Props goto Posting and Toasting (I'm not sure what forum he posts on, but he's the one who uploaded the video)




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Interesting to say the least, this style is going to be insane all year. One thing is for sure, we are going to have the most in shape team in the whole league (sans Eddy and Jerome.) There is no doubt that with all the time that Eddy has missed that there's no chance he's going to be able to play at all in this system, he was in bad shape to begin with, but now he's missed all the training.

[Edited by - nyk4ever on 10-04-2008 12:29 PM]

its a little sloppy but honestly it looks a lot better than we looked last year. It envokes energy, which is what our team needs. When we played our best with this team it was usually a fast paced game.. remember the classics we had vs. phoenix? we had some good games against phoenix because of this style... This might be surprisingly effective with this group

did i see Marbs trying to get some rest by laying down in the midcourt? lol

Please post the defensive scrimmages. I would like to see if the Knicks finally have learned how to defend the post and the three point line because from this video it looks like it got a lot worse as compared to last year.

Posted by Pharzeone:

Please post the defensive scrimmages. I would like to see if the Knicks finally have learned how to defend the post and the three point line because from this video it looks like it got a lot worse as compared to last year.

From what I saw the defense seemed to be aimed at preventing penetration and forcing more jump shots. Then they want to be in position to get rebounds and run. They want teams feeling like they can take jumpers, Guys were closing on jump shooters, so I don't know what you're talking about. There was no standing around on D. They played man D and everyone had their eyes on their man and the ball. You could see guys quickly side stepping and you could here them talking and sneakers squeaking.

In this system you want teams to take low % jump shots that can lead to rebounds and breaks. Keep the pace up and lure teams into thinking they should play fast. Then make them play faster than they're capable of playing. If you're used to playing that fast you should be able to score at a higher % than you're opponent. Then at the end of the game when you're opponent is gassed you should be in better shape to keep running at that same pace.

First impression is this is obviously a drill. This is not how you play a game wire to wire but there will be stretches of games for say 5, 6 minutes where you can play this way.

It serves it's purpose to introduce them to the new system.

The worry is that we just do not have the shooters. Nate and Marbury can indeed shoot a high percentage from deep and Zach can shoot a high percentage from mid-range and in, so we have a couple of players that can do this, just not enough.

So it's going to be sloppy at times but that's not the point as we all know MikeD is here to set up camp for the long haul and the players here today won't be the players here "tomorrow" if you will.

Unfortunately people still use youtube which destroys video quality for whatever reason so I could only really watch for about two minutes but it still gave a good look into the philosophy.

Those wondering about defense: Hey, Mike's system can't work without defense. I'm not talking about lock down grind it out defense I am talking about a high-energy deflection causing defense.

You can't run Mike's system if you don't deflect a ball or have a great outlet pass on a deep rebound. You can't run Mike's system well after a made bucket by the opposition. So there is defense involved it's just not the traditional defense.

This is one reason I'm very surprised we moved Balkman for he absolutely fits the ideal of deflection-to-fast-break-offense.

I would agree with Cosmic on MDA's defense. It's a misnomer that his PHX team didn't play D. They weren't a slow it down grind it out defensive team, but they looked to be distruptive and play the passing lanes, get deflections and steals. More importantly they made teams shoot the ball more rather than get more high % shots. His PHX teams had some of the highest point differentials in the league each yr. You can't do that without defense. The knicks will have to move their feet a lot which I already see they're doing.

This is also why MDA wanted Jared in there. Jared can move much better than Zach or Curry and that makes the defense much more effective. You've got to be able to help and recover. You also need someone with length and quickness to intimidate penetrators a little. While he's no great shotblocker, he'd get far more in that role than Either Curry, Zach or Lee. We'll also need some help shotblocking from Chan and maybe even P Jr. if he get's any time. Despite what we looked like defensively in the past, I think now we'll be much better without Curry playing as much and more minutes for Chan etc.

ZACH RANDOLPH clanked almost all of the jumpers he took in the video

Posted by Cartman718:

ZACH RANDOLPH clanked almost all of the jumpers he took in the video

Yeah, I noticed that as well. Randolph is not a turn around shooter from 18 feet out.

Posted by PresIke:

Was that Mardy with the baldy who was scoring and hitting jumpers?

He looked confident in that system, which is interesting, since the last time I think he did well was when he was given free reign at the end of the 2006 season. Let's not get carried away, but seems worth noting.

Also interesting to see Crawford and Q saying something to Zach, who did not seem to take it too well (he did that head tilted to the side thing and a grimace).

Wish there was more commentary, because I was wondering what that was all about when Marbury was on the floor (I'm guessing there was some kind of incident where he fell or something) and then the footage stops for a second, and then we cut to them saying that Q was mad about something, and then we see D'Antoni call everyone in together. What was that all about?

I know people have credited Q for being vocal, and I'm not saying it isn't a good thing, but sometimes people who do that can seem like they're posturing or it can seem contrived. I remember this one manager at a camp job who I saw do that all of the time, and many people just rolled their eyes.

The truth of the matter is 'these guys are being forced to earn every penny of their contract and if they cannot keep up, they will end up sitting and I don't think any of them want to be showed up like that and that's probably why a few of them are getting a little agitated'.

But a good workout always fixes things like that. No time to stop, so there will be no time to fight. It's about being in shape and these guys know it. Even suckbury is gonna be forced to play this pace and he knows it. He won't have time to think about anything and that's what get him into trouble. So far, I'm loving it.

This will be an interesting season. The fact that Mardy Collins and Nate did well makes wonder how well Marbury can do in this system. Especially since Marbury loves to play halfcourt more than push the rock. The second thing that I was thinking when watching the clip is where is Chris Duhon "The Million Dollar Free Agent"? The Knicks went out and got Duhon to be the starter but it looks like the backups might understand the system better than him.


Let me add that this will be a long season for Eddy Curry. Last year people blamed Zach for Curry failures. Who will be blamed this season when Curry looks like the second coming of Fat Albert or a life time member of the Bubba's Waffle House?