I hope I don't have to eat my words on this but, Mike seems to be a hell've a people person. You would simply have to be a mean negative ass person not to like this guy. The media is going to love him here. I mean serious guys he really has a great personality. He will turn a every negative comment into a sarcastic joke, its sort like not down playing the comment/question but just pretty much saying it will work it's self out. Walt touch on it at the end of the telecast and i had been thinking the same thing while listening to him lately, kind a figure I'd bring it up, see what some of you think

In the past i would be a little more critical of a coach like this for a undisipline roster , but this team has been together for 4 seasons and i feel like they have zero excuses, and truely want to play for him and win. I see us really winning a lot more games then people think just off of effort alone.

It's been so long since we had a quality human being as our Head Coach, that it's more striking than it should be. MDA is a class act and he knows how to get the most out of players while still being a nice guy. I've had to take crap from guys who told me that you can't gain the respect of players like ours with a nice guy and I refuse to believe that. We've seen teams reach the top with a coach that is known to be a player friendly guy. Both Lovey Smith and Tony Dungee are nice guys, that have been very successful with their teams. You don't have to be a hardass. Sometimes it's necessary to get in a teams butt, however, that approach is just one way of getting it done.

These players respect MDA and they feel he can help them to become winners. We'll have to see how things work out this year, but i'm pleased with how they seems to be responding so far. You can't really know until they face some adversity. I do feel tho, that MDA was a good choice and he's a great guy. Just him being here will give this team a TON more respect in the coming years.

Posted by BlueSeats:

After Isiah, the one thing the Knicks needed most was quality people. We can pick MDA and Walsh apart all we want, but they do seem to be quality people. It was a crucial first step.

But now they have to roll up their sleeves and get some work done. Charm only goes so far in this town.

I agree with you there. It was a great first step and hopefully one that can bring us back to respectability. Then they have to win. But if they don't hopefully they can lay the groundwork for the future.

Mike has one thing that no coach in NY has had since Riley. He currently owns the "juice card". We take for granted how important that is. When the players run the asylum, one of the them better be named Michael or Wilt or Shaq. In our case we've let too many idiots run the asylum. Finally, what the coach says goes. Finally!!!!!!!!

Bip's been preaching this since 2000. Finally I have been heard.

[Edited by - bippity10 on 07-10-2008 7:11 PM]

Posted by Bippity10:

Mike has one thing that no coach in NY has had since Riley. He currently owns the "juice card". We take for granted how important that is. When the players run the asylum, one of the them better be named Michael or Wilt or Shaq. In our case we've let too many idiots run the asylum. Finally, what the coach says goes. Finally!!!!!!!!

Bip's been preaching this since 2000. Finally I have been heard.

[Edited by - bippity10 on 07-10-2008 7:11 PM]

almost seems like every coach who comes in here has the juice... til they get squeezed that is... let's hope Mike D's worth the squeeze.

sip the juice, i got enuff to go around.

Posted by TMS:

Posted by Bippity10:

Mike has one thing that no coach in NY has had since Riley. He currently owns the "juice card". We take for granted how important that is. When the players run the asylum, one of the them better be named Michael or Wilt or Shaq. In our case we've let too many idiots run the asylum. Finally, what the coach says goes. Finally!!!!!!!!

Bip's been preaching this since 2000. Finally I have been heard.

[Edited by - bippity10 on 07-10-2008 7:11 PM]

almost seems like every coach who comes in here has the juice... til they get squeezed that is... let's hope Mike D's worth the squeeze.

sip the juice, i got enuff to go around.

That sounds kind of weird.

Posted by 4949:

Posted by Bippity10:

Posted by BlueSeats:

After Isiah, the one thing the Knicks needed most was quality people. We can pick MDA and Walsh apart all we want, but they do seem to be quality people. It was a crucial first step.

But now they have to roll up their sleeves and get some work done. Charm only goes so far in this town.

I agree with you there. It was a great first step and hopefully one that can bring us back to respectability. Then they have to win. But if they don't hopefully they can lay the groundwork for the future.

I have a feeling that these Knicks have been wanting to break out and run the court all day long. I had that feeling last year to. And D'Antoni is the man that will set them loose!

What I like is that it's not just about letting them loose, but getting them play efficiently and smarter. Getting them to play harder on D and on the boards so they can run. This team needed an pride infusion and I believe MDA can teach them how to play with pride and to care about team 1st. I like what he's been doing with the team in practice and it seems from what i've seen that the team cares and really wants to be better. They see MDA as their chance to get to a higher level and they believe in him.

Posted by knicks1248:

Mike D'Antoni realized Tuesday this isn't Phoenix any more when he was asked about Stephon Marbury announcing his willingness to come off the bench this season "to limit the distractions" (even though by just saying that, he produced a small one on the eve of the Knicks' first preseason game).

"It's great. Wow," D'Antoni said when asked about Marbury's pronouncement _ as a puddle of sarcasm began to form at his feet.

"That's how everybody should act. isn't that how you do it? Don't you build a team? Does it matter who gets credit and who doesn't?
"This is the New York Knicks. I would think the New York Knicks [are] bigger than me and anybody else. ...

"I'm really proud he did that, but it shouldn't be newsworthy. To do the right thing should never make the news."


This is exactly what Im talking about..Just imagine LB or IT responding to this

Responding to it or 'saying it themselves'?

Posted by 4949:

Posted by knicks1248:

Mike D'Antoni realized Tuesday this isn't Phoenix any more when he was asked about Stephon Marbury announcing his willingness to come off the bench this season "to limit the distractions" (even though by just saying that, he produced a small one on the eve of the Knicks' first preseason game).

"It's great. Wow," D'Antoni said when asked about Marbury's pronouncement _ as a puddle of sarcasm began to form at his feet.

"That's how everybody should act. isn't that how you do it? Don't you build a team? Does it matter who gets credit and who doesn't?
"This is the New York Knicks. I would think the New York Knicks [are] bigger than me and anybody else. ...

"I'm really proud he did that, but it shouldn't be newsworthy. To do the right thing should never make the news."


This is exactly what Im talking about..Just imagine LB or IT responding to this

Responding to it or 'saying it themselves'?

That response won't lead to controversy,

Steph -in his position- might contribute to the fact, cause you would have to be a complete idiot to say anything other then what he said.

Posted by nixluva:

Posted by knicks1248:

Steph -in his position- might contribute to the fact, cause you would have to be a complete idiot to say anything other then what he said.

I think the way Steph should've handled this was behind closed doors and then let MDA decide if he wanted to let the press and fans know what he did. He chose to try to make his appeal in the press and that comes across as fake and self promoting. Like MDA said that is the attitude everyone should have. That's part of a winning philosophy.

I don't think it should matter if it was behind closed doors or out in the open. Marbury has always' been an out in the open guy anyways. And besides, we had enough behind closed doors around this franchise. We found out what was going on all this time, after dolan got sued over the isiah-Anucha incident.

So with that said, I think it is much better if we all stay away from personalities from now on. It's basketball again and it's D'Antoni system time. I'm pumped!