Already hack writing about replacing MDA.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/knicks/2011/08/24/2011-08-24_knicks_ready_to_add_former_hawks_head_coach_mike_woodson_as_defensive_coach_on_m.html

The Knicks are moving closer to hiring former Hawks head coach Mike Woodson as an assistant coach, which will fuel speculation that Woodson may one day succeed Mike D’Antoni as the team’s head coach.

Although Woodson’s last Atlanta team was criticized for its failure to make defensive adjustments when getting bombed by Orlando in the 2010 playoffs, the former first-round pick of the Knicks will join D’Antoni’s staff as a defensive coach.

The Daily News first reported in May that D’Antoni, who has resisted bringing in an outsider to his coaching staff, would be forced to hire a defensive coach because of the Knicks’ failures at that end during his first three seasons in New York.

In the past few days, Woodson had told two confidantes that he expects to join the Knicks. The move might become official next week, according to sources, when Garden and team executives return from vacation. Woodson had what he called a good meeting with D’Antoni earlier this month, but he had people above D’Antoni in his corner from the start.

Woodson’s hiring was recommended by Isiah Thomas, a long-time friend and former teammate who continues to serve as Garden chairman Jim Dolan‘s top unpaid consultant.

Woodson could be in line to move to the head coaching position in the future. D’Antoni has only one year remaining on his contract, as his requests for an extension in this off-season have been rejected by Dolan.

Woodson’s alliance with Thomas goes back more than 30 years, when he helped Hall of Fame coach Bob Knight recruit Thomas to Indiana. Additionally, Woodson is also a former teammate of interim GM Glen Grunwald. Although there has been speculation that the Knicks are looking for a permanent, GM Grunwald is signed through the 2011-12 season. Meanwhile. the team still has made no move to replace Donnie Walsh, who was forced out as team president in a contract dispute with Dolan in June.

loweyecue wrote:I have no issues with us getting a defensive assistant. Or even MDA being replaced if this season is a bust. I just get irritated when the snake is mentioned. Isiah did enough damage to us already.

Frank only bringing Isiah into article just to sell it some more.

CrushAlot wrote:I am not sure that this is going to workout well for anyone. I think if you hire D'Antoni you are all in. All of the negatives that go along with a D'Antoni coached team were known when he was hired. I don't see anyway that he embraces a defensive assistant or changes his preperation or practices unless he is forced to. Also, why is Woodson signing on to work with a staff that has a one year contract. I want the Knicks to emphasize defense. I want a different head coach. However, in this situation I think they need to fish or cut bait. I think there is a very good chance that Woodson's presence creates a power struggle and a rift in the locker room. If you are an ssol team own it and be it. I think it is a faulty style and I think the wrong coach is in place but he hasn't changed who he is. In fact I don't think he should ever be a head coach again. However, expecting him to change scouting, time alotted for practice, game day shoot arounds, what he emphasizes in practices etc., all of the things a defensive minded coach would do differently is unrealistic and a bit unreasonable. I think D'Antoni has enough of a resume to justify a firing or extension in NY. I see this move as similar to Isiah firing Dick Helm and leaving Lenny Wilkens with all Isiah guys on his staff.

you are more negative than this economy. Only, you know, more so.

You and nix should get in a room so the rest of us can see how negative and positive come together and explode.

martin wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:I am not sure that this is going to workout well for anyone. I think if you hire D'Antoni you are all in. All of the negatives that go along with a D'Antoni coached team were known when he was hired. I don't see anyway that he embraces a defensive assistant or changes his preperation or practices unless he is forced to. Also, why is Woodson signing on to work with a staff that has a one year contract. I want the Knicks to emphasize defense. I want a different head coach. However, in this situation I think they need to fish or cut bait. I think there is a very good chance that Woodson's presence creates a power struggle and a rift in the locker room. If you are an ssol team own it and be it. I think it is a faulty style and I think the wrong coach is in place but he hasn't changed who he is. In fact I don't think he should ever be a head coach again. However, expecting him to change scouting, time alotted for practice, game day shoot arounds, what he emphasizes in practices etc., all of the things a defensive minded coach would do differently is unrealistic and a bit unreasonable. I think D'Antoni has enough of a resume to justify a firing or extension in NY. I see this move as similar to Isiah firing Dick Helm and leaving Lenny Wilkens with all Isiah guys on his staff.

you are more negative than this economy. Only, you know, more so.

You and nix should get in a room so the rest of us can see how negative and positive come together and explode.

This is an EPIC battle between Me and CrushAlot!!!

Here's one for you Crush, since you have a problem with facts, bite on this. For 3.5 years D'Antoni had a Defensive assistant coach. It was Marc Iavaroni. During his stint the team improved on D to the upper half of the league on D. Remember that during those years in PHX they didn't always have enough size to be a serious defensive team. When they finally added Shaq he was already on the decline. Technically Mike has had a defensive assistant for 6 years. They pick on him cuz the team has stunk on D, but really it's not cuz they didn't have an assistant focusing on it. It's about the make up of the team and having the team stay together long enough to really get the defensive chemistry working.

I sat down to read the book, but I made sure to read the section in the beginning that identifies the Suns' players, coaches, and staff. Here's what McCallum wrote about Iavaroni (emphasis mine):

MARC IAVARONI (I-VA-RO-NEE) - [Head Coach Mike] D'Antoni's lead assistant; handles defensive strategy; won one NBA title as a player; nobody works harder on film study but has a sense of humor.

Marc Iavaroni - Obviously has history with D’Antoni in Phoenix, helping lead the Suns into the top half of the NBA in defensive rating.

D’Antoni is expected to add a defensive specialist to the staff, at the behest of the front office. D’Antoni called it "an option we will look at." It would not be a new concept. In Phoenix, Marc Iavaroni served as D’Antoni’s defensive coach for three and a half seasons.

After Iavaroni left, Mike hired Jay Humphries as the new defensive assistant and as we know in NY he has had his brother doing it. I still maintain that it has more to do with the make up of the roster than simply defensive schemes or not enough work on D. Defense for this team begins with making sure we have enough players willing and capable of defending. This process has been hampered by trades over the years, but now we can focus on it and it's begun already with Iman being added and maybe Jorts can give some backup help. Still this team needs a legit defensive C. We all know that means a Dalembert or Pryzbilla type.

Moonangie wrote:Players must commit to defense because they see it as the winning way (unless they skip watching the playoffs once they are out). I was very impressed with the Knicks' defensive intensity in the Boston series, until CB got hurt and the others tired out (i.e., threw in the towel). Defensive intensity springs from leadership among the top players, and commitment from them. It has MUCH less to do with the coach. I think MDA has done a good job building a high scoring team. He needs to keep them focused on that end while Woodson (or whomever) helps improve their consistency on D. But to be a contending team, the leaders (read: Stat and Melo) have to demonstrate by their example how it gets done.

"I came from a team where everybody's competing and trying to do the stuff that coach is saying. We're just totally changing our rotations, changing our stuff that we set before the game. We're not playing hard enough ... The positive thing is? It can't be worse."
- Marcin Gortat on the Suns defense "It's just a little bit frustrating when you come in the locker room and people are talking about the offense," Gortat began. "That's not the way you're going to win NBA games. I don't know if it's just me, or maybe I'm just different, but I came from a team where everybody's competing and trying to do the stuff that coach is saying. We're just totally changing our rotations, changing our stuff that we set before the game. We're not playing hard enough and I've just got to tell you, there's a lot, a lot of work in front of us. The positive thing is? It can't be worse."

Gentry said the Suns are working hard in practice, but for whatever reason that hard work isn't translating into that effort being there in game situations. But we'll stick with Gortat, as he seemed to give the most honest and straightforward assessment of the team's defensive struggles.

"I just think we have to be at the gym every day for three hours," Gortat continued. "Learn the rotations, learn everything from the beginning. I mean, there are so many things we're doing bad, I just can't find an explanation. I'm trying to get some rebounds and stops, but unfortunately there's not too many opportunities for me to rebound because the team is scoring 120-something points.

"It's just frustrating; frustrating as hell. I'm not going to lie."

Gortat played in Orlando the last four seasons, on a Magic team that was elite for the last three. He knows what it takes to reach that level, and it's been quite an adjustment for him coming to a team that's near the bottom of the league defensively.

"It's kind of a reality check for me, being on a team who is winning then all of a sudden coming to a team which is losing," Gortat said. "I mean, we are the worst defensive team in the league. I don't know; we've just got to come tomorrow as early as possible and just put in work -- three hours at least."

http://www.aolnews.com/2010/12/30/marcin-gortat-rips-suns-defense-after-disappointing-loss-to-sixe/