mike d’antoni

So much for Phil Jackson. We East Coast basketball fans woke up this morning to a pleasant surprise – the Lakers hired Mike D’Antoni as head coach.  We weren’t the only ones caught off guard. Phil Jackson is reportedly stunned. The hiring isn’t going over well in LA. Bill Plaschke of the LA Times: Mike [...]

Sports Illustrated polled 134 NBA players and asked them which coach they'd most, and least like to play for… and Doc topped the list of most-wanted coaches: DOC RIVERS, CELTICS 22% MIKE D'ANTONI 21% GREGG POPOVICH, SPURS 16%  I guess I shouldn't be surprised.  Kevin Garnett has said he would run through walls for Doc. [...]

Woj has the details:  D’Antoni and Knicks owner James Dolan agreed on Wednesday to end his three-plus-years run as Knicks coach, a source said. “It was a mutual decision to no longer coach the Knicks … conflicting visions of the club’s future,” the source said. [...] “Dolan is blaming the coach,” said a source with knowledge [...]

Marc Berman of the NY Post has the not-so-shocking details: Carmelo Anthony’s discontent with the Knicks organization became so severe after Monday night’s loss to the Bulls, he told a confidant he preferred to be traded before Thursday’s NBA deadline, The Post has learned. According to a person familiar with his thinking, Anthony’s disillusionment stems most [...]

I often wonder what opposing teams, their beat reporters and bloggers are saying about the Celtics after playing the Celtics. Here's a dose of 'enemy chatter' from New York. "I don’t know if that’s execution, that’s having a horseshoe up your rear," D'Antoni said of the game-tying three-pointer. "That’s what Paul Pierce does." ESPN NY [...]

  Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here… highlighting the big storyline. Because there's nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump. "If they want to use the overtime [Thursday] night (as an excuse for Friday's poor performance), then we are not mentally tough enough to be a [...]

Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni isn't impressed by Rajon Rondo. Here are his comments, courtesy Ken Berger of CBS. On downplaying Rondo's influence on Game 3, D'Antoni said, "He's a very good basketball player. Really good. " But, there was a but … D'Antoni on Rondo: "I'd like to see him play on Minnesota and see [...]

  When Paul Pierce stepped on the court at Madison Square Garden last night, there was a gleam in his eye. A look that said, "I'm not fu**ing around tonight y'all.." And sure enough, he wasn't. Notching his 8th game at MSG with 30 or more points, The Truth passed Kobe Bryant to lead active [...]

Its playoff time so it's time to focus on our potential roadblocks to Banner 18.  Every day we'll bring you what's making news in enemy territory.  This way we know what they're up to when it comes time to take 'em out. FIRST ROUND OPPONENT ESPN NY: Carmelo Anthony has been hitting 3-pointers from waaaaay behind the [...]

Ahhhh late-August…  This is the point in the NBA offseason where we start pulling storylines out of our nether regions.  The explosion of player movement consumed July.  The analysis and residual minor-deals carry us through to the Hall of Fame inductions.  And then we have fun the week after by debating things like "All-Time" teams.  [...]