Empire Writes Back
Fansided

New York Knicks: David Fizdale is the right choice to lead the team

By Alex Jordan

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 29: David Fizdale of the Memphis Grizzlies directs his team against the New York Knicks during the second half at Madison Square Garden on October 29, 2016 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 29: David Fizdale of the Memphis Grizzlies directs his team against the New York Knicks during the second half at Madison Square Garden on October 29, 2016 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Former Memphis Grizzlies head coach David Fizdale is the right man to lead the New York Knicks.

The New York Knicks have hired David Fizdale to be their next head coach, replacing Jeff Hornacek. He is the franchise’s 29th head coach and their 11th coach since the 2001-02 season and fifth coach since the 2010-11 season.

"“It’s the Knicks. What are we talking about?” Fizdale told ESPN’s Ian Begley when asked about his decision to join the team. “To have an opportunity to coach for this franchise [and] to be a part of a rebuild that gets this place back to long-term winning, I couldn’t pass that up. I just felt like I don’t want to look back on my life and say I didn’t take this chance.”"

Fizdale was previously the coach for the Memphis Grizzlies. He led the Grizzlies to a 50-51 regulars season record in two season and led them to the playoffs last year. Before being with the Grizzlies he was with the Miami Heat where he won two championships.

But the question is Fizdale the right person for the job? The answer is yes. He is a great coach as he has won championships and led the Grizzlies to the playoffs, and is respected by players and colleagues around the NBA.

“Today’s players are very different from yesterday’s players,” Knicks president Steve Mills told Dan Cancian of Newsweek. “So, you have to be a person that understands who these guys are, where they come from, what their basketball journey is.”

The Knicks aren’t great on defense, as they were 23rd in defensive rating (108.4) this past season but Fizdale will be able to change that. The Grizzlies were ranked 19th in defensive rating in the 2015-16 season. However the following season the Grizzlies moved up to seventh in defensive rating. According to Fizdale the Knicks success will be because of their defense, not their offense.

"“I want to get up and down the court, I want to share the basketball, I want to attack the paint,”  the Knicks coach told Chris Iseman of NorthJeresey.com. “But none of that will start without us being a great defensive team. We’re going to be a team that really plays a pressure, physical style of basketball, get a lot of deflections, try to get a lot of steals, get into the open court, earn the right  to go play a more free-flowing, attacking style of offense."

Next: The Knicks need a Celtics sweep

Another reason Fizdale is the right choice for the Knicks is that he can help rebuild the team for the future. There’s no question that the Knicks are in a rebuilding mode and Fizdale can help bring in young stars and build a team around phenom Kristaps Porzingis that will be successful.

The Knicks might not make the playoffs next season but Fizdale will be turning them into a successful, winning organization.

Home/New York Knicks