Mike D'Antoni to the Knicks? Donnie Walsh is dreaming.

So the Knicks decided that since they had no more money to spend under the salary cap, they would blow the load on a coach, and, not just on any coach, but a coach whose record over the past four years has been enviable.

D'Antoni has led the Phoenix Suns to two Western Conference finals only to fall to the eventual World Champion San Antonio Spurs, and it can be argued that on one of those occasions the suspension of players as a result of the Robert Horry check of Steve Nash into the scorer's table played a great part of their demise that year.

However, can D'Antoni work his magic in New York? My guess is no, and the reason can be specified in two simple words:  Steve Nash.

The Phoenix system of run and gun was so effective because they had a coach on the floor in Steve Nash, whose decision making made him the league MVP for two years and perhaps the top point guard in the league for four of those years. Guys like Shawn Marion, Amare Stoudemire, Joe Johnson, (before he decided to bank in Georgia) et al were all better players because of the offensive genius of Steve Nash.

Interestingly, critics of D'Antoni say he can't coach defense and critics of Nash say he can't play defense. Perhaps D'Antoni wasn't the best offensive teacher since Nash was also his offensive revolver.

Who in New York is going to run the point? Stehon Marbury?  He was so effective in Phoenix that D'Antoni got rid of him as soon as possible.

In fact, it can be argued that the demise of the Knick franchise can be attributed to the day that Marbury became a Knick. D'Antoni is making up for the mistake by trying to fix what he, or his organization, caused in making that trade.

Can Nate Robinson or Jamaal Crawford pull off running point?  I don't think so.  Even if one of them decides that they are the second coming of Steve Nash, to whom are they going to pass? Randolph? Curry?  Richardson?  James?  Jeffries?

Those guys will still be entering MSG when the guard gets to center court with the ball. In short, this team was not set up to run a style that, apparently, D'Antoni is comfortable in coaching.  He does not have even one piece of the puzzle, so his four year contract may be necessary if for no other reason than to begin to put those pieces together within that time frame.

In the style of the New York Knicks, they will determine after four years that D'Antoni was unsuccessful and will axe him, leaving the successor with a team of non defenders ready to shoot within 10 second on each possession. Likely, the new coach will be a "possession" coach leaving the Knicks with another 4 years or so to bring in new material. It's like Don Rickles humor, but funnier and more predictable.

The Knicks need a taskmaster. Someone who will be respected by the players (D'Antoni should be respected) and someone who will lay down the law when players report out of shape. In short, they need a coach who will make the players accountable and D'antoni wasn't able to do it with Stoudemire and I doubt he will have any more luck with Marbury, Curry or Randolph. This is a sorry cast of characters and they need more tha a very good offensive coach to make them better.

The logical and best choice for this job was Mark Jackson. He would have brought in a new culture and would have demanded respect. Players would toe the line or would be shipped out. He could have worked with the material at hand, making changes on the go and he would have been the perfect mentor for any point guard looking to learn the position.

I have respect for Donnie Walsh, but believe he made a huge mistake in hiring Mike D'Antoni.

Thank goodness I'm a Toronto Raptors fan!