There were rumors about the Knicks firing Derek Fisher – and that was before New York lost 9-of-10.
Now, with the Knicks sinking out of the playoff picture, they’ve made a move.
Fisher was one of the NBA’s most improved coaches – which mostly speaks to how lousy of a job he did last year. But that was also his first season coaching in any capacity. If you’re going to hire someone so inexperienced, doesn’t it also make sense to give him time to learn on the job? And if progresses at a reasonable rate, doesn’t it make sense to allow him to continue to grow?
If the Knicks are firing Fisher now, he was probably doomed from the start.
There are plenty of reasons not to believe in Fisher, including his Xs and Os and refusal to see motivating his players as part of his job. But the Knicks did believe in him. They hired him. It’s difficult to see why they reversed course so quickly.
Especially to Kurt Rambis. Although he is just an interim, they will make another hire this summer.
Rambis went 15-67 and 17-65 in an ugly two-year stint coaching the Timberwolves. He probably won’t lift the 23-31 Knicks back into playoff contention this season.
Perhaps, that speaks to just how fed up the Knicks were with Fisher.