New York Knicks interested in hiring Mike Woodson as an assistant coach – NBA Update
With a few blockbuster signings last season, the New York Knicks are looking win the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) title soon. However, the biggest hurdle in their way to success is the lack of defense. History has proved
that offensive games only bring the fans to stand and it is the defense which actually helps to win the game.
With the team being coached by Mike D’ Antoni alone, it is impossible to get the desired results. D’Antoni does not have the word “defense” in his dictionary and this is reflected in his teams’ game.
The Knicks management knows that and for that they have in search of a defensive specialist this off season. The person who has emerged as the favourite to fill the post is the ex- Atlanta Hawks coach Mike Woodson. Woodson and
D’ Antoni met in a powwow very recently and there are very strong rumours that he probably will be taken on board as an assistant coach on the team’s coaching squad.
The team’s proactive approach in taking him on the team is the need of time as the team does not have many other options. Although the lockout period is getting longer, if the team does not use the time to hire him right now, he
will be more likely picked by some other team.
Woodson is a retired basketball player and had played in shooting guard and small forward positions. From 1980-1990, he had played in teams like the Knicks (1980-81), Sacramento Kings (1981–86), Los Angeles Clippers (1986–88),
Houston Rockets (1988-90) and Cleveland Cavaliers (1990). He had worked as a head coach from 2004-2010 in Atlanta Hawks and he is not getting an extension in his tenure. Although his presence did not make any significant impact on the Hawks to win any championship,
he had a key role of lead assistant on Larry Brown’s staff when the Detroit pistons won the 2003-2004 NBA Championship.
The team however will not let D’ Antoni go. He enjoys a good rapport with the team and players regard him a lot, if not the fans. One of the two best players of the Knicks, Amar’e Stoudemire joined the Knicks because of D’Antoni
who had already coached him in the Phoenix Suns. So he is not leaving the Knicks anytime soon. The team is good at offense but it ranks 9th on the least efficient defense. Hence proved, the services of Woodson are required.
As a matter of fact, Woodson is known for his defense oriented game and the teams coached by him along with Brown had reduced their opponents’ ability to shoot. In order to win the games in next season, the Knicks are in a desperate
need to work on their defense. The team already has D’ Antoni to guide on the offense and with the defensive approach that Woodson will bring with him, the team’s overall performance will be improved.
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