Mike D's style was a problem, hopefully not anymore
Quote from Amare in 2009 knocking Mike D's chemistry and coaching issues:
This is Amare circa April 14, 2009.
We never hustled on defense, we never tried to block shots, in clutch situations we always made dumb moves on defense like not fouling Kevin Durant to shoot free throws when your up by 3 points, then having him drill a three pointer to tie the game and eventually win it in over time. (That was T Mac's first game as a Knick in MSG if your remember). Why have David Lee start at center all year when you know he can't play defense for his life and his post defense is top 5 worst for all big men. And why bench Jordan Hill when he could have been used at Center being strong, a good shotblocker, and a good rebounder? Instead he played Jared Jeffries who sucked and couldn't block a shot unless the guy he was blocking was under 6'3 and got killed in the post. Then Jeffries winds up barely playing in Houston while Jordan Hill takes over his spot. Mike D's substitutions were the biggest question mark.
Mike D knows offense, to an extent. Jacking up three's on a team with no shooters except Gallo and Walker last year was a huge mistake. Chandler's numbers plummeted because he was playing Mike D's game and not his game which is close to mid range jumpers. Duhon lost all confidence in his shot since Mike D's style had him throw up bricks. Q Rich killed us with bricks when he was a Knick. Harrington was so streaky It would drive any fan insane. Mike D lived and died by the three with two years of players who were not pure shooters. We were athletic slashers that should have drew more fouls than anything else.
Now we have a team that can fit Mike's crazy style of running your butt off to throw up bricks. We have shooters that can hit open shots and a presence down low in Amare so I am giving Mike D ONE MORE SHOT.
So don't sit there and tell me that Mike D's criticism is ridiculous or that it is being over blown or whatever your claim is. He has sucked as a coach and now he has no excuse if we don't make the playoffs since we have enough players that fit his style of run and chuck.
If Mike D fails again to make the playoffs, then he is gone.
If you watched our team last year you would understand that all the rumors about Mike D not coaching defense is absolutely true.:lol:
Some ignorant people on TV occasionally say D'antoni doesn't preach defense, and 90% of fans believe it and repeat it like sheep. They have absolutely no proof that D'antoni doesn't coach defense, and all indications are that he makes a great deal of effort on coaching defense.
We have horrible defensive players. Bad defensive players=bad defensive team, I didn't think I would have to state the obvious like that, but some people just don't get it.
Quote from Amare in 2009 knocking Mike D's chemistry and coaching issues:
This is Amare circa April 14, 2009.
"Mike was a quiet guy. Sometimes he didn't talk to a certain players. Didn't communicate as well to the players which sometimes can be a little frustrating because you want to build that relationship with your coach. You want to build that friend(ship) so you can sit down with him and talk about personal thoughts and also basketball. You want that friendship with your coach. Mike was a quiet guy.
...Then you bring in Alvin, a guy who is definitely a players coach. A guy you can talk to and say 'hey man you know', 'family situation here', 'or my kids here', 'my kids are doing great in school', 'how are your kids'. That's the type of conversation you want to have with your coach. Alvin's that guy.
You want a coach that you can really hug and hold and high five and really have fun with. That makes it fun play. You can high five and hug your team mates. You don't want to have fear of your coach. You want to be respectable with him but you also want to be a friend with him."
Here is a knock on Mike D's defense by Amare himself in a 2008 interview: “I love Terry Porter, his method,” Stoudemire says in the interview. “His way of coaching is going to be great for us. You know, he’s extremely focused on the defensive end, something that we haven’t practiced at all in the previous three years, and now we’re definitely practicing and improving on the defensive end.”
http://dimemag.com/2008/08/amare-stoudemire-the-bad-defense-isnt-my-fault/...Then you bring in Alvin, a guy who is definitely a players coach. A guy you can talk to and say 'hey man you know', 'family situation here', 'or my kids here', 'my kids are doing great in school', 'how are your kids'. That's the type of conversation you want to have with your coach. Alvin's that guy.
You want a coach that you can really hug and hold and high five and really have fun with. That makes it fun play. You can high five and hug your team mates. You don't want to have fear of your coach. You want to be respectable with him but you also want to be a friend with him."
Here is a knock on Mike D's defense by Amare himself in a 2008 interview: “I love Terry Porter, his method,” Stoudemire says in the interview. “His way of coaching is going to be great for us. You know, he’s extremely focused on the defensive end, something that we haven’t practiced at all in the previous three years, and now we’re definitely practicing and improving on the defensive end.”
We never hustled on defense, we never tried to block shots, in clutch situations we always made dumb moves on defense like not fouling Kevin Durant to shoot free throws when your up by 3 points, then having him drill a three pointer to tie the game and eventually win it in over time. (That was T Mac's first game as a Knick in MSG if your remember). Why have David Lee start at center all year when you know he can't play defense for his life and his post defense is top 5 worst for all big men. And why bench Jordan Hill when he could have been used at Center being strong, a good shotblocker, and a good rebounder? Instead he played Jared Jeffries who sucked and couldn't block a shot unless the guy he was blocking was under 6'3 and got killed in the post. Then Jeffries winds up barely playing in Houston while Jordan Hill takes over his spot. Mike D's substitutions were the biggest question mark.
Mike D knows offense, to an extent. Jacking up three's on a team with no shooters except Gallo and Walker last year was a huge mistake. Chandler's numbers plummeted because he was playing Mike D's game and not his game which is close to mid range jumpers. Duhon lost all confidence in his shot since Mike D's style had him throw up bricks. Q Rich killed us with bricks when he was a Knick. Harrington was so streaky It would drive any fan insane. Mike D lived and died by the three with two years of players who were not pure shooters. We were athletic slashers that should have drew more fouls than anything else.
Now we have a team that can fit Mike's crazy style of running your butt off to throw up bricks. We have shooters that can hit open shots and a presence down low in Amare so I am giving Mike D ONE MORE SHOT.
So don't sit there and tell me that Mike D's criticism is ridiculous or that it is being over blown or whatever your claim is. He has sucked as a coach and now he has no excuse if we don't make the playoffs since we have enough players that fit his style of run and chuck.
If Mike D fails again to make the playoffs, then he is gone.
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