Thus began the reign of the 24th head coach in Knicks history. He shrugged off doubts about whether his system or not could work with the Knicks' current personnel. He shrugged off doubts about his defensive weaknesses - "We held the other team to less points than us 58 times a year... 31 times on the road...".
Mike D'Antoni answered questions about his thoughts on the current roster of the Knicks team, including one Stephon Marbury:
"Back in those days in Phoenix, [the trade] was kind of a business decision," D'Antoni said while addressing the New York media. "I have no problem with Steph whatsoever. I think he's a very talented basketball player and I look forward to working with him."
Whether he really means it or not remains to be seen. In attendance of the press conference were the three Knick players who are all former Suns: Quentin Richardson, who had his most successful season under D'Antoni before signing with the Knicks as a free agent; Stephon Marbury, who played less than 20 games for Mike before being shipped out as a "business decision"; and Nate Robinson, who was a Sun for about 3 minutes after the Suns drafted him, then traded him to the Knicks.
Marbury was entertaining as always. Posting and Toasting has footage of Marbury's interview with the MSG Network after the conference:
"Deranged grin: check. Miami Vice outfit: check. Inexplicably sweat-drenched skin: check. "Running in the mountains" with his brother in L.A: check. We missed you, Steph."
Yes, Marbury did say he was "running in the mountains" as part of his training to get into shape for the D'Antoni system. My GF always describes Marbury's clothes as "pastel, Easter-colored suits".
"As far as I found out, I was part of the organization. Why can't I come?" Marbury said when asked why he showed up. "I think it's great. It's new life. Having a guy who's an upbeat coach, an upbeat style, [it'll] make us play different.
While we are giving love to Seth over at P&T, I have to admit I did enjoy this recent fan post on the David Lee Hawk.
The NY Post wonders if D'Antoni's signing with the Knicks might lead to a Steve Nash trade.
While D'Antoni pines for Rose, he also can try to get Nash to New York if he really wants. Nash can opt out of his contract after next season and force Phoenix into a sign-and-trade with the Knicks.
Nash presumably would want that, as he has lived in the offseason in Greenwich Village with his wife and twin daughters for the past four years. Nash actually makes regular appearances at the Knicks' summer basketball camps for kids.
"He loves the vibe, loves the culture," a Nash friend said.
Nash, however, will be 35 next summer and obtaining him would likely ruin Walsh's bid to get under the salary cap in 2010 for the younger superstars. If Nash doesn't opt out, he'll be a free agent during that 2010 class, and D'Antoni could get him then, too.
It seems completely unlikely that Phoenix would trade Nash, even if he forced their hand. Nor are the Knicks going to sign Nash as a 36-year free agent in 2010, if they can even get under the cap by then. Most importantly of all, you have to wonder how much the fact that everyone seems to be writing or, as in this case, implying, that Steve Nash is the only point guard who can make the D'Antoni system work (let's just give it a name already? Can we call it the "Euroffense"?) is getting on D'Antoni's nerves. You think that wasn't part of the reason he took off, for a fresh start? The criticism of his system over the past year - it used to be "can't win a title without defense" (absolutely true, by the way), but then it became "can't win with a behemoth like Shaq in the middle", and now it's "can't win unless you have a guard like Steve Nash running the point". That criticism has to be eating away at Mike D'Antoni. Wouldn't he love to prove he run his system, with some success, even with "points" like the combo guards Marbury, Jamal Crawford (the first Knick player he mentioned in his press conference) and Nate Robinson.
Steve Nash? Eff him - my system is so good, I will win with freaking Stephon Marbury! After this I'm going to add another degree of difficulty, and have Eddy Curry be my point. Let's see Phil Jackson's triangle top that!
It's pretty incredible how much people associated with the Suns want to remove themselves from under the "Nash Umbrella". First Joe Johnson, then Shawn Marion, and now you have to wonder how much of a factor it played in Mike D'Antoni's decision to leave, and sign with the Knicks.
Another aspect, not touched on enough: as Jordi from The Serious Tip pointed out to me, the last time the Knicks hired a coach with a reputation for being an offensive genius, and questions about his ability to adapt or change his style to match the slower Knicks roster, revolved around Pat Riley coming in to coach the Patrick Ewing Knicks. What was Mr. Showtime going to do with Ewing and crew? What he ended up doing is adapting, and becoming a defensive guru. As Jordi pointed out, what's to say that Mike D'Antoni won't have a similar reinvention.
There is still the question of what the Knicks will do with their draft pick, which will be #1, 2, 3, 5, 6, or 7. Top two, and you will almost certainly see Derrick Rose as the new Steve Nash. Anywhere else, and the Danilo Gallinari Watch begins.
I'll be keeping close tabs on this. The Next Big Thing for the Knicks will be learning what pick they will have at the 2008 Draft at the draft lottery next week.
Leave a comment
|
4 Comments
Comments
SML,
Just caught up on some of your posts, love your thoughts on D'antoni. Personally, I have been real pumped since the announcement and I too am completely baffled by the lack of enthusiasm for this coup by Donnie Walsh.
All these arguments about the roster not fitting his style and especially his lack of defensive coaching is making me sick. We just replaced ISIAH THOMAS, arguably the poorest head coach in the game from both a preparation and X's and O's standpoint, to a guy whose teams average win totals in the mid-50's on a consistent basis.
Seriously, if I had told Knicks fans in March that we were going to dump Isiah and replace him with D'antoni they would have no doubt been overjoyed.
Grifter: You and me, both.
Ben: Yeah, absolutely agree. Isiah Thomas was a terrible X's and O's coach, and terrible in preparation and motivation. The roster isn't as flawed as perceived. D'Antoni's system will determine that for sure - personally, I think all the Knicks underachieved, and are capable of much more. With D'Antoni, you'll get a smart X's and O's guy; you'll get motivation - which player in the NBA doesn't love playing in a system where they get to shoot as much as they like, score as much as they like, and not worry too much about defense?!? That's why D'Antoni was voted 2nd in "favorite coach" by players.
As for the lack of enthusiasm - get ready for more of it. The Daily News and Post are clearly feeling threatened by James Dolan's recent purchase of Newsday, and are going to be very petty over the next few months. I'm guessing if the Knicks don't get the #2 pick (aka Derrick Rose), you can bet whoever they get at #5 or whatever is going to be heavily criticized. Guaranteed. Bet on it....
the last time an established offensive coach was brought in to run things, it was don nelson, not riley -- and unless you're boys with anthony mason (or a fan of of diamond d's "best kept secret" video), opinions of the nelson era are fairly uniform...
as far as d'antoni is concerned, i'm neither as psyched as sml nor as down as isolabermanvecsey. given the craptastic state of the knicks, bringing in someone like d'antoni is the logical step toward respectability (though not a championship).
-
starbury's training sounds like he's been watching too much rocky IV: either that, or he's been pulling a little mac with his brother as doc.
wait... the knicks actually have a draft pick that wasn't traded away?
as a knick fan, and one of last four marbury fans, i hope this works out. at first i had concerns about chubby curry and fatty mcrandolph not running the floor, but you gotta realize a couple of things:
1) d'antoni just left shaq. he's not any more mobile than those two (at least he rebounds, though)
2) those are two offensive guys. maybe they'll do what it takes to be on team that scores 100+ every night
3) yes, i'm slightly delirious.