Knicks fire Mike D'Antoni

[frankcastle]

Too bad. Think he is a good basketball mind and gets a lot out of players.

Too bad he and Melo couldn't coexist.

If I were the Knicks I would have traded him before the deadline. The team played quite nicely without him and maybe they could find a guy that can create his own shot without killing the team chemistry.

Not to mention the Knicks have some good stars (Chandler, Amare, Baron), some decent role players (Fields, Novak, Schumpert, JR Smith) and a X factor in Lin.

Take Anothny out and this is still a very good roster from top to bottom. I'd take a scoring option plus some draft picks...... maybe a vet on the last year of a contract to create cap space. Not sure exactly how the salary thing works so Anthony's price tag probably makes things tricky.

He took a few bad shots agains tthe Bulls on Monday and missed a few easy ones.

But I guess that's the way sports go. The coach goes before the star.

 

[Ballers83]

I agree that it sucks when the star player and the coach don't get along... the coach is ALWAYS canned (i.e.. Sloan in Utah with Deron). That gives the star players too much power IMO.

I've never been a huge fan of D'Antoni... I think a good coach should create a system that fits the talent that he has on the team. D'Antoni has one system: the run and gun offence and that system only works with the right pieces (Elite pass first point guard, good 3 pt shooters to create spacing, and big athletic 4/5 that can finish at the rim). Look at how bad D'Antoni's offence was BEFORE he had Lin in NY. NYK was ranked I think 25th in points per possession this year before Lin came in.

Pop is the perfect example of a good coach. Understanding your players strengths and weaknesses and designing a system that will enhance your players strengths and hide their weaknesses.

 

[frankcastle]

I see your point about the run and gun approach.

But Pop has his style too, which is a half court offense that goes throug the post (Duncan) tempered with a few guys who can push the fast break (Manu)

 

[MojoRisin']

From what I hear, he quit, wasnt fired. For what thats worth. Probably quit/retired before he got fired

 

[Dawgger]

From what I hear, he quit, wasnt fired. For what thats worth. Probably quit/retired before he got fired

I think he agreed to quit. That was what I took from the press conference and the post press conference comments.

 

[Bargnani_]

I think he agreed to quit. That was what I took from the press conference and the post press conference comments.

I have to agree with Dawgger . A classy D'Antoni may have did what was best for the organization . A lot was paid for Carmelo and with Melo playing a power game the result was the organization wasn't getting the best out of their investment . Therefore D'Antoni may have wanted to elimanate the distraction the Melo and D'Antoni power struggle was creating .

 

[frankcastle]

Step down vs fired..... pretty darn close. Mike really had no choice it was either step down or be fired.

He won't be out of work for long.