New York Knicks: 5 Steps To Get Back to NBA Prominence

While the lockout has certainly become a reason for many teams to disperse, it seems as though the Knicks are sticking together which is certainly nice to see if they want to develop chemistry with their fairly new roster.

Although reports state that the New York Knicks working out as a team in IMG training facility in Florida will not commence until September, many teams have yet to make plans such as these to keep the team together and evolve and grow as a unit.

Amar'e Stoudemire deserves a ton of credit for contacting everyone about these workouts and really being the glue of the team before and after the Carmelo Anthony blockbuster deal went through.

With the Knicks trio of Chauncey Billups, Anthony and Stoudemire leading the way, the Knicks will look to return to the playoffs whenever games resume and the lockout ends. With promising young draftee Iman Shumpert, who lead the ACC in steals with nearly three per game for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, the Knicks will look to improve on the opposite side of the floor where they have struggled so far under Mike D'Antoni's offensive one way style of play.

However, no matter how positive the new additions are to any sports team, there are always adjustments which have to be made, and unfortunately for the Knicks, they are no exception to the rule.

5. Hire a Big Man Coach

Although former teammate of his, Charles Oakley, is my first choice to hire as a big-man coach for the New York Knicks, he is already currently employed by Michael Jordan's Bobcats as an assistant coach.

Anthony Mason comes in as a close second though, as his days in New York are reminiscent of hard work and hustle, which is exactly the kind of style the Knicks need injected into their frontline.

Mason worked for a short time with Eddy Curry a year or two ago, so he is no stranger to coaching in the Knicks organization. He would be a welcomed addition to the Knicks that could help fortify their frontcourt by teaching them how to patrol the paint properly to become a formidable defensive team for the first time in years.

4. Hire a Replacement for Donnie Walsh

Although the man sitting next to Donnie Walsh in the picture would likely have been a great fit, had Walsh been able to groom him for the job the way he wanted to, it is very likely in order to save money and keep in control that James Dolan will look to hire in house.

Look for Glen Grunwald, Allan Houston or Mark Warkentien to land the full-time job and replace Walsh as the president of basketball operations.

Unfortunately, whoever takes over, will likely become a figurehead to Dolan's whimsical madness as he is sure to either drive them away the same way he did Walsh or succumb to his insane requests in order to keep their job.

Let's just hope his old friend and everyone else in New York's sworn enemy Isiah Thomas isn't ready for a sequel of how to destroy the Knicks.

I think Knicks fans would rather listen to James Dolan's new CD than see that happen.

3. Lock Up Mike Woodson as the Defensive Assistant Coach

This is the new most intriguing news that Knicks fans have heard since the lockout has started.

While the team struck out on landing Lawrence Frank as the defensive assistant, Mike Woodson would be equally as suited for the job.

Not to mention, Woodson played one season with the Knicks under the legendary Red Holtzman. During his one season with the team, the Knicks went 50-32 that season which is pretty good considering they are hovering around a .500 record these days.

Woodson also makes an intriguing option, since he played with Phil Jackson. Could the Knicks be hiring their new defensive assistant in hopes of making the head coaching job in New York more comfortable for the Zen Master?

Knicks fans can dream right?

2. Give D'Antoni One Final Season with a Defensive Coordinator

Well, I'm not a supporter of Mike D'Antoni by any means.

Anthony, Stoudemire and Billups want him back and putting the team through even more changes this season seems like it would be counterproductive.

While I'm all for getting rid of D'Antoni and bringing in someone like Phil Jackson, it is not necessarily a given that Phil would come back to coach the Knicks.

There is just a ton of speculation that since he used to play for them and is still close with many of the former Knicks such as current Knicks announcer Clyde Frazier, that New York just makes sense for him.

It's certainly still a possibility, but if the Knicks are able to land Woodson as the defensive assistant coach, there is a possibility that D'Antoni and Woodson's opposing styles of coaching complement each other and make the Knicks improve on both ends of the floor—especially since they basically have an offensive coordinator with head coaching experience and a defensive coordinator with head coaching experience.

While that would be great to believe, D'Antoni has been known to be stubborn with defensive assistant coaches, like how he passed on Tom Thibodeau once upon a time in Phoenix. Crazy right?

He still thinks even after not winning a Title with Steve Nash who is the perfect point guard to run his system that he can do it in New York without defense.

Like I said before, please lock up Woodson!

1. Acquire a Third Superstar (If the New Salary Cap Allows It)

I know what your thinking. This is the first slide that has any mention of acquiring any players on it right?

Well my thought process was that since I have written a previous article suggesting all the players the Knicks should go after, I would tailor this article to what I think they should do regarding coaching and front office personnel.

I threw this player move into the article because this has been the consensus move that many people think will bring the Knicks back to "the promised land" and get them back on top of the NBA.

Bringing in either Chris Paul or Dwight Howard would clearly increase the Knicks chances of winning an NBA Championship, but it's going to be entirely contingent on whether or not the salary cap allows it.

If the Knicks are able to pull it off, fans could quickly see their beloved Knicks back on top in New York again.

Here are a couple of other recent articles which I wrote regarding the Knicks and what additions I think they need to make to improve their roster and make them contenders to win an NBA championship.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/749525-nba-free-agents-2011-10-targets-the-new-york-knicks-need-to-pusue-this-summer


http://bleacherreport.com/articles/718238-nba-trade-rumors-and-free-agents-2011-10-ways-for-knicks-to-complete-superteam