Donnie Walsh unfazed by New York Knicks' slow start
Despite starting the season with a 3-7 record, New York Knicks president Donnie Walsh said that it is too early to make any judgement on their team, particularly their head coach Mike D’Antoni.
According to Walsh, it would be unfair to criticize D’Antoni based on their lacklustre start since the team have ten new players, and ten games are not enough for them to find the right combination
that will make their young squad a title contender.
“I’ve made no judgment on Mike in the first few years, basically because I didn’t think he had the personnel to compete because of what we were doing,” said Walsh, who underwent hip surgery
on Tuesday 15 November. “In the first 10 games, I expected that we would be up and down, and we have. So I don’t think it’s time for me to make judgements on Mike.”
Amar’e Stoudemire, who was New York’s top-recruit during the off-season, is also confident that they will bounce back from their 3-7 start once they get comfortable playing with each other.
However, the 28-year-old power-forward said that they should adjust in D’Antoni’s run-and-gun system if they want to be successful.
“It takes a while for guys to really get comfortable and really have confidence in the system,” said Stoudemire, who is averaging 20.8 points and 8.1 rebounds per game this season. “Everybody’s
used to playing a different way, so it takes a little time. But I think now we understand that we have no choice. It definitely wasn’t a great start to the year, but we have a long season and we’ve got a chance to turn things around.”
D’Antoni, on the other hand, said that he’s not pushing the panic button yet, but he admitted that he is bothered by their slow start and he is still trying to find the right combination
that will work for them in the long run.
“I’m always concerned, when you’re 3-7,” D’Antoni said. “And again, we could have won a couple games and then you’re 5-5, you’re a little less concerned. But I do think these guys will get
it. I hate it that we’re in this spot.”
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