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Derek Fisher fired by Phil Jackson, Knicks – Metro US
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Derek Fisher fired by Phil Jackson, Knicks

Derek Fisher fired by Phil Jackson, Knicks
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Phil Jackson and the New York Knicks made a wholly surprising personnel move Monday morning, firing head coach Derek Fisher – according to ESPN’s Marc Stein.

Kurt Rambis will take over the head coaching role in an interim role.

Fisher went 40-96 in one-and-a-half seasons coaching in New York, but the Knicks had made considerable progress this season.

They were firmly in the playoff hunt in a suddenly competitive Eastern Conference up until just last week. But a five-game losing streak was the death-knell for Fisher’s coaching career in New York.

It’s obvious that Jackson, the team’s president, had higher expectations for the team this season, especially with the emergence of rookie of the year candidate, Kristaps Porzingis.

It was an odd start to the season for Fisher as in training camp a TMZ report broke that Grizzlies small forward Matt Barnes had punched him in the mouth. Barnes allegedly drove 95 miles to confront Fisher in Los Angeles after learning that Fisher was dating his estranged wife, Gloria Govan.