Benching Curry is one of those moves that looks obvious in retrospect, but wasn’t. Less than a year ago people (here, and around the league) still talked him up as a potential All-Star.

Similar thing in Phoenix — how many coaches would have played Stoudamire at the 4, Marion at the 3, used a bad but traditional center like Steven Hunter or Pat Burke, and had Q or Joe Johnson come off the bench? Most NBA coaches, I think… but D’Antoni went with the less traditional lineup. Obvious now — but I remember some raised eyebrows when he first put Stoudamire & Marion at the 4 & 5.

Marbury for Duhon, I’d say that’s an even bigger component.

For practical purposes, Marbs did get hit by a bus last Christmas — as he went from 74 games played to 24, the Knicks went from 33 wins 5o 23. I don’t think his absence is the key to our improvement.

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I don’t know how many wins the Knicks would have ended up with (not making the trade), but I do think D’Antoni’s impact goes beyond personnel decisions (assigning playing time). You have to also think that Isiah won 33 games with a very similar roster 2 seasons ago (and a lot of people would argue they would have won several more if not for injuries). So I think 23 wins was an outlier. The Knicks were basically playing laid back pick-up games against NBA teams last season with absolutely no structure on either side of the ball.

and Marbury for Duhon, I’d say that’s an even bigger component.

Owen was a year ahead of me in fully realizing Curry’s myriad limitations, but I’d like to give myself some credit for showing D’Antoni the way, from the “How Many Games Will The Knicks Win?” thread going into LAST season:

“I’m going with the pessimistic approach this year, 31-51. if Marbury and Curry get hit by a bus this afternoon, 38-44.”

re: coaching impact – there is a big difference between terrible coaches and pretty good coaches, because terrible coaches (IT) don’t know who their best players are… but once the best players are getting most of the minutes, the coach has only a small impact. Jackson vs. Rivers won’t decide the Finals, unless it’s very, very close.

WHen we look back at this year, the big story will be clearing salary for 2010… but when we analyze why the Knicks got better on the court, it will be because D’Antoni had the balls to sit Curry altogether. Don’t know how many coaches would have done that, “bad knee” and all.

So, what’s the over/under on how many minutes Mardy Collins will play tonight?

Neither Zach or Mardy will play tonight.

http://www.presstelegram.com/clippers/ci_11064860