Mike D’Antoni told interim Knicks general manager Glen Grunwald in a meeting before Wednesday’s morning shootaround he didn’t feel he could “positively affect the team’’ anymore.
More to the point, D’Antoni no longer felt he could “positively affect’’ Carmelo Anthony to buy into his speedball system and being a team player, according to sources.
On the day The Post reported Anthony wanted to be traded by Thursday’s NBA deadline unless he had assurances D’Antoni would not be around next season, the Knicks coach made it easy for Anthony.
D’Antoni quit, but only after asking owner James Dolan if the team would consider trading Anthony. The answer was no.
NBAE/Getty Images
YOU WIN: Mike D’Antoni resigned yesterday as Knicks coach, unable to get his team in sync with Carmelo Anthony in the lineup.
CARMELO WINS THE WAR
ANTHONY STARS IN KNICKS FIRST GAME WITHOUT D'ANTONI
AMAR'E SAYS KNICKS WEREN'T 'BUYING INTO' D'ANTONI
COMPLETE KNICKS COVERAGE
A month after Jeremy Lin became a global phenomenon under D’Antoni’s watch, the Knicks went from Linsanity to insanity, as D’Antoni resigned because of his conflict with Anthony, whose return from injury sent the Knicks into a 2-8 spiral and 18-24 record.
With 24 games remaining, assistant coach Mike Woodson took over the reins Wednesday night and the Knicks routed the wretched Blazers, 121-79, and Woodson heard his name chanted at Madison Square Garden.
“[Woodson] understands we will be reevaluating him at the end of the season,’’ Dolan said.
Dolan must hope the positive vibes Phil Jackson has sent out turn into reality this summer.
The D’Antoni Era ended ugly and well short of expectations. He resigned shortly after the morning shootaround in what owner Dolan called “a mutual agreement.’’ In fact, Dolan tried to talk D’Antoni out of it, but with no contract extension offered, he thought this was best.
Wednesday night’s press conference to introduce Woodson was somber. Dolan and Grunwald looked genuinely defeated.
“It was a surprise this morning,’’ Grunwald said. “I’m disappointed this happened.
“It wasn’t just Carmelo. It was our whole team not playing up to where we thought it could be. Mike was as frustrated as anyone about that. That’s what led him to that decision. That maybe it needs to be a new approach.’’
Anthony, according to a source, likes Woodson. D’Antoni thought the offense should run through Lin at the point guard and felt it impossible to employ that structure with Anthony in the lineup.
“It was emphatically a resignation,’’ a person familiar with the situation said.
D’Antoni, Grunwald and assistant general manager Allan Houston met before the shootaround when he told them he didn’t think he could lead the club any longer. Grunwald summoned Dolan to Westchester to continue discussions.
“It was not an event planned in any way,’’ Dolan said. “We had a very honest discussion. He clearly felt it was best for the organization if he would not continue as coach of the team. He did offer to stay. But after a long discussion we agreed that it was best for the team to have a new voice and new coach.’’
D’Antoni’s assistants, Phil Weber and Dan D’Antoni, decided to step down, too, out of loyalty. Herb Williams and Kenny Atkinson, a guru for Lin, stayed on. There are no plans to hire another assistant.
“I think he felt it was best for the organization,’’ Grunwald said. “It was a selfless move. He felt he had done all he could and didn’t see another way to positively affect the team. He felt maybe it was time for another voice and coach.”
D’Antoni still ran Wednesday's shootaround, knowing he likely was gone. Anthony denied he wanted to be traded unless D’Antoni was fired.
In his final remarks as Knicks coach, D’Antoni didn’t give hints he had surrendered, but did take the blame for the six-game slide and 18-24 record that had them in ninth place.
“My job is to make them fit,’’ said D’Antoni, who has been experiencing major back pain since February. “We haven’t been able to do that. Bottom line is we’re not playing well and that’s my responsibility.’’
Woodson, the defensive assistant, said he would change the speedball offense over time and add more post-ups for Amar’e Stoudemire.
“The season is not over,’’ Dolan said.
“There’s still a lot at stake here,’’ Woodson said before the club routed Portland. “I understand expectations are high. We still have an opportunity to do something special. I’m going to hold these guys accountable for that.”
Grunwald said D’Antoni never had a stable roster in his four seasons, when he compiled a 121-167 record.
“We came in as a rebuilding situation to free up cap space and made moves that weren’t the best for the short term,’’ Grunwald said. “This season was no different. We had a lot of changes.’’
marc.berman@nypost.com
Carmelo Anthony, Mike D’Antoni, Glen Grunwald, Knicks, Knicks, James Dolan, D’Antoni, D’Antoni, Mike Woodson, Dan D’Antoni, Antoni
ไม่มีความคิดเห็น:
แสดงความคิดเห็น