New York Knicks: Firing Mike D'Antoni Not the Answer for Carmelo Anthony and Co.

Thanks to a less than impressive start for the New York Knicks, "Fire Mike D'Antoni" chants have run rampant throughout media outlets and the team's fanbase, yet such a call for action is unjustified and far from a solution.

While it is true that Donnie Walsh privately questioned whether or not D'Antonio was the right fit for this Knicks squad when he was with the organization, it is also true that the head coach has had to essentially oversee four different rosters since he took the reins three years ago.

Sure, D'Antoni is not a known advocate of defense, but that explains Mike Woodson's presence. As much as New York desires immediate results, the fact is this team is still in disarray after last season's Carmelo Anthony trade and this year's Tyson Chandler addition.

Walsh preached patience in New York, as he knew that the Knicks were not an overnight project, and such a concept still applies here, even in his absence. The Knicks are trying to implement a completely different team culture, and are doing so with seven new players and a superstar in Anthony who hasn't even played 40 games in a New York uniform yet.

Are losses to the lowly Toronto Raptors and Charlotte Bobcats embarrassing? Of course, but demeaning losses are all a part of growing pains.

Let's also not forget that currently, the Knicks are dealing with a number of uncertain injuries, specifically with regards to Amar'e Stoudemire. While seeing him on the court provides some relief, he has looked flat and less aggressive at times.

Despite an impressive performance in the Knicks' victory over the Detroit Pistons, Stoudemire has visibly struggled, specifically on defense. With the power forward failing to play efficient and intelligent defense upon his return, are the Knicks and their fans going to call for him to be traded?

Outside of those foolish enough to buy into the unsubstantiated Dwight Howard trade rumors, the answer to such a question is no. It takes time to recover from an injury, just like it takes time for a coach to develop chemistry between his players. Had the Knicks been boasting a stable roster the past two or three seasons, calls to oust D'Antoni would hold some merit, but right now, they don't.

New York, admittedly, is off to a rough start, but after a severely abbreviated training camp, should we have been expecting much more? No, because in-season struggles are to be expected at this juncture, and that's not only on D'Antoni.

The Knicks' recent struggles are not a result of a lack of depth, lack of leadership, lack of talent or a deficient head coach, but instead can be attributed to a lack of cohesion and roster familiarity. These are problems that are resolved over time, not through a premature coaching change.

And this a notion that the New York organization and its fans have struggled to come to grips with over the years. The Knicks are an impatient franchise that plays in a demanding city, which can be great at times, but counterproductive at others.

Is D'Antoni the answer at the head coach position for New York? We cannot say so for sure, but cannot render him incapable either. He needs to be given—at the very least—until the end of the season before his future can be determined.

A win-now mentality is a great one to have, but such an expectation is slightly unrealistic to have for the Knicks at this stage. When New York jilted Chauncey Billups for Tyson Chandler, the team didn't get better, it just got different. Just as there was a gaping hole in the middle, there is now a spot to fill at the point.

And as long as Baron Davis is injured, the Knicks are a work-in-progress. The team has had some horrendous spurts as of late, but calling for D'Antoni's job isn't going to solve anything.

There are those who are angered by D'Antoni's supposed refusal to accept accountability for New York's early struggles, and it is true he has deflected questions along those lines, but there is a method to his inaction.

Why hasn't D'Antoni publicly apologized for his team's play or assumed responsibility for what has transpired thus far? For the same reason that Stoudemire hasn't called out his teammates like he did last season: This team needs time.

The Phil Jackson hopefuls can speak their piece, but sentiments along those lines are more than outlandish right now. New York is an organization that is supposed to be on the rise, but you don't reach the top without numerous faults and follies.

As taboo as the word is amidst New York circles, patience must be exercised in regards to the Knicks. Enamored fans cannot jump to negative conclusions less than halfway through an unorthodox season.

As Anthony made abundantly clear via the New York Post, turning your back on the Knicks right now is taking the easy way out. The same can be said when using D'Antoni as a scapegoat for New York's early struggles.

For years, the Knicks have been working toward the next move. Now, however, it's time to let the dust settle, so that the team can see what it is left with, and that is going to take patience. 

Down the road, could there come a time when D'Antoni's job is in jeopardy? Perhaps, but that time isn't now. What New York is currently in need of is a sense of stability, from the sidelines to the hardwood.

You can follow Dan Favale on Twitter here @Dan_Favale.