http://www.nypost.com/seven/05122008/s****ts/knicks/dolan_gets_it_right_110448.htm
KUDOS to Donnie Walsh for being Donnie Walsh. Kudos to James Dolan for
not being James Dolan.
If you haven't noticed, Dolan has backed off dramatically in the
decision-making process. The KnicksNew York Knicks owner did not fly
across the country to Phoenix to accompany the team president to wine
and dine Mark Jackson a few weeks ago. Dolan didn't fly back to
Phoenix to court Mike D'Antoni. Dolan didn't jet to Houston to sweet
talk Avery Johnson.
This wasn't Donnie Dolan. It's Walsh's show now, solo, and it's why he
landed the big fish, the Suns super coach Saturday morning. D'Antoni
was in a vulnerable state after the Spurs rocked the Suns in the first
round, his rift with Phoenix owner Robert Sarver and rookie general
manager Steve Kerr reaching a breaking point.
D'Antoni, who flew into New York late last night to sign the contract
today, felt he needed a change and Walsh was a sight for sore eyes.
The longtime, 67-year-old presidential prototype was the stable,
sup****tive voice he needed.
"He made Mike feel his interest was genuine and unconditional and
after the Suns experience, it was very appreciated," a D'Antoni
confidant said.
"He was confortable with Donnie," another member of D'Antoni's inner
circle added. "It was a gut feeling."
The Bulls' roster is much better, much more suited for the "Seven
Seconds or Less" offense. But D'Antoni didn't even ask the Bulls for a
counter-offer after Walsh sprang into action Saturday morning - which
has infuriated Chicago GM John Paxson.
After the season ended, Sarver and Kerr met with D'Antoni and wanted
him to hire a defensive assistant to replace Marc Iavoroni, who left a
void in the staff after the 2006-2007 season when he became Memphis'
head coach. They wanted him to stress defense more. They wanted him to
be harder on the players.
All Walsh wanted was D'Antoni, the guy who posted a 232-96 record in
his four full seasons as the Suns head coach, the guy who led the Suns
to two Western Conference finals.
Isiah Thomas does not get this catch. Scott Layden does not make this
hire. Walsh does. And Dolan, who finally has realized he meddled too
much since Dave Checketts departed in 2001, stayed out of it. The last
thing D'Antoni needed to see was another owner telling him what he
should and shouldn't do.
Dolan owns the team, can do what he wants. But he also is smart enough
to realize his omnipresence and micromanaging weren't working. To
defend Thomas, having to deal with the daily conversations with Dolan
probably wasn't easy. It may have led to some of Thomas' daffy press
conferences with the media, with him saying things for Dolan's
benefit.
We believe D'Antoni will not have to abide by the old Dolan media
policy in which he's not allowed to criticize players in the media
unless he does it to their face first. The head coach does not need to
be censored.
It's a new Knicks world now. Dolan has promised commissioner David
Stern he would spend what needed to be spent to turn this thing
around. And Dolan may have been advised by Stern to offer up his money
but not his basketball advice. Even Dolan admits he's more a hockey
guy.
The only time Dolan got involved in this coaching search came when
Walsh asked him for permission to offer D'Antoni four years, $24
million. Walsh didn't have to ask twice.
The faces of the franchise now are Walsh and D'Antoni. Let's do it.
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