Knicks Rumors: NY Needs 'A Severe Slide' to Consider Firing David Fizdale
Despite the New York Knicks' abysmal 4-13 start, head coach David Fizdale is reportedly not expected to be fired anytime soon.
According to Marc Berman of the New York Post, sources have indicated it will take a "severe slide" for the Knicks to fire Fizdale. Berman also noted that "progress, competitiveness and player development" are the key barometers Fizdale is being judged on rather than win-loss record.
Following Monday's 103-101 loss to the Brooklyn Nets, the Knicks have lost three in a row, although they are a somewhat palatable 2-4 over their past six.
Fizdale is in his second season as head coach of the Knicks, and the results haven't been good. The team went just 17-65 last season, and he owns an overall record of 21-78 in New York after going 50-51 with one playoff appearance in parts of two seasons as head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies.
Two weeks ago after a 2-8 start, Knicks president Steve Mills and general manager Scott Perry showed up at a postgame press conference to voice their displeasure with the team's performance.
According to Greg Joyce of the New York Post, Mills said he and Perry "still believe in our coaching staff," but the odd situation seemed like a clear warning to Fizdale and others that long-term mediocrity wouldn't be tolerated.
Considering the fact that New York hasn't made the playoffs since 2013, the slow start isn't necessarily unexpected. Also, the Knicks essentially underwent a wholesale roster transformation from last season with the exception of Kevin Knox, Frank Ntilikina, Mitchell Robinson, Dennis Smith Jr., Allonzo Trier and Damyean Dotson.
Elfrid Payton, Wayne Ellington, Reggie Bullock, Julius Randle, Marcus Morris, Bobby Portis and Taj Gibson were all added via free agency, while RJ Barrett and Ignas Brazdeikis were selected in the draft.
Even the most talented rosters take time to jell when there are that many changes, and given the fact that most of their best and most talented players (Barrett, Knox, Robinson) are in their first or second NBA seasons, growing pains are a fact of life.
Although the Knicks are tied for last in the Eastern Conference, they are just 2.5 games out of a playoff spot, so it's possible they could compete.
Even if firing Fizdale isn't on the immediate agenda, though, it is difficult to envision him lasting beyond this season if the struggles continue since none of the Knicks' previous three full-time head coaches remained with the team for more than two seasons.
