Race to Respectability: Who Should Be Next Coaches for L.A. Lakers, NY Knicks?
Last time Los Angeles Lakers columnist David Murphy and I discussed their future relative to the New York Knicks', I was in a much stronger position to talk smack.
Now the Knicks are a meager 26-38, and New York is struggling to retain even a drop of playoff hope. The Lakers, meanwhile, might still be languishing in last place, but they are flying high from an astounding, glorious and shocking 112-95 win over the Golden State Warriors Sunday. So while I am surly, David is dreamy and able to meet all my jabs with good-natured composure.
In previous pieces, we've examined New York's early lead in the race back to respectability—or mere relevance—the Lakers' response to Kobe's midseason retirement announcement and the progress of the teams' celebrated rookies.
What happens next for these two depends a great deal upon who's calling the shots, so we start our conversation this month by discussing their lame-duck head coaches.
Lakers' Dream Coach
Peters: Knicks president Phil Jackson surprisingly fired former coach Derek Fisher midseason, yet Lakers head man Byron Scott persists. You've said before that this will be Scott's last season. If so, what should the Lakers be looking for in a coach for their young team, and who might fit the bill?
Murphy: I’d like someone with a forward-thinking mindset and flexibility—in other words, Golden State Warriors assistant Luke Walton. Not only has he done a great job as a lead assistant and interim head coach for the Warriors, he also has considerable familiarity with the Lakers organization, having won a couple rings as a player as well as serving as a player development coach with its D-League affiliate, the Los Angeles D-Fenders.
The multimillion dollar question, of course, is whether Luke would be remotely interested in switching from the best team in the West to the worst. But he’s my top choice without a doubt.
I’d also look to Gregg Popovich’s coaching tree—current San Antonio Spurs assistants Chip Engelland and Ime Udoka are primed to take the next step somewhere in the Association. Ditto David Fizdale, an assistant with the Miami Heat. All of the above candidates are currently working in the NBA trenches, but they don’t represent the status quo of Scott-like retreads.
Rambis Report Card
Murphy: Knicks coach Kurt Rambis has long been part of Jackson's inner circle of trust. How do you think Rambis has been doing as an interim head coach, and could he potentially land the job for next season as well?
Peters: I'm not a Rambis fan. He’d ride a dying horse to death.
He'll do it no matter how dreadfully his preferred lineup is playing, and he is slow to call timeouts and make substitutions. Veteran forward Carmelo Anthony's playing time has rocketed up to an average of over 38 minutes per game during Rambis' tenure, which makes me nervous.
He claims devotion to defense, but that commitment sure wavers. Rambis said himself, "We know that real quick, explosive point guards are going to cause Jose [Calderon] some problems," per the New York Post's Marc Berman. Nevertheless, he persists in starting Calderon ahead of backup Langston Galloway, even against star point guards like the Washington Wizards' John Wall and Portland Trail Blazers' Damian Lillard. The Knicks defense has been appallingly dreadful, yet defensive specialist Lou Amundson hasn't seen the floor since Rambis took the helm.
Could he keep the job anyway? Doubtful, but only because Jackson seems to favor the idea of a young, green protege like Fisher or, once upon a time, Warriors coach Steve Kerr.
Walton deserves to be courted, and he'll have many suitors. However, when Walton decides to pass over the Knicks job and take the Lakers job—as I expect he will—Jackson might consider sticking with his company man.
If Jackson could be persuaded to hire a head coach based upon the team's needs instead of his own, then former Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau should get the call. He could whip the defense into shape and "is a big, big fan of Carmelo Anthony" according to ESPN.com's Ian O'Connor.
Kobe's Last Stand
Peters: In his last month, what do you want from Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, and what should the rest of NBA fans ask—or not ask—of him?
Murphy: Bryant has been dealing with a very sore, surgically repaired right shoulder lately, so it’s a bit hard to see exactly how the final 18 games play out.
That said, I’m hoping he can go out on a high note, playing competitively for as many games as possible. NBA fans seem happy just to see him on the floor, but it would be even sweeter to see the Mamba roll out a few more throwback scoring extravaganzas, like the 38-point night he had against the Minnesota Timberwolves on February 2. Time is running out, however, and his body at this point seems held together by sheer willpower.
Bryant will retire from the NBA with nothing left to prove and a list of accolades that could fill pages. But if I could choose his exit, it would be with a final barrage of points during his very last game at home, capped off by a signature jab-step buzzer-beater for win.
That’s not too much to ask for, is it?
Porzingis' Progress
Murphy: A lot of weight has been placed on the shoulders of Latvian wunderkind Kristaps Porzingis in his rookie year. How would you assess his overall progress?
Peters: Porzingis is a perfect fit in New York, and he's met or surpassed every challenge, ahead of schedule.
That said, KP slipped a bit in February. He seemed to lose some of his edge—more timid on offense, more accommodating on defense. Maybe the Knicks' demoralizing string of losses eroded his spirit; maybe he’s swooning because of some secret romance the New York media hasn’t discovered yet. The end result: After reigning as Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month all season, the Indiana Pacers’ Myles Turner stole the honors from him in February.
Aside from that, Porzingis has been above reproach. He's been a true fighter during a lion's share of games, with a hunger to win and a willingness to carry the team if Anthony is down. His game is excellent on both ends of the court. Plus he'll continue to improve, because the 20-year-old knows where his weaknesses lie, acknowledges them publicly and grinds out extra hours in the gym and practice facility to make sure they won't be weaknesses much longer.
And of course, he's been way better than your rookie.
D'Angelo's Development
Peters: Speaking of "your rookie," it looks like D'Angelo Russell is finally playing up to expectations. Do you like him? Do you prefer him at the point to Clarkson? (And don't just blame Scott for the things he did wrong.)
Murphy: Yes, your Zinger is better than Russell, no doubt. But the Lakers also have Marcelo Huertas—the oldest rookie in the NBA and dealer of nine dimes off the bench in Sunday’s win against a team known as the Golden State Warriors. So take that!
I like how D’Angelo is coming along late in the season. But I question how successful he and Clarkson can be next season in such a loaded conference, with a score-first starting guard tandem. The 20-year-old Russell certainly has lots of room to grow, and he possesses excellent passing and ball-handling skills. But it’s a bit hard to ignore 3.7 assists per game as a starter—not a standout stat for a point guard in the NBA
Whether it’s him or Clarkson, somebody’s got to commit to the task of facilitating. I’d love to see the Lakers hire a tutor for Russell over the summer. Baron Davis, anyone?
Peters: Caution: Don't wish Baron Davis on yourself—or anyone—without consulting a qualified medical professional first.
A Melo State of Mind
Murphy: Anthony is still a perennial star and elite scorer. But where’s his head at as it becomes apparent that yet another postseason is passing him by?
Peters: Melo appears frustrated. Are feelings of betrayal creeping in—betrayal by Phil Jackson, by New York and maybe even by his teammates' lackluster performances?
Anthony has given everything this season. Yet "fans"—and I use the term with reservations—at Madison Square Garden have booed the team's "efforts"—and I use that term with reservations—on several occasions recently. One heckler was so relentless that Carmelo actually told him to ask Knicks owner Jim Dolan for a refund, per Yaron Weitzman of SB Nation. That's out of character for Anthony, who generally responds to conflict by smiling and shaking his head.
After the excruciating 105-104 loss to the Boston Celtics on Friday, Anthony admitted to reporters, per ESPN.com, "I do look at my peers and say: 'Damn, what am I doing wrong? I should be there.' ... Right now it's kind of a rough patch for me. I'm trying to figure out a way to get out of it."
Is the "way to get out of it" leaving New York in a trade? Possibly, but I doubt that’s where his mind is at this stage of his New York career. Carmelo is an optimistic fellow who—this season—willingly shouldered responsibility for improving the team’s fortunes. For the next five weeks at least, it's still about winning for the Knicks.
Follow Sara Peters on Twitter @3FromThe7 and David Murphy @davem234.
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