Phil Jackson thanks Lakers fans for support

[kobeaki]

Phil Jackson or Jim Buss calling the shots....tough decision.

Really?

[LateRoundFlyer]

Phil Jackson or Jim Buss calling the shots....tough decision.

Really?

Pretty sure that was sarcasm, i.e. he's on your side.

[kobeaki]

Phil Jackson or Jim Buss calling the shots....tough decision.

Really?

Pretty sure that was sarcasm, i.e. he's on your side.

Yr probably right. Though hard to tell sometimes with jimmy...

[drekwins]

If you guys are looking for a post-up gameplan from D'Antoni, goodluck. I don't think it's a bad signing and I'm certainly not trolling. I am just interested and reading each of your thoughts. I remember when D'Antoni was signed to coach the Knicks. I had many of the same questions, concerns and observations as all of you.

However, after watching his system for every game for 3 1/2 years, it works as long as the players conform and with the right personnel. Post-up is actually frowned upon as it "clogs" up the lane and allows the defense to pack it in. D'Antoni is all about creating spacing. Look at this quote by Amar'e this past summer (BTW: he was extremely upset when D'Antoni got canned.):

“I’m a player who adapted to the system I played in,’’ Stoudemire said. “I’ve been under D’Antoni for seven, eight years. Post-up wasn’t a factor for us. We were such a high-octane, up-tempo team where speed and quickness was to our advantage. [b]I’m now allowed[/b] to develop a post game where my speed and quickness will still be used to my advantage but add a lot of [post] skill."

A lot of people blame Melo for the downfall but it really wasn't his fault. He is also a guy who likes to play in the post. That directly contradicted D'Antoni's system. The point guard is everything. The point guard uses the pick and roll, breaks down the D, draws a double team and finds the open guy. That's literally all his system is. It's not rocket science but if you have a skilled passer and an athletic big guy, it really is hard not to double.

However, the problem when he was the Knicks was that Melo and Amar'e weren't the roll man or the ball handler in that offense anymore. Instead, they were the guys spreading the floor. Tyson Chandler and Toney fricken Douglas were now responsible for those roles. You might ask "why?" That's D'Antoni's system. It's all about having an athletic center and a pg who can make good decisions and break down the D with the dribble-drive.

It works. You just need the right personnel. That's why when Jeremy Lin took over, he looked unbelievable. He was in one of the two "primary roles." Melo conformed to the system and got a ton of backlash for doing what D'Antoni requested. It is also why Amar'es dunks were almost nonexistent and why his stats took such a drop.

You guys will be really good. You have premiere guys filling those roles. Nash to Dwight will be unbelievable. Kobe is a great shooter and will be able to penetrate off of the passes from Nash for wide open shots. My worry is Pau and Artest. Simply put. I don't see Artest starting unless he keeps knocking down that 3 with regularity. D'Antoni is going to want someone fast on the break and a 36% or greater shooter filling his role. Cite his defense but honestly, D'Antoni does not care... atleast with the starting group. As for Pau, he's immensely skilled but he's going to have to get most of his points from beyond 15-17 feet. Otherwise, the spacing doesn't work. It's a similar position that Amar'e was in last year after they acquired Tyson.

Anyways, that's just my 2 cents. Goodluck guys and see ya in December.

[DEEP3CL]

I get what you're saying derkwins, but the Lakers history revolves around having post men. And in LA we expect that ball to go in the post and it will continue to go in the post. Mike has to devise a scheme on making that happen. Dr.Buss didn't OK a trade for Howard to watch it become a perimeter team.

[kobeaki]

I get what you're saying derkwins, but the Lakers history revolves around having post men. And in LA we expect that ball to go in the post and it will continue to go in the post. Mike has to devise a scheme on making that happen. Dr.Buss didn't OK a trade for Howard to watch it become a perimeter team.

Which is my point of him being a bad hire, which I am getting killed for ....

Also why it's curious that the f.o. Stated they were unanimous that dantoni was better for this team than Jackson.

I posit that that is pure p.r. Spin.

Yes, dantoni is better than brown. Still a misfit, unless something drastically changes, even still if Kobe and Dwight are the main guys....

[LateRoundFlyer]

I get what you're saying derkwins, but the Lakers history revolves around having post men. And in LA we expect that ball to go in the post and it will continue to go in the post. Mike has to devise a scheme on making that happen. Dr.Buss didn't OK a trade for Howard to watch it become a perimeter team.

Which is my point of him being a bad hire, which I am getting killed for ....

Also why it's curious that the f.o. Stated they were unanimous that dantoni was better for this team than Jackson.

I posit that that is pure p.r. Spin.

[drekwins]

[quote="DEEP3CL"]I get what you're saying derkwins, but the Lakers history revolves around having post men. And in LA we expect that ball to go in the post and it will continue to go in the post. Mike has to devise a scheme on making that happen. Dr.Buss didn't OK a trade for Howard to watch it become a perimeter team.[/quote]

I hear you man. Just don't be surprised if it doesn't happen. It hasn't happened in D'Antoni's career. The 5 man is always successful and overachieves (Shaq, Amar'e, David Lee, Marcin Gortat and even Zach Randolph at one point). Just not in the post.

I get that the Lakers have a style and believe it or not, most Knick fans love the post and defense as well. We still love the 90's Knick's style of rebounding and defense. For 15 straight years, the Knicks made the playoffs through Ewing and hard nosed guys. That's why a lot of us were on the fence when they hired D'Antoni because even though we wen't through some horrible years, it was a completely different style than we ever won playoff games with. We figured that they'd sign some FA's and that D'Antoni would conform and build around those guys. But in reality, he struggled at adjusting his system. When Amar'e and Melo weren't in the PnR spots, he struggled at getting them involved in areas where they could thrive.

Now, Nash will help a lot of those problems. The PG position killed him in NY. No one is more creative than Nash and I think they'll be extremely successful. I just doubt whether it will be in the way you expect. I don't think your wrong to want them to pound the ball. I love that old-school style. I grew up on it. I just think that D'Antoni is extremely stubborn in his ways. Steve Kerr can attest to that. But only time will tell.

[Godnani]

Simply put, you do not upset the basketball gods like this. The curse of the Bambino will seem like silly witchcraft once the rane of this brass decision have finally healed.

Sir Phillip, one of the greatest spiritual leaders in the history of completive sport. A man that carries around aura so strong yet cant be defined down to the smallest molecule. A presence that deals with present, reflects on the past, and guides to the future.

And As Mr. Jackson enters the Twightlight of this journey we call life, mirroring historic laker careers in the same, I ask what is left?

A journey interrupted, a story thrown out, an ending ruined, a generation of passion..... deflated.

So as Dr. Naismith turns over in his sleep tonight somewhere over Springfield Massachusetts, I say as a basketball fan, as a laker fan, as a kobe stan, as a human being,

be kind. be kind

[kobeaki]

Simply put, you do not upset the basketball gods like this. The curse of the Bambino will seem like silly witchcraft once the rane of this brass decision have finally healed.

Sir Phillip, one of the greatest spiritual leaders in the history of completive sport. A man that carries around aura so strong yet cant be defined down to the smallest molecule. A presence that deals with present, reflects on the past, and guides to the future.

And As Mr. Jackson enters the Twightlight of this journey we call life, mirroring historic laker careers in the same, I ask what is left?

A journey interrupted, a story thrown out, an ending ruined, a generation of passion..... deflated.

So as Dr. Naismith turns over in his sleep tonight somewhere over Springfield Massachusetts, I say as a basketball fan, as a laker fan, as a kobe stan, as a human being,

be kind. be kind

Dude, got any more sage?

Also wasn't Naismith from canadia?