For Woodson, no knocks on Knicks
MIKE WOODSON admitted it was “a little strange” to be back at the Garden on Wednesday night to face a former team that has plummeted to the bottom of the NBA standings since Phil Jackson fired him at the conclusion of last season.
In a nice gesture following the Clippers’ 111-80 blowout victory over the Knicks, head coach Doc Rivers claimed to be “sick” and sent his first-year assistant out to address the media in his place.
“This is not about me,” Woodson said. “We’re playing for something.”
Before the game, Woodson had indicated that he believes Jackson “had his mind made up” to make a coaching change as soon as he was hired by James Dolan last March. The Knicks closed on a 16-5 run — to finish 37-45 — but wound up missing the playoffs by one game behind the No. 8 Atlanta Hawks, who have since catapulted to the top of the East.
“I don’t backtrack. The bottom line is we had a tough season,” Woodson said. “I think when Phil came in he had his mind made up based on what he wanted to do and I can respect that. There’s nothing I can say bad about Phil. Phil has had a hell of a career as a coach and he had other ideas in terms of the direction he wanted to go and I respect that.”
Of course, the previous year under Woodson, the Knicks had won 54 games — and the Atlantic Division — before losing in the second round of the playoffs to Indiana. With Carmelo Anthony out for the season, the Knicks have no active players from 2012-13 on their current roster.
“Two seasons ago, there’s no one. So it has been major changes,” Woodson said. “Had I stayed on board I probably would have pushed to keep Tyson (Chandler) and keep that core group together because that’s what won the 54 games two years ago, but people change, and you’ve got to live with it and it’s what it is.
“I’m not going to downplay what we did. . . . It’s not easy winning 54 games in this league.”
Jackson and the Knicks will look to rebuild quickly this summer with at least $30 million in salary-cap space and a lottery pick. They are now 14-58 under Woodson’s rookie replacement, Derek Fisher, and headed for the worst record in franchise history.
“Hey, all I can say is I wish them nothing but the best and I truly mean that when I say that,” Woodson said. “I don’t wish losing on anybody, as a coach, general manager, president — Mr. Dolan especially, who gave me an opportunity to come here and coach.”
Woodson added that he “absolutely” is hoping for another shot at a top job.
SHVED OF DOUBT: Alexey Shved has a fractured rib and is likely to miss the rest of the season. . . . Cleanthony Early led the Knicks with 18 points. Playing without ex-Knicks Jamal Crawford (calf) and Nate Robinson (knee), the Clippers (47-25) received 21 points from Austin Rivers and 16 assists from Chris Paul .