Mike D'Antoni deserves criticism...but why?
by Seth on Dec 1, 2009 2:19 PM EST
in News
27 comments
Mike D'Antoni has received some criticism this season. His Knicks are 3-14. That's to be expected. Even within the realm of P&T, the criticism ranges from an assortment of small complaints to outright demands that he be fired. I'm not sure it's entirely clear, though, why there's dissent amongst the fans. Take, for example, Steve Nash's comments to Alan Hahn:
"I don't think anyone expected them to turn it around last year or this year," Steve Nash said at Suns practice in New York on Monday. "Everyone starts getting on top of Mike or the system or whatever they do. In reality, if you said to them, 'Are the Knicks going to be any good before the big free-agent summer? I think everyone would've said 'No, probably not.'
"So I don't know what the big deal is. To me, they're on the same plan, trying to develop young players and trying to wait and see who they can get next summer."
A lot of y'all probably spotted a hole in the above logic, and Hahn catches it as well:
We agree with everything Nash said, aside from the "trying to develop young players" phrase, which, as we've seen in the early part of the season, doesn't appear to be the priority...yet. As we said in the previous blog, perhaps D'Antoni's plan is to give the vets the first half of the season and then turn the season over to the young guys in the second half.
And therein lies my main point. This year's Knicks were probably destined to lose. We weren't expecting D'Antoni to build a well-oiled machine out of spare parts, but we did hope he'd make the best of what he had. That hasn't quite been the case. Toney Douglas's minutes have fluctuated dramatically, while Jordan Hill's playing time has been at a consistently slow burn. Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler have been largely mis-used as offensive weapons, while the ball remains in the hands of Chris Duhon and Al Harrington, who, with all due respect, are probably lame ducks. The funny thing is that Hahn rightfully guesses that D'Antoni might grant the youngsters more minutes once the season has been deemed a lost cause. That makes sense, but I think a lot of us would agree that Douglas, Hill, Gallinari and Chandler are actually among the players most capable of making the Knicks semi-competitive right now. Unless the veterans are being showcased, which remains to be seen, I have trouble coming up with an argument against giving major minutes to the Knicks with fresh legs, moldable games, and long-term contracts.
All that said, I don't think Mike D'Antoni should be fired. Not in the slightest. My point is only that my own criticisms, as well as those of fans calling for the coach's head, tend to regard his personnel decisions, not his losing record. D'Antoni's ultimate judgment will come in the next decade, but that doesn't forbid us from critiquing his current body of work.
Game thread cominatcha later.
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Wait...so the problem
is D’Antoni not trusting or developing young players? Never saw that coming! wow
Blogging Suns Basketball . twitter: @phoenixstan
D'antoni's worth
Is very much tied to how olympians LeBron, Wade, and Bosh view him. People say LeBron won’t leave Cleveland, but for all we know, he may be frustrated with his coach and D’antoni could be an attractive alternative. Good players like him. That could be huge. So, by no means fire him before we see how 2010 free agency works out. To us fans, the coaching may be frustrating, but to the players that may opt to sign with the Knicks, it may be appealing, and that is very important right now.
a guy like LeBron
has such respect around he league, that wherever he goes, he can influence management. So you are right, its his perception of D’Antoni from the Olympics that matters more than we care to admit.
BTW, LeBron wasn’t afraid to openly question his coach’s decision to bench Ilgauskas on Saturday, preventing him from playing in his Cavs record 724th game, even as he had a significant number of people at the game ready to celebrate his milestone. DNP-CD. LeBron went as far to say he felt it the record was more important than the one game. Interesting article
by Chris Child's Fist on Dec 1, 2009 3:18 PM EST up reply actions
Seth, you lit the right menorah candle
We are quick to draw conclusions here and to question everything. It’s mostly because we are mostly smarter than anyone gives us credit for. We definitely have touched on a lot of things (pause) but I do beleive D’Antoni to be a logical, intelligent coach. I also beleive the same of Donnie Walsh. That being said, the most logical conclusion to draw could be to build up our lame ducks value towards the trading deadline. I think the Knicks blew it when they began to openly admit to basically mailing in our games until ths coming summer. The whole league knows what NY is doing and thus very few, if any, will knock at our door with regard to our current roster. The Knicks may be of the thought that they can ride these jerks to sucker another team into a trade for a draft pick, or a bigger headache with a crappy contract ending this year.
I’d like to say I believe this is a mistake on our part. We can really set up our team this year and beyond by REALLY playing to win. The current lineup won’t cut it. Let the future take over. Let them earn some valuable experiences, even if it means losing. You get better by playing against better players. Given assumed playing time in practice, a scrimmage against Harrington, Duhon, Jefferies, Hughes is not what i necessarily have in mind in terms of ‘developing’ anything but bad habits.
by Chris Child's Fist on Dec 1, 2009 3:08 PM EST reply actions
I have to assume
The plan is to play the veterans, hope they play well and make some value for themselves. This INCLUDES the expirings, not just Curry and JJ. Then you have some chips at the deadline. Then the young guys get their time with the addition of some players/picks. DW is maximizing what he has hoping to gain at the midpoint. Good plan, sucky basketball for now.
great minds think alike
you can have the cred, boss
by Chris Child's Fist on Dec 1, 2009 3:19 PM EST up reply actions
What i don't understand
is if this is the plan why not have a conversation with AI. Ask him whether he wants a ring or to run the show in NY for a year. If it’s the former tell him he has to make himself attractive to prospective teams. Show us you can play an under-control, in the flow and be successful in a possible backup role. Make your teammates look good (easily done if replacing Duhon), play defense. Then you have a chance to grab a ride into the playoffs.
This could have netted us something very nice.
Good call, Childs/LJ
Showcase these bums and ship ‘em away.
The Wolves are going to win the Draft lottery next year and get John Wall,
making Rubio unnecessary to keep on the roster.
We’ll trade Wil for Rubio (other shit involved, obviously) and start Gallo next year.
I don’t know what’s going to happen with Nate/Lee, we’ll see which one (or both) get traded or resigned. That’s the one area I’m fizzy with.
We’ll probably sign (or trade for) Michael Redd and Mike Miller or some shit in 2010, then Carmelo in 2011.
I’d roll with a starting line-up of Rubio, Redd, Gallo, Melo, and Amare in 2011-12 with Miller coming off the bench.
Pipe Dream? Yeah.
But it sure would be a funny team to watch!
"I'll probably go get lifted right now with Greg. Hey, and come back tomorrow and try to get another win."
-Renaldo
I'm Sorry...
But, is it me or are people a little bit too sweet on Gallo? I love his shooting ability and size but, man you all are giving him a pass. His defense is horrible, he turns the ball over more than he should, he’s a terrible rebounder and shot blocker, and he doesn’t move well without the ball. I know you are going to blame D’Antoni, and rightfully so, but he is a starter who averages more than 20min. a game. D’Antoni is not just holding Gallo back, he coaches all the Knicks.Maybe David Lee should be coaching the Knicks!! He knows and plays the game better than everyone else involved with the Knicks. If only he was 3 inches taller!!
if we're talking about bad defense
then david lee “knows and plays the game” worse than anybody i’ve seen in a long time.
You ask a good question
I do think Gallo may be a little slow, also he really doesn’t seem to know right now how to play without the ball in his hands. And if he never learns, he may never be great. But I don’t know if I agree about the defense / rebounding / shot blocking thing. He’s not playing on the interior by design. Despite that, he’s blocked several shots. He seems to care about defense, which means he can learn to be more effective.
As for Lee, I think having three inches more width might help him more than 3 inches more height!
please...
make another post knocking Gallo.
Tho..maybe a game like this one against the Suns will show you why we al like him, cock blocks and all.
"It ain't over till its over"---
by FreeBradshaw on Dec 1, 2009 10:33 PM EST up reply actions
Agreement
I agree with Childs/LJ/Seth.
I mean it should be said, that D’Antoni hates playing Rookies, and thats why Chandler and Gallinari are getting more time then Toney and Jordan, even though realistically they are more needed (position wise). I mean I think a lineup of TD, Gallo, Chandler, Harrington, and Hill, could at least be competitive, but thats irrelevant.
I think its smart to give Al Harrington the minutes he is getting, because I think his scoring could definitely open up some interest from a team that feels they need precious scoring off the bench on a playoff hunt. Same with Nate for that matter (since he doesn’t particularly shoot well enough, and is to much of a lose cannon for D’Antoni).
I think Walsh has given up on trading Jared Jeffries (you can’t showcase non exsistant skills), so maybe they see the best package they could trade to someone being Harrington, Curry, hughes/duhon, a Pick, and Mobley’s Deal. Giving someone three expiring contracts, what could be a decent pick, and one player who in the future you might be able to get insurance payments on, for one big expiring contract.
If they could pull something like that off at the trade deadline it would free up space to play all the Rookies more, and maybe a little more natural lineup. Which I think is part of why D’Antoni’s Knicks, have played so poorly after the Crawford and Randolph deals. He had a decently “D’Antoni Normal” lineup, giving a PF space eater the paint playing center in Randolph, having Crawford on the perimeter, Chandler playing as a Forward, and Jeffries… defending? and duhon not needing to be a scorer, so he was fresher. I think getting a lineup that works more for his playing style is the only thing that will increase the wins total this year.
My problem with all this showcasing the vets is...
… everyone knows what Harington, Lee, Hughes, Nate, Duhon, Jeffries can do. These guys have been around long enough. Their known quantities. If someone wants them they will ask.
I’m more interested in giving Hill, Douglas, Gallo, Will all the time. Because maybe they will start to look good and potential free agents will look at the knicks and say, well they suck now but they have some nice young pieces that are getting better. Right now they look and say well they have some draft busts (since they can’t even get any minutes on a 3-13 team), and a whole lot of dead men walking waiting for their contracts to expire.
Just my thoughts.
Jeffries just had a showcase game.
hopefully teams were noticing.
Wishful thinking, but a few more like this and a team might want this fool on their squad.
"It ain't over till its over"---
by FreeBradshaw on Dec 1, 2009 10:35 PM EST up reply actions
A Nightmare
Ive been dreading the 2010 NBA draft for the past year. I constantly arise from my sleep in a cold sweat, remembering my reoccuring nightmare in which David Stern announced that The New York Knicks… I Mean the Utah Jazz have just won the overall # 1 pick in the draft. John Wall takes the stage is given a Knick Hat, which he chucks into the garden audience, signaling the death of a franchise…. Because of no significant improvements in the roster, and managements inability to repair severed ties with both David Lee and Nate they walk, discouraging any big named free agents from signing over the summer. Due to lack of playing time, young players show little to no improvement and the Knicks are destined to start the vicious cycle of mediocrity all over again. Smh
why is letting David Lee and Nate walk such a big deal?
Yes, they are good players. But they are parts. Nate is a knucklhead and David Lee can’t play defense for his life….so they are both bench players.
The Knicks will have all the cap room you can get next year too.
What the hell don’t people understand about this?
Why would they make improvements to teh roster?
Walsh is trying to clean up the gigantic pile of crap he was sent to clean up.
Whether or not they get Lebron or anyone….they have cap room.
"It ain't over till its over"---
because
david lee and nate are pretty much all the knicks have. a few young guys who can become good, but right now, they are probably the biggest assets. imagine the knicks without them (starting center jared jeffries!)
right now...yea.
in 2010?
"It ain't over till its over"---
by FreeBradshaw on Dec 1, 2009 10:35 PM EST up reply actions
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