Given that we are in the midst of presidential campaign season and endorsements are being designated by the dozens, this writer is also making an endorsement today. Unlike many self-serving opportunists who strategically hedge, waiting for a clear favorite to emerge before throwing their support behind them, yours truly is endorsing Kurt Rambis for the position of Knicks head coach.
Rambis currently holds the title of interim head coach after replacing the fired Derek Fisher. He was 24-13 guiding the Lakers in the 1998-99 lockout shortened season, making it to the Western Conference semi-finals. The 58-year-old Rambis was 32-132 leading the Minnesota Timberwolves from 2009 to 2011, his roster similar to what he has now with the Knicks.
In addition, the Timberwolves’ general manager at that time, David Hahn, was so inept he should have been working at a concession stand rather than constructing the team. After drafting point guards Ricky Rubio and Jonny Flynn ahead of Stephen Curry in 2009, Hahn gushed the duo reminded him of the Hall of Fame tandem of Walt Frazier and Earl Monroe.
It is obvious Rambis knows the triangle offense as well as anyone in basketball, a system his current team is married to under Knicks President Phil Jackson. Rambis should bear little accountability for the Knicks’ 25-37 record. Like his predecessor Fisher, Rambis has little tools with which to work, beginning with arguably the worst backcourt in the NBA. The outcome will be a third straight season in which the Knicks will miss the playoffs.
“I’m not delusional,” said Rambis last Sunday in assessing the Knicks’ postseason prospects.
No, but the countless voices that are crusading for Knicks owner James Dolan and Jackson to offer the franchise’s head coaching job to former Bulls coach and one-time Knicks assistant Tom Thibodeau or Golden State Warriors assistant coach Luke Walton are evidently experiencing hallucinations if they believe the Knicks’ issues will be resolved by a coaching change.
Thibodeau, Walton and Jackson himself would all fail with the Knicks’ current group of players. Continuing to change coaches would be to define insanity. The results will be the same. Rambis can win with significantly better players. Acquiring them is the simple solution to the Knicks’ troubles.