ChuckBuck wrote:fishmike wrote:ChuckBuck wrote:fishmike wrote:ChuckBuck wrote:Figured it had to be one of the vets pushing MDA to play him...MDA is stubborn as a mule (See Toney Douglas).
its that same stubborness that is the reason players love him. Why Baron, Chandler, JJ and Amare have all publicly stated it was a big factor in them coming.Players are allowed to work through slumps and nagging injuries. Players dont have to look over their shoulder if they have a bad stretch. They can just focus on fixing their game or eventually sit when its just not working. It can be frustrating for fans but it builds chemistry on the team. As a guy who's played a lot of team sports I know I would appreciate that
That stubborness is a Double-edged sword. Without dumb luck (Baron's infection and Jorts out 6 weeks), Lin's not called up from D league, D'Antoni stubbornly sticks to Shump and TD at PG and Melo at Point forward, Knicks lose to the Nets, and D'Antoni is probably fired for losing to the ****y Russian(no offense to anyone).
your 100% right. But is that a knock on MDA? Its what works for him. If Houston's floater doesnt drop JVG is surely fired. One shot. A lucky bounce? Whats the difference? Thats just sports. Every team that wins title has some luck involved unless you have Michael Jordan in your prime. Hell... even Shaq, Kobe and Duncan might not have titles if Robert Horry doesnt drill some insane 3s.That being said as Nalod mentioned MDA has this team playing their asses off and its a new season right now. Just as using Melo at point forward was a bad idea that just didnt work and thats on MDA, listening to Melo to play Lin was simply good coaching.
Do the players play hard? On both sides of the ball? Is this a system that can win? I would yes, so why there is talk about the coach right now is beyond me. Some just like to hate
Not hating, I give credit where credit is due. D'Antoni nowhas made the right adjustments, substitutions, game plans etc. Can't knock him there. He finally got his PG(although it took him 23 games), and Knicks are now flourishing and playing balls to the wall. Like I said earlier, is he a great coach, HELLS NO. Is he a good one, yes, an offensive genius perhaps. But to excuse the other 3 and half years like it never happened after 7 games is kinda ridiculous.
we were rebuilding for most of his time here so its tough to judge.
I dont excuse him for anything.
Ive been saying since Chaney was coach that he wasnt the problem, it was the player, and I have stuck to that for as long as I have been posting.
All I ask is he gets the same blame/credit ratio. If everything that was wrong with the team this year was MDA's poor management then he gets the equal credit for fixing everything.
Or
We were losing not because of poor coaching but because of a flawed roster. Now we have a PG and the team is much improved.
Its my opinion that MDA has done whats been asked of him here. Now is the big test, and we talked about it all offseason, that this was the year he's got talent and the Knicks need results. So far those results have been mixed, but certainly the direction is a positive one.
What good now is MDA has the tools to do have an impact as a coach, and liability or not that his what this coach is. Give him a high IQ PG and the dude produces wins. Lots of em. Including in the post season
"winning is more fun... then fun is fun" -Thibs