Well it's been a month now, and other than to make Isiah Thomas the world's highest paid errand boy, Donnie Walsh has accomplished absolutely nothing. Other than Zeke's "job," the only thing he's created is confusion. There are no less than a dozen coaching candidates, and not a peep about a player personnel move. (more on that later) Entering the fray this week are Mike D'Antoni, Avery Johnson, Sam Vincent, and Rick Carlisle. D'Antoni is scheduled for a sitdown this week with Suns' management to discuss their "philosophical differences." Translation: Steve Kerr and Robert Sarver are not pleased with the fact that D'Antoni's coaching style does not stress defense. Sound familiar? The Phoenix Suns are probably the most explosive team in the league offensively, but they will watch the rest of the Playoffs on ESPN because it never occurred to D'Antoni while Tony Parker was running through the Suns like Ex-Lax, that maybe we should implement some defense to at least impede him somewhat. If this was a problem in Phoenix, he couldn't possibly be an answer for a team that is anemic offensively, and already employing what I call, Matador defensive schemes.
Avery Johnson went from hero to zero in one year. Last years coach of the year was victimized by poor planning, and even poorer personnel decisions. Johnson became the fallguy in a house of cards. Dallas will continue to struggle until Mark Cuban's basketball IQ is elevated to a level somewhere in the vicinity of his ego. I think Johnson is a good coach and will do well elsewhere, but I hope he is insightful enough to understand that the Knick job is a recipe for failure. In the grand scheme of things, it won't matter who takes on the job, he will be a footnote on the back pages of Knick history. The smart money says that the next Knick coach will be sacrificed as a bridge to where the team is trying to go. He cannot be successful, and in 3 years when the cap space will allow the team to possibly move forward, he'll be fired. The problem is that if this happens to Mark Jackson or another one of guys looking for his 1st coaching opportunity, his career in coaching is finished. Meanwhile the fans will be subjected to more of what they've had for the last 3 years. There is no upside.
Someone made the comment last week that the Knicks are in such a state of disarray that they force you to pay attention. I tend to agree. Walsh has made no mention of buyouts. Given the fact that most of this team couldn't be packaged together with a Rolls Royce and a mansion in the Hamptons, indications are that he intends to to keep the core of the team together. If he wouldn't buy out Isiah, why would he buy out Curry or Marbury? He showed the size of his cojones when he kept Isiah. Expect to go downhill from there.That way if there happens to be moderate improvement, it's a plus. I commented in this blog before, the light at the end of the tunnel was a train. It's getting closer. Walsh said he didn't like 3 year plans. I think he's got that covered. It will be a lot longer than that.
As always, we appreciate your stopping by. Let us know what you think.
Faces at the U.S. Open
Comments (18)
Look at it this way.
Can it get worse?
Marbury needs to go
KPKahder-Dead Ponies Kick **** | 05/03/08, 12:17 PM
Report Offensive CommentAgree. Avery is too smart to take the Knicks job. Isiah not being shown the door makes me question how much authority Dolan is actually giving Walsh. Like he wants him to fix the situation, but with restrictions. Again, a recipe for failure.
Thugmeister | 05/03/08, 12:18 PM
Report Offensive CommentI am suprised Knicks fans even have the heart to even blog about this mess anymore.
Cassidy's House: Septk-kova | 05/03/08, 12:24 PM
Report Offensive CommentIt ain't aesy Cassidy. Believe me.
Hllywd: Old Schoolin' | 05/03/08, 12:30 PM
Report Offensive CommentSee, I can't even spell easy.
Hllywd: Old Schoolin' | 05/03/08, 12:41 PM
Report Offensive CommentGood blog. The fact that Isiah is still there in any capacity tells me they really don't care.
Also, I agree with you about Mark Cuban...he basically set Avery Johnson up to fail...I feel the same about Mike D'Antoni in Phoenix. Both teams made huge continuity changing trades and especially in Avery's case you need quite a bit of time to acclimate a point guard into your offense
badgerfan07 | 05/03/08, 01:56 PM
Report Offensive CommentGood blog.
Dyhard -- Badgers/Brewers won | 05/03/08, 02:01 PM
Report Offensive Commentgood breakdown of whats going on.
c21 | 05/03/08, 04:53 PM
Report Offensive Commenti agree completely about the next coach just being a bridge to where they need to go. till they get cap relief in a couple of years his hands will be tied..... so they don't need an experienced expensive coach for that.......
privateer | 05/03/08, 05:46 PM
Report Offensive Commentagreed.
"Cleveland" | 05/03/08, 08:55 PM
Report Offensive CommentHllywd,
Good blog, and it will be interesting to see how PHX and DAL handle the upcoming changes.
As for the Knicks, I have nothing left to say about them really.
Odenator...I'll be baack! | 05/05/08, 02:59 AM
Report Offensive CommentThose dog's ears gotta be from a different species of animal, no?
Cassidy's House: Septk-kova | 05/05/08, 03:15 AM
Report Offensive CommentThomas didnt get fired????
****???
djroxalot loves TD'ing | 05/05/08, 03:45 PM
Report Offensive CommentGreat blog as usual
djroxalot loves TD'ing | 05/05/08, 03:45 PM
Report Offensive CommentWaiting To Exhale was a good movie. This was a good blog.
J. HOVA: BROOKLYN'S OWN | 05/05/08, 04:17 PM
Report Offensive CommentEveryone needs to go. Marbury stays because if you are smart, you just eat the 21 million and create the cap space for the 2009 season. If you trade that contract, you risk bringing in bad long term deals.
J. HOVA: BROOKLYN'S OWN | 05/05/08, 04:44 PM
Report Offensive CommentGreat blog
Mets Fan is Matt Forte | 05/05/08, 07:59 PM
Report Offensive CommentGreat blog Hllywd, and thanks for the invite. I really don't know what's going through Dolan or Walsh's mind right now. If they wanna turn this mess around, they need to cut Isaiah off immediately. He was a winner as a player, but that hasn't translated to his coaching career. And if he couldn't do any good as a coach, what good is he going to do as a glorified guidance counselor?
As for the other one they need to cut - Mr. Starbury - I agree with some of the others that, while getting rid of him is very tempting, the team may not wanna risk picking up any other costly short-term or long-term deals. Look at the Suns. They are now stuck with Shaq ETHANOL (I remember someone put that on a blog about a week or so ago - very funny) and his huge contract for the next two years. And you know Shaq's not gonna take a pay cut.
pennwjr | 05/08/08, 08:30 AM
Report Offensive CommentAdd a comment
Remember to keep it clean. Bad words will get filtered, and offensive comments will be removed. More Guidelines