D'Antoni Watch

[NewJerSpur]

Only a matter of time....just saying.

[DMC]

I don't know. He's got Amare, Billups and Melo. They haven't been together all year though. His up tempo offense might work much better next year if they can get Billups into it, he's too defensive minded for Mike D.

I don't think he's going anywhere.

[Giuseppe]

I think Jer is right:::I think they've targeted him & his demise is imminent.

[NewJerSpur]

I could be wrong about him getting the heeve-ho, but I set up shop just in case. Amare already started throwing him under the bus right before the playoffs and got Melo to hop on the bandwagon, and they already have bad history. Longterm I can't say whether or not the trade was good or bad for the organization, but for D'Antoni's short-term future I think it's a bad thing. He was able to work his offense pretty smoothly with Felton manning the point and coincidentally that's when Amare was in the MVP running and was the unquestioned star/leader of the team....Gallo and Chandler were also young, manageable pieces.

[mavsfan1000]

Not his fault they gave up part of their team for overrated soft Marshmelo. Until they get some legit tough nosed players, they will not get it done.

[21_Blessings]

Amare was in the MVP running.

:rolleyes

And getting shit on by Bynum.

Amare is the furthest fucking thing from a MVP and that team was going nowhere. At least Melo gives you a franchise guy, capable of dropping 40/15 in the playoffs on the road, to build around the next 5+ years.

[Giuseppe]

And D'Antoni looks & sounds desperate, like he's begging. It's hard to watch.

[NewJerSpur]

:rolleyes

And getting shit on by Bynum.

Amare is the furthest fucking thing from a MVP and that team was going nowhere. At least Melo gives you a franchise guy, capable of dropping 40/15 in the playoffs on the road, to build around the next 5+ years.

Amare had a crazy streak himself of 30+ point games to start the season before the Knicks hit the skids which just so happened to occur during the media circus of "Melo-Watch".....Melo's further exposing a weakness the Celtics have been dealing with all season. Those young guys they gave up were solid and Felton and Amare combined to be a pretty potent offensive tandem early on, Melo and Amare, not so much in terms of playing off of each other.

[DMC]

But it's not Mike D's fault. He's just an asshole in general and a whiner. If the front office is serious about winning, they better bring a defensive minded coach in. Adelman perhaps.

[21_Blessings]

Amare had a crazy streak himself of 30+ point games to start the season before the Knicks hit the skids which just so happened to occur during the media circus of "Melo-Watch".....Melo's further exposing a weakness the Celtics have been dealing with all season. Those young guys they gave up were solid and Felton and Amare combined to be a pretty potent offensive tandem early on, Melo and Amare, not so much in terms of playing off of each other.

They traded a bunch roleplayers for Melo. You're dumb. And just because Amare shit all over Duncan in the playoffs doesn't make him an elite player that real contenders actually fear.

[Giuseppe]

But it's not Mike D's fault. He's just an asshole in general and a whiner. If the front office is serious about winning, they better bring a defensive minded coach in.

Now DMC with the Friday nite goods.

[NewJerSpur]

They traded a bunch roleplayers for Melo. You're dumb. And just because Amare shit all over Duncan in the playoffs doesn't make him an elite player that real contenders actually fear.

:rolleyes

Like I said, I don't know what it means for their future longterm....the legacy of this trade will depend upon what happens with not only them but Denver as well, the same way the Seahawks and Browns will be linked as long as Mike Holmgren is President czar in Cleveland given his history in Seattle and that organization's refusal to even consider taking him back though his services were available. Also, you never know what a player can evolve into when placed in a certain environment, Afflalo seems to be progressing in Denver himself.

[NewJerSpur]

But it's not Mike D's fault. He's just an asshole in general and a whiner. If the front office is serious about winning, they better bring a defensive minded coach in. Adelman perhaps.

Adelman's more of offensive specialist, but the Knicks were one of the leading teams in blocked shots throughout the season, that might also be an indictment on their perimeter defense as well but they were at least following up the rear....Chandler's a solid on-ball defender.

Again, they could ride it out but I think D'Antoni's going to be on a short leash next year, especially with him being in New York.

[DJ Mbenga]

he didnt get a chance to prove himself. thats what will buy him at least one year

[ElNono]

Amare >>>>>> Bynum... no if or buts about it...

[ElNono]

And D'Antoni is probably still somewhat revered in that he finally brought the Knicks back to the playoffs (sure, with a huge upgrade). They might give him another half-a-season. There's probably a bunch of candidates for the job if he skips town though. I'm pretty sure Jeff Van Gundy would be first in line.

[DMC]

Adelman's more of offensive specialist, but the Knicks were one of the leading teams in blocked shots throughout the season, that might also be an indictment on their perimeter defense as well but they were at least following up the rear....Chandler's a solid on-ball defender.

Again, they could ride it out but I think D'Antoni's going to be on a short leash next year, especially with him being in New York.

Short leash I agree with. If Spo can hold on with that trio, Mike D should be a shoo in. Mike hasn't had nearly the time that Spo has.

Adelman is available and beats Mike B. Maybe a good assistant will take up the cause.

[DMC]

And D'Antoni is probably still somewhat revered in that he finally brought the Knicks back to the playoffs (sure, with a huge upgrade). They might give him another half-a-season. There's probably a bunch of candidates for the job if he skips town though. I'm pretty sure Jeff Van Gundy would be first in line.

The first trade was an upgrade. The Melo/Billups thing I am not so sure about. Melo isn't James or Bryant. He's soft. He's a huge talent, but he doesn't seem to have the killer instinct the team needs in their stars. I think Billups has it, and Amare has it (he's not very smart, like Howard he makes stupid decisions that cost him points and the team games) but Melo would have to get a swagger to him in order to compete in the East.

[lefty]

D'Antoni's system sucks

You can't win a title without playing D


You just can't

[FlAVaK]

Wojnarowski: Rondo destroys Knicks (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=Aog3JT40mi8OuIp5gz4W.8K8vLYF?slug=aw-wojnarowski_rondo_celtics_bury_knicks_playoffs_042 311)

"...From the Garden seats, fans were calling for blood, but Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni was too busy planning excuses to give when the game was over. The fans weren’t asking for the world here – perhaps a pound of flesh, a semblance of pride, and, yes, a Celtics star presented with a consistent price for prancing into the paint.

As it turns out, Charles Barkley should’ve apologized for apologizing: For D’Antoni to sound perplexed over why the Knicks didn’t come out and play hard with a frenzied Garden aching for its first playoff game in seven years is a devastating indictment of him. Perhaps these Knicks were too hurt to win, but no one’s ever too disabled to distribute some playoff physicality when a 113-96 beat-down comes with such force, such ferocity..."

[DMC]

What's amusing is that the Knicks will act like it was a shocker that Mike didn't institute a solid defensive system, like they've never seen Mike D's Suns in the Finals... wait.. nm

[Kyle Orton]

the Knicks were one of the leading teams in blocked shots throughout the season

Blocks are more about having long athletes than playing good defense. The 2008 Suns were 2nd in the NBA in blocks, and they sure as hell weren't the 2nd best defensive team.

[YoMamaIsCallin]

A dose of reality:

There's the regular season, then there's the playoffs. They are very different.

D'Antoni teams are built for the regular season, not the playoffs.

In the playoffs, it's not about the individual talents, although you have to have talented players. It's about the system, the team, and the attitudes and chemistry that the coach instills. It's about digging down deep and succeeding as a collaborative force that is willing to take direction, to play roles, and to do whatever is necessary.

Melo and Amare are nothing like this. They are the quintessential individuals who will get theirs and who will shine brightly in the regular season.

Although I will say I now believe Amare is better than Melo in his team approach, he's starting to get it.

All you have to do is look at how well Denver fared after the trade vs. the Knicks.

Bottom line: the Knicks are a very screwed up organization and God only knows what they will do. But if they actually want to win, they do need a new coach, and they need someone who can knock some sense into Melo.

[NewJerSpur]

Blocks are more about having long athletes than playing good defense. The 2008 Suns were 2nd in the NBA in blocks, and they sure as hell weren't the 2nd best defensive team.

Can see your point KO, although the Knicks frontline was pretty undersized depsite their ranking though longer on the wings with Fields and Chandler. But yes, it's more about the player's attention to detail (depending on how extensive their defensive coach is) and their individual effort than D'Antoni's emphasis on the same.

[Kyle Orton]

It was undersized bulk wise, but it had plenty of long athletes like Amare and Chandler. The Wizards leading the NBA in blocks give you an idea of how little blocks correlate with good defense.

[NewJerSpur]

It was undersized bulk wise, but it had plenty of long athletes like Amare and Chandler. The Wizards leading the NBA in blocks give you an idea of how little blocks correlate with good defense.

Wiz have both at the frontline with Blatche (when the effort's there) and McGhee (who I've liked for some time), but as I mentioned earlier to your point, the blocked shots can be just a much an indictment on the overall weakness of your perimeter defense.

[ElNono]

I know jew is gonna hate me for saying this, but Billups going down was pretty big for the Knicks... not the reason they lost this series, but probably the reason they'll get swept...

[NewJerSpur]

I know jew is gonna hate me for saying this, but Billups going down was pretty big for the Knicks... not the reason they lost this series, but probably the reason they'll get swept...

Not at all Nono, Billups jacks up some ill-advised 3's at critical moments but he stops your offense from going into scramble mode and would allow Melo to stop having to handle the ball and set other players up (which he did well in Game 2, but is not the strength of his game). I just think the team, as constructed and given the stature of the guys D'Antoni has to manage, is one no longer suited for Mike to try and direct. The team prior to the trade was a different story imo.

[rayjayjohnson]

Phil Jackson will be the new NYC coach

[DMC]

This shit