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NEW YORK -- Mike Woodson had the Knicks on top of their division and in the second round of the playoffs, destinations that had become unreachable and practically unimaginable in New York. A year later, he was out of job. Phil Jackson fired Woodson and the entire coaching staff on Monday, making his first big move since becoming team president in March and saying in a statement that "the time has come for change throughout the franchise." The dismissal comes shortly after the Knicks completed a 37-45 season that began with their belief they were a serious contender. Instead, they started poorly, making Woodsons job security practically a season-long distraction. A late surge wasnt good enough for a post-season spot or another year for Woodson. It was a stunningly swift fall for Woodson, whose .580 winning percentage with the Knicks ranks behind only Pat Riley and Jeff Van Gundy, and who finished third in the NBAs Coach of the Year voting after going 54-28 last season. He and the staff were informed of the decision Monday morning by Jackson, the man the Knicks originally wanted to replace Woodson as coach but preferred to run the teams front office. Jackson has won an NBA-record 11 championships as a coach. He has repeatedly said hes not interested in returning to the bench, so he will have to hire someone before he turns his attention to the roster. The team said the coaching search begins immediately. Jackson said he has a "tremendous amount of respect" for Woodson and his staff, which included longtime Knicks assistant Herb Williams. Jackson called this an "extremely difficult" season and said "blame should not be put on one individual." "But the time has come for change throughout the franchise as we start the journey to assess and build this team for next season and beyond," he added. Jackson has said he wont insist the Knicks run the triangle, the offensive system he used in Chicago and with the Lakers, but has made clear his belief in it. TNT analyst Steve Kerr, who played for Jackson with the Bulls but has never been a coach, has repeatedly been mentioned as a top candidate. Kerr said Monday during his SiriusXM NBA Radio show that he and Jackson have remained close and that he expected to speak with him at some point about the job. "Its going to be very interesting and obviously my name is being thrown around. I do anticipate at least being part of the conversation and well see where it all goes," Kerr said. Jackson is scheduled to speak with reporters on Wednesday. Woodson, a former Knicks first-round draft pick, was hired as an assistant coach before the 2011-12 season, then engineered an 18-6 finish after replacing Mike DAntoni on an interim basis the following March to capture a playoff spot. Given a multiyear deal two months later, Woodson then led the Knicks to their first Atlantic Division championship since 1994. New York then beat Boston in the playoffs, its first series victory since 2000, and general manager Steve Mills picked up next seasons option year on Woodsons contract before this season began. But the Knicks were saddled with some early injuries, including centre Tyson Chandlers broken leg, and lacked the veteran leadership they enjoyed last season. Madison Square Garden chairman James Dolan was already considering replacing Woodson by December, when he met with Jackson at a holiday party and talked to him about coaching the team. Carmelo Anthony praised his coach Thursday and even offered to back him publicly if necessary. But it was probably a clear sign Woodson wouldnt be back a few minutes later when Amare Stoudemire said the coach hadnt taken part in the exit meetings with players that Jackson and Mills held. Woodson previously coached six seasons with the Atlanta Hawks, leading them to the playoffs in his final three seasons. He has a career record of 315-365. Woodson went 109-79 with the Knicks, who hadnt even made the playoffs since 2004 before he led them there in 2012. But he lost one of his biggest supporters within the organization when general manager Glen Grunwald, Woodsons college teammate at Indiana, was surprisingly fired last September. Players and fans sometimes grumbled during the season about Woodsons strategies as the defence regressed and the offence was inconsistent beyond Anthony, who plans to become a free agent in July. Chandler said there probably was some "disconnect" and "misunderstanding" at times. "Coach Woodson put together a game plan for us on the basketball court and there were times we didnt totally buy into it," Stoudemire said last week. Still, the Knicks nearly rallied to make the playoffs by winning 16 of their final 21 games. But Woodson, who said he and Jackson had only brief chats in Jacksons first month in charge, said before the season finale he knew the coach often takes the blame. "Everyone in this franchise owes a great deal of gratitude to what Mike and his staff have done," Jackson said. "We wish him the best." Wayne Ellington Jersey . - Florida State has suspended Jameis Winston for the entire game against Clemson on Saturday, extending its initial punishment of one half after the quarterback made offensive and vulgar comments about female anatomy earlier this week. Dwyane Wade Jersey . Grimes signed a $32 million, four-year contract to remain with Miami. The deal, which includes $16 million guaranteed, rewards Grimes for his recovery from an Achilles tendon injury that forced him to miss almost all of the 2012 season. http://www.authenticbasketballshopheat.info/josh-richardson-heat-jersey/ . - The Washington Redskins have signed free agent offensive lineman Mike McGlynn. Dion Waiters Jersey . -- Kansas City Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer will be out three to six weeks with a stress fracture of the third finger of his right hand. Cheap Miami Heat Jerseys . -- Two nights after losing to the Eastern Conferences worst team, the Phoenix Coyotes handled the best. HOUSTON -- After scoring six runs in the last four games, Houstons offence went on a homer spree. Chris Carter, Jason Castro, Marc Krauss and Matt Dominguez each hit a home run as the Houston Astros snapped a five-game skid with a 7-3 win over the Oakland Athletics on Monday night. Carter hit a monstrous three-run shot to centre field in the third to give the Astros a lead, and Castro and Krauss went back-to-back in the sixth, with Castros homer a two-run shot. Krauss homer found the upper deck in right field and chased As starter Jesse Chavez (8-7). Two batters later, Dominguez sent a drive onto the railroad tracks in left field off reliever Dan Otero. "Weve been going through our offensive woes and, again, to see the middle of the lineup swing the bat the way they swung it tonight was exciting," Houston manager Bo Porter said. The last time Houston hit three home runs in an inning was June 5, 2013, against Baltimore. The Astros were coming off a three-game sweep at the hands of Miami. "Its just nice to see that after we struggled against the Marlins to score runs," Carter said. "Its nice to see the offence come around like that." Houston starter Brett Oberholtzer (3-7) won for the first time since May 30, giving up three runs and eight hits with two strikeouts in 6 2-3 innings. "For me and Castro, it was the same game plan," Oberholtzer said. "Just attack them, throw the ball in and stay away from the big innings." Chavez allowed a season-high six runs and five hits with five strikeouts in 5 1-3 innings. "I thought he was throwing the ball really well, real similar to how he did last time out," Oakland manager Bob Melvin said. "I think the Carter at-bat affected the way things went from there." The three home runs allowed were a career high. Chavez had allowed three home runs in his last 11 starts combined. "To sum up the whole day, it was three pitches and one walk,"t; Chavez said.dddddddddddd"That cant happen when you have the lead, and its something that has been my Achilles heel, giving back the runs they get for me and not being able to get through six." Stephen Vogt had two hits, including a solo home run in the third into the upper deck in right to give the As a 2-0 lead. Jed Lowrie and Josh Donaldson each added two hits for Oakland. Derek Norris gave the As a 1-0 lead in the second with an RBI single, and Yoenis Cespedes tied it at 3 with a sacrifice fly in the fifth. ON DECK Athletics: Right-hander Jeff Samardzija, who is 2-1 with a 2.70 ERA in four starts since being acquired July 5 from the Cubs, will start Tuesday against the Astros in the second game of the three-game series. Astros: Right-hander Scott Feldman, who is 4-8 with a 4.60 ERA, will try to bounce back Tuesday after one of his worst starts of the season, giving up six runs in 5 1-3 innings in a 13-1 loss at Oakland Thursday. TRAINERS ROOM Athletics: Outfielder Craig Gentry was placed on the 15-day disabled list Monday with a broken right hand, and the As promoted OF Billy Burns from Double-A Midland. Gentry was injured Sunday at Texas after being hit by a pitch. Astros: Right-hander Josh Zeid, who is on the disabled list with swelling near the left big toe, is going to see a specialist Tuesday and hopes to avoid surgery. ALTUVE IS STREAKING Houston second baseman Jose Altuve extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a single in the third inning. Altuve, who leads the Majors with 149 hits, had a season-high hitting streak of 12 games from May 8-21. REDDICK SHOWS OFF GLOVE Josh Reddick flashed the leather twice in the seventh. Enrique Hernandez led off with a sharp liner to right, but Reddick ran it down in the corner, keeping the ball from hitting the top of the fence. Altuve followed with another hard-hit ball that was about to fall in. Reddick dived forward to make another highlight-reel play. 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