Mike D'Antoni: 5 Reasons New York Knicks Coach Will Be on 2011-12 Hot Seat

New York Knicks fans, and New York sports fans in general, are universally recognized for their impatience and win-at-all-costs mentality. Had it been the people’s choice, head coach Mike D’Antoni would’ve been shown the door long ago.

D’Antoni, a 60-game winner twice with the Phoenix Suns, only managed to squeeze five more victories out of his new squad after two seasons than his predecessor—the maligned Isiah Thomas.

The initial excitement over his hiring soon gave way to public grumbling and the consensus that D’Antoni’s penchant for scoring and inability to adhere to defensive strategy would prevent him from ever vying for a title.

Despite not always having the greatest talent at his disposal, it is D’Antoni’s refusal to concentrate on defense that critics feel is keeping New York from reaching its full potential. Many believe his ignorance is to blame for a three-year winning percentage of only .419.

The additions of Amar’e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony and the crater left in the roster created by the late-February trade have bought D’Antoni some time. However, expectations heading into the 2011-12 season have risen to unparalleled heights.

D’Antoni will be scrutinized just as New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi is on a game-by-game basis.

Excuses that the team isn’t jelling due to inadequate practice together will be intolerable. Even if a lockout prohibits organized offseason sessions, this past spring served as a sufficient adjustment period.

Knicks Nation wants no fewer than 50 wins this time around, and early playoff exits are a thing of the past. Such lofty goals aren’t unreasonable for a franchise approaching four decades without a championship, especially one that suits up in the basketball Mecca.

Come opening tip, D’Antoni will be in the line of fire. Responsibility for failure rests squarely upon his shoulders, and answers will be demanded in the wake of crummy performances.

With a single year left on the coach’s contract, next season will make or break him. D’Antoni has essentially been strapped into the hot seat for quite a while, but a number of variables could make the heat unbearable if success eludes him.

Defensive Struggles

It’s been rumored that D’Antoni will be forced to compromise and permit a defensive specialist to join his staff. However, the likelihood of this coming to fruition is all but set in stone.

An assistant coach typically signs on for a minimum of two years, but unless D’Antoni receives an extension, he’s only locked in for one more season. In that case, it wouldn’t make sense to add an assistant for a more lengthy term than his head coach because when there’s a head coaching change, the majority of the staff is released along with him.

If the Knicks enter the season with the current corps of coaches, D’Antoni will probably pick up where he left off: with the mindset he can still prevail by pouring on the points, neglecting defense in the process.

Last season, New York was the fifth-highest scoring team in the league at 108.3 points per game. But, the team ranked 21st in defensive efficiency, allowing 106.9 points per contest.

Outscoring opponents by 1.4 points per game does not translate to many more wins than losses, thus explaining the Knicks mark of 42-40.

Having drafted Iman Shumpert and assuming a defensively inclined center will be acquired during the offseason, the Knicks should moderately improve that facet of the game. Lacking a coach who can really fine-tune the defense and offer guidance from a perspective opposite D’Antoni will eventually prove detrimental, though.

If New York hits a cold spell, odds are it’ll be primarily due to a poorly executed defensive scheme. And, what is perhaps D’Antoni’s biggest fault will be front and center for the umpteenth time.

Failure To Earn Players’ Respect

Shortly after Carmelo Anthony burst onto the scene, the Knicks found themselves in the midst of a losing streak. Of course, dropping nine out of 10 games was cause for concern when you have arguably two of the top 15 players in the league sharing the same frontcourt.

Anthony mentioned in an interview that he was struggling to acclimate himself with D’Antoni’s offense. While he didn’t blatantly take shots at his new boss, Anthony indirectly questioned the validity of the coach’s game plan.

Over the course of the season, there were instances where it appeared D’Antoni had lost control of his team; his players had simply stopped listening to him barking out orders from the sideline.

In the current world of professional sports, players’ relationships with their coaches are tremendously fragile. It’s far different from high school and college, where the head coach’s word is golden.

NBA athletes are grown men making millions of dollars, and if they feel strongly enough to buck the system, it’s their prerogative.

The ultimate slap in the face to a head coach is when a player loses all respect and, even worse, the entire team. The Detroit Pistons underwent a similar experience when recently fired head coach John Kuester refused to play Richard Hamilton, and several players protested by skipping practice.

Winning teams don’t normally encounter this sort of turmoil, but losing welcomes chaos. If the Knicks fail to raise the bar next season, don’t be surprised if the players—well aware that D’Antoni’s job is in jeopardy—begin to rebel.

Legendary Coaches on the Market

When Phil Jackson announced he was stepping down as head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, the gossip pot boiled over with talk of him returning to coach the team he won a title with in the early ‘70s as a player.

Jackson claims he will stay retired and intends to spend the rest of his days enjoying what life has to offer outside of basketball. However, he has never been one to shy away from an excessive payday or the chance to coach a team with a couple of superstars.

Imagine the legacy he could leave if his career came full circle, and he was responsible for bringing a championship back to the Big Apple 40 years later. This scenario may be impractical, but there are some more realistic possibilities out there such as Jeff Van Gundy or even Kentucky’s John Calipari.

If the Knicks are trudging through another mediocre campaign, don’t be surprised if your local sports section is abound with chatter addressing prospective D’Antoni replacements. D’Antoni will likely be constantly looking over his shoulder next season as a result.

Playoff Expectations

The Knicks restored some hope when they returned to the postseason for the first time since 2004. Numerous experts believed New York was dangerous, and it was rather plausible that the team could upset the Boston Celtics despite their low seed.

Chauncey Billups’ knee injury at the end of Game 1 spelled trouble, but no one was expecting what transpired through the remainder of the series. To say the least, a 4-0 sweep was as disappointing as it was shocking.

Moving forward, it is mandatory that each season’s outcome be better than the last. In other words, the Knicks must compete in the conference semifinals, or the season will be viewed as a bust.

D’Antoni is fully cognizant that he cannot lead his team to another early playoff exit or, god forbid, miss the postseason entirely. As it is, he knows the hourglass is almost empty. Failure to advance beyond the first round would clearly seal his fate.

James Dolan’s Short Leash

It’s been speculated that D’Antoni’s rapport with Knicks owner James Dolan is no longer as amicable as it once was. Evidently, a couple forgettable seasons paired with an embarrassing playoff appearance the following year have worn Dolan’s patience thin.

When Dolan took it upon himself to upstage ex-president Donnie Walsh and dismantle the whole roster to acquire Carmelo Anthony, he was seeing dollar signs.

Two superstar teammates is an attraction, but the novelty begins to wear off if the team is not winning. Like any shrewd businessman, Dolan realizes he stands to profit the most if New York is successful.

With such an impactful decision looming whether to renew D’Antoni’s contract or fill his position with another big name, Dolan will be watching D’Antoni and the Knicks like a hawk next season. Unless New York surpasses all expectations and comes out of the gate atop the East in the elite company of the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat, D’Antoni will have one irritable owner breathing down his neck.

If the Knicks are playing poorly, look for the relationship between coach and owner to become even more strained than it already is.

Since money is no object for Dolan, I’ll lay odds he’s already begun running through various scenarios in his head concerning steps he can take to lure Phil Jackson out of retirement.