Change might be coming to New York.
Yes, James Dolan and the Knicks front office are exploring every trade avenue to salvage this disaster of a season and return the team to the mantle that was its 52-30 record from last year. The only thing that seems easy to change would be the coaching staff. New York appears ready to make a change for change's sake.
Michael Scotto of Sheridan Hoops reports that change could come at the All-Star Break with long-time assistant coach Herb Williams going back into an interim head coaching role, according to Steve Popper of The Bergen (N.J.) Record.
According to the source the Knicks have plotted ending the tenure of head coach Mike Woodson and nearly his entire staff of assistants. With no high-profile coach interested in stepping into this situation right now, the source said that the team has discussed a plan to keep assistant coach Herb Williams and elevate him to the top spot in an interim, reaching out to a number of candidates to fill the staff out.
The Knicks are 20-30 and just outside the final Playoff spot. There is still a chance to salvage the season somewhat in the form of a Playoff appearance — the Knicks draft pick was sent to the Nuggets as part of the Carmelo Anthony trade — but the championship dreams appear long gone.
Woodson has felt that pressure and has made several changes to try and fix things. It has gone in spurts and stops and starts. Mostly it has been stops.
The Knicks are starting to make a push toward the Eastern Conference as talent begins to win out and the East is falling back to them — because that is what happens in the Eastern Conference.
Woodson told Al Ianazzone of Long Island (N.Y.) Newsday on Sunday he believes he has management's support and that he and his coaching staff will make it past the weekend, despite comments to the contrary (perhaps jokingly) previously.
I think so. I'm still coaching the Knicks, that's kind of how I'm looking at it. If I didn't have the support, I would probably be looking for a job. That's not the case. Guys are in my corner. I just got to keep pushing guys and trying to do my job to the best of my ability.
One thing that is clear is the Knicks future at the coaching position is on shaky ground. We will see what direction the Knicks end up going.
