Posted on 03/14/2012 1:42:35 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Mike D'Antoni has resigned as coach of the New York Knicks.
D'Antoni's resignation was first reported by Yahoo! Sports on Wednesday. The coach's agent, Warren LeGarie, told ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher that the parting was "a mutual decision" because D'Antoni and the franchise have "conflicting views of the Knicks' future."
D'Antoni put the Knicks through a morning workout Wednesday and had been preparing to coach them against the Portland Trail Blazers. Instead, Mike Woodson is expected to handle that role.
The Knicks (18-24) have hit a tailspin in the last two weeks, losing six straight and seven of eight to fall six games below .500 and into a tie for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
New York had high expectations coming into this season with Carmelo Anthony, Amare Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler on the roster. After struggling through the first six weeks, though, the Knicks went 8-1 in a nine-game stretch in mid-February on the strength of point guard Jeremy Lin, who electrified both the fan base and his teammates after being claimed off waivers in late December.
But once Anthony returned from injury and the Knicks' recent slide began, the discontent from it apparently created a gulf between him and D'Antoni.
The New York Post reported in Wednesday's editions that Anthony would welcome a trade, which he denied at the team's shootaround. The report also said Anthony was unhappy in part because he believed D'Antoni and interim general manager Glen Grunwald do not trust him.
Anthony denied that, too.
"I don't want to be traded," Anthony said Wednesday morning. "I don't know where that foolishness came from, so let's put a cap on that and make (sure) this the last time I hear about that."
(Excerpt) Read more at espn.go.com ...
“D’Antoni can now have dinner with Don Nelson, Larry Brown and Isiah Thomas who ironically are all still on Knicks payroll.”
To win in the NBA these days, much better defense must be played than D’antoni seems interested in.
The Knicks will now go back to being a showcase for a big ego, small talent "superstar" and they will continue to lose.
BTW, D'Antoni is white and Woodson is black - not that the star player's race has anything to do with it. /sarcasm
The Mavs will be happy to trade Lamar Odom for Lin.
will they throw in the Kardoucheian gal too?
Preferably into the Hudson River.
Carmelo is a locker room cancer. Putting Smith with him made it terminal.
The Mavs actually like Odom.
LMAO
maybe “the Obamas” could take over that reality show slot after Jan 2013.
The Knicks went downhill when Melo came back..he and Lin could not co-exist on the floor together at the same time..team chemistry got messed up
I knew this would happen once Anthony returned. He can talk about “teamwork” all he wants, but in the end, one person has to control the ball. I would side with Jeremy Lin, not because he’s necessarily the better player, but because he makes EVERYONE better-—which is what earned Steve Nash two MVPs and why everyone who plays with Nash sees all their scoring and FG% numbers go up.
Ironically, I have more hope for the current Suns---who have far less pure talent than the Stoudamire/Bell teams---but who are really committed to playing defense. They went through a stretch recently where they held several opponents under 90 points in a row. Well, that's PLAYOFF basketball. Still don't know if they have enough talent, but they are surely hustling.
Carmelo should resign too.
Carmelo should resign too.
Nice observation. I hate the NBA for this reason. I really want to like it but what you just described is the reason why I can’t.
That's not the impression I get, they've bent over backwards to try to accommodate him.
Mark Cuban has learned a very valuable lesson....NEVER make a deal with the Lakers.
+1
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