D'Antoni to Knicks

[NO-KG-AI]

Why is everyone so sure he will go uptempo? He could fit an offense to his personnel, he's not a bad offensive guy.......

[may191988]

^^
I agree a lot of ppl dismiss d'antoni as purely a run and gun coahc but i think he showed a lot of versatility this year. hes been known for 2 things: 3 point shooting and fastbreaking and this year he had very little of both. he was able to adapt very well by still running a pretty good offense. i think he will do fine and it was the best possible hire IMO. no defensive coach was gonna be able to get them to play defense anyways so might as well get better and be entertaining. also curry will be very easily moveable there's definitely a market for him.

[Curmudgeon]

Brilliant move by Walsh. Steve Kerr is an idiot.

Give D'Antoni one of the good young point guards in the upcoming draft, and he'll turn the Knicks into an exciting team.

Marbury, Curry and that pantload Randolph are history. They will be bought out, traded or benched. D'Antoni will put players like Lee, Balkman, Robinson and Chandler on the floor with a quick young pg and play his brand of ball. In two years they will be better than the aging Celtics and the Kidd-less Nets and will be fighting with the Sixers for the Atlantic Division crown.

[Flash3]

I'm skeptical as to how he's going to do with the NYK, as his team in Phoenix was basically "give it to Nash, and let him create for others" and right now the NYK are lacking a playmaker worth noting, let alone a formidable PG who's even capable of running a team efficiently.

I'm going to give it 3 years before I rate D'Antoni, but it's definitely not going to be an overnight change; given all the albatrosses the NYKs have on their current roster.

[Curmudgeon]

It won't be an overnight change. It will take 2 years. But there WILL be a change. The team will get better and will be much more fun to watch.

[triplet1984]

poor Chicago, missed out again.

Either Carlisle or D'Antoni would have both been good for the Bulls rosters of players. All they had to do was decide "we want you" to each one and make comparable offers. They probably could have offered more to Carlisle.

[magnumt]

My Stance on the D'Antoni to NY from another thread. I apologize to anyone in advance if they're offended.

I fail to see how it's suddenly overpaying. Why, because he's now a Knick? The Bulls were ready to offer a deal around the range of 4 Years and $20 Million. Considering that Staff pay isn't counted towards the Cap, a $4 Million difference is neglible IMO for a Coach who averaged 58 or so Wins for the last 5 Years in the WEST. And to me he got a far cheaper deal than he is worth, especially considering the Media outlets (National and Local) were going on and on about how the Knicks were offering $6 Per for 5 Years, and how the he wanted the Bulls and vica versa, and how he'd be a perfect fit there, etc.

I hope I'm not chastised for chiming in here, but I've read quite a few Threads the past couple of Weeks on the NY, Chicago, Gen, and Suns Boards and the general perception was D'Antoni was a good fit anywhere he went because of his command of respect, Player-friendly attitude and System. The minute he was linked to the Knicks, and his eventual joining of the Organisation he's been criticized. I've read die-hard Bulls posters posts favoring Mike suddenly change on a dime when he was linked to NY and eventually signed (I've also read equally as many posts of people upset they lost out on him), but the hatred for NY is just mind-boggling and biasness from normally intelligent posters is astonishing.

Case in point, one particualar person, I've followed his posts the past week or so more closely across multiple Boards about this situation, and he kept rehashing the same arguement about how we (NY) overpaid, and how JR didn't really want Mike, and how he didn't feel comfortable with him (eventhough Paxson did)...other posters were all agreeing that the Bulls let another slip away, but kept spewing the same stance over and again. Not realising that at somepoint the Management gets the blame when one too many high-caliber options that would atleast propel your Organization one level higher gets away.

I understand that from Layen to Isiah, NY has been a Joke and irked a lot of other Teams and their fanbase, but when theirs new Management, and a new Management that carries A LOT of respect throughout the NBA World (Walsh and D'Antoni), there's no reason to offer that much hate, bitterness, and mocking condescending tone without even giving them a chance/benfit of the doubt of a first Year on the job. If you ask me that's the real joke.

[Curmudgeon]

D'Antoni and Carlisle are completely different. D'Antoni's fast break offense ("organized chaos," as it's been been called) is a thing of beauty. And D'Antoni was playing that style in Italy long before he had Nash. Carlisle plays deliberate half court basketball.

Now what are Chicago and Phoenix going to do? There's the just-fired Avery Johnson, the inexperienced Mark Jackson and (unfortunately for Celtics fans) Tom Thibodeau. IMHO any one of those three would be a good fit in Chicago.

But what about poor Phoenix? No coach in demand is going to preside over that aging team's decline, with a cheapskate owner who is in the habit of selling draft picks for cash (such as the pick used by Boston to take Rajon Rondo). Kerr will have to find someone inexperienced who is willing to work cheap (Patrick Ewing?) or maybe coach the team himself.

[mkot]

MikeD will have no use of Curry...one of him and Z-Bo will have to go regardless of the coaching IMO. They just won't work. Just another brilliant blockbuster deal made by Zeke just because Z-Bo is a bigger name out there. But dealing Curry and Z-Bo is easier said than done. Who would want Curry? Z-Bo actually has skills and a surprisingly high b-ball IQ, but rarely displays it with his tunnel vision for scoring. Put in the post, and he's not passing it out; not because he can't, as it is with Curry, but because he just won't.

Lee is probably the only keeper on the roster. Hes a MikeD player: unselfish, team oriented and a leader, hustling frontcourt player with open court athleticism, extremely high b-ball IQ and excellent passer with emerging perimeter skills. I'd be willing to bet he sees major minutes at the 5, if he's not deemed the starting 5 in training camp. Z-Bo and Lee make a decent combo at the 4/5. Isiah used it a lot last year with mixed results, basically due to the fact that neither guard can/will guard anyone else.

I was thinking TJ Ford might be an option in trade discussions. He's a quick, open court guard that passes but isn't really a shooter. Still, he's better than what they currently have at the guard spots. The guard spots for MikeD are crucial but he needs good decision makers. Nate is terrible at making the right play, especially on the break. Jamal is the same way and isn't really an open court guy either.

Looking at the East next year, there are teams that will be coming up or already are there. You figure the Sixers and Hawks will be there, provided the Hawks get a good coach and GM in place who won't mess things up. The Bobcats could be much improved with Brown at the helm. Orlando is still on the rise, Boston will be there, Detroit and Cleveland. Washington, depending on their free agency situation, will be there. I think Miami and Milwaukee are the guaranteed misses, tho Milwaukee could surprise if Skiles whips that team into shape.

[Curmudgeon]

The Celtics have a window of two more years after this one. After that, they're the next Miami. And I say that as a Celtics fan.

The first thing Walsh ought to do is attempt to move Randolph or Curry to Denver for KMart or Camby.

[KNICKS1970]

Stern needs to rig the draft so the Knicks get Derrick Rose! Come on, DS. It's been 23 years since the Ewing Lottery!

[markdeez33]

I kind of like this signing, but I really wanted a defensive coach for my team, I was hoping for Jackson, Tom T, or Avery, and instead got Mike D'Antoni, but we'll take him. Let's see what he does. I think the Knicks have some guys that would fit in. I've got a feeling the Curry/Randolph experiment might go on for another season, believe it or not. I really don't think Walsh will find a way to move any of our big contract guys. Who is really that desperate to take on our garbage? I don't know if Curry & Randolph can both co-exist at the same time on the floor, especially if we're running an up-tempo game. I'd like to see Eddy come off the bench for about 25 minutes a night, like he used to do for Chicago. If a coach can motivate Eddy (kind of like Isiah did that first year as coach, Eddy was a monster on the offensive end), then maybe he'll fit in. I just don't know if he can run n gun. He has to lose some weight.

Guys who would without question fit in:


David Lee - This guy will be the premier package in this offense. I guarantee it. David Lee will flourish. I look for Lee to be one of the main weapons on this team. If he can consistently knock down the jumper, he'll be the white version of Amare in NYC, I really believe it. Lee has a great work ethic and if D'Antoni manages him properly, we could be looking at a breakout year for D Lee.


Renaldo Balkman - He can run all night, he's fuel to the fire. He can score in the transition game. He has to consistently hit the jumper, he really needs work on that.

Wilson Chandler - He has a pretty smooth jumper but he has to be more consistent. We'll see if he decides to become an outside threat or more of a mid-range/inside type of threat. However, he's young, he's got energy, and he should have no problem running in this offense.

Nate Robinson - I would really like to see Nate step in as the starting point guard for this team. I think under D'Antoni's vision and surrounded by the right players, Nate could have an all-star type of season next year. He is instant offense, instant energy, and a great all-around athlete. Yes, he's short, but he's very strong for his size and has an excellent vert. He's a poor man's Iverson, in my opinion, and he could very well have an Iverson like season in this system if things go the way they should.


Jamal Crawford - I'd really like to upgrade to another 2 guard, I think we should trade Crawford while his value is high and get some better pieces, but he could really flourish in this system. He can score, no doubt, and he can run too, we'll find out what he can do soon enough if we don't trade him.

Guys who could possibly fit in:
Eddy Curry
Zach Randolph
Quentin Richardson

Jared Jeffries - He can run, he can rebound, he can't really shoot whatsoever, but he's got some hustle and some defense. I think he could definitely run in this type of system. I just don't think he can score in this system. He better not start taking jumpers.




Fred Jones - Isn't he a free agent? I believe so. If so, I don't think we'll re-sign him, but when he's not injured, he definitely still has some athleticism left. He should be able to work with this type of offense.


Stephon Marbury - Could this be the resurrection? Or will it be the final chapter? Will Marbury play for the Knicks? Will D'Antoni want to trade him or cut him? If Marbury comes to play motivated, he could have an excellent season.



Randolph Morris - Isiah never gave him a chance, so why couldn't he come in and do something. I don't really know if he can run. But he's more athletic than any other center on the roster. However, I'd like to give someone else a shot to be honest.

Mardy Collins - He's a pure point guard, but he has no jumper..... I really don't know what to do with Mardy.

Guys to say good riddance to:

Malik Rose - Please just retire Malik. Or go compete for a contender. The Knicks don't need you anymore. You would've been a great addition to the 99-02 Knicks, but your time to be a Knick has passed. Goodbye sir.

Jerome James - Can we please just cut him already??

[Scalabrine]

Eddy Curry and Zack Randolph playing in an uptempo system, I don't like the fit. I thought Mark Jackson was a more logical candidate.

Mark Jackson has never coached in his life, hes never even been an assistant coach, hes a bad announcer and there is no track record saying that he would be a good coach. How is that a more logical candidate?

[mkot]

-= original quote snipped =-



Mark Jackson has never coached in his life, hes never even been an assistant coach, hes a bad announcer and there is no track record saying that he would be a good coach. How is that a more logical candidate?

Exactly. At the very least, Mike D'Antoni has vision. That's what New York needs. It needs some sort of vision to untangle the mess of fishing line and hooks the Isiah left on deck.

[Curmudgeon]

D"Antoni is one of the best coaches in the world. Mark Jackson is a completely unknown quantity.

Once again, Steve Kerr is an idiot. Phoenix is finished as a viable franchise for the next 10 years, and it only took Kerr 6 months to do it. I realize Marion was unhappy, but the Shaq trade was idiotic, both financially and basketball-wise. Now Kerr blames it on everyone but himself, and in the process loses one of the best coaches in the business.

Robert Sarver is an idiot too. If there was a personality conflict between Kerr and D'Antoni, he should have fired Kerr.

[mkot]

Robert Sarver is an idiot too. If there was a personality conflict between Kerr and D'Antoni, he should have fired Kerr.

Kerr is Sarver's buddy, if you haven't notice., so obviously D'Antoni will get the chop regardless...he's the Colangelo's signing anyway.

[aznkillabeezZz]

I think Da'antoni would still do better than Isiah Thomas. They need a major lineup shake up though