Uptown wrote:Nix, coaches are empowered by controlling a players mins. Why cant the coach bench a player thats not following instructions? Doesn't matter how much they make. If they are not doing what they are told, and it is hurting the team, then you take away minutesm regardless of who the player is.

Yeah what MDA needs right now is some player turmoil! The owner hasn't exactly strengthened MDA's hand with players knowing MDA doesn't have a contract extension. If MDA sits a guy in a punishment method they can make it really ugly for him and he has no leg to stand on cuz Management isn't supporting him. All MDA can do is coach around issues on the roster.

nixluva wrote:

Uptown wrote:Nix, coaches are empowered by controlling a players mins. Why cant the coach bench a player thats not following instructions? Doesn't matter how much they make. If they are not doing what they are told, and it is hurting the team, then you take away minutesm regardless of who the player is.

Yeah what MDA needs right now is some player turmoil! The owner hasn't exactly strengthened MDA's hand with players knowing MDA doesn't have a contract extension. If MDA sits a guy in a punishment method they can make it really ugly for him and he has no leg to stand on cuz Management isn't supporting him. All MDA can do is coach around issues on the roster.

He's done it before Nix. He banished Marb to the bench just as he left the podium after accepting the Knicks job. Slayed an ant with a sledgehammer when benched Nate for, what 7-10 games or so? He picks and chooses his battles.

Its MDA's fault he doesn't have an extension. He's 121-164 since taking over the Knicks. Any other organization would have fired him already....

As for me, while I realize that MDA can hardly take all the blame, the bottom line is a coach can only be judged on results, and to me, we have generally either played at expectations (usually low expectations) or underachieved under him.

As for specifics, I think it's clear that we need a coach who insists on discipline, and I just don't think MDA does that, especially on defense.

Also, I see way too many late-game breakdowns under MDA. The recent Boston game was the text-book example, but there have been many others over the years.

And, MDA seems to be a coach who needs just the right players to succeed, and whenever personnel issues don't go his way, he seems to be uninterested in fixing things.

As for what I would do, obviously you start by calling Sloan and Jax. But even if both say no, that does not mean there isn't someone out there who would be better than MDA. I don't know enough to know who else would be a good fit. But I do know that we need a coaching change.

Those who say it's the players, not the coach ... well, yes, I understand this. But the coach's job is to get the most out of his roster, and that has not happened here. There haven't been too many coaches who have been fired when their players are playing well. They get fired because the players are not playing to expectations. Again, I know MDA did not want Melo, but he has Melo, and Melo probably is not going away. So it is his job to coach Melo and get the most out of him.

Oh yeah -- someone mentioned we have a .500-type roster, and I do not buy that at all. I look at other teams' records (Pacers come quickly to mind), and I just do not think we should be three games under right now, especially considering how easy our early schedule was. I know we have had roster issues, but that is my point. MDA has seemed to be unable to deal with that, at least while with the Knicks.

I have no personal animosity toward him, but I definitely think a change is needed.

Will a change help? I honestly don't know, but I am hopeful that we can find someone to get the job done, and get a pretty talented roster to reach its potential.

MDA didn't build this team, he coaches it. This season isn't over yet and until it is none of you know what this team is gonna end up doing. It's still possible for this team and coach to finally figure out how they want to play and for chemistry to develop. There are signs this team has yet untapped potential and they haven't given up on the coach yet. Once we get Jared and Tyson back and continue to play this season out over the rest of this month we'll get all the answers we need. Just as bad as things have been they can easily come together and play well. We'll See.

CrushAlot wrote:I think D'Antoni gets the season. If the Knicks don't make the playoffs or get swept in the first round he won't be back. Dolan isn't going to get rid of his stars to try and fashion a roster that fits the coach.

We'll build it with stars that attract attention and sell tickets. Just have win "enough".........