Mike D'Antoni Appreciation Thread

mkot · Post #1 » by **mkot** » Sun May 11, 2008 4:04 am

Sad, no one had started a thread to thank Mike.

I like MikeD, didn't always agree with what he did, but I like him. And he's a great and fun guy. We didn't get it done, which is too bad. But I will never forget the 4 years with him and Nash. His SSOL Suns saved the NBA.

Thanks Mike. Thanks for coaching one of the most entertaining Suns teams I have had the pleasure to watch in during the history of the franchise. The 04-05 squad was my favorite Suns team, along with Cotton Fitzsimmon's 1988-89 team.

Good luck in New York.

Suns_fan_2007 · Post #2 » by **Suns_fan_2007** » Sun May 11, 2008 4:08 am

Why is it necessary to thank Mike when he's the one who is choosing to leave the Suns and the fans? I'd say this thread would be appropriate if the Suns fired him, but MD is choosing to leave of his own will and with 2 years and $16 million on the table.

Screw Mike.

Sarlonus · Post #3 » by **Sarlonus** » Sun May 11, 2008 4:10 am

No doubt that MD deserves props for all he did for this team. It was a good run while it lasted.

Good luck in NY (not really because I dislike all the Knicks fans that I live by...)!

Post #4 » by **TASTIC** » Sun May 11, 2008 4:15 am

Can't say too much negative stuff about him really. Good personality and always a laugh watching him get worked up over nothing...

Good luck in NY - and I cannot over-emphasise that..though he'll need more than luck with that team

mkot · Post #5 » by **mkot** » Sun May 11, 2008 4:15 am

Suns_fan_2007 wrote:
Screw Mike.

Take this elsewhere please. This is a thread to thank MikeD.

Thanks.

toucansma · Post #6 » by **toucansma** » Sun May 11, 2008 4:19 am

Suns_fan_2007 wrote:
Screw Mike.

Very classy...

Thanks Mkot, I was actually about to start one myself. Still kinda shocked that he is gone, especially to the Knicks, but time to move on.

Thanks Mike, you helped make the NBA vibrant again, you will be missed!

Mr. Sun · Post #7 » by **Mr. Sun** » Sun May 11, 2008 4:37 am

I've always said Mike was an ideal coach for the Suns, and as a public face for the Phoenix Suns.

Just wish he was capable of seeing the short comings of his coaching instead of being stubborn.

Post #8 » by **lilfishi22** » Sun May 11, 2008 5:20 am

MD is what made me become a Suns fan. I loved the high-octane offense, the high scoring games, and the pick and rolls with Nash and Amare.

Thanks MD for everything you've done for Phx, and good luck with the Knicks

chrice · Post #9 » by **chrice** » Sun May 11, 2008 5:47 am

I don't understand where all these sour grapes are coming from. He has done so much for this team, plain and simple. And he's still one of the best coaches out there in the NBA. He did a great job for us, and I feel sorry for the next coach to come along, who has to deal with fans expecting miracles.

Arles · Post #10 » by **Arles** » Sun May 11, 2008 6:19 am

Very appreciative to Mike for his time here and I hope he does well in NY.

Never Fear 33 Is Here · Post #11 » by **Never Fear 33 Is Here** » Sun May 11, 2008 7:27 am

Thanks Coach Pringles. Best of luck in New York, but not too much. :wink:

Oh BTW, you think it was hard to make Shaq run? Ummmmm even better luck to you in getting the Beef in New York to do it. The only time you will see Curry run in New York is the morning after you have gone to an Indian restaurant and dined on their fine cuisine. :banghead:

BurningHeart · Post #12 » by **BurningHeart** » Sun May 11, 2008 7:53 am

Mkot....I've found myself agreeing with you even MORE over the last couple weeks with this D'Antoni stuff.

Good post. Thanks Mike. You got treated like **** from your GM and Owner. Screw them.

mkot · Post #13 » by **mkot** » Sun May 11, 2008 9:14 am

Thanks BH, but I'm going to leave Kerr off on MikeD's leaving now that things are more clear to the public...they just have different ideas on the direction of this team and truly, not their fault. I'd be worry if our GM and coach isn't tied to their philosophy. Things didn't work out between them, and surely, MikeD is going to be the one to get chop.

I hope Kerr can hire his guy now that it's his turn to impress me because he still hasn't.

Go7enKs · Post #14 » by **Go7enKs** » Sun May 11, 2008 10:12 am

Thanks for all Mike, you gave us 4 years of excellence and changed the whole NBA (just look at the scoring averages of the teams around the league now and 4 years ago). Thanks very much.

albasuna · Post #15 » by **albasuna** » Sun May 11, 2008 10:45 am

I'm already missing mike in phx. I forsee some great things for the Knicks in the coming years. D'Ant should at least 2 rings with us but God said no... its too bad.

dantian · Post #16 » by **dantian** » Sun May 11, 2008 10:46 am

He worked magic the first two years with Nash. But his system couldn't deliver the promised land. On top of that, his overused Nash's talent and legs while underdeveloped the future franchise player Amare's game. It's time for him to go. But in core, he is a good coach with stubbornness. All the best for DA in NY!

VinnyTheMick · Post #17 » by **VinnyTheMick** » Sun May 11, 2008 5:12 pm

Never Fear 33 Is Here wrote:Thanks Coach Pringles. Best of luck in New York, but not too much.

Oh BTW, you think it was hard to make Shaq run? Ummmmm even better luck to you in getting the Beef in New York to do it. The only time you will see Curry run in New York is the morning after you have gone to an Indian restaurant and dined on their fine cuisine.

He wouldn't even run then, he'd sit in it.

b-ball forever · Post #18 » by **b-ball forever** » Sun May 11, 2008 5:21 pm

Good luck in NYC D'Antoni.
Gonna take a ton of work and time to clean up Isiah's garbage, but I'm sure he'll eventually get them back to being a top eastern conf team.

The only problem I ever really had with him was on his rotation managment. Shuda used a deeper bench thru-out the season and rested Raja/Hill/Nash more over the past couple years. Didn't always call timeouts at the right time either.

Outside of that he was a great coach.
Built an awesome system around Nash that completely turned the team around in 2004-2005, turned Nashty from allstar to 2X MVP, made the WCF twice, and was the only team that put up a fight against the Spurs last year.

No other coach wuda taken our team as far the WCF and made us the big upset team of the year in 2004-2005, D'Antoni's system helped make up for Nash and Amare's defensive problems.
No other coach wuda made the WCF in 2006 either with Amare and Kurt Thomas out, his system helped us use newbies Raja/Diaw/Tim Thomas to perfection and made the WCF with 6-8 center and a 6-7 PF!
Then this year it was Hill's turn to have an awesome season under DA's system.

And he did a good job incorporatin Shaq in the lineup as well.

After the first couple weeks post-Shaq trade he started runnin a semi-triangle system that worked out pretty well and got the absolute max anybody will ever see outta O'Neal at this point in his career.
The Spurs exposed Shaq's shiyty pick n roll defense and crap FT shooting in the playoffs, but that's not DA's fault, all the blame for that goes on fata

Post #19 » by **TASTIC** » Sun May 11, 2008 7:27 pm

I can see Chandler having a big year, same for Lee and Balkman

Least he doesn't have to work on D haha

Jefferies wil be his Diaw

BehindTheBushes · Post #20 » by **BehindTheBushes** » Sun May 11, 2008 11:25 pm

Suns_fan_2007 wrote:Why is it necessary to thank Mike when he's the one who is choosing to leave the Suns and the fans? I'd say this thread would be appropriate if the Suns fired him, but MD is choosing to leave of his own will and with 2 years and $16 million on the table.

Screw Mike.

You shouldn't be getting mad at Mike your owners the cheap wad.. couldn't even afford to keep joe johnson.. I bet colangelo wouldn't have left if the owner was able to pay up more