New York Knicks set to hire former Atlanta Hawks head coach Mike Woodson as assistant: NBA Report
It is a known fact that the New York Knicks have failed to put up a good show on the defensive side in the first three seasons under the charge of head coach Mike D’Antoni. The fact became all the more pronounced when the Knicks
got swept away by the Boston Celtics in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs as in a closely fought series; defense emerged out as the deciding factor.
Ever since that debacle, there have been reports that the Knicks management wants to add a defensive specialist in their coaching staff that will and it seems now that the search for the right man is finally reaching its culmination.
According to the latest reports, the Knicks are close to hiring former Atlanta Hawks head coach Mike Woodson as an assistant coach. Woodson emerged as the leading candidate of the job because of six season splendid stint with the
Hawks.
Under the coaching of Woodson, the Hawks were able to achieve an impressive record of 206-286. In that span, the Hawks were able to make it to the conference semifinals twice, but got swept both times.
Now with the hiring news of Woodson the rumours have already started running rampant that the Knicks are making this move so that new defensive coach would become D’Antoni’s successor one day. There is just one year left in D’Antoni’s
contract with the Knicks and they are not looking to retain him, as they have already rejected his extension request in this off season.
However, Woodson received lot of criticism in 2009-10 playoffs, when the Hawks were shown the exit by Orlando Magic 4-0 in the semifinals. Woodson failed to make changes in his defensive plans at that point and as result of that
Orlando annihilated them.
One NBA president reflected on where Woodson went wrong in that series, "Mike didn't adjust when he coached the Hawks. He had his game-plan going in and he stuck with it. As a future head coach, he'll probably be better because
it would be his second job. A lot of times, guys do better after their first head coaching job when they have that experience."
The Hawks were defeated by huge margins in all four games and even Orlando’s All-Star centre Dwight Howard criticised Atlanta’s defensive approach and their inability to adjust to the situation. As a result of that embarrassing
defeat Atlanta fired Woodson.
Woodson’s inclusion is almost final and the official announcement is expected next week. According to his close friends, Woodson is anticipating to join the Knicks in a couple of days, after he had a good one to one meeting with
D’Antoni at the start of this month.
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