Walsh and D’Antoni on WFAN
Today Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni payed a visit to WFAN’s Mike Francesa. Besides the
usual cliché, “I’m real excited to get going” and “We just gotta play hard”. D’Antoni did share somethings that were somewhat interesting:
D’Antoni stressed that Stephon Marbury won’t be a distraction. he said, “When you win only 23 games most players on the roster know there will be changes”.
He added, Marbury and Zach Randolph still being here in NY doesn’t change his overall plan. They and other players on the team have talent and can fit in this or any system. ”My philosophy is something I will keep. Some will fit and other’s might have some adjustments to make, it shouldn’t effect most of the players, that’s why we have coaches”….”Definitely anyone can fit in this system. Shaq did, Kurt Thomas did.”
He said he has realistic expectations and if “they play hard”, “wins will follow”, “excitement will follow”… ”Part of me gets real excited with what I see but I can’t put a number (wins) on it”. I know, I know, I said besides the usual cliche’, but, I had to fit at least one or two in.
When asked about Danilo Gallinari D’Antoni said “He will probably be a little slow coming out of the gates because of his back issues. We will be cautious and we will go slow with him because he’s only 20 years old. But I expect around Christmas time he’ll get a head of steam and by real good for us”.
D’Antoni also said that Patrick Ewing Jr. was a little better offensively than people give him credit for and that he’s looking forward to working with him.
Walsh was also on and had some interesting things to say about Marbury.
- Reported by Peter Wade
