New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony defends under fire coach Mike D’Antoni - NBA Update
One third of the shortened NBA season has passed and the New York Knicks have still not managed to find the consistency and momentum their fans yearn for. Naturally, fans have started pointing fingers on the team and especially on the role of team’s head
coach Mike D’Antoni, whose future looks to be in jeopardy at the moment.
Pundits have already started predicting that D’Antoni’s tenure is about to come to a premature end, however only time would tell what lies ahead.
One positive development for Mike is that the Knicks players are on his side and that might save him from getting sacked. Just a few hours ago, Knicks star Carmelo Anthony came forward and declared his support for the embattled coach.
"Anytime teams are losing, that's the first thing that comes to mind, the coach. But we don't talk about that," Anthony said. "We support Mike 100 percent. He's here with us, we're here with him, and we're going to roll with that."
Knicks have lost 9 out of their last 10 games and 3 out of 4 of their 5 games in a road stretch. Their offense has looked rusty and defensive problems persist. Carmelo Anthony’s injuries have also made things worse for them.
However, Mike still believes in his team and at the moment is working with his players to rectify where they have been wrong.
When Mike was approached and enquired about his stand on his team’s performance and his own job-security, he said
"My focus right now is trying to get us to win. And I think every player, we just want to try to win. Worry about how the chips fall? We can't do that,"
60 years old Mike is a seasoned campaigner and has twenty years plus experience in the field of coaching. After serving the Phoenix Suns for five years (2003-08), he was approached by Knicks and soon offered a 4 year contract which he gladly accepted.
After two tough years with the team, Mike finally started producing the results and took his team to the playoffs last season.
He is currently in the last year of his contract and probably might not be offered an extension. It will however be rather unjust to sack him at this juncture as he has given his all to the team.
If the team is not doing well it is not totally his fault as players have a major role in it too, but then again, fans are complex creatures and accept nothing less than victories, so it would not be surprising at all if he loses his job any time soon.
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