CrushAlot wrote:

franco12 wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:

knicks1248 wrote:

sidsanders wrote:

knicks1248 wrote:whats really getting to me is that, the fans seem more optimistic about this roster then the coach...that ain't good..

could be just coach speak... could be he is really trying to temper expectations as well.

Well he said the same thing the last 2 seasons...thats the scary part. There's no question the roster has been upgraded, but when i listen to to MDA, you would swear were rolling into the season with same exact roster. MDA, as we all know, doesn't do well with youth, and low IQ players, maybe thats why he isn't that impress, or as excited as the fans.

I wouldn't categorize the guys D'Antoni needs as high IQ. I think he needs marquee players to win. He needs guys that can win despite his short practices, lack of game planning, lack of communication, lack of scouting opponents, lack of defenisve adjustments for individual opponents, and a lack of any emphasize on defense. D'Antoni needs an elite leader and player that can communicate his expectations on and off the court and create a professional atmosphere in practice and on the court. He got an elite player in Amare but I don't think he is the guy D'Antoni needs. I think he will be a leader but I think D'Antoni needs more than that.

I think this is a huge year for D'Antoni. He either becomes much less rigid, changes and adapts or he is done. Walsh has done his job and he tried to do it last year but the guys he brought in to fill roles were not played or developed.

I think I agree 100% with your thinking here- do you think MDA could get sacked mid year?

I think he will make it through the season but I think this is his last year with the Knicks.

I think there's is absolutely no chance that MDA won't get enough results with this team to stay on as coach. The main reason I expect a good season is DEFENSE. The roster is full of athletic interchangeable players, which favors Mike's system. You want guys that can slide over a few spots with ease. This will effect the defense positively. We need guys with range and length in this style of defense. Mike plays it like a prevent or flex D. Not a lot of pressure, but no long plays for a TD allowed. He wants teams jacking up long shots and this is a good roster to force that kind of thing. Imagine how effective our length on the perimeter will be in terms of getting a hand in shooters faces. We can afford to give space with that length and prevent penetration. It's precisely the improvement on D that makes me feel that Mike will have a good season.

Mike hasn't had this many guys that can block shots and have good steal stats. With the players we've added we should improve our steals per game from the 7 we had last year and be one of the better teams in the league in getting steals. Both of our PG's Felton and TD have quick feet and hands. I think this roster is setup with more guys that won't have to be whipped to give effort on D.

Allanfan20 wrote:

TMS wrote:

knicks1248 wrote:

franco12 wrote:

TMS wrote:

martin wrote:Give Melo: Lee, Hughes, Duhon, Jefferies and put him in the East and you think that gets to the playoffs?

Brandon Jennings got to the playoffs w/Bogut & a bunch of role players too... if u don't think Melo would have made the playoffs in the EC w/the players we had you're kidding yourself.

Depends who is coach would have been.

Melo is not a leader nor a point guard, so the playoffs would have still been a long shot with that roster, without those 2 key elements in MDA's system 30-35 wins top.

please.

Don't get so touchy. You're point is every bit as valid or invalid. At first I wanted the guy, but after thinking of it, the guy isn't even worth touching. He doesn't fit with Amar'e in any sense, nor does he fit with Raymond Felton, and if the basketball gods shined on us, he wouldn't fit with Chris Paul down the road either. He's a top flight scorer that doesn't play defense, and he's going to need the ball for the large portion of the game. That's not how this team is constructed.

And you can't say "Oh you MAKE it work" because no matter how much you forse it, it wouldn't work.

speak for yourself, i'm not getting touchy... but saying we don't get to the playoffs in a crappy EC w/Melo on board is just foolish, i'm sorry.