(
)
Who did you think would get run out of town first, the coach hired by Donnie Walsh? Or the pin-up player acquired by James Dolan?
If only the Knicks’ owner also agreed to resign. Only in his case it wouldn’t be a “mutual’ decision, it would be “unanimous.”
That Mike D’Antoni did not make it past the first round of the NBA playoffs was no surprise.
That he didn’t make it past the first round of the NCAA’s, well …
Snide comments come easily: “When does Steve Nash take over?”
“Was this ordered by Rich DeVos in a last-ditch attempt to keep Dwight Howard?”
“Shouldn’t we be checking to see when Isiah Thomas leaves (left?) Florida airspace?”
After all, these are the Chides of March.
What, exactly did in D’Antoni? I mean, aside from his 121-167 record in 3 1/2 inglorious campaigns, low-lighted by the Knicks’ 18-24 mark, including six straight setbacks?
More to the point, what exactly didn’t send him scurrying like a roach for cover?
D’Antoni simply did not know how or cared to figure out how to satisfy or mollify Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire either individually or as a tag-team. The latter needs the ball hand-delivered (see Nash, Steve), while the former has to have it pried from his paws.
This was evident early in the season, when Stoudemire, in his second go-round playing for a supposed offensive mastermind, became the league’s highest-paid decoy. Lately, Anthony assumed that role or co-shared it.
The antidote came, albeit briefly, when a groping D’Antoni turned to Jeremy Lin, who had come into the NBA unannounced and had been hanging out for a month at the end of the Knicks’ bench. With Melo out and no past performances on Lin for opponents to study, the offense moved crisply and effectively, disguising ubiquitous defensive deficiencies.
Mockingly, Lin became both D’Antoni’s savior and executioner. He saved his job and that seemingly cost the coach who flip-flopped between Melo and Lin as focal “points” before settling on the learning-on-the-job playmaker.
“Melo is not an ancillary player!” accentuated an NBA head coach. “If he’s not going to be the man then you better have a better man on the firing line. Lin is a good player and will have a decent career, but having Melo off in the corner waiting to get involved is appalling.”
Not coincidentally, the Knicks were 2-8 (before last night’s game with the Blazers) since Melo returned from the injury. Sunday’s home horror show against the Sixers — coming out apathetic twice from the locker room — appeared to be the last scarlet letter on D’Antoni’s sweater.
The encore in Chicago was equally brutal. When players lack desire and direction, your tour can’t end well. D’Antoni spent more time sniping at the officials than smartening up his team.
A coach’s job is defined by how well he puts his team in a position to win and how quickly he’s able to adjust and readjust.
Judged by those criteria, D’Antoni has no case to plead.
That said, Dolan should never be let off the hook for contaminating last season’s aromatic atmosphere. Having cultivated an Isiah-like crush on Anthony, he had no qualms about undermining Stoudemire’s exemplary leadership and exquisite production.
An uninsured player, mind you, Dolan frivolously paid $45 million extra to outbid the Suns, whose celebrated medical staff had cautioned owner Robert Sarver to offer no more than three years due to knee and back concerns. This is year two and Stoudemire already is noticeably not the specimen he was last season.
It’ll be interesting to see how far Anthony’s numbers go up and Lin’s responsibilities are reduced under interim coach Mike Woodson, another in the fraternity who refuses to foul up three in the closing seconds and switches everything on defense.
For those who weren’t paying attention during Woodson’s six seasons as Hawks coach, his offensive scheme faithfully centers on isolations; think Joe Johnson.
Melo is going to be very happy playing for Woodson. Lin will never show he’s unhappy, even when asked to take a step backward. It’s only a matter of time, it says here, before Baron Davis either starts or finishes or both. I predict that translates into winning a playoff spot.