The OtherArena

jdw · Site Admin Joined: 01 Sep 2005 Posts: 12684

It's hard to see Phil taking over what looks like a trainwreck. He could do it just for a massive payday, but he had plenty of those with the Lakers: he was among the very highest paid coaches through each of his two runs.

John

JAG · Joined: 27 Jul 2006 Posts: 1398

I could see Phil as president with Brian Shaw as coach.

Knicks should trade for Dwight if they really want Phil.

Jagdip

corrado · Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2780 Location: LI

D'antoni gone. Mike Woodson to take over.

Melo is to blame for this IMO.

jdw · Site Admin Joined: 01 Sep 2005 Posts: 12684

Yep. I didn't expect Mike D to make it through the season if they kept playing like this, but the timing along with the rumors tend to draw a lot of attention to Melo forcing the point.

If Melo were smarter, he would have gone to upper management, expressed his issues and suggested that they do something *after* the trade deadline so that it didn't look like a "Fire Him or Trade Me Now!" move. The problem is... Melo's not that level of smart.

John

Rian · Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 1841

Or maybe because Mike D doesn't believe in actual "D"?

jdw · Site Admin Joined: 01 Sep 2005 Posts: 12684

Knicks defense has been better this year since they brought the guru in. It's the offense that's tanked, specifically in the games Melo has played in.

I think we all bounced this around last year: Melo's offensive game doesn't really fit in with Mike D's style of offense. It wasn't going to work out over the long run. I think we saw last year it wasn't, and that carried into this year as well.

John

jdw · Site Admin Joined: 01 Sep 2005 Posts: 12684

Anthony and Knicks Can’t Play Together

That predates Mike D walking the plank, but is telling.

John

corrado · Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2780 Location: LI

Knicks are blowing out Portland. granted this is Portland though. So Im not sold yet.

Rian · Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 1841

It's just Portland, who is a shell of a team right now.

jdw · Site Admin Joined: 01 Sep 2005 Posts: 12684

“Linsanity” is dead. Welcome to Woodson’s Knicks

If the team keeps playing bad, I predict Melo asking for a trade in the off seasons... after Knicks Fans boo him out of the building.

John

Rian · Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 1841

Linsanity died long before he was relegated to more of a bench role. All an east coast hype machine, barely registered anything out here besides in the Asian-American community.

jdw · Site Admin Joined: 01 Sep 2005 Posts: 12684

I've pointed to Lin being overrated. That said, he gave a glimmer of the offense Mike D could/would run if:

(i) he had even an average PG of that type

(ii) wasn't stuck with IsoMelo

I'm not a massive fan of Mike D. His teams are entertaining, and more fun to watch than the Riley Knicks/Heat from the 90s/early 00's. I'd just as soon see him go to some place like Atlanta or Toronto or New Orleans or Mil where there wasn't such a demand for Win The Title, and instead just be able to build a Playoff Team that's somewhere between 45-37 and 55-27 (depending on peaking) that's just entertaining to watch. League needs some fun 8th through 5th seeds in the post season that can make a series good to watch and perhaps pull an upset or two when the match ups line up.

I think there's a place for coaches like that who do things differently.

What Lin offered up was a glimpse, and where *better* Mike D teams succeed: they beat up jobbers. The league is full of jobber teams, and a good mid-level team fattens up on them, then beats some of the better teams when when those better teams are on the road or playing a back-to-back or just match up poorly where a gunning Mike D team torches them in a game. Bingo... they're 45-37 or 50-32 or better.

A Melo never fits into that. :)

John

corradopark · Joined: 26 Jul 2010 Posts: 7

Ive had computer problems the past few days (hence the other username) so heres my thoughts on the Knicks:

I'll admit Linsanity was overblown. Mainly because they were facing the Wizards and Nets of the world, and it was in the early part of the year instead of the postseason. Dallas was an impressive victory. Lakers not so much due to Fisher etc. Lin started to get exposed after the Heat game. Once they started playing real teams.

Im not sold on the Knicks yet. They've been facing jobber teams. Tomorrow is their first test against the 76ers. They need big wins, and not blowout wins. But a good enough win against a powerhouse team will really help them out if they make the postseason. Seeing as if the Bucks improved with Monta Ellis.

Things might be better with Woodson. Esp with defense. But we've seen the Knicks have runs like this only to go on a decline. For now, I'll reserve judgement for a while on the Knicks.

corrado · Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2780 Location: LI

Well the Knicks passed the first test in the Woodson era with a gritty win against the 76ers. It was a really bad game at first with the 76ers not making any field goals for the first eight minutes. But things picked up with both teams. Amare was key here, and yes he has looked much better as of late in the Woodson era.

These werent the Bulls/Heat etc but this was a nice test that the Knicks passed.

corrado · Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2780 Location: LI

Good/Bad news day.

Good news: Knicks beat the Bucks and in all liklihood, will make the playoffs. I cant see this Bucks team, even with Monta Ellis, catching up with the Knicks.

Bad News: Amare Stoudmire is out indefinately with back spasms. Which bothered him last year as well. This could be very troubling as Stat has been one of the best Knicks in the Woodson era. I do expect him to return soon, but its going to be tricky.