After last night's awful loss, I'm not ready to completely write off Mike D'Antoni. Teams that are finding their way and learning to gel take some time to figure things out and get into rhythm. In another month the Knicks will be playing better ball, and come playoff time they may pull a mild first round upset. That is a huge change from what fans have dealt with for 10+ years.
In D'Antoni's time here, the Knicks went from a bad team that was unwatchable, to a bad team that was fun to watch, to a middle of the road Eastern Conference team. This season has provided some great wins and some bad losses. It's due in large part to the inconsistency of a team overly reliant on perimeter shooting who plays no defense. The addition of Melo and Billups, along with their ability to get to the line on nights that the jumpers aren't falling should take care of the scoring consistency issue. However, what about the "D"?
D'Antoni deserves to coach this team for the rest of the season and all of next season. Knicks fans should wait just a bit to see if this offense only approach can produce results. I doubt it will, but that leaves the question of who should come in.
I would love to see Pat Ewing back in the Garden. Just think about it a minute. From the X and O's standpoint, he's studied under both Van Gundy's and was coached by Riley. People inside the league seem to respect his ability and the work he's done. From a more nostaligic angle, the last NY Knicks renaissance began with him, and how awesome would it be to see Pat lead the team to relevancy while giving interviews in huge knee pads/ice packs, and that awful old blue robe?
Any thoughts?
In D'Antoni's time here, the Knicks went from a bad team that was unwatchable, to a bad team that was fun to watch, to a middle of the road Eastern Conference team. This season has provided some great wins and some bad losses. It's due in large part to the inconsistency of a team overly reliant on perimeter shooting who plays no defense. The addition of Melo and Billups, along with their ability to get to the line on nights that the jumpers aren't falling should take care of the scoring consistency issue. However, what about the "D"?
D'Antoni deserves to coach this team for the rest of the season and all of next season. Knicks fans should wait just a bit to see if this offense only approach can produce results. I doubt it will, but that leaves the question of who should come in.
I would love to see Pat Ewing back in the Garden. Just think about it a minute. From the X and O's standpoint, he's studied under both Van Gundy's and was coached by Riley. People inside the league seem to respect his ability and the work he's done. From a more nostaligic angle, the last NY Knicks renaissance began with him, and how awesome would it be to see Pat lead the team to relevancy while giving interviews in huge knee pads/ice packs, and that awful old blue robe?
Any thoughts?
That robe was classic
ReplyDeleteDon't blame D'Antoni, blame Walsh/Dolan/Isaiah for screwing up the trade that could have left them with better pieces to surround Carmelo with.
ReplyDeleteBesides, I'm cool with Ewing, but he clearly got dominated by the greats. Hakeem used to spin him around with his crazy African footwork.
right, because Gallinari, Chandler and Felton were such great rebounders and defenders. Get cable, yo.
ReplyDeleteGallinari and Chandler combined for 50 points last night.
ReplyDeleteThe Knicks were 26-24 with those guys. I'm sure they're better than that with Melo and without those guys.
ReplyDeleteNo defense does not regularly result in rings. That's the point of my argument. I'm saying they are going to be a good and exciting team under D'Antoni, but they will need SOME defense to win big and D'Antoni doesn't preach ANY defense.
Carmelo and Billups combined for 53. They still wouldn't have won with those 2 bums.
ReplyDeleteI just had defense broken down for me, If your a pg you guard the pg, if your a center you guard the center and so forth, is it really that easy?
ReplyDelete