Knicks’ head coach gamble exposes front office to new degrees of accountability

LAS VEGAS — Phil Jackson got to fire one coach before he was gone. Same with Steve Mills. 

Sean Marks’ lifetime gig in Brooklyn notwithstanding, most top executives don’t make it to a third hire. 

In the NBA, or any professional sports league for that matter, there’s an order of blame that almost always goes like this: 

• First, it’s the previous regime’s fault: “This was a real mess.” 
• Second, it’s the media’s fault: “You guys don’t know anything and don’t understand patience.” 
• Third, the coach is blamed: “We could be better.” 
• Fourth, it falls on the front office: “Time to start over.” 

In firing Tom Thibodeau, the Knicks took the leap over No. 3 quicker than we anticipated. There wasn’t a big public groundswell to can the coach, just as there wasn’t a big groundswell to hire Mike Brown.