In the final year of his contract, Knicks head coach Mike D?Antoni sits in the hottest seat at Madison Square Garden. This is the season the Knicks are expected to make the leap from celebrity attraction to Championship contender. Amar?e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony may battle for the throne as Kings of New York, but at least they are locked into nine-figure, multi-year contracts. Mike DAntoni?s four-year, $24 million contract expires after this season.
With that leap comes increased intensity from the New York media and Knicks fans. Spike Lee?s glass frames will be burning a hole through Mike D?Antoni if the Knicks are not a top three seed in the Eastern Conference in April. It may seem premature to forecast D?Antoni?s demise but this is a franchise that began planning for the free agent classes of 2010, 2011 and 2012 back in 2008. The Knicks are more desperate to bring an NBA title back to the Big Apple than Kobe is to catch Jordan.
