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By David Mitchel

The New York Knicks fired head coach Don Chaney preceding Wednesday nights’ game against Orlando. Chaney spent parts of 3 seasons on the job, having been hired after Jeff Van Gundy abruptly quit on December 8, 2001. During his tenure as Knicks’ head coach, Chaney recorded a 72-111 record, and zero playoff appearances. Until the recent blockbuster acquisition of Stephon Marbury, the Knicks had become irrelevant in the Big Apple. Now, with a new team president in Isiah Thomas and a roster that appears to be primed for contention in the Eastern Conference, it is intuitively obvious that the ax needed to fall on Chaney.

Since the acquisition of Stephon Marbury, Madison Square Garden has been a hub of fan activity. Because Marbury makes the Knicks relevant for the first time since the Van Gundy era, New Yorkers are expecting to see a winning product on the court. Due to the fact, the Knicks are only 15-24 and they are not showing immediate signs of improvement, the fans were calling for Chaney’s dismissal. Since basketball is a business and it is essential to keep your paying customers happy, Thomas made a business move that also makes sense in day to day basketball operations.

In the clubhouse, both Chaney and the players were unhappy with the fact that the issue was looming over the team like a dark cloud looms over the desert before a monsoon. Everyone involved wanted a resolution, and Thomas’ refusal to give Chaney a vote once he became team president enabled Chaney to see the handwriting on the wall that spelled out his departure.

Chaney’s poor coaching abilities were directly correlated with the Knicks failures. Mismanagement of player personnel and his lack of instilling defensive aptitude in his players were the two on court shortcomings that caused his departure. From the beginning of his regime, Chaney did not emphasize defense in the same manner that his predecessor had. In the NBA of recent years, the majority of teams that do not play defense well hardly ever make it to the playoffs. The only exception to that rule has been the Dallas Mavericks. However, in the playoffs, where there is a slower tempo, the Mavericks offense did not produce enough points to cover up their porous defense. The Knicks’ brass understands the current climate of NBA play, and they expect that the defensive play must improve.

Veteran coach Lenny Wilkins has been named the replacement.

By revamping the roster and bringing in a new coach, the retooling process is underway. Now is the time for the team to take a step forward on the court.