blkexec wrote:Playing under MDA can be horrible for a young player (ask Jordan Hill)

Chandler 18-20 points 6 rebs 4 asst
Gallo 18-20 points 8 rebs 5 asst
Randolph 12-14 points 8 rebs 2 blks

As for Felton I expect about 12 points 8 assts 4rebs.

It will be all about aggressiveness if Chandler and Gallo are passive I don't expect the KNicks to make much noise but if they are aggressive look for them to make the playoffs.

smackeddog wrote:

blkexec wrote:Playing under MDA can be horrible for a young player (ask Jordan Hill)

And why'll you're at it ask David Lee, Gallo, Chandler and Bill Walker. Jordan Hill wasn't ready last year and didn't impress the coach with his lack of effort and intensity. The thing with D'Antoni is if you're one of his guys and he likes you, he does a great job of coaching them to get better- if you're in his dog house, you aren't getting out. So as long as AR impresses him/ works hard, then he'll benefit from D'Antoni, who is capable of developing young players he likes, in my opinion

Speaking clearly from NY fans that do not know MDA's history.

Living in AZ, I've heard the rumblings and saw the writings on the walls.

MDA is known for NOT developing young NBA players, over the course of his career..

Hopefully he's changed since coming to NY, but I'm still seeing the same coach.

If David Lee wasn't the only option on the team, he wouldn't be the David Lee we know now.

knickstorrents wrote:I voted possible... you guys are all homers (hey I love the knicks but let's be realistic!!). Gallo I think has the best chance because of his mentality more than anything else. Being a star requires mental fortitude more than physical skill.

It is a bit silly. I was torn between possible and improbable but I voted possible. If you look at these players' histories and health issues, I don't think you can vote beyond "possible" here. They can still be nice role players who help their teams though.

blkexec wrote:To be honest....it's not the players I worry about.

It's MDA.

I believe we have the players to succeed.

The question is do we have the right coach?

This is my concern as well--that and the bench(but the bench can work its way out i believe) I'm scared of anyone going into the doghouse or my worst fear is if he had preconceived notions of players or was against a D walsh move. Just because a guy cant shoot a three doesnt mean he cant do many other things that help win games. I'm going to give him a fresh slate here--but in a very fair way--Mike D has to produce without excuse. A good coach should go VERY far with these pieces--this is a unique team--much better than people believe. There were a couple of disappointing moves to be honest--I mean we should have one of Derozan/Jennings and I think missing in Whiteside when he dropped and not signing Livingston as back up PG wouldve cheaply enhanced the team--I mean we could easily have those 3 players. But to get off my tangent---I hope Mike D just lets the guys go and holds them responsible for the D. I don't mind the up and down with bigger faster guys should be fun---but not 40 3's a game or taking guys out who should be in.

I've seen enough from Danilo Gallinari and in my opinion, I do not see a Star but a good role player/specialist. Same with Raymond Felton and Wilson Chandler. I've not seen enough from Anthony Randolph so I can't say.

BRIGGS wrote:
This is my concern as well--that and the bench(but the bench can work its way out i believe) I'm scared of anyone going into the doghouse or my worst fear is if he had preconceived notions of players or was against a D walsh move. Just because a guy cant shoot a three doesnt mean he cant do many other things that help win games. I'm going to give him a fresh slate here--but in a very fair way--Mike D has to produce without excuse. A good coach should go VERY far with these pieces--this is a unique team--much better than people believe. There were a couple of disappointing moves to be honest--I mean we should have one of Derozan/Jennings and I think missing in Whiteside when he dropped and not signing Livingston as back up PG wouldve cheaply enhanced the team--I mean we could easily have those 3 players. But to get off my tangent---I hope Mike D just lets the guys go and holds them responsible for the D. I don't mind the up and down with bigger faster guys should be fun---but not 40 3's a game or taking guys out who should be in.

I hope MDA produces too- I think in his defence, the last 2 seasons he essentially had no point guard (Duhon doesn't count), and the players were incapable of executing any play he drew up (really, go back and watch the team after a time out or at the end of a close game, it was beyond a joke). I guess if you're a coach in that situation, you're screwed. I also think he started mailing it in once he realised this, and was thinking ahead to the offseason- though there was that one stretch where I think he made the effort and we went on a winning streak- he did a pretty good job then.

I think there are a few misconceptions about MDA- the first being that he doesn't develop young players (nonsense- if you look at the players who have flourished under him, he's actually good at this, unless he takes a disliking to them, in which case he is quick to give up on them- I pray pray pray he doesn't do this with AR- thats my biggest fear going into this season, and if it happens we're screwed).

Also this year we have players who can actually, and seem to want to play defence- MDA will never coach great defence, but I think he can coach adequate defence, and with the players we have this year, I think they are much more willing to make the effort and capable of playing it.

Also I think when the players can't execute or don't grasp his system well, they just start chucking 3 point shots, thinking thats what they're meant to do- if you look at his track record he does play players who can't shoot 3's (Kurt Thomas, Jared Jeffries, etc)- I'm guessing you're worried that AR can't shoot 3s so might not get the playing time he deserves, but just keep telling yourself that Jared Jeffries got plenty of playing time, and that should be reassuring!

Its virtually amazing!!

Nalod wrote:The more I watch youtube and read all this, the better this teams gets. Thread by thread, forum by forum.

Its virtually amazing!!

Sometimes teams sneak up on you. Because of the Lebron hoopla there's a natural drop in confidence with what we put together but this is the most balanced high upside team we've had in a decade.

How many players have the size and skill of Gallo n AR? Matched with possibly the best offensive mind in the game, they have a great shot to explode this yr.