Mike D'Antoni: Knicks Need New Leadership, Won't Win NBA Titles With This Coach

As the first quarter dwindled at Madison Square Garden with the Orlando Magic visiting, a defining moment occurred.

Usually reliable point guard Chauncey Billups continued to display the poor passing that has plagued the New York Knicks in recent weeks, when he sluggishly heaved the basketball towards Carmelo Anthony.

The slothful pass was easily intercepted by ex-Knick Quentin Richardson, who jogged to the opposing basket and scored. Anthony’s attempt to block Richardson was less vigorous than a beached whale rolling back towards the ocean. This lack of energy was alarming to fans.

This attitude reflects the lack of leadership aboard, and it is clear that the head coach of the Knicks has done everything he can for this squad. It is time to move on.

With a potent team in Phoenix, Mike D’Antoni could never reach the NBA Finals. While the team thrived in the regular season with an exciting offense featuring the Knicks’ own Amar’e Stoudemire, Shawn Marion and two-time MVP Steve Nash, they experienced early exits in the playoffs annually.

It is known around the league that the man doesn't consider defense a priority. To make matters worse, the Knicks have sloppy forward Jared Jeffries playing center more often than Dwight Howard does on the Magic.

D’Antoni has patented the fast-paced offense in which he gives his guards the opportunity to shoot the ball in eight seconds or less. While it may be exciting and statistically productive, it is futile when the Knicks gives up more points than they score.

D’Antoni does deserve credit for bringing the Knickerbockers back to relevance. On the other hand, Donnie Walsh has most certainly had more of a significant impact on this team in fixing the past cap problems, getting Amar’e, drafting heady young players, adding solid veterans and trading for another bona fide star in Anthony. Now it’s time for new leadership.

While the Knicks can keep up with any team in the league, that seems to be all they do is keep up. They lose to mediocre teams and beat elite teams. Fans are in a state of bewilderment.

Unfortunately in New York, patience is far from omnipresent. Many skeptics are already convinced that the Anthony trade was bad for the team. Don’t be fooled: D’Antoni’s system is hurting the team, albeit inflating players’ stats.

Aside from the fact that the team plays less defense than a goalie leaving his net empty, the Knicks look lost in the half-court game. They may be strong in the fast game, but they lack direction when the pace is slowed down.

Against the Boston Celtics, not only did the Knicks relinquish a four-point lead late in the fourth quarter, they had Toney Douglas chucking up air-ball three-pointers and Billups forcing up shots while being double-teamed.

Fans whipped their heads back in disgust and continuously scratched their heads. The team appeared lackadaisical and uninterested.

It can be assumed that most fans would prefer to see the pre-Anthony team play with heart than watch this team jog up and down the court allowing easy dunks to rookie Tyler Hansbrough and half-court threes to veteran Hedo Turkoglu. Their morale has reached a new low this season and they seem unable to climb out of this precipice.

While the chances of D’Antoni being fired are dim, considering James Dolan continues to own this franchise, fans can still fantasize about having Knicks favorite Mark Jackson as coach or perhaps Charles Oakley. They need a fiery leader who can put players in their place.

In retrospect, Avery Johnson would have been a more than viable option. 

D’Antoni looks like a mundane and uninterested individual, who has less intensity than the sound of Ben Stein’s voice. Fans can only pray that Walsh is seeing the same destruction happening before his eyes.

Knicks fans, don’t blame the players. D’Antoni has done his job.

Now it’s time for the team to take the next step and hire a coach who can bring championships back to the famished city of New York. Fans are hungry for a dynasty, and at the very least, they deserve effort on a nightly basis.