Playoff Armaggedon

The fix pattern I have been describing holds true.

The refs take out Dwight Howard and Pietrus and on alternate nights Nene and Billups.

Clutch point gifting abounds.

The fact that Cleveland or more accurately Lebron and 4 mannequins can repeatedly defeat and compete with a loaded and excellent Orlando team or that the Lakers, an aging and pathetic shell of a franchise can be beating a brilliant Denver team led by Carmelo, Nene, and JS Smith is very real problem.

And this is because, year over year, this tired manufactured 'Amazing' show will look more and more like what it is becoming, a Globetrotters vs Peoria Dribblers contest.

By denigrating actual fair competition for sneaker-inspired outcomes, the NBA is creating marketshare at the cost of integrity in sports.

I don't expect integrity to win.

New York Magazine

Interesting article about the Knicks out at the New York Magazine called "Leitch: How the Knicks Can Survive the Next Eighteen Months" by a guy named Will Leitch.

In part he says, "Stay Patient" right after saying "Trade for Tracy McGrady"

Just shoot me.

NBA Armageddon

The Cavaliers provide more slapstick than a Drew Carey episode. They flop, cry, piss and moan more than Republicans on tax day and are richly rewarded for the tantrums.

Orlando need simply look upset and are slapped with technicals and phantom fouls. The commentators sit at the sideline wringing their hands about "how tough it is" to watch the keystone cops of basketball barrel over, tackle, smack around, and tumble into Orlando's players.

We're being conditioned in these playoffs to accept another decade of dual standards in the NBA. LeBron James and Company will be treated with entitlement and the opposing teams will have to prove they can beat his team despite preferential treatment.

I predict the Orlando Cleveland series will go seven games and here's how it will play out. In the next game, at a crucial part of the game, Dwight Howard will be slapped with his seventh technical. He will miss game six. In game seven he will once again be slapped with a technical and Orlando will lose the series. A liberal sprinkling of "how amazing" LeBron is will accompany each ever-more manufactured 'victory'.

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Can anyone explain to me how LeBron got to the line by tripping over his own two feet tonite?

I thought so.

Techno-rama

The proliferation of technical fouls and players approaching the magic number of seven technicals has got to have sports fans worried.

For the first time in playoff history, the NBA may approach a finals championship in which players are either too timid to play their game or absent for having played hard and with conviction.

The suspension rule attached to the technical fouls is slowly and corrosively having an adverse effect on these playoffs.

Piss off a referee and you may eliminate your team from competing. It's all good and well to insist on good manners at the dinner table but to expect teams facing elimination to not show emotion is absurd.

The NBA is rotting from the head down.

The Floating Fix

There has been much discussion on TNT about the lack of quality officiating in the playoffs but quite honestly, I'm only suspicious of the Cavs/Orlando series.

I like LeBron James and respect his game and I think he belongs and should stay in Cleveland.

However, (and I don't know the motivation) the referees of this series are calling an asymmetrically imbalanced game that favors the Cavs. For all three games Dwight Howard is being taken out of the game by dubious, ticky tacky foul calls. Now if these were being calling consistently across both teams, I would have no complaints but clearly Dwight Howard is being systematically vilified in this series.

Last evenings flagrant call was absurd. The idea that the referees are settings themselves up to have the ultimate power over Howard being suspended a game is ripe for crooked officiating.

And the review of the play in which Howard cleanly blocked LeBron's shot was reviewed to ensure LeBron got three unearned free throws deserves to be investigated for complicit, brutal NBA stupidity. To review a play and to ignore the obvious F'up to grant free points is wholly inexcusable.

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On a lighter note what about that stupid gaming commercial where Barkley plays Dwight Howard and Wade declared Howard pulls a Hammy. My son asked me why Howard is holding the ankle.

Do commercials get any (pardon the pun) lamer?

Acquiring Rubio

The media is starting to catch up with the obvious. I have speculated for weeks that the Knicks have the wherewithal to secure Ricky Rubio and with Memphis holding the pick this is actually a much easier task than it may seem.

I'll use this post to more clearly elaborate the pros and cons for Memphis aside from the latest speculation that Rubio has no intentions of buying out his contract to play in Memphis.

On Hahn's blog, I elaborated by saying;

The Knicks need superstar potential. The East is going to be a monster division for a long time. Consolation picks aren't going to get the job done. And Curry, though smart, is a little too smug and fuzzy for my taste. Ty Lawson is a certifiable winner. If Curry is a Mark Jackson type then I prefer the Rod Strickland, Ty Lawson prototype.

But trumping both of these guys is a Maravich clone. I mean, how do you not pull out all the stops in securing this guy for MSG? In New York this personna prints money. In Memphis, it will be a career of "what a shame such a talent is wasted".

If the Knicks can secure Rubio this year, sign Lee, and tinker around the margins enough to make the playoffs then we're in great shape in 2010 (and I expect nothing to happen) and going forward.

If D'Antoni can get Darko and Marko straightened out, the Knicks, as Hahn is fond of reminding us, the Knicks "have a chance".

I have nothing against sCurry but realistically, Rubio is the prize. Here's a guy who has that superstar potential, will fill the Garden and the papers with glam, and he's playing a key position that gets locked down for a decade. Rubio is to the Knicks what Jeter was for the Yankees.

So let's break down the deal:

First, neither David Lee nor N8 are involved in any way shape or form!

The deal is a swap of picks - Memphis's #2 for #8 ***AND***
Mobley, Chandler and Duhon for Darko and Marko.

Why Memphis does it? answer: 1.) cash flow, 2.) better contracts for worse, 3.) equivalent draft talent at a more inexpensive (e.g. long-term affordable) price.

Let's take the last thing first. Yes, the Grizzlies would lose Rubio but Rubio is already calling that shot anyway. So, the next best thing is to secure another close pick to compensate. At #8, Jennings, Clark, Lawson, Hill and a parade of PG candidates are available and Memphis can have their choice. Chances are that they'll get a very good prospect.

But Memphis's operational problem is cash and some contracts that are more expensive than profitable; Darko and Marko. And yes, there are lots of potential trading partners but none have the kind of kicker the Knicks have in Mobley's contract.

A Darko M. and Marko Jaric swap first needs to work and many teams could offer player for player matches but that means Memphis still foots the bill for that amount. Unless the team swapping is giving up lots of inexpensive talent for two contracts gone bad then the swap is not so desirable either way.

But the Knicks can offer Duhon and Chandler in addition to Mobley's contract which reduces Memphis's cash obligations by millions this year and next (Jaric erased).

So, now, Memphis fills out their starting unit with Chandler (very inexpensive) to look like: Conley, Mayo, Gay, Chandler, Gasol. They add Duhon as a backup PG and work #8 pick into the mix. Not too shabby.

AND, they can resign their own FA's with the money saved in Mobley's contract ($10-20M depending how you slice and dice it).

For a financially fragile outfit, this is as compelling as it gets.

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The assumption is that the Rubio pick is worth it. Here, at the Mecca, it's a risk worth taking. Rubio is a potential superstar caliber player that is out of reach unless an extraordinary effort is made to secure his services.

Forget all the bullshit about endorsements and so on. The Knicks need a star worthy of the franchise's more esteemed history. Rubio appears to have the goods.

The suggested trade is an overpayment for the right to sign this kid so care would need to be taken in getting assurances but it looks legitimate to date.

In forum conversations, some fans object to trading Chandler and I understand their sentiments. We're so beaten down that our found gems are the players we're most proud of. And Chandler is blossoming.

But the Knicks need to start winning ball games and we need some changes.

If D'Antoni can straighten Milicic out, the Chandler risk is remediated. Lee can go back to the PF position. And expensive as Jaric might be, he's another guard who has some game left in him.

In another Hahn blog response I explained it this way:

I think Chandler makes such a trade possible and fair. The key word being fair. Knicks fans cannot believe that Rubio will be acquired cheaply. Make no mistake about it - this would be a blockbuster and the money saved by Memphis is extraordinary.

First, Donnie would have his (potential) superstar no matter what happens in 2010 (Kobe being more likely than James, Wade, or even Bosh).

But Larry Hughes is being vastly underrated by the Knicks fans. If the trade goes down as I speculate. The Knicks look like:

Rubio/*Nate*
Jaric/*Hughes*
Gallo/*Harrington*
Lee/*Wilcox*
Darko/*eCurry*

Are you really going to miss Chandler? I think there's a starting five in that bunch of players that can compete. And such a trade makes the resigning of Nate possible because Duhon is moved as well. All the players within asterisks are still on the summer trading bubble no matter what.

And if your backbone is going to be Rubio, Lee, and Gallo then this summer the main job is securing a center candidate - say, Gortat who can tag team with Darko should Eddy stumble.

Suddenly, the Knicks are LeBron-friendly for lack of a better term.

You've got to give to get.

I hope this clarifies the details.

Interesting Floater

Draft Express is reporting the Bulls shopping Tyrus Thomas and Hinrich as a package deal:

-The Chicago Bulls are reportedly heavily shopping Tyrus Thomas around the league, trying to see what kind of value they can get for him after the solid season he’s coming off of. It appears that they don’t see him fitting into their long-term plans as he’s too similar to Joakim Noah, and they aren’t interested in giving him a long-term deal that would put them over the luxury tax. It’s possible the Bulls look to package Thomas and Hinrich together and land a big time power forward.

I've never advocated trading David Lee but Thomas AND Hinrich for dLee might be an offer the Knicks can't refuse.

The same article says Rubio's agent is saying no to Memphis and pointing Rubio toward LA instead. I would sure like to see Fagan consider New York as well.

KM Mock Draft 2.0

Our mock drafts are unique in that I will attempt to customize the remarks specifically toward the interest of Knicks fans.

Our official pick is eight. It seems that the basketball gods have dealt us a blow but upon closer inspection, Mr. October may have added enough draft day english to final sequence that the Knicks, in fact are in great shape. Read on to see what I mean.

#1)Clippers - Blake Griffin. These bastards should be banned from the draft. They use it like someone else's credit card. Sure they'll take Griffin but this team is saddled with lots of bad contracts that the Knicks will have only limited use for. If this pick travels expect it to go to Dallas. Cuban can absorb Baron Davis to team Nowitski with Griffin. Cuban needs something bold.


#2) Memphis - Ricky Rubio. Aside from actually getting into the top three, New York couldn't ask for a better scenario - let's thank Reggie's good luck charm for this fortuitous opportunity.

I believe there is a strong chance that Memphis and New York will exchange picks. Memphis does not need another point guard nor the overhead expense Rubio's buyout and satisfaction will incur. The Knicks can.

On draft night Memphis will be $8-10M+ better off. Here's how I see it going down. Two foundation pieces will be in play - I suspect Rubio for Jennings. Jennings is a longer term prospect with an equally compelling future. Jennings should fall through to eight. So far a fairly even trade. Memphis saves the buyout.

Additionally, the Knicks take Darko and Marko (2 yrs.) off the Grizzlies hands for Mobley's contract, Duhon, and Chandler. Instead of paying Marko and Darko, Mobley's contract is paid by insurance in addition to being a nice bargaining chip that can be used again by Memphis.

here, the Knicks pay a steep price but it is the kind of price that fits into the kind of resource that no one can tamper with and that is Dolan's ability and obligation to pay premium dollars for world class talent.

#3) OKC - Hasheem Thabeet. OKC happily sticks.

#4) Sacramento - Stephen Curry. Udrith is a huge disappointment, Curry looks like up.

#5) Washington - James Hardin. Gilbert meet James.

#6) Minnesota - DeMar DeRozen. Minny fills a need.

#7) Golden State - Earl Clark. Any taker of Cory Maggette's contract might buy this pick.

#8) New York - Brandon Jennings. Trade bait with Memphis who can afford to wait.

#9) Toronto - James Johnson Toronto bank on size and need. From WY, Johnson might be a great fit in Toronto. This pick could easily be moved.

#10) Milwaukee - Ty Lawson.

#11) New Jersey - Chase Budinger. Thorn rolls the dice.

#12) Charlotte - Gerald Henderson. Best talent on the board.

#13) Indiana - Jordan Hill.

#14) Phoenix - Eric Maynor. Looking past Nash.

#15) Detroit - Jonny Flynn.

Too Little, Too Late?

A RealGM article by Elrod Enchilada about Boston's dilemma underscores New York's problem as well.

...a little context is necessary. LeBron James is 24 and Dwight Howard is 23. Their teams are going to be powerhouses next year and for the next half-decade. There are other teams in the east that are improving. Even if Danny fields a very strong team, even if he does his job brilliantly, he may have trouble just getting to the Eastern Conference Finals, even the second round of the playoffs. The bar is very high. The Cs now are in the situation faced by the superb Sidney Moncrief Milwaukee Bucks teams of the early 1980s: no matter how well they played the Celtics and Sixers were always a tad better. Had that Bucks team been assembled in the late 70s, it might have won two or three titles. In the early 80s it got lost in the shuffle. That could well be the Cs fate for the next two or three years.

So if the goal is to actually defeat Cleveland and Orlando and the other rising teams, not simply win 54 games and make it a round or two in the playoffs, Danny has his work cut out for him. As we learned this year, he will need more than a little luck.

If Boston is in trouble then what about our Knicks. In the East the top three positions are in a dogfight, Miami has Wade, Philly may sign Thibodeau or JVG, and the rest of the East is not sitting on its hands either.

Ten years ago, many of us on the New York Times forum discussed this very problem and its only gotten worse.

The problem is this; if you are a contending team without a superstar you get stuck in an NBA purgatory. You cannot win enough to be a true playoff contender and you cannot lose enough to qualify for a reasonable lottery selection. To further complicate matters, your team is probably operating close to the cap.

This is why I have long advocated the elimination of the draft. The salary cap is sufficient top keep teams in line. In a free for all, these purgatory teams could finally make a signing they need to advance or ultimately fail. But this is beside the real point.

What this all means for the Knicks is this. The Knicks face a hostile NBA front office. For example, this year the Knicks were not allowed to fill Mobley's spot with a player exception allocation. Is there a team that has suffered more at the hands of NBA fools than the Knicks?

Secondly, unless the 2010 plan succeeds in decapitating one of these front-running teams what chance do the nicks have of escaping pugatory with Bosh or any of the remaining dwarf talents?

To me the answer is obvious and that is to return the vision to the roots. The original Knick champions were built around very talented complementary players. Rather than expecting to sign someone else's pampered stars, the Knicks need to develop and trade for hungry team-first players who understand the challenge and won't let the odds get in the way.

The Basketball Gods Have Spoken

I have never liked the Celtics so I'm feeling good that they were finally eliminated last night. But a certain degree of satisfaction comes from the idea that the Celtics collusion with Marbury was not rewarded.

Not too long ago, stories were floating around that someone in the Celtics organization had put the bug in Marbury's ear that if he were released by the Knicks he could join a Celtics championship squad which is exactly what happened.

Now I was never a Marbury hater but there was no excuse or explanation for his behavior this season except to put it in the context of this alleged Celtics collusion story. This probably didn't qualify as organizational tampering but nonetheless, Marbury was playing the Knicks as if he had an ace up his sleeve all the while professing his love for the team.

In any case, the Knicks have been getting dumped on for years by this league and by sports fans everywhere because the Knicks are the one NY sports team that hasn't produced consistent winners. This "dumping" has taken on many forms with the worst being the trading of injured or impaired players with brutally bad contracts to the Knicks where their short-comings are immediately exposed and their contracts become untradable assets.

So when the rumor that Marbury had a back channel escape hatch to the Celtics, my attitude changed about him. This sounded and felt like just another cheap shot at a Knicks team that has been on its knees for nearly a decade.

So today I celebrate a Celtics playoff elimination and I wish them many more. And believe me, I do know what that feels like.

Kerouac's Fantasy League

There's a great short article in the New York Times by Charles McGrath that introduces Beat literature fans to Kerouac's very own fantasy baseball and racing games.

Among other things, Mr. Gewirtz has learned that Kerouac played an early version of the baseball game in his backyard in Lowell, Mass., hitting a marble with a nail, or possibly a toothpick, and noting where it landed. By 1946, when Kerouac was 24, he had devised a set of cards with precise verbal descriptions of various outcomes (“slow roller to ss,” for example), depending on the skill levels of the pitcher and batter. The game could be played using cards alone, but Mr. Gewirtz thinks that more often Kerouac determined the result of a pitch by tossing some sort of projectile at a diagramed chart on the wall. In 1956 he switched to a new set of cards, which used hieroglyphic symbols instead of descriptions. Carefully preserved inside plastic folders at the library, they now look as mysterious as runes.

The horse-racing game was played by rolling marbles and a silver ball bearing down a tilted Parcheesi board, using a starting gate made of toothpicks. Apparently, the ball bearing traveled faster than the marbles, some of which were intentionally nicked to indicate equine fragility and mortality. So the ball bearing became the nearly invincible horse Repulsion, “King of the Turf,” whose legendary speed and stamina are celebrated in Kerouac’s racing sheets.

The Curry Factor

A number of recent Knick back stories have struck a nerve here at the Mecca. Collectively they reminded me of how much I hated the prayer circle era of NY Knick basketball. You know what I'm talking about. The Scott Layden debacle era.

Anyway the first little rumor that triggered this was the scuttlebutt that Allan Houston was being groomed as future Knicks president. It gives me a little panic attack to think that this could happen. It's way too much goodness in any sports franchise.

So that gave me a little shiver right there.

Next, I watched a video of Stephen Curry from a year or so ago in which he talked about his love of golf. Again, my MMMS spider-sense started tingling. I could only imagine Curry getting bookended by Dolan and AH being asked to quote scripture as they cart from one country club hole to another.

If memory serves me correct wasn't Longley or Glenn Rice asked to go golfing with these guys and never coming back. Seems to me its Knicks legend that one of our players can still be heard crying out for help on the Greenwich Golf Club green.

Maybe its my imagination but, don't be surprised if Tiger Woods selects for the Knicks Tuesday night.

Kudos to Houston

The Rockets are the team the Knicks should emulate. Unlike our well-known slackers, the Rockets first, second, and third stringers are playing like pros and playing for keeps.

This is a team that has a hundred reasons to quit and refuses to lose. I love gutsy, compelling sport and these players give the NBA a good name.

Good lord we could use Ron Artest here. You can't tell me Little Richard's look alike hasn't toughened Houston up a notch or two.

The Mecca's Knick Mock Draft, revision 1

This mock draft is unique in that I will attempt to annotate the possible draft day activity with highly speculative but possible scenarios.

Until next Tuesday, we'll accept the draft positions as they exist today.

#1)Sacramento - Blake Griffin. Sacto is fiscally hurting. I see a number of potential suitors for Sacramento that might make sense. Dallas and Atlanta need some beef under the net. Atlanta could dangle Josh Smith and Dallas, Josh Howard in some combination that relieves Sacto of a bad contract with Cuban holding a trump card here in that he's not afraid to spend.

New York might hold an ultimate trump card here in Mobley's insurance paid contract bundled with Duhon and Chandler for Kenny Thomas, Udrith, and the #1 pick. Thomas is an expensive contract offset by Mobley. Udrith is considered another expensive mistake that swaps in Duhon's more palatable 1 year deal. Chandler steps in to offer inexpensive, immediate gratification in Sacto at the PF postion. Sacto saves big bucks instantly.

Such a trade fulfills two big needs - a.) somebody to couple with David Lee under the Boards and the Knicks get a somewhat risky upgrade at the PG position. Thomas becomes a buyout, 2010 needs but one major signing.

#2) Washington - Ricky Rubio Washington is loaded at the PG position and at center (where Thabeet might be an option for Washington). And Rubio is yet another in a tsunami of excellent PG candidates in recent years.

Again, Washington's pick might be available if the price is right. The most likely high priced contract Washington could use relief from might be Antawn Jamison's.

And once again, NY could offer Mobley's contract, Chandler, and a swap of #2 for NY's #8. Could Washington afford to say no? Is Rubio worth it?

#3) Clippers - James Hardin if the Clips are simply filling holes. This pick might move to Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, or Chicago assuming one of them will eat Baron Davis' to have a shot at Thabeet.

#4) OKC - Hasheem Thabeet If Thabeet is there OKC sticks.

#5) Minnesota - DeMar DeRozen Minny fills a need.

#6) Memphis - Jordan Hill This pick could move based on cash and charisma considerations. Memphis is having trouble even finding a catering service to occupy its venue due to lack of profitability.

If the Knicks want a second high pick without giving up their own then Mobley's contract, Jeffries, and a resigned Nate might cop #6. Darko and Marko would be the blowback.

#7) Golden State - Earl Clark Any taker of Cory Maggette's contract might buy this pick.

#8) New York - Ty Lawson Best point guard left on the board. New York might trade further back for similar talent.

#9) Toronto - James Johnson Toronto bank on size and need. From WY, Johnson might be a great fit in Toronto. This pick could easily be moved.

#10) Milwaukee - Stephen Curry. Ramon Sessions won't be resigned.

#11) New Jersey - Chase Budinger. Thorn rolls the dice.

#12) Charlotte - Gerald Henderson. Best talent on the board.

#13) Indiana - Dujuan Blair. Indy looks for some toughness.

#14) Phoenix - Eric Maynor. Looking past Nash.

#15) Detroit - Bj Mullins. Size matters.

Denver - The Team to Beat

I have always liked George Karl and I'm happy for his success in Denver. He defended Larry Brown a few years ago and that must have earned him some points with the basketball gods.

My observations on the Denver-Mavs series:

1.) Jason Kidd looks old.

2.) The Mavs are a dysfunctional mess.

3.) Carmelo is finally living up to his potential. If Carmelo's agent could get him an education, he could be as media friendly as LeBron.

4.) J.R. Smith is having a monster series. I would love to see him in a Knick uniform.

Stephen Curry at 8?

The more I look at this year's draft the more only two names pop out at me. Rubio and Stephen Curry.

If the Knicks stick at #8 and get Curry, I'll be good with that.

If the Knicks get #2 and Rubio is gone at #1, I'm still good with Curry.

And if the Knicks are lucky enough to get either of these guys, I hope we trade Duhon on draft night for a pick in the teens and send out a lifeline call to Isiah, one last time.

Isola - What a Comedian

Today Isola is suggesting the Knicks 'rent' Tracy McGrady next year. Isola want the Knicks to subsidize the Rockets by trading Mobley's valuable contract bundled with Larry Hughes.

Geezus, these NY Sports writers just can't shoot the Knicks in the foot fast enough can they?

First of all the ambulatory McGrady may never play another game in the coming year - the last of his contract. Okay, fine. So that means Isola wants to [God only knows why] get rid of hughes and Mobley - well - just because having McGrady in a suit behind the Knicks bench would look good.

The only trade that would benefit the Knicks would be Eddie Curry and Quentin Richardson for McGrady. And the reason is that eCurry has worn out his welcome in NY and Q is odd man out in a crowd of SF candidates next year. Houston still makes out like bandits. They get smaller contracts, a center candidate on a mission to redeem his career and a locker room leader in Q.

The Knicks get a suit occupied by a former superstar who isola and crowd can hang on and an open roster spot. To make anything more of this would be silly.

But let me close by saying that Larry Hughes is an upgrade at the two and, once again, Mobley's insurance paid contract is a very nice chip to hang onto until draft night. McGrady is never going to trump that value.

The Cuttino Mobley Joker

Alan Hahn is speculating about trading Mobley's contract (mostly covered by insurance) as a sweetener with Al Harrington in a Shaquille O'Neal trade.

First, the trade is far too rich for acquiring Shaq. Hahn makes the mistake of asking the Knicks to compete with themselves in such an acquisition. While acquiring Shaq is an intriguing possibility, it seems to me a package of Larry Hughes and Jared Jeffries might be compelling enough.

But the primary reason I dislike Hahn's trade is that Mobley's contract is a valuable trading chip come draft night. For cash strapped or frugally managed teams, Mobley's contract is instant fiscal relief in two forms. First in shipping an unwanted contract to the Knicks and second in being relieved of the salary obligation toward the incoming contract.

The Mobley contract might be enough of a kicker to advance in the lottery sweepstakes or to swing a blockbuster draft day deal.

Shaq will be available all summer long. There are a lot of deals I'd consider before that one.

How about an exchange of sign and trade players in a package deal; Nate and Mobley for Alston,Battie,and Gortat.

Or maybe Milicic, Jaric, and the Memphis #27 pick for Mobley and Jeffries? No harm in asking.

Grading Walsh, Playoff Pity

I have refrained from grading Walsh on his first season in charge of the Knicks but I guess now is as good a time as any.

As a preface, let me say that I have never been a fan or cheerleader for the signing of high-profile, high-priced free agents. In summer after summer, Knicks fans would twist themselves into sports pretzels worrying about signing the Allan Houstons of their dreams. And few ever came. Of those that didn't, they rarely made a difference where they finally did land.

And I feel similarly about cap space. Teams scrimp and save for years to get it so that they can go on a spending spree to overpay one or two over-hyped media sensations of the summer. The media gets a hard-on, the bigger the salary. It is a cycle of starvation to abundance to disappointment and misery that is both predictable, boring, and makes fans familiar with the phenonmenon sometimes feel like Willie Wonka cheerfully pleading with the idiot child, "No, please, don't do that", eyes glimmering and awaiting the inevitable consequence.

So in recent weeks, Knicks bloggers have been debating Walsh's 'grade' and on many boards he gets a middle-class 'B', blub-blub,blub-blub.

Here, at KnicksMecca, he gets a D to D-. He's a pleasure to have in class for sure but this team is no closer to winning ball games today than a year ago, maybe further away.

Why the harsh assessment? Let's start with the fact that the playoffs do not include the Knicks. That's like failing the final exam. It's inexcusable. No free agent signing and pie-in-the-sky predictions of a championship caliber team over the horizon someday is going to erase yet another year of being denied playoff basketball.

Maybe you think I'm being impatient or unfair but I don't think so. There are many routes to building a team. This lottery route has yielded a number of high picks in recent years and yet it is the intermediate picks who have produced the best results. This summer we do the lottery dance yet again. And I, for one, am not proud of that.

Our problem over the years is something I'll call VanGunditis. That is a disrespect for the value of earned lottery picks. Our greatest sin over the years has not been bad trades, lack of cap space, or over-spending. It has been the trading away of lottery picks based on the philosophy that Jeff Van Gundy embraced that is the idea that lottery picks are not worth while investments.

Empirically, the Knicks have given away in trades these valuable assets as though they were window dressing all the while begging for higher draft picks that they would have had more than their share of.

Anyone running the Knicks needs to embrace the philosophy that draft picks will never be added as trade filler except on draft day itself. Period. And the corollary to this idea must be that any trade the Knicks make in acquiring talent be sweetened with a draft pick coming our way.

The general idea is simple. The lottery is a crap shoot for all teams except for those picking a sure thing. The sure things come once or twice a decade. For the Knicks, more picks increases the chances of co-incidentally getting lucky.

Secondly, the value of draft picks is always highest on draft day. Having an additional pick or two on draft day is far more valuable than cap space. Draft day trades, make more players available than at any other time of year because draft picks expand the roster of talent possibilities every team can draw from.

This year and next the Knicks continue to be beggars on draft day.

This dove-tails into another peeve I have with Walsh. Why is Nate still here? I would have been far happier had Nate been traded in February to a team needing a point guard than not. This year's draft follows last year's pattern of having an abundance of high quality point guards entering the league. This reduces Nate's value which, relatively speaking, is as high as it's going to get.

It is dumb-founding that we are entering the draft stuck with an untradable draft day asset such as Robinson with Rubio in play. Robinson should have been traded off for a draft day asset long ago.

It is inconceivable to me that all of the attention is placed on the debate of re-signing Nate. My question is, resign him to do what? If we fail to secure Rubio in the draft then the guy I want signed is Andre Miller, not Nate Robinson. And no, I don't give a shit about "the future". This team has got to get better now because the future has come and gone a lot in the last few years. My motto is "less future, more now".

The Knicks being eliminated from playoff contention is troublesome in more ways than I can count but most significantly it means our players are getting zero exposure to playoff basketball. Players like Eric Gordon are suddenly shining like never before in the spotlight of the playoffs. Wouldn't it be nice to see what Lee and Chandler might do in the same situation? Imagine their value rising going into the summer trading season.

To the rest of the league that is getting an opportunity in the spotlight our players look like chumps. Trade into that headwind over the summer.

Walsh may eventually get the cap space he dreams of and, no doubt, the media will have free agent orgasms over whoever our next multi-millionaire player becomes but I am sick of losing, sick of players who don't have the integrity to play, sick of the whole Knicks train wreck of the last ten years.

Trading talent for sand earns Walsh a D- in my book. That doesn't mean I hate him or want him fired or think he's incompetent. It just means that his experiment in driving toward 2010 is as painful as it is dubious in the present moment. I hope he proves me wrong but the Knicks banners are hanging at half mast here at the mecca mourning the death of another season without the hope of the playoffs.