I'm shocked at a lot of Woodson's detractors. Give a thought to circumstance before you rant, I say.
I thought he was most impressive throughout the vast majority of his short tenure as HC. The record alone speaks for itself, and with an injury depleted roster tackling the team I'd consider the 2nd best team in the league, Miami, straight off a finals loss and raring to go, nonetheless.
There were lapses in the playoffs undeniably, but this team was undermanned and adjusting on the fly throughout the entirety of the series: STAT - idiot - Shump, and of course Lin were not readily available at any one time. 3 starters.
Novak, an absolute non-factor, was shut down by impeccable defense, and for those that say there were no plays run for him, I retort that there was little use in doing so against Miami's perimeter patrol when considering Novak's capabilities separate from shooting. If anything I think Novak proved that his worth was subject to match-ups both individual and in terms of opponent.
● I don't believe that introducing a new HC is even in the realm of what you'd call a heady move. Celebrity signings haven't proven to work overly well for us either.
I believe that the fact he has had 70 games experience with the team's returning/pivotal players is important, and that given the natural talent we have offensively his defensive approach is needed all the more.
I believe that his re-signing being endorsed by Chandler, STAT, Melo and Grunwald is a good thing, as this team needs its alpha, and Woodson has shown that he not only can be but IS a beacon in that sense is important. If those 3 will stand behind him, that's brilliant.
I believe that his speech at Chandler's DPOY award ceremony - "I see Tyson as the perfect defensive center to go after a championship" - is important, again eluding to how he wants to win ~ defense.
I believe his tenure with the Pistons in their championship season is important.
I believe that his approach to accountability is important, too. That will ultimately be tested and verified by Stoudemire next season, I predict.
I believe that Anthony will be the player he needs to be more consistently under Woodson, which is MASSIVE.
I basically believe (for the above reasons and others) that his pedigree is precisely what this team needs considering we have about a 3 year window to achieve/over achieve whatever we can with a line up that will only change in terms of its role players. Anything considered beyond that window is absolute irrelevance.
When looking back on previous experience, Woody arguably has a better team than he did in Atlanta (though perhaps lacking in depth comparatively) and is a tried and tested winner that learns and adapts as history's shown.
I absolutely vote yes to Woodson after what the team went through under his reign, and can only see a full off-season and the pressure of New York forcing him to focus and lead.
