Mike Woodson's job security has been in doubt all season long as the New York Knicks have struggled and disappointed under their head coach's leadership this season, however the embattled coach doesn't believe that he needs to audition to Phil Jackson to save his job over the final month of the campaign.
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There has been speculation that after Jackson is officially introduced as the newest addition to the Knicks' front office, he'll fire Woodson at season's end and bring in his own coach. According to ESPN, Woodson said he doesn't feel the need to audition to save his job after the Knicks (27-40) defeated the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday for their sixth straight win.
"I don't think I need to prove anything as a coach. I've never felt that way. I try to do my job the best I can do, and if you're gonna judge me on 16 games, then that's on you," Woodson said of the final 16 games on the Knicks schedule, which could prove to be the last contests with him as coach, via ESPN.
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Woodson said he expects that Jackson will make changes, but didn't address himself.
"When someone new comes in he has his own thought process and philosophy in terms of how he feels and how the shape of the team should be," Woodson said, according to ESPN. "And until he gets here you just have no idea what he's thinking and which direction he wants to go."
Woodson also realizes that changes are a part of the sport of basketball.
"It's basketball. Teams, they try to reshape, they go through changes, and this is no different," the coach told ESPN. "You bring in a great basketball mind into your organization and eventually it'll be reshaped. So how and who and when, only time will tell."
Woodson, who is widely expected to be replaced at the end of the season despite the fact that he's under contract with the Knicks through next year, has led the team to a disappointing record after owner James Dolan proclaimed the squad to be a championship contender coming into the year.
Now that Jackson is coming to New York and bringing the experience of winning 11 championships as an NBA coach and two titles with the Knicks as a player, Woodson's days at the helm could be numbered. Still, the coach insists he has nothing but respect for Jackson.
"Anytime you can get a great basketball mind that comes into your organization, I mean, it can't do nothing but help," Woodson said per ESPN. "I mean, Phil's been through the ringer. He's won titles. He's dealt with players individually. He's dealt with players as a team. I mean, there's probably not a lot he hasn't seen from a basketball standpoint, so I think it's got to be a plus."
Woodson may currently be singing the praises of Jackson, but it could be the addition of the "Zen Master" that ultimately leads to Woodson being let-go by the Knicks.
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