New York Knicks: Who Should Replace Derek Fisher?

3. Tom Thibodeau

From 1967 to 1982, the New York Knicks were led by a hard-nosed head coach named Red Holzman—a man who brought the city its only two NBA championships. Between Pat Riley and Jeff Van Gundy, the Knicks achieved a resurrection, of sorts, in the 1990s.

The common theme during both eras is that New York played hard, grind-it-out basketball with an emphasis on physicality and defense.

He may not be a Phil Jackson disciple, but Tom Thibodeau is the type of head coach who can restore the Knicks to greatness. He’s been criticized for the way he manages rotations, but there’s no question that Thibodeau can turn a team into an elite defensive force.

If Jackson were to pair Thibodeau with an assistant coach who knows how to properly execute the Triangle Offense, New York could emerge as one of the true powerhouses in the Eastern Conference.

Thibodeau went 255-139 in 394 regular season games with the Chicago Bulls, good for a win percentage of .647. Injuries often ravaged the Bulls come the postseason, but the team still managed to make the Eastern Conference Finals in 2011 and two more trips out of the first round.

It’s also worth noting that Thibodeau was an assistant coach for the Knicks from 1996 to 2004. He knows what it takes to win in New York.

Next: The Breakout Coaching Star