WTH are you talking about? We've been hiring the past 4 yrs proven, sure thing, HOF, complete resume for the job coaches and have failed historically. Didn't we buy into Larry, Lenny, and I SAY UGH? 2 of those coaches have won more games than you can shake a stick at and have won on the highest levels. How did we fair there? If anything we need to take a chance on a safe hire such as Mark, if we're truly rebuilding. Now if we're trying re-tool well it would make sense hiring a more credible coach, or if we're trying to win while rebuilding on the fly so-to-speak.

Posted by Solace:

I think D'Antonio's team had such good offense that people are instantly taking shots at the Suns defense. Once again, the Suns defense was above average when you consider defensive efficiency. If the Suns had the best offense and the worst defense, they would not have been where they were.

Posted by TrueBlue:

Posted by tkf:

Posted by TrueBlue:

Posted by tkf:

Posted by fishmike:

Posted by GKFv2:

Defense wins championships. End of story.

since you seem to know so much about Mike D and his 'style' tell me this:

If you hired to coach the Suns who have Q, Nash, Amare, Marion, etc do you tell them to slow and down, grind it out and focus on defense because that wins championships? Or do you actually look at who is on the floor and decide how best to win games with those players?

Do tell GK.. since you are so quick to judge a guy thats done nothing but win with 3 guards a 6'8 PF and a 6'10 center in a conference dominated by size what would you do?

You guys crack me up. Cant see the forest through the trees... dudes a good coach.

exactly.. that point seems to get ignored...

Most here in this thread and all threads I've read give the guy credit for being a good offensive mind but the other aspect he's below average to poor. Now If some want to argue why hire a guy like Mark over a Proven Regular season game winning stud coach in D'Antoni, there's a legit case but really it more so about already seeing the results of D'Antoni Regular and Post vs giving someone like Jackson a chance to get his feet wet. No one will argue Jackson>>>>>>>D'Antoni coaching... but it terms of preference and our transition stage Jackson>>>>>>>>D'Antoni. Our fan base is proving yet again when the games aren't being played anymore and we approach another season itches at trying to get to post season almost at all cost instead of focusing all our desire towards an appropriate rebuild.

I dissagree, I think most of the fanbase is tired of taking chances, tired of losing and wants a real direction... D'antoni prensents a real direction, a real system, something fans can buy into. The last thing we need is another sam vincent.... I like jackson a lot and I will not be upset if he is hired.. I just think that D'antoni if anything can change the culture of this franchise, he along with donnie walsh.... If after 2 or 3 years, D'antoni establishes some sort of system with this team, doesn't matter if it is uptempo, slow down, or a mixture, just some sytem that works, and He has proven that he can do that, then the knicks will be better moving forward, even if he wants to leave after 3 years.... I mean do you fear hiring parcells because he may leave in 3 years? No, because he always leaves you in a better position than when he came, that is almost a guarantee.... The knicks need that. We have been suffering for 7 years now, why keep taking chances when you have someone, who is innovative and can change your teams philosophy day 1?

WTH are you talking about? We've been hiring the past 4 yrs proven, sure thing, HOF, complete resume for the job coaches and have failed historically. Didn't we buy into Larry, Lenny, and I SAY UGH? 2 of those coaches have won more games than you can shake a stick at and have won on the highest levels. How did we fair there? If anything we need to take a chance on a safe hire such as Mark, if we're truly rebuilding. Now if we're trying re-tool well it would make sense hiring a more credible coach, or if we're trying to win while rebuilding on the fly so-to-speak.




[Edited by - TrueBlue on 05-09-2008 09:52 AM]

what I mean by taking a chance is that lenny was almost considered a burned out coach, Brown had baggage and a grinding personality, but the one thing they had then, that we don't have now, is a GM in isiah who would neuter them if it meant his own azz looking good.... D'antoni really isn't really taking much of a chance. Proven system, support of a Prez with integrity... He brings less bagage and a winning system, he doesn't come across as one of those old HOF coaches which many feel the NBA has passed by. D'antoni is fresh, new and innovative... we need that..

Posted by islesfan:

Posted by SupremeCommander:

Look, this team is going to improve defensively (and offensively) just by getting rid of Curry and Randolph (I say offensively too because the ball doesn't move with them on the floor).

Now, the Suns aren't to be confused with a great defensive team. But people don't understand D'Antoni's system too well here. A big part of his system and ideology is to be successful in today's NBA, you have to get more FGA and FTA. Hard fouls are a no-no, for example, because it slows the pace of game as well as gives the other team more FTA.

For all you guys that loved watching Latrell Spreewell play, that's the type of guy the Knicks would need... a guy who can jam the passing lanes and fly.

If you loved that 1999 team as much as me, you should be excited about D'Antoni

The 99 Knicks team was tough, resilient and played hard on defense. None of that can be said about a D'Antoni team.

Posted by islesfan:

Posted by tkf:

Posted by islesfan:

Posted by SupremeCommander:

Look, this team is going to improve defensively (and offensively) just by getting rid of Curry and Randolph (I say offensively too because the ball doesn't move with them on the floor).

Now, the Suns aren't to be confused with a great defensive team. But people don't understand D'Antoni's system too well here. A big part of his system and ideology is to be successful in today's NBA, you have to get more FGA and FTA. Hard fouls are a no-no, for example, because it slows the pace of game as well as gives the other team more FTA.

For all you guys that loved watching Latrell Spreewell play, that's the type of guy the Knicks would need... a guy who can jam the passing lanes and fly.

If you loved that 1999 team as much as me, you should be excited about D'Antoni

The 99 Knicks team was tough, resilient and played hard on defense. None of that can be said about a D'Antoni team.

and they got smoked in the finals by the same team that ended D'antoni's suns playoff run 3 out of the 4 years he was there... So if the spurs were in the east, there probably would have been no finals run for that 99 team....So what does this all mean isles?


[Edited by - tkf on 09-05-2008 1:31 PM]

Come on tkf, that team made it to the Finals on heart. They were shorthanded and weren't nearly as talented as those Suns teams.

2 out of the 3 times that the Spurs beat the Suns, the Suns had home court advantage and their 3 best players were all healthy. The Suns won all of 3 games in those series. The Mavs were able to beat the Spurs, same with a Lakers team that got smoked by Larry Brown's Pistons, why couldn't the Suns? Why are D'Antoni's Suns allowed to use the Spurs as an excuse as to why their 60 win teams underachieved?

Posted by islesfan:

Posted by SupremeCommander:

That 99 team got smoked in the Finals because Larry Johnson was a shell of his former self, Ewing was shelved, and Van Gundy was still feeling out how to use Camby and Spree. Moreover, the team was structurally flawed in that Houston and Spreewell were both often on the floor at the same time.

My point is simply if the Knicks have a comparable roster to that team, we'll be in great shape and fun to watch. Also, every argument agiant D'Antoni seems to be based upon THIS roster. Well, this roster SUCKS. Why the hell should the Knicks pick a coach for THESE players?

Every argument against D'Antoni that I've made has clearly stated that the players who will be brought in will pale in comparison to what he had in Phoenix. Where are we getting a 2 time MVP PG, 2 freakishly athletic all star forwards and a 6th man of the year who all fit his system perfectly? And even with all that he couldn't get close to the Finals.