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!

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?

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;

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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...

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.

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.

Nice piece.

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.

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.