When referring to Marbury(and I'm paraphrasing) I could have sworn I heard him say that Marbs wasn't playing because of the direction of the team and THINGS THAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST

correct

The question is, is Mike talking about:

1.) things that happened between him and Marbs in the past
2.) things the players told him
3.) all of the above
4.) Does it really matter

Posted by fishmike:

we couldnt have asked for more from MDA and Walsh. Coach came in with juice and played the guys he wanted to play. He told Isiah's centerpiece players in Curry and Marbury to grab some pine, because we dont need you. He got our Isiah's two biggest contracts playing at a high level and that allowed Walsh to move them for cap friendly players that will help us be competitive short term.

Most of all this team plays hard and competes. When they dont he screams at them. Then they play harder.

The young guys on our team we want to see grow play core minutes.

The players that got here in trades are thrilled to be here and talking about how this franchise is turning around.

This is the first time since Lenny's team went to the playoffs that I have watched Knick basketball and actually cared about the game.

Its fun and I like our players and coach.

I agree. I have a feeling that D'Antoni's decision came down to those player meetings during the offseason. I think everyone, including Marbs was getting a clean slate, but I think the players must have scorched him in these meetings. It's a gues, but I think I'm right on this one. The tough part for D'Antoni will be to get the new guys to not just talk but to actually buy in. I think part of the reason guys bought in earlier in the season is because they were out of options. TT, Catino and Harrington are in a different position. Add on top of that, the perceptiion that NY really doesn't want them and is looking for 2010 and it will be a chore for Mike to get these guys onboard. Hopefully they will have a little self motivation, but you never know.

I think the trades had to be made and I think they are good for us. We are finally starting over. I do however fear that some of the TT era losing culture seeps it's way back in.

There was one moment last night that really got me and it's why I LOVE Mike D'Antoni as our coach. He was riding the Knicks like a jockey in the final stretch. The Cav's had just scored a few unanswered baskets and were strutting and whooping it up as we were down big and as MDA looked down court you could clearly see him shaking his head up and down and mouthing OK, OK, Yeah, Expletive... He was basically showing disdain and anger at an opponent whipping up on his team and you got the sense that he was saying to himself We'll see you again down the road. He was real angry and you could see that he's got that swagger of a winner who remembers what it was like to play and compete. D'Antoni the player came out last night and I love'd it. I could see him looking at his tired regulars who have been playing so many minutes since the trade and he was patting them on the back and talking to them.

I think he's gonna work his butt off to get this group to play our system as soon as possible. It's killing him to see his team not play with the same chemistry and fight he had developed in them so far. That passion to win is what I love most about him and it's why his teams win. It's that same nasty edge you see from Jerry Sloan.

MDA can laugh now but dolan isn't going to be happy shelling out 6 mill for another 50 loss season esp after paying Brown 10 mill for one and Isiah 12 mill for 2 more of the same

Posted by McK1:

MDA can laugh now but dolan isn't going to be happy shelling out 6 mill for another 50 loss season esp after paying Brown 10 mill for one and Isiah 12 mill for 2 more of the same

Oh please. No matter the arrogance and ignorance level of James Dolan, I think he know's he's been an idiot for the last 8 years and has given Walsh the keys to the car.