Anthony ‘surprised’ by Knicks’ coaching change

But 1½ seasons later, Jackson decided he needed someone else.

“It’s time for us to make a change, turn this team around and move forward and get some wins and keep going down the road we had started here at the beginning of the year”, Jackson said at the team’s practice facility.

By all early accounts, Anthony is happy to play for interim coach Kurt Rambis as much as he did for Fisher. He said at the time of his hiring that his relationship with Jackson played a major role in his decision to join the team.

Jackson said that some of the onus for the Knicks’ 23-31 record this season falls on the players, but felt Monday’s move was necessary.

Knicks: Phil Jackson, during an interview with MSG Network, said the chances of a trade before next week’s deadline were “very slim” but that they would be looking…. Drafted by the Knicks in the third round in 1980, Rambis said for the second straight day that it’s important for the Knicks to get into the playoffs, but that will take a huge turnaround after the All-Star break.

“This was something that I don’t really know if it was a quick decision or was lingering”, said Anthony.

Knicks president Phil Jackson just lived up to his “Zen Master” nickname. “To think the next Knicks president/GM – Steve Mills or Isiah Thomas – will stay true to the triangle is absurd, and so hiring one more triangle coach is nearly guaranteeing him Fisher’s fate”, Wojnarowski, one of the most reliable National Basketball Association insiders today, added in his article. The Knicks went 17-65 last season but upgraded their roster during the summer with the drafting of Kristaps Porzingis and the signing of veterans Arron Afflalo and Robin Lopez. Apart from the Knicks’ subpar performance for the season, so far, many believe that it was Fisher’s failure to execute things the way Jackson intended them for as the main reason. He embarrassed the franchise by feuding with Matt Barnes of the Grizzlies after getting involved with Barnes’ ex-wife. “That was embarrassing for us and for Derek, but that had nothing to do with what”™s happened here (Monday).”.

Even before the firing of Fisher, Anthony’s name was linked to multiple trade rumors. McCollum had six of his 21 points in overtime as the Trail Blazers won 112-106 at Memphis.

The Wizards advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals last season but have taken a big step back on the defensive end and are last in the conference with an average of 105.4 points allowed.