The confidence in this regime really should be on life support. We are much worse than last year which I don’t think any of us thought was possible. The rotations are constantly influx and there seems to be a power struggle daily.

I'm just wondering do we still believe these guys are putting the team where it needs to be?????

Donnie Walsh: Grade C

Walsh had a horrible offseason. David Lee should have been locked up for $9 million at 4/5 years period. He proved what he could do and now we may lose one of the better offensive forwards in the game. He is limited on defense, but in one offseason he has improved his jumper to nearly automatic and his passing skills are a tremendous asset.

Chris Duhon

How you handed this guy a two year contract at the full-mid level is just disgrace. He is a journeyman who is scared to attack the rim and has confidence problems like a high school girl.

Drafting: C +

Danillo is going to be fine he is going to be a great talent and should improve into a nice second banana, but we did really need someone to command the middle and provide a defensive presence.

Jordan Hill will be a nice garbage man, but passing on 2 future stud point guards when there we had a huge hole at the position was just brain dead. I will still never fully understand why Walsh saw the need to draft Douglas. He is a volume shooter that gives you defense. Aaron Affalo signed for nothing in Denver and could give you the exact same thing. You take the chance on Dejuan Blair it's not even someone that needs to be discussed.
Trades: B –

If we could have got Ty Lawson late in the first round last year, maybe it wasn’t the best move to trade Zach right away. I agree you need to get rid of the guy while you have the chance but the Tim Thomas/Mobley deal was fair. Getting a second round pick and trade exemption was the better deal. Then trading Thomas for Larry Hughes was just plain stupid, especially when he was playing well in the system.

Crawford I didn’t have a problem with even though he is playing well in the role he was born to play.

Mike: C

I really like the guy and I believe players like playing for him. But, his tenure here has proved to be rocky. The Marbury thing, the Nate thing, Larry Hughes, playing Bender, shifting rotations around constantly, it’s getting little childish. We are playing worse than we did last year and it really looks like he has lost the team.

Losing to the Nets and T Wolves is downright disgraceful. Especially when you get manhandled. I'm starting to get a little worried. Cold weather and constant pressure isn't something a lot of people enjoy. Nor is being run through the ringer in the paper everyday. So this ship better be righted fast otherwise we may never get it back.

I'm all for having a plan, and trying to build something instead of what's happened here under Dolan with Layden and Isiah.

But, I'm not sold on Donnie. He may be ok, but he's not great or he would have addressed some of the things you mentioned.

And while I liked Mike before he got here, after two years, I'm not sure he is the best coach.

Not because he doesn't coach defense, but because he 1. doesn't develop rookies with playing time and 2. he seems to have a problem relating to the players.

I don't see either of these two lasting beyond their current contracts, and I suspect their history will be they were here for the turn around, but not here to enjoy the fruits.

And I think those fruits are many years off yet.

but i see everyone on this forum is really focusing alot of it on duhon.

but that should be directed at MDA and walsh.

#1 for walsh not giving mda any other type of pg (unless you count toney douglas)
#2 for MDA not trying to coach any other type of offense that doesn't rely on the pg so heavily

djsunyc wrote:it's all about 2010...

Sez who?

djsunyc wrote:but i see everyone on this forum is really focusing alot of it on duhon.

Not me.

djsunyc wrote:
but that should be directed at MDA and walsh.

#1 for walsh not giving mda any other type of pg (unless you count toney douglas)

MDA doesn't want any other type of pg.

djsunyc wrote:#2 for MDA not trying to coach any other type of offense that doesn't rely on the pg so heavily

What would you suggest?

iSergio wrote:I still would replace Mike D'Antoni with someone like Scott Skiles or Stan Van Gundy. I think D'Antoni is too soft and way too friendly for New York. The laughing and jokes after blowout losses and allowing the media into the lockerroom and getting mic'ed every other game is such a turnoff to me as a fan. : /

As for Donnie Walsh, time will tell. Ask me after 2010.

Anyway, if they named me President of the Knicks right now, I would fire D'Antoni and hire Avery Johnson.

Right. The main thing is to fire D'Antoni. You could replace him with Herb Williams, and let Herb think he's gonna be head coach next year, then demote him back to assistant again. That might be fun.

franco12 wrote:

fishmike wrote:they were great a month ago. I guess they forgot what they knew last month.

Franco, how can you say he doesnt develop rookies with playing time? Are we playing old $$$ players while kids sit on the bench?

Everyone knows what the plan is around here

Are you for real? Jonathan Bender showed up mid season and he's played 212 minutes. Jordan Hill, 195.

I don't subscribe to the theory that you learn by watching. You learn and grow by doing.

Same for Toney Douglas. Why has Duhon gotten the consistent level of minutes all year?

He may well run the system, and maybe Toney can't, but what are we jeopardizing by putting Toney out on a regular basis? Our repeat of 33 wins? Duhon's feelings?

I mean, yea, I think I know the plan. But does that plan involve bringing Duhon back next season? I hope to hell not.

And last I checked Bender isnt in the rotation any more, and as I also recall he started out playing very well, hitting shots, blocking shots, etc.

Douglas is sitting in favor of Duhon and Nate. All 3 arent playing. MDA said Hill wasnt ready, and to be fair when he was out there he had no idea where he was on the court. He's getting better. Saying that MDA is riding vets while young guys sit (as has happened here in previous years) simply isnt true... at all.

djsunyc wrote:

BasketballJones wrote:What would you suggest?

changing the channel until october 2010.

What channel? Oh, you mean you think I actually watch these games?

Bender sucks. This guy had two good games. He should never get off the bench. He can't shoot, move or impact the game. I am not a huge Larry Hughes fan but he should be up before that kid.

Duhon I just can't stand. I realize he helps the offense flow, but he is such a liability out there. Douglas was outplaying him and then was benched.

Find a rotation and stick to it.

MS wrote:I'm actually very pissed from what I have been seeing. There is this notion that you earn your way back into the rotation. But if you are one of Mike's favorites you can be terrible for long stretches and get a pass.

Bender sucks. This guy had two good games. He should never get off the bench. He can't shoot, move or impact the game. I am not a huge Larry Hughes fan but he should be up before that kid.

Duhon I just can't stand. I realize he helps the offense flow, but he is such a liability out there. Douglas was outplaying him and then was benched.

Find a rotation and stick to it.