In Jax, Jimmy found guy to set a screen
The static triggered by Derek Fisher’s dismissal proves that in Phil Jackson, James (Guitar Jimmy) Do lanh as found the perfect media scapegoat — Big Chief Fall Guy. Jackson is worth every cent of the $12 million per Dolan is paying him to run the Knicks. Back in 2014, Guitar Jimmy told anyone listening he was putting the franchise in Jackson’s hands, turning all the power over to him, “willingly and gratefully.”
And last April, after the K nicks finished the season with their worst record ever, the Hollywood Reporter asked Dolan if he enjoyed losing. “No,” Dolan said, “I enjoy being out of the limelight. . . . I barely have to do a thing. It can stay like that for me forever.”
Ever since Fisher was given the boot Monday, the coverage indicates Dolan is still flying so low under the media radar he has to look up to look down. The media buck stops at Jackson.
Absorbing all the commentary coming out of the Valley of the Stupid, and other media precincts, is to realize it was a Stork, with an assist from the Tooth Fairy, who delivered Jackson to the Gulag’s doorstep — not Dolan.
As Jackson was taking a pounding after Fisher was fired, from assorted critics for a variety of “sins” (suddenly his drafting of Kristaps Porzingis is being described as a lucky break), rarely was it mentioned Dolan is solely responsible for hiring Jackson and giving a legendary coach, with no experience running an entire basketball operation, total control.
And was it just co incidence that not long after Fisher was fired, both Alan Hahn and Michael Kay, on ESPN-98.7, the radio home of the Knicks, said “according to sources” Dolan had absolutely nothing to do with Fisher’s dismissal?
Whoever whispered this in their ears was attempting to make sure Dolan’s “old” role of Meddler-in-Chief would not be resurrected or revisited, that he would not suddenly be blamed for a heightened state of dysfunction returning to the Knicks and MSG.
Their fears were unnecessary. The spin, er, consensus was that Dolan had nothing to do with Fisher’s exile. It reached a point where some talkies, including WFAN’s Norman Julius Esiason, said they actually felt sorry for Dolan because Jackson, who has an opt-out clause in his contract, could become just another guy who takes Dolan’s money and splits.
Seems to me most of the GMs or coaches who took the money were actually fired by Dolan.
Anyway, there is no better example how the presence of Jackson has provided superior cover for Dolan than watching this script being flipped.
When the media drumbeat started getting louder in support of Tom Thibodeau (whom Jackson has “philosophical” differences with) getting the gig, there have been “suggestions” (some of it sounds like begging) for Dolan to swoop in, big foot Jackson, play hero, and hire the former Bulls coach himself.
Unless Dolan could make it look l i ke Jackson called the shot, that won’t happen. Dolan likes where he’s at r ig ht now. Why mess up a good thing? Especially when Jax wears the bull’s-eye so well.
He’s disliked because of his unwavering allegiance to the triangle offense. He’s perceived as not being fully committed to the gig because he sometimes splits to L.A. to see his squeeze, Jeanie Buss. Hierogly phics experts are needed to figure out his tweets. He’s stubborn. Also quite condescending.
Phil Jackson is smarter than the rest — mellower too — and he let s you know it. The cumulative effect is Jackson taking the hit while Dolan resides comfortably on the down-low.
This is good for Dolan’s business on all levels, including MSG Network and the Knicks’ bottom line. While the Fisher fiasco has been unsettling, things don’t stink at the halfway mark.
Through 55 games, the Knicks on MSG have averaged a 2.24 household rating, up 37% from the same point in the 2014-15 season. In terms of total viewers, MSG has averaged 206,000 on its Knicks telecasts, up 36% from the same point last season.
In terms of home attendance, the Knicks are averaging 19,812 through 29 games, which ranks fifth best in the NBA.
Dolan has it going. Business isn’t bad and Jackson is taking all the heat. Can it be any better?
Now MSG can once again sell intrigue and hope. Who will be the next coach? Will the Knicks rally around Kurt Rambis and make the playoffs? How will Carmelo Anthony and Porzingis perform the rest of the season.
What free agents will Jax woo over the summer?
Will Jax still be on the job in the summer?
For Dolan’s sake he better. If Phil Jack son, the Fall Guy, leaves, Dolan will be forced back under the white-hot spotlight.
Compelled to explain why another Knicks regime, handpicked by him, has once again failed.