nixluva wrote:

TMS wrote:nixluva, let me ask u this... why is it that you take such a personal affront whenever i criticize MDA when i'm not saying anything different than others around here who do the same? djsunyc, VDesai, CrushAlot, AnubisADL, BRIGGS, EwingsGlass & others are all saying the same things i am... at some point u need to stop being so close minded & open your ears & listen instead of throwing a hissy fit anytime I make a disparaging comment about D'Antoni... if u hadn't noticed i'm not the only one making these observations about our head coach... if u don't like what i'm saying then that's your choice, but don't act like yours is the only opinion that matters.

It just worked out that I was responding to your posts directly more often, but in reality I was always directing my comments to all of the guys following your line of argument. It's not just you. Remember "armchair geniuses". I never said my opinion was the only one that mattered.

MDA, DW, Dolan and the bulk of the players still want to make the playoffs. It's only some fans that want the team to refocus on developing Hill and TD. Thing is Hill is already playing, TD getting more minutes wouldn't really matter to me, I just don't see a reason to bash MDA over basically playing Hill a few more minutes a game and squeezing TD into the rotation. That really isn't a big deal IMO. TD plays, looks good at times, bad at others... Will everyone be happy with MDA? No they'll still find something to complain about.

People are upset about Duhon getting back in. I understand that. No one is happy with Duhon. Thing is MDA has to try and get the guy going if he wants to continue to compete for the playoffs which we know he does. I'm pretty sure Nate and Lee would also like to keep fighting for a playoff spot. I don't think they'd appreciate TD playing instead of Duhon in these last few games before the door closes. TD and Hill will get there chance soon enough.

It's not even about playing the rookies more minutes as in finding any little minutes the coach can(garbage time/or when a player goes in the doghouse) but more so building real chemistry between our young players and playing them together.

Ok they still want to make the Playoffs this yr when our schedule will get harder and we have more road games remaining whatever.

Go ahead and start....

Duhon
Nate
Al
Jeffries
Lee

Since supposedly this lineup gives us the best chance to win although W-L column says otherwise but when subs come in play

Toney
Chandler
Landry
Danilo
Jordan

That way you have our young core playing together and establishing something to look forward into next season. Give them about 15min of playing time together

Who cares really what MDA, DW, Dolan want our mgmt has been wrong several yrs in a row and counting. They can be wrong and it's the very reason some eventually get fired and replaced. Stop spewing company line bull crap all the time.

On a team that averages 96 possessions per game, he is only averaging 6 assists. He can't even rely on the excuse that his wing mate controls the ball for most of the possession. On nearly every possession when he is on the court he has control of the basketball. 6 assist per game with 2/3 of the assist going to one player. Just how much value does D'Antoni put in Duhon.

For starting point guards his spg per 48 minutes rank near the bottom. It is mind blowing what D'Antoni is really evaluating at this point. I won't even get into the fact that his FG % is the worst of any starting guard. No I didn't just say point guard, I said any starting guard. Hell forget starters. I just don't get it.

Paladin55 wrote:

Marv wrote:nix, how can you even let the word playoffs roll off your fingertips? c'mon man that's beyond ludicrous. the season is so toast it's stretching credibility beyond its breaking point to even be mentioning it at this point. in my not so humble opinion.

The Howard Beck article posted on UK gives a pretty balanced (IMO) look at what Walsh and MDA are going through at this point in the season.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/09/sports/basketball/09knicks.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

He sees the trade deadline of 2/18 as the moment of decision. If Walsh cannot pick up some expirings who can also help the team win, he feels the team will then put more of an emphasis on playing our younger players, which he sees as one of Walsh's goals:

...There are 32 games to play first, and priorities to clarify: Do the Knicks want to make the playoffs at any cost? Or will they focus on developing their young core of Gallinari, Chandler, Jordan Hill and Toney Douglas? It is an internal debate that has been brewing for two years.

Coach Mike D’Antoni has been hyperfocused on buffing up the Knicks’ record for the sake of restoring the franchise’s credibility and making it more attractive to top free agents. So he has given major roles to veterans with no place in the Knicks’ future, including Harrington, Robinson, Larry Hughes and Jared Jeffries. Meanwhile, Hill and Douglas, the Knicks’ top two rookies, have been stuck on the bench.

It could all change soon. The clarifying moment will come with the Feb. 18 trading deadline.

If Walsh can acquire a solid player to bolster a playoff push, he will probably do so, as long as the player has an expiring contract. But if the Knicks (19-31) pass the deadline without making a deal, and if their playoff hopes remain dim, it will free team officials to focus firmly on the future.

Beck talks about the Knicks buying out Harrington- which I don't think Walsh would do, and Hughes- which I think they might do, after the trading deadline is over, but his major point is that he sees the trade deadline as a transitional point in this season in regard to the debate over whether the team should be playing to win or playing to build.

... also of interest in the article is his assertion that players are unhappy with Lee's emergence:

There are also signs of resentment in the locker room over David Lee’s newfound stardom. Lee is having a breakout season (19.9 points and 11.5 rebounds) and was the Knicks’ top candidate to make the All-Star team. Some players believe that D’Antoni has featured Lee at their expense.

Is this anything that folks around here are aware of?

the clarifying moment should be now, not the trade deadline... like it's been pointed out this team needs to go 22W - 10L from right now to have a legit shot at making the playoffs... that means unless we're trading for a major star player or 2 at the deadline this year, it's not gonna happen... Donnie Walsh & MDA need to give up this fantasy that we can still turn this season around & focus on what can be salvaged from the rest of another failed season... trying to dump Fishlips' contract, getting some assets in return for Nate or Lee in a trade (if they're not going to be re-signed) & getting our young kids playing time should really be our only focuses right now... playoffs is not realistic.

interesting bit about guys resenting D Lee raised in that article there... Duhon has been looking for Lee almost exclusively this year & MDA has them working the P&R on every possession... i can see where that might have some roots especially w/so many veterans playing for their next contracts right now.