Mike Woodson Coach of the Year?

[TheNumber37]

What would it take for Woodson to win Coach of the year.

I say If the Knicks win the Atlantic and are one of the top 3 defensive teams in the leauge. Anything more than 55 wins.
Also, if it looks like Melo and Amare are meshing and playing defense then that REALLY helps his case.

[sharqstealth]

If we top the east, or place 2nd with just a few games behind the Heat. Winning the Atlantic wouldn't be enough... With the talent on paper we have I'm really expecting us to win the division

[Missing56&33]

What would it take for Woodson to win Coach of the year.

I say If the Knicks win the Atlantic and are one of the top 3 defensive teams in the leauge. Anything more than 55 wins.
Also, if it looks like Melo and Amare are meshing and playing defense then that REALLY helps his case.

agreed and we have to show the league that we are a different team. A team that get after it and cause havoc.....because that's what its going to take....no bullshitting....just going after it every night.

Wouldn't hurt to get a win or two in Boston either.

[StarvingKnick22]

Not a chance in the world.

[D-Leethal]

Probably going to have to come very close to the 60 win mark to achieve this. If you think about it though, unless theres a big suprise team he might get lucky, sort of like when the league gets tired of handing out MVP's to the same dude and the new story comes in and takes it.

Spoelstra won't win it regardless of Heat success - just won't happen.
Unless Thibs has the Bulls crack 50 wins without Rose all year, doubt he wins it again.
OKC is expected to be very good so I don't see Brooks winning again.
Doubt Doc gets it with his stacked team unless they steal the #1 seed
Doubt Brown gets it with his stacked team unless they win 65+ games

Woody has good a shot as any, I see whoever coaches a young team to the playoffs this year will get it (Byron Scott, Monty Williams, Duane Casey etc)

I don't see a stacked elite team winning it this year because all those coaches have already won and it will take a ridiculous season to 'overachieve'......if Woody gets us to that elite level of championship contender than hes got a great shot, if not I see a young exciting suprise team winning it even if they only win 45 games or so.

[FOXHOUND]

I think he would have to sustain the success he had when he took over for an entire season. We had the 3rd ranked defense in the NBA, with much less talent, so that should be easily done barring injury.

We were 18-6 under Woodson, 6-1 before Amare and Lin got hurt. Small sample, but at the same time we were 12-5 with a lineup of Davis-Shump-Fields-Melo-Chandler with JR and Novak the only bench players playing 10 mins per game off the bench, a 55-win pace. If he can work with that, then I like his chances.

I think the hot start and that sustained success with a greatly depleted roster balance each other out. 18-6 is winning % of 75%. Over 82 games, that's 61.5 wins. Maybe that's a bit high, but we did add a lot to this roster.

1. Lin or no Lin, Felton-Kidd-Pablo is a whole lot better than Lin for 7 games, then Davis-Bibby at PG.
   
2. The trio of Shump-Brewer-JR at SG is a whole lot better than rookie Shump/Fields-JR.
   
3. Melo will be a whole lot better this year. He's in the best shape of his life, is locked in and is in a system that will make sure he is successful, rather than one that is abrasive towards him. Add in Brewer as a backup SF when we're all healthy, with possibly Novak and just MAYBE some John Shurna sightings (I'm a fan lol) and the position will be noticeably improved.
   
4. Amare won't be as bad as last year. He can't, there's no way. He was already improving greatly under Woodson before he hurt his back, shooting a very nice % even without his jumper returned. And now with Felton/Kidd to run pick n rolls with him and get him the ball in good spots? Then you have Wallace and Thomas for some old gritty D, or Camby, Melo or Novak in our various different look capabilities, and I think it's easy to say that PF this year compared to last is no contest.
   
5. Tyson is Tyson, he will be just as awesome. Now we have the best backup center in the NBA in Camby. Who would have thought this position could get THAT much stronger?

Is 61 wins possible? I think so, but that would be surprising. A 60-win season would guarantee him COY. But with how tough the Atlantic is, I'm going to say we win 55 games, the Atlantic (Boston coasting) and are the #2 seed. I think that would be enough, since everybody thinks we are going to be extremely average.

[TheNumber37]

I think he can win COY simply my establishing a new culture in NY and shutting up all the doubters in Cinderella year. Great defensive teams, a revamped Melo and Amare.
Honestly, with our depth, we can make a run at the number 1 seed in the conference. Esepcially, if we get off to a good start which I think we will do for the first time in a years.

[TheNumber37]

I also think that if Melo wins the MVP award then Woodson has to win COY.

[seikou8]

agreed and we have to show the league that we are a different team. A team that get after it and cause havoc.....because that's what its going to take....no bullshitting....just going after it every night.

Wouldn't hurt to get a win or two in Boston either.

this

[D-Leethal]

I think he would have to sustain the success he had when he took over for an entire season. We had the 3rd ranked defense in the NBA, with much less talent, so that should be easily done barring injury.

We were 18-6 under Woodson, 6-1 before Amare and Lin got hurt. Small sample, but at the same time we were 12-5 with a lineup of Davis-Shump-Fields-Melo-Chandler with JR and Novak the only bench players playing 10 mins per game off the bench, a 55-win pace. If he can work with that, then I like his chances.

I think the hot start and that sustained success with a greatly depleted roster balance each other out. 18-6 is winning % of 75%. Over 82 games, that's 61.5 wins. Maybe that's a bit high, but we did add a lot to this roster.

1. Lin or no Lin, Felton-Kidd-Pablo is a whole lot better than Lin for 7 games, then Davis-Bibby at PG.
   
2. The trio of Shump-Brewer-JR at SG is a whole lot better than rookie Shump/Fields-JR.
   
3. Melo will be a whole lot better this year. He's in the best shape of his life, is locked in and is in a system that will make sure he is successful, rather than one that is abrasive towards him. Add in Brewer as a backup SF when we're all healthy, with possibly Novak and just MAYBE some John Shurna sightings (I'm a fan lol) and the position will be noticeably improved.
   
4. Amare won't be as bad as last year. He can't, there's no way. He was already improving greatly under Woodson before he hurt his back, shooting a very nice % even without his jumper returned. And now with Felton/Kidd to run pick n rolls with him and get him the ball in good spots? Then you have Wallace and Thomas for some old gritty D, or Camby, Melo or Novak in our various different look capabilities, and I think it's easy to say that PF this year compared to last is no contest.
   
5. Tyson is Tyson, he will be just as awesome. Now we have the best backup center in the NBA in Camby. Who would have thought this position could get THAT much stronger?

Is 61 wins possible? I think so, but that would be surprising. A 60-win season would guarantee him COY. But with how tough the Atlantic is, I'm going to say we win 55 games, the Atlantic (Boston coasting) and are the #2 seed. I think that would be enough, since everybody thinks we are going to be extremely average.

Nice post, cosigned. Seems like this year more than any the COY is wide open. All the coaches of the teams pegged to be the 'top 4' have won it already, so its going to go to a 'surprise team' whether its a non playoff team that wins 45 games and makes the playoffs or a bottom playoff team making the leap, for which we fit the bill.

[Da Knicks]

It very well could be Woodys, he got Smith to play defense really the whole team and doesnt take the bs that most players had given so yes. 60+ wins like most have said should get it done, having a deep team the knicks are expected to be average and could just surprise everyone but us the real fans. We know what kind of team we have on our hands and we will be at the very worst a 55 win team.