They Got Our Draft Pick.......

With Miami's Game 4 loss to Chicago, they became the first team in 50 years to be the NBA Champions one season, and then be swept in the opening round of the playoffs the next.



Larry Waz Right and Y'all Suckers Saying Othewise are Some Toys

I miss Bobby Pickett

Doo Wah............

..and while we're stuck with the guy who loves to start snacks and slim

The Indianapolis Star-Tribune reported that YES analyst Mark Jackson is on the short list to replace coach Rick Carlisle

The best 5-man unit that plays the most starts Lee

Carlisle!

I never actually believe he would be felled. Don't forget, this is the guy that replaced Isiah...

Jamal: Get Over It

BoDiddley and Fwk, two of the more convivial blokes I have encountered on our old FORUM, seem to transmogrify before me eyes on the subject of Jamal Crawford.



In this sea of chin music, who am I to say that there evaluation is wrong. Me, I dig Jamal and think he has a lot of heart and a world of talent. Bo and Fwk think he is a mirage...and call for him to be banished to the outer galaxies or Seattle, whichever comes first.



So let it be written, so let it be done. Only one problem.





Jamal ain't going anywhere. Book it.

AK96Tears

AK47's stock continues to drop.
He cried in front of reporters after scoring 2 points in 16 minutes in Game 1.
Game 2: 18 minutes, 5 fouls, no points, and presumably more tears.

I don't know what is going on with this guy or where his head and health are at,
but after Utah gets bounced, it's worth a call.
AK's contract is a whopping $62M over the next 4 years ... so if he's lost his motivation/edge/health, it's a significant risk. You'd think a small market team like Utah would love to ditch that obligation.
Last year they were getting real nervous on Boozer's slightly smaller/shorter deal.
Ak's contract is so crazy, I'd offer Francis straight up.
Save them nearly $30M and 2 years total, though they'd pay an extra $3M each of the next two years.
Then we could certainly part with Jeffries if we got Kirilenko.

AK47 just turned 26. Not sure about his health.
Who's in?

Exiles of the Times - Now with Rembee!

The original site was re-done. So come on down. An expat has returned.

http://forums.escapefromelba.com//index.php/board,5.0.html

Everybody gets on Isaih BUT Larry BIrd should be FIRED

and no one has nothing to say about him or Danny ainge with the celtics (granted they have a few good pieces now) but after how many years of bad decisions and high draft picks. Bird gutted out a playoff team, traded away the majority of indianas assetts and yet he is still praised by peter vecsey and his media comrads. No the knicks aren't great and when Isaih says I think we're good where we are right now thats him keeping the trade value high, of course we know Isaih will trade everybody on this team except Steph and Curry and I fully expect him to pursue every free agent on the market except this time he won't get shafted like he did by Paxson. Something that could have happened to any YOUND GM trying to upgrade a depleted roster.

Upset

Kudos to Denver. That was an impressive victory.

Didn't see G-State...can anyone comment on what happened?

I don't consider New Jersey or Chicago upset wins....

Playoffs

Orlando ended up winning 40 games....if the Knicks had stayed healthy, they would have had to actually pick it up somewhat towards the end of the season in order to match or beat that. It would have been interesting.

Instead, it was bitterly disappointing, except for the development of Mardy Collins.

Only saw the 4th Q of Rock v. Jazz. Sloan's end game strategy backfired. He had Derek Fisher on TMac. So Tmac just confidently elevated and shot over him whenever he wanted to. I didn't see TMac's 16 point 3rd Q explosion, and I assume that's why Fisher was called upon. But it's fun to shoot over a guy half a foot shorter. AK47 hardly played in the 4th, and really he'd be the ideal guy to guard TMac. Not sure why he only played 16 minutes.

Also, the Jazz must have posted/iso'd Harpring against Tmac on about 6 wasted possessions in the last 6 minutes of the 4th, as the Rockets pulled away. I think Harpring got one basket, shot two airballs, and Tmac had a big block that killed a potential Utah comeback. Now Boozer and Okur weren't making their shots, but why not go with Harpring off screens? He had one late catch-and-shoot off an inbound pass after using a screen.

In Knickdom, can't say I'm excited by Isiah saying this roster is good enough to make the playoffs next year and doesn't need changing. If healthy, the Bucks and Celtics will be in the playoff mix. Probably Charlotte too. Can't say were better than any of them. And no doubt one or two East teams will make a trade or land a hot rook. Isiah better start thinking "Starter Upgrade" instead of a 10-deep lineup.

Weekend Video - Hat-Tip Reddit

Mardy Time!

You know, with Frazier's interest in tutoring Mardy Collins, I'm actually getting optimistic about this team. If Collins can win some of that PG time from Marbury it will extend Marbury's health and career and actually solidify the starting unit.

Now, if we could only get somebody to step up at the SF slot.

Sacto

The Maloof brothers are surprised at losing and have fired Musselman as a result.

But to be truthful, the Kings seem like a team with nowhere to go. Does anyone look at their team roster and see a winner there? I thought they were smart to trade Webber when they did but I thought they should have turned over a few more bodies as well.

And players stabbing coaches in the back the way they do these days is really sad stuff.

In any case, I don't see that a change in coaching makes a bit of difference. Of course I say that being a Knicks fan.

I miss Latrell Sprewell!

If you guys are going to preclude trading for Artest then the next best thing is Latrell getting a player-coach spot on the bench.

Pau Gasol

Is just what the doctor ordered. Blocks shots (a lot), defends, rebounds, scores from the post, scores mid range, scores lots of 3s. Of course, I don't think we can get him. Many other teams want him. So why not just go for Artest. He can probably be had on the cheap, and I'm sure he wants to be a knick.

Fantasy

Sorry Caretaker, but I agree with THE BIZ about your "similar point with Layden" comments. Absurd. That whole roster is out of the league with the exception of Doleac and Harrington.

Trades.

Frye's value needs to be re-established. N8 shows much talent if less maturity.

Trade Mardy? Are you kidding me. Improvement he showed was massive. Had no shot, ZERO, at beginning of the season. Wanna trade a Knick who can actually play defense.

Jamal. I know that Bo and many others are rattled by his inconsistency.

Infuriating to be sure, but might some of that be put on his bad ankle.

If Jamal is here, we had a 50/50 chance of pulling out wins in all of those close losses.

Trade him?

I know the operative word is fantasy, but...

Read my lips...

How you gonna trade Jamal when he is married to Eddy at the hips?

Look, the blockbuster trades all of us speculate on are pretty remote.

My wish would be to bring in some ex-Knicks, like Ewing, and even the politically incorrect Oakley, to tutor our pups in the application of defense. And to bring with them a certain Knicks pride and tuffness. Our guys proved they have tenacity, and will not quit, but haven't gotten to the point where they can impose their will on another team.

Again, with Eddy this summer, another level of conditioning, maybe shed 15-20 pounds, and work both on a jumper, free throw shooting and footwork...ballet, tap-dance, yoga...anything to improve lateral and vertical quickeness. He vastly improved his endurance and agillity on offense. He upped his rebounding. No reason he could not improve his defensive presence. Eddy showed me something in that final game. Hammy was bothering him, he coulda taken a pass, but he wanted to come out, wanted that win. And he played big.

We need him to play bigger still.

Hey, Stephon evolved, and was playing very tenacious defense, when he finally broke down.

No reason, our players cannot improve over the summer.

Color me a pompom girl, but so many of those losses were so close.

I fully expect isiah to be less cuddly with the team next season.

A lot more accountability, especially on defense. Jeffries and Frye sat much of the last game, while Malik Rose did his best David Lee impression with 15 rebounds.

Playoffs & Payoffs

Cavs with the easiest path to the conference finals. First the depleted Wizards, then either inexperienced Toronto or a thin Nets team. And if they make it to the East finals, they might be lucky enough to face a tired banged up Detroit (or Miami or Bulls). Bulls really farked up and now have to face Miami, then Detroit, and then probably Lebron (or Nets) to get to the Finals. HIGHLY unlikely.

The 4 v. 5 tilts promising. Utah and Rockettes are pretty even. Should be fun to see Boozer and Chuck Hayes kill each other for rebounds. Juwan has to play acceptable D, or Boozer will go off (Expect Hayes to scrap his way into foul trouble). And how does Yao deal with Okur's 3 point shooting? Yao on Boozer, and a PF on Okur? Tmac needs this series to boost his career. Can start by taking better shots (he shot only around 42% on the season). A big op for Deron Williams, as Houston doesn't have much at PG.

Heat v. Bulls should be fun, but Ben Wallace has trouble with Shaq. And the Diesel is rested.
Other good subplots: Vince in Canada; Nellieball v. Mavs. Pietrus and Biedrins should be able to bother Dirk. Devin Harris has his work cut out for him versus Baron and Monta. I expect Monta Ellis to light it up at least one game. The Warriors just might come out and play. Otoh, I think Denver and Karl will go belly up against the Spurs.

Lastly, if Atlanta doesn't win one of the first 3 lotto spots, their pick will revert to Phoenix. Generally only one team outside the 3 worst records moves up. Likely that the Hawks will be giving the Suns the #5 pick. Hawks will have something like a 12% representation, for each of three drawings.

* no research was harmed in making this post

Homers from Sactown

Mardy, Balkman, Q and Lee are a nice core of worker bees with good heads and hearts and the will to get after it and create something. These solid citizens should be the core of the team going forward from which we draw our personality. I'm hoping Curry continues to improve and that marbs can hold it together physically and mentally. Francis needs to go. Give him his Dolan parachute. He may do well on some other team but not to worry Mardy will pick him clean when it counts. So we're looking to consolidate the rest of the roster and add two way talent. Lets try to send Crawford, N8 and Frye to Sacremento for Artest and Abdur-rahim. Artest is a head case and is prone to freelance in ways that derail his team's offence The first statement applies just as well to N8 and Francis and the second applies to all three. Artest brings all defensive team type play on the other end. Frye and Abdur-Rahim statistically this year are a wash, however Frye is longer younger and theoretically all upside while Reef is all diminishing returns. They can both shoot the J and are both suspect on D. However reef has none of Frye's confidence problems and he has the Savy to be effective on an off shooting night. He can be an excellent back up and mentor to Lee and compliment to Curry for some stretches.

We would then need to draft a guard as well as find a free agent back up PG

Two fantasy deals

Francis & Frye to Clippers for Maggette & Cassell (reunites Francis with Mobley...maybe we can redirect Cassell somewhere for a late draft pick so that we don't steal time for Mardy)

or

Francis & Frye & Mardy (and/or Nate) for JO and Tinsley. Then the Pacers trade Francis and Troy Murphy for Theo Ratliff and Kendrick Perkins. Pacers get to start from scratch and save long-term money. Celtics get a second scorer to got Paul Pierce. Knicks get a new star player that doesn't really fit in. We'd have to reroute Tinsley and draft a young point guard to groom (like Mardy, but you've got to give to get)

Rubbish!!!

"He is exactly where Scott Layden was a few years ago."

Cannot disagree more! This team is far younger and with actual potential to grow. This comment incenses me....

Interestingly, the rest of post seems to validate Isiah - You say the team needs a wholesale change and that true ambition is necessary to knock this team out of its doldrums. But that's what Isiah tried to do with two huge trades for Curry and Steph and one smaller one with Crawford. None have worked out as well as he had hoped (or I believed) or as well as Isiah would say. Ironically, Isiah has done much better when having more modest goals, i.e. picking up role players.

It's an interesting debate on whether the team should be allowed to grow or if wholesale changes are necessary. But I cannot countenance any suggestion that we are in the same place as in the Layden years.

Oh, well

Today's headlines tell us Isiah plans to stay pat. But Isiah is dreaming if he thinks this team will metamorphasize into a champion. Maybe Isiah is just thinking eight seed - wait until next year, Orlando! He is exactly where Scott Layden was a few years ago. The fact is that the NBA is not about winning but about profit and every team more or less has an iconic player. Those players don't get traded often and Isiah knows it and pretty much said so.

Kevin Garnett will be zipping down the court in a wheelchair hoping to win a ring in Minnesota and Jermaine O'Neal will have to be surgically removed from Indiana. The league is devoid of charisma and is wholly dependent on provincial, over-inflated poster athletes to survive. Not since Shaq has one man dominated the league, and not since Shaq and Kobe have two superior players shared a team.

However, during league contract renewal realignments we've seen lots of changes. The other occasion is when teams move and are attempting to create a new image.

That's why I think Ray Allen may be Isiah's only real shot at obtaining a quality starter. A new city might want to shed older players and take on some youth. Isiah may not get him but someone likely will.

Quite frankly, standing still is not an option for the Knicks. Isiah's theory is that making the playoffs is enough and then anything can happen. We know better. Even when the Knicks made the playoffs, the cycle of being just good enough left us in a place very much like our situation today - lousy draft picks, not enough talent to move up.

In the end, it's all about talent. Well-crafted teams, not just standing still but vigilantly ratcheting up the talent pool (see: Detroit, Toronto, and so on).

Curry needs a no-nonsense defender next to him. If Artest is on the market one can only hope Isiah is not wearing rose-colored glasses to think we couldn't use him.

Lee is a keeper, not because he's a white guy who can play but because he has improved to a level that bodes well for him. But Frye and Nate, and Crawford's manic swings make them all suspect. Usually a player is a player in this league after three years or rides the pine or bags groceries.

Francis is a guy who pouts until he gets what he wants. He did it to Vancouver and I can't help but believe he stiffed LB and Isiah. He needs to be moved for everyone's benefit and, yes, I think he's still a player, hibernating for the right opportunity. He'll embarrass us if he moves.

Back Court revisited

A Mardy/Marbury starting backcourt makes some sense. They're the best back court defenders we have and deserve to start for that reason. That leaves an exciting backup combo of Crawford/Robinson.

The presense of Qrich complicates things when healthy.

In that case Marbury/Qrich starts. Maybe Q rich plays three instead but then Jeffries becomes a backup and steals minutes from Frye, and Balkman.

We probably should trade someone i mentioned. I don't know who.

1st Round

Detroit
Cleveland
Toronto (Canada is going nuts over this, by the way)
Chicago

Dallas
Phoenix
San Antonio
Houston

Lesterdog, is this you?

http://www.iloveisiah.com/

Back Court

Exit Francis. With the emergence of Collins, either Collins or N8 I expect to be traded.

Starters probably will be Marbury/Crawford. QRich at the three. Or Marbury/Q with Crawford off the bench.

Les, I think Larry had a bit more to work with personnel wise in his last months.

I figure we underachieved by about 6 games where a couple of freethrows, a turnover, or stupid foul cost us. As is we saw a ten game improvement with a quite similar roster. I think the next step is to consolidate the roster using a combo of cheap but talented youth and useful but mid priced vets to get a player of superior talent. I've got 3 scenarios that I rank in order of perference.


1) Lewis and Watson from Seatle for Jamal, N8, Frye and possibly a pick. This swings on whether the soncis stay in Seatle. If they do, returning two local heroes may paper over some of the PR damage from the fight with the city and the deal saves them money. Helps our shooting and back up point. Leaves Mardy and Q as our top two SGs. If they move we have no shot.

2) I amCambyDamnit from denver for - nah we aint got the chips, oh well.

3) RonRon and Douby or Garcia from Sacto for Malik and Frye. Pure headache relief for them. NYC reunion for us and roll of the dice. Best case we put the fear back into the Pierces and RJs of the world, worst case team implodes in a very messy way. Could add in another vet for K Thomas or Shareef to back up Lee.

AG gonzo and Wolfowitz floggings balancing out some of the sting of the crappy ending to this season. And the fact that Curry had a couple of late game winners that make me think if he can get above watter on D he will be a cornerstone if not a center piece going forward.

Go Knicks!

It's Official

Larry "Lost the team- sabotage the season-not trying to win-start players by their birthmarks-etc-yada-etc-yada-etc." Brown had a better March and April than Isiah "It's His Fault" Thomas.

No surprise. Larry is a much better coach than Isiah, as was Lenny, Duck, & probably even Herb.

p.s. still loving THIS after all these months.

Whoever did it I salute you!

Ballot

If I had a ballot (and they should give me one, dammit), this is how I would roll:

MVP

1 Dirk

2 Nash

3 Duncan (my top 3 are interchangeable, really)

4 Kobe

5 McGrady (apologies to Bosh and Wade)

ROY

1 Roy

2 Rudy Gay

3 Garbo

MIP

1 Kevin Martin

2 Ellis

3 Deron Williams

Def

1 Camby

2 Bowen

3 Matrix

6th

1 Leandro

2 Stack

3 Manu

Coach

1 Mitchell

2 JVG

3 Avery

Must Win !

For those as petty as me, tonight is a must-win!

32 wins, what we have now, puts Chicago's pick in the 6-8 range. About a 5% chance of getting the top pick, and a 5% getting the second pick. An equivalent chance of someone with a worse record getting a top 3 pick.

33 wins, and the pick is int he 8-10 range! Only about a 1.7% chance of disaster.

I don't sleep well worrying about 22 May. And I will never sleep well knowing we gave up Durant or Oden for a great scoring centre who absolultely cannot be guarded in single coverage but does not rebound in traffic, rotate, block shots, run the floor particularly well, get his hands in the opponents face, get his hands on loose balls, intimidate defensively, stay out of foul trouble, limit turnovers, pass out of the double team, hit his free throws with consistency, have an innate understanding of defensive (or offensive positioning) or hit anything outside 10 feet. Except for that one time against Milwaukee.

I like Eddy. But giving up Durant or Oden is too much. I'll learn to live with Tyrus and Brewer or whatever (and I love both those players). But not the big guns.

LOL

I just changed from XP to Ubuntu ("Niiiiiiiiiiice!" as Borat would say) and I needed a wallpaper for my screen so I go to MSG, In the Paint and set the team picture to my background.

They advertise themselves "as inside as you can get". So there sitting in the front row is Larry Brown. You can't make it up.

No to KMart

Under no circumstances. That's the worst contract in the league. I mean, enough is enough! On the other hand, I'd like to have Camby back, but not including Renaldo. Frye and Nate can go, and I don't think anybody wants Francis. We might as well try to find some use for him in our regular rotation. He ain't no superstar, but he still can play.

will be available July 1st. Perfect timing. Zeke gets to do the one thing he's good at with his #24 pick and just as the indignity of Oden to the Bulls is kicking in....Of course, the idea that Jerry would accept a contract written on DolanPaper is quite frankly, ridiculous.

Are we sure Kmart will play again much less walk with the condition of his knees? I'd want Linus Kleiza thrown in for one of our happless yute, Frye or N8 along with the pick

On another note I'm ready for the Chris Rock approach to bullet control. Damn

Steve Francis trade

I could only find two imaginable.

One straight up for Kenyon Martin (2 risky years for 4) or in some kind of package deal for Larry Hughes (2 years for 3).

Still, hard to imagine.

Actually, I wonder if Denver would throw in their 2007 2008 #1 pick to unload Martin's albatross contract. In Francis they'd have a medical exception and Isiah's real strength is in the draft.

Martin could fill in after Curry and provide that veteran presence...

I made a wrong turn at Albuquerque

FWk

Hats off. this is quite the snazzy setup.
Almost makes up for the distressing depressing slide the team has been in down the stretch. Has Francis gotten his trade value back? Can we package him with Frye who will be very good... for someone else for tasty treats?

I like the simple font functions on this site

Mardy
Mardy
Mardy
Mardy

Sorry

This week's poll is trying to ascertain just what kind of a trade would pry away a sample combination of our younger players to improve the team. Other GMs are not calling about Francis but they will test our mettle on N8, Frye, Balkman and more.

What kind of a trade is worth it? Surely something might whet your appetite for a playoff spot...

Trade Options

You forgot one choice.

NONE OF THE ABOVE!

Again, no chance in hell of a top three pick. You kidding me? Durant might be the second coming of Len Bias and Oden, while NOT THE SECOND COMING OF BILL RUSSELL, is a very gifted big man. I think Durant is more ready than Oden, but will be kinda hard for Oden to turn down the sneaker money and the possibility of being the #1 pick.

And FWK, I wouldn't trade Jerome James and Malik Rose for Mike Dunleavy and Jamal Tinsley.

Jermaine O'Neal? Danny Granger?

Actually, I'm not sure how active we are going to be in the trading market.

Shandon Anderson, Allan Houston, Jalen Rose, Mo Taylor and Jerome Williams are all coming off the books this summer. Malik Rose's contract expires in the summer of 2008. Stevie and Steph's contracts are up in the summer of 2009, and there are several player options that kick in that summer as well, including Eddy, Quentin, Jamal and Jerome.

Even if we had not traded for Stevie, we'd still be well above the cap this summer at around 71 million, whereas this summer we will be at $87,779,428.

What you are proposing dear Caretaker, in some of those deals, is for us to take back contracts of players the likes of Rasheed Wallace and Jamal Tinsley. Where is the logic? The latter is talented but has almost never played a full season, while the likes of Rasheed is an excellent all-around player and defender, will be 33 this September. How does this fit into our core of young players? Are we making a rung at the championship next season? Is Detroit looking to jettison him? I doubt it. He and Tayshaun and Hamilton are part of the Pistons' core group. Detroit would be willing to give us Nazr Mohammad, who is signed up for the next four years.

Marcus Camby is supposedly on the trading block. Nene has a big new deal, and they still have Kenyon Martin signed through 2011. Malik for Marcus works straight up. Think Denver does it to save two more years on Marcus past summer of 2008, when Marcus will be 35-36? Got me, but I doubt it, and as perfect a match as Marcus would be at PF, again, are we making a playoff push. Same issues as with Rasheed Wallace and Chris Webber. Talent not an issue--age and durability is.

Finally, how much trade value to Channing and Nate really have? Do we really want to trade Balkman?

Frankly, I wouldn't be suprised if we basically bring back most of the current roster. Are changes needed? Sure. But our trading options are severely limited. Other than the draft, at which Isiah has proven masterful, there's the MCE, and, well, "A Tale of Two JJs" hasn't worked out so tough.

For now, I would just like to see us pull out a win in these final close games.

Radical Departure

Kam,

I can't control the blog sequence (at least I can't figure it out if it is possible). I'm only allowing 10 posts a page though and there is a search as well as a key label guide both of which are nice.

This is one-stop Knicks immersion. Different, yes. But I'm even impressed at how easy it is to find something interesting that used to take a lot of time without. It's like learning to use a ten-speed bike after never owning more than pedals.

Evolution hurts

FWK this is a nice forum, but it might be too big a change for some peoeple to wrap their heads around. Its too big a departure from what we had before. Too radical a facelift. Which isn't to say it aint grand. Hey, wasn't BETAMAX superior to VHS?

Don't take it as a slight, because you did a fantastic job. I think it will eventually take off and many people can post here and be creative. We just aren't adapting to change very well.

One thing you can do to make it easier (read: dumb things down) is to make it more like the Times was. The posts here go from Most Recent to Least Recent top-down. That's not how the TIMES did it. and it makes it very hard for me to browse through many posts since I have to first scroll all the way down to read back upwards.

Elba

Its working now Carlos.

http://forums.escapefromelba.com/index.php?topic=32&page=1

There may have been downtime at some point.

Maybe it's just me...

Aren't the New York Times look-alike blogs more than a little anal retentive? You aren't escaping anything if you run in a circle.

Look, to me, if something is easy and it works - why argue? Post your comments. If you sit on your hands waiting for some kind of magical web site it may disappoint you.

If something superior to this shows up I'll close shop but my money rides on the belief that nothing will. These things are what we make of them. Enjoy what's here for what it's worth

..or wander in the wasteland of pop-up ads, spam, and fan-baiting. We'll be here waiting.

Another thread

That's fine, Kam, but the Elba blog ain't working.

Another thread

http://forums.escapefromelba.com/index.php?s=8f0af12c602d201eda652e6963122ce3&topic=32&page=3

This is where some have gone.

3-14 since Victory Declared, I mean Significant Progress Certified.

Say the Knicks were to WIN their final two games, then they would match Larry Brown's record for the final 19 games of his season. Jeezuss......

Q: Why is Jerome James good enough to START when David Lee and Renaldo Balkman are healthy, yet not good enough to PLAY when both of the above are injured.

Bo

I am experimenting with the site quite a bit. It does require bandwidth but try it once in a while.

We agree on Bonzi. But I think Isiah is married to Jamal much as I'd like to see him traded myself and Bonzi would make him expendable.

I also think a shooter or two usually drop into the twenties during the draft.

I'm looking for potential draft candidates for my next poll - ship me some ideas.

The Kinsey Report

Very difficult to get on this site from China.
I've had to move my own blog-creation elsewhere.

So just let me know when emann is up and running.
I'm not likely to be able to get here much, but DAMN that music that starts playing by itself is REAL annoying. Might want to re-think that set-up.

Bonzi on the cheap?
I can't say no. The guy has talent -- posting, mid-range shooting and boarding.
Would also make it easier to part with Jamal.

Otherwise, Isiah needs to unearth a shooter.
Jerry West just found Tarence Kinsey under a rock somewhere.
Skinny, but man did he just play a superb game against Denver.
Pure shooter, unafraid, hustle.
There's got to be some shooters available.
JVG is not using Novak.
Hell, Wang ZhiZhi can hit from outside and is certainly more useful, (and cheaper) than Jerome.
Wang was as good as Yi JianLian this season in the CBA (though Yi is much younger ... though his true age is in dispute).

I'd have Jamal, Nate and Frye on the block.
Target Rashard, G Wallace or any other starting Forward.

As I mentioned on the Elba board, Sacto discovered Justin Williams, who went undrafted out of Wyoming. Looked like a 1st year Josh Howard in the one game I saw.

For whatever reason, I've seen Denver 3 times in the last 10 days. Not surprised Memphis beat them. Despite an 8 game win streak, and watching the Nugs beat Dallas and Houston, Denver has been playing sloppy ball. Their parts just don't fit. And I've never been an AI fan. Maybe we should target Melo.

Free to be You and Me

Lesterdog, April 11: I'm sure glad I'm free to be a pompom girl now. If I wasn't, you can be damn sure I'd be making some crack about the Knicks petitioning again for a new NBA "mercy rule"

Vecsey, April 13: Given four more games with .... an immediate boss who beams when his boys mirror his confrontational image, a moronic, high-voltage incident is liable to break out at any time. Most likely, it'll occur when the Knicks are getting wasted at the end of game. That's when they're most competitive. See the Melee at the Mecca when Thomas orchestrated a fight with the Nuggets and Tuesday's war of words in Chicago that carried from the court to the corridor outside the locker room. To avoid such ugliness in the future, the NBA should consider instituting a "mercy rule" to halt Knicks proceedings any time they fall behind by 25 in the fourth quarter.


So this fake macho BS doesn't bother anybody but me and 'ole Pete? C'mon Izwets!

Ambition's debt is already paid!

My big fear at this point is that the Knicks draft pick, property of the Bulls, is moving up the lottery fast. Not only does that improve the Bulls pick (now they can get, say, Mike Conley Jr instead of, say, Josh McRoberts), it also increases the likelihood that the Knicks "win" one of the top 2 picks. That would be calamitous.

To paraphrase Brutus, Be affrighted! Ambition's debt may not yet be paid!

Kurt

Amen.

And Roscoe Lee Browne. Talk about gravitas.

Caretaker Blues

Ahh...Durant.

You have a better chance of growing mink fur on your backside.

Not snowball's chance in hell. Zero. Nada. Somewhere, Cheeyo is laughing.

And Bonzi? If we are pursuing manic depressives, my vote is Artest.

I miss...

Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

Let's be bold

Knick fans keep dreaming about LeBron so let me throw out an idea here. How about we target Durant in the draft.

That's right, on draft night, we offer whoever is closest to this pick, say, Crawford, Frye, and anyone but Curry or Lee for Durant. If we have to add cash or future picks. Maybe take back an albatross contract.

New York needs a superstar. Period.

Trade for Durant, move Marbs over, Curry down low, and work the rest of it. It's radical, necessary, and a sure way to supercharge the team out of a cycle of mediocrity.

Wondering Aloud

If Houston releases Bonzi Wells, does it not make sense to sign him? First the move would acquire some talent and secondly it's economical. It would also really open up the opportunity to move some of our Dept of Redundancy issues.

What's Bonzi got left in the tank?

Moses

Behold my mighty hand!

And several previous posts.

Finally made it. Much thanks Fwk. Where is everybody else? Chip you were Moses of the other board, I expected you to lead the tribe out...

Assets

Agree with your assesments of value, and that no one is safe from the trader's block, save your big three, plus one stuck with.

Two things. Steph has matured into a much more effective all-around player. Stevie is out of here one way or another.

And while you and Bo Diddley would strenuously disagree, I see Jamal as a key component. Boy did we ever miss him in the fourth quarters: he could create his own shot, inside or outside, and he could get Eddy good looks.

Inconsistent. Sure. But two things: part of that inconsistency was that the kid was playing with a stress fracture--and when do you remember us having players we had who could put up 50-points on a given night? Patrick? Bernard? Richie Guerin? Eddy is going to have a 50-pointer sometime soon, and likely with Jamal on the court.

The emergence of Mardy is hopeful, because Steph simply can't play 40+ a night anymore. N8's trade value notwithstanding, he has shown he can be a catalytic player. Last night both he and Mardy made some adrenalin plays down the stretch that resulted in costly turnovers, but by and large, they played well, considering their youth and inexperience.

Crawford, Lee, Richardson. If we can depend on all three next year that is in my mind's eye a positive, because all showed significant improvement this year.

Szerbiak? Injury prone. Patterson? Love his game, but we have Renaldo. Webber? Still has game, but for how long.

Nagel's trade fantasy in which I belive it was Frye, Rose and Francis going, and Jermaine O'Neal and Jamal Tinsley coming back certainly has appeal. Jermaine can block shots and defend, and likes to play off of the block, and would be a nice compliment to Eddy. But Tinsley gives us yet another guard who needs minutes, so similar problems as Francis.

Rashard Lewis to me would be ideal, but what kind of sign and trade would bring him here, and would he want to come.

Deals, deals deals. More likely, we need to get healthy. And do a lot of work this summer. Develop what we have to be more effective. Hey, we were in last night's game to the bitter end. We've been in a lot of games we could've won.

If Quentin can give us a consistent 25-30 a night at SF, with Balkman there to fill in, at their best, that is not a bad combo. Quentin was our best player for half the season. Knock on wood. And God forbid Renaldo could develop a more consistent jumper.

At PF-C, Lee and Frye, with Frye pulling minutes behind Curry along with young Morris and Jeffries. Rose is an effectgive veteran presence, but Jerome's days might be numbered...he hasn't worked out, and while his conditioning is slightly better, and he seems to have overcome injuries, he would have to have some kind of summer to see daylight. Cato would seem a satisfactory IR-Practice Player. If there are any moves, it would seem that potential trading chips would emerge from this group.

Still, I am not sure any big deals await us. Isiah has been brilliant in the draft and more dubious with the MCE. Grunwald acting as a counter-balance is positive, and I give him props for the Morris signing.

I think it is more likely we work out some sort of herd-thinning deals, be it trades or buyouts. Perhaps we package our #1 from the Bulls with someone, but more likely we stand pat. A drop dead SF at our draft position, like that kid from Florida, who has lenghth and can defend? Or a stud monkey like Rashard or Gerald Wallace? I'm not holding my breath.

I leave it to Isiah and Grunwald to hopefull find a drop dead shooter somewhere in the 20s or to include the pick in a package. I mean, where are our roster spots as presently constituted?

Curry-Frye-Morris

Lee-Jeffries-Rose

Quentin-Balkman

Jamal-Steph

Mardy-N8

That's 12, with James and Cato in reserve.

How do we nurture our present talent or convert redundancies so as to create better roster coherence.

That's the $64,000 question?

Collins should be in the gym right now practicing

His defense is just what the doctor ordered and whoever compared him to ward was right on the money nothing fancy just productive. I love N8*'s offense but until he learns how to get under the pgs skin he 's not gonna get no burn. Curry has come a long way and this summer instead of practicing his jumpshot he should be practicing his defensive footwork. Frye is in the dumps and Im not sure what he needs to get his confidence back but he's actually on my trade list just because 7 ft jump shooters are a rarity and I believe he has high trade value. Balkman is the truth, Lee is for real, Steph is a warrior and a stud. Francis must die and JJ is gonna be something special when he and Collins get that jumpshot together I don't know about Randolph but he's a 7 fter which makes Frye redundant. This is still my trade of the day juat because -----JJ2 and N8 for OL RON RON and Frye,Crawford and Francis for J oneal and Tinsley Here's my starting five for next year



PG Tinsley

SG Steph

SF Ol Ron Ron

PF Oneal

C Curry



second unit



PG Mardy

SG Q rich

SF Balkman

PF Lee

C Randolph



that looks like a good team to me and I believe we can make all those trades happen it a nice blend of young talent some vets to steady the ship. Hollaa aat yo bwoy

D'oh!

For all of our wheeling and dealing, getting rid of Layden's crew, and after tying Isiah's hands in the past year, like Bo, I can only count on three keepers - Lee, Balkman, and Curry.

And Marbury we're stuck with.

Balkman may be a good sixth or seventh man. Randolph is too new to move and can't be counted as an asset or liability.

The rest of the team is wholly expendable which is not to say they are awful, simply that they are no more likely to help us rise above mediocre than someone we might take a chance on in a trade.

We're still a team looking for starters and Larry Brown's wish list for a makeover is as prescient today as it was a year ago. What's done is done, Brown is gone but with that dismissal we are squarely back in the cycle of mediocrity begetting mediocrity.

Next year we will be no worse, but barring a miracle run through the playoffs, we may do no better than just make the playoffs. But that doesn't get us a great draft pick and it only makes Stephon a year older and maybe past his prime.

I like the Morris pick-up but we need to be on the look-out for some decent young guards. And, of course, that SF position needs stabilization.

The true upside is that the center/PF mix is solid and projects well for a few years - any combination of Curry/JJ/Morris/Frye/Lee is the best we've had since the days of Patrick and co.

Another key, IMO, will be the necessity to add balance to the youth corp by bringing in some wiley veterans (preferably who aren't here to golf or wear suits). Webber's heart is in it but he may have little or nothing left in the tank. Assuming we stick with Jeffries and Balkman, is Ruben Patterson worth a bench seat? Szczerbiak?

Or, to really make it interesting, is there room for Latrell Sprewell come off the bench and electrify the crowd one last time around?

Kinda Quiet in Here

Knicks played well enough to compete for most of the game...some good defensive intensity. But Detroit just too much for us in the end.

Season fading to black...and blue, alas.

Comic opera quality to the season. Snattching defeat from the jaws of victory.

Hey, Abbbbbbbbbbaaaaattttttttt!

Those Lovesick Blues

Well, we transit into our new discussion groups a winner. On the razor's edge. And our younguns stepped up and were accountable, diggina hole then fighting back and playing better for two quarters, and even for the third.

Hey, Fat Eddy, you ready? To step up and take the ball off of timeout and shoot a three. Sure, coach.

Who in October would have imagined a starting five of?????

Eddy Curry-Jared Jeffries-Renaldo Balkman-Nate Robinson-Mardy Collins with Malik Rose first off the bench with 29 minutes, while Channing's in the ether...lack of confidence pinning him to the pine for all but 14 minutes.

Stat line tells a story, and besides the obvious foot in mouth of 27 turnovers, Eddy with 50 minutes. So much for his bum ticker and conditioning. Oh, and did I mention he is only 24 [25?]. And that he went 17-20 with 13 boards, 1 assist and 2 steals (4 turnovers and 1 personal foul. That he was 8-12 from the FT line (46-65 his last six games).

Our baby back court logged 51 and 50 minutes repsectively, and combined for 16 rebounds, 15 assists, 53 points and seven steals. Mardy Collins? Guess what Knick fans? We have a PG to supplement and succeed Stephon. And I know a lot of you have Jamal and Nate ticketed out of town, but it'll have to be for Jermaine O'Neal or Rashard Lewis or Kevin Garnett or Gerald Wallace. Something sweet. I am so proud of Mardy, what a steady presence, and Nate...well, he grew up tonight, and played like a man...like a man possessed. Earl Boykins anyone?

And of our unoffensive forwards, Jared Jeffries logged 43 minutes and had 10 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 blocks. And Frigging Sixth Man Supreme Renaldo Balkman (#2 behind Brandon Roy if for Rookie of the Year if you ask me) had 10 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals in 23 minutes. Shoot, Malik had 7 points, 4 borads and 5 ASSISTS in 29 minutes.
Like watching your clumsy son begin to cast off his training wheels and get some grace and flow and coherence to his movements.

We there yet? No, but we won. No we didn't beat a great team, but one game team with talent beat another game team with talent on their home court, nevermind Villinueva and Bogut were absent...we have a few injuries, too. A character game, and some character responses.
I am very proud of our Baby Brigade: Eddy, Jared, Renaldo, Nate and Mardy.

Shut down Lee for rehab, stop beating up old man Stephon, we need him for next year, and let Stevie walk around in his slippers. Give these kids their minutes for the next six games, guns blazing and banana peels slipping, and see if we can't get Channing some pussy too. These are like their playoff games.

One lousy game? FU. I love these Knicks.

Leave the NY TIMES in the rear view mirror with their Hewy-Dewey-Louie commercial spots for yuppie entitlement, their wine and cheese party of the noblesse oblige.

These Knicks make us suffer, but we were born to suffer, and every now and then, we get a case of the lovesick blues and a glimmer of what might yet be.

Perils Of Pauline

How many games have the Knicks dug a hole, roared back, come within two points, only to fade?

A curious sort of tendency. Lots of encouraging signs from Mardy and Renaldo, N8 rising and falling in the space of heartbeat, Eddy inbdomitable or fumblefingered, Lee gutsy, Frye frustrating.

Knicks have a lot of heart, but lord, those turnovers and mental vaporlocks.

Can't dig one 18 point hole after another and figure to have enough gas to come all the way back.

No quit, but Lord, we need more FOCUS. Every possession COUNTS!

We are on the dark side of the moon as the season peters out.

Let's get a couple of wins, guys!

Pinky is looking for a good home... Man up!

Dig the Spot

Not a bad place for some good conversation. Good job fwk!!

Do you want us making new postings or commenting?

I think one of those features should be disabled.

What do you think?

Michael Ray Richardson on Airport Security

In an editorial piece in the LA Times called He isn't an anti-Semite. He's right, Zev Chafets defends Michael Ray Richardson's First Amendment Rights.

...the reporters warned Richardson that his words could be considered insulting because they fit the stereotype of Jews as crafty and shrewd.

Richardson didn't even blink. "Are you kidding me?" he demanded. "They've got the best security system in the world. Have you ever been to an airport in Tel Aviv? They're real crafty. Listen, they are hated all over the world, so they've got to be crafty. They got a lot of power in this world, you know what I mean? Which I think is great. I don't think there's nothing wrong with it. If you look in most professional sports, they're run by Jewish people. If you look at a lot of most successful corporations and stuff, more businesses, they're run by Jewish [sic]. It's not a knock, but they are some crafty people."

For these observations, Richardson was suspended by the Patroons, forbidden by team owner Ben Fernandez to even attend practice. Predictably, Abe Foxman, the national director of the Anti-Defamation League, praised this punishment and demanded an apology: "Micheal Ray needs to understand that when he suggests that all Jews are crafty, that Jews have a lot of money and power, he is conjuring up classic anti-Semitic stereotypes…. We hope that Micheal Ray will realize the pain his words have caused to many people and make clear that he understands why his remarks about Jews were so inappropriate and offensive."

Excuse me, but Richardson didn't say anything offensive (and while we're on the subject of offensive, what's with the "Micheal Ray"? Are he and Foxman first-name buddies?).

In fact, Jews, as a people, are smart, in my experience. And they're proud of it (especially the dumb ones). Wake up a Jew in the middle of the night and he can rattle off the Jewish Nobel Prize winners in alphabetical order. Believe me, I've been a Jew for 59 years, and I know what I'm talking about.

What other hurtful things did Richardson supposedly say? That Israel has the best airport security in the world? This is both true and something Israel itself brags about. That Jews are hated and need to protect themselves? That's the founding premise of the Anti-Defamation League itself.

Sure, Richardson exaggerates when he says that Jews own most sports teams. As far as I can tell, Jews (about 1% of the population) only own about half the teams in the NBA (and a pretty fair proportion in baseball and football too). So what?

As to the observation that Jews run a lot of successful businesses, no kidding. Jews are very likely the most economically successful ethnic group in the U.S. What's the matter with that?

A refreshing and funny read - highly recommended.

Renaldo Balkman

He has a double-double already, and its only half-time.

David who?
Trevor what?

Renaldo Balkman, baby! YEAH!!

posting here

I guess that will really start after the NYT forum closes

If nobody's going to post then...

Blogging Tips

Something that's gaining popularity on blogs and lists is to use the tags. I used [How To] for this one.

What this does is allow fans who just want to see Knicks posts to use the keywords cloud at the bottom of the sidebar to locate all the posts tagged as Knicks will show up in sequence.

Likewise, people interested in music can search the blog for music as well and get a listing of all music posts.

Google searches the whole blog so our mileage will vary

Off-topic from the get-go

Well, I set up a blog for a client on this site, and I have to say that my blog looks pretty basic and crappy compared to Fwk's elaborate digs. Pretty impressive.

Nothing Knick-related to relate, but in musical notes, I'm going to see Renee Fleming tomorrow evening.Or at least I will if I can scalp cheap last minute tickets. This has always worked before.
Usually I can get $100 seats for $13 a pop.
And The Roots are scheduled for next Tuesday, so I might hit that too.
(We'll see if tomorrow night's date warrants an invite for next week too).
Pretty good musical selection for this cultural backwater on the international circuit.

- Bo

Patsy Cline

Apros Pos of nothing at all, this is one of the most thrilling music videos you will ever see.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nSizyslba0&mode=related&search=

Miss Pasty Cline singing Hank Williams "Lovesick Blues" in a swinging Bob Wills & The Texas Playboys inflected tempo. Fuck me!

Look at the sister. No glam, no artifice, just 110% REAL!

Looks like your next door neighbors' wife, fixing to flip some burgers. But then she leans back and hollers. Lord have mercy.

Florida just too much for Ohio State.

Thanks FWK

Praise The Lord I'm online.

Interesting game.

Man, wouldn't Corey Brewer look good in a Knick uniform?

Oden doesn't want to lose. Has some heart.

Oh, well, we'll have the #23 pick. In Isiah we almost trust.

Oh, his name is Abe Coleman, the Hebrew Hercules, dead at 101.

what's up guys?

Nobody posting here yet?

Surprising Troop Call Up

In The Know: Our Troops In Iraq