Knicks vs Hawks: Postgame Grades and Analysis

Oct 22, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; New York Knicks head coach

talks with a referee during the second half of the Boston Celtics 99-85 win over the New York Knicks at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

Head Coach: Derek Fisher

Overall Grade: C

During the opening game of the 2015-16 NBA season, I fittingly gave Derek Fisher a perfect grade. His substitutions, rotations and defensive assignments led the New York Knicks to an impressive victory.

One day later, his grade took a major hit.

It’s easy to blame Fisher for the loss to the Atlanta Hawks, but there’s only so much that he could’ve done for the Knicks. New York shot an incomprehensible 15-of-45 on uncontested field goals.

What more can a coach do when his players are missing wide-open looks?

The saving grace for Fisher was that he kept Carmelo Anthony in the game once the result was decided. He knew just how important it was for Anthony to find his confidence, and that’s exactly why he kept feeding the ball to his star late in the fourth quarter.

For what it’s worth, that strategy helped Anthony score 10 of his 25 points in the fourth—a potentially vital development moving forward.

Next: Which members of the New York Knicks will thrive in 2015-16?

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