NEW YORK _ The Knicks have adopted the philosophy of assessing their season in ten game increments. The first 10 were an embarrassment, which is why James Dolan drove the front office to hold an impromptu press conference that basically placed a giant flame under David Fizdale.
The next 10, which began Tuesday in Chicago, is either an opportunity for Fizdale's revival or a countdown to his termination.
So what is the coach's goal?
"I want to go 10-0," he said with a chuckle. "Anything is possible. But that's the way I look at it. I'll take it one at a time but we're trying to win every game."
This is Fizdale's biggest week since taking over as Knicks coach. He's undoubtedly on the hot seat, and Kristaps Porzingis arrives at MSG for Thursday's big showdown against the Mavericks. If Porzingis drops a gem and the Knicks get blown out in front of Dolan (or if the Nets pummel New York at the Garden on Nov. 24), Fizdale may not make it through the second 10-game increment.
But for the sake of examination, here are the 9 games after Tuesday night's affair against the (beatable) Bulls:
11/14 vs. Dallas
11/16 vs. Charlotte
11/18 vs. Cleveland
1{0 at Philadelphia
1{3 vs. Spurs
1{4 vs. Nets
1{7 at Raptors
1{9 vs. Sixers
12/1 vs. Celtics
Those include seven home games, and the Knicks, coincidentally, stink at home. They're 10-35 at the Garden under Fizdale, including blowout defeats this season to the Celtics, Kings and Cavaliers.
If the Knicks replace Fizdale during the season _ presumably with an interim coach _ president Steve Mills and GM Scott Perry would then find themselves in the crosshairs. On that front, there is already speculation around the league about potential front office replacements, with two names surfacing most often: Toronto president Masai Ujiri and Oklahoma City GM Sam Presti.
Ujiri has been coveted for a while by Dolan and would come at a hefty _ very hefty _ price. He won a title with the Raptors last season and emerged as the obvious winner of a couple trades with the Knicks. According to The Athletic, Dolan is plotting to lure Ujiri to New York.
Presti, meanwhile, sprouted from the Spurs tree and has served as the Thunder's GM since 2007. He drafted Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden but has been hamstrung by running a team in one the league's smallest markets. After 12 years in OKC, it's easy to envision him being tempted by New York.
The Knicks, to that end, are due to hire a front office leader with real experience and success constructing a team. Phil Jackson and Mills, both neophytes in that role when they took over, weren't exactly inspiring.
Much of this is early supposition. Other names will surface if the jobs open. Trajan Langdon, the Pelicans' GM who previously helped resuscitate the Nets as their assistant GM, is an up-and-comer. Kiki Vandeweghe, who works in the NBA office after serving in front-office roles with the Mavericks, Nuggets and Nets, would be interested in the Knicks' gig, according to a source.
In the meantime, Mills and Perry remain employed and Fizdale is working at this second 10-game increment. There's a lot at stake.
