Lenny Wilkens = Bye Bye

[VintageNYK]

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">All signs point to Lenny Wilkens resigning as coach of the New York Knicks on Saturday, ESPN's Stephen A. Smith reported Friday night.

Wilkens reportedly met with Knicks president Isiah Thomas after New York's last-second loss to Houston on Friday night and indicated he would likely resign as head coach.

The Knicks expect that he will tender his resignation Saturday morning. The team has been slumping, but Smith said that family issues are a factor in Wilkens' decision.

The Knicks' 92-91 loss to the Rockets on Scott Padgett's off-balance jumper at the buzzer gave New York nine defeats in its last 10 games.

"Lenny is doing some thinking right now," Thomas told the New York Daily News. "We'll see where he's at in the morning."</div>

Full Article

A lot of people wanted him gone, so happy now? I just wish Lenny the best of luck wherever he goes. Thanks for trying

 

[Timberwolf]

Lenny did the best he could with the roster he had to work with.

I personally think it's time that he end his coaching career. He has nothing to prove anymore. I am sure he can be in the league in some capacity or something. He does not need the stress anymore.

 

[Penny]

Who fills in? Any chance of it being Isiah Thomas, lol.

Man the New York Knicks are playing so poor right now, amazing that Lenny Wilkens survived as long as he did, as Isiah Thomas doesn't hang on to coaches that long, we all know what happened last year.
I really do hope the New York Knicks move forward with this, because they are really struggling, I guess any change is good right now.


P.S -- I never thought Lenny Wilkens was the right fit for the New York Knicks from day 1.

 

[02civic]

its not ALL his fault. The team was built poorly. They dont work together. And dont give me the "Fratello" crap....he's not gunna change the fact that so many of the main guys are HORRID defenders and those same guys offensive game consists of chucking.
they need role players.

 

[Platehpus]

They need role players? Do you follow the Knicks at all? The entire team consists of roleplayers, sans Marbury and Crawford. Good riddence to Lenny Wilkens, we have a very talented team and hopefully whoever coaches us in the future will get Ariza and Sweetney more minutes and allow them to develope. Wilkens preached defense, but he hasn't been a good coach in 20 years so his teachings were very outdated. Isiah should get a coach that focuses on traps and pressure, as we have a very athletic and energetic team that can run up and down the court all the time.

And the Knicks fans collectively let out a sigh of relief.

 

[Mr. J]

Thank you Platehpus! You beat me to it.

Back to Wilkens. I was sleeping and I always have on 1050 ESPN radio as usual. So I'm half sleeping at about 8:00 and I hear Lenny is gone. I just woke right up and decided to post this. Good thing Tha Knick did though. Lenny Wilkens is probably a nice guy, if he were younger and I knew him, he could be one of my homies, but he is not a good coach. I'm not going to even say a bad coach just to be safe. Lenny just is not a good fit for this team.

How many times has Lenny forgotten to foul? Or how many times has he kept TT in the game for too long, how much time has Baker sat on the bench (he odes have legit beef), how many times did he forget to call a time out, how many times did he play zone on a team with 3 players that shoot 40+ from 3, or how many times hasn't substitued for JYD, or how many times has he made a bad set of substitutions.

Lenny does not deserve all of the blame. Players are responsible for all of their actions, but the coach is supposed to do something about it. I mean how many times as Crawford "chucked up shots" and didn't sit down, or you didn't see Lenny do anything. The Knicks were supposed to win I'm not going to say by a landslide, but win the division pretty comfortably. Because of Wilkens coaching, we are not even in the playoff picture if it were to start today. Yes Crawford was injured, Penny's still gone, Sweetney was out briefly, but many things during this season should have never happened period.

How many blowouts did the Knicks have? I think 4 with Boston, Dallas, Cleveland, and Toronto. Is anyone even suggesting that Wilkens wasn't at fault? A lot has to do with the way he coaches. As I said before, he doesn't know how to substitute, he doesn't know how to run plays, and a numerous amount of other things. I heard Herb is taking over for a little while. At least now, we have an undefeated coach lol. He's only 1-0. What's up with Jeff Bzdelik? I think he might be able to do well for us. Well any coach can do that, everyone will be better coaching the Knicks than Wilkens all jokes aside. All I know is we are greatly underachieving, and we need a coach that will propel us to at least a good season.

Lenny's a great guy, but he is not a good coach for us. We need another coach, and hopefully which ever one we get, it will be a good one. Remember last year when Wilkens just came? That game was real esciting vs. the Sonics. The Garden was chanting Le-nny Wil-kens! It consisted of that dunk from Marbruy, Kurt Thomas, and 17 assists from Marbury. Everyone thought good things were bound to come. Little did we know that Don Chaney wasn't too far off from his coaching abilities. Sure he won the most games, but he also lost the most games. It definitely showed coaching us. Let's see what happends though. At least he walks away with dignity and doesn't get fired especially not as harshly as Don Chaney. Great news for us I think no Knick fan can argue, I know I'm not arguing. Maybe this will prove to be the change that we all needed to shake things up, and continue our Atlantic division lead. This should definitely be interesting, I hope to see more analysis from other Knick fans.

 

[jbbDavid]

When the shot clock expired, Lenny should have called a time out during that play. Good riddance.

 

[Platehpus]

One more thing, I hope we get a coach that stresses discipline so we don't have certain players doing streetball moves for 5 seconds before taking a jumper that clanks the side of the rim.

 

[Mr. J]

When it expired didn't Houston call time out? I think so.

Btw, It's nice to see you posting Only The Knicks!

 

[Smoke]

well its saddening to see a great coach as Wilkens to leave the league. But i too believe that he still will be apart of basketball in the near future.

Hopefully this move, and any other trades that go down, will help the knicks get on the right track.

 

[KnicksUK]

It's what the team neeeded, best of luck to him in the future though.

 

[Ming637]

Hey Mrj18, clear you PM box, I need to send you a pm.

 

[durvasa]

It's the curse of Van Gundy. Last year, the Rockets blew out the Knicks and that got Don Cheney fired. Now, the Rockets win at the buzzer in MSG, and Wilkens resigns.

 

[VintageNYK]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting mrj18:</div><div class="quote_post">Thank you Platehpus! You beat me to it.

Back to Wilkens. I was sleeping and I always have on 1050 ESPN radio as usual. So I'm half sleeping at about 8:00 and I hear Lenny is gone. I just woke right up and decided to post this. Good thing Tha Knick did though. Lenny Wilkens is probably a nice guy, if he were younger and I knew him, he could be one of my homies, but he is not a good coach. I'm not going to even say a bad coach just to be safe. Lenny just is not a good fit for this team.

How many times has Lenny forgotten to foul? Or how many times has he kept TT in the game for too long, how much time has Baker sat on the bench (he odes have legit beef), how many times did he forget to call a time out, how many times did he play zone on a team with 3 players that shoot 40+ from 3, or how many times hasn't substitued for JYD, or how many times has he made a bad set of substitutions.

Lenny does not deserve all of the blame. Players are responsible for all of their actions, but the coach is supposed to do something about it. I mean how many times as Crawford "chucked up shots" and didn't sit down, or you didn't see Lenny do anything. The Knicks were supposed to win I'm not going to say by a landslide, but win the division pretty comfortably. Because of Wilkens coaching, we are not even in the playoff picture if it were to start today. Yes Crawford was injured, Penny's still gone, Sweetney was out briefly, but many things during this season should have never happened period.

How many blowouts did the Knicks have? I think 4 with Boston, Dallas, Cleveland, and Toronto. Is anyone even suggesting that Wilkens wasn't at fault? A lot has to do with the way he coaches. As I said before, he doesn't know how to substitute, he doesn't know how to run plays, and a numerous amount of other things. I heard Herb is taking over for a little while. At least now, we have an undefeated coach lol. He's only 1-0. What's up with Jeff Bzdelik? I think he might be able to do well for us. Well any coach can do that, everyone will be better coaching the Knicks than Wilkens all jokes aside. All I know is we are greatly underachieving, and we need a coach that will propel us to at least a good season.

Lenny's a great guy, but he is not a good coach for us. We need another coach, and hopefully which ever one we get, it will be a good one. Remember last year when Wilkens just came? That game was real esciting vs. the Sonics. The Garden was chanting Le-nny Wil-kens! It consisted of that dunk from Marbruy, Kurt Thomas, and 17 assists from Marbury. Everyone thought good things were bound to come. Little did we know that Don Chaney wasn't too far off from his coaching abilities. Sure he won the most games, but he also lost the most games. It definitely showed coaching us. Let's see what happends though. At least he walks away with dignity and doesn't get fired especially not as harshly as Don Chaney. Great news for us I think no Knick fan can argue, I know I'm not arguing. Maybe this will prove to be the change that we all needed to shake things up, and continue our Atlantic division lead. This should definitely be interesting, I hope to see more analysis from other Knick fans.</div>

GREAT post man...top notch quality

 

[seikencube]

LENNY WILKENS SUKKS! i rather get him fired he keeps letting the new york knicks lose always !

 

[Mr. J]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Tha Knick:</div><div class="quote_post">GREAT post man...top notch quality

</div>
Thanks, there really is a lot to say about Lenny Wilkens!

 

[P.A.P.]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Platehpus:</div><div class="quote_post">They need role players? Do you follow the Knicks at all? The entire team consists of roleplayers, sans Marbury and Crawford. Good riddence to Lenny Wilkens, we have a very talented team and hopefully whoever coaches us in the future will get Ariza and Sweetney more minutes and allow them to develope. Wilkens preached defense, but he hasn't been a good coach in 20 years so his teachings were very outdated. Isiah should get a coach that focuses on traps and pressure, as we have a very athletic and energetic team that can run up and down the court all the time.

And the Knicks fans collectively let out a sigh of relief.</div>

I wouldn't exactly say this team has role players. It consists of young players who are currently their stars, former franchise players, and future/hopeful stars. Marbury and Crawford fit in with their current stars, former stars include Houston, Hardaway, Baker and bust Tim Thomas. Hopeful stars include Sweetney (I don't think they have expectations that high for Ariza). They do have good role players though in KT, Mohammed, Ariza, JYD and Norris. However the problem is even though Wilkens preeches defense, they don't have the right players to fit into that. TT, Houston and undersized Crawford kill them on defense. The only player that makes up for the points allowed is Crawford.

---

Phil Jackson anyone?

 

[Mr. J]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Banks:</div><div class="quote_post">I wouldn't exactly say this team has role players. It consists of young players who are currently their stars, former franchise players, and future/hopeful stars. Marbury and Crawford fit in with their current stars, former stars include Houston, Hardaway, Baker and bust Tim Thomas. Hopeful stars include Sweetney (I don't think they have expectations that high for Ariza). They do have good role players though in KT, Mohammed, Ariza, JYD and Norris. However the problem is even though Wilkens preeches defense, they don't have the right players to fit into that. TT, Houston and undersized Crawford kill them on defense. The only player that makes up for the points allowed is Crawford.

---

Phil Jackson anyone?

</div>
I would consider them role players. Marbury is considered a star and I guess you can toss in Crawford, but everyone else is. That's why the Knicks had such high hopes this season just because of their depth and role players. JYD is a superstar in the role playing category, you have Moochie Norrise who is a leader off the bench, Jamison Brewer a pretty good defender and solid break mate, Penny Hardaway is a veteran with leadership skills. Many occasions he is the catalyst in runs that we make. Kurt Thomas and Nazr Mohammed are good rebounders. Thomas is a great shooter who takes pressure off of Marbury and Crawford, and Mohammed has a decent post game and runs the floor very well. Once Allan Houston gets 100% healthy, he will have a great impact. He will be giving us great freedom and space. TT was expected to be good, but he is whack. Baker was supposed to be a solid back up for us, and give us some leadership. And then there'sSweetney, the victim of much bashing, who is a great young player for the future. Good rebounder, good finisher, gets to the line, and is an underrated defender, and player for that matter. Then we have rookie Trevor Ariza. Yes Banks, Trevor Ariza does have high expectations. NY is a tough place to play especially with all the media attention, and harsh fans. This kid is 19 years old and his getting sufficient burn. The youngest Knick ever, will be big for us. He is one of our best defenders and is a steal waiting to happen. Great IQ for someone his age. Once Houston recovers he wont be as liable, once Crawford matures he will become better, and once a miracle is sent upon TT, he will become a decent defender.

 

[Knicks Analyst]

Herb will be filling in for the rest of the year. Good luck to him, he's got his hands full.

And I'm still celebrating Lenny's resignation.

 

[Platehpus]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Knicks Analyst:</div><div class="quote_post">Herb will be filling in for the rest of the year. Good luck to him, he's got his hands full.

And I'm still celebrating Lenny's resignation.

</div>
haha, KA, do you mind if I use your sig in another forum I post on? I'll give you full credit. It's genius!

 

[Knicks Analyst]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Platehpus:</div><div class="quote_post">haha, KA, do you mind if I use your sig in another forum I post on? I'll give you full credit. It's genius!</div>
Go for it. But credit it as being from Knicks Analyst at Justbball.com.
Make sure you mention JBB. That's most important.

 

[Penny]

Lenny Wilkens Poll

 

[Beat]

This took wayyy to long. We shouldve had a new coach since we lost to the celtics.
Im suprised KA doesn't have a goodbye wilkens sig or something like that.

 

[JWohl]

Lenny

I've wanted lenny to go but i dont think this was a good time. Isiah doesnt want to hire somebody till the off-sesason (Phil Jackson or Larry Brown is who hes looking at) so for now I dont think we are better off with Herb Williams tha nwe were with Lenny.

 

[44Thrilla]

It's official...

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">"This is a difficult decision for me to make at this time because I really wanted to help the New York team get back to being an elite team," Wilkens said in a prepared statement. "But after a lot of consideration, I feel it's the right time for me, the right move and best for all involved."

Knicks president Isiah Thomas, who insisted that he would not have fired Wilkens despite the team's recent slide, turned over the club to assistant coach Herb Williams for the rest of the season.</div>

Link - ESPN.com

 

[bbwAce]

I dont necessarily think this was any of Wilkens' fault...this team still has too many guards and not enough inside threats...and Isaiah will not be a better coach than Lenny...this team has talent and should still make the playoffs but they need discipline and continuity...

 

[Timberwolf]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting mrj18:</div><div class="quote_post">I was sleeping and I always have on 1050 ESPN radio as usual.</div>

You like 1050? I don't know about you, but I hate the station. 1050 is lousy. I think Kay, Wally, Tom, Brandon, and the monotonous Don Legreca are brutal to listen. Just can't stand em. The FAN is not that great either.

I miss AM620.

 

[Mr. J]

I used to listen to the FAN but, after they didn't play anymore Knick games I stoped.