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Pat Riley had a pivotal role in getting Fizdale to Knicks

Related Topics: David Fizdale, Pat Riley

Former Knicks chief Pat Riley doesn’t normally like to help the Garden, but made an exception for David Fizdale.

Knicks president Steve Mills checked with Fizdale’s best reference — Riley — and he gave the Knicks a lot of assurances the Grizzlies fiasco was an aberration.

During Tuesday’s introductory press conference, Fizdale acknowledged the Heat’s legendary president for helping him through the aftermath of the Memphis crisis when he got axed last November on an eight-game losing streak while feuding with All-Star center Marc Gasol.

Fizdale was a Miami assistant for eight seasons, including the four-year LeBron James era.