Wednesday, November 18th, 2009 at 11:00 am  |  81 responses

Mike D’Antoni on the Iverson Possibility

D’Antoni doesn’t sound particularly jazzed about the chance to coach Allen: “After practice, Mike D’Antoni’s remarks were noteworthy for what he did not say. The Knicks coach never once indicated Iverson would be a good fit for this franchise. He’s been a force in this league for God knows how long,” D’Antoni said before flying to Indianapolis. ‘I’m not taking anything away from him. At the same time, there’s a lot of organization stuff to talk about. ‘I think it’s what Donnie suggested,’ D’Antoni added. ‘We’ll look into it, see if it makes sense. If it does, the organization will do whatever it can do to make us better. He has unique ability.”‘

  • Add a Comment
  • Share
  • RSS

Tags: , , ,

← Older Comments
  • Teddy-tye-Bear

    Not that I’m h@ting on SJax. Any player of his caliber would be crazy to want to stick around in that Warriors’ organization.

  • iLL wiLL

    So New York is looking to win? HAHA.

  • J

    Pardeep: “LeBron would love to play alongside AI and so would Wade. Wade wanted to play with him in Miami but Riley didn’t sign AI. This is a golden oppurtunity for AI.”- i don’t remember either of them saying or giving signs that they want to play with A.I.

  • J

    also, i just can’t see ow he would fit in new york. i really want to see him play, but if that would mean he would suit up for half of the teams in the league in one season then eff up. and would you think A.I. would want that? i want him to be on a team where he could stay for the rest of his career. to stay competitive every single night.

  • http://fdjklf.com Jukai

    uh… how does AI -not- fit into a run-and-gun-and-no-defense offense that D’Antoni runs?

  • chintao

    At this point, it actually looks like the Knicks are doing everything they can to avoid being competitive (even on a night-by-night basis). I’ll repreat my refrain for millionth time. Fire D’Antoni. He wasn’t right when he was hired. He isn’t right now. He’s a joke; the Sara Palin of coaching.

  • George B

    i admire AI’s unique talent but to be honest with you, he won’t get along with any other coach he ends up playing for.

  • Hoodsnake

    On a complete objective note my beloved Knicks are dead last in defending and rebounding statistically. The numbers dont lie we dont need Iverson

  • http://www.sixers.com 360vue

    @Jukai, saying knicks are run-n-gun is a bit insulting to all the other exciting teams that have played that way… but AI would definitely fit in a system where they play no team D and just focus on making baskets… most of there games have been at home and they havent managed an impressive performance out of the 7 or so, most of them they got blown out… when they go on a west road trip they are lambs to the slaughter… harrington returning from injury is the only light i see for them (forget nate hes just a carbon copy of the style theyre playing now)

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    Joel
    Exactly what did Iverson do to his fans and teammates in Detroit that required that demanded that he be benched?
    And, before he walked away from the team in Memphis, what exactly had he done to his fans and teammates there?
    His ultimate actions in Memphis and Detroit can be criticized and the way he handled his coach in Memphis was clearly a problem, but exactly what did he do to the fans and his teammates?
    Very few of Iverson’s teammates have ever criticized him or complained. Off the top of my head, I can only think of Samuel Dalembert. Some teammates have had better careers after playng with Iverson, some have had worse careers. Where is this idea coming from that he’s a horrible teammate?

  • http://joeloholic.wordpress.com Joel O’s

    @Allenp:
    I wouldn’t say that he was horrible to his teammates. But his refusal to be benched, regardless of whether it was best for his team – is that being a good team player to you? In Detroit, Allen outright refused the possibility of being benched. You can’t do that on a stacked team with so many talented wing players. Okay, so Curry and his behind the scenes machinations were very much to blame for it, but still. I believe that Allen tried his very best, in his own way, to make the best of the situation in Detroit. Unfortunately, the only way he knows doesn’t work for that team.

  • http://joeloholic.wordpress.com Joel O’s

    @Jukai: Yes, Jackson still starts. But there’s also a reason he gets bounced around the league. Being the best player on the team means you should start… in most circumstances. Unless you make that core reason irrelevant. Isaiah Rider was probably the best player on many of the teams he played on, but forget about starting/benching, his behavior (which honestly makes Iverson look like a boy scout in comparison) got him booted off teams and ultimately, the league. Being the best player on the team SHOULD mean you should start and get lots of minutes. But not if starting comes at the expense of the team.

  • tavoris

    @Allenp(side note)I always thought it was the coach’s job to communicate the roles to the players. Lionel Hollins CLEARLY never did-or intended to do-just that. Sure, AI should have walked into his office and said “what do you want me to do?”. But, Lionel Hollin’s JOB as coach OBLIGATED him to do the same THE FIRST DAY IVERSON ARRIVED.
    @Joel..Iverson’s problem with coming off the bench was the lack of minutes-especially crunch time minutes-and the inability of the players ahead of him to perform. For all the talk about how he should come off the bench, BOTH of those teams played significantly better with him ON THE COURT. NEITHER OF THEM PLAYED WELL WITH HIM OFF THE COURT.

  • http://fdjklf.com Jukai

    Joel: Thanks for the explanation, but I didn’t say anything!
    Tavoris: Allen was told he could work for a starting spot by Hollins. He said Iverson never talked to him after that. He’s a new coach, so I don’t blame him for not actively trying to get in touch with Iverson. Iverson is the vet here.

  • Cizzo

    There’s a new strand of Cancer headed to New york ready to plague the Empire state, this Cancer has been named after it’s host Allen Iversonosis, easily avoidable, but uncurable good luck with that one NYN’s fans!!!!!!!!!!

  • tavoris

    Jukai-u r correct, but he….um…kinda earned it by default with Conley doing everything possible to lose his starting spot. I think when someone-as a starter-is making your team more likely to LOSE, then it’s an easy decision. I’m not saying that Iverson was right-as it’s clear he didn’t handle it appropriately-but, I am from the school of preemptive measure. If someone is playing like they’re overwhelmed with starting (after starting for two seasons already), then they shouldn’t be starting. As I said another day, if he had started Marcus Williams-and kept Iverson on the bench, then it would be a completely different issue. I saw a coach that just stonewalled the situation, as he clearly didn’t want Iverson there. It was a pissing contest Hollins knew he would win.

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    Joel
    Actually, Iverson’t initial comments were that he would go to the bench in Detroit if that helped the team. He only complained after playing 18 minutes a night.
    It’s amazing how the stories about Memphis and Detroit have morphed into something well beyond what actually happened. That tells me something about this situation.

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    Joel
    Actually, Iverson’t initial comments were that he would go to the bench in Detroit if that helped the team. He only complained after playing 18 minutes a night.
    It’s amazing how the stories about Memphis and Detroit have morphed into something well beyond what actually happened. That tells me something about this situation.

  • http://joeloholic.wordpress.com Joel O’s

    @Jukai: Whoops, I meant Teddy haha.

  • http://joeloholic.wordpress.com Joel O’s

    @Allenp: Yes, he didn’t have an issue about starting or not in Memphis – it was one of playing time. You’re right. It’s the same problem though; had he kept quiet, played the good citizen in Memphis and come off the bench for say, 20-ish minutes a night, while pouring in the points, he would’ve won over every GM in the league once more. Because GM’s (just like fans) don’t just look at absolute numbers anymore, right? We look at per-36 numbers.

  • http://joeloholic.wordpress.com Joel O’s

    @Allenp: It’s morphed into something a lot bigger because AI is AI. The troubles of most other players wouldn’t warrant half the media scrutiny he does, or the twisted misinformation and extreme viewpoints. Yet, even if we forget all of that, the fact sadly remains that AI didn’t work out in both Detroit and Memphis. Hopefully Miami or NY or wherever he lands will prove that the last 2 years was an aberration and he can revert to playing well and being appreciated, like he was in Denver.

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    Joel
    The interesting thing is that most people view his time in Denver as an abject failure.

  • tavoris

    that’s becaus eKarl threw him under the bus. When Karl throws Anthony, Smith, Martin, or Nene under the bus next(just like he did Cassell, Allen, Robinson, Kemp, and Payton before), I hope people remember how much they backed him.

  • J

    @Jukai:
    He wouldn’t fit into the system
    1. He needs to dominate the ball to be effective, which would kill a lot of ball movement which is a need in D’antoni’s offense.
    2. At the position he might play, which is the two, the offense is better with a 3 point bomber which A.I. isn’t.

    He wouldn’t be a step towards the knicks plans
    1. Does anyone think that can lure Lebron/Wade/Bosh to play there. Seriously? Again seriously?
    2. Assuming someone of Lebron/Wade teams up with him, don’t you think it would be like the what happened in Denver?
    3. He wouldn’t last a season there so why bother to sign? Why not find a team that would fit him and his style of play, where he could spend his entire career and be competitive at the same time.?

    On second thought go ahead, I’m a Cavs fan, and if this A.I.-to-N.Y. happens it means lesser chance of LeBron leaving.

  • Teddy-the-Bear

    The CURRENT Knicks roster isn’t even fit to play pure D’Antoni ball. And the Knicks clearly aren’t making the playoffs playing this style. So why the hell wouldn’t the Knicks want to accommodate Iverson?

  • http://fjkld.com Jukai

    J:
    1) I’m not sure how you could be more wrong, because Nash had the ball in 95% of the Suns offense. I mean, you did watch the Phoenix Suns, right? You do know what D’Antoni’s offense is, right?
    2) AI would play the one in D’Antoni’s offense. Why would AI play the two? They have decent guys to play the two. They have absolutely no one who can play the one. Even if AI is a combo guard, he could still dribble up and pass out the ball.
    1 again) No.
    2 again) AI would sign for one year just for some wins and some excitement. AI would be gone by the time free agency comes around.
    3) There is no one that the Knicks can get. They have no trading pieces, they have no first round draft pick in 2010, and they have NO FAN BASIS. I will start watching Knicks games if AI plays. This isn’t about helping the team in the future, this is about making them watchable now. That’s why they should sign AI.

  • L

    How come they didn’t draft Brandon Jennings???

  • http://365buying.blogspot.com D-Wall

    D’anphony is one of the worse coaches in the NBA. Mark Jackson would have been a better fit and he would have the players attention. Who knows, if Mark had got the job he could have brought Patrick back. When he had the horses, he was great. Now he has a group of players who do not fit the run and gun philosophy the Phoenix Suns deployed with great seasons; but NO RING. Iverson would be a perfect mentor for Nate Robinson. Knowing the Knicks as I do, they will most probably let Robinson and Lee get away. The Knicks will never be good until they are owned by an individual as opposed to a corporation. D’anPhony should leave NOW!

  • J

    Jukai:

    1. yes, and nash passes the ball 90% of the time he has the ball

    2.if he have the ball he will give it up 40% of the time.

    3. if A.I. signs for one year where would he be after? then we’ll have all this talk again on where would or should he be? if we all say that he’s still capable, then why not go to a team that he could fit and stay for the rest of his career(hint; Charlotte, if you ask why i could explain). but the thing is he has that ego that he can’t tone down a bit.

  • J

    i mean iverson in answer #2

  • http://365buying.blogspot.com D-Wall

    Every SuperStar in the league has an ego. The Knicks don’t have a star. THAT”S THE PROBLEM. Iverson should be signed for 2 years. It would be better if he was taking 20-25 shots a game than the players on the squad now. Put Iverson on the floor with Harrington, Lee, Hughes, and rotate the the bigs with Galinari, Chandler, Jefferies and Robinson coming off the bench as a group and maybe…just maybe, something good would happen. If Jefferies started the run and gun could work and the slow it up and work it inside when Curry’s on the floor. I didn’t mention Duhon because I think he should be traded for a draft pick next year. They might be able to get a #1 from one of the teams in need.

← Older Comments
Advertisement