NBA: Grading first-year head coaches for the 2019-20 season
Mike Miller, New York Knicks
Twenty-two games into his second year as the head coach for the New York Knicks, David Fizdale was fired. In his place, Mike Miller stepped up. To say that Miller was a step up for the team after Fizdale’s 4-18 start would be somewhat accurate. But, as is always the case, there are so many more variables to winning in the NBA than just the team’s head coach.
With that said, since taking over, Miller helped lead the Knicks to a 17-27 record. At the very least, the Knicks were somewhat competitive. The verdict is still very much out on how effective Miller was this season, however.
Miller certainly appeared to be a better coach for the Knicks than Fizdale was, but the fact that he still might not be the choice this offseason says all you need to know about his tenure. Or, perhaps it could say more about the way this front office works and how it’s infatuated with “big names.” Either way, there’s still too much that has yet to be decided.
Miller wasn’t a disaster, though, and that warrants a passing grade all things considered.
Grade: C