Billups: D'Antoni a players' coach
The New York Knicks' Chauncey Billups shooting over the Orlando Magic's Quentin Richardson in the first quarter. (March 23, 2011) Credit: Newsday / J. Conrad Williams Jr.
Think Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni isn't open to suggestions from his players?
Just ask point guard Chauncey Billups. Billups stated it's his job to bring ideas to his coach on how to improve the team. And based on the way the Knicks have played lately -three straight losses- D'Antoni could probably use the help.
"From day one...that is what I do," Billups said when asked about making suggestions to the coaching staff. "Mike is really a players' type of coach. He is up to any suggestion so long as what you say, you do. He is great about that."
Figuring out how to keep Amar'e Stoudemire fresh is probably at the top of his list. Stoudemire had a season-low 13 points on 6-for-20 shooting last night. It was his worst game of the season.
The 6-10 forward admitted he was a tired and said the team is experiencing the "fatigue factor".
"I’m starting to get a little tired in the first quarter actually,” Stoudemire said. “But I’ve been trying to push through it and push through it and battle, because it’s a very important game.”
