New York Knicks: 7 Changes Mike D'Antoni Must Make

The New York Knicks aren't only a team struggling out of the gate at the moment, but they've got a head coach in Mike D'Antoni that is accustomed to being put under the microscope.

For the Knicks to get things together and become the team they should be on paper, changes need to be made.

Here's a look at a few things D'Antoni must change to get things turned around.

Become Better at Late-Game Adjustments

Granted he's never been confused for Phil Jackson or Doc Rivers when it comes to in-game strategy, but D'Antoni has never been a good late-game coach.

The Knicks have never been very successful in close games under D'Antoni and to his defense, they've never really had the talent until now. Sometimes your coach has to steal a win for you, though

It's easy to watch Carmelo Anthony score 17 points in the fourth quarter to get a victory, but sometimes adjustments work just as effectively.

Remember, D'Antoni is the same guy that used the words "Jared Jeffries" and "making a play" in the same sentence after a last-second loss in last season's playoffs.

Make the Stars Commit to Playing Defense

You never want to clash with your stars as a head coach, but the addition of Tyson Chandler won't pay off if all five men on the floor aren't committed to playing defense for 48 minutes.

That includes Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire.

The words defense and D'Antoni have rarely been used in the same sentence, but they are going to have to be for this Knicks team to do well.

The signing of Chandler to a big deal was pointless if the style of play on the floor doesn't change as well.

Give Iman Shumpert More Minutes

He's getting no guard play at all.

Shumpert got off to a good start before injuring his knee. Give him the minutes when he returns this week and see what happens.

The results couldn't be any worse at the moment.

Forget the Live by the 3, Die by the 3 Attitude

The three-point shot has been a staple in D'Antoni's offense, but so is the pick-and-roll.

With the personnel on the floor, settling for the long-range shot isn't always the best shot. It's killed them before and did so again in the loss to Toronto.

The Knicks went just 10-of-35 from behind the arc against Toronto and are only 39-of-126 from three-point range on the season.

Put the focus on getting to the rim. You can win games with layups and free throws. A lot can be said about getting to the free-throw stripe late in games.

The Knicks aren't doing that at the moment.

Playing the game inside-out would be much more beneficial to this team.

Find a Way to Get Toney Douglas Going

Douglas is not a bad guard coming off the bench, but he's been horrendous running the offense as a starter.

The Knicks offense has no continuity or rhythm at all and it's one that needs to function on good timing.

Waiting for Baron Davis to get healthy could take too long. D'Antoni has to keep things simple for Douglas and put him in spots to have success.

If it means babying him and limiting his shots, then that's what D'Antoni needs to do.

He's attempted the most three-point shots on the team. That's not what you want from your point guard, especially in an offense that features Anthony and Stoudemire.

Granted, the Knicks need backcourt scoring as well, but Douglas has been a momentum killer if anything.

Crash the Glass

Whatever D'Antoni thinks the team's top priority is, he needs to put that on the back burner and make rebounding at both ends of the floor a priority.

Everyone needs to make crashing the boards a priority.

If they do and don't remain last in the NBA in rebounding for long, other things will fall into place.

That also means Chandler needs to step it up when it comes to banging. He can't be averaging under seven rebounds per game.

There have been too many second shot opportunities on the defensive end and on the offensive end they aren't creating enough second and third shot chances. Teams can't win grabbing only 35 boards a game.

Settle on a Rotation and Stick with It

There's no need to play 12-13 players.

Granted, some key guys have been out of the lineup, but once Shumpert and Stoudemire are back healthy, D'Antoni needs to settle on his eight- to 10-man rotation and stick with that.

There's way too many parts moving in and out.