Now to the topic at hand. I hope we will see a different approach to the game by the Knicks next year. What I have seen by watching the World Cup, International play is much more of a team thing than what is played in the NBA. Individual player stats are a minor thing in evaluating the players here at europe, while being the main focus in the NBA.

I hope we will see D'Antonis vision of BBall as a teamsport this year. The Defense should be more zone oriented with all the long athletic guys on the team. As I watched the Turkish 2-3, 1-3-1 and 3-2 zones in the world cup, I couldnt stop thinking about the New Knicks shutting down opposed offenses by a similar approach. If it werent for the willingness of team USA, to work for Durant as a team, they would have been out way before the final game. They adjusted to the game, and played unselfish team ball to win.

I dont really know how the SSOL offense is supposed to work, but as far as I understand it, its about getting anyone an open shot. Its the contrary approach to the 4-players-spectating-the-great-hero-iso-ball, played by the likes of Joe Johnson or LeBron.

Everybody should be busy setting screens, catching, passing and yes, shooting the ball on our team. Im really looking forward to this season, if only to be proud of my/our Knicks again. After the Decade of Disgust we just witnessed, it will be a relief to see a team with a cohesive philosophy again. It might not be the early 90s no-layup-Knicks, but maybe something brand new exciting AND in the end hopefully successful.

Amen ^^

PS: I know the suns played SSOL to perfection, but I have never seen it in action. Its hard enough to see some Knicks games over here, following the Suns was practicly impossible for me.

The last decent thing to come out of Turkey basketball-wise was Anthony Mason.

I do think team ball is a better way to play. At the championship level, you DO see team ball being played. However, I think there's hope for the Knicks because even with the current level of championship teams, you often times see them break down into bad iso-oriented plays.

If the Knicks can play as a cohesive unit for a large majority of the time, it's clearly an advantage over teams who fall into seductive iso-oriented play. Iso-oriented play relies on having a star be consistent EVERY game, which is simply not possible. Having 3 stars helps (Heat) but even then all 3 can have off an off-night at the same time, and that's when teams that play all 5 players + a bench will have an advantage.

The kid has talent but a one track mind on offense.

But it is said the human male brain does not fully develope until age 25.

And then there is Nate............

Regarding "a new kind of NBA ball" the euro model seems more popular as the leagues flurtation with the fat athlete has proven itself. The "Sweetny" type player is effective until they eat themselves off the court. Eddy, Sweetney, Traylor, MIller, and Sean May all can't stay healthy despite obvious talent.

Shaq is not so "Fat" as "Large" has proven to be an exeption. He has lasted much longer than I thought he could even with his limitations.

Guys like "the big Z" have been the new center. They can run and shoot. BIt weak in the low post but are mobile. Kamen has been a good example.

But the Euro model was effective against out bone head national teams for a while which proves team game can beat isolation game.

Financially the dependance of "Stars" is not a good one. The NFL promotes the team. Hockey financially ruined itself promoting "stars" but also suffers without them. THe NBA might be a better product with less stardom but ultimatly with just 5 guys playing at a time with no helmets on stars will always emerge.

The Fundamentals of team game should demand more fundamentally should players than AAU highlight aspiring players are developing. Thats an old arguement for sure, but one that is still needed.

It has been important more than anythiung that a team not just collect talent as Isiah did but when a team takes on the identity of its coach you aquire players to meet those specifications.

When Terry POrter took over MDA"s team in PHX it did not work. MDA taking over Isiah's team was a disaster.

Two years later we can say MDA sucks at coaching players not built for his system. Fair enough. ONly now do we have the foundation set. MDA should be extended after this yeare providing he does not really screw it up.

Last year was about cap space, this year is about building a foundation. And with fondations you have to dig under ground before you can build it up.

Is that an excuse for a slow start? Nope, just reality.

Behold the new era of NBA ball and it will be big news in New York.

I hope it does not include Melo.

nixluva wrote:Mike is an elite coach and an innovator in the NBA. He's not gonna "mess things up" this year cuz he's not the reason why this team has sucked for years. You bring in a GM like Walsh that understands what wins in the NBA. He selected Mike over a lot of other options cuz he recognized how good Mike is. Now we have a team that is almost perfectly suited to what Mike wants to do. We don't really have the perfect PG or SG, but at least the team is 95% of what he wants in terms of player abilities.

Now it will take a bit of time for guys to get it going, but make no mistake that they will eventually figure out how to share the ball and make things work the way SSOL is supposed to work. It's an adjustment for many players. Also AR is VERY capable of passing the ball. Last year when he was on fire in Nov. he avg'd 2.3 assists. He's just going thru a normal adjustment phase. Once he figures this all out, I expect him to get comfortable and make more BB plays.

Mike is trying to get the entire team to be able to recognize when to pass and get a wide open shot. His system is predicated on creating the best possible shot, which often comes early before the D is set. That's why we have to keep the pace fast. The sooner we get the ball up court the less prepared the D is to stop what we're doing. A few quick passes and proper spacing will create those open shots every time. The Armani team was well schooled in the passing game which is why we had a tough time with them. When we relied too much on solo offense they were able to attack defensively and get steals. That style of D is exactly what Mike tries to do. Lots of hands in the passing lanes. His game was polished in that style and he adapted it for the NBA.

The main difference in the NBA is the presence of elite players like Kobe, Lebron, Wade, Durant, Melo, Duncan etc. These players can't be stopped by normal means and when you play D that is essentially a modified Zone, these elite players will destroy it unlike the normal player who has limitations. Most coaches are scared to try what Mike is doing. They feel more comfortable with the traditional NBA game. That Euro stuff takes a lot of faith and risk of being criticized. Many coaches are unwilling to stick their neck out like that.

Now the guy that has short practices, doesn't make adjustments for opponents or watch game films to prepare, is rigid to the point where he won't change and left the perfect and possibly only situation where he could succeed doing the minimum, is a braver and more of a risk taker than coaches that teach defense, watch film and make adjustments for what other teams do on offense and defense and communicate and act as the authority figure on their team? If you disregard the drama created last year, the lack of playing the lottery pick and the other first round pick that were supposed to be around after the marginal vets contracts expired, and you think D'Antoni just mailed it in then maybe you could make an argument that he is a good coach. Time will tell. He has done nothing during his time in NY to indicate that he is and a lot of faults have been exposed.