Yes! and the Foul

Finally on Team Carmelo

Posts Tagged Mike D’Antoni

Don’t blame Jeffries

Apr 21

Posted by YesandtheFoul in Knicks Banter, Recaps | No Comments

It’s easy to get frustrated with Jeffries’ offense, especially after Game 2′s game closing turnover, but what is barely being said is how the Knicks probably wouldn’t have had a chance to win without Jeffries defense and effort throughout the game.  This video illuminates all the ways Jared contributes defensively, literally guarding every position on the floor.

As for the foiled last possession, my initial reaction was “What’s Jeffries doing out there?!” And, really, maybe D’Antoni shouldn’t have had Jared on the floor coming out of a timeout with 13 seconds left, down one. But, what other options did he have? Amare was injured. Turiaf was clearly hobbled by some sort of leg or knee injury. Shelden Williams hadn’t played all game. Billy Walker was 0-11. Landry Fields did not look up to the task earlier in the game. Perhaps Shawne Williams should’ve been out there — and to me, he was the only real option — but, Jeffries had done a great job with tipping the ball out on rebounds, etc and had actually played a competent offensive game to that point. It’s unfortunate. I just think Jared was caught in a tough position with a great defender in KG bearing down on him.

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Pass me the Prozac, D’Antoni

Mar 22

Posted by YesandtheFoul in Knicks Banter | No Comments

I think it can be fairly said that the early returns on the Carmelo trade have been a disaster.  For the Knicks, that is.  The Nuggets and our old heroes are thriving in Denver.  No talk of adjustments.  No ‘it’s going to take time’ excuses.  No massaging of egos.  Just good team basketball and winning.  Gotta love the irony there.  Instant karma.

What Knicks fans are left with is something resembling a pickup basketball team with two great offensive players and some other much less talented guys reduced to passing them the ball and watching.  The lack of chemistry is startling.  Before the trade the offense flowed fairly organically.  Now numbers (7 and 1) are being called and all offensive cohesion has been lost.  D’Antoni handed over the offense to Billups to run something he and Carmelo are comfortable with, yet Melo and Billups say they still aren’t comfortable running the offense.  Huh?!

The defense is equally, if not more, offensive.  Amare gets one foul and stops playing with any defensive aggression.  Carmelo only seems to put effort into his defense when he’s playing someone he deems on his level (Lebron, Pierce, etc).  And the gaping hole in the paint still hasn’t been resolved (sorry, Jared Jeffries).

All the while, fans are being told to relax, take some Prozac and be assured that things will work out.  The message being conveyed by the coach and team amount to this: “Hey, we know this team is horrible to watch.  We know it’s only been 18 games (actually that’s almost a quarter of the season), but hang on! Keep wasting your time, keep paying astronomical prices to watch incredibly frustrating, terrible basketball.  It’ll all be worth it when we, at best, make it to the second round of the playoffs!! (uh, basically, not much better than what the team’s ceiling was pre-trade.)  Besides, you’ve only been stuck watching horrible crap for the last decade, all while being fed false promises and potential over and over and over again.  And on second thought, maybe you should just wait until next year… Sound good?”

The qualifying and excuses coming from D’Antoni on down AND the pouting and whining from Melo has been absolutely nauseating.  It’s time to pull it together.  Immediately.  Knicks fans have been subject to enough abuse.

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Is David Lee better than…?

Feb 11

Posted by YesandtheFoul in Knicks Banter, Recaps | No Comments

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.

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D’Antoni parties like it’s 1989!

Jan 19

Posted by YesandtheFoul in Knicks Banter | No Comments

I’d be negligent if I didn’t post this truly historical moment in Knicks history. And party history.

Mike D’Antoni and Danilo Gallinari’s dad. My my my. Any chance the Gallinari family used this ‘compromising’ video to blackmail D’Antoni and the Knicks franchise into drafting Danilo? They sure had some groovy dance moves, right up there with those crazy Czech brothers on SNL. The only thing missing from this video is a scene of Donnie Walsh with his shirt unbutton to his navel and gold chains working the room.

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Damning D’Antoni at an odd time

Dec 23

Posted by YesandtheFoul in Knicks Banter | 2 Comments

Mike D has been getting a pass from most non-NY bases media. Which makes this article all the more odd. http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-dantoniknicks122209&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

Woj basically asserts that D’Antoni’s ego drove him out of Phoenix and he landed in NY for the money – pure and simple. Worst of all he regrets not taking the Bulls job, whose lineup was more promising and ready to play his style of hoops. And now, Mike is leaning on his record in Phoenix as an excuse for the Knicks subpar record.

There may be some truth to it. Yes D is stubborn. He proved that with Steph, and is doing the same with Nate (though it could also be said that Nate has had plenty of chances under Mike). My biggest criticism is his unwillingness to go deep into the bench and develop some of his youth and rest his starters.

But in his defense, D’Antoni is compromising his offensive philosophy a bit to fit his roster. He also is the only guy on the team who HAS a record of winning. So if he had to pull that card earlier in the season – as mentioned in the article – I don’t see anything wrong.

I also buy Mike’s rationalization that he felt comfortable with Donnie and the rest of the Knicks organization. Phoenix was so cheap, and I think the Bulls had proved to be stingy, too. The Knicks clearly were willing to spend.

There is also the not so small factor of Mike’s wife prefering NY.

Whatever the case, Mike has the Knicks on the right track right now.

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