The Other Side

by Tommy Dee on February 27th, 2010 at 9:45 am

By Kwame Eaddy

As always we ask that you send your submissions to theknicksblog@gmail.com

1. Mike D’Antoni can’t win against coaches with less coaching experience
2. Mike D’Antoni does not see that his players are not motivated by his alienation tactics,or doesn’t care

3. Here is a list of his true achievements as knick coach:

a. Worst start
b. most points scored in a half by an opponent
c. most points scored by a opposing player ( Kobe ) 61 pts
d. lowest amount of points in a game by the knicks ( due to his rotation )
e. allows 55+ points in the paint every game
f. soon to have 100 losses in two seasons topping all coaches in knick history
g. can not develop players to their potential ( Gallo, Lee,Chandler,Nate,Hill,Douglas)
How can I or any Knick fan defend his decisions, when the losses keep piling up and the players keep wanting out. Marc Berman wrote me and told me that he only alienates role players. But what he thinks is a role player is in fact a player that he needs to win. He comes on like a man with a sense of humor, but you quickly find out that he is a joke as a coach. He does not use his fouls to give to win games, he relies on shot attempts from a not ready NBA player. (Gallo) His idea of defense is Wilson Chandler and Jared Jefferies, David Lee and Gallo don’t have to lend a helping hand. No matter what, team defense and rebounding is the way the game is played. Gallo is no J.J. Hickson athletically or basketball IQ wise. So why in the world is he still standing in one spot waiting for the ball. Gallo does not move well without the ball, nor does he contain his man on defense. Mike’s system in Phoenix was about ball movement as well as players moving without the ball to create defensive laps to create the open shot. Steve Nash and company were very good at it, but we don’t have Steve Nash and I doubt there will ever be another Steve Nash. Mike D’Antoni must adapt to the game the way it is played now. Contending teams rule the way basketball is presently being played, not past losing teams and their almost won systems.
The Knicks must in order to compete play team defense, and rebound the ball as a team. Not let David Lee get the lions share of rebounds and remove him self from the responsibility to help on defense. The Knicks need Eddy Curry developed at the center position, he is one of the few legit big men left in the game . The paint must be protected not by violence, but by clogging the lane with a big body. All the teams contending this year for the championship have a legit big man, except Denver. The playoffs are a half court game, and a slow down pace on offense. When the game is slowed down that’s when defensive pressure can be put on the ball movement. I recall Phoenix and Dallas having the best records during the regular season, only to come up short in the playoffs, because of the way the game is played during them.
The Knicks need to spend their cap room obtaining draft picks, Then they need a coaching staff to develop them. I will call this my Eddy Curry rule. Players are drafted from High School and expected to be NBA ready. Lebron James is the only one I’ve seen do it successfully. All the others except Kobe who’s father played have continued to be less than ready. Eddy Curry can be taught defensive positioning and foot work defense. He can also be taught shot blocking techniques that he can be the presence in the post.
In summary I think the knicks were on the right path with Isaiah Thomas as far as building a team. Instead of not seeing that he has an eye for talent we choose to go after his former draft picks. ( Camby,T-Mac) etc. With that said the Knick organization should hire Isaiah Thomas back to fill the void left by Dick McGuire. Hire Tim Grover to be the conditioning coach and hire some one to develop our bigs.
  • itzyung1

    JJ Hickson sucks and I really hate that Knick fans keep overrating him. And why did this guy compare Gallo to him?
    Its unfair to blame these losses on Mike yea he could have done somethings different here and there but we have been unable to fill needs because of the salary cap.

  • itzyung1

    I stopped reading after that because i pretty much knew it was full of crap.

  • manners

    Who is this guy??. I know the blog encourages response and opinions but this guy’s thoughts are to convoluted to merit publishing. Itzyung is right. JJ hickson?? C’mon Gallo is a much better player. All of Hickson’s points come off of a Lebron alley oop. Most of them anyways. Develop Curry!! Is this guy joking?? Curry’s Bren in the league for almost 8yrs. now. How about Curry saying on the court for even a month??. Only good points he makes is that HS players needing to be coachesd up and not thought ready to contribute right away. Oh and about D’antoni. Coach is going to have to brush up on his coaching or he’ll be out next seasons end. Dude got that right. But rehire Isiah??this guy must be related to Thomas.
    Sure let’s get opinions and Leta voice our thoughts on here but when those ideas and opinions are off base just hit delete TommyDee!!!!

  • manners

    Itzyung1 I wish I never read his post. NONESENSE!!!

  • http://theKnicksBlog.com Tommy Dee

    can’t do…everyone is entitled to their opinion. This was in response to Ryan’s. Had to post.

    TD

  • defense

    Thank you Tommy Dee. Its about time we can speak our minds. I forgot to mention that the Knicks also loss by 50 points to Dallas. Was this an example of what knick fans can expect from the new NBA style of defense? Fans say don’t blame the coach, but who else gives out the defensive assignments. The coach does, so I feel as a former player of this sport that this is the worst , no I know this is the worst. I can wait for roster changes,however are people trying to tell me don’t evaluate the coach who will remain in charge of these assignments. I blame players when they blow defense assignments and offensive ones. We have truly hit the bottom when a coach who is the team manager calls plays for crunch time shots to go to Gallo. Who won’t use fouls he has to give to secure an easy win. The lost against the Thunder was another example of Mike D’Antoni’s coaching . He calls a play for Jared Jefferies from 3 pt. range, or Gallo form the corner . Come on get us a coach that can compete with the Cavs, Dallas,Orlando,Boston,Atlanta. etc. Fire Mike D’Antoni.

  • defense

    How about Eddy Curry straight out of High School was not ready for every coach in the NBA. What are assistant coaches supposed to do, I hope it is help develop young talent. I have seen Eddy, and I still believe he can contribute he a coach would teach him how he wants him to play defense and block shots. There are camps all over the that specialize in things like defense. The knicks made him lose weight, now teach him how to be a part of the team. Even Carmelo and Kobe had good coaches. Stop trying to buy a developed player and develop your own. Stop trying to say JJ hickson is not as good as Gallo , because that is crazy. Just look at who’s team wins, and who plays they’re role effectively.

  • the oak

    1) You are out of your mind
    2)Hickson is clearly more athletic than Gallo but not better and its not debatable. If you watch the Cavs, every one of their players look better than they are because of Lebron. Watch how many open shots/dunks there players get, almost always because of Lebron.
    3)Thomas has an eye for college talent for sure, but its everything else about being a GM that he is horrid at… trades- (see Curry, Marbury), FA’s(see James, Jeffries) He did not know how to build a team.
    4) Its up to the coaching staff to develop Curry? I don’t think so. How many years has he been in the league? And if it was up to this staff to develop Curry, first he has to get in shape.

  • itzyung1

    But What If The Team is just flat out better than us? Do we still sit there and blame the coach?
    Would you tell Nate Robinson to Guard Kobe Bryant then get mad when Kobe gets 50 Points?

  • the oak

    I guarantee you the coach has NEVER run a play for Jeffries to shoot a three in the corner.
    I can just about guarantee the coach has never run a play for Jeffries ever.

  • Mal

    I do agree with the Tim Grover hire but Im sure that would cost a grip because Im sure he makes a good penny already. I do agree Mike is not a great coach, its a myth that all the players want to play with him BUT he is our coach at least for another 2 years so hopefully he’d let his ego aside and try to improve on his shortcomings.

    Gallo really needs to wakeup, he is sleep walking out there, TMac should try to take him under his wing.

    I hope DW keeps TMac for cheap to augment whatever 2 we get and hopefully DW doesnt feel just because he has the money he has to spend it, i.e Ben Gordon Charlie Villanueva move. If things dont workout hold some change for 2011, but we must get bigger Eddy Curry or Darko could have battled Bogurt and the Wizards displayed their superior height and shot blocking, we need paint protectors

  • defense

    Heres a comparison between Gallo and JJ Hickson.

    Gallo 41:31 min. 1 offensive reb 3 def 9pts knicks 118 Wizards 116

    JJ Hickson 13:25 min 2off reb 6pts Cavs 126 Tor 118

    on any given night Hickson out plays Gallo . Let Gallo guard JJ Hickson monday night. i guarantee Gallo will be lost all night or he will have an excuse.

  • HaS

    I guess they let anyone post now. Ok.

  • TobyKnight

    I’m speechless.

    “In summary I think the knicks were on the right path with Isaiah Thomas as far as building a team.”

    Kwame – We want to build a winning team.

    Kwame Eaddy is as good an analyst and writer as Kwame Brown is a Center.

  • Hydr0

    It must have been so long since Eddy Curry played that people forgot that you cannot put the words defense and Eddy Curry in the same paragraph. He is a horrible defender and below average rebounder. In his prime he was a very good offensive player. That is he ceiling, but defense lol

  • TobyKnight

    Comparing single game outputs doesn’t make your point and does nothing for your credibility.

  • defense

    I hope T-Mac will take Gallo and Chandler under his wing. Even Stevie Wonder can see that we need a center in the paint. If the knick management wants to compete with the Yankees than bring Tim Grover in.

  • defense

    You’re right, the season record means more. He’s on the team with the best record in the league.

  • LBJ2010

    What a joke. Way to cherry pick stats off one game. It’s also convenient that you left out Gallo’s 4 blocked shots last night. Please provide some sort of proof that Hickson has a better basketball IQ than Gallo. I’m waiting.

  • ADeep

    I kinda decreases his credibility actually.

  • LBJ2010

    Good point. Cleveland’s record has everything to do with JJ Hickson, not so much LeBron. Why all the talk about us signing LeBron this offseason? Shouldn’t we be making a run at Hickson? I mean, the man is willing the Cavs to the best record in the league in his 19 minutes per game.

  • defense

    The evolution of players in the league shows that no one except Lebroin James came in as a man child. Coaches have to be held responsible for their students. Or should every player know every system that coaches play

  • ADeep

    In regards to Curry I think it my be better to just let him rot. That may not be the smartest move but I’m pretty pissed at how hes wasted a roster spot and tons of cap room for all these years. Even if it was possible, lets NOT get him in shape and teach him defense just in time for his contract year just so another team can waste their time on him.

  • defense

    look at whose team is winning , and who can’t stay with his man on defense. Just look at the standings Cav 46-14 Knicks 20-37

  • DVJ

    This post is atrocious.
    No need to say more.
    On to the next one.

    Big game tonight. Expect T-Mac to get 30-35 minutes.

  • TobyKnight

    Mr. Eaddy is a long time Eddy Curry fan. Apparently, he figured that the Celtics acquisition of Kevin Garnett was not going to impact on the Knicks ability to beat the Celtics in the 2007-2008 season. Results can be viewed below. Hey, he was only off by 43 victories.

    Boston Celtics 66 16 .805 –
    Toronto Raptors 41 41 .500 25
    Philadelphia 76ers 40 42 .488 26
    New Jersey Nets 34 48 .415 32
    New York Knicks 23 59 .280 43

    Kwame Eaddy
    July 31, 2007 5:20 PM
    Kwame Is my name Lost Batalion Hall is where and Harlem Prep is where I played this game. This KG trade has changed nothing I still like our Knicks for the East. Paul Ray and Kevin need the rest of the Knicks to act like the Knick beat writers. ( Does your heart really pump Kool-Aid) Man come on, With Little Eddy and Little Zach laying on you all night , the Fourth Quarter says good night come play-off time. Larry Bird. Kevin Mchale , and Danny can’t change the N.B.A. or the East. Peace. Did Harlem Prep beat Laurinburg with the Goat as coach Yes!!!!

    Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/knicks/2007/07/garnett-puts-damper-on-knicks.html#ixzz0gkjFj3YG

  • LBJ2010

    Do you even watch Gallo play defense, or are you just making generalizations based on his alleged “atheleticism” and “low basketball IQ?” You are embarrassing yourself bringing team records into this when one team has the best player in basketball, and the other is rebuilding.

  • defense

    Lets face it, the records don’t lie. It is what it is. Mike Brown is a better coach than Mike D’Antoni. His assistants do a better job at preparing their team for war. The comparison between Gallo and JJ Hickson is one that we need to be aware of because Monday night we play them. Those oof you who believe Gallo is better than Hicson will have your time March 1, 2010. No excuses.

  • defense

    We will get a chance tonight to see if trading players that Mike D doesn’t like make sense. I believe Zach Randolph will out play the entire knick front line. We will see. New losing streak about to begin. way to go Mike D’Antoni.

  • the oak

    Defense- you conveniently failed to mention Gallo had 4 blocks last night .
    And Hicksons two baskets came from…wait for it… Hickson dunk(assist from James) and Hickson layup(assist from James)

    It is ridiculous to compare any single game, especially when they don’t play one another,

    Even such, are you really ready to proclaim that someone outplayed another guy over 6 pts and 2 rebs?

  • TobyKnight

    defense — are you Kwame Eaddy?

  • the oak

    So I guess Hickson is also better than Al Jefferson, Kevin Love, David West etc because The Cavs have a better record.

    Brilliant

  • defense

    I will take full credit for my statement. I still thought the knicks would have put on a better display. You should read some of my other post as well. Mike D’Antoni still is not the right coach for our knicks Lets see if our win loss record looks much different this year. What the excuse for this years record. I guess you think Mike gets a pass. No way.

  • defense

    They are both role players who start. That s fact

  • the oak

    In regards to defense, it’s probably best if we just disregard him as he hasn’t said a single thing that remotely makes sense.

  • defense

    why do you tell David to guard Shaq?

  • defense

    I like your reseach but it will not change the fact that players need coaching and the coach we have now has not been a savior. I know we can do better and will .

  • defense

    The accomplishments by Mike D’Antoni are what we really need to disregard. Any one who thinks that this coach walks on water is sadly mistaken. Lebron built his team in less time than it took for this team to be forgotten

  • LBJ2010

    No, it isn’t. Hickson doesn’t start/

  • defense

    that just goes to show you my point .

  • LBJ2010

    That you don’t have your facts straight? Or that you don’t have a point?

  • BobbyFromBK

    I agree 1000% with EVERYTHING this man says. Gallo is garbage–plain and simple. He needs to go back and play in Italy. D Lee should not be playing the 5, Chandler has the lowest Basketball IQ I ever seen on a 3rd year player and Damphoney will be run outta town by the end of next season.

    All who disagree are in major denial.

  • gbaked

    People like this writer are the very reason there is the stigma “you cant rebuild in NY.”

    “The Knicks need Eddy Curry developed at the center position, he is one of the few legit big men left in the game ”

    Your solution to the knicks is for them to develop Eddie Curry? The currently/always injured Eddie Curry? The same Eddie Curry who anytime he is in the game makes the team look absolutely awful?

    Recess is over dude, time to head to calculus class.

  • theghostofwillisreed

    please take your argument back. this is beyond weak. i’m sure you know better.

  • defense

    So I guess enjoyed watching McGee blocking all those shots. How about nobody wide enough to clog the middle.I guess Gallo should shoot some more bricks because we don’t have an option at center. There are no big men on the trading block, because all the contenders took them off the market. So we will get rid of Eddy Curry only to watch a team pick him up this summer if he’s brought out. Look at the center positions on the Lakers,Boston,Dallas,Cavs,Orlando, and then maybe you can see why I say make it work. There are none in the up coming draft to talk about either.We will need his size if we are ever going to compete.

  • itzyung1

    Because you have no one else to play shaq on the team.
    But the whole point in my analogy was to say were are overmatched alot so why get mad when we lose? Why blame the team thats overmatched?

  • Kid Tarheel

    I’m at a loss. Every hater on this site would have cried out for D’Antoni when he was winning 60+ games a year with the Suns. No one could deny that he had the right stuff then. Why? Because the team was talented and talent wins in the NBA. If not for several bad breaks that team endured and they might have gotten that eliusive ring. And for those people who want to yell about the fact that he didn’t win any championships with that team must remember that this is the hardest league out of all of the sports to win a championship. Only 8 teams since ’84 have won an NBA Championship. It seems like the loudest voice on this site is always the contrarian, but then when Tommy puts the polls on the site, it always seems like the level headed view wins in a landslide.

    Listen haters, the time is almost here for your voice to get buried. July 2010 is almost here. And when all is well you are just gonna say you were in favor of the plan all along.

    PS. Is Larry Brown a good coach? How did he fare? How is he currently doing?
    PPS. Isiah… hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
    hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

  • x-man

    Dude, you’re smoking your own product! I for once have always seen D’Antoni for what he really was. He’s Don Nelson Lite who won many games during the regular season by emphasing scoring over very little defense.

    This can work during the regular season because teams don’t have time to concentrate on a single team since there are 82 games and iit can be timely to catch teams on back to backs and without certain players and etc.

    However during the playoffs, the game usually become more half court and teams have to play each other in a series. So the stakes are higher in that if you lose the series, the year is over and team have time to focus just on t hat team they’re playing.

    This when D’antoni style of play and his lack of coaching get really exposed. This coach is just not a good coach. Deal with it!

  • JJL424

    c. most points scored by a opposing player ( Kobe ) 61 pts

    this is a pretty horribly written article, so not to nit pick, but didn’t Wilt drop like, idk, 100 points on the knicks?

  • gbaked

    Nobody will argue with you that we need size. Its my main reasoning that I would not like to resign DLee.

    But to suggest ECurry is anything like Bynum, Perkins, Shaq, Howard is just… moronic. Sorry, but it is.

    EC has been a monumental failure. Not only that, he has been hurt all year. He plays for like 5 min in a game, plays beyond bad and then word comes out that he tweaked his big toe or something and is out for 2 weeks. With that, he STINKS at defense. He doesnt block shots and is far from an intimidator. I cant believe I am arguing with someone who wants the hurt Eddie Curry to play, and is using that as his/her main reasoning for dissing our Head Coach. I feel moronic for wasting my time.

    PLUS!+! Now with the Spanish Fly here, we can finally start to run the offense Mike D was brought in to do. Which makes EC even more useless.

  • ds2488

    Not sure why I read this article. Thanks for the new perspective sir…you have changed my life.

  • Kid Tarheel

    So you are saying that Joe Johnson breaking his orbital had nothing to do with the Suns barely coming up short in ’05? Or Amare and Diaw getting suspended on ’07 had nothing to do with them barely losing in 7 games to the eventual champion spurs in the western conference finals? Or was it the fact that they couldn’t play in a halfcourt set? Your argument is tired and staid. As a matter of FACT, 3 nba coaches have won 14 of the last 18 nba championships. And on those teams were some of the best ballers and tandems we have ever seen. Kobe and Shaq, Duncan and Co, Hakeem and Clyde, Jordan and the Jordanettes. D’Antoni is not defined by his lack of a title or the uptempo style of play. He came damn close to two titles and fell short. That is much more than most other coaches can claim. Now he has been handcuffed with a depleted roster. Give the man a chance to show his stuff off with a talented team.

    D’Antoni is the truth. YOU deal with it.

  • http://www.KnicksFanaticsBlog.com IGMKNICKS

    Love the post. Don’t agree with it all, but definitely a great effort to make some of the Gullibles in here think a little.

    Gallo is o.k. He has not proven to be better than Hickson, but Gallo is a rookie on a very badly managed and coached team. D’Antoni suggested that Gallo needs to be emotionally invested in the team. Gallo’s reaction is human. There is no point to being emotionally invested because no one has treated this group like a team. It’s a collection of contracts and players on extended tryouts.

    At the draft, I was surprised Gallo was drafted because everything I saw had him pegged as Jamal Crawford lite. I was wrong. I insulted Crawford.

    Gallo needs the season to be over. He needs the summer and training camp to develop a game and a better sense of the game. He has basic skills to do so much more, but he does not have the knowledge (call it IQ if you want) to really be effective. He doesn’t know how to use his body to create space, his drives are worst than awkward unless he has a clear path, his shot looks pretty, but it is mechanical and not fluid. He has not demonstrated what to do without the ball.

    You guys really have me laughing because many of you act like you have a clue but you don’t. How many were blaming Gallo’s ineffectiveness on Nate when even Clyde was talking about Gallo’s aggression and focus. Have you ever noticed that Gallo only really focus’s when someone pisses him off and then the focus disappears like a flash of light.

    With that said, I am not willing to give up on Gallo yet. He is a kid in his rookie season with some basic skills. He will be o.k.. My guess is that he is unlikely to ever be worth the #8 pick in New York. But he needs to be seen playing in a much better environment where he can develop good habits.

  • sino428

    I’m all for giving people a chance to speak thier minds, but with that said, this could be the most ridiculous rambling nonsense I have ever seen. Hire Isiah back? We were on the right track with him? Develope Eddy Curry (the guy with absolutley no value to anyone)? He doesnt even realize that D’antoni for most of the season HAS slowed down the offense. The Knicks are not and have not played D’antoni’s ‘system’ in a long time. I think it laughable when people like this criticize the ‘system’ based on watching the current Knicks, when they arent even playing the D’Antoni system.

  • TobyKnight

    I think that we will see the real value that Gall brings when he is the third option on the team. Sign two primary options (James, Johnson, Bosh, Gay, Lee) and keep McGrady, and you will see Gallo blossom. He definitely needs seasoning and some veteran mentoring, but he can be a Peja like player for the Knicks.

    S-Rod
    McGrady
    James
    Gallo
    Lee or Bosh

    Chandler – 6th man
    Douglas
    (If Lee then perhaps Camby or Haywood)
    Walker
    Backup PG
    Curry
    2nd round pick
    possible first round pick if we can buy one

    This team would right away be top 4-seed in the East and would have the potential to go all the way. Gallo could be a really strong asset on this team. This would be an amazing passing team. James, McGrady, and even Lee are all very strong passers, and they are not even playing point). It will be tough for James to leave Cleveland with the personnel they currently have, but I think Donnie has done a very good job of making the Knicks attractive. If they can sign Bosh they have to be a top two seed in the East. If they resign Lee and have enough to sign Camby or Haywood then they are at least top 4.

  • thefallen87

    We should have traded Lee and asked the world for him; even though he might have been perceived as a rental….we could have gotten a nice young player and a couple of needed draft picks. To even compare Gallo to Hickson is the worst comment i have heard and then to say to bring back Isiah…my dude, If we didn’t trade for curry, we would have had be possibly drafted Roy and Noah on to our squad. and those two players would have solved a lot of holes for us. I’m sorry but your analysis obviously a person who is just from the outside looking in…eddy curry? develop? whats wrong with u ….