I am worried that if/when we get knocked out in the first round. The MDAers will say "He needs a full year" blah blah blah

I for one would like to see no less then a first round upset and a decent showing/effort in round 2. If the Knicks play e.g. Miami/Chicago in the first round and push it to 7 and show undisputed effort and execution, I MIGHT give him a pass. If we play Orlando, I will expect no less then beating them. Other then that, I am dissatisfied and I call for regime change.

I can see the Knicks despite the coach putting out a strong effort in the playoffs since we can get up for the good teams (!Dallas) but NO SHOW the bad teams.

What are your expectations?

We're not winning a championship by trying to outscore an opponent, simple as that.

mreinman wrote:

JrZyHuStLa wrote:He needs to just go as of today. Stat and Melo are in their primes right now.

We're not winning a championship by trying to outscore an opponent, simple as that.

Though many would not mind seeing him gone already, I don't believe that is a plausible option right now.

Its not going to happen, which is only going to waste time. It'll take another 2 years for everyone including the organization to realize the hiring of D'antoni was Donnie Walsh's biggest failure as GM. Not being able to bring Lebron to NY was out of his hands, but firing D'antoni clearly isn't. It's going to take a first round playoff exit NEXT season for Amar'e and Melo to grow frustrated with his ridiculous principles.

fishmike wrote:

JrZyHuStLa wrote:He needs to just go as of today. Stat and Melo are in their primes right now.

We're not winning a championship by trying to outscore an opponent, simple as that.

Melo and Amare have never been strong defensive players in the NBA. Why is it MDA's fault Melo doesnt guard?

I REALLY hope we get Phil Jackson just so you will realize 85% of all the teams problems start and stop with the players.

MDA has always won in the NBA when he's had good players

So what would satisfy you in the playoffs? Will you defend MDA if they don't show up in the playoffs? I'm sure, even if you like MDA you expect a certain level of play and some type of showing in the playoffs.

Are you giving him Carte Blanche? Amare and Melo just don't play D and it's over? Lifetime Pass?

fishmike wrote:

JrZyHuStLa wrote:He needs to just go as of today. Stat and Melo are in their primes right now.

We're not winning a championship by trying to outscore an opponent, simple as that.

Melo and Amare have never been strong defensive players in the NBA. Why is it MDA's fault Melo doesnt guard?

I REALLY hope we get Phil Jackson just so you will realize 85% of all the teams problems start and stop with the players.

MDA has always won in the NBA when he's had good players

Melo and Amar'e have never been strong defensive players in the NBA, and with D'antoni coaching it surely won't improve. A head coach not being able to get his players to play defense. That's a problem.

And MDA has always won exactly what in the NBA?

JrZyHuStLa wrote:

fishmike wrote:

JrZyHuStLa wrote:He needs to just go as of today. Stat and Melo are in their primes right now.

We're not winning a championship by trying to outscore an opponent, simple as that.

Melo and Amare have never been strong defensive players in the NBA. Why is it MDA's fault Melo doesnt guard?

I REALLY hope we get Phil Jackson just so you will realize 85% of all the teams problems start and stop with the players.

MDA has always won in the NBA when he's had good players

Melo and Amar'e have never been strong defensive players in the NBA, and with D'antoni coaching it surely won't improve. A head coach not being able to get his players to play defense. That's a problem.

And MDA has always won exactly what in the NBA?

Have you ever played team sports? Please tell me how MDA is going to make Melo a great defensive player. Melo will defend when he wants to, just like Lebron did. Its that simple. MDA cant bench Melo if he thinks he's floating on defense. At least before the trade Amare had an excuse for taking plays off... we needed him and couldnt afford foul trouble, but at some point you have to guard and our forwards dont.

Maybe Hansbrough was too much for MDA's coaching skills to adjust too?

I'm not trying to be an ass here (happens naturally, ask PMS). When you see Melo float on defense are you really thinking we need a new coach?

fishmike wrote:

JrZyHuStLa wrote:

fishmike wrote:

JrZyHuStLa wrote:He needs to just go as of today. Stat and Melo are in their primes right now.

We're not winning a championship by trying to outscore an opponent, simple as that.

Melo and Amare have never been strong defensive players in the NBA. Why is it MDA's fault Melo doesnt guard?

I REALLY hope we get Phil Jackson just so you will realize 85% of all the teams problems start and stop with the players.

MDA has always won in the NBA when he's had good players

Melo and Amar'e have never been strong defensive players in the NBA, and with D'antoni coaching it surely won't improve. A head coach not being able to get his players to play defense. That's a problem.

And MDA has always won exactly what in the NBA?

same thing everyone not named Phil, Pop, Doc and Larry have won.

Have you ever played team sports? Please tell me how MDA is going to make Melo a great defensive player. Melo will defend when he wants to, just like Lebron did. Its that simple. MDA cant bench Melo if he thinks he's floating on defense. At least before the trade Amare had an excuse for taking plays off... we needed him and couldnt afford foul trouble, but at some point you have to guard and our forwards dont.

Maybe Hansbrough was too much for MDA's coaching skills to adjust too?

I'm not trying to be an ass here (happens naturally, ask PMS). When you see Melo float on defense are you really thinking we need a new coach?

It's not HOW D'antoni will make Melo a better defensive player, but rather WON'T. He'll stay satisfied with his offensive production rather than trying to get him to become a great two way player like a coach should.

Mike D'antoni doesn't get his guys to play defense, so how can a fan expect defensive improvement? He/She can't, thus needing him to go.

fishmike wrote:

MSG3 wrote:MDA needs these guys to compete night in and night out and he has to get past the 1st round to keep his job. Even then I would bring in Phil Jackson if he showed an interest in coaching here.

Wilkins, Chaney, Larry, Isiah, MDA... who cares. When the players are there the wins will be too.

This has the make of a 48 win team every year that might win a first round series here and there for the next 5 years. But we will have 2 all stars and sell out and all that so the excitement is back!

So Wilkins, Chaney, Downtown, Isiah had the same talent that MDA has now? And, being that they had infefior talent they certainly did not deserve to be let go, right?

Are you ok with a bad showing in the first round? There has to be some accountability even for you. Not everyone has MJ/Kobe.

I don't believe anyone will argue that this team is complete or close to it, that doesn't mean they can't play hard and play smart. If D'Antoni doesn't get through to them or he gets out coached in the playoffs, then its time to go.

GustavBahler wrote:I want to see a consistent effort from the players. I also want D'Antoni to show that he can make adjustments as they're needed (time outs and substitutions) in a playoff environment. Sometimes that isn't enough to win a series, that's ok as long as the team from the coaching staff to the players perform like they gave it their best shot. If they do then I don't care how far they go right now.

I don't believe anyone will argue that this team is complete or close to it, that doesn't mean they can't play hard and play smart. If D'Antoni doesn't get through to them or he gets out coached in the playoffs, then its time to go.

I agree with your expectation(s).

If we lose but show full throttle competitiveness that might be ok. But, what if we are hustling all over the place but we average 7-28 from 3? Do we blame our shooters or the flip a coin system?