Post by jailblazer2352 on May 10, 2008 22:53:21 GMT -5
Mike D'Antoni: Offensive genius, innovator, reminded the NBA that the fast break still exists.
New York Knicks: Fat, slobby, a disgrace to basketball, a real life version of "Supersize Me."
Mike D'Antoni is an elite NBA coach and one of the most important minds in the game today. By bringing the fast-break back to the NBA, he breathed some much needed life into the post-Jordan era. He's also responsible, along with Gregg Popovich, for spearheading the international movement, effectively bursting open a whole new horizon of professional basketball. So how could such a unique coach fall into the lap of the worst franchise in sports? As Cuba Gooding Jr. would shout "THEY SHOWED HIM THE MONEY!" But is money really worth it in such a dire situation? The Bulls, a team that's a year removed from three consecutive playoff appearances, were prepared to offer a similar salary. This decision should have been a no-brainer. The young, potentially exciting, fast-break capable Bulls or the overpaid, overweight, can't even make it through a suicide Knicks. When an NBA team goes out for a meal, they typically find a unique fine dining type place and dig into a steak or a scallop. The Knicks just hit up as many burger joints as possible before daybreak. Fans wonder why they have no energy to play defense or drive to the hoop. While no one can blame D'Antoni for fleeing a sinking ship in Phoenix, the decision to go to New York may jack up his bank account, but in the same instance, it could steal his passion for basketball.
Like any great coach, D'Antoni has his flaws. It's funny how every single one of those flaws lines up to continue an ongoing disaster with the Knicks. Phoenix doesn't close out on defense. D'Antoni never made it a priority. It's common knowledge among NBA circles that any D'Antoni coached team commits about 30 % of practice time to defense. The Knicks make Phoenix look like the '85 Bears. D'Antoni is non-confrontational. Unfortuantely, the best way to approach fixing the Knicks is also the best way to approach alcoholism. "My name is Zach Randolph, I'm out of shape, undisciplined, and I don't play defense." A confession would be a monumental first step. Just like an alcoholic needs a mouthy Oprah-like influence in their ear, the Knicks need a relentless, Bill Parcells-like influence in theirs. Avery Johnson, the other candidate, if D'Antoni had declined, is this influence. Somehow, the "Little General" got Dallas to play defense. He would've been a respectable choice to shape up the Knicks. Johnson also comes from a similar background as many of the troubled Knicks. D'Antoni is Italian. An Italian getting hired by the Knicks is the equivalent of KFC making spaghetti a priority. The laid-back International approach is un-fit not only for the Knicks, but the city of New York as a whole. New York is a confrontational town. This isn't Europe. The Knicks would have been better suited using the old school approach towards shaping up an American sports team: hire a coach who degrades, berates, and offends his players into getting their act together.
Transforming the Knicks into a contender is an unforgiving task, but nothing is impossible. Mike D'Antoni did re-invent the lovable fast-break identity and he might just be capable of fixing the Knicks. In order to do so, Stephon Marbury has to become what Steve Nash always was in Phoenix: a coach on the court who demands the most out of his teamates. The best way to re-build is to clean house. Get rid of the Zach Randolphs and the Eddy Currys and all of the money they steal. Believe it or not, the Knicks have a few keepers. Guys like Starbury, David Lee, and Nate Robinson are productive players who could thrive in the right scenario. By cleaning house, the Knicks are acknowledging that there situation is not a quick-fix. This is a necessity because it will allow them to gather draft picks that they could use to bring the franchise back to respectability. Spike Lee might even start trash-talking again. Every cloud has a silver lining. In the Knicks case, those clouds are massive, tornado-bearing monsters. I wish Mike D'Antoni the best of luck. The only guarentee: he'll have no trouble buying a house.
New York Knicks: Fat, slobby, a disgrace to basketball, a real life version of "Supersize Me."
Mike D'Antoni is an elite NBA coach and one of the most important minds in the game today. By bringing the fast-break back to the NBA, he breathed some much needed life into the post-Jordan era. He's also responsible, along with Gregg Popovich, for spearheading the international movement, effectively bursting open a whole new horizon of professional basketball. So how could such a unique coach fall into the lap of the worst franchise in sports? As Cuba Gooding Jr. would shout "THEY SHOWED HIM THE MONEY!" But is money really worth it in such a dire situation? The Bulls, a team that's a year removed from three consecutive playoff appearances, were prepared to offer a similar salary. This decision should have been a no-brainer. The young, potentially exciting, fast-break capable Bulls or the overpaid, overweight, can't even make it through a suicide Knicks. When an NBA team goes out for a meal, they typically find a unique fine dining type place and dig into a steak or a scallop. The Knicks just hit up as many burger joints as possible before daybreak. Fans wonder why they have no energy to play defense or drive to the hoop. While no one can blame D'Antoni for fleeing a sinking ship in Phoenix, the decision to go to New York may jack up his bank account, but in the same instance, it could steal his passion for basketball.
Like any great coach, D'Antoni has his flaws. It's funny how every single one of those flaws lines up to continue an ongoing disaster with the Knicks. Phoenix doesn't close out on defense. D'Antoni never made it a priority. It's common knowledge among NBA circles that any D'Antoni coached team commits about 30 % of practice time to defense. The Knicks make Phoenix look like the '85 Bears. D'Antoni is non-confrontational. Unfortuantely, the best way to approach fixing the Knicks is also the best way to approach alcoholism. "My name is Zach Randolph, I'm out of shape, undisciplined, and I don't play defense." A confession would be a monumental first step. Just like an alcoholic needs a mouthy Oprah-like influence in their ear, the Knicks need a relentless, Bill Parcells-like influence in theirs. Avery Johnson, the other candidate, if D'Antoni had declined, is this influence. Somehow, the "Little General" got Dallas to play defense. He would've been a respectable choice to shape up the Knicks. Johnson also comes from a similar background as many of the troubled Knicks. D'Antoni is Italian. An Italian getting hired by the Knicks is the equivalent of KFC making spaghetti a priority. The laid-back International approach is un-fit not only for the Knicks, but the city of New York as a whole. New York is a confrontational town. This isn't Europe. The Knicks would have been better suited using the old school approach towards shaping up an American sports team: hire a coach who degrades, berates, and offends his players into getting their act together.
Transforming the Knicks into a contender is an unforgiving task, but nothing is impossible. Mike D'Antoni did re-invent the lovable fast-break identity and he might just be capable of fixing the Knicks. In order to do so, Stephon Marbury has to become what Steve Nash always was in Phoenix: a coach on the court who demands the most out of his teamates. The best way to re-build is to clean house. Get rid of the Zach Randolphs and the Eddy Currys and all of the money they steal. Believe it or not, the Knicks have a few keepers. Guys like Starbury, David Lee, and Nate Robinson are productive players who could thrive in the right scenario. By cleaning house, the Knicks are acknowledging that there situation is not a quick-fix. This is a necessity because it will allow them to gather draft picks that they could use to bring the franchise back to respectability. Spike Lee might even start trash-talking again. Every cloud has a silver lining. In the Knicks case, those clouds are massive, tornado-bearing monsters. I wish Mike D'Antoni the best of luck. The only guarentee: he'll have no trouble buying a house.