New York Knicks head coach Mike Woodson could be losing control of his team, and he may wind up losing his job as a result. The Knicks have lost four straight since somehow stringing together five wins in a row earlier this month. If a report from the NY Daily News about Tyson Chandler is true, JR Smith is not the only player Woodson is having problems with.
Sometime over the last week or so, Woodson reportedly confronted Chandler about comments the 31-year-old made that could be seen as negative toward the head coach. Frank Isola of the NY Daily News speculated that the conversation may have taken place after a loss to the Indiana Pacers last week, when Chandler said the Knicks “didn’t make adjustments.” Woodson had previously said that New York was simply outworked.
After the Brooklyn Nets beat the Knicks 103-80 at Madison Square Garden on Monday, Chandler told reporters that Brooklyn “out-schemed” the Knicks. He also said he did not agree with Woodson’s strategy of constantly switching on defense.
“I don’t want to switch,” Chandler said. “I personally don’t like it. You come with a defensive plan and then every guy kind of mans up and takes his responsibility. I think switching should always be your last resort. That’s me, personally.”
Chandler said on Tuesday that his comments were not directed toward Woodson. If Woodson had his little chat with Chandler prior to Monday, it obviously didn’t work. If something Chandler said did in fact bother him, Woodson isn’t admitting it publicly.
“If they want to lash out at me that’s fine,” he said Tuesday. “I’m not a coach that takes things personally. Players get upset. Coaches get upset… Sometimes it’s healthy when players get upset like that.”
Here’s how it’s gone lately for the Knicks. Carmelo Anthony sits on the bench shaking his head, JR Smith gets benched every now and then and claims he has no idea why, and backup point guard Beno Udrih wants to be traded because he’s not getting enough minutes. If New York can’t find a way to start winning on a consistent basis, Woodson will likely be out by season’s end.
