Syfo-Dyas
09-29-2008, 12:21 PM
by Ken Berger
While Stephon Marbury still thinks he is running the Knicks, this was
proved to be anything but the case Friday in the very building he acts
as though he owns.
This isn't James Dolan's team anymore, either. And while Donnie Walsh
clearly has Dolan's interests at heart - putting fellow executives on
notice during the summer that the Knicks no longer will be the dumping
ground for obscene contracts and lopsided trades - it really isn't
Walsh's team, either.
This is all about Mike D'Antoni. With no player to build around and
little hope of acquiring one for at least two more years, it is the
coach's show. The Knicks are building around him.
And any current player who wants to have a future in New York had
better understand that, and understand it fast.
Ken Berger Ken Berger Bio | E-mail | Recent columns
"I've bought into Mike D'Antoni," Walsh said. "I'm convinced of him."
Walsh was hired to restore honor and sane management to the basketball
operations, a necessary step. But D'Antoni - his style, his appeal to
free agents, his successful track record - is the long-term solution.
"He'll make it better than I think most coaches would right now,"
Walsh said. "But with the right players, I know this guy will
deliver."
D'Antoni delivered gallows humor and punch lines Friday, and who could
blame him? A few weeks ago, he was coaching the best players on the
planet in Beijing. Someone asked if his thoughts ever wandered to the
task awaiting him in New York.
"Yeah, you mean when I was on top of the Great Wall ready to jump
off?" D'Antoni said.
He will need a sense of humor to get through this season and next. For
Starbury's sake, he'll need one to get through next week in Saratoga
Springs. But he will get through it, and the Knicks will be on their
way to a better place because of him.
D'Antoni explained that this is about learning who will be admitted to
his "circle" and who will be left behind. For the first time in a long
time, the most important figure in the Knicks' organization isn't
hitched to the bloated contracts and head cases he acquired.
"I'm kind of in a unique position in that I'm not tied to anybody,"
D'Antoni said, "and it should be that way."
So if Marbury already is challenging D'Antoni to "speak his piece" and
proclaiming, "I'm not coming off the bench here in New York," then I'm
guessing he's orbiting the circle right now. If Eddy Curry arrived in
Greenburgh this week in condition that D'Antoni described as "could be
better, could be worse," then it would appear as though the only thing
he's bought into is Entenmann's.
The beauty of it is that the coach isn't tied to anything but his
system and his reputation. If anyone cares to join him, the price of
admission is pretty clear.
D'Antoni will bring 18 players to Saratoga and said he'll give regular
minutes this season to nine or 10. There are plenty of good seats
outside the circle. Might I suggest the Knicks travel upstate with an
extra bus, the better to ship the outsiders back.
While Stephon Marbury still thinks he is running the Knicks, this was
proved to be anything but the case Friday in the very building he acts
as though he owns.
This isn't James Dolan's team anymore, either. And while Donnie Walsh
clearly has Dolan's interests at heart - putting fellow executives on
notice during the summer that the Knicks no longer will be the dumping
ground for obscene contracts and lopsided trades - it really isn't
Walsh's team, either.
This is all about Mike D'Antoni. With no player to build around and
little hope of acquiring one for at least two more years, it is the
coach's show. The Knicks are building around him.
And any current player who wants to have a future in New York had
better understand that, and understand it fast.
Ken Berger Ken Berger Bio | E-mail | Recent columns
"I've bought into Mike D'Antoni," Walsh said. "I'm convinced of him."
Walsh was hired to restore honor and sane management to the basketball
operations, a necessary step. But D'Antoni - his style, his appeal to
free agents, his successful track record - is the long-term solution.
"He'll make it better than I think most coaches would right now,"
Walsh said. "But with the right players, I know this guy will
deliver."
D'Antoni delivered gallows humor and punch lines Friday, and who could
blame him? A few weeks ago, he was coaching the best players on the
planet in Beijing. Someone asked if his thoughts ever wandered to the
task awaiting him in New York.
"Yeah, you mean when I was on top of the Great Wall ready to jump
off?" D'Antoni said.
He will need a sense of humor to get through this season and next. For
Starbury's sake, he'll need one to get through next week in Saratoga
Springs. But he will get through it, and the Knicks will be on their
way to a better place because of him.
D'Antoni explained that this is about learning who will be admitted to
his "circle" and who will be left behind. For the first time in a long
time, the most important figure in the Knicks' organization isn't
hitched to the bloated contracts and head cases he acquired.
"I'm kind of in a unique position in that I'm not tied to anybody,"
D'Antoni said, "and it should be that way."
So if Marbury already is challenging D'Antoni to "speak his piece" and
proclaiming, "I'm not coming off the bench here in New York," then I'm
guessing he's orbiting the circle right now. If Eddy Curry arrived in
Greenburgh this week in condition that D'Antoni described as "could be
better, could be worse," then it would appear as though the only thing
he's bought into is Entenmann's.
The beauty of it is that the coach isn't tied to anything but his
system and his reputation. If anyone cares to join him, the price of
admission is pretty clear.
D'Antoni will bring 18 players to Saratoga and said he'll give regular
minutes this season to nine or 10. There are plenty of good seats
outside the circle. Might I suggest the Knicks travel upstate with an
extra bus, the better to ship the outsiders back.