Mark Jackson

Xavier McDaniels Discusses His Lone Season With The New York Knicks

by

The New York Knicks had one thing going for them in the early part of 90’s basketball, which was toughness along the front lines. Xavier McDaniels, the 6’7 220 lbs bruiser exemplified the very toughness the Pat Riley’s Knicks put forward every night.

On May 2nd, 2020 at 9 pm media company Knicksfantv and The Knick Of Time Show interviewed Xavier McDaniels. The former Knick power-forward escorted die-hard Knick fans down memory land while discussing his lone season with the Knicks and the different star player personalities within the NBA during the tough 90’s era of basketball. The Chicago Bulls versus the New York Knicks playoff series was also a hot topic during the interview.

The fan-favorite during his lone 1991-92 season dropped a couple of gems regarding player contract negations involving Dave Checketts and the front office of the New York Knicks. The X man made it clear that the Knicks had the opportunity to sign him to a longer deal but opted to go in another direction.

McDaniels also mentioned the importance and leadership of former point guard Mark Jackson during the 1991-92 season for the New York Knicks. Xavier McDaniels stated the following on KnicksFanTV:

Mark Jackson was the General that kept everything going for us. I felt like he was the glue. Your talking about a team who won 51 games.

The feeling from McDaniels was if the Knicks kept the 1991-92 core they had together for a few more years while adding pieces, there would’ve been enough talent to knock off the Chicago Bulls.

Overall, the glimpse into McDaniels’s version of memory lane about his lone season with the Knicks is something Knick fans around the world should look into especially during a time like now where there’s no sports activity due to the pandemic.

Tom Thibodeau needs to change his style for the New York Knicks job

by
New York Knicks, Tom Thibodeau

According to incoming new team president, Leon Rose, the New York Knicks are in the market for a new head coach.  There are three candidates who have been linked to the job.  Jeff Van Gundy, Mark Jackson and Tom Thibodeau.

There have been reports that Thibodeau is a ‘serious candidate’ and he ‘can taste’ the Knicks job.  But is Thibodeau the best person for the job?

There’s no getting around it that Thibodeau is an old school coach.  He tends to lean towards veteran players over younger ones.  This was apparent with his short-lived tenure as president and head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves.  Thibs had plenty of young talent, Karl-Anthony Town Zach LaVine and Jimmy Butler, to work with and he greatly underachieved.

The Knicks are young as well, so what makes fans think that he’ll do better with this young group.  Even when Thibodeau tried to adapt to the younger generation, he ran his young players into the ground.  There was no happy medium to his coaching style and players ultimately got hurt.

Thibodeau’s style in Minnesota was more one-on-one ball than team orientated.  The Knick have enough problems falling back into their old ways with one-on-one ball.  However, with Mike Miller, there has been more offensive schemes and ball movement as compared to Tom Thibodeau and David Fizdale’s systems.

For Thibodeau to be a good hire for the Knicks, he’ll need to change his style and adapt with the game.  It’ll be hard for him since his style seems to be embedded in stone.

The New York Knicks are rebuilding.  They don’t need a old-school coach who doesn’t want to change his coaching style.  Unless Thibs has changed it and is keeping it quite, the new front office has to consider all options.

As of yesterday, their are rumblings that Leon Rose’s could be introduced this week as new team president.  As well, more rumblings of Thibs ‘90%’ likely to be the new head coach.

Jay Wright the next coach of the New York Knicks?

by

You can add Jay Wright to the short list of possible candidates to be the next head coach of the New York Knicks.  A league source says, according to Forbes Adam Zagoria.

Others that have been linked to the Knicks are Jeff Van Gundy, of course, Mark Jackson and Tom Thibodeau.

Wright didn’t comment this time around when asked about the Knicks job.  However, he did when being linked to the job when the team went with with Jeff Hornacek in 2016.  Ultimately, Wright just didn’t want to leave Villanova.

While Wright is an above-average college coach, transitioning to the NBA will be difficult.  Last season John Beilein, went from Michigan, a top program, to Cleveland.  The Cavaliers are in the processing of rebuilding so Beilein has a tough task at hand.

If Wright were to be chosen by the Knicks, his path will be similar to Beilein.  It won’t be easy since the Knicks are also rebuilding.  Plus, the Knicks are in a worse spot than the Cavailers.

The New York Knicks need a coach with experience.  Not saying Wright doesn’t have experience but it’s at the college level. The NBA is a different animal.  Coaching professionals is a lot harder and complicated than teenagers.

The 3 coaches, Van Gundy, Jackson and Thibodeau, all have the experience with professionals that the Knicks need.  They need a non non-sense coach with the ability to control the locker room and hold players accountable.

Mike Miller has done that to an extent and has done well with the talent available to him. While he may be doing an above-average with the Knicks, they need someone who’s going to command more of the team.

New York Knicks: Mark Jackson could be a potential coach

by
New York Knicks, Mike Miller

Mark Jackson is beloved by New York Knicks fans because of how well he performed during his playing days. Jackson started his playing career with the Knicks and was one of the better point guards in the league during his tenure.

In his seven seasons with New York, Jackson averaged 11 points and eight assists. One of the more notable parts of Jackson’s game was his basketball IQ.

The former rookie of the year was a fantastic floor general and seemed to always be one of the smartest players on the floor during his nearly two-decade NBA career.

After his playing career, Jackson had a three-year stint as head coach of the Golden State Warriors.

Today, Jackson is remembered as the coach who was removed for Steve Kerr, but the truth is the team would have never become a dynasty if Jackson had not coached them through a rebuild.

In Jackson’s first season as coach of the Warriors, the team regressed from 36 wins to 23, but that was season marred with injuries. Crucial players like David Lee, Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry all missed at least 20 games, with Ellis and Curry missing more than half the season. The team leader in games played that season was an unrefined, rookie Klay Thompson with 66 games played.

In the next season, Jackson leads the Warriors to their first playoff appearance in six seasons. The team which saw Steph Curry blossom into one of the leagues best young point guards won 47 games before losing to the eventual Western Conference Champion, San Antonio Spurs in the conference semifinals.

In Jackson’s last season he navigated the Warriors to a 51-31 record. The Warriors lost a tough seven-game series to the Lob City Clippers that season.

The Warriors while, on the verge of greatness could not get past teams with veteran players and coaches, losing to the Tim Duncan and Greg Popovich Spurs along with the Chris Paul and Doc Rivers’ Clippers.

After the 51 win season, Bob Myers made a controversial choice in letting go of Mark Jackson in favor of Steve Kerr.

Since Jackson’s departure, the Warriors have become a dynasty, but it’s undeniable that without Jackson’s work the Warriors would not have been the playoff team and dynasty they are today.

The New York Knicks are currently in a situation somewhat similar to Jackson’s Warriors and could use Jackson to elevate them back to playoff status.

Jackson was a crucial part in developing both, Steph Curry and Klay Thompson into the superstars they are today.

It’s not inconceivable to think Jackson’s ability will translate into helping high potential players, like Mitchell Robinson and RJ Barrett, take their respective games to the next level.

The Knicks who are in the midst of a rebuild, need a coach like Jackson for the future. Jackson has a successful rebuild already on his resume, in addition, his past as a player for both St. John’s and as a Knick make him a hire New Yorkers would love.