With NBA championship expectations on his back and a 1-3 start under his belt, New York Knicks coach Mike Woodson refuses to worry about his job security. The firing of general manager Glen Grunwald and owner Jim Dolan's insistence for a title, however, suggest Woodson may not make it through the season if the team doesn't start winning.
"I have been at this thing for 30 years," Woodson told ESPN radio on Wednesday. "And the one thing I never and will never do is look over my shoulder. I won't do that. I got too much pride for that. I think what we have done here for the last few years, we made some major ground and some major steps.
"But this is a different year. That team that played and won 54 games is not here. It is my job as a coach to get this team to gel and play at a high level. If I got to always look over my shoulders, then I can't do my job, so that is why I never do that. Try to look ahead, that is what is staring at me right now."
The Knicks have dropped three straight games, including one against the Charlotte Bobcats. Dolan believes the Knicks can win a title this year, and he appears ready to make whatever changes necessary to achieve it. Dolan removed Grunwald before training camp, and Woodson could be the next change to spark the team from its rut.
"Expectations are high and they should be," Woodson said. "I am not running from that as the coach. As the owner, Mr. Dolan being an owner of our team, he has every right to voice his opinion. This is his team, we all work for Mr. Dolan and I am happy to be a worker for Mr. Dolan.
"But at the end of the day, I still have a job I have to do. Right now our team is not playing at the level where I expect it should be. That is on me. It is not on Jim. It is on Mike Woodson."
The team roster is depleted compared to last year. J.R. Smith is serving a suspension, Amar'e Stoudemire and Kenyon Martin both are playing limited minutes and Tyson Chandler is expected to miss 4-6 weeks with a leg injury. With Carmelo Anthony as the only constant, Woodson needs other players to step up and contribute.
"Somehow as coach, I got to get our team playing 48 minutes competing," said Woodson. "... It's early. I am not a panicky coach."
