NBA Rumors: Mike D'Antoni Must Be Replaced to Take Advantage of Knicks' Talent

The Knicks will never win a championship with Mike D'Antoni as coach. I've said it before, and I'll believe it until Mike is standing next to David Stern flipping me and the rest of his critics off as he hoists the trophy.

Mike D'Antoni is fed up with the criticisms of his approach to defense, and he says that and a few other things in a Christmas Day interview with the NY Post's Steve Serby.

Serby asks D'Antoni about his fear of being on the hot seat, to which he replies:

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"No. Give me one coach in any sport that’s not always on the hot seat. You’re just as good as your last game. ... You’re always on a hot seat."

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Good answer Mike, because if the trends that have caused this 1-2 start continue, the temperature in the seat of your pants will become an inferno. 

The Knicks are of course near the bottom in team defense, but they have held all but one opponent under 100 points this year. The problem thus far is that the Knicks can't score. Can you believe that?

A Mike D'Antoni team, with Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire can't score? They are only averaging 88.7 points per game. I know it's only been three games, but that is staggering. Mind you, there only 63 games left. Is there a switch that can just be flipped on to right the ship?

Despite adding Tyson Chandler to the mix, the Knicks are 30th in the NBA in rebounding as well. That is a direct reflection of Stoudemire's disinterest in going to the glass. The Knicks still have entirely too many defensive- and rebound-challenged players on their roster.

The Knicks' hopes for improvement rests upon assistant coach Mike Woodson, who was supposed to bring a defensive focus to the team, and Tyson Chandler, who was supposed to solidify the middle.

Well, the Knicks are allowing less points, but Chandler is only averaging 5.7 rebounds per game so far. The Knicks will find some stability this season, they will go to the playoffs and they may even win a series, depending on their draw, but this team is built to win a championship, and that will never happen with the dysfunction D'Antoni has caused.

Do we really believe Mike Woodson's hire was all D'Antoni's idea? On the day Woodson was hired, D'Antoni said this to the NY Post:

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“I’m on a one-year deal and we could have a quick turnaround,’’ D’Antoni said.

"It’s a special type situation. We got the best of everything. Head-coaching experience was very important to have the respect of the players. We got to have a better team next year. It’s good to have someone who's been through it already, knowing what I need," D'Antoni said.

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It seems D'Antoni knows this team has to make it deep into the playoffs, if not, he's toast. While I would never wish or hope for the misfortunes of another, in all honesty, that is exactly what the Knicks need.