Steve Kerr comments on Knicks/D'Antoni

KBlack25

Starter
I don't recall Kerr's tenure all that well, but I believe he and MDA did not get along...anyway, here are his comments from the BS Report on Podcast:

Simmons: Are you surprised at all that D'Antoni has had trouble these first three weeks handling this new team?

Kerr: Well...I'm not surprised that they are about .500 since they got Carmelo because I just think that is such a big move, and it's...the personnel, it's not perfect. They have several moves they need to make, not just one...they have like, 3 moves they have to make before they get good. As talented as Carmelo and Amare are, they are not the ideal fit together. I think everybody kind of knew that, or at least people who understand basketball knew that. I think even Mike D'Antoni, before the trade, felt that way. He knew he was going to have a major challenge on his hands trying to get these guys to fit together in a two month span before the playoffs. I'm not really surprised by the fact that they are struggling.

S: You still do the trade though...

K: Yea, the trade made sense, you never get a chance to get a guy like that.

S: Yeah.

K: And, ultimately they gave up some good players, but no great players. I think the trade made a lot of sense. But I just think that for people to expect this team to really succeed without a shot blocker, without any defensive presence on the front line, with an aging point guard in Billups, who I like but he isn't the same guy from a few years ago, very little depth...I mean, that team is not going to beat Miami or Chicago or Boston in the first round.

S: I mean, I think they can make some first round noise, just because of having the whole "Best Player in the Series" corollary.

K. Right

S: But I mean, you're going to have to be diplomatic because you know the guy, I really wonder if D'Antoni can coach only one way. You guys were right there in that 08 series and you had a couple defensive lapses and it went the other way. Then you look at some of the guys that couldn't play for him at all, like Darko. Darko is a legitimate at least rotation guy. Anthony Randolph...these are guys they have no use for. Corey Brewer couldn't get in at all, 12 teams want him, every smart team wants him and they turn him into Jared Jeffries which makes no sense.

K: That one surprised me, when I saw Brewer was part of that deal I thought that was a great pickup. He's got a little Landry Fields in him, he can't shoot as well but he can guard multiple positions, he can run in transition...it was really bizarre that they let him go. As far as what you bring up with Mike, his system revolves around the ball moving and floor spacing and really stretching defenses out, so he needs catch and shoot guys to go around his star, whether his star is Steve Nash or Amare or Carmelo, everybody has to space the floor and the ball has to move. When you think about CArmelo, you think about his 1-on-1 ability, his ability to get to the hoop, he's the best in the league at it. But the ball stops when it hits his hands. So he is not a good fit in Mike's system, and it's tricky in New York since they put together a nice little group around Amare, and they weren't great but they were pretty good...and then they introduce Carmelo and the ball stops with him, and the ball is already going to stop a little with Amare, now you have two guys that need the ball an awful lot...and obviously their [Amare and Carmelo's] defensive deficiencies...It's a tough one, Mike's in a tough spot. The talent is there it doesn't fit right now, they have to make some moves.

S: My dream scenario is this: New York trades Mike D'Antoni this summer to the Warriors...and he reaches his destiny, to coach a team that has Monta, Curry and Lee...and then your boy Phil comes home, 3 year deal, that's it...

K: You bring up a good point, coaches have to fit their teams the way players do. When you hire a coach it has to be the right guy for that franchise or that style...Mike in Phoenix with that personnel was perfect for him, but it's been a tougher sell in New York...Part of that is the personnel he has had, he didn't have anything for two years and now he's got two guys that need the ball. The other part is New York won championships on defense, and the city's image is defense...they were just happy to win a game this year...but I think NEw York is more of a Greg Popovich-type city.

S: Oh so you're saying Greg Popovich comes to the Knicks [laughs]

K: [laughs] I'm saying if he ever did he would be perfect...I think New Yorkers...they're awesome...and I think at their core they really want a team that is going to stop people.

-----

Kerr sort of strattles the line on both sides of the arguments on this board, which is why I tried to transcribe it as best I could...
 

petescud

Starter
I agree with the ball stopping with Melo nearly all the time and 50/50 with Amar'e...There's a reason these guys are stars, as in my eyes, they are both gunners. At least Amar'e seems to shoot a higher pct... Honestly, if they both can't play together, then one has to go eventually. A better fit coach may see that and correct it, i don't know. One things for sure, if we Trade Melo, we'll get back some nice pieces to surround Amar'e with.
 

ronoranina

Fundamentally Sound
Kerr has a real good, comprehensive feel for the issues surrounding our team. He also summed up why so many NY fans can't stomach MDA.

Good post kblack. Thanks.
 

STAT1

Starter
Kerr: "I think everybody kind of knew that, or at least people who understand basketball knew that."

I dunno about anyone else but to me comments like that are so annoyingly obnoxious & condescending, I hate when guys like Steve Kerr say shit like this. I guess he understands basketball but Magic Johnson & Donnie Walsh doesn't. Gimme a break, this is a failed GM & a career scrub 3 pt specialist who rode Michael Jordan's coattails to championships trying to pretend like he knows the game better than a 1st ballot HOF legend of the game & a well respected GM who has put together some really good teams in his day.
 

KBlack25

Starter
I dunno about anyone else but to me comments like that are so annoyingly obnoxious & condescending, I hate when guys like Steve Kerr say shit like this. I guess he understands basketball but Magic Johnson & Donnie Walsh doesn't. Gimme a break, this is a failed GM & a career scrub 3 pt specialist who rode Michael Jordan's coattails to championships trying to pretend like he knows the game better than a 1st ballot HOF legend of the game & a well respected GM who has put together some really good teams in his day.

LOL...

A career scrub who rode MJ's coattails? Didn't realize MJ was on the Spurs team that won titles. Didn't realize a guy who shot over 50% from 3 3 times in his career, and has a 45% from 3 career number is a scrub. Didn't realize the #1 3 point % shooter in NBA history, and #26 in NBA history in true shooting %age is a scrub. Didn't realize that a GM whose team made an NBA Conference Finals appearance was a "failure".

You also quote him out of context. He was clearly saying that those who know basketball (including Walsh and Magic...Walsh has made it clear we still need a big man by keeping his eyes on Earl Barron) know the Knicks have a ways to go before fielding a true contender. Are you doubting that?
 
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