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Power ranking NBA head coaches: 2015-16 season

By John Buhler

Oct 23, 2015; Manchester, NH, USA; Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens gestures from the sidelines during the second half against the Philadelphia 76ers at Verizon Wireless Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 23, 2015; Manchester, NH, USA; Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens gestures from the sidelines during the second half against the Philadelphia 76ers at Verizon Wireless Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 20, 2015; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; New York Knicks head coach Derek Fisher reacts after a play against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 20, 2015; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; New York Knicks head coach Derek Fisher reacts after a play against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

28. Derek Fisher, New York Knicks

Derek Fisher is in his second year as the head coach of the New York Knicks. Last season was a baptism by fire at Madison Square Garden for the former Lakers’ point guard, as his Knicks were a league-worst 17-65.

However, the Knicks are playing well in Fisher’s second season as head coach. They are 8-6 and have a bright young player in their fourth overall selection of the 2015 NBA Draft in Kristaps Porzingis from Latvia.

The Knicks are playing at a slow, but successful pace under Fisher in 2015-16. New York averages 94.2 possessions per game in 2015-16 so far (26th in the NBA), but have a top ten team offensive rating at 105.1. Their defense is middle of the pack at 103.9 (17th in the NBA).

So one could say that the adopted Triangle Offense of Derek Fisher is working well in the Big Apple for the New York Knicks. However, since Fisher’s mentor, Phil Jackson, is very much in the mix of all that goes on within the Knicks organization, how much of New York’s early season success is because of head coach Derek Fisher and how much is on the team’s architect Phil Jackson?

Since Phil Jackson is a 13-time NBA Champion (twice as a player, eleven times as a head coach), it’s all too easy to give the Zen Master credit. Fisher seems like he’s growing as a head coach, but last year’s perpetual struggle is a long-lingering black eye on Fisher’s reputation on the sidelines.

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