What Does The New York Knicks Game 4 Win Mean For Mike Woodson?
The New York Knicks defeated the Miami Heat Sunday in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinal round 89-87 after a terrific game from Carmelo Anthony and a Willis Reed-like performance by Amar’e Stoudemire. The win marks the Knicks’ first playoff win since April 29, 2001 when they defeated the Toronto Raptors 97-89. The win snapped a 13-game playoff losing streak.
The win showed that the Knicks still have some fight left in them and that they were not going to let this game get away from them. However, this game could definitely mean more to interim head coach Mike Woodson. After the general manager Glen Grunwald had his interim tag removed earlier this week, everyone has expected Woodson’s tag would be removed next.
After three losses to the Heat in the playoffs, the future looked grim for Woodson before this game especially after getting blown out in Game 1 against Miami. However, the Knicks seemed to be more calm and more cautious with the ball. Anthony stepped up his game and made shot after shot for the team.
Woodson’s defensive mindset has also helped the Knicks. The team held Miami to 87 points, one of their lowest totals in the season.
The win is huge for the Knicks organization to get the monkey off their back since they have not one in the playoffs since the Jeff Van Gundy era. This win could possibly give Woodson a new start for the Knicks. A clean start.
The win his huge in the sense that Woodson’s interim tag might be removed and it will help his cause to become the full time head coach of the team. Is this set in stone? No. However, it definitely makes Woodson’s resume better even if they cannot entice Phil Jackson to come to the Knicks.
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