NBA - Sports Rumors

Mon Apr 07, 2008 7:08 am EDT

Jackson best fit for Knicks head coach

By Michael Hurd

Mark Jackson

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New York Post columnist Peter Vecsey says there's nobody available more capable to replace Isiah Thomas as New York Knicks coach than former Knicks star Mark Jackson.

Says Vecsey: "Jackson, who has 17 years of coaching experience as an on-the-floor-assistant, and the job are custom made for each other, a seamless fit. Never again would we have to hear the lame mantra from a sobbing Knicks coach or player about how tough it is to win in New York.

"The 43-year-old (April 1, no joke) grew up here. Born in Brooklyn and raised in Queens ("I'm the only guy claimed by both boroughs . . . and rightfully so"), he excelled at Loughlin HS, St. John's University and as a Knick. His home away from home is Madison Square Garden. Jackson's connection with fans and those covering the NBA is friction free. Who doesn't revere his basketball opinion? Is there any ex-player who possesses a keener sense of humor and richer respect for franchise (and league) history? More important maybe than anything is that newly appointed Knicks president Donnie Walsh liked what Jackson did for the Pacers to such a degree he traded for him twice."

Source: New York PostNew Window

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21 Comments

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  1. ip f
    1. Posted by ip f Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:26 pm EDT

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    but can he turn Marbury into what he was, the floor general without Stephon whining about his shots? Can he teach Marbury that the winning team is the one that makes more baskets, not the individual player? Those 2 will most certainly clash
  2. Stephen A
    2. Posted by Stephen A Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:19 pm EDT

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    If he wants to take the stressful job then more power to him, I wouldn't do it because its gonna way too much work who gonna want the terrible contracts the knicks have and everyone needs to leave marbury alone look what he's been thru this year fighting zeke
  3. denlahoya
    3. Posted by denlahoya Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:41 pm EDT

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    As long as he doesn't bring Marco Baldi as an assistant, fine.
  4. New York Knicks
    4. Posted by New York Knicks Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:56 pm EDT

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    i think ewing is better with coaching that he is...
  5. Matthew S
    5. Posted by Matthew S Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:08 pm EDT

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    Jackson would bring some of the class of the late eighties and early nineties teams back to the garden and would immediately be a fan favorite. He would heal some of the wounds that Isiah has caused and give the Knicks a PR spark. As for his basketball knowledge and coaching style, that will be an uphill battle. He has few quality players and will need all the help he can get. Unfortunately for Jackson, he might only be an interim solution.
  6. MR GIANT
    6. Posted by MR GIANT Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:48 pm EDT

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    Bring him and ewing back to the knicks, so they can get over the ewing curse, they should of never trade him.
  7. Cougah
    7. Posted by Cougah Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:59 pm EDT

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    The next is one of the worst teams in the NBA right now and yet everyday a story comes out about them knuckleheads are scouring the internet looking for sites that they can write there lame opinion about the knicks on. Why?? what sense does it make to hate on an already terrible team. I'm a diehard Knick fan an its funny to see people hate on a bad team. I wonder if the Miami Heat website got as many haters... get a life haters.
  8. DZL
    8. Posted by DZL Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:45 pm EDT

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    Bringing "Action" Jackson back as a head coach along with signing Pat Ewing and resigning Herb Williams as assistants would go a long way towards giving the Knicks and their fans back the franchise its lacked since the Dolan's ruined it. Get rid of Isiah and Mark Aguirre's their lame attempts at trying to give this team any sort of direction. Every player with the exception of Jamal Crawford has regressed once they came to New York and as good as they were as players, Thomas and Aguirre could never make any of it rub off on their players. Ewing has coached the leagues premier big men over the last 3 years (Yao and Dwight Howard) although to say Eddy Curry is a project is a HUGE understatement and who better to get Marbury on track than the last true point guard to put on a Knick jersey. (sorry Derek Harper) Herb seems to always have that calming effect on the locker room and after all the bad decisions they kept him around for no one deserves to be around the Knicks once they begin winning then Herb Williams. Get it done Donnie!!
  9. Paul G
    9. Posted by Paul G Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:03 pm EDT

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    It''s a good start...! We need Mark and Patrick so that we can bring back the intensity we had in the past. Great defense AND BASICS..!!!!! Let's get a good draft and nuture these new young talents. It's f*&^kn New York, WE DESERVE TO HAVE THE BEST TEAM.
  10. dj4dx
    10. Posted by dj4dx Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:44 pm EDT

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    They just tried this theory with Isiah Thomas... Get a PROVED coach, to coach the team... That is like saying, have Jay-Z run Def Jam... oh yeh they tried that, and it didn't work... Get a coach, if you are serious about winning again.
  11. Cotton Piquer
    11. Posted by Cotton Piquer Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:14 pm EDT

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    What Peter Vescey meant to say is: "Mark Jackson has ZERO coaching experience, at any level"
    Why do morons think that taking the Knicks back to an ERA before integration of the NBA, (before foreign players played in the NBA) the answer to what ails the Knicks? Not having any foreign born players on the Knicks roster is at least 50% of the Knicks current problems. If you listen to Mark Jackson Bash Nash, Nowitzki, & other foreign players on broadcasts, you will rrealize that all Jackson will bring to the Knicks is old school predjudices, biases, & bigotry.
    The Knicks already have that with Issiah Thomas. And Walsh thought that hiring Thomas as coach of the Pacers & bringing in every thug wannabe available was the answer to success. Good Luck Knicks fans. lol
  12. Davie J
    12. Posted by Davie J Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:47 pm EDT

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    i would perfer ewing as well.just get rid of thomas please.........
  13. sportsnut888
    13. Posted by sportsnut888 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:02 pm EDT

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    Vecsey is right on the money, the fans would love Jackson and give him every chance to suceed. He'll end up with Ewing on his staff to coach the bigs, and then need a coach for the wings. But given his relationship and history with Walsh, it will be a great fit.
  14. Geemore1017
    14. Posted by Geemore1017 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:07 pm EDT

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    I think the Knicks need someone like Jackson,but more like Kareem and Patrick.Jackson would be coming to a club with maybe two or three players and a bag full of bad contracts.I think NEW YORK should give any of the three a chance to try and bring back the fun of winning games in the garden.I think Kareem would be a better coach and Patrick has to be there for the big guys.Just take a look at Howard.Dolan needs to stay out of the game and just make special trips to the garden for support when they are winning.Knick players are lazy and feel they have no reason to play hard because of a few players and the coach they have now. That has to change.You have to trade up for high rollers and get rid of the dead wood. I like the kincks but I don't like the bad choices made by just anyone or by Dolan.
  15. Rob H
    15. Posted by Rob H Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:46 pm EDT

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    "Jackson, who has 17 years of coaching experience as an on-the-floor-assistant"
    "On-the floor-assistant"? WTF? Um, Pete, he was a PLAYER!!!!
    He has ZERO coaching experience!!!!!!
    Hillary Clinton would be proud of this snowjob on the part of Vecsey.
  16. yo daddy
    16. Posted by yo daddy Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:56 pm EDT

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    a bum coaching a bunch of bums.. perfect fit.
  17. Risk Prof
    17. Posted by Risk Prof Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:19 pm EDT

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    Ewing can barely put a sentence together. I think Jackson might be worth a try. At least it would be a true "NY Team" whether good or bad.
    Forget the three presidential candidates...give me Laura Bush over all of them!
  18. cool ass Ra
    18. Posted by cool ass Ra Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:58 pm EDT

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    Bringing mark to coach isn't a bad idea. love the idea of bringing ewing back, please don't stop there. we need toughness, hire oakley and starks. oakley's toughness and tenacity is sorely missed and starks fearless attitude is lacking. like mark, but prefer kenny smith (more experience at analyzing the game).
  19. hoopologist
    19. Posted by hoopologist Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:12 pm EDT

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    this is a big joke right
  20. leslie d
    20. Posted by leslie d Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:49 pm EDT

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    You mean the same kind of "old school prejudices, biases & bigotry" that you, the LYING IGNORANT RACIST MORON Unbiased-Fan, bring to EVERY blog that you've EVER posted in?........doesn't seem that "not having any foreign born players" on their roster is hurting BOS or DET too much.........you're the ONLY person that continues to bring race/nationality into these forums then accuse others of being exactly what you are yourself, a biased, prejudice, bigoted MORON......why is it that MORONS, such as yourself, think that stocking the Knicks roster with foreign born players IS the cure for what ails them? because to most TRUE basketball fans, that's really NOT an issue
  21. leslie d
    21. Posted by leslie d Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:49 pm EDT

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    Everyone always wanna put the blame for a TEAM losing on the coach....OK maybe Thomas isn't the right guy for this job, WE don't know, have anyone posting in this blog ever been to a Knicks practice or game?....WE only go by what's been said, written or what we've seen on TV but sooner or later, the PLAYERS have to be held accountable because on paper, the Knicks should have a much more competitive team......Doc was a "terrible" coach last season, but now he's a COY candidate......why NOT give Jackson a go at it?.....what's there to lose?
    "If you listen to Jackson bash Nash, Nowitzki & other foreign born players on broadcasts, you will realize that all Jackson will bring to the Knicks is old school prejudices, biases & bigotry"......so Jackson ONLY bashes foreign players & this is what makes him a prejudice, biased bigot?.....then the same should go for YOU because you ONLY bash Kobe, LeBron, Melo, AI, Kidd & MOST other AF/AM players both past & present

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