DURING the Knicks' theater-in-the-rectangle with the Chicago Bulls last week, the Jet coach, Bruce Coslet, was discussing the job Pat Riley had done in lifting the level of excellence and expectation for a pro basketball team that had once been a monument to mediocrity.

"I'd like to talk to him," Coslet said.

As a coach himself, Coslet realized that in a conversation with Riley he would surely learn something. About teaching. About motivating. About handling a game. About developing players. About what every coach in every sport is trying to do: getting the most out of your players.

But what exactly did the Knicks learn from Riley that changed their attitude and atmosphere? When the Knick players were asked that question not long ago, all their answers varied. Yet all their answers were the same. They involved Riley's philosophy on their approach to their profession, a philosophy that applies to all athletes no matter what the sport.

"Hard work," Xavier McDaniel said. "Practice the same way you play in the game."

"Sacrifice," Mark Jackson said. "You sacrifice for the benefit of the team."

"Overall preparation for the game, more respect for the game, not just coming to the gym." Gerald Wilkins said. "You're playing a man's game. You've got to play it with a man's attitude."

"Stay focused," Charles Oakley said. "Don't let your mind wander."

"He teaches you what to look for," Greg Anthony said. "You can see if an opponent wants to play. Not to let a team that's down and out to get into the game."

"Be mentally strong," John Starks said. "Especially in the second half of the season."

"Be more professional," Anthony Mason said. "I needed a lot of polishing off the court. He told me to avoid trouble scenes out on the street, that if anything happened, my name would be the only name mentioned."

"Organization," Kiki Vandeweghe said. "He brought organization here. Practice, game plan, itinerary, everything."

"He pays great attention to detail," James Donaldson said. "But he's very positive, very encouraging. Even his criticism is very encouraging and that's uplifting."

"Hard work is only going to make you better," Kennard Winchester said. "That's the attitude he builds up in you."

"That there's no substitute for preparation, that there's no excuse for losing under any circumstances," Tim McCormick said. "He reminds you every single day, not by saying it but by doing it."

Of all the Knicks, only Patrick Ewing insisted that he hadn't learned anything specific, but agreed that Riley was "definitely professional."

Maybe "definitely professional" is the best synonym for the Riley Standard that all those other New York managers and coaches will now be measured against. For better or for worse, in first place or in last.

Posted by islesfan:

WHEN it became clear earlier this week that Danilo Gallinari will undergo back surgery, Knicks head coach Mike D'Antoni was quick to characterize the rookie's abbreviated season as a learning experience rather than a wasted year.

Considering the investment made in the 20-year-old Italian, you expect the Knicks to stay upbeat about their first-round draft choice even though his 28-game season could qualify as "Much ado about nothing." He averaged just 6.1 points and 2.0 rebounds while displaying a nice jumper, but lacking strength and the ability to score off the dribble.

Nevertheless, D'Antoni remains confident the sixth overall selection is on track to be "a very high level player." That outlook remains a tough sell particularly last night when the player chosen after Gallinari, Eric Gordon, scored 19 points to help the Clippers to a 140-135 overtime win over the struggling Knicks.

"It's good he sampled the NBA a little bit and knows what he has to do," D'Antoni said of Gallinari. "Now it's just a question of getting healthy, getting physically stronger and that will come naturally. I think his future is bright."

Time will tell if the first selection of the Donnie Walsh-D'Antoni era was a home run or a whiff, but the notion of whether the 2008-09 season has been a learning experience or a waste of time can be applied not just to Gallinari but the entire team.

When it's all said and done, all the highlights of 2008-09 have come off the court rather than on it. The jettison of Stephon Marbury and the clearing of cap space for the 2010 free-agent shopping spree are about all the Knicks have to brag about as their losing streak reached six games.

The loss of Gallinari is the exclamation point on this wasted season. As the Knicks' highest draft selection since 1986, he is the one player expected to have a huge part in the future of this franchise; the one player, who figures to get big minutes alongside LeBron James or Dwyane Wade or whoever arrives in 2010. Everyone else on the roster, aside from perhaps 2007 pick Wilson Chandler, is expendable and may not be here two years from now.

The Knicks might point to career years by David Lee and Nate Robinson as reflections of the positive influence D'Antoni has had. But despite the double-doubles Lee has amassed and Robinson's occasional scoring outbursts, neither has proven worthy of a long-term deal for the kind of big money that might limit cap space in 2010.

That's why this year was all about Gallinari and whether he could validate the Knicks' first-round selection and secure a prominent role in the franchise's future. Neither of those questions was answered this season. Couple that with a thus far disappointing finish and the only positive about 2008-2009 was clearing room for 2010.

george.willis@nypost.com

Just another whiny anal crybaby, I guess. Or someone who can see the obvious when it's right in front of him.

It's funny, the people who are sticking their heads in the sand now are the same ones who praised Isiah for 3 years before they opened their eyes to how stupid most of his moves were. That's not to say that this situation is anywhere near as bad as it was then under Isiah, but isn't it just possible that major missteps have been taken and very little progress has been made?

Posted by Marv:

Posted by islesfan:

WHEN it became clear earlier this week that Danilo Gallinari will undergo back surgery, Knicks head coach Mike D'Antoni was quick to characterize the rookie's abbreviated season as a learning experience rather than a wasted year.

Considering the investment made in the 20-year-old Italian, you expect the Knicks to stay upbeat about their first-round draft choice even though his 28-game season could qualify as "Much ado about nothing." He averaged just 6.1 points and 2.0 rebounds while displaying a nice jumper, but lacking strength and the ability to score off the dribble.

Nevertheless, D'Antoni remains confident the sixth overall selection is on track to be "a very high level player." That outlook remains a tough sell particularly last night when the player chosen after Gallinari, Eric Gordon, scored 19 points to help the Clippers to a 140-135 overtime win over the struggling Knicks.

"It's good he sampled the NBA a little bit and knows what he has to do," D'Antoni said of Gallinari. "Now it's just a question of getting healthy, getting physically stronger and that will come naturally. I think his future is bright."

Time will tell if the first selection of the Donnie Walsh-D'Antoni era was a home run or a whiff, but the notion of whether the 2008-09 season has been a learning experience or a waste of time can be applied not just to Gallinari but the entire team.

When it's all said and done, all the highlights of 2008-09 have come off the court rather than on it. The jettison of Stephon Marbury and the clearing of cap space for the 2010 free-agent shopping spree are about all the Knicks have to brag about as their losing streak reached six games.

The loss of Gallinari is the exclamation point on this wasted season. As the Knicks' highest draft selection since 1986, he is the one player expected to have a huge part in the future of this franchise; the one player, who figures to get big minutes alongside LeBron James or Dwyane Wade or whoever arrives in 2010. Everyone else on the roster, aside from perhaps 2007 pick Wilson Chandler, is expendable and may not be here two years from now.

The Knicks might point to career years by David Lee and Nate Robinson as reflections of the positive influence D'Antoni has had. But despite the double-doubles Lee has amassed and Robinson's occasional scoring outbursts, neither has proven worthy of a long-term deal for the kind of big money that might limit cap space in 2010.

That's why this year was all about Gallinari and whether he could validate the Knicks' first-round selection and secure a prominent role in the franchise's future. Neither of those questions was answered this season. Couple that with a thus far disappointing finish and the only positive about 2008-2009 was clearing room for 2010.

george.willis@nypost.com

Just another whiny anal crybaby, I guess. Or someone who can see the obvious when it's right in front of him.

It's funny, the people who are sticking their heads in the sand now are the same ones who praised Isiah for 3 years before they opened their eyes to how stupid most of his moves were. That's not to say that this situation is anywhere near as bad as it was then under Isiah, but isn't it just possible that major missteps have been taken and very little progress has been made?

Does george willis post to this site 20 times a day with the same whimpering whining posts? like a spoiled child would when he’s not getting every single thing that he wants every minute ? if he were doing that, then yes indeed george willis would be a whiny anal crybaby.

But he’s not. He’s simply failing to note the difference in the quality of the games the knicks players have put out this year, and he’s neglecting to characterize gallinari’s year accurately in terms of his injury.

Posted by JohnWallace44:

What I used to say about Isiah is that there wasn't much difference who was coaching the team. Isiah's big detractor was the controversy around him.

I never thought we could attract a coach like MikeD.

Now that we have D'Antoni, I know we have a high level coach and there's no way we should let him go under any circumstances.

This board has really lost it with the coaches around here. If we had Phil Jackson the team would still lose and I'm pretty sure what people would say.

"Jax is washed up, he lost the edge, get him out of here!"

Posted by Allanfan20:

This is what you see with players with habits. It's extremely extremely hard to get rid of habits. You can put them aside for a few days, weeks, months or even a couple of years, but to keep them out of your life, is very difficult. Now you see the habits creeping back in. The laziness on defense, one on one play, ect...

This isn't Mikes fault. He's to blame for certain things this season, absolutely. However, we weren't expecting this to be an important season for the team in the first place. We all knew it was the start of rebuilding especially since we got rid of Zach and Jamal for Al Harrington and Larry Hughes expiring (Essentially.)

This is why you go after players who are commited on both ends. Maybe they aren't great on one end but they are commited. We have nobody expect MAYBE Wilson and Gallo who are commited on either end, and we have no clue if those guys are keepers at this point, especially Gallo.

Posted by islesfan:

Posted by JohnWallace44:

What I used to say about Isiah is that there wasn't much difference who was coaching the team. Isiah's big detractor was the controversy around him.

I never thought we could attract a coach like MikeD.

Now that we have D'Antoni, I know we have a high level coach and there's no way we should let him go under any circumstances.

This board has really lost it with the coaches around here. If we had Phil Jackson the team would still lose and I'm pretty sure what people would say.

"Jax is washed up, he lost the edge, get him out of here!"

Wow, really?!? You think the work he's done here and his impact on this team has been that great that he's irreplaceable and should never be let go under and circumstances???

Based on what?