Knicks Rumors: Pros and cons of hiring David Fizdale

Pro: Defensive Prowess

If there’s one area of the game in which David Fizdale excels as a coach, it’s on the defensive end of the floor. Fizdale was an assistant to a number of respected NBA head coaches, almost all of whom prioritized defense as the foundation for success.

For a New York Knicks franchise that needs nothing more than to improve on defense, Fizdale could be the coach who turns things around.

Defense was once the driving force behind the Knicks’ success. Between 1987-88 and 2000-01 alone, New York made 14 consecutive postseason appearances, two NBA Finals, and four Conference Finals on the strength of their rugged defensive mentality.

That’s been missing since Jeff Van Gundy resigned in 2001, however, which makes Fizdale an appealing option for a now defensively erratic franchise.

New York hasn’t ranked in the top 10 in defensive efficiency since 2011-12. Fizdale, on the other hand, had Memphis ranked No. 7 in defensive efficiency despite enduring injuries at (literally) every position.

Having coached under the likes of Mike Woodson and Erik Spoelstra, Fizdale knows the value of defense—and his brief head coaching tenure proves it.