Mike Brown was hired to coach the Knicks for this moment. He has his team ready for it
Mike Brown was hired for this moment. The New York Knicks already had a coach who could take them to the Eastern Conference finals — and they fired him immediately after. Whoever replaced Tom Thibodeau would do so knowing he was inheriting a seat that was already warm, taking an undeniable win-now job where the only way he could demonstrate he made the team better was by reaching the NBA Finals.
GREENBURGH, N. Y. (AP) — Mike Brown was hired for this moment.
The New York Knicks already had a coach who could take them to the Eastern Conference finals — and they fired him immediately after . Whoever replaced Tom Thibodeau would do so knowing he was inheriting a seat that was already warm, taking an undeniable win-now job where the only way he could demonstrate he made the team better was by reaching the NBA Finals. The pressure grew even more during the season, when the owner said he believed the Knicks should play for the title .
The expectations were clear, though Brown never needed to have them explained. “People have talked about a mandate,” Brown said recently. “Like, I’m coaching to win, so it doesn’t matter what others say.
I’m disappointed if we’re not in the finals and having a chance to win it. ” He has led the Knicks back to the conference finals, where they will play either Detroit or Cleveland. They were two losses from going home in the first round in what could have been a flop worthy of a firing.
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