanks to nba.com for the photo from 1987.
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Comments (6)
I think it would be a great hire. Make Mark Jackson head coach, bring in Herb and Patrick for asst coaches. Charles Oakley in charge of player development just in case, Zach, Nate, Marbur get out of hand he'll slap them back into place. Xavier McDaniels as the trainer.. Your hurt Jerome James.. We have a boxing gym back here, come over here and get a beating.
It would be a great hire.
I just don't get the obession with Mark Jackson to be head coach of The Knicks. I suspect it has alot to do with the new "edict" that MSG will be far more media friendly, that is the only way I can explain it. I just remember Mark back in his early years as a Knick and how he was always a self-promoter. I think the same people that are building him up will tear him apart after a couple of losses. When that happens I don't see Mark taking it well at all.
This guy did the airplane after made baskets! How the heck is he going to tell Nate to NOT showboat? Take the risk if you want Donnie Walnuts, but if I were you, I'd try bring back Van Gundy and let Mark work in the front office or put him in charge of player development. He's not ready to coach in the NBA!
I'm still trying to figure out why Paul Silas can't get another gig in the NBA. Who did he piss off??
I vote for Herb Williams as the head guy. Herb has always gotten the team to play hard (and play defense!!) when he had a chance to take over for the deposed coach. Get Herb some old seasoned (lifetime) assistant coaches to round out the staff. No high profile guys, just good x's & o's basketball minds. Mark Jax has no coaching experience, and I feel his old school tough authoritarian approach may go the way of Quinn Buckner's failure & not Doc Rivers success. Two examples of players that went from the booth to the head of the bench. (Maybe Herb wants to be a lifetime assistant...) Paul Silas, Doug Collins may be safe picks as head guys.
Lebron is a big longshot. Herb lacks the ability to communicate with the press.
I have said it all along he is the perfect fit. A NY guy who would really and truly care about this team and this town. He will work his tail off to make this team better and that is all we need. Remember Jeff Van Gundy. He was a new head coach and look at the job he did. I hope they hire him. He will do a great job.
yeah,
i think mark jackson brings knowledge, class, hunger,
experience & a real knowledge of what new york needs.
he will preach hard work, dedication, pride, passion,
unselfishness & committment. every coach began there
journey of success without experience & uncertainty.
i say why not the humble hero mark jackson?
GOOD LUCK MARK !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!