[Titan416]

Don't feel bad NYK fans. You can't get worse then the Raptors have been in recent memory.

[DangGaDa]

Interesting Article on D'Antoni and the Knicks

After denying for two days that Mike D'Antoni was the Knicks' top choice to replace Isiah Thomas, team president Donnie Walsh offered the head coaching job to the Phoenix Suns head coach.

Several NBA sources say that D'Antoni will accept the Knicks' four-year, $24 million offer. Walsh was not available for comment.

D'Antoni had also spoken to the Bulls in recent days but Chicago was not prepared to match the Knicks' offer. It is unclear why Walsh spent two days refuting reports that D'Antoni was his No. 1 target but then again Walsh also said that he wanted the Knicks to get back to being a top defensive team. D'Antoni is regarded as an innovative offensive coach who doesn't stress defense.

"I think it is a terrible match," said one rival head coach. "I don't get it."

Walsh had also interviewed Mark Jackson, Rick Carlisle and Avery Johnson. Carlisle is set to become Johnson's replacement in Dallas while sources close to Jackson and Johnson claim that Walsh had led them to believe that they were the leading candidates for the Knicks job.

The Suns gave D'Antoni permission to speak to Chicago and the Knicks after the Suns were eliminated in five games. D'Antoni had tremendous success in Phoenix with a roster that included Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire and Shawn Marion. However, he and the team struggled once Suns GM Steve Kerr traded Marion to Miami for Shaquille O'Neal.

O'Neal doesn't fit D'Antoni's style much in the same way Eddy Curry and Zach Randolph won't fit D'Antoni's uptempo style.

Link: RealGM: Wiretap Archives: Rival On D'Antoni: 'I Think It's A Terrible Match'

[HeroesNeverTap]

The Knicks have Jerome James, Zach, and Curry, and they don't shoot well from the outside; I can't see this working in the short-term.

On the other hand, Crawford, Lee, Balkman, and even Marbury might excel. Add in a high draft pick and things are looking up.

[Triangle Choke]

I have never been sold with D'Antoni as a coach. His style may help the Knicks initially, but they will never win a title with him running the squad. That interior defense will remain soft and they wont win anything just like it was in Phoenix....

[jdm_boy]

good for D'Antoni. He's a great coach, and deserves a coaching job anywhere in the NBA. it's just unfortunate that they didn't get passed the Spurs the other year when Horry body-checked Nash. If Suns passed the spurs that series, they would've went all the way.

[The Gem]

he went to NY because Walsh was committed to getting him the pieces he wanted. It is the reason teams always win championships.

The Spurs win because RC gets Pop who he wants. The Lakers win because Mitch gets who Phil wants and fits his system.

Kerr went against this in Phx and showed he wanted to build his way.

Walsh supported D'antoni. He won't be bought out, there is a reason the contract is only 4 years. He is here for the next 3 years as coach, and then when Walsh's contract expires D'Antoni will take over as dual role coach and president.

this is a step in the right direction, and unfortunately was the best of a terrible coaching crop since Larry Brown unfortunately wasn't an option. D'Antoni will get a real GM, which Larry Brown never had the chance to have. I would have much rather to have had Brown back, but this isn't a bad move, which is a first since getting lucky drafting a rotation player in david lee a couple years ago.

I love how that realgm article takes one person's quote and ignores another execs quote on why D'Antoni chose the Knicks. That site is terrible and laughable. THeir mock drafts have been consistantly laughable. THey had Speights going top 5 and still might. Check out Chad Ford's article on the hire.

Dolan is no longer micromanaging the org, and Walsh has given all of his coaches plenty of time to prove themselves. Most of the players will be shipped out, and the only one that is safe is Nate Robinson. Curry is most likely gone to a team taht needs some low post scoring and can protect his shitty defense (cavs). Randolph may stay since he is actually in great shape even if he doesn't look like it. His off-season work outs are insane, he is just naturally pudgey.

I have a feeling the lineup next year iwll look something like this though if they don't draft Kevin Love to replace Lee.

C-Jeffries
PF- Lee
SF- Chandler
SG- shit (Crawford unfortunately)
PG- shit (Marbury?)

Chandler has the potential to be a versatile SF which is essential for D'Antoni's system. Grant Hill was the player that killed their style since he isn't versatile. Chandler can both guard positions and both forward positions and is a pretty good shot-blocker. I think Marbury will play out the year then be signed for dirt cheap considering his ability to score the ball. Marbury is a great fit in the D'Antoni system, considering he and Barbosa are the same exact player. He also played for D'Antoni a couple of weeks b4 he got traded.

[sacalade]

NOW who the hell is gunna coach my SUNS!!!???

[Necrocide]

Before getting the job in Phoenix, Mike D'Antoni wanted to interview for the head coaching position at his alma mater, Marshall University. Marshall wouldn't even give him an interview, instead hiring Ron Jirsa and being awful for the last half decade. True story.

[Theprospect26]

You need the players for D'Antoni to run that system, and the Knicks don't have it. Marbury and Robinson could fit in, but that's about it.

I see them losing alot of 130-105 games next year.

[The Gem]

I think people are over-estimating how harsh NY media and fans will be. Not this year, but the year before the media and fans had extremely low expectations because of how bad we were in the Larry brown year. We were even worse this year, considering Isiah was desperately trying to win while Brown was trying to tank. D'antoni will get us to 30 wins this year, and possibly have us in the playoffs the following year.

The only reason there could be immense pressure on D'Antoni to win now, is if somehow by the touch of god we get Derrick Rose or if our pick magically turns into Carmelo (ew) or Marion.