N.Y. Knicks: Please Phil, Don't Stop!

From the desk of:  DUTCH PANTS CAN'T JUMP

Taxi!  Airport please, and step on it.

NEW YORK KNICKS: "The Time Has Come For Change Throughout The Franchise..." - Phil Jackson.

I couldn't agree more with Phil Jackson's decision to fire the entire coaching staff.  It was the right thing to do Knicks fans.  He was correct to declare - "The time has come for change throughout the franchise...."

You're damn right it's time!  Gut it Phil!

Let Phil Jackson put his footprint all over this organization, and then own it.  But please, don't stop there!  Steve Mills should be next.  Purge every last remnant of the old regime.  Knicks history, basketball history, even world history says that's the thing to do.  Gut it all!

The defects to this franchise go far beyond preventative, or even corrective maintenance.  Above all, this organization has been polluted under James Dolan's ownership.  All you need to know is what Steve Kerr intimated - he's skeptical of MSG's overall environment, conditions, and dark, corporate climate that permeate the organization.

Everything that ails this organizations starts at the top.  So, if indeed Phil Jackson has full, and absolute autonomy, then yeah, act like you own it.

There can only be one alpha, and it can not be a man who A) - knows nothing about basketball, and B) - is more interested in his band.  Yes, he is a business man.  No doubt.  That's why he needed Carmelo Anthony in his building, and trampled all over Donnie Walsh to get him.  But, the time has finally come to put the game, and the team, ahead of the star system and entertainment.

Too bad for Mike Woodson.  I hope he lands on his feet.  Over time, we grew to understand his flaws as a head coach.  But, he was a good guy who shouldn't have to bear full blame for players that either turned on him, or tuned him out.  That's an indictment more of the players, than anything Coach Woodson tried.

The day he took over, he said he was going to ride Carmelo Anthony.  That was a smart ploy considering Mike D'Antoni wouldn't.  To Melo's credit, by and large he stayed loyal to Coach Woodson.  The same can't be said of Tyson Chandler, and Amare Stoudemire in particular.



Mike.BTB

N.Y. Knicks: Melo's Shoulder Puts Team In J.R. Smith's Hands

From the desk of:  DUTCH PANTS CAN'T JUMP

SUNDAY

NEW YORK KNICKS

vs.

Miami Heat

FROM

The House That Rony Seikaly Built

Dade County, FLA.

NEW YORK KNICKS: Trailing The Atlanta Hawks By Two In The Loss Column, The HEAT Is On J.R. Smith To Help Team Win Out.

The only reason the Knicks are even knocking on the Hawks door is due to Carmelo Anthony.
With little exception, his supporting cast has been woefully inconsistent, and inefficient this season, with each player providing his own distinct dilemma or deficiency.

Make no mistake, Ray Felton's sub par play at the point has been central to this year's step backwards from being a 50+ win team last season.  Also among the top factors in the Knicks overall disappointing campaign have been Tyson Chandler's lack of presence, and Iman Shumpert's regression.  Isolation ball and a lack of commitment on defense prior to Phil Jackson's s arrival also share partial blame.  Although further down on the list, Coach Woodson's questionable strategies, or lack there of, haven't exactly advanced his cause either.  So, be sure, other reasons exist.

Arguments crediting, and advancing the contributions Jason Kidd, Rasheed Wallace, and Kurt Thomas made last year also ring hollow for me.  The current short comings of the core players are what put the Knicks in this situation, not periphery role players of the past.

That said, if put under oath, I'm sure Coach Woodson would concur, that trumping all reasons, has been the enigmatic play of J.R. Smith, and his alternating work schedule.  When he shows up willing to play, the results on the floor speak for themselves.  When he decides to take night's off, it's been an all too noticeable, and unsightly visual.

What's become painfully obvious during the team's recent surge towards the playoffs, is that, as J.R. Smith goes, so go the Knicks.  That's too bad, because had J.R. Smith invested himself into playing an entire season instead of performing in spurts, the Knicks wouldn't be in their current situation of having to scratch and claw for the 8th seed.

I'm left without a clear reason to explain J.R. Smith's precipitous fall in production from a year ago, other than to say he has money in hand, and failed to play with last year's hunger on any given night.

Melo now has a injured/bruised shoulder at the absolute worst time of the season.  Applying HEAT at this point would provide minimal results.  What's needed over the last five games of the regular season is an old fashioned, home grown remedy.  It's called teamwork, the type Phil Jackson spoke of at his introductory presser.

The Knicks task ahead is daunting, and like it or not, starting Sunday, J.R. Smith turns into the center of the Knicks universe. Melo's cranky shoulder now places Smith in the role of having to take the HEAT, and lead the team through the next five games.  After Miami, the Knicks have single games against Chicago and Brooklyn, and a pair against Atlantic Division leading Toronto.

The thing is, J.R.Smith has the talent necessary to determine whether if the Knicks play beyond April 16th.  But, the real questions are, does he possess the leadership, will he embrace the responsibility, and will he welcome the challenge of having to propel his team to victory over the next handful games of must win basketball?

Will he ultimately seize the moment?




Mike.BTB

N.Y. Knicks: Team Shows Energy In Front Of The New Boss

From the desk of:  DUTCH PANTS CAN'T JUMP

NEW YORK KNICKS: Who Were Those Guys Last Night?

Phil Jackson was in attendance at the Knicks 92-86 victory over the top seeded Indiana Pacers at the Garden - his new office.  To see the Knicks in action, even an untrained observer might have thought a new sheriff was in town, and was there putting the Knicks on notice.

The Knicks displayed a spirited defensive effort Wednesday night, and moved the ball marvelously to the open man, just as Phil Jackson said he wanted from his players, from this moment forward.

Did they play like that for Coach Woodson, or for themselves?  Do you think Steve Mills would have inspired such an effort with his mere presence?

The Knicks played like they were no longer apathetic to a non-existent structure.  Players can turn that sort of thing on and off like a switch.  With Phil Jackson, they know he means business, and that the easy life will be ending.  These guys actually have to prove their worth now.  Funny how they displayed and played with a lot of movement.

The Knicks only shot 39% against the Pacers.  That goes to show what defense can accomplish. Of course, it also helps when Carmelo Anthony clocks in 43 minutes and scores 34 points.  He led the floor on both counts.  How about this one - Melo had five assists too!

At the end of the night, this was still a good win over the Pacers.  It may not help their season, but it will make deciding who stays and who goes, a little more complicated.  They should keep it up.



Mike.BTB

N.Y. Knicks: Scuttlebutt Reigns Supreme At MSG

From the desk of:   DUTCH PANTS CAN'T JUMP

NEW YORK KNICKS: Melo!  Melo Changes Everything....  Or Was That, Money Changes Everything?  Whatever.

As we know by now, James Dolan held a private meeting with Carmelo Anthony, to discuss, of all things, the future status of their head coach.  Publicly, Melo says he wants no part of that conversation.  That's unfortunate.  But in a small way, I don't blame him.  More on that later.

First, talk about gratitude, huh?  From day one, Mike Woodson was careful to not make the same mistake Mike D'Antoni did, which was to not give Carmelo Anthony what he wanted, meaning, the ball.  Coach Woodson made it clear upon assuming the Knicks head coaching position, that he would be riding Melo like a mule, for as long and far as the small forward could carry them.  We are now finding out just how far that is.

I do not know how or when it happened.  Those of you who follow my blog know Melo has no friend in me. But at this point, I absolve him of blame for the current Knicks situation, on all counts but one.  Carmelo Anthony did not support his coach with the same unwavering loyalty Mike Woodson invested in him.  So, I guess from a coach's perspective, the present state of the Knicks is indeed a disaster, which was Coach Woodson's choice of word, not mine.  And, I couldn't concur more.

In my opinion, the two are joined at the hip.  If James Dolan fires Coach Woodson, then Carmelo Anthony needs to be traded, post haste.  Carmelo Anthony perhaps needs to be traded anyway.  The current cast of Knickerbockers is a bad mix.  They need to be reconfigured.  It is clear the Knicks can not surround Melo with a better supporting cast.  Therefore, Melo must go, then cross your fingers, and bank on a good return. It's just that simple.

If anything, or anyone, is putting Coach Woodson's job in jeopardy, it is the sub-par play of Raymond Felton at the point.  After that, we can start cherry picking reasons, like the lack of scoring from Tyson Chandler, or the drop in J.R. Smith's overall game since signing his contract, or Iman Shumpert taking steps backwards, or the infirmary of players they call a bench and supporting cast.

Making matters worse, Tyson Chandler, Amare Stoudemire, and Melo, are all guilty of displaying apathy towards their coach this season.  The only player to exhibit open support for his coach has been J.R. Smith - ironically, the one player Coach Woodson has been hardest on.

The Knicks entered Friday night's game against the Denver Nuggets with a 19-30 record, with matters deteriorating fast.  Scuttlebutt around Madison Square Garden says Mike Woodson will be fired by the all-star game.  So how did the team respond this evening?  They trailed Denver 26-20 after the first quarter. Melo scored 13 of the Knicks 20 points.

Exactly!

Coach is not without his own faults.  I'd be hard pressed to explain Mike Woodson's offensive philosophy with any conviction.  The strategy seems part iso, part Melo, and part gonzo.  With few set plays, poorly designed plays coming out of time-outs, and an inability to get his players to play collective defense, consider yourself up to date.

So why the big drop-off from last year when the Knicks won 54 games?  Were Jason Kidd, Kurt Thomas, and Steve Novak, that influential, and integral to the Knicks success last season?

There is no clear answer.  This season however, Carmelo Anthony has been made to shoulder the burden of putting the entire Knicks organization on is back.  The owner, a pseudo-GM, a coach on the hot seat, eleven other second rate players, and a bewildered fan base, all look to Carmelo Anthony for everything.

He's Carmelo Anthony, not Meadowlark Lemon!

At this point, I can no longer begrudge Melo for his lack of professionalism, when earlier in the season, he smiled when saying he looked forward to becoming a free agent.  When you're in-season, and under contract, that's disrespectful to all concerned parties.  In fact, when Dolan initially acquired him, I thought he would be at the center of everything wrong with the Knicks.  What Melo is, is a scorer, and a damn good one.  There is nary a Knick on the floor who compliments his game.  As it turned out, Melo is fine. Everything around him, however, is completely dysfunctional.

If it's about the money for Carmelo, he can make the most by staying with the Knicks.  If he's determined to win a championship, he'd be smart to hop the next train from Penn Station out of the city.  If the Knicks were smart, that puppet they call a GM would trade Carmelo Anthony at the deadline, in the best interests of the team.

*

Knicks won by the way, over Denver by a 117-90 final score.  Melo scored 31 points.  Amare came in big with 17 points.


Mike.BTB

N.Y. Knicks: Team Almost Unraveled In Chandler's Absence

From the desk of:  DUTCH PANTS CAN'T JUMP

NEW YORK KNICKS: Tyson Chandler's Return Came Just In Time To Possibly Save Coach Woodson From Himself.

Tyson Chandler couldn't have returned a game too soon.  Playing without him, and continued play without an effective point guard have weighed heavily on this team, to the point it all almost unraveled in the aftermath of a brutal loss against Washington.  Time-Out Gate, and the inquisition that followed could very well have been the end of Mike Woodson, right then and there.

Who knows what he was thinking, or not thinking at that moment?  It doesn't matter, because the lasting impression will be that Coach was unprepared for the closing moment of their game against the Wizards.  Afterwards, players pointed fingers as if identifying a locker room perp from a line-up.  But I think Coach himself exacerbated the situation, by bringing his former pupil, and current Nets sharpshooter, Joe Johnson into the conversation.  That's a huge no-no, and Woodson has to know that, especially in the realm of Dolan.  Secondly, he took an indirect, direct shot at his guy, his mule, Carmelo Anthony, who was actually first to hurl Coach under the bus by not standing up for him.

If winning cures all, or most all, then losing is a disease that can spread quickly throughout the system, if not diagnosed early and treated properly.  In the Knicks case, Tyson Chandler was just what the doctor ordered.  He played big minutes in his first game back.  The fact the Knicks  rebounded after the Wizards debacle, to defeat Milwaukee, coupled with Tyson's return, is all you need to know.  The Knicks missed him immeasurably.

Chandler will at least start changing the general conversation, and at a minimum, restore order in the paint.  Chandler is however, unlikely to get Woodson off J.R. Smith's and Iman Shumpert's back, or mediate the difference of opinion between Coach and Amare on Twitter.  Furthermore, that stunt Pablo Prigioni pulled against Milwaukee further demonstrates how little everybody's heads are in the game right now.  Getting back to Shump, he one scored one point in 31 minutes against the Bucks.  That's ponderous.

A legitimate point guard could clean up the remaining mess and confusion on the floor.




Mike.BTB

N.Y. Knicks: The Hole Keeps Getting Deeper

From the desk of:  DUTCH PANTS CAN'T JUMP

 

No Standing Anytime!

NEW YORK KNICKS: If They Continue To Dig A Hole At This Rate, They Should Reach China By Spring.

Hey kids, don't count on finding that New York Knicks 2013 highlights DVD stuffed in your holiday stockings this year.  Production is woefully behind schedule due to lack of quality play.  For the moment, all the crews at MSG have is a clip of James Dolan guaranteeing a victory over the Atlanta Hawks, and hours upon hours of footage of Coach Woodson cruising the sideline with confounding looks on is face, and players imitating statues on defense.

Since that night the owner willed his team to victory, the Knicks continued to rally around their owner by posting a putrid 2-11 record, which kicked-off with a nine game losing streak.  This past Sunday afternoon, the Celtics handed the Knicks their lunch during a noon-time matinee, to the tune of a 41 point disparity, in a 114-73 wipeout.

Tuesday night, they faced the Cavaliers in Cleveland, and only lost by 15 points.  That's progress, so, aim high, like Kyrie Irving did.

When you attempt more shots from beyond the three-point line, than from the free-throw line, by a 6 to 1 margin, you're doing something very wrong.  The Knicks were 4/5 from the line, while the Cavs were 16/22 from the line.  Instead of working harder to draw fouls, the Knicks were more content to stand around, and continually jack-up three-point attempt, after three-point attempt, to the tune of 31 shots from beyond the arch in the game.  Cleveland attempted 19 treys in the game.

Despite leading the Knicks with 29 points, and 8 rebounds, Super Melo was unable to overcome the Cavaliers by himself.  Amare Stoudemire came off the bench and offered the most support.  In 27 minutes, he scored 15 points, pulled down 5 rebounds, and blocked 2 shots.

For Cleveland, Kyrie Irving scored at will, and led all players with 37 points and 11 assists in Cleveland's 109-94 victory.  He was yet another point guard the Knick made look like a sure fire Hall of Famer.

The Knicks dropped to 5-15 this season, and are gaining separation from the Nets, who now own a 7-14 record.

TONIGHT

 

Chicago Bulls

vs.

New York Knicks

FROM

Madison Scare Garden

33rd Street at 8th Avenue

NYC

Mike.BTB

Nets vs. Knicks: Voyage To The Bottom Of The Atlantic Division Standings

From the desks of:

THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH  &  DUTCH PANTS CAN'T JUMP

 

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Local Basketball Plight Night:

 

New York Knicks

vs.

Brooklyn Nets

FROM

Barclays Center

Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn

 

 

 

In 2013, the burgeoning big city basketball rivalry has devolved into a ferocious battle for last place of the Atlantic Division.  Both teams have so far spent the first quarter-season setting new lows in futility.  And on any given night, one product stinks more than the other.  Tonight was just the Nets turn.  The stench is getting so bad, the NYC Department of Sanitation should consider ticketing both owners for polluting the city's courts with such garbage play.

 

The Knicks and Nets are a combined 8-26 this season.  With a 5-13 record, Brooklyn is actually the better of two.  But only for the moment.  Paul Pierce broke his hand, and Nets fortunes could soon plummet even further as a result.

Meanwhile, the Knicks own last place to themselves with a 3-13 record, but because the Atlantic Division is so pathetic, they are only three games out of first.

 

Denver Nuggets Hold A Dunking Clinic On Flatbush Avenue, As Ex-Knick Timofey Mozgov Pulls Down 20 Rebounds, And Provided The Two Hand Slam That Sent Brooklyn Fans Scattering For The Exits.

Depleted Nets Pan Fools Gold Against Nuggets:

FINAL

Denver Nuggets  111

Brooklyn Nets       87

 

3rd Qtr.

Nuggets   31

NETS      15

The Nets finally halted a five game losing streak with a victory over Toronto, then promptly dropped a pair to the Lakers and Rockets, before defeating the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday.

Entering Tuesday night's game against a 10-6 Denver Nuggets team, the Nets hadn't yet won two games in a row, and were winless in their last four attempts at Barclays Center.  The Nuggets entered the game winners of six in a row.

By night's end, the Nuggets were winners of seven straight, while Brooklyn dropped to 0-5 in their last five games at Barclays - their longest losing streak at their new arena, dropped to 5-13 on the season, and have yet to win two games in a row.

Tuesday, the Nets owned a 29-27 lead after the first quarter, but trailed 58-50 at the half.  Once again, the third quarter has been Brooklyn's kryptonite, as the Nuggets opened up a 20 point lead over the Nets.  By the end of the third, Denver led 89-65; a 24-point margin the home crowd did not appreciate.

Boos rained down from the Barclays Center rafters.

When the final buzzer sounded, the scoreboard indicated that same 24-point margin for a Denver victory, in a 111-87 final.

The Nets walked off to boos.


BROOKLYN NETS: Jason Kidd Consolidates His Power;
Head Coach Claims Tension And Philosophical Differences As Reasons For Demoting Lawrence Frank.
 

Third quarter melt downs, ballerina ankles, Soda-Gate, a fractured hand suffered by Paul Pierce, and now Lawrence Frank effectively gets pink-slipped - the season just gets more ponderous with every night that goes by.
 

Deron Williams continues to miss time with bad ankles - as in the plural variety.  Those ankles will bother Williams all season long.  I'm sure of it.  In fact, the rash of early ankle injuries, not just to Deron, but to Brook Lopez, and Kevin Garnett as well, was something remarkable.

 

Without their star point guard, the Nets are in a bind.  The offense is clearly fractured, if not disjointed.  Shaun Livingston has done admirable work in his place, but was never considered a good shooter.  He is also only averaging 3.4 assists per game.  Behind him, Tyshawn Taylor is averaging 15 minutes, 2.6 assists and 5.9 points.

Most notably, the offense has slowed again, which is something that has worked to Joe Johnson's advantage, and his recent results on the floor bear that out.  He is the Nets second leading scorer with 15.6 points per game.  He dropped 26 points on Memphis, to go along with 6 assists and 5 rebounds.

The return of Brook Lopez has also changed the face of the offense again.  But now that Paul Pierce will miss between two to four weeks, there is no reason not to double-team Brook Lopez..., all the time.  Enter Andray Blatche.  With Pierce down, he remains one of only three Nets players on the floor averaging double-digit points.  Blatche has averaged 11.1 points per game this season, mostly off the bench.

Both Lopez and Blatche trail Kevin Garnett's 7.7 rebounds per game.  Garnett is averaging 8.6 ppg.  Many people argue he needs to do more.  But he wasn't brought here for that.  It's the aforementioned who need to do more.  Right now, Kevin Garnett's voice is the only one worth listening to, because even the head coach wasn't sure his message was getting through.

Jason Kidd's effect on the team was looking questionable, although many insisted, he was in charge. Getting tuned out by his players was much more troublesome than Soda-Gate.  Now we have a revelation.  Jason Kidd admitted he and Lawrence Frank shared a difference of philosophical opinions, and that there has been friction between the two since the season opener.  Jason Kidd announced Frank will no longer join the team on the bench, nor will he participate in practices.  Frank has been reassigned, or should I say, demoted, relegated to processing daily reports.  It's only my hunch, that Kidd came to this decision between losing pitifully to the Rockets, in which Jason Kidd benched all his starters, and their recent victory against the Grizzlies.

I suspect Lawrence Frank will be amicably leaving the organization shortly.

This is a good move by Jason Kidd.  He needs to cement his position as head coach, and be the team's alpha.  For now, diagramming X's and O's is another matter.  But of his now infamous spillage, I'll give him an E for Effort, and a C for creativity, but I certainly do not care to ever see that repeated.  That was embarrassing.

This game against the Knicks will be number nineteen of the season.  Billy King put the number at twenty games before initiating his first reassessment of the team's overall situation.  Jason Kidd is well aware of that, and perhaps decided on a proactive, or preemptive measure in order to change the conversation moving forward.

Meanwhile..............


NEW YORK KNICKS: The S.S. Dolan Rests At The Bottom Of The Atlantic.

James Dolan gave Mike Woodson the proverbial kiss of death in a recent interview, by declaring his confidence in the Knicks head coach, and adding that he had no intentions of firing him.  Meanwhile, "Fire Woodson" has become the subversive anthem at the Garden lately, but Woodson said on numerous occasions that he doesn't coach scared.  Good for him, because the Knicks are in last place, in the midst of a nine game losing streak, and Tuesday, a local tabloid rocked the back page with Jeff Van Gundy.

Another thing James Dolan proved beyond a shadow of a doubt, is that he is obsessed with Mikhail Prokhorov.

On the court, Eman Shumpert continues to make an enemy of Coach Woodson.  Coach Woodson continues to growl at J.R. Smith.  But of all people, it was Amare Stoudemire who launched the first salvo at a team mate.  That said, Carmelo Anthony will be made to look like a rat fleeing a sinking ship.  I'd want out of this mess too.  Melo would be smart to opt out, and get away from NYC if he wants to win a championship.

Carmelo Anthony and Mike Woodson are joined at the hip.  Coach Woodson made it so the first day he took over.  If you remember, getting Melo to buy into the team concept is what got Mike D'Antoni fired in the first place.  In so many words, Woodson declared himself no dummy, and said he was going to give Carmelo Anthony the ball, and ride him like a mule.  That was a brilliant set-up by Woodson, because it's hard to get criticized for relying on your star player.  Instead, Woodson's potential downfall lies with the team's overall lethargy of play.  Hearing Melo repeat how the team, in which he always includes himself, didn't sell-out on the floor, or on defense, is getting tired.

It's funny that Melo should be the one who points out the team lacks cohesion, just like it was odd of Stoudemire to launch scuds.  But if the team lacks cohesion, he's the chief reason why.

There is hope yet, when Tyson Chandler returns, and if Ray Felton ever gets his act together.  Otherwise, Tim Hardaway's recent play is screaming for more minutes.  But none of that may be enough to save Jim Dolan's monster from the villagers baring pitchforks and torches when they come.





Mike.BTB

N.Y. Knicks: 'Bockers Hit A (John) Wall; Skid Hits Five

From the desk of:  DUTCH PANTS CAN'T JUMP

 

NEW YORK CITY BASKETBALL

 

ATLANTIC DIVISION:

New York Knicks  3-9; T-Last

Brooklyn Nets        3-9; T-Last

NEW YORK KNICKS: All In All, It's Just Another Brick In The WALL....

KNICKS LOSE 5TH STRAIGHT; DROP INTO LAST PLACE TIE WITH BROOKLYN.

Pre-Game: Melo Versus The World

Saturday Night Final
Knicks      89
Wizards   98

Set another plate at the table, because Misery has company.

Hello neighbor!  The Knicks were pushed up against a Wall in Washington Saturday night, and into a tie for last place of the Atlantic Division with the Brooklyn Nets.  With identical 3-9 records, perhaps both New York City teams can now join to commiserate over their continuing misfortunes and folly during the holidays together.  How nice would that be?

The Knicks losing streak is now up to five games.  Their latest defeat came Saturday night in the Nation's capital, by a 98-89 final score.  A 52-49 lead at half-time, quickly became a seven point deficit after three quarters.  The Knicks were outscored 27-17 in the third, and never recovered - eventually losing by a nine point margin.

Washington's legislator, point guard John Wall laid down the law.  He led all players with 31 points and 7 assists.  He was 10/18 from the field, and 10/11 from the line.  And there in lies your game.  Free throws and each team's ability to get to the line wound up being the deciding factor.

The Knicks and Wizards battled to a near even 74-72 Washington advantage from the field.  The Knicks connected on a few more three's than the Wizards.  The battle of the boards and team assists were relatively even as well.  The Washington Wizards, and Wall in particular, however, considerably outshot the Knicks from the line.  New York only managed 15 shots all game, and connected on six.  Washington took 22 free throws, and connected on 17, for a decidedly 11 point advantage.  The Wizards also outpaced the Knicks on the fast-break by a 16-5 margin.

The Wizards only employed an eight-man rotation.  Coach Woodson had seven players receive at least 20 minutes, and tasked World Peace and Pablo Prigioni with another 29 combined minutes.

Carmelo Anthony topped the Knicks with 41 minutes in defeat, scoring a team high 23 points, and pulling down another team high 12 boards.  J.R. Smith is still rounding into form as the team's second scorer, and dropped 15 points in 30 minutes.  Amare Stoudemire returned to the floor, and scored 12 points in 22 minutes.




Mike.BTB

N.Y. Knicks: After Fulfilling The Guarantee, 'Bockers Drop 4th Straight

From the desk of:  DUTCH PANTS CAN'T JUMP

 

I'm sorry, but Red Holzman isn't walking through that door!

NEW YORK KNICKS: What Will Jim Dolan's Band Think About This Latest Loss?

On the heels of an embarrassing loss to the San Antonio Spurs at the Garden, Jimmy Dolan took a relatively small leap of faith and guaranteed his Knicks would defeat the Atlanta Hawks.  On November 13th, they did just that.

The Knicks then went on to lose their next three games consecutively.  Atlanta exacted a measure of revenge, while Houston and Detroit also had their way with them.  There were common motifs weaving their way through New York's streak, some being - They wanted it more; We didn't come to play tonight; The effort wasn't there, etc.

Said Coach Woodson - "I'm not here to teach effort!"

The fans response - "Fire Wood - Son!!"  Clap, clap, clap-clap-clap!

My opinion - Firing Mike Woodson would be the worse thing the Knicks can do.  What ails the Knicks is not his doing.  Additionally, firing Woodson just brings us one step closer to Isiah Thomas, doesn't it?

On Wednesday evening, Beno Udrih(!) and the Knickerbockers faced the Indiana Pacers, minus the services of Ray Felton and Amare Stoudemire.  Carmelo Anthony led the Knicks in minutes again, scored 30 points, and pulled down 18 rebounds.  Brilliant.  The Knicks still lost however, by a 103-96 final in overtime to the Pacers.

For the most part, they showed good effort though.  But you almost get the sense that someone, Woodson, someone from the media, anyone, even Dolan, wants Iman Shumpert sized up for set of goat horns after committing a nonsensical foul at a really bad time.  But if the Knicks want to trade him, they won't.

So when will the owner's next irrational outburst come?  After all, the Knicks have now lost six straight games in Dolan's new $1 billion dollar palace this season.    Perhaps, James Dolan can strum a blues tune to convey how he really feels.

Oh, my Knicks lost another game.

Yeah, my Knicks, they lost another game.

Now I need someone to blame,

because my team lost another game.

 

Oh, I can't take it no more.

No, I can't take this losing much more.

My team puts forth no effort on the floor,

and so I can't take this losing anymore.

 

I'm gonna find me another coach.

Yeah, that's what I'll do, I'll find another coach.

I'll stomp this one like a roach,

and go hire me another coach.

 

Bring it on home now!

 

I spent a lot of money on MSG.

But only got a ten year lease from NYC.

Oh momma momma can't you see,

What all this losing has done to me.

 

 

Mike.BTB

N.Y. Knicks: Killing Us Softly With Their Words

From the desk of:  DUTCH PANTS CAN'T JUMP

NEW YORK KNICKS:  What's You Angle?  Who's Baby Is That?  I'll Buy That!

....If you don't know where that is from, before there were The Simpsons, there was a guy named Flintstone.

The Madison Square Garden Triumvirate has spoken, and no word brings good news.  This is what the Knicks had to say for themselves after Sunday afternoon's 120-89 branding administered by the San Antonio Spurs:

• No pride - Coach Woodson.

The coach is riddled with conflict he can not resolve.  Woodson was originally brought here to help Mike D'Antoni on the defensive side, but the Knicks stubbornly keep playing D'Antoni's defensive style long after his departure - which is none.  There was little to no excuse for allowing 120 points,  despite missing Tyson Chandler, because much of the damage came from the perimeter, and not necessarily inside.  In fact, Iman Shumpert might want to get an MRI on his ankles, and send the bill to Tony Parker.

Coach may have been dead-on when he said the Knicks showed no pride on their home court.  He was just offering an honest and poignant assessment.  That's what you also call taking the safe way through the media.  It's an old ruse to avoid singling-out any one player, while directly making it about the players.  The only problem is, the only player in Madison Square Garden that matters is Carmelo Anthony, and he does not play defense.  And if you remember, when Mike Woodson took over head coaching duties, he (took the media safe route - ding ding ding!  and...) decided right away to ride Melo like a mule.  Coach said so.  In fact, I remember Woodson saying (paraphrasing) - I know where my toast gets buttered.  To me, that just wreaks of inner-conflict.

For as long as long Woodson remains the antithesis of Mike D'Antoni, the known universe keeps a low opinion of James Dolan, and the ball continues to go through Dolan's acquisition, Carmelo Anthony, Woodson should continue have an ally in the media.  For the first time however, fans have started chanting for his dismissal, and James Dolan might be stupid impatient enough to listen.

So you see, this all goes so ponderously beyond X's and O's.

• We didn't compete, and it showed today; embarrassing - Carmelo Anthony

In the month of November - no - within the span of eight days, Carmelo Anthony played 163 minutes of basketball.  He averaged 40.1 minutes-per, in games against the Timberwolves, a home and home against the Bobcats, and most recently against the Spurs.  To begin the month, Melo scored 22 points against Minnesota and pulled down 17 rebounds.  By Sunday afternoon, Anthony was reduced to 16 points, 8 rebounds, and one assist against San Antonio.  Even if Melo wanted to play defense, he can't - not with this kind of work load.  And it's only six games into the season!

Ya Mule!

There will be more embarrassing games.  Be sure if it.  That is inevitable when a preponderance of players are not committed, (obligated), or incapable of playing defense.  What guys like Melo and J.R. Smith can do is make offensive comebacks somewhat exciting to watch.  You win some and lose some according to that method.  But well after the buzzer goes off, there is no getting around the game tape.  The film never lies, and reveals flawed basketball with no opinions.  It is what it is.  Stuff like that comes back to haunt teams in the playoffs.  ding ding ding!

Emptying the kitchen cabinets to acquire Carmelo Anthony, and a resulting ill-configured roster, max dollars and injuries to both Amare Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler, firing a coach and general manager, and yes, defense, are not on Carmelo Anthony.  The only thing on Carmelo Anthony is Carmelo Anthony.  And besides, he's Dolan's guy, which unfairly exposes Mike Woodson, no matter how embarrassing play on the floor gets.

• We're going to win the next game, that's a guarantee - James Dolan

The first guy was offering an opinion.  The second guy was just stating the obvious.  This last guy is so astonishingly out of touch, it's not funny.  I think we are witnessing the process of James Dolan losing his mind.  The Nets, Mikhail Prokhorov and Barclays Center, made him spend $1 billion dollars to renovate the Garden, and then New York City officials turned around and told him he only has ten more years to enjoy it.  No wonder he is so desperate to win - Wednesday night's game in Atlanta?




Mike.BTB

N.Y. Knicks: Dolan Set The MSG Dominos In Motion

From the desk of:  DUTCH PANTS CAN'T JUMP

 

Chuck Said This Man Is Done

NEW YORK KNICKS: The Lane Is Once Again Open For The General Opposition's Enjoyment.  Tyson Chandler Will Miss Upwards Of Six Weeks With Fractured Fibula.

The dominos have begun to fall.  The Knicks are in the midst of a three game losing streak, the Knicks City Dancers for the moment have lost their gig, the team itself lost the services of Tyson Chandler for at least a month, analyst extraordinaire Charles Barkley said Amare Stoudemire just flat out lost his skills, and today's papers are speculating how long Coach Woodson can old on to his job.

.............. just another day in paradise.  Only the last three items deserve any kind of discussion though.

The Knicks rebounding and interior defense suffered a major blow Tuesday evening when Tyson Chandler suffered a non-displaced fracture of his right fibula.  He could miss upwards of six weeks. Tyson left in the first quarter, and by game's end, the results and future effects his absence would have on the team were glaringly evident.  The Bobcats overwhelmingly outrebounded the Knicks by a 51-38 margin.  Charlotte pulled down 35 defensive rebounds while the Knicks only managed 11 offensive boards.  At the other end, the Bobcats had 16 offensive rebounds versus 22 defensive boards for the Knicks.  Charlotte also scored 34 points in the paint.  And this all came minus the Charlotte Bobcats' big man in the middle, F/C Al Jefferson.

Coach Woodson was following through with his "big" experiment, and seemed committed on letting his guys iron out the wrinkles.  Then, his biggest variable in that equation went down.  That changes everything, and Coach will be forced to go small, much like last season.

I always felt, for as long as Ray Felton had Tyson Chandler on the floor as an option for pick-n-roll, or what not, Carmelo and J.R. Smith would have to respect Felton's ball distribution and get back on defense.  That's out the window now as well.  Ray will still have to play traffic cop between the two, unless the plan is to reduce the offense down to the Melo Show, and let him play over 40 minutes a night like he did against the Bobcats.

With Chandler down, Iman Shumpert's defensive prowess now becomes the Knicks model to follow.  Good luck with that.  And good luck to Coach Woodson.  He's working for an outwardly imbalanced owner now who can potentially short circuit at any moment.  Can Melo save the universe?  Stay tuned.  But I do know this, the dynamic between Carmelo, Woodson and Dolan will become the most explosive ever-developing story of the season.

If Charles Barkley is correct in his assessment, do not count on Amare Stoudemire supplying any help.  Chuck said Amare is done.  Barkely does a lot of hating on the Knicks.  That's an established fact.  But we've all seen Amare's perform this season.  Chuck is not on an island on this one.



Mike.BTB

N.Y. Knicks: Coach Woodson Rollin' Dice With Melo's Knee?

From the desk of:   DUTCH PANTS CAN'T JUMP



NEW YORK KNICKS - "Stiffness..., Agitated..., I Definitely Felt It Out There." - Carmelo Anthony.


Game One of what will be a grueling five game western road swing was an horrific fail.  But forget for a moment the Knicks twenty-nine point loss to the Golden State Warriors, in which they only shot 27% from the field; a season low; on a night in which they only scored sixty-three points; a season low; and that this was the first game of the post-post-Amare Stoudemire era, for now.  The Nets cut the Knicks a break by losing to Philadelphia earlier in the night.  So for another day, the Knicks 2 1/2 game Atlantic Division lead remains in tact.  But, forget that.


This is about Coach Woodson and Carmelo Anthony.  How hurt is Melo; how much is he letting on; or with-holding from...whoever?  What was clearly evident late Monday night in Oakland, was Carmelo Anthony hobbled around the court like a compromised player.  Otherwise, he was 4/15 from the floor.  But this wasn't just a noticeably bad game by Melo.  This was a bad decision by Coach Woodson.  Carmelo even admitted in pre-game TV talk, his knee was not 100%, but stiff.  This was Melo's first game back after three games off, and despite everything said, pulled down ten rebounds - more punishment on his knee.  I feel Mike Woodson all of a sudden looks like a desperate coach.  Not because he took Melo to task for spotty defense early in the game.  That's good coaching.  He looks desperate because of the way Melo looked and played.  If you remember, Coach questionably kept Melo in a game when Melo asked out - then what happened?  Monday night, Anthony didn't look good at all.  After the game, Coach called blamed Melo's performance on rust.  I just think Coach Woodson better be careful with his man.  I'm merely saying what I'm hearing from both men is contradictory.  It's getting harder to decipher an injury, from rust, from malingering, from imagination, from desperation.


To date, this has been a brilliant season by Knicks recent standards.  But injuries, and the predicted toll age would play, are now all having their expected effects.  You can't help but feel even a slight sense the Knicks are losing control settling in.  Consider this team's fortunes now potentially rest with J.R. Smith who was ejected Monday for a Flagrant-Two, and Kenyon Martin, who is fresh out of his living room.  Don't even give me Chris Copeland - not Monday night.  After that, Tyson Chandler always comes correct.  But will Carmelo Anthony's knee do the same?



Next up - Knicks visit the Mile High city to play the Nuggets, who like to run, run, and run some more.  Melo and the Knicks get a day off first.  We can all be sure, Melo will want to play, and play well, in front of the Denver crowd.  They're familiar.




Mike.BTB

N.Y. Knicks - It's The Star System, Or Bust

From the desk of:   DUTCH PANTS CAN'T JUMP

NEW YORK KNICKS - Amare Stoudemire Out Minimum Six Weeks With Injury.  Faces Second Surgery, This Time On Right Knee.

Time To Follow The Melo Brick Road

The Knicks plan to preserve Amare's knees - the one to limit his minutes by having him come off the bench - the one that was starting to work out nicley of late - failed.  The uninsurable Amare Stoudemire has effectively been lost for the rest of the regular season with a right knee injury.  Six weeks is the actual prognosis.  That potentially puts Amare and the Knicks into the end of April or early May, and the playoffs.  That's a damn shame too.  After everything he's been through here.  Amare has done nothing but say and do the right thing since arriving.  But when taking injuries into account, he could never do enough.  There is also no way I hold the "breaking glass" incident against him - not at this point.  He's been that much of a stand up guy.


There is no time to wallow in self pity however.  It is time to pack up, and follow the Melo Brick Road.  When Carmelo's knee gets better, they're off, they're off, they're off.....  in search of the elusive Atlantic Division title.


You know where I stand - the team concept versus the star system.  From here on out, it's the star system or bust.  The Knicks fortunes now lie exclusively between what Carmelo Anthony thinks he needs to do, and wants to do, in order to help the Knicks win, and what Melo actually needs to do in order to help his coach and team mates make the Knicks a successful team.  Coach Woodson's prophecy is now his reality.  When he assumed the role of head coach, he said he would be riding Carmelo Anthony as far as his small forward takes him and the Knicks.  With Amare officially out, and not being accused of complicating the rotation, Coach Woodson now gets to saddle up and find out just how far that really is.


Before Amare's injury changed everything, the Knicks recent game against the Thunder punctuated the argument, or growing belief, the Knicks are a more cohesive, and thereby a more effective team, when Melo is off the floor.  Their last win over the Jazz minus both Amare and Melo, may have reinforced the notion even further. There are tons of truth in that argument.  But at the same time, the Knicks will not win an NBA title without Carmelo Anthony.  It didn't help Melo's cause that the Knicks dream bench of Rasheed Wallace, Marcus Camby, and Kurt Thomas never quite made it out of the senior center.  And the rest of the assembled body, like Ray Felton's increasingly round one, or Jason Kidd's creaky one, aren't performing as spryly as they were last Fall either.


Something will have to give, or, some one will have to bend.  Because right now, at this very moment, this is J.R. Smith's team.  Somehow, someway, and at some point, Coach Woodson has to make Melo conform again, into the player Anthony was back in November and December, and keep that player in uniform until June, Red Holzman willing.  For if alternative anti-Melo emerges from  behind the wizard's curtain after his own knee injury subsides, the Knicks will be headed towards a tumultuous end, and no one will like the way Carmelo Anthony, first and foremost, will explain everything off.




Mike.BTB

N.Y. Knicks ~ 'Bockers Trying To Get Their Point Across

From the desk of:   DUTCH PANTS CAN'T JUMP

NEW YORK KNICKS:  Jeremy Lin is Now a Point of Contention.  Knicks on Verge of Pointing Him Towards the Nearest Exit.


Many have been clamouring for the return of Ray Felton ever since he found favor with fans prior to the Carmelo Anthony acquisition.  Now, based on circulating reports, you may have him again Knick fans.  And with Jason Kidd in the fold, it looks a lot like the Age of LINsanity is all but over.  Jeremy Lin signed his offer sheet with the Houston Rockets, and now the Knicks will have 48 hours or so to match.  But do they want to?  If you're reading into the Knicks' moves, the answer is, No.


Without trying to detract from Jeremy Lin's arrival on the scene, and playing so well before getting hobbled by injuries, I was never completely sold on him.  The key word there is SOLD.  I'm not insinuating he can't be a good player.  I just do not see the upper body strength from him, and watched him get pushed around last season after the brilliance wore off his introductory flash, and lighting the city on fire.  Once teams started taking the body against him, LINsanity headed to the LINfirmary.  In his defense, he almost always made good decisions on the court.  But can he endure a whole season of bumping bodies in the lane?  I do not think Knicks fans will be finding out up close.  For answers to that quandary, check in on him while he plays in Houston.


With Jason Kidd on board however, the Knicks now have that alpha-point guard who will dictate the direction of the ball, and more specifically, direct traffic between Amare Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony.  Whether it is going to be Lin, or Felton, I look for the soon to be forty year old Kidd to be splitting playing time down the middle.  In that case, Jason Kidd should be very reliable, not to mention effective while playing twenty-some minutes per game.  Whether he is on the court during the last six minutes like he says he wants to be, will get itself worked out.  That's Mike Woodson's problem for now.


With Jason Kidd on board, I think we'll be seeing a very different version of Carmelo Anthony.  Of the players he'll share the court with, Carmelo Anthony stands to benefit the most from Kidd's arrival.  For a guy I'm not too particularly enamoured with, Kidd just may help out Melo's game immeasurably.  I still do not think Jeremy Lin has the cache to demand the ball back from Melo.  But Jason Kidd does, and will.  And if Melo doesn't fall in line, a veteran like Kidd knows how to send on-court messages to his team mates through selective ball distribution.  Whatever in-game time the old man needs to refresh his legs and catch his breath, will be provided by Ray Felton or, possibly Jeremy Lin, or even both.  Being a starter means stepping out on the court first.  After the initial tip-off, being a starter means nothing.  So, I don't care who steps out first.


If acquired, can Ray Felton recapture the flare and effectiveness he played with his first time here?  He better lose some weight first.  That's just fact.  He's the third coming of Round Mound right now.  Ray may need boot camp instead of training camp later this summer.  In any case, expect him to get a loud ovation the first time he takes to the Garden floor this Fall.  But just keep in mind, he couldn't win a starting job in any of his landing spots after he got traded.


I'm not lost on Jason Kidd's age.  But for twenty to twenty-three minutes a night, I think he'll be just fine, and key to any Knicks' success next season.  What Ray Felton can contribute remains to be seen.  But we already have a feeling we know what we're getting.  And I'm sure Amare Stoudemire is OK with the deal too.  If Stoudemire's body holds up, prepare yourselves for a return of the Amare from the 2010-2011 season.


Marcus Camby's age is also not lost on me.  But to back up Tyson Chandler and play some forward, I think he's marvelous.  And the more players willing to play defense, the better.  It will be nice to see Camby in a Knicks uniform again.




Mike.BTB

Knicks and Nets Battle in New Jersey for Final Time

From the desks of:

DUTCH PANTS CAN'T JUMP  and  THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

Next Stop  ~  An Inner-City Rivalry!

THE FINAL TIP-OFF

NEW YORK KNICKS

vs.

NEW JERSEY NETS

FROM

THE ROCK in NEWARK

NEW JERSEY

Thirty-five seasons of the New York/New Jersey interstate rivalry conclude tonight.  For this will be the last time the Knicks will tip-off against the Nets in New Jersey.  The next time the Knicks visit the Nets for a road game, they will be hopping on a bus headed to Brooklyn for a game in Barclays Center.

Barclays Center ~ View from Dean Street at Sixth Avenue

For the Nets, this will be a rather inglorious final clash between these teams in New Jersey.  Deron Williams will miss tonight's game with an injury.  And the Nets have since been eliminated from playoff contention after a regular season; that outside of surprisingly good play from some of their most junior members; is worthy of little words.

For the Knicks, in order to unleash the greatness of Carmelo Anthony, the Knicks needed to be torn apart along the perforated edges first.  In the Melo System, apparently there is only room for one star.  Namely, the Media has reduced Amare Stoudemire, and Jeremy Lin, to mere flickers of light now.  And with Melo being the dominant force of gravity in the Knicks's universe, Landry Fields has also apparently been swallowed up by a black hole.

Then again, a rook name Iman Shumpert has carved out his own way no matter who's on the court.  And thank goodness for him.

Melo is right where he wants to be now; out from under Mike D'Antoni.  And say what you will about how the team has played under Mike Woodson, Melo is The Man right now due to a simple matter of attrition.  The same problems the Knicks had before, will be revisited once Amare comes back, or, tries to come back, and will worsen should the Knicks still be playing by the time Jeremy Lin gets back.  In the mean time, with everyone out of his way, including Mike D'Antoni, Melo is free to rule his world as he sees fit.  Because outside of a guy like Amare, Melo's team mates know exactly where their bread is being buttered right now.

That's not to say Melo hasn't been doing everything he can to help his team win lately; to include playing defense.  He has.  My thing is he just chose not to do it for D'Antoni.  Don't get me wrong, I think Mike Woodson is far better for the Knicks than D'Antoni and his stubborn commitment to his system were.

But I wouldn't be true to myself if I didn't keep dumping on the Knicks in spite of them throwing Boston a resounding beating Tuesday night.  One night for me doesn't suddenly cloak the prior facts that when the team did well, Melo didn't.  And When Melo did well, the team didn't.  Like I said, it took the elimination of a few players from the floor in order for the real Melo to stand up.

He's standing tall all right.  And leading the Knicks - his way.  And that's where I have a problem.

And I will say to you now - the Knicks aren't nearly this successful without Tyson Chandler.  Not even close.  If his knee doesn't hold up, the Knicks are done, post haste.

Mike.BTB

N.Y. Knicks ~ Amare's Back is Knicks Pain

From the desk of:   DUTCH PANTS CAN'T JUMP

NEW YORK KNICKS:  Amare's Back and Knicks Season Bulging With Concerns.  MRI Reveals Bad News.


Wonder Twins Powers - deactivated.  If it wasn't Melo's team before, it certainly is now.  And guys like me, who aren't exactly on his side, need to grasp that.  The Knicks' remaining regular season and their playoff aspirations now lie singularly in his hands.


An MRI revealed Amare Stoudemire has a bulging disk in his lower back.  The Knicks said he will be out indefinitely.  Naturally, Amare is headed to Miami for a second opinion.  But I think you can pretty much etch this one in stone.  He'll be lost for a considerable time.  MRI's like this are pretty cut and dry.  And plus, you never know with backs.  Once compromised, a bad back never seems to go away.  And I think Amare's first inclination is to treat this without surgery.  As this is only day one of the news, I guess we'll learn more as we go.


Two local players come to mind when thinking about this type of injury; Don Mattingly, and former Knick Larry Johnson.  Before back problems and before becoming a Knick, Larry Johnson was Grand Mama for the then, Charlotte Hornets.  After back surgery, Johnson continued his career as an effective player, and helped the Knicks reach the Finals.  But he had to drastically alter his style of play in order to do it, as he was no longer able to elevate and ceased to be a thunderous dunk waiting to happen.  He became a mid-range perimeter shooter, and a (I hate saying finesse..) creative, multiple-move player, down in the low post.  His ability to drive the basket with power however, was all but gone.  Grand Mama had become, Mr. Lay-Up.


Who knows if that's what's in store for Amare Stoudemire.   But many aspects of Amare's game this season come into better focus now.  There have been nights with nary an attempted rebound on his part, and on other nights, he could hardly jump at all.


I guess this is the time when we start asking ourselves if his off-season work-out regimen might have been a contributing factor?  Amare himself described his off-season strength conditioning program as new, and intense.  While that's speculative, this certainly shouldn't strike us as a surprise.  Everyone questioned whether Amare Stoudemire's body would hold up over the course of Commissioner Stern's post lock-out compressed schedule.


So here we are.  As I watch tonight's game, the Knicks are a game and a half ahead of Milwaukee for the eighth playoff spot.  And with a sub-.500 record I might add.  But dare I say the Knicks job just got easier?  At least now, we know exactly who's getting the ball.  The game goes through Melo by necessity.


All the debate about what Coach Woodson would do differently, etc. etc,.. are all moot points now.  Time and time again, sports reminds us things have a way of working themselves out.  Injuries usually play a large role in that.  If anything, I'm looking for Tyson Chandler to pick up a lot of the slack in Amare's absence.  I'm actually expecting Melo, Chandler, and the three-headed monster at the point, to mesh even better now.  And none of that should be a knock on Amare.  It's just without him, things get simplified somewhat.  Just like when Melo was hurt and Jeremy Lin became unleashed.  Winning without Melo, was again, just a matter of having things simplified somewhat.


The Knicks bench is an entirely different story.


After the way Amare came to town last year and took a bunch of unknowns under his wing, and made the Garden a fun place to be again, I have nothing but compassion for the man, and wish him a speedy recovery.  Amare Stoudemire is definitely one of the good guys.




Mike.BTB

N.Y. Knicks ~ Another Flagrant Foul

From the desk of:   DUTCH PANTS CAN'T JUMP

NEW YORK KNICKS:  I Blame James Dolan For Everything Wrong With the Knicks.  Period!



We are going to take this slowly and methodically making sure we give proper credit where it's due, and making sure the blame for this disaster which is the Knicks falls on the proper head.

First off, thank the soon to be Brooklyn Nets, Mikhail Prokhorov, the Billboard Wars, and the construction of Barclays Center for the haste in which James Dolan has acted with regard to renovating Madison Square Garden and signing both Amare Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony.



Consider this.  Without Commissioner Stern interceding, and based on the relationship between Dolan and Thomas as we knew it then and still understand it today, there's a distinct possibility Isiah Thomas could still very well be in charge of James Dolan's organization today.  Commissioner Stern practically forced James Dolan to hire Donnie Walsh as the team's General Manager and Team President.  In addition to doing miraculous things to change over the roster and get the Knicks back under the cap, Donnie Walsh also hired Mike D'Antoni to be the Knicks' Head Coach.



With the Nets representing direct competition within the city limits starting this coming Fall, Madison Square Garden needed stars on its' roster again.  Donnie Walsh positioned the Knicks in time to partake in the LeBron James sweepstakes.  But LeBron took his talents to Miami, so the Knicks settled, and took a chance on Amare even without being able to insure his contract.  The supporting cast Donnie Walsh put around Amare Stoudemire prior to the Melo trade was a breath of fresh air; the freshest air to blow through the Garden in ten years.  At a minimum, they made Knicks Basketball fun, and the Garden a hot place to be again.



With Donnie Walsh already having put the Knicks back in salary cap order again, opportunity struck the New York area when Carmelo Anthony became available during last season's trade deadline.  And that's where everything went awry for the Knicks all over again.  There were strong indications Melo was about to accept a trade to the Nets before the Lock-Out changed the terms of potential contract value.  When Carmelo Anthony became available, the Billboard Wars against the Nets were already at a fever pitch.  Mikhail Provhorov's highly aggressive ad campaign was clearly having it's affect on their future cross-city rivals.  James Dolan had a hard time keeping up with the Nets' tactics, and so the Knicks hastened some of their own newspaper pullouts, and billboards of their own.  But the Nets won those battle most decisively, and still are.



Now consider that at the same time, James Dolan never wanted Donnie Walsh here.  Dolan couldn't and wouldn't deal with any Commissioner appointed executive running his team.  He still wanted Zeke, and even had Thomas lurking in the halls behind Donnie's back, and also kept a direct line of communication between the two open at all times.  Thomas even played a part in the failed courtship of LeBron James.  What was always clear, Dolan never hesitated to overstep Donnie Walsh, when for the ten years prior, James Dolan never meddled in Isiah Thomas' affairs even once.  As a matter of fact, James Dolan never had to worry about his empire until threatened by the proposed West Side Stadium.  It was Dolan who took the lead and successfully opposed that project.



James Dolan knew the Garden needed stars again because the Nets were coming.  With little respect for Donnie Walsh's appointment in the first place, James Dolan trampled over his de-facto General Manager, and gave Denver everything they wanted in return for Carmelo Anthony.  It was clear the owner wanted the deal done post-haste.  But it's well believed Donnie Walsh would have negotiated a better deal than Dolan brokered, and would have not left the remaining roster depleted of talent and depth.



James Dolan took the lead in that deal from start to finish.  Donnie Walsh was made to obediently agree with everything Dolan said at the press conference to announce the trade.  And just a few chairs down, the look on Mike D'Antoni's face was that of incredulity.  Coach's face screamed - Lord Help UsMe with Carmelo Anthony.  It was plainly evident, D'Antoni's body language was not in agreement with the deal.  I myself have never been a Carmelo Anthony fan, and was never in favor of the trade.  You can look it up.  My position has always been - putting this team into the hands of Carmelo Anthony was a huge mistake.  But right now, why, is not important.



Coach D'Antoni was made to take on the Stephon Marbury era head on, and by benching him, end it.  He did that, to the joy of many Knick Fans.  But he was also forced to coach an under-staffed team, and a roster undergoing complete renovations.  None of that should be put on Mike D'Antoni.  But the team's performance with Amare Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony, and Tyson Chandler on the floor, should.



I did exactly what Donnie Walsh asked of us.  I gladly gave the Knicks two seasons of amnesty.  Starting last season, Mike D'Antoni was back on the clock again.  Prior to the Melo trade, and during the stretches Melo was injured since the trade, the Knicks flourished.  With him on the floor, they have struggled mightily.



Now..., I believe a coach needs to take stock of his team and coach to their strengths.  If you insist on implementing a system your players can't grasp, manage, or handle, it's incumbent upon the coach to come up with another plan.  Instead, Coach was pulling one way, and his stubborn players were pulling in the opposite direction.  Something has to give.  Clearly communication broke down.



How would you have liked to have been D'Antoni though?  He had to compromise himself when Donnie Walsh gutted the team.  He was tasked with ending the Reign of Starbury.  He was made to sit like a stooge during the Melo press conference.  He was given a player who was clearly contrary to everything D'Antoni preaches as a coach.  Then he was clubbed over the head with the hiring of Mike Woodson to be THE Defensive Coach of the team.  Imagine that - a two headed monster. -  A monster sewn together like Frankenstein, by the hands of Dolan, and given to D'Antoni to train.  I would have quit too.



But did Mike D'Antoni really quit?  It's hard to say.  How often to coaches quit their posts?  Did Stan Van Gundy quit in Miami?  No, that was a coup by Pat Riley.  Pat Riley - He was the guy who quit the Knicks via fax.  But he legitimately quit.  Stan Van Gundy?  How about his brother Jeff?  Remember him?  He quit the Knicks too.  I didn't realize there was an abundance of coaches who quit their jobs. And somehow, many are related to the Knicks.  But only two respected coaches have quit the Knicks since James Dolan assumed ownership.  And that's two too many.



Take that Commissioner!  If indeed Mike D'Antoni and James Dolan reached a "mutual agreement", or if Dolan did in fact fire him, the end result is still win/win for Dolan.  The Knicks owner has already effectively dismissed Donnie Walsh, and now goes Mike D'Antoni; the Commissioner's Choice's appointee...    James Dolan has finally freed his team of the Commissioner's influence as far as he's concerned.  We should officially be afraid again.



Mike Woodson is the interim Head coach for the rest of the season and the Knicks are still without a genuine General Manager.  Glen Grunwald is the make-believe GM for the moment.  But we all understand, with James Dolan, he means nothing.



But at the end of the day, Mike D'Antoni was not right for this team.  I would not have brought him back beyond this season.  I do not even believe he was the best coach in town.  I think Avery Johnson is better.  And I pointed out something Coach Johnson said after Deron Williams dropped thirty-eight points against the Knicks the last time they met.  In the post-game Coach Johnson said (paraphrasing):

... if the Knicks switched up and tried covering Deron Williams with a forward, that it was his (my) job to make sure he got a guard back on Williams. Coach said he was responsible for making that adjustment, and that the onus was not on Deron Williams to adjust to the defense on the floor.

Then the Knicks got blown out by the Spurs.  Greg Popovich got ejected that game.  I'm not sure exactly why, but Coach Popovich flipped his lid and was disgusted with his team.  You can be sure it was done for a reason though.  He's done that before.  And when you've coached that team for as long as he has, you do that sometimes if it gets their attention.  If I'm thinking like a coach, I'm a big proponent of berating your team when things are going well too.



I didn't hear or see that chess-like intricacy from Coach D'Antoni like Coach Johnson talked about.   And I didn't see a Knick Coach being the alpha-male with his stars like Gregg Popovich is with his stars.   On countless occasions I've seen Popovich rip into Tony Parker, and especially his big man Tim Duncan.  But of course we know that Duncan is complicit in Popovich's plan to get everyone to fall in line.  Avery Johnson even did it with Nowitski in Dallas.  Point is, I did not see Coach D'Antoni employing such tact with his stars; namely Carmelo Anthony.  Nor would Carmelo allow himself to get dragged down in some nefarious plot by the coach to motivate his players - at least not Melo and D'Antoni - not together - and certainly not now.



For the moment, James Dolan is firmly in control of his empire again.  He's a capitalists, which means he's free to run his enterprise into the ground if he wants to.  The Knicks are in the state of disarray they find themselves, I believe, chiefly due to the machinations of one man.  That man is James Dolan.



What now?






Mike.BTB