My one and only knock on D'Antoni is that for being such an offensive guru, his offense is incredibly stagnant and predictable. It's either a pick 'n' roll play, an iso where every other player just spreads the court and gets out of the way, or a 3-bomb.

The common theme players say upon leaving a D'Antoni team? "I can finally show off more of my game, and [post up, etc.]"

If and when D'Antoni is let go, I'm hoping Scott Skiles or Rick Adelman are on the market.

knicks1248 wrote:

fishmike wrote:

eViL wrote:

loweyecue wrote:But, but... never plays any rookies and doesn't develop players.

Stereotyping, there's a reason I hate it.

right. he doesn't play rookies. he doesn't develop players. he doesn't want his guys playing defense. all he wants is threes. he hates bigs. hahaha.

I'm not the biggest MDA fan, but your spot on. The crap people regurgitate over and over is old tired and not accurate.

People argue those points cuase thats the way it looks, thats what players say about MDA after they depart. MDA has made some adjustments in his philosophy base on his roster this season. You can't argue against these points when almost all of MDA's teams have led the league in 3's attemped and made, and the knicks were a horrible defensive team( although he didn't have the players) and frankly, the suns weren't that much better.

I personally thought TD and hill weren't ready, last season, and gallo was (who essentially played his rookie season last year) so i never agreed wih the " he doesn't play rookies" theory.

MDA has a rep of being an offensive guru, JVG has a rep of being a very good defensive coach, you are who you are until proven different.

this is exactly my point. Thats NOT what it looks like, unless Larry Brown, Wilkins, Isiah and Chaney were equally inept defensive coaches. People say that stuff cause its easier than actually watching the games or doing some research.

Just like when people said the Suns played defense under Gentry. Funny, because they had a LOWER opponents FG% when MDA was there.

MDA has a lot to prove this year IMO. This is a young team but one that I believe can win games, and should play .500 (I picked them to win 45).

But he DOES push defense and he HAS developed our young players. To say otherwise just isnt true. The evidence is right there.

Ira wrote:Nice video. Brains are highly underrated in professional sports and Fields is living proof.

Brains are underrated, but Fields is also a pretty good athlete...he is no Bill Bradley, athletic-wise.

Given what I know of his work ethic, his intelligence and the athletic talent he possesses, the guy should be a consistent starter in this league.

kam77 wrote:Landry Fields -- you got a lot to live up to now. Try not to have a bad game, commit silly turnovers or hit the rookie wall.

Or we'll turn on you like snickerdoodle.

People are waiting to pounce on him as I write. He has been amazingly consistent so far, starting from his first game in SL, and he has not given critics much ammunition to use.

He is doing exactly the things he said he was trying to do at the Portsmith(spelling?)-Camp prior to the draft, playing smart ball and doing the little things that will make him valuable to a team and help it win.

Can't say that he has shown lottery talent yet, but late teens/low twenties is a realistic evaluation of his talent at this point, and if he evolves as a player I might eventually consider him a late lottery talent.

CrushAlot wrote:

Nalod wrote:Maybe said, Hey! Lets play TD? Walsh says yeah, thats a good idea!

Then says, Hey Donnie, why don't you come on the road and check it out?

Donnie says, Splendid!!!!!! We'll have dinner, talk about things and make fun of Isiah!

Ha, I'd like to meet his taylor!

Donnie: Hey you doing the werewolves of London?

dude, you getting "Kahned" again?

Donnie, It will be Splendid indeed!!!!! Where going on a road trip!!!

Walsh went on the trip to evaluate players and the coaching staff. D'Antoni was on the closest thing to a hot seat that he has been on with Walsh. I believe it was reported that he was considering having D'Antoni hire a defensive assistant. You can poo poo it but it happened and that was when Toney got minutes.

There are no "Bad" rookies,

Just "Bad" Coaches?

Nalod wrote:Maybe said, Hey! Lets play TD? Walsh says yeah, thats a good idea!

Then says, Hey Donnie, why don't you come on the road and check it out?

Donnie says, Splendid!!!!!! We'll have dinner, talk about things and make fun of Isiah!

Ha, I'd like to meet his taylor!

Donnie: Hey you doing the werewolves of London?

dude, you getting "Kahned" again?

Donnie, It will be Splendid indeed!!!!! Where going on a road trip!!!

Or......

Donnie: Hey, Mike, I've got a problem here and maybe you can help me?

Sure Donnie, Wsup?

Donnie: IM a man that doen't embarass easy, but when I don't it makes me feel uncomfortable, and I don't like feeling uncomfortable? C'peesh?

Gulp!

Donnie: so we thinking maybe you need some help in some areas?

We have 8 assistant coaches!

DOnnie: Im thinking maybe is somtingthing happened to one of them, say an unfortunate circumstance happen to be"FALL" one of them, perhaps we'd have to bring in someone of a more Defensive nature?

They are careful guys, they tie their laces, drive new cars with good tires Im......

Donnie: Don't be cute with me Mike, You know what im saying!

Gulp!

Donnie: Im glad we see eye to eye. Listen, The kid, Tony Douglas, I like him, so maybe you can see that he get some.....

Kid is not ready, hes raw, fast, but he is not...

Donnie: Do I look like IM asking? Look at me, Do you think this is some kind of favor I request of you?

Uh, no Donnie.

Donnie: thats good mike, Im glad we are communicating better. Hey, Listen, I'm going along on this trip, you know keep an eye on things.....and

Its gonna seem like your evaluating me and my coaches?

Donnie: Naw, wifes driving me freaking Crazy and im you know, I need some rest. Taking the "TRUCK" if you know what I mean? Interns are traveling on this one. You, take it easy. You know, be careful. Stay off Ladders! HA HA HA HA

LOL (GULP!)

Paladin55 wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:It would be nice if Randolph was aware of his positioning on the court. Fields uses almost every opportunity to get close to the hoop on cuts or using his dribble. Randolph and Gallo have the same skills and are 4 inches taller. They needs to move without the ball to spots where they can use their talent to be more effective. Both Gallo and Randolph seem to be very far from the basket an awful lot--while Fields--who does take his number of 3's still seems to be at the hoop most of the time.

Fields is much better than Gallo cutting to the basket, and understands that if you are camped out on the perimeter, a few small steps moving away from a doubleteam your man is participating in, or inching toward, either gets you free for a shot or frees you teammate of the doubleteam when your man has to come out to cover you.

Fields just has great basketball instincts. He really grasps how to create space and get open for easy looks and he makes things better for his teammates. On some level you can teach some of this, but I think Fields just has that extra natural feel for the game that you just can't teach.

martin wrote:

knicks1248 wrote:

fishmike wrote:

eViL wrote:

loweyecue wrote:But, but... never plays any rookies and doesn't develop players.

Stereotyping, there's a reason I hate it.

right. he doesn't play rookies. he doesn't develop players. he doesn't want his guys playing defense. all he wants is threes. he hates bigs. hahaha.

I'm not the biggest MDA fan, but your spot on. The crap people regurgitate over and over is old tired and not accurate.

People argue those points cuase thats the way it looks, thats what players say about MDA after they depart. MDA has made some adjustments in his philosophy base on his roster this season. You can't argue against these points when almost all of MDA's teams have led the league in 3's attemped and made, and the knicks were a horrible defensive team( although he didn't have the players) and frankly, the suns weren't that much better.

I personally thought TD and hill weren't ready, last season, and gallo was (who essentially played his rookie season last year) so i never agreed wih the " he doesn't play rookies" theory.

MDA has a rep of being an offensive guru, JVG has a rep of being a very good defensive coach, you are who you are until proven different.

kinda shows my you haven't really tried looking at what PHO was doing, cause that statement is so far off it's not funny.

Doing as far as what...They said he wasn't stressing defense then, so what am i missing

BRIGGS wrote:It would be nice if Randolph was aware of his positioning on the court. Fields uses almost every opportunity to get close to the hoop on cuts or using his dribble. Randolph and Gallo have the same skills and are 4 inches taller. They needs to move without the ball to spots where they can use their talent to be more effective. Both Gallo and Randolph seem to be very far from the basket an awful lot--while Fields--who does take his number of 3's still seems to be at the hoop most of the time.

Interesting point. Moving without the ball was one of the things that made the Holzman teams so good. Another player who was accomplished in moving without the ball was Kiki Vandeweghe. He was with the Knicks toward the end of his career. Once, we were playing the Pistons when we had Kiki at small forward and the Pistons had Rodman. Watching Kiki moving without the ball and Rodman shadowing him was a trip.

I don't know how good Fields is going to be and whether he should have been in the lottery. But he's already proved himself to be an effective nba player which is quite something for a rookie 2nd rounder who some 'experts' felt was a reach where we picked him.

CrushAlot wrote:

martin wrote:

knicks1248 wrote:

martin wrote:

knicks1248 wrote:

fishmike wrote:

eViL wrote:

loweyecue wrote:But, but... never plays any rookies and doesn't develop players.

Stereotyping, there's a reason I hate it.

right. he doesn't play rookies. he doesn't develop players. he doesn't want his guys playing defense. all he wants is threes. he hates bigs. hahaha.

I'm not the biggest MDA fan, but your spot on. The crap people regurgitate over and over is old tired and not accurate.

People argue those points cuase thats the way it looks, thats what players say about MDA after they depart. MDA has made some adjustments in his philosophy base on his roster this season. You can't argue against these points when almost all of MDA's teams have led the league in 3's attemped and made, and the knicks were a horrible defensive team( although he didn't have the players) and frankly, the suns weren't that much better.

I personally thought TD and hill weren't ready, last season, and gallo was (who essentially played his rookie season last year) so i never agreed wih the " he doesn't play rookies" theory.

MDA has a rep of being an offensive guru, JVG has a rep of being a very good defensive coach, you are who you are until proven different.

kinda shows my you haven't really tried looking at what PHO was doing, cause that statement is so far off it's not funny.

Doing as far as what...They said he wasn't stressing defense then, so what am i missing

go look up the numbers.

I am not sure about the numbers you are talking about. Weren't the Suns ranked 25th in defense in 08? That was for a 55 win team.

you didn't interpret the numbers correctly. They were 25th in points per game but that does not take into account pace.

In fact, in points per shot, they just beat out Boston and were just behind San Antonio to rank 3rd in the league that year. Ahead of the likes of LA too.