When Larry Brown was coaching this team and they were losing game after game the criticism was that "the game had passed him by".
Now, with Isiah, walking the same walk down lonely road, he is accused of "losing the team."
We should all be so lucky. By NBA rules you can't lose a team without taking back something of equal cost (more or less). That simple fact and the dross talent pool that Isiah started with is why I cannot condemn Isiah as so many others do.
In art there are many different ways to affect a medium. You can add or subtract material (usually the case). But thirdly, you can transform the existing stuff. Isiah's job as GM is the additive/subtractive process - a GM cannot transform players - that's the coach's job.
The Knicks coach cannot transform what he has without some help from his GM. many of the Knick players are dormant stars awaiting players who complement and supplement their own strengths. These players don't have to be superstars, they just need to do the little things that spark creative play.
By not making moves, the Knicks remain stagnant. Even seemingly lateral moves can help.
With no further ado, today's rumination on resurrecting the Knicks.
Chandler Wilson and Fred Jones for Pietrus and Hudson.
Knicks get a viable SF candidate. The Knicks buyout the injured Hudson's contract saving SF some cash. Knicks open up a roster spot.
GS gets a decent prospect in Chandler Wilson.
GS needs a PG candidate and gets the expiring Jones in return.
Added bonus (Knicks); Pietrus tells Freddie Weis back-in-the-jour jokes and ignites a Jerry Lewis appreciation revival in NY.
Added bonus; (GS) inexpensive, talented replacement parts that don't break the bank!
Monday, December 31, 2007
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Don't Bother Sticking a Fork in Them
Put the fork on EBay, it will provide more entertainment than the Knicks.
It is hard to believe that nothing is happening in terms of personnel changes. say what you will about this not being a good time to trade, it is hard to imagine a better time.
Today's suggested trade;
Rose and Crawford for Stojakovic and Armstrong. New Orleans primarily gets contract flexibility.
Knicks take on Peja's contract obligations and get a young shot blocker in Armstrong.
It is hard to believe that nothing is happening in terms of personnel changes. say what you will about this not being a good time to trade, it is hard to imagine a better time.
Today's suggested trade;
Rose and Crawford for Stojakovic and Armstrong. New Orleans primarily gets contract flexibility.
Knicks take on Peja's contract obligations and get a young shot blocker in Armstrong.
Bulls Beat Knicks
Loss #21. Lineup change #5867. The season is becoming an incomprehensible journey into mediocrity.
I often think about just ending this blog except for the morbid inertia of fascination in recording the demise of the Knicks. Not since CBS owned the Yankees has a NY franchise been dragged through the dirt like this.
Dante's Inferno will be supplemented by a sequel after this Knicks season.
I often think about just ending this blog except for the morbid inertia of fascination in recording the demise of the Knicks. Not since CBS owned the Yankees has a NY franchise been dragged through the dirt like this.
Dante's Inferno will be supplemented by a sequel after this Knicks season.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Chemistry Lab Experiment #2865
Alright, so I'm a hopeless tinkerer.
How about a Seattle trade? Szczerbiak and Ridnour to NY for Rose, Richardson, and Jones. Jones provides immediate financial relief. Rose and Richardson provide veteran leadership and good citizenship in a young locker room. Seattle loses Wally and Luke's albatross contract.
Knicks get a home boy SF who may help gel the offense and Ridnour tries to salvage a career in NY. Knicks open up a spot on roster.
Neither team loses key personnel. Seattle saves some long and short term cash.
Does Ridnour, Crawford, Szczerbiak, Lee, Randolph get it done better?
How about a Seattle trade? Szczerbiak and Ridnour to NY for Rose, Richardson, and Jones. Jones provides immediate financial relief. Rose and Richardson provide veteran leadership and good citizenship in a young locker room. Seattle loses Wally and Luke's albatross contract.
Knicks get a home boy SF who may help gel the offense and Ridnour tries to salvage a career in NY. Knicks open up a spot on roster.
Neither team loses key personnel. Seattle saves some long and short term cash.
Does Ridnour, Crawford, Szczerbiak, Lee, Randolph get it done better?
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Fix the Problem
On another forum, thebizneverloses suggests these knick alternatives:
Just Fix the Problem
I'm not assuming the draft will give us a pick we want or that that pick will actually pan out. And I don't care if we make the playoffs or not. I just want a balanced team to develop here without wishing for magic solutions.
We aren't going to sign a superstar free-agent anytime soon so we'll have to develop somebody we have or can acquire. I'm okay with that.
So what's the problem? It's not , Zach AND Curry. It is Curry! Ship this guy out! I believe Jerome James will play more effectively than Curry ever will. Why?
Because running the offense through Curry is a waste of time. Curry's stats will look good but we won't win. And asking Curry to play 'D' is like asking James Dolan to think - ain't happenin'.
Job #1; Move Curry. Job#2; Acquire Andre Miller.
Scenario 1 - Playoffs or BustMay I suggest a fifth alternative and that is;
1. Trade Curry and Lee for a big man that complements (and maybe even compliments) Z-Bo. Let's say JO. Or, trade youthful assets for Ron Artest, and live with the Curry/ZBo fiasco
Short-term impact - team wins enough to just miss the playoffs and gets 10th pick overall. It will be too late to make a move, even in the East.
Long-term impact - probably same thing for the next couple seasons, presuming JO stays. Maybe with Artest and a follow-up deal that sends Curry somewhere for someone that can play next to JO, Isiah can dream about the playoffs next year, which won't happen with Marbury around anyway.
Likelihood - slim. Can't see Isiah making that mistake this late in the season, and I can't see Lee being shipped out
Scenario 2 - Rebuild by default
2. Ride this out, hope to get a top-3 pick
Short-term impact - Major infighting. Curry will lash out. Marbury might. Crawford and Z-Bo will play like they did last night - selfishly shooting all night in a losing cause, but getting away with it for lack of other options. 25-35 win season.
Long-term impact - If it's a top 3 pick, the team at least gets a new signature player. Ideally a point. If the Knicks pick in the middle of the lottery, there's Jared Blayless or Chase Budinger to look at in the backcourt, which will probably lack the same cachet, but will still help.
Likelihood - high. The path of least resistance at this point seems to lead here, especially with Isiah and Dolan's high threshold for turmoil.
Scenario 3 - Full rebuild
3. Trade as many assets as possible for more picks (i.e. trade Z-Bo or Curry and Nate to Sacto for their bad contracts and their draft pick. Or target Chicago with a similar deal)
Short-term impact - I honestly can't see the Knicks winning any less games this way. Probably headed for the same 25-35 wins
Long-term impact - Another losing season or two following this one, but at least a few chances to land a blue-chip prospect or two to show for it
Likelihood - low
Scenario 4 - "Rebuild on the fly" Redux
4. Panic trade of our pick this summer along with the necessary contracts and youths for a presumptive savior. Maybe Tracy McGrady, maybe Jason Kidd or (shudder) Vince Carter.
Short-term impact - tough to say, but likely outside chance of the playoffs next year, but still unlikely unless Marbury is replaced and the Curry/ZBo pairing is broken up
Long-term impact - contend for the playoffs for a year or two, then team slides into the late-Layden era morass of aging veterans and few long-term assets
Likelihood -medium
Just Fix the Problem
I'm not assuming the draft will give us a pick we want or that that pick will actually pan out. And I don't care if we make the playoffs or not. I just want a balanced team to develop here without wishing for magic solutions.
We aren't going to sign a superstar free-agent anytime soon so we'll have to develop somebody we have or can acquire. I'm okay with that.
So what's the problem? It's not , Zach AND Curry. It is Curry! Ship this guy out! I believe Jerome James will play more effectively than Curry ever will. Why?
Because running the offense through Curry is a waste of time. Curry's stats will look good but we won't win. And asking Curry to play 'D' is like asking James Dolan to think - ain't happenin'.
Job #1; Move Curry. Job#2; Acquire Andre Miller.
Curry Must Go
For the twentieth time this year, please hoops-god, get Curry the hell out of town. For some reason Isiah thinks he "will need him". Bad idea.
Lose this guy. Yes, it will be a massive loss - not of Curry - but what Curry cost us initially.
Are there takers? Sure. Dealing from weakness is never fun but both Miami and Memphis need change as much as New York does. And poisoned as the Knicks are by former Chicago players, Chicago too needs change.
Curry would be a perfect fit in Memphis. Memphis is losing money so fast and is so over-extended that any relief would be welcome there. Memphis has multiple bad contracts who might fit in NY. Curry and Rose for Gasol comes to mind giving Memphis a better liquidity of assets. Is Gasol worth it? Probably not, he's a soft center but on the flip side, so is Curry. Maybe the team chemistry change will help both players.
What about Miami where empty seats blind cameras game after excruciating game? Maybe Marbury would like to close out his career in a warm, sunny place?
And Chicago? Ben Wallace can't do worse here than he's done there. He kinda looks like a Knick from the nineties. That's a clse enough fit for me.
My point is. a.) Get rid of Curry and b.) Get rid of everybody else too.
Quite frankly, I'm ill from this mix.
Lose this guy. Yes, it will be a massive loss - not of Curry - but what Curry cost us initially.
Are there takers? Sure. Dealing from weakness is never fun but both Miami and Memphis need change as much as New York does. And poisoned as the Knicks are by former Chicago players, Chicago too needs change.
Curry would be a perfect fit in Memphis. Memphis is losing money so fast and is so over-extended that any relief would be welcome there. Memphis has multiple bad contracts who might fit in NY. Curry and Rose for Gasol comes to mind giving Memphis a better liquidity of assets. Is Gasol worth it? Probably not, he's a soft center but on the flip side, so is Curry. Maybe the team chemistry change will help both players.
What about Miami where empty seats blind cameras game after excruciating game? Maybe Marbury would like to close out his career in a warm, sunny place?
And Chicago? Ben Wallace can't do worse here than he's done there. He kinda looks like a Knick from the nineties. That's a clse enough fit for me.
My point is. a.) Get rid of Curry and b.) Get rid of everybody else too.
Quite frankly, I'm ill from this mix.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Andre Miller Rumors
The most promising rumors on the fringes of the internet involve the Knicks and 76ers discussing an Andre Miller exchange.
Knicks fans who are encouraging a wholesale meltdown of the Knicks for a scratch ticket for the coming NBA draft are having a fit. They are deathly afraid Miller will make the Knicks just good enough to miss the lottery.
There's another contingent who believe that a mythical meltdown of the team in search of cap space. The idea being that Lebron James or some available superstar-quality player will decide to sign with the Knicks. Proponents of such fantasies play right into the hands of superstar agents who routinely sucker the Knicks and Knicks fans into the imaginary bidding war that benfits only the client.
In years when the Knicks did contend for the likes of Grant Hill, Juwann Howard, and others we wound up with Allan Houston who never delivered anything like a ring to the Garden and the others who we pursued likewise delivered nothing to the teams who eventually signed them.
The building of a championship NBA team is no trivial matter and there are no silver bullets. And while unused cap space can occasionally grease the gears of a trade, there is nothing particularly sensible about the world's most valuable NBA franchise behaving like a team from Hicksville.
All of which brings us back to a Knicks/76ers trade. Generally speaking, teams in the same division don't usually trade with one another because they're in contention. Yet neither of these teams is playing so well as to preclude each other this year. And, in fact, if both teams use a working premise that any trade needs to improve the other, both may transcend expectations this year.
Philly fans openly welcome the trade of Miller (usually with Evans) to the Knicks hoping for at least Randolph in exchange.
I have long advocated the trading of Crawford and Balkman straight up for Miller and a Philly pick.
I'm coming to define myself as a win now fan. quite frankly I'm sick of losing and sick of rebuilding schemes - fast, slow, cap-wise or draft-wise. And I don't want foot-soldiers fired - Dolan's the guy who isn't going away no matter who coaches, GMs, or whatever.
I believe Miller can help here in subtle and important ways. He's not a savior but a missing cog.
And I believe the Knicks can help Philly.
As usual, there's a contender for Andre Miller's services, Cleveland. Cleveland was an over-achieving team last year thanks to good-luck and a Lebron James inertia. They resemble a Scott Layden Knicks team with a lone superstar.
Armed with awful contracts and players of no use to anyone, they will try to entice Philly as well. Let's hope they fail.
Knicks fans who are encouraging a wholesale meltdown of the Knicks for a scratch ticket for the coming NBA draft are having a fit. They are deathly afraid Miller will make the Knicks just good enough to miss the lottery.
There's another contingent who believe that a mythical meltdown of the team in search of cap space. The idea being that Lebron James or some available superstar-quality player will decide to sign with the Knicks. Proponents of such fantasies play right into the hands of superstar agents who routinely sucker the Knicks and Knicks fans into the imaginary bidding war that benfits only the client.
In years when the Knicks did contend for the likes of Grant Hill, Juwann Howard, and others we wound up with Allan Houston who never delivered anything like a ring to the Garden and the others who we pursued likewise delivered nothing to the teams who eventually signed them.
The building of a championship NBA team is no trivial matter and there are no silver bullets. And while unused cap space can occasionally grease the gears of a trade, there is nothing particularly sensible about the world's most valuable NBA franchise behaving like a team from Hicksville.
All of which brings us back to a Knicks/76ers trade. Generally speaking, teams in the same division don't usually trade with one another because they're in contention. Yet neither of these teams is playing so well as to preclude each other this year. And, in fact, if both teams use a working premise that any trade needs to improve the other, both may transcend expectations this year.
Philly fans openly welcome the trade of Miller (usually with Evans) to the Knicks hoping for at least Randolph in exchange.
I have long advocated the trading of Crawford and Balkman straight up for Miller and a Philly pick.
I'm coming to define myself as a win now fan. quite frankly I'm sick of losing and sick of rebuilding schemes - fast, slow, cap-wise or draft-wise. And I don't want foot-soldiers fired - Dolan's the guy who isn't going away no matter who coaches, GMs, or whatever.
I believe Miller can help here in subtle and important ways. He's not a savior but a missing cog.
And I believe the Knicks can help Philly.
As usual, there's a contender for Andre Miller's services, Cleveland. Cleveland was an over-achieving team last year thanks to good-luck and a Lebron James inertia. They resemble a Scott Layden Knicks team with a lone superstar.
Armed with awful contracts and players of no use to anyone, they will try to entice Philly as well. Let's hope they fail.
Monday, December 24, 2007
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Bobcats Beat Knicks
Loss #18. To say this was disappointing would be to understate the issue. This certainly is another game that belonged in the win column.
Once the holidays pass, there simply have to be some team adjustments. The Knicks must shop and acquire a point guard who will stabilize and provide consistency to what goes on on the court.
The acid and malicious NY media continue to gnaw at Isiah, the Knicks, and every comment, criticism, and quip is transformed into a perverse antithesis of the actual event.
The garden is slowly being turned into a torture chamber for the players and coaches who are all trying to turn this season around. This is not to say that fair criticism isn't necessary or welcome but for months the desire of the media to bring down Dolan, Isiah, Marbury and anyone else who wanders into their site is a New York Sportswriters bloodsport.
It is hard to imagine who would ever want to take on replacement status should it come.
What is being done to the Knicks in the NY media is wholly unethical reporting practice - no question. From planting stories in the other team's locker room to incite animus before a contest (Indiana) to intentionally bearing false witness to conversational exchanges, heads should be rolling in the news ranks as well as with the Knicks.
Once the holidays pass, there simply have to be some team adjustments. The Knicks must shop and acquire a point guard who will stabilize and provide consistency to what goes on on the court.
The acid and malicious NY media continue to gnaw at Isiah, the Knicks, and every comment, criticism, and quip is transformed into a perverse antithesis of the actual event.
The garden is slowly being turned into a torture chamber for the players and coaches who are all trying to turn this season around. This is not to say that fair criticism isn't necessary or welcome but for months the desire of the media to bring down Dolan, Isiah, Marbury and anyone else who wanders into their site is a New York Sportswriters bloodsport.
It is hard to imagine who would ever want to take on replacement status should it come.
What is being done to the Knicks in the NY media is wholly unethical reporting practice - no question. From planting stories in the other team's locker room to incite animus before a contest (Indiana) to intentionally bearing false witness to conversational exchanges, heads should be rolling in the news ranks as well as with the Knicks.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
On Isiah Thomas
I have been mad about the Larry Brown firing forever but I am not in favor of all of the nasty anti-Isiah stuff going on with some fans, some NY sportswriters, and many national talk celebrities who have no skin in the game.
I happen to think Isiah is the real deal. I believe he's innocent in the Anucha Brown case and I think he's done an admirable job as GM and coach.
Many criticize his stoic demeanor on the bench during games. But to my way of thinking the coach needs to make noise during practice. Games are about execution, not yelling or theatrics.
If Isiah is flawed as a coach, I happen to think he is too attached to his players - it flaws his substitutions and sense of real-time situations. If a player is stinking it up, he may stick with that player far too long. He seems to be correcting that flaw as we speak.
He is also accused of assembling this team. He did and he did as good a job as could be expected. No GM wins them all. Isiah has transformed a talentless roster into a talented roster. But it is clearly a work in progress that has been interrupted by Dolan who tied Isiah's hands last summer during the Larry Brown fiasco. He's managing as best he can regardless of what the haters claim.
He's asked for a two week moratorium on the hate rhetoric and the cynics have attributed all kinds of evil motives to his request.
I think the request is an act of decency. It is Christmas season. Changes may be coming but rather than disrupt the holidays, he's asked for some calm.
The haters will rant and rave over all of this but there is no basketball messiah in the draft and rebuilding from scratch makes no sense. Now is the time, Isiah is the Coach, and we have to see them through to winning basketball.
I happen to think Isiah is the real deal. I believe he's innocent in the Anucha Brown case and I think he's done an admirable job as GM and coach.
Many criticize his stoic demeanor on the bench during games. But to my way of thinking the coach needs to make noise during practice. Games are about execution, not yelling or theatrics.
If Isiah is flawed as a coach, I happen to think he is too attached to his players - it flaws his substitutions and sense of real-time situations. If a player is stinking it up, he may stick with that player far too long. He seems to be correcting that flaw as we speak.
He is also accused of assembling this team. He did and he did as good a job as could be expected. No GM wins them all. Isiah has transformed a talentless roster into a talented roster. But it is clearly a work in progress that has been interrupted by Dolan who tied Isiah's hands last summer during the Larry Brown fiasco. He's managing as best he can regardless of what the haters claim.
He's asked for a two week moratorium on the hate rhetoric and the cynics have attributed all kinds of evil motives to his request.
I think the request is an act of decency. It is Christmas season. Changes may be coming but rather than disrupt the holidays, he's asked for some calm.
The haters will rant and rave over all of this but there is no basketball messiah in the draft and rebuilding from scratch makes no sense. Now is the time, Isiah is the Coach, and we have to see them through to winning basketball.
Knicks Beat Cavs
Win #8. A blowout and the most stress-relieving game in years. The Cavs came in hoping to embarrass the Knicks further and Isiah opened a can of WHOOP_ASS in the garden tonight.
Can it become any clearer that Curry is expendable?
Can it become any clearer that Curry is expendable?
Monday, December 17, 2007
Pacers Beat Knicks
Loss #17. Just shoot me. This is excruciating.
The last professional sport I find watchable is making me ill. I started this blog thinking this would be a good year for the Knicks. Two dozen games into the season I am psychically getting ill.
I love the Knicks - not these Knicks - but the idea of a Knicks team that can play. My God, who are these guys?
I try, very hard, to be positive - to find some light or reason to believe that this is an anomaly.
Everything Dolan touches turns to garbage. GODFREY DANIELS! Who put the water in my glass?
The last professional sport I find watchable is making me ill. I started this blog thinking this would be a good year for the Knicks. Two dozen games into the season I am psychically getting ill.
I love the Knicks - not these Knicks - but the idea of a Knicks team that can play. My God, who are these guys?
I try, very hard, to be positive - to find some light or reason to believe that this is an anomaly.
Everything Dolan touches turns to garbage. GODFREY DANIELS! Who put the water in my glass?
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Boycott This!
I'm not boycotting anything. It's a silly idea.
The New York media is more interested in their seasonal pound of flesh than helping clarify the issues that need to be resolved for the Knicks to succeed.
1.) Yes. D'oh-lan is as clueless as they come. He wants his employees to kiss his ass and that eliminates Van Gundy, Larry Brown, and the gutsiest of basketball minds from the soup. It sucks. But it also sucks when the media inflames tensions between D'oh-lan and someone who is trying to operate within the constraints of Jimmytown.
2.) Isiah isn't the problem. See Issue #1.
3.) Marbury isn't solely a problem. He can be an asset. He's had too many years of experts tinkering with his game. He's not the point guard we need - there's no question of this. BUT, BUT... he can close out his career as an Earl Monroe-type 2 guard.
Garnett was right. Marbury has changed. He has subsumed his game for others over and over. Isiah should just let this guy go nuts for two years as an unpredictable, aggressive scorer from the two. No more experimentation. Marbury is too old and too good to keep wishing somebody else's game on.
Cut this guy some slack. Let him enjoy the game again and I think we'll see some fire.
3.) We're playing to win now. Get over the boycott bullshit and the lottery wet dreams. Now is the time. Job 1 is to make the playoffs. Job 2 is to have righted the team enough to be competitive there.
4. (to be competitive)) Get Philly on the phone and get Andre Miller in here at any cost.
Philly has a nice young PG in Lou Williams. Andre is expendable and I'm not talking about dumping trash on Philly. Make a deal that works for them. Crawford and Balkman for Andre. This is fair trade. Crawford can immediately team with Iguodala and Balkman spells relief for both.
Andre should not be allowed to get away one more time, this would just go down as a basketball sin.
5.) (to be competitive) Assuming we right the PG situation, the Artest situation should also be resolved asap.
I don't happen to believe the trade rumors about Artest. He is playing well in Sacto and I doubt he will be moved. But, again, if there is any veracity to the idea that he is being moved then New York needs to make a serious offer soon.
MRose, Chandler and our #1 sounds fair to me. Chandler is a very nice, young talent, Rose an inexpensive, short contract, and our #1 sure to burn us three years from now. But we have to do what's necessary to win.
6.) Get serious about winning it all. Okay, if somebody wasn't in shape at the beginning of the season now's the time. The goal remains the playoffs, the goal remains winning it all. There is no rebuild, no lottery savior, no f'n bailout scheme. This team is getting paid to win.
Period.
The New York media is more interested in their seasonal pound of flesh than helping clarify the issues that need to be resolved for the Knicks to succeed.
1.) Yes. D'oh-lan is as clueless as they come. He wants his employees to kiss his ass and that eliminates Van Gundy, Larry Brown, and the gutsiest of basketball minds from the soup. It sucks. But it also sucks when the media inflames tensions between D'oh-lan and someone who is trying to operate within the constraints of Jimmytown.
2.) Isiah isn't the problem. See Issue #1.
3.) Marbury isn't solely a problem. He can be an asset. He's had too many years of experts tinkering with his game. He's not the point guard we need - there's no question of this. BUT, BUT... he can close out his career as an Earl Monroe-type 2 guard.
Garnett was right. Marbury has changed. He has subsumed his game for others over and over. Isiah should just let this guy go nuts for two years as an unpredictable, aggressive scorer from the two. No more experimentation. Marbury is too old and too good to keep wishing somebody else's game on.
Cut this guy some slack. Let him enjoy the game again and I think we'll see some fire.
3.) We're playing to win now. Get over the boycott bullshit and the lottery wet dreams. Now is the time. Job 1 is to make the playoffs. Job 2 is to have righted the team enough to be competitive there.
4. (to be competitive)) Get Philly on the phone and get Andre Miller in here at any cost.
Philly has a nice young PG in Lou Williams. Andre is expendable and I'm not talking about dumping trash on Philly. Make a deal that works for them. Crawford and Balkman for Andre. This is fair trade. Crawford can immediately team with Iguodala and Balkman spells relief for both.
Andre should not be allowed to get away one more time, this would just go down as a basketball sin.
5.) (to be competitive) Assuming we right the PG situation, the Artest situation should also be resolved asap.
I don't happen to believe the trade rumors about Artest. He is playing well in Sacto and I doubt he will be moved. But, again, if there is any veracity to the idea that he is being moved then New York needs to make a serious offer soon.
MRose, Chandler and our #1 sounds fair to me. Chandler is a very nice, young talent, Rose an inexpensive, short contract, and our #1 sure to burn us three years from now. But we have to do what's necessary to win.
6.) Get serious about winning it all. Okay, if somebody wasn't in shape at the beginning of the season now's the time. The goal remains the playoffs, the goal remains winning it all. There is no rebuild, no lottery savior, no f'n bailout scheme. This team is getting paid to win.
Period.
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Nets Bookends; Knicks Beat Nets
Win #7. A relief and a big game from Eddie Curry. Our last win? The Nets.
I'm praying they've turned a corner
I'm praying they've turned a corner
Stop with the Social Working Already
Today NY newspapers are reporting on the New York Knicks welfare state.
It appears Curry is psyched out by Randolph's presence and now, NOW!, Isiah realized Curry plays defense like George Bush reads so we're adjusting to a zone defense...
What are these guys... three years old. You know what.., if you get to the NBA you damned well better know how to adjust and want to win.
Larry Brown said it best, "You can't teach motivation." No you can't SIT CURRY'S ASS AT THE END OF THE BENCH TILL HE'S TRADED.
NO Zones. NO cutesy... "Let me introduce you to Mr. Randolph" nonsense. This is devolving into a river of bullshit.
Here's my solution...
Curry and MRose for Jason Kidd... straight up... Change Jerseys at half-time. Good for both teams. Nobody has to exchange real estate.
With the extra roster spot, the Knicks sign Stephane Lasme... an under-sized but hungry and tenacious rebounder.
I could live with Kidd, Marbury, Chandler, Randolph and Lee bringing the ball up.
It appears Curry is psyched out by Randolph's presence and now, NOW!, Isiah realized Curry plays defense like George Bush reads so we're adjusting to a zone defense...
What are these guys... three years old. You know what.., if you get to the NBA you damned well better know how to adjust and want to win.
Larry Brown said it best, "You can't teach motivation." No you can't SIT CURRY'S ASS AT THE END OF THE BENCH TILL HE'S TRADED.
NO Zones. NO cutesy... "Let me introduce you to Mr. Randolph" nonsense. This is devolving into a river of bullshit.
Here's my solution...
Curry and MRose for Jason Kidd... straight up... Change Jerseys at half-time. Good for both teams. Nobody has to exchange real estate.
With the extra roster spot, the Knicks sign Stephane Lasme... an under-sized but hungry and tenacious rebounder.
I could live with Kidd, Marbury, Chandler, Randolph and Lee bringing the ball up.
Friday, December 14, 2007
Thursday, December 13, 2007
McGrady?
McGrady is on the block and IMO this would be a nice acquisition assuming we give up what we want to give up and not youth.
McGrady is on the downside of his career and is no longer in the superstar category. Nor will he help our defense. but what he is good for is moving some of our bottlenecks out. And Houston could get some nice, playoff push talent back. A win-win trade.
Here's my Christmas wish trade.
Crawford, Rose, James, and Jeffries for McGrady, James and Snyder. We gain a roster spot, McGrady at the two or three. James gives us another PG candidate (maybe more 'D') , Snyder gets one more chance to show something or be cut outright.
Crawford and Rose go to a contender, Jeffries and James can a chance play on a winner. They are no worse than Snyder and James.
Just thinking aloud.
McGrady is on the downside of his career and is no longer in the superstar category. Nor will he help our defense. but what he is good for is moving some of our bottlenecks out. And Houston could get some nice, playoff push talent back. A win-win trade.
Here's my Christmas wish trade.
Crawford, Rose, James, and Jeffries for McGrady, James and Snyder. We gain a roster spot, McGrady at the two or three. James gives us another PG candidate (maybe more 'D') , Snyder gets one more chance to show something or be cut outright.
Crawford and Rose go to a contender, Jeffries and James can a chance play on a winner. They are no worse than Snyder and James.
Just thinking aloud.
Ruminations on the Knicks
The same themes come back to haunt these Knicks.
The biggest obstacle we face is whether or not Dolan is restricting trades. If he is it is cruel and all too usual for the fans.
Second, if we can trade then Isiah's opinions need to be shelved. HE IS WAY TOO CLOSE TO THE PROBLEM PLAYERS! I'm sick of repeating this point.
Curry and Crawford need to go because they are movable and are not fulfilling their obligations here.
If Curry isn't moved he cannot play with Randolph. Keep them separate with Curry getting the shorter minutes. Better yet, put him on the inactive squad and have Rose work him into shape.
We cannot afford the lottery scenario. If we get a shitty pick we are screwed for another ten years. We have to build from what we have. It's doable and must be the solution.
Dec 15 is two days away. how to build the team out?
Some thoughts:
Crawford for Nesterovic
Curry to Washington for Etan Thomas and a first-rounder.
OR
Curry and Crawford for Brand,Knight, and a pick
Just move them.
The biggest obstacle we face is whether or not Dolan is restricting trades. If he is it is cruel and all too usual for the fans.
Second, if we can trade then Isiah's opinions need to be shelved. HE IS WAY TOO CLOSE TO THE PROBLEM PLAYERS! I'm sick of repeating this point.
Curry and Crawford need to go because they are movable and are not fulfilling their obligations here.
If Curry isn't moved he cannot play with Randolph. Keep them separate with Curry getting the shorter minutes. Better yet, put him on the inactive squad and have Rose work him into shape.
We cannot afford the lottery scenario. If we get a shitty pick we are screwed for another ten years. We have to build from what we have. It's doable and must be the solution.
Dec 15 is two days away. how to build the team out?
Some thoughts:
Crawford for Nesterovic
Curry to Washington for Etan Thomas and a first-rounder.
OR
Curry and Crawford for Brand,Knight, and a pick
Just move them.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
New York Sportwriters Hire a Masseur
Yep. They are trying to get this guy to give Dolan a facial:
Dude Knocked Out By Slap - Watch more free videos
Dude Knocked Out By Slap - Watch more free videos
Shake-up at MSG?
Now that John McCain's political career is in the toilet he is being given serious consideration as the new Knicks V-P in charge of Public Relations.
McCain's experience in blowing smoke up people's asses makes such a hire a distinct possibility.
McCain's experience in blowing smoke up people's asses makes such a hire a distinct possibility.
Somebody has to ask
Are the Knicks just another bunch of aliens messing with our sports franchise? Don't aliens get sick of these kinds of practical jokes?
The Knicks are planning to give away a "Shaq's Greatest hits" cd at every game they get blown out by at least fifty points. See details here.
The Knicks are planning to give away a "Shaq's Greatest hits" cd at every game they get blown out by at least fifty points. See details here.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Does It Matter?
Lots of fans are up in arms because Dolan keeps giving Isiah votes of confidence, some very recently.
The bottom line is that no matter who pulls the strings the NBA's trade restrictions make any change cosmetic at best.
Fans should note that Larry Brown was fired for the very same record and discord that the current team demonstrates TWO YEARS LATER! IMO, the sacking of Larry Brown is one of sports all time low events. If Isiah had petitioned Dolan that he could do better then we now see he can't. And that's just information, not a slam.
The bottom line is that no matter who pulls the strings the NBA's trade restrictions make any change cosmetic at best.
Fans should note that Larry Brown was fired for the very same record and discord that the current team demonstrates TWO YEARS LATER! IMO, the sacking of Larry Brown is one of sports all time low events. If Isiah had petitioned Dolan that he could do better then we now see he can't. And that's just information, not a slam.
Friday, December 7, 2007
76ers Beat Knicks - Twice
Loss #12 and 13. Embarrassing and inexcusable. This should have been an easy win. This trajectory of losing and inconsistent play is wringing out all of the wiggle room in our schedule to make the playoffs.
The time for change is now or this team is doomed this year not for the lottery but for a mid-level pick of no consequence and a team of Misfit Toys.
Curry is a tradable commodity and expendable.
The time for change is now or this team is doomed this year not for the lottery but for a mid-level pick of no consequence and a team of Misfit Toys.
Curry is a tradable commodity and expendable.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Monday, December 3, 2007
Punking the Knicks
Two recent articles have blown the cover off the media treatment of the Knicks.
The first is an innocent enough flash bio of a Knicks fan who tore off his Knicks jersey in Boston during the Celtics blowout.
The key thoughts;
The second is a New York Observer article called Life in Knicks Hell that documents the festering media relationship with the Knicks organization.
Of note is Isola's quote,
And at the end of the day, the media's professional requirement is to remain objective. That's profoundly questionable and often absent in Knicks reporting.
The NBA needs to regulate media access to ensure there is no Knicks hell and the media is obligated to assign people who report the news and aren't instead advocating the demonization of players or the organization.
I will state what is being unsaid elsewhere. Was Don Maybury's heart attack a by-product of the manufactured animus toward Marbury and the Knicks that the NY media has honed to a fine art?
Respect can only be earned in a workplace that is not at war with the media. Stern needs to hold a peace summit and the large media outlets need to look in the mirror and ask themselves WTF they're doing.
The first is an innocent enough flash bio of a Knicks fan who tore off his Knicks jersey in Boston during the Celtics blowout.
The key thoughts;
Barnes drove up to Boston on Wednesday night with his nephew Larry Betro to celebrate Betro's 24th birthday. The pair had $300 seats - four rows behind the basket and not far from Craig Sager, a TNT sideline reporter.The event was not spontaneous as TNT led the television audience to believe - but contrived - the by-product of Sager, the crowd and a frustrated fan given an opportunity for national exposure.
With the Knicks trailing big in the first quarter, Barnes made a bet with Sager that if his team went down by 50 points he would give up his coveted jersey.
Word of the bet spread through the crowd with lightning speed. By the time the fourth quarter came around and the Knicks were losing by 40, the fans were in a frenzy.
"Throw it! Throw it!" they yelled.
And when Boston's lead reached 50 points with three minutes left in the game, Barnes did just that. The game stopped. The fans erupted.
"The whole crowd was behind it," he said. "I had to protect my honor."
The second is a New York Observer article called Life in Knicks Hell that documents the festering media relationship with the Knicks organization.
Of note is Isola's quote,
After the Nov. 24 win against the Bulls, Mr. Isola sat in the stands with me at the Garden while the Knicks basketball court was in the process of being converted into a hockey rink.Isola is no longer objective about his role. He's honest about it and that's fine. There are more writers sick of the organization with good and bad reason. But Isola should move on to some other beat for his own mental health.
“It’s really sad now,” he said. “There are very few nights where you can feel a buzz in the arena. The thrill is gone.”
He spoke about a colleague, Johnny Ludden, who recently stopped reporting on the Spurs. “He was covering the Spurs for nine years and when he left, ha-ha, they threw him a going-away party,” Mr. Isola said. “I leave the Garden sometimes and think, ‘Should I look under my car before I turn the ignition?’”
“You can get stale on the beat,” he continued. “I shouldn’t be doing it anymore after 12 years. If everything was status quo and if everything was great, I probably would be the wrong guy to have on it. But now I’m the right guy to have on it because they’re trying to screw me over, and by trying to screw me over, it kind of lights a fire in you a little bit. It makes you more motivated to find stuff out and expose what’s going on here.”
I told him it sounded as if he was sticking around out of spite.
“Absolutely,” he said.
“They thought it would be the opposite—they thought they’d beat me down and run me off. I thank them for it.”
And at the end of the day, the media's professional requirement is to remain objective. That's profoundly questionable and often absent in Knicks reporting.
The NBA needs to regulate media access to ensure there is no Knicks hell and the media is obligated to assign people who report the news and aren't instead advocating the demonization of players or the organization.
I will state what is being unsaid elsewhere. Was Don Maybury's heart attack a by-product of the manufactured animus toward Marbury and the Knicks that the NY media has honed to a fine art?
Respect can only be earned in a workplace that is not at war with the media. Stern needs to hold a peace summit and the large media outlets need to look in the mirror and ask themselves WTF they're doing.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Disgraceful
When I was a kid, America watched three network channels and the choices for kids often sucked. And so, on any given variety show an aging, circa vaudeville comedian would do a bit.
The bit was usually a sequence of unfunny (to me) one-liners. Take my wife, somebody! PLEASE!
I'm having such flashbacks because an Ann Coulter appearance is being televised on C-Span and her entire unfunny shtick is a series of (read from a page) one-liners.
Take a liberal! Somebody, PLEASE...
To say she's pathetic is to insult people who are pathetic.
It kind of puts the Knicks in a much brighter perspective.
The bit was usually a sequence of unfunny (to me) one-liners. Take my wife, somebody! PLEASE!
I'm having such flashbacks because an Ann Coulter appearance is being televised on C-Span and her entire unfunny shtick is a series of (read from a page) one-liners.
Take a liberal! Somebody, PLEASE...
To say she's pathetic is to insult people who are pathetic.
It kind of puts the Knicks in a much brighter perspective.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Knicks Beat Bucks
Win #5 - 3 of 4 This was a statement game. No not to fire Isiah but to move Marbury. In yet another lethargic effort the Knicks were poised to lose to a pathetic Milwaukee Bucks club.
Then Marbury left the game with a shoulder injury. Like a Dawn of the Dead movie, the Knicks seemed to remember who they were just when things looked darkest. Even Isiah Thomas' Buster Keaton impression was tabled as the Knicks came back spectacularly.
My Marbury trade proposal is found in the previous post. The proof is in the winning.
Then Marbury left the game with a shoulder injury. Like a Dawn of the Dead movie, the Knicks seemed to remember who they were just when things looked darkest. Even Isiah Thomas' Buster Keaton impression was tabled as the Knicks came back spectacularly.
My Marbury trade proposal is found in the previous post. The proof is in the winning.
No Way Back
Sorry to those of you who think the lottery is the way out of this conundrum, it isn't.
Everyone says Marbury is untradeable but I just put together a four team deal that I think works and I'll explain why later. Realgm Trade ID #4314026
Knicks trade Marbury to Memphis.
Memphis sends Damon Stoudamire to the Wizards.
Memphis sends Brian Cardinal to Seattle.
Memphis sends Mike Miller to the Knicks,
Seattle sends Earl Watson to the Knicks.
Washington sends Etan Thomas to the Knicks.
Memphis does it to save cash, lots of it. All three outgoing contracts are largely dross to a team going nowhere. Memphis puts up with Marbury for a year then trades him off for cap space and picks next year.
Washington needs a point guard and wants to dump Etan Thomas - perfect fit.
Seattle too wants to shed the overhead of three expensive point guards. Cardinal brings energy, backs up the Seattle back-court filling a truer need
The Seattle part of the deal is weakest in which case the Knicks absorb Cardinal as well who would fit nicely on the pine in the second unit.
The Knicks would start Watson at point, Miller at SG. Thomas joins the bench.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Whether or not Marbury is traded or not is irrelevant. The Knicks have too much talent to suddenly cast their fate to the ping-pong balls or simply attempt to rebuild yet again.
For better or worse the Knicks are in refactoring mode. In other words, find a better combination of 12 guys to get the job done. The Knicks have to trade into a better combination with a secondary goal in mind. That is, to acquire lottery picks elsewhere.
But before the Knicks can trade their way out, Isiah has to look in the mirror and modify his mantra from playing the guys who will win to let go of the players who don't fit, then play the players who can win. Big difference.
Just as Marbury can be moved, so can Curry. Curry for Ilgauskas. Cleveland saves a few $ to sign the runaway. Or Curry and Jones for Rasheed Wallace - pure $ savings move by Detroit.
And Crawford must go as well. Crawford for Andre Miller, Rasho, or Nene.
Going back is not an option.
Everyone says Marbury is untradeable but I just put together a four team deal that I think works and I'll explain why later. Realgm Trade ID #4314026
Knicks trade Marbury to Memphis.
Memphis sends Damon Stoudamire to the Wizards.
Memphis sends Brian Cardinal to Seattle.
Memphis sends Mike Miller to the Knicks,
Seattle sends Earl Watson to the Knicks.
Washington sends Etan Thomas to the Knicks.
Memphis does it to save cash, lots of it. All three outgoing contracts are largely dross to a team going nowhere. Memphis puts up with Marbury for a year then trades him off for cap space and picks next year.
Washington needs a point guard and wants to dump Etan Thomas - perfect fit.
Seattle too wants to shed the overhead of three expensive point guards. Cardinal brings energy, backs up the Seattle back-court filling a truer need
The Seattle part of the deal is weakest in which case the Knicks absorb Cardinal as well who would fit nicely on the pine in the second unit.
The Knicks would start Watson at point, Miller at SG. Thomas joins the bench.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Whether or not Marbury is traded or not is irrelevant. The Knicks have too much talent to suddenly cast their fate to the ping-pong balls or simply attempt to rebuild yet again.
For better or worse the Knicks are in refactoring mode. In other words, find a better combination of 12 guys to get the job done. The Knicks have to trade into a better combination with a secondary goal in mind. That is, to acquire lottery picks elsewhere.
But before the Knicks can trade their way out, Isiah has to look in the mirror and modify his mantra from playing the guys who will win to let go of the players who don't fit, then play the players who can win. Big difference.
Just as Marbury can be moved, so can Curry. Curry for Ilgauskas. Cleveland saves a few $ to sign the runaway. Or Curry and Jones for Rasheed Wallace - pure $ savings move by Detroit.
And Crawford must go as well. Crawford for Andre Miller, Rasho, or Nene.
Going back is not an option.
Liars
Today's papers are filled with the fiction that Boston did not intend to run up the score. for example at Sports Illustrated this;
Hey, I don't mind playing hard and the score is the score but don't lie about this shit. The Celts not only ran up the score but got some cheap kicks out of doing it.
I'm okay with that. Really. But times do change and I can assure you we will be revisiting the theme.
At the end of the day, one point or fifty the Knicks lost. And at the end of the day Q's remarks remain spot on. The Celtics are little more than a team of long-time wannabe winners acquired through collusion of fellow ex-Celtics who have yet to win anything that matters.
Hamster dance to that tune.
'I'm never great in math,'' Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. ''So I couldn't figure out if we were up by 30. I wasn't even paying a lot of attention to it. But I knew we were playing well and, obviously, I looked.''Bullshit. the Celtics were doing hamster dances on the sideline as though the men's room door were locked and they all had to go at once.
Robinson finished with 11 points - the only New York player in double figures.
Pierce and Allen scored 21 apiece and Garnett finished with 11 rebounds for the Celtics, who were coming off an overtime loss at Cleveland - just their second defeat of the season. Boston improved to 8-0 at home, and the Knicks remained winless on the road.
The Knicks were last within 10 points with 4:11 left in the first period. They didn't come within 20 after the Celtics took a 39-18 lead with 5:27 left in the second. Boston made it 30 points for good with 9:14 left in the third, and then extended it to 40 less than five minutes later.
Eddie House hit a 3-pointer to give Boston a 50-point lead, 93-43, with 8:53 to play in the game.
''It wasn't about the score, it was about us going out there and getting better,'' Pierce said. ''At one point, I didn't even know we were up 40 points.''
Hey, I don't mind playing hard and the score is the score but don't lie about this shit. The Celts not only ran up the score but got some cheap kicks out of doing it.
I'm okay with that. Really. But times do change and I can assure you we will be revisiting the theme.
At the end of the day, one point or fifty the Knicks lost. And at the end of the day Q's remarks remain spot on. The Celtics are little more than a team of long-time wannabe winners acquired through collusion of fellow ex-Celtics who have yet to win anything that matters.
Hamster dance to that tune.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Loss #10
A humiliating defeat at the hands of the Celtics who are on a roll. If this game doesn't re-establish a rivalry I don't know what will.
Lessons learned:
1. Boston has yet to learn a lesson in NBA manners. Watch how you treat the other team on the way up, you'll be seeing them again on the way down.
2. Reggie Miller is a pro's pro. His observations on the Knicks were measured, accurate, and fair while the rest of the TNT commentators were aping the "Fire Isiah" mantras and rehashing tired and pathetic cliches.
I think Miller sees great potential in the Knicks and says as much even in criticism - they are a joke because they should be winning. True.
3.) These players are breaking Isiah's heart and his back by destroying his credibility. He cares about them, he caters to them, and he is protective of them and they don't get it. I say this again and again - bring back Larry Brown at any cost. Brown is nothing like Isiah but Brown knows talent at the service level and he is a coach's coach. And Isiah has to step away from protecting players he cares about to creating a team that wins - Brown knows how to make that happen.
Will a guy like Brown piss off Dolan, Isiah, some players, and some fans? You bet. And it's a good thing.
4.) I advocated the acquisition of Curry at considerable cost believing (rightfully so) that players this big are just too rare not to take a flyer on. It is time to trade Eddy. He's been here long enough to make a difference and he hasn't. The Celtics so easily stripped him repeatedly that I felt bad for him. feeling bad for one of your own players means he don't belong here.
Jeffries and Lee can play center on a reconfigured Knicks team that emphasizes speed and agility rather than brute strength, say, a Phoenix East.
5.) Our starting unit is terminally dysfunctional. In fact we don't have a starting unit. We just have high-priced veterans who start - get rid of as many as we can.
We are no longer in a position to rebuild from scratch - we have a nice young core. but we carry veterans who have no future here. Rose needs to be traded to a contender. Ditto for Q. Sooner is better. Savvy vets can always be acquired late in January should our season correct itself.
So if we can't can't rebuild, what next? We need to get out of the state of denial about this team and trade our way toward a more cohesive and effective team.
#1 priority really must be a guy like Andre Miller. we need somebody who can distribute the ball.
6. ) Isiah would be wise to quit. He doesn't deserve being fired any more than LB did but it is all over for him. If not today then soon. I'm not advocating such a thing - just sayin'.
Lessons learned:
1. Boston has yet to learn a lesson in NBA manners. Watch how you treat the other team on the way up, you'll be seeing them again on the way down.
2. Reggie Miller is a pro's pro. His observations on the Knicks were measured, accurate, and fair while the rest of the TNT commentators were aping the "Fire Isiah" mantras and rehashing tired and pathetic cliches.
I think Miller sees great potential in the Knicks and says as much even in criticism - they are a joke because they should be winning. True.
3.) These players are breaking Isiah's heart and his back by destroying his credibility. He cares about them, he caters to them, and he is protective of them and they don't get it. I say this again and again - bring back Larry Brown at any cost. Brown is nothing like Isiah but Brown knows talent at the service level and he is a coach's coach. And Isiah has to step away from protecting players he cares about to creating a team that wins - Brown knows how to make that happen.
Will a guy like Brown piss off Dolan, Isiah, some players, and some fans? You bet. And it's a good thing.
4.) I advocated the acquisition of Curry at considerable cost believing (rightfully so) that players this big are just too rare not to take a flyer on. It is time to trade Eddy. He's been here long enough to make a difference and he hasn't. The Celtics so easily stripped him repeatedly that I felt bad for him. feeling bad for one of your own players means he don't belong here.
Jeffries and Lee can play center on a reconfigured Knicks team that emphasizes speed and agility rather than brute strength, say, a Phoenix East.
5.) Our starting unit is terminally dysfunctional. In fact we don't have a starting unit. We just have high-priced veterans who start - get rid of as many as we can.
We are no longer in a position to rebuild from scratch - we have a nice young core. but we carry veterans who have no future here. Rose needs to be traded to a contender. Ditto for Q. Sooner is better. Savvy vets can always be acquired late in January should our season correct itself.
So if we can't can't rebuild, what next? We need to get out of the state of denial about this team and trade our way toward a more cohesive and effective team.
#1 priority really must be a guy like Andre Miller. we need somebody who can distribute the ball.
6. ) Isiah would be wise to quit. He doesn't deserve being fired any more than LB did but it is all over for him. If not today then soon. I'm not advocating such a thing - just sayin'.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Rumble in a Foreign Garden
The nationally televised game tonight has the potential to be an instant classic. The Knicks have a lot to prove and spanking the Celtics would go a long way in establishing their legitimacy.
Mister Earl at Ultimate Knicks correctly observes,
Amen.
Mister Earl at Ultimate Knicks correctly observes,
Let's Get Ready to Rumble!
Like NYK resurrection stated so eloquently at the top - "here we go"
Bump it, if there are suspensions or fines, it ain't no big deal. We are the freakin' Noo York Knicks. We rumble for kicks and giggles. We scuffled with Denver just to get warmed up. We got plenty of reserves to make up the difference.
If Quentin gets tossed, big deal - he gets to rest his elbow and back
If Jeffries gets tossed - we still got Balkman
If Lee gets tossed, certainly the league office will go easy on him.
If Eddy gets tossed - we still have Zach (who actually STARTED the rumble)
If Marbury gets tossed, he becomes a fan favorite for showing passion. Nah, that's too easy, Marbury gets booed no matter what.
"Protect yourself at all times and come out fighting"
Send a message right in their backyard that the Knicks ain't takin' no ish offa nobody.
Get the Jiffy Pop ready people. The basketball season is about to get started.
Amen.
Monday, November 26, 2007
Knicks Beat the Jazz
Win #4 - 2 in a row. Nice win against a very good team. Marbury with a redeeming performance.
--------------------------------------------------------
On the trade front, if Philly has Andre Miller is on the block then Grunwald has to make the transaction. Trade no picks - not one.
Yes, Miller is slightly past prime but he is a perfect fit here and two good years is better than none.
Collins and Crawford for 'Dre - sign me up.
--------------------------------------------------------
As for Jermaine O'Neal - considering the risk - O'Neal and Rush for Jerome James, Malik Rose, and Q. Knicks roll the dice, Pacers save big $$. Knicks open roster spot.
--------------------------------------------------------
On the trade front, if Philly has Andre Miller is on the block then Grunwald has to make the transaction. Trade no picks - not one.
Yes, Miller is slightly past prime but he is a perfect fit here and two good years is better than none.
Collins and Crawford for 'Dre - sign me up.
--------------------------------------------------------
As for Jermaine O'Neal - considering the risk - O'Neal and Rush for Jerome James, Malik Rose, and Q. Knicks roll the dice, Pacers save big $$. Knicks open roster spot.
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Home Win over the Bulls
Win #3. Ugly but satisfying.
Skiles just got crossed off the "who's going to replace Isiah Thomas" coaching short list.
With the Knicks back at full strength, they are going to make the league sweat.
Kobe to Chicago?
I don't think so.
Skiles just got crossed off the "who's going to replace Isiah Thomas" coaching short list.
With the Knicks back at full strength, they are going to make the league sweat.
Kobe to Chicago?
I don't think so.
Hang in There
According to the New York Times the very idea of firing Isiah is unlikely because of the lawsuit's fallout.
To some degree this is a good thing. Isiah is not the problem nor is he a mad basketball engineer in putting this team together. For the most part he did the best he could with what he had and, in context, he acted wisely in the moment (Jerome James) even though subsequent events made the move look foolish.
A number of New York sportswriters just hate the guy which is their opinion and fine. But why do city editors allow these guys to use the power of the media to wage hate campaigns that are largely their own invention?
Isiah's pronouncement that he intends to hold the hand he's got may be short-lived. He may be stating the obvious by saying "now is not the time to make changes" knowing full well that Dec 15 will be the time.
Many are suggesting that Isiah ship Marbury out for Miami dreck - I don't see any advantage to such a move unless the point is to tank the season. Today, Marbury has no real value. Curry and Crawford do. And they are badly under-performing here. I would much prefer getting players back than garbage.
Andre Miller should be the number one priority. He's slightly past prime but solid enough for what we need. Philly might deal despite Larry Brown's presence.
An improbable trade that could help the knicks would move Jerome James, Q, and Malik Rose to Minny for Ratliffe, Jaric and Walker. Minny gets shorter contracts on two albatross contracts and more usable pieces since Walker and Jaric hate being there.
The Knicks get an aging, shot-blocking center to team with Randolph (Curry and Lee work best together) giving the Knicks a tag-team front-court combo. Jaric becomes a PG candidate, and Antoine Walker assumes Jerome James place in the dessert table line though Walker might have some game left if anyone gets hurt.
Just thinking aloud.
To some degree this is a good thing. Isiah is not the problem nor is he a mad basketball engineer in putting this team together. For the most part he did the best he could with what he had and, in context, he acted wisely in the moment (Jerome James) even though subsequent events made the move look foolish.
A number of New York sportswriters just hate the guy which is their opinion and fine. But why do city editors allow these guys to use the power of the media to wage hate campaigns that are largely their own invention?
Isiah's pronouncement that he intends to hold the hand he's got may be short-lived. He may be stating the obvious by saying "now is not the time to make changes" knowing full well that Dec 15 will be the time.
Many are suggesting that Isiah ship Marbury out for Miami dreck - I don't see any advantage to such a move unless the point is to tank the season. Today, Marbury has no real value. Curry and Crawford do. And they are badly under-performing here. I would much prefer getting players back than garbage.
Andre Miller should be the number one priority. He's slightly past prime but solid enough for what we need. Philly might deal despite Larry Brown's presence.
An improbable trade that could help the knicks would move Jerome James, Q, and Malik Rose to Minny for Ratliffe, Jaric and Walker. Minny gets shorter contracts on two albatross contracts and more usable pieces since Walker and Jaric hate being there.
The Knicks get an aging, shot-blocking center to team with Randolph (Curry and Lee work best together) giving the Knicks a tag-team front-court combo. Jaric becomes a PG candidate, and Antoine Walker assumes Jerome James place in the dessert table line though Walker might have some game left if anyone gets hurt.
Just thinking aloud.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Loss to GS
Loss #8. This was a tough one because the fans let the team down. These guys don't need to be kicked any more nor does Isiah deserve the pure hate being rained upon him for coaching the team as he sees fit.
I am as upset and sickened by the losing as the next fan but the team must not be treated like dirt. Isiah has assembled a lot of quality pieces that are not yet meshing and bad games - real bad games - don't reveal bad players.
Character is who you are when you're not winning and New Yorkers should keep this in mind. Marbury and Randolph are playing with heavy hearts - would you want to be treated as badly as they when your time comes around?
I think changes are needed, yes I do. And the problem I have and had with the Larry Brown fiasco is that Isiah cannot be objective about the quality of these players. LB saw this team for what it was and he deserves an apology and a second chance to finish the job.
Quite frankly, Curry and Crawford have to go. My guess is that Detroit wouldn't mind losing Rasheed Wallace's salary and the Knicks could afford to take the chance. Curry and Jones for Wallace is fair and makes economic sense for both teams.
The Knicks can let Wallace's contract expire in a few years, Detroit gains fiscal stability and a 7' project. The Knicks needed Curry to be the star while Detroit simply needs Curry to do what he can. On Detroit, Curry could be very effective - in NY, he will never live up to the exaggerated expectations of the fans.
And Andre Miller is another player Grunwald should make a high bid for, say Crawford and change. We need a point who can and will distribute.
Isiah shouldn't quit or get fired but he must let go of wishful thinking about certain players.
I am as upset and sickened by the losing as the next fan but the team must not be treated like dirt. Isiah has assembled a lot of quality pieces that are not yet meshing and bad games - real bad games - don't reveal bad players.
Character is who you are when you're not winning and New Yorkers should keep this in mind. Marbury and Randolph are playing with heavy hearts - would you want to be treated as badly as they when your time comes around?
I think changes are needed, yes I do. And the problem I have and had with the Larry Brown fiasco is that Isiah cannot be objective about the quality of these players. LB saw this team for what it was and he deserves an apology and a second chance to finish the job.
Quite frankly, Curry and Crawford have to go. My guess is that Detroit wouldn't mind losing Rasheed Wallace's salary and the Knicks could afford to take the chance. Curry and Jones for Wallace is fair and makes economic sense for both teams.
The Knicks can let Wallace's contract expire in a few years, Detroit gains fiscal stability and a 7' project. The Knicks needed Curry to be the star while Detroit simply needs Curry to do what he can. On Detroit, Curry could be very effective - in NY, he will never live up to the exaggerated expectations of the fans.
And Andre Miller is another player Grunwald should make a high bid for, say Crawford and change. We need a point who can and will distribute.
Isiah shouldn't quit or get fired but he must let go of wishful thinking about certain players.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Go Knicks
I'm expecting a win Tuesday night.
I like the idea of using Lee as a center surrounded by dual PFs. Lee adds a lot of mobility in the middle that would more than compensate for the inevitable ability of quick SFs to get past either Curry or Randolph on the wing. The experiment is worthwhile.
I like the fact that Dolan, Sr. basically has stated that he has bigger fish to fry. He does. This is just basketball and much as I love the Knicks, James Dolan makes bad enough decisions without being guided by the cut-throats in the media.
I'm not sure Isiah will survive the love-fest Isola and others are engaging in but now is not the time to fire him, if ever.
As I said before, When you're going through hell, KEEP GOING!
We'll turn a corner soon.
I like the idea of using Lee as a center surrounded by dual PFs. Lee adds a lot of mobility in the middle that would more than compensate for the inevitable ability of quick SFs to get past either Curry or Randolph on the wing. The experiment is worthwhile.
I like the fact that Dolan, Sr. basically has stated that he has bigger fish to fry. He does. This is just basketball and much as I love the Knicks, James Dolan makes bad enough decisions without being guided by the cut-throats in the media.
I'm not sure Isiah will survive the love-fest Isola and others are engaging in but now is not the time to fire him, if ever.
As I said before, When you're going through hell, KEEP GOING!
We'll turn a corner soon.
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Loss to Denver
Loss #7. Somewhat expected as the Knicks are on a tough road trip and played into double OT the night before and Karl's Denver team was looking forward to the Knicks for all kinds of reasons.
Yes, things look bad but quite frankly we've fallen so fast, so hard, and so ungraciously that the last thing we should do is try cleaning house now.
If Isiah gets fired it will be because of a toxic New York media and because Dolan has demonstrated himself to be a self-serving and self-immolating owner.
What should happen is this;
Larry Brown needs to be coaxed back to fulfill his original contract. The season is not lost and he Knicks can and should still make the playoffs.
Crawford, Q, Rose. and Nate need to go for expiring contracts and picks. Jeffries, Lee, and Balkman need to rehabilitate fully. Curry needs to get in shape.
Buy out Jerome James now (what could we be keeping him for?)
Collins has got to be given the reigns (let Clyde teach him the ropes). He's all we got right now and we need to keep an eye out for a purely defensive back-up point.
We need a shot-blocker (that needs to be Isiah's mission as draft consultant and talent evaluator).
Hand Jerry West the Office of President of basketball operations.
Trade ideas: Curry and Jones for Rasheed Wallace. Detroit gets a more inexpensive center and decent bench player, Knicks get shorter contract and imposing inside presence. Detroit happy to unload Rasheed, NY ready to move on.
Nate Robinson for Brevin Knight and a Clippers pick. Nate could blossom in LA, Knight could Share Point with Collins. Knicks could use the pick.
Jamal Crawford and Renaldo Balkman for Andre Miller. We need a point guard, we just do.
Yes, things look bad but quite frankly we've fallen so fast, so hard, and so ungraciously that the last thing we should do is try cleaning house now.
If Isiah gets fired it will be because of a toxic New York media and because Dolan has demonstrated himself to be a self-serving and self-immolating owner.
What should happen is this;
Larry Brown needs to be coaxed back to fulfill his original contract. The season is not lost and he Knicks can and should still make the playoffs.
Crawford, Q, Rose. and Nate need to go for expiring contracts and picks. Jeffries, Lee, and Balkman need to rehabilitate fully. Curry needs to get in shape.
Buy out Jerome James now (what could we be keeping him for?)
Collins has got to be given the reigns (let Clyde teach him the ropes). He's all we got right now and we need to keep an eye out for a purely defensive back-up point.
We need a shot-blocker (that needs to be Isiah's mission as draft consultant and talent evaluator).
Hand Jerry West the Office of President of basketball operations.
Trade ideas: Curry and Jones for Rasheed Wallace. Detroit gets a more inexpensive center and decent bench player, Knicks get shorter contract and imposing inside presence. Detroit happy to unload Rasheed, NY ready to move on.
Nate Robinson for Brevin Knight and a Clippers pick. Nate could blossom in LA, Knight could Share Point with Collins. Knicks could use the pick.
Jamal Crawford and Renaldo Balkman for Andre Miller. We need a point guard, we just do.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Deal With It
People need to calm down. The New York pitchfork and torch crowds are circling the Garden as if Frankenstein, the Wolfman, and the Mummy were hiding inside. Get a grip.
There's no place to send Marbury. Deal with it. That doesn't mean that a complementary trade can't help but Isiah is right on the money in calling out Marbury. The fallout certainly is unexpected and painful but the Knicks are too far down the road to turn back now.
Like the postcard says, "When you're going through HELL, keep going!"
Isiah has done a marvelous job reinventing the roster. Critics who don't understand the dynamics of NBA trades, buyouts, and signings insist that instant-gratification-magic-dust works but Isiah inherited a monumental mess and has delivered a positive return using what he had which wasn't much.
The Marbury fiasco makes it all look diminished and doubtful but under the dust-up lies a good team. Marbury can't be moved because there's no buyers offering something better.
But teams like Portland have good young PG prospects who can be negotiated away. Marbury needs to play the shooting guard position or come off the bench.
That means more roster changes. But now is the time. Early in the season when it is obvious the current roster has not gelled.
There's no place to send Marbury. Deal with it. That doesn't mean that a complementary trade can't help but Isiah is right on the money in calling out Marbury. The fallout certainly is unexpected and painful but the Knicks are too far down the road to turn back now.
Like the postcard says, "When you're going through HELL, keep going!"
Isiah has done a marvelous job reinventing the roster. Critics who don't understand the dynamics of NBA trades, buyouts, and signings insist that instant-gratification-magic-dust works but Isiah inherited a monumental mess and has delivered a positive return using what he had which wasn't much.
The Marbury fiasco makes it all look diminished and doubtful but under the dust-up lies a good team. Marbury can't be moved because there's no buyers offering something better.
But teams like Portland have good young PG prospects who can be negotiated away. Marbury needs to play the shooting guard position or come off the bench.
That means more roster changes. But now is the time. Early in the season when it is obvious the current roster has not gelled.
Kobe Fictions
Yesterday a report surfaced that Detroit would trade Rip Hamilton, Tayshawn Prince, picks, and more for Kobe.
I don't buy a word of it. Not unless Joe Dumars fell on his head. He would never undermine his players this way and Hamilton and Prince alone is far too high a price for Kobe.
This is a classic case of the Lakers getting crap offers for Kobe and attempting to salvage Kobe's and the Lakers' reputations by planting a whopper "rumor" in the MSM to try and falsely bid up Kobe's worth.
Alex Rodriguez has learned a sad lesson that Kobe has yet to understand, Nobody wants you that badly!
Nobody.
Update 11/18/07: Sure enough:
I don't buy a word of it. Not unless Joe Dumars fell on his head. He would never undermine his players this way and Hamilton and Prince alone is far too high a price for Kobe.
This is a classic case of the Lakers getting crap offers for Kobe and attempting to salvage Kobe's and the Lakers' reputations by planting a whopper "rumor" in the MSM to try and falsely bid up Kobe's worth.
Alex Rodriguez has learned a sad lesson that Kobe has yet to understand, Nobody wants you that badly!
Nobody.
Update 11/18/07: Sure enough:
Nevertheless, the Bryant trade-rumor virus has spread east as a breathless radio report last week had the Pistons ready to send Tayshaun Prince, Richard Hamilton and draft picks to the Lakers before Bryant used his no-trade clause to reject the deal. Much like the similarly fictitious media and Internet reports of an imminent Bryant deal to the Bulls last month, there was no truth to it.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Loss to the Clippers
Loss #5. Inexplicable. This is the second year playing together, Isiah kept the core together, and this team acts as if they've never played together before.
The summer drama killed us.
And the league needs to examine the refereeing. Marbury and Curry can't get a fair shake out there. That's just wrong.
The summer drama killed us.
And the league needs to examine the refereeing. Marbury and Curry can't get a fair shake out there. That's just wrong.
Even More Disturbing....
I'm being called an idiot in certain quarters for missing Larry Brown. Brown, IMO, was the last great chance for the Knicks to truly turn it around. The Garden is obviously a toxic place to work.
What is most disturbing about the entire Marbury affair is what Ian Thomsen correctly diagnoses as Marbury's sense of entitlement. Because I live between Boston and NY, I see the kind of single-minded determination Garnett brought to Boston.
Isiah did the right thing by calling out Marbury. This is not a charity. It's good that the Knicks get reminded. Marbury has become a spoiled rich kid, a consumer parody of a basketball player. Like Penny Hardaway and Allan Houston, Marbury is raedy for a golf tour, or shoe expo, or something else but not a burning desire to win every game and it is sad.
There are doom sayers out there who think this is ugly and "bad" but truthfully it just reminds me of that crazy, gifted bastard Billy Martin's days in NY. I miss Larry Brown.
But even Zeke, a pale coaching comparison to Brown, recognizes that Marbury must step aside. Had Zeke recognized this earlier he might have drafted Marcus Williams as many of us lamented at the time. The Knicks need Collins to step up and I think he will (tho not tonight - sprained ankle).
The Knicks are turning an awkward corner. Our best players are just kids who belong on the floor because they care and bring it.
So bring it.
What is most disturbing about the entire Marbury affair is what Ian Thomsen correctly diagnoses as Marbury's sense of entitlement. Because I live between Boston and NY, I see the kind of single-minded determination Garnett brought to Boston.
Isiah did the right thing by calling out Marbury. This is not a charity. It's good that the Knicks get reminded. Marbury has become a spoiled rich kid, a consumer parody of a basketball player. Like Penny Hardaway and Allan Houston, Marbury is raedy for a golf tour, or shoe expo, or something else but not a burning desire to win every game and it is sad.
There are doom sayers out there who think this is ugly and "bad" but truthfully it just reminds me of that crazy, gifted bastard Billy Martin's days in NY. I miss Larry Brown.
But even Zeke, a pale coaching comparison to Brown, recognizes that Marbury must step aside. Had Zeke recognized this earlier he might have drafted Marcus Williams as many of us lamented at the time. The Knicks need Collins to step up and I think he will (tho not tonight - sprained ankle).
The Knicks are turning an awkward corner. Our best players are just kids who belong on the floor because they care and bring it.
So bring it.
Shades of Summer
Ian Thomsen's Inside the NBA column is the best I've read today. Check it out.
While the Knicks deserve ridicule for the outlandish contracts they've awarded over the years, they also deserve some credit for owning up to those mistakes and buying out the contracts. Far better to open up the roster spot than to compound the original mistake by tying up room on the bench.
Do they buy out Marbury? When I played the longshot and picked the Knicks to finish sixth in the East this season, it was based on the assumption that they would rely more on young point guards Nate Robinson and Mardy Collins at the expense of Marbury, who -- if he would accept it as humbly as Manu Ginobili has in San Antonio -- could be an excellent sixth man as a microwave off the bench. Statistically, Marbury is their best point guard, but he isn't what they need anymore. With scorers Randolph, Curry and Jamal Crawford dominating the lineup, the Knicks need a distributor and defender starting in the backcourt. But, of course, Marbury is going to view a change in his role as a demotion.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Blowout in Phoenix
Loss #4.
The story of this game will be the emergence of Wilson Chandler.
What's happening with the Knicks is what must happen - the old guards giving way to the new. Collins looked like the point guard of the future. Stephon, if he stays, must move to the two. Chandler is our SF candidate, not Balkman.
Crawford needs to move to the deep bench.
Look for lineups of Randolph, Lee, Chandler, Marbury, and Nate to get the Knicks going again with Curry, Jones, and Balkman supplying energy off the bench.
I expect Rose and Crawford to get shopped hard.
Curry plays better next to Randolph. As a standalone center, he knows not what to do. He was better with Tyson Chandler as well - a complementary big man, not a superstar.
I can't help but wonder if Crawford and Lee's poor play is not playing possum to dodge trade bullets. Spree did the same thing years ago.
I'll be surprised if Marbury moves.
I miss Larry Brown.
The story of this game will be the emergence of Wilson Chandler.
What's happening with the Knicks is what must happen - the old guards giving way to the new. Collins looked like the point guard of the future. Stephon, if he stays, must move to the two. Chandler is our SF candidate, not Balkman.
Crawford needs to move to the deep bench.
Look for lineups of Randolph, Lee, Chandler, Marbury, and Nate to get the Knicks going again with Curry, Jones, and Balkman supplying energy off the bench.
I expect Rose and Crawford to get shopped hard.
Curry plays better next to Randolph. As a standalone center, he knows not what to do. He was better with Tyson Chandler as well - a complementary big man, not a superstar.
I can't help but wonder if Crawford and Lee's poor play is not playing possum to dodge trade bullets. Spree did the same thing years ago.
I'll be surprised if Marbury moves.
I miss Larry Brown.
BlackBishop on the Marbury Situation
One of Realgm's most trusted posters reports an altercation on the Knicks plane between Marbury and Isiah that precipitated Marbury's excused absence.
The OP claims Malik Rose wants out.
Update:
A second credible source at Realgm (HellsKitchen) claims these assertions are true.
The OP claims Malik Rose wants out.
Update:
A second credible source at Realgm (HellsKitchen) claims these assertions are true.
Berman of the Post on Marbury
Berman has an inside line:
Marbury had bolted in a huff, flying for home amid an apparent feud with Thomas over his starting role, leaving his future as a Knick in serious doubt.
Marbury landed in New York about 4 p.m. and said in the message to The Post, "I have one thing to say, and that's I got permission to leave. I would never leave my team on my own. What I’m telling you is that I got permission to leave from Isiah. He said I could go home. God bless. Peace be with you."
Marbury added he was not expecting to join the team in Los Angeles tomorrow night.
"No, I'm not coming to LA as of now," he said.
Marbury MIA
My, my. Isiah seems to be challenging Marbury to step it up. From Howard Beck at the Times;
Marbury traveled with the team from New York to Phoenix on Monday, but he left Phoenix early Tuesday morning, possibly to return to New York. He also has a home in the Los Angeles area, where the Knicks play Wednesday night. The Knicks would not say where Marbury had gone, but Thomas at one point said, ”We look forward to seeing him tomorrow.”
Thomas declined to say whether Marbury left of his own volition or whether he was asked to leave. Thomas called it ”an in-house matter,” a phrase he invoked 12 times in a seven-minute interview after the team’s shoot-around. The coach also repeatedly stressed that Marbury is welcome to return, though in what role he would not say.
Tension between Marbury, once considered the face of the franchise, and Thomas – who acquired Marbury in a 2004 trade – seems to stem from Marbury’s contributions to the Knicks’ poor start (2-3). He has been indifferent on defense and erratic on offense, most notably in the final minutes of Sunday’s 75-72 loss to the Miami Heat.
Marbury is averaging 15.2 points and 6.8 assists in five games this season, while shooting 40 percent from the field. However, those are not the things that most concern Thomas.
”We need leadership from that position at the point guard, and we also need defense,” Thomas said. ”And those are two things that he’s definitely capable of doing. And when he returns, that’s what I expect out of him. I expect him to lead from that position and I expect him to defend from that position. Those are the only two things that I require from that position.”
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Friday, November 9, 2007
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Ron-Ron We Hardly Knew Ye
Balkman made a statement that both Sacramento and LA should take heed of, the Knicks no longer need Artest as a lock down defender at the SF position Balkman is not leaving any time soon.
For Kobe and the Lakers, the chances of dealing with the Knicks are diminished not, as widely reported that the Knicks don't have the goods, but precisely because the Knicks aren't parting with the goods.
The respective GMs who have so often denigrated the Knicks talent pool will choke on that stew for the coming months and years. Bon appetite.
For Kobe and the Lakers, the chances of dealing with the Knicks are diminished not, as widely reported that the Knicks don't have the goods, but precisely because the Knicks aren't parting with the goods.
The respective GMs who have so often denigrated the Knicks talent pool will choke on that stew for the coming months and years. Bon appetite.
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Monday, November 5, 2007
Pop Quiz: Pet Peeves
Jen Stein at Radar Magazine has put together a very interesting quiz asking the question; What makes the public angrier: Dog abuse or human abuse?
An interesting and disturbing look at sports values.
An interesting and disturbing look at sports values.
Sunday, November 4, 2007
A Win is a Win
Knicks beat Minnesota just a while ago and I actually got to see bits and pieces of the game. Winning is always better than losing but this was another ugly outing. The Knicks should have handed Minnesota their heads - Minnesota largely little more than a team of castaways.
The best player of the game was Lee whose rebounding and intangibles just make everybody look better out there. The most over-rated performance was Crawford's. Yes he got 24 points but my god his defense was just atrocious McCants wanted to take it to him all night long.
The second worst performance was Curry. The man has got to rebound - something he picked up in the second half but he and Zack have to own that paint.
Honorable deficient performance goes to Balkman who allowed Gomes to blow by him at the half way mark - just a dumb play - enough to keep Minny in it.
But it is becoming obvious the starting unit is window dressing - it was not until the second unit came on that the Knicks looked like winners. The Crawford/Curry coupling is bad basketball and Isiah needs to break this tandem up a bit. Or trade them.
My fascination with Curry is just about over. If Isiah packaged Curry, Crawford, and change for Kobe and Kwame, I think the trade would work out fine in both directions. Right now the Knicks "starting unit" is disappointing at best.
The best player of the game was Lee whose rebounding and intangibles just make everybody look better out there. The most over-rated performance was Crawford's. Yes he got 24 points but my god his defense was just atrocious McCants wanted to take it to him all night long.
The second worst performance was Curry. The man has got to rebound - something he picked up in the second half but he and Zack have to own that paint.
Honorable deficient performance goes to Balkman who allowed Gomes to blow by him at the half way mark - just a dumb play - enough to keep Minny in it.
But it is becoming obvious the starting unit is window dressing - it was not until the second unit came on that the Knicks looked like winners. The Crawford/Curry coupling is bad basketball and Isiah needs to break this tandem up a bit. Or trade them.
My fascination with Curry is just about over. If Isiah packaged Curry, Crawford, and change for Kobe and Kwame, I think the trade would work out fine in both directions. Right now the Knicks "starting unit" is disappointing at best.
Remembering John Woodruff
His obituary shows up in the LA Times this way. And it is an insight into the relationship of sports and character. Knicks fans can only hope our team steps up compete as wholly as a Woodruf did so many years ago.
John Woodruff, the black American runner who won the 800 meters in the 1936 Berlin Olympics in the face of Adolf Hitler and his "master race" agenda, has died. He was 92.The obituary contains even more astonishing sports feats.
Woodruff, the last surviving gold medalist from that U.S. team that included the legendary runner Jesse Owens, died Tuesday at an assisted living center near Phoenix, said Rose Woodruff, his wife of 37 years.
Nicknamed "Long John" for his nearly 10-foot stride, Woodruff was a lanky 21-year-old freshman at the University of Pittsburgh with just three years of competitive running under his belt when he sailed to the racially charged scene in Berlin.
On Aug. 4, 1936, he won the 800 meters using one of the most astonishing tactics in Olympic history. Boxed in by the pack of runners, he literally stopped in his tracks, then moved to the third lane and passed everyone to win the race in 1:52.9.
"I didn't panic," Woodruff told the New York Times in 2005. "I just figured if I had only one opportunity to win, this was it. I've heard people say that I slowed down and almost stopped. I didn't almost stop. I stopped, and everyone else went around me."
He was the first black athlete to win a gold medal at the Berlin Games.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Monday, October 29, 2007
I Don't Miss Nichols
A lot of very frustrated fans are making far too much ado about very little. D. Nichols was a D League SF who may someday make it but not with the Knicks. So what?
IMO, he should have honored the deal that would have sent him on a European holiday. Bill Bradley did it years ago. Seems good enough for modern players as well.
many of the preseason machinations teams do are the cost of doing business. Again, too many pundits act as though the nickel and dime moves made in preseason are mismanagement. Um,... NO.
With Bibby hurt, Artest may once again be in play but I don't think Isiah bites. Chandler looks far too interesting.
Alex Rodriguez forgot the Wally Pip story. I like the fact that the Yankees are saying goodbye.
IMO, he should have honored the deal that would have sent him on a European holiday. Bill Bradley did it years ago. Seems good enough for modern players as well.
many of the preseason machinations teams do are the cost of doing business. Again, too many pundits act as though the nickel and dime moves made in preseason are mismanagement. Um,... NO.
With Bibby hurt, Artest may once again be in play but I don't think Isiah bites. Chandler looks far too interesting.
Alex Rodriguez forgot the Wally Pip story. I like the fact that the Yankees are saying goodbye.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Dribble Sez:
A few weeks ago we visited the Manhattan residence of Dribble, the turtle, one of the Knicks most patient fans.
KnicksMecca's interview went like this:
KnicksMecca's interview went like this:KM: So Dribble, what do you think of the Knicks progress under Isiah Thomas?
D: Slow but sure.
KM: That pre-season loss to the Celts must have given you doubts, no?
D: I almost decided not to come out of my shell for days.
KM: So who do you see as the Knicks openinhg day lineup?
D: Well, with Q and Jeffries hurt, I'm guessing Nate, Marbs, Crawford, Randolph and Curry.
KM: And are you venturing a guess at wins this season?
D: My guess is 47 wins, 52 if Isiah pulls off a Kobe trade, but 47 sounds right sticking close to the ground.
KM: Thanks, Dribble.
D: Take it slow, WGF.
Friday, October 26, 2007
Cruel AND Unusual
You probably think I'm going to refer to Bush and Cheney - forgetaboutit.
No. Genarlow Wilson will soon be free. From the New York Times, Georgia Supreme Court Frees Man in Sex Case;
This court's conclusion and accurate assessment of this boy's punishment is a glimmer of hope in a republic waste deep in corruption, scandal, and political filth. When justice is served so infrequently and in such meager helpings one can be sure that prayers are not being answered. It is time for Americans to demand and expect more of the lawmakers and the courts.
No. Genarlow Wilson will soon be free. From the New York Times, Georgia Supreme Court Frees Man in Sex Case;
The Georgia Supreme Court today ended the 10-year prison sentence of a man who was convicted in 2003 of having consensual oral sex with another teenager. The court said the harsh sentence violated the Constitution’s protection against cruel and unusual punishment.A generation of illiterate and pathological ideologues have polluted America's body of law with legislation so poorly crafted that every American no matter how innocent can be charged, tried, and convicted of one morals charge or another with impunity by prosecutors so devoid of ethical fortitude that justice seems more like a drive by government assassination attempt than a fair and impartial process.
In a 4-to-3 ruling, the court’s majority said the sentence was “grossly disproportionate” to the crime, which the justices said “did not rise to the level of culpability of adults who prey on children.”
The inmate, Genarlow Wilson, who is now 21, was 17 when he was caught on videotape having oral sex with a 15-year-old girl at a drug- and alcohol-fueled New Year’s Eve party in 2003. He was released this afternoon.
Mr. Wilson was convicted of aggravated child molestation for the act, a charge which carried a mandatory minimum prison term so harsh it shocked his jury and prompted an international outcry from critics who charged that prosecutors had been overzealous and racially motivated. The law, critics said, was meant to keep child molesters behind bars, not to curb teenage sexual activity.
This court's conclusion and accurate assessment of this boy's punishment is a glimmer of hope in a republic waste deep in corruption, scandal, and political filth. When justice is served so infrequently and in such meager helpings one can be sure that prayers are not being answered. It is time for Americans to demand and expect more of the lawmakers and the courts.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
NBA Investigating Boston Players After Loss to Knicks
Paul Pierce's unacceptable behavior in grabbing Jamal Crawford's chin is under review by the NBA as is Tony Allen's shoving, the Boston Globe reports.
I have nothing against physical play on the court but the penny-ante assaults that second-stringers like Scalabrine bring to the floor injure first-string veterans.
Pierce and Boston will not become champions by being immature on the court and that's why many experts are picking the Knicks ahead of Boston. Pierce, Garnett, and Allen are being hailed as The Big Three but the Celtics are like a three-legged stool whose third leg can't carry the weight. All the PR in the world can't disguise poor sportsmanship.
According to an NBA official, the league didn't announce any review yesterday of the film of the Celtics-Knicks game Monday night, which included physical incidents involving most notably Paul Pierce, as well as Tony Allen. The official also said there is no timetable for any such announcement on whether there will be punishments. One reason the NBA might not be in a rush is because the Celtics don't play a regular-season game until Nov. 2 against Washington.IMO, the guy that the NBA needs to take a hard look at is Scalabrine whose clumsy thuggishness marred the Sixers/Celtics game at the Mohegan Sun and continued into the Knicks contest.
The incident involving Pierce occurred when teammate Ray Allen fell hard after being fouled by New York's Jamal Crawford with 4:55 remaining in the third quarter of Boston's 94-87 loss. Allen's teammates immediately rushed to his defense, with Pierce grabbing Crawford's chin. Tony Allen later seemed to push Knicks guard Nate Robinson after they got tangled up in the fourth quarter.
I have nothing against physical play on the court but the penny-ante assaults that second-stringers like Scalabrine bring to the floor injure first-string veterans.
Pierce and Boston will not become champions by being immature on the court and that's why many experts are picking the Knicks ahead of Boston. Pierce, Garnett, and Allen are being hailed as The Big Three but the Celtics are like a three-legged stool whose third leg can't carry the weight. All the PR in the world can't disguise poor sportsmanship.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Final: Knicks 94-87
Knicks expose Celtics 4-15 are not up to it.
Nate was on fire. Lee is just about uncanny - he just gets to the ball on offense and cleans it up or he is just in that 'D' position.
Now, very interesting development. Isiah seems to be trying Jeffries out as a situational center and it works very nicely. The Knicks bench (outscoring Boston's bench 31-7 at the 7 minute mark, 4th quarter) is playing western ball - looking a lot like a wide-open Phoenix/Warriors type game.
Watching Lee, Randolph, Jeffries, Nate, then add Balkman to that mix and the Knicks are more than deep, they bring a complex set of games to the game.
Now, Lee being interviewed said the East is between Celts, Knicks, Toronto, and NJ. I agree.
Lessons learned. NO WAY Lee is getting traded - amazing talent. Chandler is this year's Lee - by February he's a starter with no apologies to Balkman. Chandler is huge at Sf and cat quick. If Isiah tag teams the two of them forget all about Artest.
Quite frankly, NO to Kobe. We do not want to lose Chandler or Nate.
Nate is way outplaying Crawford.
And, as I said, Jeffries as a situational, long center/PF is a very interesting and innovative idea by Isiah. I like it.
Nate was on fire. Lee is just about uncanny - he just gets to the ball on offense and cleans it up or he is just in that 'D' position.
Now, very interesting development. Isiah seems to be trying Jeffries out as a situational center and it works very nicely. The Knicks bench (outscoring Boston's bench 31-7 at the 7 minute mark, 4th quarter) is playing western ball - looking a lot like a wide-open Phoenix/Warriors type game.
Watching Lee, Randolph, Jeffries, Nate, then add Balkman to that mix and the Knicks are more than deep, they bring a complex set of games to the game.
Now, Lee being interviewed said the East is between Celts, Knicks, Toronto, and NJ. I agree.
Lessons learned. NO WAY Lee is getting traded - amazing talent. Chandler is this year's Lee - by February he's a starter with no apologies to Balkman. Chandler is huge at Sf and cat quick. If Isiah tag teams the two of them forget all about Artest.
Quite frankly, NO to Kobe. We do not want to lose Chandler or Nate.
Nate is way outplaying Crawford.
And, as I said, Jeffries as a situational, long center/PF is a very interesting and innovative idea by Isiah. I like it.
3rdQ - 77-72 Knicks
Chandler just seriously stuffed Garnett, OMG!
Chandler having mixed results guarding Pierce but showing nice flashes. Very active and refreshing in tandem with Lee. Interesting chemistry there -Chandler, Lee, Randolph.
71-68 at a timeout. So what's happened to the lead? Chandler getting beat by Pierce who is taking advantage of the match-up. But, to Isiah's credit, he sticks with Chandler who is showing that he will soon own Pierce. Celts also getting some calls, bleh.
Nate comes in and is everywhere. Drops a trey. fred Jones in for Chandler but Pierce burns him too.
Celtics hate this game. Garnett frustrated. Nate just shuts down Rondo.
Chandler having mixed results guarding Pierce but showing nice flashes. Very active and refreshing in tandem with Lee. Interesting chemistry there -Chandler, Lee, Randolph.
71-68 at a timeout. So what's happened to the lead? Chandler getting beat by Pierce who is taking advantage of the match-up. But, to Isiah's credit, he sticks with Chandler who is showing that he will soon own Pierce. Celts also getting some calls, bleh.
Nate comes in and is everywhere. Drops a trey. fred Jones in for Chandler but Pierce burns him too.
Celtics hate this game. Garnett frustrated. Nate just shuts down Rondo.
2nd Quarter - Knicks 55-46
Nate is killin' the Celts. Pinpoint passing. Knicks playing 'D', just blowing by Celts.
The 55 is most points scored against Celts in pre-season. Game got messy for a while. Garnett with a nice dunk that the Boston Comcast played over and over - much ado about nothing. Heinsohm hates Curry. Claims Curry will never be a player.
Randolph having a great game. Missing a few shots that just rimmed out.
Observation; Rose is stealing time from Jeffries - silly. We need to get Jeffries on track. Rose a non-entity on the court (sorry to say).
Q playing hard as are most Knicks - Heinsohm crying that Bavetta only ref calling it straight up.
If Knicks play this tough at home all season, we will be a lock for the playoffs.
Celts claim Knicks "taking it personally". Yessir, Sherlock.
The 55 is most points scored against Celts in pre-season. Game got messy for a while. Garnett with a nice dunk that the Boston Comcast played over and over - much ado about nothing. Heinsohm hates Curry. Claims Curry will never be a player.
Randolph having a great game. Missing a few shots that just rimmed out.
Observation; Rose is stealing time from Jeffries - silly. We need to get Jeffries on track. Rose a non-entity on the court (sorry to say).
Q playing hard as are most Knicks - Heinsohm crying that Bavetta only ref calling it straight up.
If Knicks play this tough at home all season, we will be a lock for the playoffs.
Celts claim Knicks "taking it personally". Yessir, Sherlock.
Knicks-Celts 29-28 Knicks
Big difference tonight. Celts tried to embarrass the Knicks by letting Scalabrine bomb away from the 3. Scalabrine made his way inside and Curry was having none of it. Scalabrine has been very quiet ever since.
Curry very physical with Garnett. Sportscasters are claming Curry is clumsy but... perfect.
Knicks ratcheting up the D without Crawford who is pathetic on d.
Knicks 60% shooting! Celts looking dazed. Knicks physical!
Curry very physical with Garnett. Sportscasters are claming Curry is clumsy but... perfect.
Knicks ratcheting up the D without Crawford who is pathetic on d.
Knicks 60% shooting! Celts looking dazed. Knicks physical!
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Celtics - 76ers at Mohegan Sun, Miller Time!
I just got back from the exhibition game between the Celts and the 76ers feeling a bit ripped off. Garnett and Pierce didn't suit up. Garnett not suiting up is the upsetting part - not seeing pierce is no loss.
Hard to believe the Celtics beat New York - they lost by 20 to the 76ers. It is true that once you get past Garnett, Allen, and Pierce the Celts get -cough- thin.
Rajon Rondo had flashes of being decent but disappointed most of the time. Nor was Posey impressive. Eddie house was flat out awful.
But Scalabrine was shockingly bad. This guy stumbled, pushed, shoved, and lampooned the game of basketball for the duration. Just embarrassing. The rest of the Boston team may have just as well been a developmental team. Glen "Big Baby" Davis got some burn and is nothing less than a moving bumper car on the court - bodies and fouls just spark out from this guy like a 4th of July sparkler - I'm kind of glad Isiah passed on this guy.
Bleh.
Phladelphia is young and raw. Aside from Ray Allen, Iguodala, Miller, and Evans were the pros on the floor - nice play from all three. Korver is a damned good player as well. Philly played a young center, Jason Smith who looked lost most of the time, so, Boston was really playing 5 on 4 for a lot of the game.
They also showcased a PG, Louis Williams who is raw, raw, raw but silky smooth around the offensive rim. His 'D' needs some seasoning but a latent talent assuming the desire is there.
The guy who disappointed me was Willie Greene - just no electricity on this particular evening.
Rodney Carney looked good but nothing special.
The reason I bother mentioning the game at all is because the one guy nobody talks about these days would be the one trade the Knicks have needed to make for years.
Forget Artest and Kobe. Andre Miller should be highest on the Knicks most-wanted list. Ship Crawford or Jeffries and Nichols (or whatever combination works) to Philly for Miller and slide Marbs over to shooting guard. Knicks would own the East.
Miller looked like Mark Jackson in his prime tonight. Nice, nice passes. Without a doubt the missing link. Philly is thin and a team of tweeners. Even Malik Rose could help them.
Miller is a bit of an odd duck on the Sixers - too old for the rebuild, too prime to be wasted waiting. Just thinking aloud.
And if not Miller then what about Bibby?
Hard to believe the Celtics beat New York - they lost by 20 to the 76ers. It is true that once you get past Garnett, Allen, and Pierce the Celts get -cough- thin.
Rajon Rondo had flashes of being decent but disappointed most of the time. Nor was Posey impressive. Eddie house was flat out awful.
But Scalabrine was shockingly bad. This guy stumbled, pushed, shoved, and lampooned the game of basketball for the duration. Just embarrassing. The rest of the Boston team may have just as well been a developmental team. Glen "Big Baby" Davis got some burn and is nothing less than a moving bumper car on the court - bodies and fouls just spark out from this guy like a 4th of July sparkler - I'm kind of glad Isiah passed on this guy.
Bleh.
Phladelphia is young and raw. Aside from Ray Allen, Iguodala, Miller, and Evans were the pros on the floor - nice play from all three. Korver is a damned good player as well. Philly played a young center, Jason Smith who looked lost most of the time, so, Boston was really playing 5 on 4 for a lot of the game.
They also showcased a PG, Louis Williams who is raw, raw, raw but silky smooth around the offensive rim. His 'D' needs some seasoning but a latent talent assuming the desire is there.
The guy who disappointed me was Willie Greene - just no electricity on this particular evening.
Rodney Carney looked good but nothing special.
The reason I bother mentioning the game at all is because the one guy nobody talks about these days would be the one trade the Knicks have needed to make for years.
Forget Artest and Kobe. Andre Miller should be highest on the Knicks most-wanted list. Ship Crawford or Jeffries and Nichols (or whatever combination works) to Philly for Miller and slide Marbs over to shooting guard. Knicks would own the East.
Miller looked like Mark Jackson in his prime tonight. Nice, nice passes. Without a doubt the missing link. Philly is thin and a team of tweeners. Even Malik Rose could help them.
Miller is a bit of an odd duck on the Sixers - too old for the rebuild, too prime to be wasted waiting. Just thinking aloud.
And if not Miller then what about Bibby?
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Those Very Special Larry Brown Moments
Yesterday's loss to the Celtics by a bazillion points is gut check time for a lot of Knicks fans. Losing hurts but for old-tiers like myself, losing to the Celts big is blasphemy by a Knicks team. These are like RedSox Yankees games. No quarter given/none expected.
I can handle the loss but I find the effort, lack of enthusiasm, and the Knicks being intimidated by the Celtics to be wholly UNACCEPTABLE and unKnickerbockertonian.
So today's lessons learned are;
I can handle the loss but I find the effort, lack of enthusiasm, and the Knicks being intimidated by the Celtics to be wholly UNACCEPTABLE and unKnickerbockertonian.
So today's lessons learned are;
Somebody had better sit down with Jerome James and put together a retirement plan. If his knee is shot for this season then why fight it. This is a player who was marginal when healthy and owns a contract that is little more than a promissory note. Nobody in this organization will wait for his return because it is a meaningless gesture.
Today, should start the rest of Jerome James life doing something else. And we wish you to get well and the best of luck.
Curry's backup must be Randolph Morris who should learn from Jerome James' career trajectory.
You have an opportunity to play - don't F'up. Now is the time to step up your game, show some cahones, and prove you belong here. Otherwise come February you will have a virtual trade bait tattoo on your forehead. Again, just see Jerome James' reputation on the blogs.
Welcome aboard.
Allan Houston is trying out for the Knicks after a long absence. All fans believe he is trying to reframe himself as a Steve Kerr game-changing sharp-shooter and man we could use one of those.
So what the hell was the 6 minutes in the Celtics game about? OH-for-DEUX! Pinch me if I'm speaking out of turn but if Allan wants to be Steve Kerr then; a.) he better be getting fed the ball to shoot, b.) he damned well better be lighting it up., and c.) he better not be playing six minutes to figure out he can't hit the rim.
Maybe Allan is not the best person to talk to Jerome James about retirement.
Curry is rushing back to play with a bad wing.
Look, I'm not a doctor but take the time to heal and get in shape. C'mon, I don't have to tell you this.
Zach Randolph has not practiced with the team due to a family issue.
It showed and it's no big deal. He and Curry will not clicking for a few months. Boston should enjoy their luck while it lasts because down the stretch more than a few of us will be looking for some payback.
Chandler's bringing it.
Until Balkman comes back, Chandler has earned a starting opportunity or two. If Balkman or Q can dislodge him then fine but as of yesterday, Chandler needs to be given some serious respect.
And quite frankly, LA is crazy to be pissing an moaning about trading for Deung, Chandler is the league's best kept secret. The Kobe trade everyone puts down and dismisses(to the Knicks) may go down as LA's (and Kobe's) biggest blunder.
We have a problem at the 2 spot.
We cannot afford another year of the mercurial performances of Crawford at the 2 spot.
Either Q or Marbury needs to slide over, maybe even Nate. The minute Crawford goes cold or misses a defensive assignment he should be given a potato gun and told to guard the gatorade. enough is enough. Against a team like the Celtics you have got to be lighting it up.
We need some pros.
The Knicks should consider a move for a no-bullshit, lock down defender. Maybe this is Balkman.
But enough talk about Nichols and Jones. These guys are trivial pursuit answers not solutions to what needs doing with the Knicks.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Could happen...
It is becoming obvious that the Knicks can put together a blockbuster package for Kobe but would they do it? The answer is not easy or obvious. Such a trade would shake the foundations of both coasts.
Is Kobe worth Curry?
Let's call it something like this; Kobe, Kwame, and Crittenton for Curry, Crawford, Chandler, Rose and Collins.
Dubious media speculation supposes Kobe won't come to New York but how could LA turn down that deal?
And a line-up of Marbury, Kobe, Balkman, Lee, and Randlph can certainly make the playoffs Phoenix style.
Risk and opportunity.
Is Kobe worth Curry?
Let's call it something like this; Kobe, Kwame, and Crittenton for Curry, Crawford, Chandler, Rose and Collins.
Dubious media speculation supposes Kobe won't come to New York but how could LA turn down that deal?
And a line-up of Marbury, Kobe, Balkman, Lee, and Randlph can certainly make the playoffs Phoenix style.
Risk and opportunity.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
The truth about Kobe
The NY sports machine is using Kobe's inevitable departure as just another reason to dump on Isiah. Not only is this unfair, it's a red-herring.
Here's the truth about the Kobe situation as I see it.
Unless Chicago believes that Kobe is as good as MJ then they aren't trading their youth for a guy who couldn't carry the Lakers past round one. In other words, Chicago has invested far too much time to break up a talented team that has no use for Kobe. Chicago can already get into the playoffs and shine.
And Kobe is no Michael Jordan. And Chicago is a notoriously thrifty franchise. They aren't running a team to showcase Kobe any time soon because if it is not a sure thing in LA, it could deteriorate the franchise in Chicago.
Now, what Kobe is is a good role superstar player. In other words a very, very expensive vet who brings good things to the table as long as you have a guy like, say, Randolph patrolling the paint. Ben Wallace on the other hand, was a refreshing over-achiever who is on the back-slide of his career. Would Kobe be happy on a perennially struggling team gutted of the young talent that makes them exciting? He's already on one.
Furthermore, Buss can get a great deal in NY - we know it and he knows it.
That fact that Isiah isn't talking is a two-fold discretion. First, why tip your hand to begin with? There's no bidding war going on for Kobe. It is Buss who will try to up the ante, not the GM's offering a deal.
But Isiah, is also confident enough to know the Knicks are at a tipping point - they are brimming with hungry talent that is ready to explode upon the scene. Kobe would just make them radioactive. So why discuss trade possibilities with guys who are preparing to go all the way with you? That would be demoralizing.
The idea that Kobe wouldn't want the cover that the Dolan, Isiah soap-opera offers is silly. Kobe would look like a choirboy in NY - exactly what he needs to refresh his image and diminishing career prospects.
Finally, Isiah's silence is loudly telling us a deal may be in the works.
Curry or Randolph, Crawford, and a handful of youngsters could get the deal done easily. LA won't get Lee but they might get a Chandler or Balkman and LA may pry Mardy Collins away.
Don't blather saying that kind of deal isn't enticing. If Frazier thinks so highly of Collins you know Phil Jackson is no fool - a Knicks trade offers an instant rebuild of the Lakers AND gives Phil Jackson a Knicks West team to stick around for.
The Knicks may get stuck with Odom or Kwame along the way and the Knicks will look a lot more like a veteran team. Allan Houston would be sure to stick and LA would have to take back a Jerome James to compensate any bad contracts coming this way.
IMO, (and I'm not wishing it), Kobe is closer to being a Knick than a Bull for better or worse. And Dolan, for all his faults is the Joker in any KOBE deal - Knicks can afford it, they're crazy enough to do it, and in NY Kobe can do it his way.
Book it.
Here's the truth about the Kobe situation as I see it.
Unless Chicago believes that Kobe is as good as MJ then they aren't trading their youth for a guy who couldn't carry the Lakers past round one. In other words, Chicago has invested far too much time to break up a talented team that has no use for Kobe. Chicago can already get into the playoffs and shine.
And Kobe is no Michael Jordan. And Chicago is a notoriously thrifty franchise. They aren't running a team to showcase Kobe any time soon because if it is not a sure thing in LA, it could deteriorate the franchise in Chicago.
Now, what Kobe is is a good role superstar player. In other words a very, very expensive vet who brings good things to the table as long as you have a guy like, say, Randolph patrolling the paint. Ben Wallace on the other hand, was a refreshing over-achiever who is on the back-slide of his career. Would Kobe be happy on a perennially struggling team gutted of the young talent that makes them exciting? He's already on one.
Furthermore, Buss can get a great deal in NY - we know it and he knows it.
That fact that Isiah isn't talking is a two-fold discretion. First, why tip your hand to begin with? There's no bidding war going on for Kobe. It is Buss who will try to up the ante, not the GM's offering a deal.
But Isiah, is also confident enough to know the Knicks are at a tipping point - they are brimming with hungry talent that is ready to explode upon the scene. Kobe would just make them radioactive. So why discuss trade possibilities with guys who are preparing to go all the way with you? That would be demoralizing.
The idea that Kobe wouldn't want the cover that the Dolan, Isiah soap-opera offers is silly. Kobe would look like a choirboy in NY - exactly what he needs to refresh his image and diminishing career prospects.
Finally, Isiah's silence is loudly telling us a deal may be in the works.
Curry or Randolph, Crawford, and a handful of youngsters could get the deal done easily. LA won't get Lee but they might get a Chandler or Balkman and LA may pry Mardy Collins away.
Don't blather saying that kind of deal isn't enticing. If Frazier thinks so highly of Collins you know Phil Jackson is no fool - a Knicks trade offers an instant rebuild of the Lakers AND gives Phil Jackson a Knicks West team to stick around for.
The Knicks may get stuck with Odom or Kwame along the way and the Knicks will look a lot more like a veteran team. Allan Houston would be sure to stick and LA would have to take back a Jerome James to compensate any bad contracts coming this way.
IMO, (and I'm not wishing it), Kobe is closer to being a Knick than a Bull for better or worse. And Dolan, for all his faults is the Joker in any KOBE deal - Knicks can afford it, they're crazy enough to do it, and in NY Kobe can do it his way.
Book it.
I Can't Believe It
The New Orleans team (whatever they're calling themselves) cut Eric Chenowith over the weekend.
Yes, that Eric Chenowith. You have got to hand it to Layden, he was no judge of talent but he really did draft and trade for guys who just refuse to quit.
Yes, that Eric Chenowith. You have got to hand it to Layden, he was no judge of talent but he really did draft and trade for guys who just refuse to quit.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
I miss Allan Houston's Retirement
Look if we're going to lose Nichols - get something for him! Jesus, how hard is this to figure out? Move a few bodies.
Nichols, Nate and change should get us something... a spare draft-pick, a wiley veteran, or maybe a Euro's contract rights.
Nichols, Nate and change should get us something... a spare draft-pick, a wiley veteran, or maybe a Euro's contract rights.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Will Leitch's Excellent Observations at the NYTimes Today
Oh well, another Yankees post but this one is a testament to NY Sports fans that deserves some attention.
Will Leitch writes, Fair and Foul. In part...
Will Leitch writes, Fair and Foul. In part...
When it ended, fans were not storming the field, or screaming for vengeance, or burning their Yankees caps. When Torre came out to the mound for his final pitching change, fans, while still holding out hope, recognized the moment, chanting his name, knowing they were likely seeing him for the last time. Steinbrenner probably thought – if he was still awake – they would be hissing, furious at another missed opportunity, thirsty for blood. But fans are smarter than that. They knew, if Torre does leave, that they were seeing the end of something that was beautiful to them. Torre had not failed them, and neither had Rodriguez, or Jeter, or even Wang. Sometimes, in baseball, you lose. The fans were not gnashing teeth and rending garments; they were not about to abandon their team. They never were.Nice piece.
Baseball is a game of rhythms, of tradition, of familiar faces, of knowing that every day, your team will be playing and you will be cheering. It is about bonds and family and camaraderie with those whom you otherwise would have nothing in common. It is, above all, about finding a semblance of a home.
Monday, October 8, 2007
I Miss Joe Torre
Time to trade Jeter as well?
This is the first time in years I've cared about the Yankees and they lose...
Isiah, I need some good news.
This is the first time in years I've cared about the Yankees and they lose...
Isiah, I need some good news.
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Curry Out for Preseason, NBD
No big deal. Unfortunate as injuries are this simply opens up an opportunity for Zach Randolph to establish a comfort zone with the rest of the team without the media micro-analyzing how he and Curry are working together.
Secondly, it offers David Lee the opportunity to get some PF minutes in pre-season.
All of the silly hand-wringing about the trial is a waste of time. Isiah is more likely innocent of the charges as not with the jury verdict being more a reaction to the hubris of the Garden officials than any compelling case being made for harassment.
Anuche should shut up and thank her lucky stars - she's a rich woman thanks to a hand Dolan dealt.
A Chris Rock sketch making the rounds demonstrates how pedestrian the use of the term bitch is in the black vernacular. Crucifying Isiah for pointing out the obvious is not cool.
Secondly, it offers David Lee the opportunity to get some PF minutes in pre-season.
All of the silly hand-wringing about the trial is a waste of time. Isiah is more likely innocent of the charges as not with the jury verdict being more a reaction to the hubris of the Garden officials than any compelling case being made for harassment.
Anuche should shut up and thank her lucky stars - she's a rich woman thanks to a hand Dolan dealt.
A Chris Rock sketch making the rounds demonstrates how pedestrian the use of the term bitch is in the black vernacular. Crucifying Isiah for pointing out the obvious is not cool.
Great Steve Ditko Documentary
http://www.dograt.com/category/cartooning/comic-books/in-search-of-steve-ditko/
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Nice
The acquisition of Jared Jordan's draft rights is a smart move that will pay big dividends. And it underscores that Isiah is not done dealing even if dealing simply means cutting bodies.
Allan Houston may be Dolan's golf buddy but he's the last person the Knicks need muddling the roster situation. My guess is that the Knicks are being polite but privately hope Allan's comeback attempt implodes. The Knicks are overloaded with one-skill-short-of-a-starter talent and Houston may still have a shot but he'd have to have had defense enhancement surgery to help the Knicks.
My mantra is still NO to Allan.
Allan Houston may be Dolan's golf buddy but he's the last person the Knicks need muddling the roster situation. My guess is that the Knicks are being polite but privately hope Allan's comeback attempt implodes. The Knicks are overloaded with one-skill-short-of-a-starter talent and Houston may still have a shot but he'd have to have had defense enhancement surgery to help the Knicks.
My mantra is still NO to Allan.
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Shocking Revelations at MSG
All week, sportswriters have been sensationalizing the observation that James Dolan doesn't seem to know what's going on in the Knicks organization!
-yawn-
I'm getting sleepy...
-yawn-
I'm getting sleepy...
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Rascist Hypocrisy
The media is roasting Isiah Thomas for pointing out an inconvenient truth - that we live in a complex, post-modern, cultural milieu. Isiah had the audacity to suggest that the word "bitch" used by blacks has a different meaning than the word "bitch" as applied to a white suburban household.
I am reminded at the fiftieth anniversary of Jack Kerouac's "On the Road" that biographer Gerald Nicosia claimed that Kerouac's greatness came from creating new meanings for words and he cited "Vision" as an example.
Chris Rock used to do a stand-up bit that ended with "but you got to understand!" and it related to criminal justice applied to blacks. So I am confused by a black woman not "understanding" the nuance except as a selective belligerence.
Harvey Araton touches on this subject in a column called, Teaching the Importance of Staying Centered.
The media is addressing an audience of racial hypocrites who not not "understand". They are the ever-ready crucifixion squads so easily whipped into a angry mob calling for a lame apology, or a resignation, or some other such bullshit. By making someone feel small the angry mobs feel larger.
And I have witnessed years of corporate feminism as a consultant in dozens of companies and industries. My mother told me stories of how she and her girlfriend's worked hard in factories - hunched backs, arthritic fingers and joints, hard - hard work. And I have watched prima donnas whose daddy or mommy or rich uncle propped them up after they cost corporations millions with their incompetence and then would show up at advocacy dinners pissing and moaning about glass ceilings.
In too many cases the other side of a glass ceiling shelters no racists or malevolent brotherhoods - only bastards looking out for themselves and no one else.
So let's talk about the Jena 6 case. A federal investigator in Louisiana decided that the incident of nooses being publicly displayed "had nothing to do with" the ensuing activity that jailed a black student or two.
Nothing? Really? Are they saying that in Louisiana displaying nooses on school grounds is just a Future Farmers of America pep rally ornament? How quaint.
You see, during this same week, a nostalgic set of Nazi memorabilia made its way into the MSM. Oh the good ole days! Life for employees of the concentration camps was such a hoot. "Ooops, I finished ALL MY Blueberries..." and the camp's hostess mugs a face of disappointment.
At my sons' High School open house, I asked the teacher of an Introduction to Criminal Justice course what the kids seemed interested in. "A lot of them are looking forward to being prison guards", he said with no hint of irony.
And why not. The Abu Ghraib sexual exploits have captured the teen-aged imagination. You can shock 'em, sock 'em, and rock 'em - get overtime, good benies, maybe a nice pension. Public defender is not part of the American Dream anymore.
Forget endless war rhetoric, we are in the age of endless, minority incarceration because it has, thanks to educational initiatives like NCLB, become a guaranteed career path. You can't outsource prisons now, can you?
So when protesters showed up in Jena, pick-up trucks circled the buses of those who came to express their concern. The pick-up trucks had nooses dangling from the back of them. Now usually nooses hanging from the back of pick-up trucks are used to drag gays, dead animals who pissed off their owners, or an FFA float.
So, guys like Isiah who suggest that a word or a noose might have another meaning should be publicly ostracized until they're forced to apologize or quit.
Nobody wants to argue semantics anymore. That's so Beat.
I am reminded at the fiftieth anniversary of Jack Kerouac's "On the Road" that biographer Gerald Nicosia claimed that Kerouac's greatness came from creating new meanings for words and he cited "Vision" as an example.
Chris Rock used to do a stand-up bit that ended with "but you got to understand!" and it related to criminal justice applied to blacks. So I am confused by a black woman not "understanding" the nuance except as a selective belligerence.
Harvey Araton touches on this subject in a column called, Teaching the Importance of Staying Centered.
My father always told me that the most important thing is what you think of yourself. He had an expression about there being all these little red wagons that get pulled around and that it’s got nothing to do with me.”
Who, then, better than Russell, in his gravelly voiced and informal, meditative manner, to lecture the freshly minted rookie class of 2007 about the wagon train of critics awaiting them — hauling around some legitimate grievances about the state of their sport but also, in too many cases, hurling familiar stereotypes and stones?
Ready to hold them to unmatchable standards — as in the case of the injured and absent Greg Oden, already anointed as the next Russell — or to modes of idealized behavior existing mainly in sanitized versions of bygone eras that were televised in black and white but are seldom remembered in shades of gray.
Think, for example, that N.B.A. pugilism began with the Bad Boy Pistons, or with Ron Artest rampaging into the waiter seats at the Palace of Auburn Hills?
“We had fights in All-Star Games,” Russell said, competitive pride on his sport coat sleeve matching the gift from Commissioner David Stern, a ring commemorating all 11 titles.
Think that the great Russell was above instigating a scuffle by explaining to an opponent, as he put it yesterday at the N.B.A.’s Rookie Transition Program at the Doral Arrowwood resort, “why they didn’t have a chance?”
Think again.
“Nowadays, they call it trash talking,” Russell told the rookies. “But see, that’s from the suburbs. In the projects, we’re talking folks, about things that are pertinent.”
The media is addressing an audience of racial hypocrites who not not "understand". They are the ever-ready crucifixion squads so easily whipped into a angry mob calling for a lame apology, or a resignation, or some other such bullshit. By making someone feel small the angry mobs feel larger.
And I have witnessed years of corporate feminism as a consultant in dozens of companies and industries. My mother told me stories of how she and her girlfriend's worked hard in factories - hunched backs, arthritic fingers and joints, hard - hard work. And I have watched prima donnas whose daddy or mommy or rich uncle propped them up after they cost corporations millions with their incompetence and then would show up at advocacy dinners pissing and moaning about glass ceilings.
In too many cases the other side of a glass ceiling shelters no racists or malevolent brotherhoods - only bastards looking out for themselves and no one else.
So let's talk about the Jena 6 case. A federal investigator in Louisiana decided that the incident of nooses being publicly displayed "had nothing to do with" the ensuing activity that jailed a black student or two.
Nothing? Really? Are they saying that in Louisiana displaying nooses on school grounds is just a Future Farmers of America pep rally ornament? How quaint.
You see, during this same week, a nostalgic set of Nazi memorabilia made its way into the MSM. Oh the good ole days! Life for employees of the concentration camps was such a hoot. "Ooops, I finished ALL MY Blueberries..." and the camp's hostess mugs a face of disappointment.
At my sons' High School open house, I asked the teacher of an Introduction to Criminal Justice course what the kids seemed interested in. "A lot of them are looking forward to being prison guards", he said with no hint of irony.
And why not. The Abu Ghraib sexual exploits have captured the teen-aged imagination. You can shock 'em, sock 'em, and rock 'em - get overtime, good benies, maybe a nice pension. Public defender is not part of the American Dream anymore.
Forget endless war rhetoric, we are in the age of endless, minority incarceration because it has, thanks to educational initiatives like NCLB, become a guaranteed career path. You can't outsource prisons now, can you?
So when protesters showed up in Jena, pick-up trucks circled the buses of those who came to express their concern. The pick-up trucks had nooses dangling from the back of them. Now usually nooses hanging from the back of pick-up trucks are used to drag gays, dead animals who pissed off their owners, or an FFA float.
So, guys like Isiah who suggest that a word or a noose might have another meaning should be publicly ostracized until they're forced to apologize or quit.
Nobody wants to argue semantics anymore. That's so Beat.
Friday, September 14, 2007
Conviction in The Jenna Six Case Thrown Out!
I knew we could get this out of the way before the season began.
Read all the details here. In summary;
Read all the details here. In summary;
JENA, La. -- A Louisiana appeals court has tossed out the battery conviction of a black teenager who faced 15 years in prison for the beating of a white classmate amid racial tensions in the north Louisiana town of Jena.
Mychal Bell had been convicted of aggravated second-degree battery. He's one of the so-called Jena Six, a group of black teenagers charged in the beating of Justin Barker last December.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Talking Crazy
I watched a hallucinatory speech by President Bush tonight. He once again linked Iraq to 9-11 and democracy in the Middle East, blah F'n blah...
Lewis Carroll never had that kind of imagination.
When Marbury makes silly remarks everyone questions his ability to lead the Knicks as though he's just KA-RAZE-EEEEE!
Seems like a double-standard to me when a delusional white guy can get on national TV and truly talk crazy and then have the press corp debate the carziness but when a true leader like Marbury has a slip of the tongue he's suddenly unqualified.
It ain't right I tell ya.
Lewis Carroll never had that kind of imagination.
When Marbury makes silly remarks everyone questions his ability to lead the Knicks as though he's just KA-RAZE-EEEEE!
Seems like a double-standard to me when a delusional white guy can get on national TV and truly talk crazy and then have the press corp debate the carziness but when a true leader like Marbury has a slip of the tongue he's suddenly unqualified.
It ain't right I tell ya.
Saturday, September 8, 2007
Friday, September 7, 2007
Let's bail out Minny
How about Jerome James for Juwan Howard straight up?
Howard would be a great bench presence.
Howard would be a great bench presence.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
I know we have a crowded roster but...
Justin Reed has been released by Houston. I thought this kid had some very nice upside when he was with the Celts and I wouldn't mind a bit seeing him in training camp just in case Isiah puts together a multi-player swap for Kobe, Artest, or Marcus Camby.
Monday, September 3, 2007
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Bill Murray Qualifies for the Stockholm 500
So what? Bill Murray gets pulled over driving a Golf cart in the middle of Stockholm and he might have tipped a brew or two. The real mystery is where the hell he hot-wired the Golf cart from;
Murray, who had been at a golf tournament in Sweden, signed a document admitting that he was driving under the influence, and agreed to let a police officer plead guilty for him if the case goes to court, Holmlund said.Unusual? Pfffft... Different people have different ways of getting ready for the season.
"Then he was let go. My guess is he went back to America," Holmlund said.
He said Murray would only be charged if tests show his blood alcohol level exceeded the legal limit, which is quite low in Sweden.
A very high alcohol level could lead to a prison sentence, but Holmlund said fines were more likely.
"There were no obvious signs, like when someone is really tipsy," he said.
Holmlund said it wasn't clear where Murray picked up the vehicle, or to whom it belonged.
"It was a golf cart. How it ended up in this predicament I don't know," he said, adding that Murray wasn't facing any theft charges.
It isn't illegal to drive a golf cart in city traffic in Sweden, but Holmlund said it is very unusual.
"I have done this since '68 and I've never experienced anything like this," he said.
Hari vs EC
Patti Boyd's Daily Mail interview has this fascinating little tidbit;
I felt undermined and unloved and George was so terribly difficult to talk to. He had become worse in the last year, maybe because Eric kept coming around and making it obvious that he wanted to see me. George must have sensed we were having an affair but he never said so.
One evening the actor John Hurt was with us. Eric was due to come over too and George decided to have it out with him. John wanted to make himself scarce but George insisted he stay.
John remembers George coming downstairs with two guitars and two small amplifiers, laying them down in the hall, then pacing restlessly until Eric arrived – full of brandy, as usual.
As Eric walked through the door George handed him a guitar and amp – as an 18th Century gentleman might have handed his rival a sword – and for two hours, without a word, they duelled. The air was electric and the music exciting.
At the end, nothing was said but the general feeling was that Eric had won. He hadn't allowed himself to get riled or to go in for instrumental gymnastics as George had. Even when he was drunk, his guitar-playing was unbeatable.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Free the Jena Six Before the Season Starts
I hate distractions.
I mean it. Make sure these kids get a fair shake.
See: Racism and Resistance: The Struggle to Free The Jena Six
by Jordan Flaherty
Saturday, August 18, 2007
On Playing Fair
I saw this on Truthout.org and while I respect Moyers, I was wholly sickened by the generous fictions that proclaimed Karl Rove a good man, smarter than any of us can imagine - a happy go lucky politco who -sniffle- -sniffle- we will all miss so much.
I have news for these delusional bastards. Rove is as evil a political operative as Western Civilization [and others] have ever encountered. He and the Bush cabal have so thoroughly plundered this country of context, meaning, hope, legitimacy as a democracy, moral fortitude, honesty, and pride that it is hard to imagine if it ever can be repaired. A lot of us never deserved the abuse [and abuse at the hands of these monsters is a kind observation]. And I only hope those who empowered and supported and continue to pander to them reap a richly deserved helping of their own medicine.
May the starving dogs of Justice hunt you all forever.
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