CrushAlot wrote:Nix, I think it is hard to find because it doesn't exist. D'Antoni generally doesn't criticiZe players and he definitely isn't critical of his stars. He doesn't break that bond so to speak at least publicly. But to suggest that he feuded with Amare because he wanted Amare to play better defense is far fetched in my opinion. When Amare endorsed Porter I believe he said he had never been taught to play defense or something in that regard. Amare saying it was mostly his fault yielded him a 100 million dollar contract. If you can find anything that says D'antoni called Amare out for his lack of d and that was why they feuded post it please.

It took a long time, but I did find the article I was talking about. I makes 100% sense given the other things I've found from that time about STAT.

http://www.newsday.com/sports/basketball/knicks/knicks-d-antoni-irons-out-past-issues-with-stoudemire-1.2078792

Stoudemire and D'Antoni have had their differences, both privately and publicly. Stoudemire was the lone Suns player to show no disappointment about D'Antoni's departure from Phoenix in 2008; he had bristled at D'Antoni's criticism of his defensive deficiencies, mainly on help defense, which led to troublesome breakdowns. Stoudemire often deflected the blame back on D'Antoni for not putting enough time into coaching defense, which touches a nerve for D'Antoni.

The conclusion was that D'Antoni wouldn't want to deal with Stoudemire again and Stoudemire probably didn't want to work with D'Antoni again. But what has become obvious as the free-agency process has begun is that both may very well need each other.

http://blog.chron.com/fantasyfootball/2009/02/amare-stoudemire-a-rocket-the-rockets-will-try-but-come-up-short/

According to my insider, the Suns aren’t exactly thrilled with the fact that Stoudemire wanted Mike D’Antoni fired last year, but pines for him now that he realizes D’Antoni was a perfect fit for his game.

The Suns are also said to be concerned with how Stoudemire’s knee is going to hold up over the long term thanks to his micro-fracture surgery. Do you think they are really all that crazy about giving an extension to a player who is always unhappy with his head coach and who has had microfracture surgery in the recent past?

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-stoudemiresuns020509

With O’Neal clogging the middle, Stoudemire has expressed frustration with a diminished offensive role. Stoudemire still flusters his GM and coach because of an unwillingness to commit to anything but scoring. Stoudemire’s scoring and rebounding averages have dropped this season, and he recently told Yahoo! Sports that he was struggling with an offense that features fewer pick-and-rolls for him, fewer touches in the low post.

“It is harder,” Stoudemire said. “When you’re in the flow, everything flows. When you’re not, sometimes it’s hard to get involved.”

After the loss to Golden State, Stoudemire told reporters, “To keep losing these games the way we are, it’s not fun. I’m not used to it. It’s almost against my religion.”

Sources believe the Suns are more apt to shop Stoudemire to the Eastern Conference, where Toronto and New York are natural possibilities. Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo drafted Stoudemire for the Suns, and Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni helped turn him into an All-Star. Still, the acrimonious nature of Colangelo’s and D’Antoni’s departures could lessen Phoenix management’s willingness to deal with them.

Nevertheless, Phoenix promises once more to be at the center of the league’s biggest trade talks leading up to the deadline.

nixluva wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:Nix I saw it. YOu pulled it out again. Great finds.

This was the toughest one i've ever had to dig out.

I still think this team has a chance to be much better if we can somehow get a couple more really good active bodies that can score a little but really defend. We need to build up the Guard spot for sure. The big question is what to do about the coaching spot. Is Woody the right choice or should we look for a guy that has a more balanced skill set as a head coach. Someone who can coach both ends equally well. I have my doubts about Woody, tho it's hard to really judge in this crazy injury riddled season.

Im ok with Woodson getting a three year deal if its ok with StarMelo.

This is the bed we made and direction we are going in. Melo drives this bus.

Even if PJax wants on you gotta get Melo on board. If not, you trade him or just pass on PJax.

jrodmc wrote:I love how threads like this meander all over the map from MDA to Stat to Woody.

Melotradehaters and the anti-starphucque club humming along with an upper level Mushnick douchebag like Beck who has to spout negativisms so his cohorts in the scum media don't call him a homer.

Calling for sweeps and a looking longingly at how Denver has "improved" since the trade.

How you like your Melohate now? Gee, I even think he swung the ball around to Bibby and company late in the 4th quarter.

Imagine what would have happened last year if he had someone else to pass to instead of Fishlips?

Maybe he won't "evolve" or "mature" until he leads the team in assists? Then if that happens, dogpiles like Beck can write about all his defensive deficiencies...

Your post really does seem to miss the point being made about Melo. You can't discount the record and it shows that he's got some of the worst statistics when it comes to winning in the playoffs. I don't hate Melo, but I do fault him when he does things that hurt his team. I do fault him for not having the maturity to realize that team ball is not anti-Melo. He can do both. He's got a ton of talent and still hasn't maxed out on it yet. No one is asking too much of him since he's the one that wants to be considered a superstar like Lebron. There are just a few things he needs to do to actually get closer to that level and they're about dedication to his craft. Getting in great shape. Learning how to play team ball on a higher level and in the process making his team better. He's done it in stretches here and there, but needs to be more consistent. Those are just the facts about Melo.

Uptown wrote:StarMelo? First it was Diva, then Melobury, and now StarMelo? I remember a poster named Seatsblue/Trueblue would always make up these childish, annoying nicknames that would become very redundant and annoying. I see the juvenile tradition continues.....

As opposed to the hardcore Melo trade supporters, who never use annoying nicknames or rhetoric!

smackeddog wrote:

JamesKPolk wrote:Carmelo Anthony has achieved nothing in New York. He is on the same level as Marbury right now in turns of success. We still have not won a playoff game. He deserves criticism regardless of "Getting us to the playoffs". Are the expectations so low even with this team that simply making the playoffs is enough?

Yes, when 2 of your starters are out injured, your starting PG has back problems, your back up PG should have retired, and your best defender off the bench (JJ) is injured, then carrying a team to the playoffs is an achievement.

We could have preserved our cap flexibility, preserved our core, preserved our draft picks, and still be in the same position. There's a difference between mortgaging our future and placing 7th in a weak division, and slowly improving with youth and draft picks and having the same standing. I think our old core could have gotten it done. They were gelling, they were motivated, the personnel fit the coach and system.

So yes, the whole trade was a mistake. Too bad Dolan interfered.

Bonn1997 wrote:

mrKnickShot wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:

Uptown wrote:StarMelo? First it was Diva, then Melobury, and now StarMelo? I remember a poster named Seatsblue/Trueblue would always make up these childish, annoying nicknames that would become very redundant and annoying. I see the juvenile tradition continues.....

As opposed to the hardcore Melo trade supporters, who never use annoying nicknames or rhetoric!

I use KNICK names for Melo - "KOBE"!

Almost identical stats - and they are both selfish bad shot taking ***holes

would be nice if Melo had Shaq/Gasol/Bynum/PJax - can't have everything.

Not even close

Yea, tell that to Dirk Nowitzki, the poor guy never played with Shaq/Gasol/Bynum/PJax, his best center was Tyson Chandler. Oh wait, he did won a champioship with Chandler and no PJax, what am I missing here?

jrodmc wrote:I love how threads like this meander all over the map from MDA to Stat to Woody.

Melotradehaters and the anti-starphucque club humming along with an upper level Mushnick douchebag like Beck who has to spout negativisms so his cohorts in the scum media don't call him a homer.

Calling for sweeps and a looking longingly at how Denver has "improved" since the trade.

How you like your Melohate now? Gee, I even think he swung the ball around to Bibby and company late in the 4th quarter.

Imagine what would have happened last year if he had someone else to pass to instead of Fishlips?

Maybe he won't "evolve" or "mature" until he leads the team in assists? Then if that happens, dogpiles like Beck can write about all his defensive deficiencies...

We won a playoff game and that changes everytthing?

Who keeps bringing up Denver BTW? You!

I always wish our former players the best of luck in their future endeavors so long as it does not conflict with ours.

MeloHate is born from the false prophet syndrome starphuchers love to embrace.

I just had hoped that he'd have a smaller role on a greater team that we could contend with this year. If that was the vision MDA had and Starmelo rejected then he is a "me first" player and thats not cool in my book.

It might be in yours. His stats speak for themselves as does the records for the teams he has played on. I'd say he has had good talent around him for years but is not a type of player who enhances or "makes others better".

He wanted to play here and play for MDA but rejected the role of being lessor star on a team. To me that created a ceiling MDA could not succeed under.

MDA failed and without a contract for next year or the cred to keep Melo off his roster or trade him there was no choice for MDA to leave or get fired. Is Melo the reason MDA failed? He all but admits not playing up for him. MDA for a host of reasons in the previous 2.5 years did not have success in NY and if your "star" player is not on board then its reasonable to make a change. Woodson has had results so even in the short sample it was a good move to make.

Melo is not evil, nor is there any racial bias in disliking him. There is little "Mushnick" type stereotype in not bowing to this false prophet.

If StarMelo Ball is to your liking then please don't let anyone sway you to believe otherwise.