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New York Knicks Rumors: Tom Thibodeau Wants Head Coaching Job?

By Kenneth Teape

Mar 21, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau smiles before the game against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 21, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau smiles before the game against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /
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New York Knicks Rumors: With Derek Fisher fired, the Knicks are in need of a new head coach. Tom Thibodeau would supposedly love to take that job.

The New York Knicks pulled off a bit of a shocker on Monday, firing head coach Derek Fisher just over halfway through his second season on the job. Fisher, who was Phil Jackson’s hand picked first head coach to help lead the turnaround for the organization, has been canned after 136 games and compiling an ugly record of 40-96.

The Knicks looked to be turning things around with a roster that actually had NBA talent on it this season, as they matched their 2014-15 win total of 17 back on January 5th. But, a recent stretch that saw the Knicks record begin to nosedive with losses in nine of their last 10 games, Jackson decided now was the time to make a change at head coach.

Jackson had a couple of reasons for moving on from Fisher, such as the team just not winning enough games recently and him not using the resources given to him as much as Jackson felt he should be. Because of that, Fisher is now out as head coach, with Kurt Rambis taking over on an interim basis for the remainder of the season.

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Unless Rambis blows Jackson away as the head coach the remainder of the season, Jackson will not only be looking to improve the roster during free agency but will be on the search for a new head coach as well. Jackson will undoubtedly have his own list of candidates, but one name to keep an eye on is former Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau.

The 58-year old Thibodeau was the head coach for the Bulls from 2010-2015, winning the coach of the year award in 2011. He also has experience working the sideline for the Knicks, as he was an assistant with the team from 1996-2004 under Pat Riley, Jeff Van Gundy, Don Chaney, Herb Williams and Lenny Wilkens. Could it be time that Thibodeau returns to the sideline that he called home for the longest period of time in his coaching career?

According to ESPN.com Senior Writer Ian O’Connor, that is exactly what he is hoping for. According to sources close to Thibodeau that O’Connor was in touch with, this is the job that Thibodeau has coveted.

While Thibodeau seems to want to land the Knicks’ head coaching job, there is a big obstacle in the way of that happening; Phil Jackson. In the press conference annoucning the firing of Fisher, Jackson was not too fond of discussing the opening and potential candidates. Thibodeau was mentioned, to which Jackson responded by saying he respects him, but he is not soliciting for coaches and Kurt Rambis will coach the remainder of the season.

Another knock against Thibodeau becoming the head coach is that he is not a triangle disciple, and he does not have a relationship with Jackson like other assistant coaches around the NBA do. Here is what Jackson had to say regarding a potential replacement for Fisher at head coach:

"“The system of basketball is what’s important,” Jackson said when asked if the next coach has to come equipped with the triangle. “When we’re talking about a system, it just happens to be a system that we are familiar with. It’s not paramount, but it’s important.”"

Jackson also added, “It’s always good to have a relationship,” Jackson said. “It’s not paramount. At some point I’m going to have to have a relationship with someone who’s going to coach this team. That’s just the way it works. Communication has to be there.”

But, Jackson admits that he hasn’t thought about it much. While those quotes will crush some fans’ dreams of seeing Thibodeau on the sidelines for the Knicks, it doesn’t sound like Jackson has ruled out any candidates yet, saying, “I haven’t thought about it. Someone has to match the style of the way we do things and there’s a certain style that I have that I think works and I’ve found worked before. I don’t know if all those people measure up to that, because I don’t know them well enough. But that’s an important aspect and we’ll find that type of person.”

Could Thibodeau match that description? Many Knicks fans are hoping so, as he is arguably the best coach available currently. He has a strong track record with his work in Chicago, and also very important is that he has experience working alongside Carmelo Anthony. Anthony being comfortable with the next coach will be integral to the Knicks having success, because if he doesn’t buy into what the new coach is selling the whole thing will be a disaster.

More ny sports: Who Is The Greatest Knicks PG Of All-Time?

Thibodeau is a big fan of Anthony’s according to Ian O’Connor, as he also adds that Thibodeau thought that the Bulls had landed him as a free agent in the summer of 2014 when Anthony re-signed with the Knicks on a monster deal. Will he now get the chance to coach Anthony like he thought he was going to get last season?

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