March 26, 2008 -- THIS is James Dolan's final chance to prove he is a
winner at something other than fortunate familial lotteries. Years
ago, he chased Dave Checketts from the Garden, all the way to St.
Louis and the NHL, because he wanted to be in charge of the Knicks,
because he knew a better way than Checketts, who only built two NBA
finalists.
So far, you'd have to say the Dolan family heir-head has gotten off to
something of a slow start in building a resume worthy of Springfield,
Mass., and the Naismith Hall of Fame.
Knicks fans will settle for the removal of Isiah Thomas from the
Garden's executive suites for now, because he has been the most
visible (and visceral) symbol of the abject failures that have ruined
too many basketball seasons already. But that is only because the one
man they truly want gone - James L. Dolan, chairman, Madison Square
Garden - owns what amounts to a lifetime scholar****p.
It's good work if you can get it.
And far easier than the job awaiting Donnie Walsh, whenever he
officially signs on to inspect the wreckage. For though it is Walsh
who will have the tedious assignment of emptying the trash that
litters the Knicks' roster, it will be the new coach who will have the
even more unenviable task of trying to sprinkle sun****ne where now
only darkness lingers. The coach will be the face of the franchise,
the anchor around which everything is grounded.
It is why Mark Jackson makes so much sense.
In a time when there is no perfect candidate, no obvious hire, when
the list of must-have coaches is shorter than the lines at the MSG
advance-ticket windows, it is the right time for Walsh to reach out to
this son of St. Albans, trust in his sharp basketball a***en, and
trust, most im****tantly, in the faith and the patience of Knicks fans,
who have only asked for two things across this vast acrid decade:
Give us a reason to be patient. Allow us to justify our faith.
Jackson would be a first-time head coach, and there's no doubt that's
not ideal. Really, there is only one ideal coach in a Knicks cor****ate
flow chart that includes Donnie Walsh, but you'll see Joe Lapchick
coach the Knicks again before there'll be a Larry Brown redux.
You want a proven winner? Phil Jackson is going nowhere. Pat Riley's
about 15 minutes away from fading off into South Beach. They would
demand an immediate drug test for Gregg Popovich if he ever pondered
leaving Tim Duncan. You want a college coach? Given the paucity of the
recent converts' NBA winning percentages, you'd be wise to take the
same test as Popovich if you think that's the answer.
No, if there is a time for the Knicks to think cleverly, and
differently, it is now. And everything about Jackson tells you he will
be a terrific NBA coach: his pedigree, his personality, his pugnacity.
The Knicks are not a project of immediacy; there will be years of
overhaul and seasons of struggle if they are to be rescued at all. It
isn't a terrible time to be learning on the job, right along with
whatever new pieces Walsh can assemble.
De-Zeke-ing the Knicks is the easy part. Going forward, going upward,
that's the trick. Walsh will do fine if he selects the right wing man.
Big if.
michael.vaccaro@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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