Words with Walsh
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- April
- 22
Donnie Walsh spent nearly 30 minutes on the phone this afternoon spoiling the beat writers with updates on the search for a new coach.
I could get used to living this life.
While the exiled former president of this organization stood up and responded to some difficult questions the last couple of seasons, he was impossible to get on the phone when the season ended.
Anyway, there’s no breaking news to report.
Walsh did not label Mark Jackson the leading candidate, but he does want to speak with the former Knicks rookie of the year about taking over. There was no indication when that might happen, although it seems conceivable Walsh and Jackson could get together in the coming days.
There was a conversation with Scott Skiles last Friday, and Walsh immediately sensed he was too late.
“I just couldn’t rush into it that fast,” Walsh said. “I could tell he had an offer he was fairly close to taking, and I couldn’t react as fast as I perhaps had to because of the position he was in with Milwaukee.”
He got Jeff Van Gundy on the phone yesterday to clear up published reports of a flippant reaction when the last successful Knicks coach was mentioned among the potential candidates last week during a conference call with reporters.
“I started reading that my hand went up in circles and I don’t know what other description to give it,” Walsh said. “So I called Jeff Van Gundy and talked to him about that,” Walsh added. “He told me he’s not a candidate right now for his own personal reasons. … I have nothing but respect for Jeff Van Gundy.”
Reading between the lines, it seems Walsh is going to seek permission from Boston to speak with Tom Thibodeau.
“I’m putting together a list of people I’d like to talk to, and I’ve talked to quite a few people … about the candidates,” Walsh said. “And there some guys that I probably will call up their franchises and ask to see if I can get permission. Normally when teams are in the playoffs, they are hesitant to do that, so I haven’t really pushed, but I will because it seems there’s an indication they would do that.”
Celtics coach Doc River will allow Thibodeau to interview when there’s ample time between games. The former Van Gundy assistant will likely have to wait until at least Tuesday for a break in the postseason schedule. And that’s contingent upon Boston sweeping the Hawks.
Walsh doesn’t mind waiting if he’s not finding the right man for the job.
Unless there’s an obvious choice, he plans to keep an open mind until the fate of coaches who might be let go after the playoffs is decided.
“You’ve got to think about it unless you become really convinced there’s a guy who is suited for your team before all that happens,” Walsh said.
This entry was posted
on Tuesday, April 22nd, 2008 at 3:14 pm by Mike Dougherty.
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Tom Thibodeau is my ONLY choice right now. I don’t want Mark Jackson or Herb Williams.
WOW, Tom Thibodeau’s teams have finished in the top 10 defensively 14 of his 17 years.
I want Tom Thibodeau or Avery Johnson if he’s fired. If we get Jackson, I wont be angry or anything.
Again why all the hoopla for a defensive liability and showboat former point gaurd who had motivation issues of his own when he would often slip out of playing shape.
We need a defensive oriented coach, some one who will command respect and who will challenge the loafers from the laissez faire Thomas coaching era/error.
I give my vote to Tom Thibodeau, and Avery Johnson.
The problem with the Knicks has been organizational instability over the past few years, especially at positions that require that stabiliyt. Ergo the coaching position.
The idea should be to get a stern defensive oriented task master in to forge the team in a competitive defense first image. Then years down the road when such a work ethic and approach to the game is instilled the team can gear towards a more offensive oriented coach.
You can’t forge a team on one year of hard ass Larry Brown and one year soft as Isiah Thomas.
It will never work!
Hey Mike,
When would you guess that an NBA team would look to either the WNBA or the International/Olympic teams for coaches? I ask because, like with Jackie Robinson, when there’s non-logical prejudice working against a choice, the first person that goes with logic usually gets the cream of the crop. OTOH, if you move too quickly, you get someone who can’t handle the task. Though, it’s worth noting that lots of people in the know seem to think the top Olympic teams are better coached than our guys. Better coached, hmmm, I wonder how that happens?
For blog readers who read other blogs, sorry for the cross post it’s just I’d love if a reporter would ask D. Walsh what he thinks about non-traditional coaches.
I know someone’s gonna point out how long the international coaches get to work with their teams but that’s the point. Give them that long with an NBA team and see how they do. After all, our dream team ain’t doing so good and it’s because the international teams do a better job of playing as a team.
NHW,
There are some exceptions, but most of the top international coaches are still working off drills and game plans our coaches and players have introduced over there. To their credit they also still emphasize strong fundamental play. My biggest hangup would be how an international coach would be treated over here by the players. Look at Mike D’Antoni. Nobody took him seriously until he won. You put that kind of a coach in this situation and the players might tune out quickly.