During Tuesday’s miserable loss (or comical loss if you’ve stopped taking the Knicks playoff aspirations seriously), my buddy asked me if I thought Mike D’Antoni is a good coach.  I said, “Definitely, he just doesn’t have that much to work with.  Plus the 2010 situation doesn’t do him any favors.”  The Knicks went on to blow the game with remarkably poor execution down the stretch (First, Duhon dribbling out the shot clock for a last second fadeaway three that missed and forced overtime.  Second, Jared Jeffries hoisting a 3 in OT when behind by 2 with 30 secs left, in some desperate attempt to get a 2 for 1).

But, still I can’t help but think it’s the players inability to execute more than it’s D’Antoni.  There’s NO way D’Antoni drew up those above mentioned plays.  The plays breakdown too easily because D’Antoni doesn’t have a guy out there who commands a double-team, and actually in this case had 2 players on the court (JJ and Du) who are so offensively inept that defenses can’t just sag off them and dare them to beat them.  But, really who else is Mike going to put on the court?  Hill played poorly in the 1st half.  Gallo injured his arm.  Yes, the Knicks should have found Chandler somehow on those plays, and I think those plays were designed to eventually get the ball in his hands, but Chandler was a marked man and didn’t get himself open. Coach has to work with what he’s got and that ain’t much.

I guess the toughest indictments I can make about D’Antoni is: 1) He treats his players like adults who can choose to self-motivate or not.  I actually think this is a good thing and like this about coach, but it isn’t the best approach for this team.  But, that’s just the way it is.  He isn’t an emotional galvanizer like Pat Riley, whose players I’m sure were convinced he’d strike them down with a thunderbolt if they didn’t give it 110%. And, 2) The short rotation bites him in the ass when his team isn’t playing well.  He runs himself out of options.

Anyway the discussion led to some thoughts I’ve been having about David Lee, whose emergence as a team leader (mostly in his own eyes it seems) has coincided with the Knicks’ downward spiral.  Despite his gaudy offensive numbers, Lee’s defensive effort has been abysmal.  He’s getting killed on the defensive glass.  He absolutely refuses to take a hard foul to prevent a basket.  He doesn’t make life the least bit difficult for his man, being unable or unwilling to stay in front of his man or play physical defense.  And, I have to think it’s ‘unwillingness’ considering his ability to attack the offensive glass.  Basically, Lee saves his effort for the offensive end of the floor, and doesn’t want to take fouls because he doesn’t want to risk being taken off the court.

His constant bitching and moaning clearly doesn’t do him any favors either with the refs or his teammates.  Lee’s constantly complaining to refs after every miss, after ever foul called on him, just everything.  Half the time he gets beat down court because of his incessant whining.  It just reeks of a player who thinks he’s better than he is and is more entitled than he is.  And, additionally, for a dude who bitches, he never bitches on behalf of his teammates.  For example, say Jared Jeffries steps in front of someone for a charge (something Lee would never do), and gets called for a defensive foul instead.  Lee never advocates for his teammates or challenges the refs for decisions if he isn’t directly involved in the play.  Think Rasheed Wallace (complainer-in-chief) is going to keep his mouth shut when that happens.  No way.  He’s going to let the ref know it.  But, he’s also letting his teammates know it, too. When a guy only complains for his own plays it makes you think he’s only looking out for himself.  And, Lee really seems to be playing with an attitude that says, “I’m getting my numbers so it isn’t my fault if we lose.”

But, despite all of this, yes, Lee’s the best player on the team.  And if Lee is the best player on your team, how good can your team really be?  I asked my buddy, “On what other team in the league would David Lee be the best player on the team?”  It’s pretty grim, but let’s go down the list for sub-.500 teams:

  • Nets (4-48) – best player who has played (not including injured players) – Is Lee better than Brook Lopez?  It’s close, but Yes (1 vote).
  • Minny (13-40) – Al Jefferson or Kevin Love.  Is Lee better?  No.
  • GS (14-37) – Is Lee better than Monta Ellis?  No.
  • Sacramento (18-34) – Is Lee better than Tyreke Evans?  No.
  • Washington (17-33) – Is Lee better than Antoine Jamison? No.
  • Indiana (18-34) – Is Lee better than Danny Granger? No.
  • Detroit (18-33) – Is Lee better than Ben Gorden? Yes (2 votes)
  • Knicks (19-32)
  • Philly (20-32) – Is Lee better than Andre Iguadala? No.
  • Clips (21-31) – Is Lee better than Chris Kaman? No.
  • Milwaukee (24-27) – Is Lee better than Andrew Bogut? No.
  • Chicago (25-26) – Is Lee better than Derek Rose? Nope.
  • Miami (26-27) – Is Lee better than DWade?  Nuh uh.

So, basically, there are 2 other teams that Lee would be the best player on.  ONLY 2!  Considering that in the NBA success is largely driven by the talent you have on the floor, the Knicks are probably overperforming with the 8th worst record in the league.  So let’s give coach D’Antoni a break, because he’s has the Knicks playing a lot better than we should’ve expected.

UPDATE: Howard Beck at the Times has a similar take on the Knicks lack of talent: Knicks Find That Talent Is Hard to Beat [ NY Times ].  Good read, as always.