JrZyHuStLa wrote:Ok, let's just get rid of Carmelo and Amar'e since they don't play defense. Then, D'antoni will finally have his 50 win team next season that plays defense.

What a joke.

Paladin55 wrote:Getting some two way players and a PG who is not best suited coming off the bench at this point, especially against the quicker PGs, are other holes to fill.
Might also be nice if our "stars" could play consistent D, but we don't not want to ask for too much, do we?

Someone could just as easily write "Ok. let's just get rid of MDA. Then Carmelo and Amear will finally get the first team all-nba defense honors that MDA has been holding them back from their whole careers this season"

It wouldn't really be true, have logic, or contribute to the conversation at all. Can we have a normal conversation about basketball without the snippy tone on both sides.

BTW hustla...what do you think of the questions i posed above?

GodSaveTheKnicks wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:

NYKBocker wrote:

orangeblobman wrote:

GodSaveTheKnicks wrote:

JrZyHuStLa wrote:

Paladin55 wrote:

JrZyHuStLa wrote:Don't forget the hole we have at the head coach slot as well.

We're really gonna need to get someone in here who cares about putting a hand up on defense asap.

Getting some two way players and a PG who is not best suited coming off the bench at this point, especially against the quicker PGs, are other holes to fill.

Might also be nice if our "stars" could play consistent D, but we don't not want to ask for too much, do we?

If the stars don't play defense, than the accountability for that falls on the head coach.

And none on the players?

Of course not. It's never the player's fault for not playing. MDA has to go on the court and hold their hands.

Holy Crap!! That has got to be the most ridiculous thing I have ever read or heard. You are blaming another man for another man's shortcomings?

Actually I think it is this. If as a coach you teach, practice and stress defense and you have a guy that chooses not to play that way you hold him accountable for not focusing on the team goal of stopping the opponent and you take away or limit his minutes. It isn't a new concept and it isn't outrageous. It also isn't going to happen with this coach.

2 questions that I am not asking as rhetorical questions.

1. How many coaches in this league are going to bench a player making $15M per season + for not running back on defense?

2. How many players in this league get paid $15M or more that have their interest on defense, prowess as a defender or both questioned regularly?

I get what you're saying Crush but it's really a chicken or egg type question at this point.

Do guys like Kobe/Duncan/KG/Dwight Howard try hard on defense because

a) that's how they're built

Or

b)because Greg Popovich and Phil Jackson have no problem tearing anyone a new one if they're lollygagging on defense, including their franchise players?

It's pretty ridiculous to lay the blame all at MDA's feet IMO. Obviously MDA doesn't get a free pass but neither should Melo/Amare and co.

There's probably no coach in the league who is going to bench their best/highest paid player because of a defensive lapse, but that doesn't mean the coach isn't going to pull him aside and let him know what he did was unacceptable. Riley, Brown, Popovich do it. D'antoni has no sense at all as to how to establish himself as a disciplinarian, partly because he's too busy smiling and chatting with fans.

JrZyHuStLa wrote:There's probably no coach in the league who is going to bench their best/highest paid player because of a defensive lapse, but that doesn't mean the coach isn't going to pull him aside and let him know what he did was unacceptable. Riley, Brown, Popovich do it. D'antoni has no sense at all as to how to establish himself as a disciplinarian, partly because he's too busy smiling and chatting with fans.

you can confirm to us that MDA doesn't talk to Amare and team about this off camera?

JrZyHuStLa wrote:

martin wrote:

JrZyHuStLa wrote:There's probably no coach in the league who is going to bench their best/highest paid player because of a defensive lapse, but that doesn't mean the coach isn't going to pull him aside and let him know what he did was unacceptable. Riley, Brown, Popovich do it. D'antoni has no sense at all as to how to establish himself as a disciplinarian, partly because he's too busy smiling and chatting with fans.

you can confirm to us that MDA doesn't talk to Amare and team about this off camera?

He might, but whatever he says about defense isn't clicking.

Do you think if the Knicks and Boston swapped KG and Amare that Boston's D would be just as good as it is today or that the Knicks' D would be as bad?

JrZyHuStLa wrote:

martin wrote:

JrZyHuStLa wrote:

martin wrote:

JrZyHuStLa wrote:There's probably no coach in the league who is going to bench their best/highest paid player because of a defensive lapse, but that doesn't mean the coach isn't going to pull him aside and let him know what he did was unacceptable. Riley, Brown, Popovich do it. D'antoni has no sense at all as to how to establish himself as a disciplinarian, partly because he's too busy smiling and chatting with fans.

you can confirm to us that MDA doesn't talk to Amare and team about this off camera?

He might, but whatever he says about defense isn't clicking.

Do you think if the Knicks and Boston swapped KG and Amare that Boston's D would be just as good as it is today or that the Knicks' D would be as bad?

The Knicks defense would be better, because we'd have the better defensive player. However, you'd see more of a defensive effort from Amar'e from Rivers demanding it.

What Defense did Pierce play before Garnett got an his ass?

loweyecue wrote:

JrZyHuStLa wrote:

martin wrote:

JrZyHuStLa wrote:

martin wrote:

JrZyHuStLa wrote:There's probably no coach in the league who is going to bench their best/highest paid player because of a defensive lapse, but that doesn't mean the coach isn't going to pull him aside and let him know what he did was unacceptable. Riley, Brown, Popovich do it. D'antoni has no sense at all as to how to establish himself as a disciplinarian, partly because he's too busy smiling and chatting with fans.

you can confirm to us that MDA doesn't talk to Amare and team about this off camera?

He might, but whatever he says about defense isn't clicking.

Do you think if the Knicks and Boston swapped KG and Amare that Boston's D would be just as good as it is today or that the Knicks' D would be as bad?

The Knicks defense would be better, because we'd have the better defensive player. However, you'd see more of a defensive effort from Amar'e from Rivers demanding it.

What Defense did Pierce play before Garnett got an his ass?

You mean in his ass, because that's what the Celtics do up there.