Woodson says his relationship with Anthony is “strong,” but resists the notion that he’s somehow a toady of management or of his star. This is where the Bobby Knight comes in. “There are a lot of things that come into play in coaching,” Woodson says. “It’s not just X’s and O’s. My responsibility is making sure these guys do what’s asked of them. Any guy in that locker room, Carmelo included, I’m going to show them the same love that I’m going to show anybody. In doing that, they got to understand that I’m the coach. They have to be open-minded to me pushing them. Because that’s what I do.”

Man To Man

One reason the Knicks players seem to like Woodson: He used to be one of them. To a man, almost every Knick brings up the fact that Woodson played for more than a decade in the league, that he understands what they’re going through. Shumpert, who may be closer to Woodson than anyone on the team, even bought a Woodson Houston Rockets jersey off eBay and tweeted a picture of himself wearing a Woodson Kansas City Kings jersey. Shumpert speaks of Woodson like he’s been waiting for him to be his coach for a long time. “Even before he was our head coach, we were real close,” Shumpert says. “He took to me right off, because he treated me like a man. I don’t like it when people treat me young. Ever since I was in the eighth grade, I’ve had an African-American head coach, but I’ve never had one who played in the league before. Coach Woodson knows what it takes to compete on this level. You just trust a man like that.”

- Wlll Leitch

Anyone who claims that Mike D'Antoni left any fingerprints on this team is delusional and misinformed. Mike Woodson has taken a roster that was composed of 13 new players just a month ago, and molded something that has New York buzzing with anticipation. Molded it in the disciplined image of Bobby Knight and Larry Brown, without the drama. How cool is that?

As Jason Kidd understands, Beating Miami by 20 was just a first step. Beat Philly a second time in two days and a strong message has been delivered.

Looking down the road, the smooth integration of Amare and Shump in January will be one of the great subplots in this highly entertaining reality show. But that can wait. Amare and Shump can both rehab without rushing. Rasheed is showing signs of being able to contribute ten effective minutes and Marcus Camby is almost ready to take a test drive. As it stands, the confident looks on the faces of James White and Chris Copeland hint they are also ready to rumble.

Stay tuned.

misterearl wrote:Anyone who claims that Mike D'Antoni left any fingerprints on this team is delusional and misinformed. Mike Woodson has taken a roster that was composed of 13 new players just a month ago, and molded something that has New York buzzing with anticipation. Molded it in the disciplined image of Bobby Knight and Larry Brown, without the drama. How cool is that?

As Jason Kidd understands, Beating Miami by 20 was just a first step. Beat Philly a second time in two days and a strong message has been delivered.

Looking down the road, the smooth integration of Amare and Shump in January will be one of the great subplots in this highly entertaining reality show. But that can wait. Amare and Shump can both rehab without rushing. Rasheed is showing signs of being able to contribute ten effective minutes and Marcus Camby is almost ready to take a test drive. As it stands, the confident looks on the faces of James White and Chris Copeland hint they are also ready to rumble.

Stay tuned.

Now Woody has the right mix of things. He's created a very good mix of concepts that is just right for the team he has. A little spread offense, PnR, open, 3's, Ball n Player movement, ISO and Post plays. Really great mix.

misterearl wrote:nixluva - for the fifty-eleventh time, Mike Woodson is NOT mixing in some of Mike D'Antoni's so-called stuff. As Mike Woodson had a three hour conversation with Bobby Knight just last week, his influence is much stronger. He is not cutting and pasting ANY of D'Antoni's system. None.

Simplicity was certainly not a D’Antoni hallmark. His system was so complex that either everybody bought in or there was madness. - Will Leitch

“I had dinner with (Knight) just this last week in New York,” Woodson told Will Leitch in his office after a recent practice. “We sat and chatted for about three hours. We talked basketball. What better advice to take?

There is absolutely no need to acknowledge D'Antoni for anything except a lack of discipline on offense and a lack of priority for the defense.

Mike D'Antoni, in the strategies and minds of Knicks coaches and players is long gone. D'Antoni has absolutely NOTHING to do with the success of this current Knicks team. D'Antoni did not coach Raymond Felton, Jason Kidd, Ronnie Brewer, Carmelo Anthony or Tyson Chandler to this level of focus and defensive pride.

One more thing, Mike Woodson was never nicknamed Iso-Joe. Take it from someone who lives in Atlanta. The offense was labelled that because the Hawks players were immature, self-centered and Joe Johnson was the number one ball hog. There were not many other offensive options that could be trusted. Josh Smith hoisted too many three's and refused to listen. Marvin Williams is a wasted first round selection. Al Horford was finding his voice and injured. Mike Bibby was the starting point guard. Jamal Crawford was Jamal Crawford.

There is a valid reason Mike Woodson prefers experience.

You seem to think that i'm looking to take something away from Woody by saying that he's mixed in some of MDA's stuff. He himself admitted that he was doing that and you seem to think you can just ignore that fact. It's not giving MDA any of the credit. It's Woody's offense and his team. Still you can't ignore that some of the plays are the same. Woody had time to really think about what he wanted the team to do and craft a plan that would work. So far it looks really good. This is a new team, with a much better cast of players so things are going to look much better. No need to bash MDA as if he's never run a team that executes at a high level. This team wins Woody gets full credit, but just don't try to ignore facts in telling the story either.

misterearl wrote:nixluva - there is not a single offensive set the Knicks are running that Mike DAntoni deserves credit for authoring. Not one.

Like all coaches, Woodson is the product of his education as a player and/or student of the game as an assistant. Mike Woodson owes nothing to DAntoni except the fact he kept the seat warm.

DAntonis influence, unless you can cite a specific reference or credit, is minimal or none.

mrKnickShot wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:

misterearl wrote:nixluva - there is not a single offensive set the Knicks are running that Mike DAntoni deserves credit for authoring. Not one.

Like all coaches, Woodson is the product of his education as a player and/or student of the game as an assistant. Mike Woodson owes nothing to DAntoni except the fact he kept the seat warm.

DAntonis influence, unless you can cite a specific reference or credit, is minimal or none.

I don't think anything or anyone other than Amare and Herb are left from the Walsh/D'Antoni regime.

Felton?

All those bad shots might be a product of MDA

misterearl wrote:nixluva - there is not a single offensive set the Knicks are running that Mike DAntoni deserves credit for authoring. Not one.

Like all coaches, Woodson is the product of his education as a player and/or student of the game as an assistant. Mike Woodson owes nothing to DAntoni except the fact he kept the seat warm.

DAntonis influence, unless you can cite a specific reference or credit, is minimal or none.

WTF is your problem man? I'm not trying to take any credit away from Woody. In fact I give him more credit for expanding his mind and adding the best of what he's seen and what he thinks will help this team thrive. You're starting to tick me off with this tho. Why do I have to get into things like this with someone every year when it comes to MDA. You know i'm gonna go hard on this topic and that I don't say stuff without backing it up. You really want to take a stand on this idea that Woody hasn't been influenced at all by MDA's offense and that these are all new plays? You think Woody was just talking crap when he said that he was still gonna use some of MDA's plays?

“Mike was very successful the way he ran his offense,’’ Woodson said. “Players who played for him loved playing for him. I laud Mike for everything he did from an offensive standpoint. I like his stuff and some of Mike’s offense we’ll keep"

Woodson said he will continue running some D'Antoni plays, presumably pick-and-roll sets that were so effective with Stoudemire and Felton two seasons ago.

Even without any quotes you can clearly see some of the offense is the same stuff. You can see the spread floor with shooters all around Melo that MDA had success with. You still see the same PnR sets as last year. Just now they execute better with real PG's.

mrKnickShot wrote:

nixluva wrote:

misterearl wrote:nixluva - there is not a single offensive set the Knicks are running that Mike DAntoni deserves credit for authoring. Not one.

Like all coaches, Woodson is the product of his education as a player and/or student of the game as an assistant. Mike Woodson owes nothing to DAntoni except the fact he kept the seat warm.

DAntonis influence, unless you can cite a specific reference or credit, is minimal or none.

WTF is your problem man? I'm not trying to take any credit away from Woody. In fact I give him more credit for expanding his mind and adding the best of what he's seen and what he thinks will help this team thrive. You're starting to tick me off with this tho. Why do I have to get into things like this with someone every year when it comes to MDA. You know i'm gonna go hard on this topic and that I don't say stuff without backing it up. You really want to take a stand on this idea that Woody hasn't been influenced at all by MDA's offense and that these are all new plays? You think Woody was just talking crap when he said that he was still gonna use some of MDA's plays?

“Mike was very successful the way he ran his offense,’’ Woodson said. “Players who played for him loved playing for him. I laud Mike for everything he did from an offensive standpoint. I like his stuff and some of Mike’s offense we’ll keep"

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/knicks/shaking_it_up_EJhADgvNjqSeTiBC5ReFAN

Woodson said he will continue running some D'Antoni plays, presumably pick-and-roll sets that were so effective with Stoudemire and Felton two seasons ago.

http://www.newsday.com/sports/basketball/knicks/practice-perseverance-in-post-for-amar-e-stoudemire-1.4084849

Even without any quotes you can clearly see some of the offense is the same stuff. You can see the spread floor with shooters all around Melo that MDA had success with. You still see the same PnR sets as last year. Just now they execute better with real PG's.

Who cares!

Enough about MDA. He was awful and now we moved on. Please join us and move on.

Why do you need to defend him? Let it go.

Dude I have moved on. I'm the one that was behind this new team and started a thread about the return of "Old School" Knicks Basketball. I've praised the job Woody has done over and over again. I only speak up when I read BS about MDA cuz i'm pretty much the only one who will do it. But you know what, i've been right most of the time!!! I've had other arguments with others and they didn't think I had proof of what I was defending MDA for and I did. If you go and look at my posts on the subject I always back it up. If I was talking crap and never had any proof to back it up that'd be one thing but I do back it up. In the end I LOVE the team as it's currently constructed and I love the job Woody has done.

mrKnickShot wrote:

nixluva wrote:

mrKnickShot wrote:

nixluva wrote:

misterearl wrote:nixluva - there is not a single offensive set the Knicks are running that Mike DAntoni deserves credit for authoring. Not one.

Like all coaches, Woodson is the product of his education as a player and/or student of the game as an assistant. Mike Woodson owes nothing to DAntoni except the fact he kept the seat warm.

DAntonis influence, unless you can cite a specific reference or credit, is minimal or none.

WTF is your problem man? I'm not trying to take any credit away from Woody. In fact I give him more credit for expanding his mind and adding the best of what he's seen and what he thinks will help this team thrive. You're starting to tick me off with this tho. Why do I have to get into things like this with someone every year when it comes to MDA. You know i'm gonna go hard on this topic and that I don't say stuff without backing it up. You really want to take a stand on this idea that Woody hasn't been influenced at all by MDA's offense and that these are all new plays? You think Woody was just talking crap when he said that he was still gonna use some of MDA's plays?

“Mike was very successful the way he ran his offense,’’ Woodson said. “Players who played for him loved playing for him. I laud Mike for everything he did from an offensive standpoint. I like his stuff and some of Mike’s offense we’ll keep"

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/knicks/shaking_it_up_EJhADgvNjqSeTiBC5ReFAN

Woodson said he will continue running some D'Antoni plays, presumably pick-and-roll sets that were so effective with Stoudemire and Felton two seasons ago.

http://www.newsday.com/sports/basketball/knicks/practice-perseverance-in-post-for-amar-e-stoudemire-1.4084849

Even without any quotes you can clearly see some of the offense is the same stuff. You can see the spread floor with shooters all around Melo that MDA had success with. You still see the same PnR sets as last year. Just now they execute better with real PG's.

Who cares!

Enough about MDA. He was awful and now we moved on. Please join us and move on.

Why do you need to defend him? Let it go.

Dude I have moved on. I'm the one that was behind this new team and started a thread about the return of "Old School" Knicks Basketball. I've praised the job Woody has done over and over again. I only speak up when I read BS about MDA cuz i'm pretty much the only one who will do it. But you know what, i've been right most of the time!!! I've had other arguments with others and they didn't think I had proof of what I was defending MDA for and I did. If you go and look at my posts on the subject I always back it up. If I was talking crap and never had any proof to back it up that'd be one thing but I do back it up. In the end I LOVE the team as it's currently constructed and I love the job Woody has done.

I know you jump on the WoodyWagon but you are still too sensitive about MDA. Let people talk crap - who cares.

I disagree that i'm too sensitive. I'm just trying to bring some balance to the argument. It's easy to kick MDA for his time here, but lets just remember that this is the BEST roster we've had in the last 5 years. Woody is working with more ready made talent than we've had in over a decade. He also had the chance to sit back and see what worked and what didn't last year and didn't have to deal with the crap we started off with last year. Woody's tenure is a lot different than what MDA had to deal with. Woody had a 24 game sprint last year and got handed a much improved roster this year. Woody was spared the years of tough times and constant change MDA had to endure.

Good for Woody that he's doing great with his opportunity, but lets at least acknowledge that he's in a good spot right now. This team has been tailored to his style of coaching and it's deep and experienced. I think this team is gonna have a big year.