We've seen just about every possible name associated with the Knicks job at this point. And that trend will continue as long as Donnie Walsh continues to extend this process of finding a coach.
But Mike D'Antoni?
According to SI.com, D'Antoni's days in Phoenix are over after another playoff ouster at the hands of the San Antonio Spurs.
McCallum speculates that the situation in Phoenix might go a little more surreptitiously than the usual fired-then-hired routine. For instance, the Suns may not fire D'Antoni, but if another team happens to call for permission to speak with him, they might grant it. Then if he gets an offer, the Suns let him out of the final two years of his contract.
If this is the case, I would expect Walsh to make this call ASAP. When a former NBA Coach of the Year is available, you make a call.
And he should do so before Bryan Colangelo pulls a quick reverse on Sam Mitchell. D'Antoni's up-tempo style would be more conducive to the Raptors personnel than the Knicks (as they are currently constructed) so you could see Toronto as a better fit logistically. If that's the case, Walsh could then go for Mitchell, who is more New York-style with discipline and defense as his mantra (not that the Raps showed either).
Though it happens all around sports (see: Joe Torre) this sloppy-seconds thing is a little disturbing (getting a fired guy who was replaced by another fired guy and neither reached their expectations with a better roster than the Knicks), but at least with D'Antoni, you're getting one of the top coaches in the league. (The Suns demise has more to do with Steve Kerr, IMHO...you trade Shawn Marion and don't make up his minutes? Foolish).
And while Jamal Crawford and Nate Robinson sure would love it, can you see Eddy Curry and Zach Randolph keeping pace in D'Antoni's exhausting system? The Suns, with Steve Nash at the point, made D'Antoni's style look fun. The Knicks might make it look really, really ugly, especially considering how most of the team has an allergic reaction to conditioning.
But with some moves here and there, in time Walsh could construct the right mix for that style. And the Garden could see some entertaining ball for a change. That's if D'Antoni wants the challenge (and to deal with some losing at first). McCallum writes that D'Antoni might just take a year off from coaching.
Or, instead of the Knicks and as an alternative to Toronto, he might be better off taking the Bulls job. That roster is a lot more set up for his style of play and a lot closer to being a winner sooner.
One question I have in all of this is, who does Phoenix then bring in to replace D'Antoni? What is out there that is so much better than him? This is a team with a veteran roster that doesn't have much time left, so a rookie coach might be an even more precarious choice than maintaining status quo.
Comments (48)
Alan,
I think Kerr effed up big time by not doing what was necessary to get Garnett when he had a chance. To me Shaq is the sloppy seconds in the is scenario.
The Suns window is only as wide as Nash's tenure. To steal a championship in the west, it had to be Garnett. No drop off in D, huge improvement in leadership, and imagine the pick and roll with Nash and Garnett. Plus Garnett is familiar playing against Duncan and the other bigs in the west.
Shaq simply can't change ends quick enough, or help on perimeter stunts. Alonzo Mourning had to do those things for him when they beat the Mavs. Scoring and rebounding is fine, but he is now a liability in the fast break and half court defense.
I think you get three years of solid contention with Nash and Garnett. Kerr lacked nerve and it cost D'Antoni his job.
I know I'm in the minority here but I do not want Mike D'Antoni. I know Pheonix is exciting and all but I do not want a team that runs up and down the court and plays no D. I know a defense oriented team that rebounds. D'Antonio's style and philosophy wins regular season games but doesn't win when it counts. That's why San Antonio has owned the Suns.
Agreed...the playoffs come down to a team that actually plays defense WELL.
Notice all the altercations happening now due to rough play and hard fouls? It's ultimately because in regular season games these guys would just be watched going to the hoop for the highlight reel...
Wahhhh! He's playing basketball the right way and not letting me dunk! Overpaid, whiny babies...
I Think the Suns call JVG or Rick Carlisle... And their big mistakes was also trading Kurt which allowed him to flop allover the court, and help The Spurs win... That along with trading Marion was stupid when you were suspensions away from beating The Spurs a year b4...
Far as D' Antoni coaching the Knicks I totally disagree with you Alan the majority of the Knick team is more condusive to running and trapping... Only Zach and Curry benefit from a slow paced, half court style... They're alot closer to being a fastbreak team than a Defensive team... Thats for sure... And with the draft pick they have, Bayless or Mayo would also flourish in that style... If by some miracle, you dont draft a point and keep Marbury he has already played in that style and almost beat The Spurs with it as well...
JVG in PHX sounds nice. I think he's exactly what they need.
Meanwhile, I was shouting for D'Antoni a few weeks ago with the idea that David Lee, Nate Robinson, Renaldo Balkman, and Wilson Chandler would go bananas in an up-tempo style, and along with Derrick Rose or Jerryd Bayless, the Knicks could construct a decent roster in short time.
But, Tom Thibideau knows New York and knows defense. I want the 90's back, and he's our best bet.
love that fourth graph:
"The Suns have long been one of the NBA's model franchises, and both D'Antoni and Kerr, for whatever differences they might have about the direction of the team, are respected around the league. It's hard to believe, then, that D'Antoni's situation would devolve into an ugly, protracted war, New York Knicks style."
WHAT IF THE SUNS PLAYED IN THE EAST?
they would be in the playoffs every year...
maybe it would be easier to teach the knicks to play better offense and actually run sets and screens than it would be to turnover the entire roster and be a defensive team.
to be a defensive team you need defensive players
jamal crawford,nate robinson,eddy curry,zach randolph are not defensive players!
no matter the coach if they can't trade some of these guys how can a coach teach these guys defense?
D'antoni's stye might work better with the knicks present roster than a defensive minded coach.
Alan,
I believe the only reason the Suns kept Mike D'Antoni as coach is because he's white. If Isiah had been the Suns coach, they'd have fired him two years ago.
That's the NBA. A black man never gets a fair shot.
what ????? are u on crack dude ? D'antoni was perfect for the Suns w/ Matrix on the roster. His up tempo style was what got them a few suspensions away from advancing in the west.
Its all tha Zeke luv ya got aint it ? He sucked as coach of the Knicks ! Admit it kid, it'll be good for you like therapy.
Peace - what about Avery Johnson? His tenure at the Mavs is almost identical to D'Antoni's. Great expectations, all star players, always coming up short. One could argue Johnson should have been fired, instead they traded for Kidd. Avery's existence seems as charmed as D'Antoni's.
At least use a different example than Zeke - he should have been fired two years ago by the Knicks, and was kept way past expiration despite his black man-ness.
Give me Mr. Thibs to play some D and force teams to work to win against the Knicks and their fans. Make MSG a dangerous place again.
The Knicks can't go for a coach whose teams are known for a particular style of play because who knows what players they'll have coming through here during this whole rebuilding process.
They need a guy who can be flexible with a a bunch of changes to the team personnel, someone who could instill good fundamentals and has a nack for player development, since the Knicks will have so many young guys for a while. (hopefully)
D'Antoni can't even strategize properly to protect a 3 point lead, with seconds to go. FOUL and send the opposing team to the free throw line. A myriad of things has to happen right for the opposing to tie the game once you put them on the line. This is not rocket science.
He obviously went to the Isiah School of Coaching.
Why would anyone want this clown to coach any team???
If goal is to be competitive, then D'Antoni will suffice.
If goal is the shiny stuff then look elsewhere.
Bring in AJ lets go back to playing Defense...
AJ already fired!
Wonder if all this coach musical chairs will also lead to some big trades. at least the summer can be better than the season was.
Wowwwww Peace as a black man I feel where you're coming from but not with D'Antino... He is a good coach, you gotta look at how he changed the game... He brought excitement to the Suns and made Nash an MVP... Which I think his 2 MVPs fall more into a black, white thing, but thats neither here nor there... Should he blamed for the suspensions his team got last year, or for the fact that Idiot Kerr and the Suns owner got rid of Kurt for salary cap... I dont think so... I would say this, the fact that anyone would even considering firing Avery after being the only coach to get Dallas to the finals is crazy... He gets way too much ridicule, Don Nelson is considered a great coach and didnt get them there with the same roster... When you change coaches and the team still underachieves time to start looking at the players... Dirk...
When you mention something like Isiah and media preferential treatment I'd bring up names like Kevin Mchale and Danny Ainge... Mainly Kevin who should have been fired a long time ago for sacrificing 5, 1st round draft picks for Joe Smith... And never really putting good players around Garnett... Kerr may be falling into that catergory soon as well...
@Peaceman
comparing d'antoni to isiah thomas is like comparing apples and oranges...
has thomas won 50 games with the knicks?
no
has thomas made the playoffs as coach of the knicks?
no
in the nba race is an non issue in regards to coaches...
WIN OR GO HOME
thats what the nba is about.
if win black or white you will have a job
lose on a consistant basis and you will be fired
CHICAGO fired scott skiles and he is white
everything is not a race war peaceman...i am black and i see the big picture.
STOP PLAYING THE RACE CARD ALL THE THE TIME.
Peaceman,
You sir are a crybaby and a disgrace.
Avery might be a good choice for the Knicks with an experienced coach in the mold of Del Harris on the bench with him. Avery didn't get the job done and it seems like his players were revolting against him. I have no problem with him being gone even though he can't be blamed for the J. Kidd trade being a disaster. If NJ could fire Byron Scott after taking them to two finals (in NJ no less) anybody can go.
@ veronica, hopefully those big trades do not involve Vince Carter, T.J. Ford, Jermaine O'neal, Baron Davis or Jason Kidd coming to NY. This is probably the year for NY to bring in Wilcox, Evans, devean george and other lesser known names.
Kid, the one thing I'd say to dispute your argument about Avery (and I agree completely about McHale, and incidentally, lump Bird in with that, and Ainge, until this season at least): the Mavs have trended down steadily for the past three seasons, from being two games from the championship, to two first-round outs. It's a tough call when the team makes the playoffs, but there's reason to can him when the team's had progressively less success under him.
Avery's a control freak, and didn't get along with all his players, but he's a good coach and he'll get another opportunity. If not this season, certainly next.
peaceman is such an imbecile for even bringing up the race card here. what a disgrace.
what a r-e-t-a-r-d
me, i don't play the race card.
Dear Mr. Peaceman,
Do not blame the white men for your personal miseries.
You and only you are responsible for your own personal degradation. Mental retardation is such an awful thing and please refrain from spreading it in here.
Make something of yourself young man.
Promote racial harmony and make your momma proud.
Be all that you can be. Pursue that G.E.D. young man.
Dear Peaceman,
I am pleased to inform you that in addition to your work-release program, I am informing your parole officers that you will be going for your G.E.D.
Make the Possettes proud Mr. Peaceman.
We, members of the Board of Correction, are extremely proud of your perseverance and your desire for continuing your adult education. Good luck.
PS. Bill Cosby is right. You cannot blame the white men for every mistakes that you have made in your life.
Make us proud. Pursue a better life. The future is bright.
Make the Possette Nation proud.
All the guy did was win in Phx. I don't understand why they gave up on Marion and they want to fire Iron Mike? I was against the trade. But, they were desperate like we were when we signed Curry. I like the up tempo style if its executed to stop other teams in the process. I still don't like to get a recently fired coach to the fragile Knicks. Most of the Knicks roster is too mixed with runners and gunners and turtles like Curry and Randolph. But what really makes them the whole Knick team useless is their defense or lack of.
Draft notes: I like to see J. Bayless and Brook Lopez in Knick uniforms next year. But, if we land 1 or 2 Beasley is going to be the new beast in the East and Rose is a pure team changer. We need a center and point guard. But, when you are rebuilding - you need everything.
People who say race means nothing in the NBA are naive. Isiah stayed because Dolan thought he would relate to the team(except Lee) better than an old 1000 win white man. The same thing happens all over the league, even with smart owners.
Cablevision may bid for Newsday. How much damage can they do to this rag? The sports dept is the words in the area.
I meant WORST in the NY area.
wow !! more brothas on here than i thought. power 2 tha people !!
obv. im blk too but peaceman ur off on this one. tha nba gives plenty of bros. a chance more than ANY other league in sports. that's not even up for debate. wish esp tha nfl could take a look at that trend. big ups to d.stern for making this far from an issue w/ his league.
i wonna see what jax mentality would be as a coach
we alredy know what every else is that available...
we coach new g.m=kenny smith
coach=jax....
new faces..start new..
stay tuned for more KnowLedge
D'Antoni's the wrong fit for New York. Even a hockey writer should know that.
D'Antoni, like most coaches, requires talent. Thanks to Zeke, the Knicks have a roster of overpaid underachievers with bad attitudes (Marbury, Fat Zach, Little Man Nate), no work ethic (Lazy Eddy, Jerome James, Fat Zach), one-dimensional players who lack only one (sic) skill, defense (Break A Backboard Crawford), and immovable contracts (Marbury, Lazy Eddy, Fat Zach, James, Break A Backboard, Q Richardson, Jared Jeffries, Malek Rose).
The only thing that the Knicks can do is draft young talent with this year's lottery pick (next year's is already bound for Utah) and NOT trade for even fatter contracts held by even more worthless (Jermaine O'Neal) or more cancerous (Ron Artest and his legal defense team) players.
As I wrote two years ago, the Knicks will be terrible for at least the next two-three years until the Zeke's bad deals (Marbury and Rose at the end of next season) come off the books. Expect more futility at the Garden. Walsh will have to be smart, patient, oblivious to the back page psychos, and build from within. Keep Lee, Chandler, and Balkman, complimentary players all, and hope to catch a nice draft pick this year. Morris is worthless, Collins slightly less so.
Lazy Eddy will not board or play defense. Marbury's a chronic loser since high school. Fat Zach's a bum at every stop. Crawford's a career 40 percent shooter with too much Rucker in his blood. Little Man Nate's only decent in July and August, a shooting guard in a barmaid's body with a brick for brains. Q's body is shot. It should be illegal for Jeffries to shoot anything more than layups. Rose is well over the hill. James belongs in a Burger King on the night shift provided he doesn't eat all the burgers or his fellow work crew.
my coaching predictions:
dantonio to dallas
thibadeau to ny
avery johnson to the nets
jvg to the nuggets (karl to replace jvg on tv)
flip saunders stays as the pistons got to the finals
Thorn has already said that he isn't firing Lawrence Frank ..
I don't think Van Gundy's going back to coaching soon either. He seems to really like his TV gig...
Speaking of the Nuggets, I hope that Donnie watched them carefully in the playoffs. They're loaded with talent, and even have a shot-blocking center, and in the end, they got swept anway. Defense needs to be priority no. 1 at every position. And your PG needs to be a guy who distributes first, scores second.
There’s an old line that’s attributed to Groucho Marx that goes something like this: I would never join a club that would have someone like me as a member.
It’s a great line because, while self-deprecating, it maintains a shred of dignity, as well.
Mark, of course, has abandoned any hope of dignity with his repeated attacks on this blog. He continues to force his personal brand of hatred into a club he finds without value. Mark's the opposite Groucho - he would join ANY club, even one he pisses on. What does that tell you about his own sense of self-esteem? In the toilet, right? I wonder what it’s like to live without even a shred of self-worth. Only Mark can answer that question.
Sad, sad, sad.
Hey, guys, don't let Peaceman's posts get to you so much. He just likes throwing grenades (so to speak). Obviously the difference in team records speaks volumes (though not the whole story) about the difference between the two coaches.
We're getting mixed messages out of Phoenix now, anyway. Kerr doesn't strike me as such an egotist that he doesn't accept some responsibility for the Suns' exit, having traded away the team's best perimeter player. And I don't think Mike D'Antoni should be hung out to dry because of two brain cramps at the end of game 1. His coaching helped put that team in that position in the first place.
Obviously the Knicks can't be the Suns...but do they have enough guys who can run, and the prospect of finding a PG who can lead the break? Can Stephon be trusted with that? Walsh needs to settle on a coach with a style before he begins molding the roster to fit.
Choo-Choo,
Almost read your post. Then I belched and the desire passed.
Keep hoping, Choo-Choo. Maybe some day you will create a salient point, but today, like the countless days before it, will not be that time.
To the Person posting as Peaceman...get a life!
Alan has my IP and email address and he knows that poster is not me! Maybe the troll or John Q has joined him in the basement!
My only position is ...anybody but Mark Jackson!
As a matter of fact, I would love to see the Knicks play a
Mike D'Antoni style of hoop! So, the poster @ 1300 April 30TH
......Eat my shorts!
I read much more than I post, and although Peaceman has his opinions...I definitely questioned the writing style.
That post was suspect from the beginning...
DFTT! Sooner or later the bridge will start calling him home...
Lady Peaceman is again infecting and spreading his intellectual deficiencies. This guy is mentally and morally bankrupt. He has polluted many sites.
As always, when he is getting pounded or doesn’t like what’s going on, he’ll cry racial in any blog.
On to basketball….
• if you want to build a competitive team, you hire D’Antoni, Avery Johnson, Jeff Van Gundy, and the likes;
• if you want the shiny stuff, then consider Tim Thibodeau strongly.
• I like Donovan, Stan Van Gundy, Pitino but those guys are not available.
• Laimbeer is a very good candidate but probably is not Walsh’s type;
• Nunca to Mark Jax
Big MAK
Just an FYI Fixers - the original "Peaceman" did not post that comment with a racial-based opinion on Mike D'Antoni. I checked the IP addresses, not to mention the email that was submitted was a fake.
I do have the IP of the imposter and that person will be dealt with.
Mak.
There's holes in your boat! I would never retract anything I said!
Maybe you posted using my handel @ 1300 yesterday?
As far as blogs being infected.....that's your and Mark's MO!
You are the Nomad! Besides Alan's grace letting you and your alter ego(Mark) post here.....Berman takes anyone...your real Home!
Back to Hoop,
I have always been a BIG Rick Pitino fan! I'd love to play Mike D'Antoni style hoop
in NY! Add Derrick Rose, Artest and a big who can Run the court and play Defense...and his formula would work anywhere! Had Shaq been 8 years younger.....that team would of been immpossible to beat in the playoffs!
@ Old School Oak!
Thanks, that post @ 1300 was too neatly posted with no misspellings. I don't proof read my posts....or worry about Grammer! Maybe Mak the Snake!
looks like alan's "fix"ing to throw down a block party in strong island.
i had one of those recently too, enjoy alan.
some times you just have to kick a troll in the teeth for their eternal lack of respect, you know?
When the history of the Blogosphere is finally written, I only hope the Knicks sites get credit for developing the whole notion of a "troll." I've never seen it anyplace else. Has anyone? (And then maybe, that will be the day Mark gets the attention he so desperately craves. As the Troll that started it all. The most hated/banned man on the blogosphere.)
Every active message board has its trolls, Trane. Though the NY sports sites are the first places I've come across the term...and it's perfect. Some folks live on these boards only to insult everyone else, and some just like stirring up trouble. After a while it's like the drunk at a party you have to ignore.
Yo Peace,
It wasn't me buddy. I would never post as anyone else, especially you dude. I thought it was you because of the overfond man-love given to Zeke in the post. I guess someone shares your sentiment so much they just posted it as you.
PEACELADY:
* Yup, there were holes in my "yatch" (or yacth.)
* Next time we go sailing, you can take care of our morning cafe BOY;
* You posted something, got plenty of bad reactions from bloggers, and now you're saying you never posted those???
* Go back to LoveIsiah dot com BOY and stay in your protective homogeneous cocoon. I can't believe it, Drossman kicked your butt BOY and evicted you from KD. Wow!!!
* As always, Steve Mills and his buddy Lord Thomas must be neutered in public to pay for their sins.
* Why is Steve Mills getting a free pass? Must because he's "caucasian." LOL
* What a coinkidink, this retard and I are actually aligned that Mark Jax is NOT the right man to right the ship.
TRANE:
I guess you must be bored. Otherwise, you won't be investing keyboarding time with "sick puppy" Mark.
MAK,
out of respect to Alan.....I'll skip pass you, and not reply to
your insults! But let me state this for the record... Since you seem to have an afinity for posting my name......Let it be know,
I'm straight....sorry dude...I'm not interested!
Too soon to start talking May 20? Who do the Knicks send as a rep at the lottery?
It's gotta be Walsh, right?
It'd be cool though if they sent D Lee or Nate, a la Portland going with Roy last year...
I know – I broke the rules. I’m out. Promise. But sometimes it’s hard to hold back. But it’s a cheap shot. I admit it. DFTT.
May Mark and Mak spend an eternity in hell with a can of refried beans and absolutely NO WAY to open it!!!! But that's just me,I guess.Blog Trolls totally suck.