To fire or not to fire, that is the question. Mike Woodson's seat is essentially on fire after the New York Knicks lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night. After suffering through a nine-game losing streak, the team beat the Nets, but then lost their next two games. Who is to blame? Most fingers are getting pointed at Woodson and he knows it.
ESPN is reporting that Woodson is more worried about job security than he is letting on to the media. Despite James Dolan coming out in support of Woodson as the head coach for the Knicks, the team will likely not tolerate this type of losing anymore. Another ugly loss and Woodson could get the boot faster than he thinks.
The numbers do not lie. Right now, the Knicks are 5-15 on a season they were expected to contend for an Eastern Conference title. They have lost the last 11 of 13 games. They suffered a 41-point blowout to the rebuilding Boston Celtics. The Cavaliers beat them by 15 points. The only bragging point on the season was winning the first round of the battle of New York, defeating the Brooklyn Nets.
Woodson continues to put on a brave face in front of the cameras, but sources say everyone is anticipating Dolan will make a move very soon with patience wearing thin. ESPN's Marc Stein reports that assistant general manager Allan Houston could replace the head coach after Jeff Van Gundy reportedly declined the invitation to consider the opening.
Many are unhappy with Woodson's unwillingness to shake up the lineup. He continues to stick with a two-big starting lineup instead of putting in two point guards and featuring Carmelo Anthony at the 4 spot. It worked last year, but has been ignored so far. Woodson does not believe things need to change.
"Yes, we were good in that stretch where we played small-ball. But the East is bigger this year," said Woodson. "And it's tough to play two small guys and [Carmelo Anthony] back at [power forward] again."
With Tyson Chandler still out of the lineup, the "going big" method is not working. Andrea Bargnani is not working out so far. Amar'e Stoudemire and Cole Aldrich are not healthy and Metta World Peace is not doing much either. Chandler is set to return soon, but that will only help so much.
The New York Knicks have one last shot to get back on track. New York will face the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday. The Eastern Conference rivals are very short-handed after injuries have altered their starting lineup. A loss to the Bulls could be what does it for Woodson. He likely only has one straw left.
