Post columnist Steve Serby huddled with Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni, whose team tips off its lockout-shortened season today vs. the Celtics.
What your highest high so far with the Knicks, and the lowest low?
I guess when we made the playoffs. The six-game losing streak last year was tough when we had a better team. There’ll be lower lows to come, and there’ll be higher highs to come.
You think so?
Yeah, because we got a better team now. The expectations are even higher than what we had. So now, now it’s for real. Before, we were following a game plan of deconstructing a team and getting to a spot where we could start constructive. And we knew that. And people were on and off the bandwagon during the process. But I think everybody involved knew that we were heading down to a complete bottom to come back up.
Was it worse than you expected?
To be honest with you, better than what I expected, because the fans kinda stuck with it. I think they understood what we were doing, and they’ve always been good. It’s always been sold out, it’s always been a pretty good atmosphere. … Sometimes they’ll boo and that stuff, but that’s normal reaction. … It’s like on draft night, no matter who you draft, 100 people there, every 10 people are gonna have a different guy they want. So, no matter who you draft, those 10 people are gonna boo, that you didn’t draft their guy. … But I thought the crowd has been very supportive for the team, and very good. And I think they understood what we were doing. … Now it becomes where it gets to be interesting, because the expectations are way up there now.
And you put the expectation up there.
I didn’t have to. I just reconfirmed, and they’re already up there. I’m not gonna come in and undersell it. How am I gonna undersell it? You got the best frontline in the business. Now, we do have some maturing to do, and some growing. And I know … the fan base will be anxious to get it done today, and it could be tomorrow. But, we can get this done. It can be done, and if it can be done, why not say it? Our objective is to win a title this year.
… When we go walk out on the court, I expect us to win, and I expect us to dominate the other team. And I don’t care who we’re playing or what night it is,
So you expect the Garden to be an intimidating place for visiting teams this year?
We should have the mindset that we don’t lose in the Garden.
You don’t worry about being on the “hot seat”?
No. Give me one coach in any sport that’s not always on the hot seat. You’re just as good as your last game. … You’re always on a hot seat.
Tell me about Carmelo Anthony.
New York loves the best of the best, and he’s the best of the best.
What makes him the best of the best?
His ability to get shots up … make big shots. … He’s a very smart basketball player. … He’s got quick feet. … Not many people can do what he does. In this league or in this world, and there’s only about 10 of ’em, and he’s one of ’em. So when New Yorkers are watching the NBA, and they’re watching Melo, they’re watching one of the best guys to ever play the game.
How hungry do you sense he is to win a championship?
I think very much so. Just the way he came back in shape, his leadership, his dedication to the game, the hours that he puts in before and after practice. I don’t think it can get any better right now.
What will New York love about Amar’e Stoudemire?
Just his power, his strength … and again, you’re talking about one of the top 10 players in the league. … His ability to dominate, just … his beastly nature. He’s a force. Where Melo is a little bit of a force, but also more of a finesse guy, where Amar’e is first a force guy, and then he has a little finesse. But his ability to be able to pick up a whole team. … He gives the rest of the guys … courage. He’s leading the charge [and is] … a strong-willed person. And I’ve seen this from Phoenix — his will to conquer anything, whether it’s the media, whether it’s basketball, whatever. … He’s off the charts.
His mentality is infectious?
Oh yeah. When you go into a high-pressure game, and you’ve got a guy that’s fearless, it helps you. And when your leaders are Melo and him, they are fearless. And they want the pressure shots, they want New York.
How about Tyson Chandler?
What he has is infectious. Of talking, communicating … his positive attitude is the thing that jumps out the first day. His ability to be able to treat every practice, every game, as the most important thing in the world, by his energy, and his exuberance for whatever we’re doing. Even if it’s in the film room, it’s on the training court, it’s in the lunch room, he has an ability to make people feel good … good about themselves, good about the team. That is infectious.
Landry Fields?
He’s just gotta learn the ups and downs of the NBA. He had a little bit of a down period last year at the end of the year, but it’s understandable. He can become a very good player.
Ian Shumpert has the looks of a young Clyde Frazier on the court.
A big point guard … knows how to play … can really defend. … That’s who he should model himself after.
What is it like being head coach of the New York Knicks?
It’s a great job. And we got great people here, a great organization, the facilities are unbelievable, and the excitement about playing on the world’s biggest stage — it’s true. The highs are really high and the lows are really low, and there’s really no in-between. That’s the challenge you take as a player, coach, whatever … executive … that you’re gonna have to perform at a high level, whether that’s by luck or whatever, by design, it has to get up there, otherwise it’s not gonna be the most pleasant experience, but it’s a challenge. And I think everybody would love a challenge like that.
Not everybody.
Well, if it goes well you would. If it goes bad, you don’t.
Bill Parcells called New York a euphoria-disaster town.
There’s no in-between. And, you’re never as good as they say you are. You’re never as bad as they say you are, and you just gotta hold your ego intact … both ways … and understand you are who you are. But it is exciting trying to make it work out.
What do you think of the criticism that you don’t coach defense?
Does it bother me? I think any criticism bothers anybody. I get my back up when I hear stuff that I think the people don’t know what they’re talking about — understanding that I can improve in a lot of different areas and the team can improve. But to say we don’t coach it, and don’t know the way to coach it, I find amusing. … That’s like me saying the head of the Federal Reserve doesn’t know anything about monetary policy.
The challenge of a 66-game season?
Just trying to keep them mentally and physically ready to play, that’s the biggest challenge. You’re not gonna be able to teach everything this year, and we have to go slowly with it, because I do think that keeping away from injuries and things will be more important than trying to cram everything in. You’ll see some sloppiness, and some people not really 100 percent into their game because it’s been rushed so much that they might be off-kilter a little bit individually or team-wise, and you just gotta suck it up.
Do you mind being recognized in public?
I’d rather not, but it goes along with the territory. I’d be kinda hypocritical to say, “Oh, I don’t want to do that.” Well, that’s why they pay you to do that. If I didn’t want to be, then I’d go coach a high school somewhere.
Favorite Christmas memory?
Waking up on Saturday morning with the whole family and look and see what you got under the tree, what Santa Claus left.
Christmas wish?
All your loved ones stay healthy.