So now Mike D'Antoni has to answer questions about a video that supposedly shows him cursing during the season opener last night -- either at fans who were chanting for Stephon Marbury to play, or at the officials who'd just called a foul on Mardy Collins.
If D'Antoni's apparent reaction -- "Are you ___ kidding me?" -- was directed at those chanting "We want Steph!" in the third and fourth quarters last night, I applaud him. I already made my opinion known about those fans.
In fact, the same words -- or what I imagine to be D'Antoni's exact words -- also came out of my mouth from my seat in the Gate 64 press ramp. Ask the scout who was sitting next to me. Neither one of us could believe it.
Matt B commented on Hahn's blog that it's a shame the vocal minority gets all the attention and becomes the story. It wasn't quite 100 people, but not more than 1,000 or so who were chanting for Marbury. They showed that they clearly don't understand what is going on.
You chant for two years that you want Isiah Thomas fired. He finally gets fired. The organization hires a respected, competent team president, Donnie Walsh, who also happens to be not just a good basketball man, but a good man. He hires the right coach, D'Antoni -- a coach with a plan, a coach with a defined system, a coach who knows how to prepare his team, a coach every star player in the NBA wants to play for.
More to the point, he hires a coach who has the toughness and gumption to do the right thing and put the statues of past failure -- Stephon Marbury and Eddy Curry -- on the bench and not let them off. And you chant for him to put Marbury in the game?
To paraphrase the coach, are you ___ kidding me?
Comments (13)
Good post and I agree. People who come to games aren't all fans with a brain.
The chant was as mean-spirited as it was inappropriate. And it only served to deflect attention from an exciting win.
Ken, I don't think you get it man, matter of fact you don't get it. Where are you from by the way? Let's take a look at all the reasons you feel benching Steph is the right move first and foremost. Let's start with why Steph has to carry the four year burden of a team that was poorly put together, that sucked before Steph even joined. Let's start with the fact that Steph has played for at least 4 different coaches with four different philosophies in four years. Let's start with the fact that Steph has been surrounded by poor talent, poor conditioned teammates, and porr decision making teammates the last 4 years. Let's talk about the fact that Steph was blamed for last season's 23-59 record when he barely played 25 of those games. Let's talk about the six game streak they enjoyed after the Denver brawl because finally the team was not in excess of duplicate players and could play to their strengths.....until players returned destroying any possible chemistry due to the fact that Zeke could never put a real NBA team on the floor. Let's discuss the tons of passes flubbered by the likes of "franchise cornerstone" Curry, or the inability to hit a jumper if his life depended on it cause he's out of shape QRich. But this is all Steph's fault. Yes Steph can be a nut off the court, and yes he sometimes holds the ball too long in the past as has Nut Robinson and Crawford. But why is it the aforementioned get a chance to adjust their games to a new system while Steph is continually judged based on how he performed in previous systems. Then you suggest he doesn't fit which was evident cause he was traded from Phoenix? Please man gimme a break, when you have a chance at getting Steve Nash practically in his basketball prime, Steph isn't the only player you would trade for. Do I think the "We want Steph" chants were warranted? No, but at the same time I don't see how its fair to beat up on this man all the time like he's the cause for everything that's gone wrong. I remember last year after Steph left the team (for reasons we still don't know but everyone assumes he just up and left) and the Knicks won a game or two, and everyone in their mother was talking about how they are better without Steph. What happened next? Yup, they went on to completely embarass themselves once again. So obviously if they achieved the same exact record both with and without Steph, he can't be the sole problem. How bout focusing on the real issue, building a team around a plodding, lazy big man who is not the quickest thinker and is strictly a black hole for disaster anytime he's more than 2 feet from the basket. Stop making Steph the scapegoat for everything that's gone wrong with the Knicks, its a boring, redudant claim with absolutely no proof or substance and its getting really tiresome. This team still can't stop anyone on defense, I guess that's Steph's fault too. I guess its also Steph's fault that Zeke disrespected a female co-worker huh? get over yourself Ken and your obvious hate for Steph, you act like he's Rodman or something. I'm sick and tired of you writers who think you know everything about sports but you're like 5'5 120 lbs and never put a basketball consistently into a hoop.
Hey Ken, I have been posting here and with Alan for a little while now so hopefully you won't include me amongst the mindless drove chanting at MSG last night. But you, Matt B, and Alan I don't think understood the dynamic last night. I think the fans were showing their disapproval of Mardy Collins on court performance, and rightfully felt Marbury is the better player who should have been on the floor not dribbling the ball off his foot repeatedly out of bounds. Now that may be short-sighted, Marbury is not part of the future, his teamates dislike him, and frankly Mardy did a decent job on defense last night. But from a basketball perspective, Mardy looked terrible in spurts on offense last night, was disrupting the offense, and I fully understand why the fans would have (1) booed him and (2) chanted for the more talented player to come in.
I tease you allot but in truth, I think trying to make it seem like all those fans don't understand basketball is unfair. NYK fans are allot smarter than any other basketball fans in the country and although I agree with benching Marbury I completely understand why some fans want the most talented players on the floor. Remember Marbury did do everything that was asked of him this offseason and really moved the ball well in the preseason. As for your last point about over-dribbling and not thinking, I agree with you that is a reason for benching Marbury but then how does that justify Mr. Overdribble himself Mardy Collins playing over Marbury or antoher dribbler and Mr. No D Crawford getting major minutes?
By the way NYC = Steph (he finally figured out how to blog).
As a Suns Fan I have watched a number of games where he's used that exact same phrase in response to a borderline call. I believe that in all likelyhood he was addressing them and not the fans.
HEY KNICKS4LIFE, EAT A DI@K.
The story is really more about D'Antoni's reaction. If he's going to hear the crowd at MSG and worse, respond to them, he's not going to do well here. When I saw this the other night (and yes, he clearly was addressing the crowd, despite what he says}, my first thought was of Randy Johnson pushing the camera man on his first day as a Yankee. What Johnson didn't realize is that things are different in NY and to succeed as an athelete, you have to adjust your mindset. I hope D'Antoni realizes that before too much time goes by.
Very intelligent comeback. Now trying winking and saying "you betcha" at the same time.
NYC, I agreed with you in my post. Mardy shouldn't be playing over Marbury. However, you can't ignore the many, many instances of self-destruction Steph has inflicted on his team since coming here from PHX. Steph has had more chances than anyone else in the league beside Ron Artest. I won't justify his treatment of Sanders or women in general (intern, wife is a b*&th), his numerous coach wars, or the islolation of his teamates when he is supposed to be the leader of the team. Leaving your team 5 games in because you are not going to start is also inexcusable. Comparing Marbury to other players doesn't strengthen the point. Those are other teams messes to clean up. The Knicks need to worry about Marbury. James needs to be waived as well. Curry is a difficult situation because of the lenght of his contract.
But from a basketball perspective, I agree with you that playing Mardy over Marbury just makes no sense after you declared that everyone had a clean slate. Marbury has done nothing wrong this season so based on what D'Antoni and Walsh have said, he should be playing over Collins. Duhon is the better PG (not better player) for this system even though I think he is pretty garbage overall, Crawford the better starting SG, and Nate the better guard of the bench. So, I think Steph should be the fourth guard off the bench. But again, I can't quiblle too much with D'Antoni about who the 4th gaurd is in his rotation. I just didn't like Alan, Matt B, and Ken implying that the fans were stupid or something. There was a perfectly justifiable reason for chanting for Steph given the way Mardy was playing.
KNICKS4LIFE, its about as intelligent of a comeback as your cynical comment regarding my support of Marbury simpley because I believe he doesn't always get a fasir shake due to his namesake and quirky behavior mostly off the court. He's treated like someone who is a cancer which is crazy, having a teammate who feels smoking weed is more important than staying in shape all season long (see Josh Howard) is unhealthy for a team environment. Coming to camp and games out of shape is potentially building yourself up to be a cancer to your team. Shooting your gun outside a strip club (see Stephen Jackson) can be seen as detrimental. Running into the stands (no need to mention names here) can also be viewed as unhealthy. There are tons of examples of this yet these very same athletes are always given 2nd, sometimes 3rd chances, yet Marbury is constantly treated as an albatross simply because he says crazy things to the media. he's averaged 8 dimes prior to joining the Knicks his entire career yet he's viewed as a selfish player who pounds the ball all day, same thing Nash does on a regular freakin basis. Nash averages over 3 turnovers a game yet he's still a saint, Steph makes one bad turnover and he's not fit to a PG in Dantoni's "system". the Knicks win ONE GAME, and all of a sudden its better to move in this direction when they only beat a subpar squad. Let's see everyone hooping and hollering if that one win turns out to be the only one in October. Steph is simply measured using a different ruler and noone wants to pay attention to that. The guy has his quirky moments and everyone is all over it, ignoring the affordable sneakers he created or his charity work or commitment to family. Gimme a freakin break.
KNICKS4LIFE, I agree with your last comments 100%. Steph has definitely in the past acted "divaish" and not quite like the leader I would expect from a 13 year vet. as for leaving the team, honestly to me that incident is still sketchy to me at best cause I never heard anyone publicly discuss the incident from within the organization, not even Zeke himself explained what happened, we heard most of what happened from 3rd parties if my memory serves me correctly. But aside from that you're right, there are things Marbury could have done better for the sake of the team, and he had 4 years to prove this should be his team and he destroyed that more so off the court than on the court in my humble opinion. He's a young man from the projects who damn near jumped from HS to the pros, not making an excuse for him just explaining why its probably taken him such a long time to mature. There's definitely some lack of education and home training that stunted his growth, I guess me being from Brooklyn and knowing what its like to grow up in this crazy environment, you tend to root for the guy everyone is against cause you can somewhat relate to what he's been thru. I mean I remember when he lost his father, I lost my father around the same time, and to see the lack of sympathy from the fans as he was still being blamed for the Knicks ineptitude was disappointing to me. I know its a business, but these are human beings who have to live their personal lives in public, I would just appreciate better tact especially for someone who has never committed any crimes or violated any rules or laws of the NBA in 13 years. In a day and age where athletes cheat and get away with it, sometimes treated like heroes, I would just like to see this young man get a break for a change. Even though he's saying the rigth things people are killing him as if they are perfect. Sure he could regress back to the old Steph as we all sometimes regress back to our old selves, but people treat him like the punching bag they use to get out frustrations they may have with their own lives. I know that's taking it a step far but I'm just trying to make a point here. The guy comes to practice (practice, what's practice? remember Iverson's interview), he always tries on the court and has always seemed dedicated to his craft. Rarely do you ever hear those things mentioned about Steph, how when it comes to honing his craft he's a true professional. not saying he hasn't made his share of mistakes in that area either, but for the most part he's been a professional on the court. I just would like to see both sides of the story told more often than it is.
No, no no. I was there. The fans gave him a standing O when he came back from his father's passing away.
Steph got enough chances to be the leader on the team. I was also there on Wednesday night, and i saw that no player, nor coach, nor trainer was even talking to Steph. There's a reason for that, and it's probably NOT because he has the cooties. Yea, i said cooties!
Steph was also getting a Max Contract. With great money, comes great responsibility, and he just didn't live up to it. He had his chances, he's been here for a long time.
Last but not least, you're missing the big point! Steph will not be in the future of this team, and his contract is untradeable. You have to take that into consideration. Why would the Knicks want to develop Steph with this team?? He's not part of their future, he has an expiring contract! End of story.
Annnnd....I think that's great for Steph! He needs a fresh start as much as the Knicks do. Steph will get another chance somewhere else, and he could thrive in that system (see: Artest, Ron). Granted Ron Ron hasn't done much yet, but the point is, new scenery can go a long way for a player who had a bad relationship with his fans.
It's okay for both parties to move on. It's a good thing for everyone.
(BTW, Steph DID threaten Isiah for benching him by saying he has secrets that he will spill. That's not cool at all. Snitches get stitches)
www.breakindownthegame.com
NYC I hear you but at the end of the day this is a business. If you are not producing at your job you get fired. Steph has not produced wins, so he is essentially being fired. What I don't like is the public humilation they are putting him through. Maybe he deserves it for what he did to other people but two wrongs don't make a right.