Philly played well and dominated.
It won't be the last game we lose this season.
Crawford looked bad.
Knicks at 1-1.
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Friday, October 31, 2008
Marbury Tempest II
Alan Hahn has it wrong on his blog and most of the New York Knicks beat writers are equally out of touch. Marbury does not lose trade value sitting on the bench. Not at all.
His true value is as an expiring contract but secondly as a man possessed to win in a contract year. There is no doubt he is done with the Knicks but the Vegan Fish Tacos blog provides a strong clue as to one destination that Marbury might eventually find himself in. That is, Dallas.
Jason Kidd is leading the Mavericks nowhere and that's obvious to many people. He, like Marbury, needs to be relocated. Marbury might thrive in Dallas and finally get a chance at a ring. Kidd is a veteran who is not Marbury and can contribute here in a system which will increase his resale value.
The clock has been ticking in Dallas and Mark Cuban is not one who will sit tight with Kidd. The championship expiration date on the Mavs is rusting. If any team is in a must-win-now situation it is Dallas.
Can the Knicks help?
Let's examine a broader trade that rids both teams of undesired baggage and maybe sets up Dallas to go long into the playoffs.
Would Dallas consider a Kidd, Dampier, and rights to Shan Foster for Marbury, Curry, and Mardy Collins swap?
Infusing Marbury into the Dallas line up might be juice Dallas needs to finally realize their dream. Curry complements Diop and is no better or worse than Dampier. Collins gives the Mavs a nice future piece.
The rights to Shan Foster, Who is currently in Europe gives D'Antoni a sharpshooter who can arrive next year and gives the Knicks that extra roster spot to bring Ewing back onboard.
His true value is as an expiring contract but secondly as a man possessed to win in a contract year. There is no doubt he is done with the Knicks but the Vegan Fish Tacos blog provides a strong clue as to one destination that Marbury might eventually find himself in. That is, Dallas.
Where Jason Kidd goes, so goes frustration.
He mangaged 7 points, 7 rebounds, 12 assists and 4 steals, but the Mavericks still lost to the Rockets.
Who among us does not believe that this will be a recurring theme?
Jason Kidd is leading the Mavericks nowhere and that's obvious to many people. He, like Marbury, needs to be relocated. Marbury might thrive in Dallas and finally get a chance at a ring. Kidd is a veteran who is not Marbury and can contribute here in a system which will increase his resale value.
The clock has been ticking in Dallas and Mark Cuban is not one who will sit tight with Kidd. The championship expiration date on the Mavs is rusting. If any team is in a must-win-now situation it is Dallas.
Can the Knicks help?
Let's examine a broader trade that rids both teams of undesired baggage and maybe sets up Dallas to go long into the playoffs.
Would Dallas consider a Kidd, Dampier, and rights to Shan Foster for Marbury, Curry, and Mardy Collins swap?
Infusing Marbury into the Dallas line up might be juice Dallas needs to finally realize their dream. Curry complements Diop and is no better or worse than Dampier. Collins gives the Mavs a nice future piece.
The rights to Shan Foster, Who is currently in Europe gives D'Antoni a sharpshooter who can arrive next year and gives the Knicks that extra roster spot to bring Ewing back onboard.
Brooklyn: Too Big To Fail?
In my first post on the effect of the global meltdown of markets, let's tackle the question of a deepening financial crisis that effects New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut more dramatically than any other part of the country. A depression so sudden and disarming that New York is no longer the global financial epicenter of prosperity but just another backwater big city with an auction house.
Already there is the observation that the global power-players who have cash to burn are interested in New York properties and Ratner whose Nets have been little more than a money sink for years may be expendable.
In an exhausted New York economy, it is not inconceivable that an Asian buyer of a team like the Nets might simply pack up their acquisition and move them out to Seattle rather than keep them in the New York metro area.
Whether it is the Nets or another team, expect the face of the NBA to change dramatically and suddenly as the economic cancer spreads through the American sports market.
It won't be long before the Knicks are playing the Sheiks.
Already there is the observation that the global power-players who have cash to burn are interested in New York properties and Ratner whose Nets have been little more than a money sink for years may be expendable.
In an exhausted New York economy, it is not inconceivable that an Asian buyer of a team like the Nets might simply pack up their acquisition and move them out to Seattle rather than keep them in the New York metro area.
Whether it is the Nets or another team, expect the face of the NBA to change dramatically and suddenly as the economic cancer spreads through the American sports market.
It won't be long before the Knicks are playing the Sheiks.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
The Marbury Tempest
New York's usual suspects are creating a mini-controversy regarding the fact that Marbury did not play against Miami in a blow-out game.
D'Antoni explained that he is pursuing a futures line-up rather than a win-now strategy. At face value this makes perfect basketball sense. The issue isn't whether or not Marbury could play a better game than Mardy Collins who had a poor showing. The broader issue is that Mardy Collins needs the opportunity to succeed or fail in D'Antoni's system so that mid-season trade decisions can take that information into account.
Marbury's absence in garbage time may more be a sign of respect for Marbury than an insult. Marbury is not on the bench as a garbage time player. Inevitably, D'Antoni will insert Marbury into a high-pressure, must-win situation and D'Antoni will expect Marbury to respond with an "I'll show you attitude." Part of what makes D'Antoni's high octane methodology work is adrenaline.
You can be sure when Marbury takes the floor there will be sparks.
*****************************************************************
There's some talk about an Eddie Curry swap with Golden State to acquire disgruntled Al Harrington.
No one would be happier than I to rid ourselves of Curry whose shelf-life in New york has expired. Curry has created a situation in which fans and team are emotionally exhausted from watching him mold his character around Jerome McJames instead of Shaq in his prime.
Curry should be working 24/7 to redeem any self-respect he has left or this contract will likely be his last.
But the broader issue for me is what Al Harrington might add to this squad and that's an odd algebra. I like the fact that Lee, Gallinari, and Chandler are developing. While Harrington is a better Malik Rose, he would inevitably steal minutes from our future core.
The real player question is whether or not Harrington enjoys playing the uptempo game. If he's unhappy under Don Nelson, anyone trading for him needs to understand why. After all, not even getting rid of Eddie Curry is a good enough excuse to acquire a player who hates the system we're running.
D'Antoni explained that he is pursuing a futures line-up rather than a win-now strategy. At face value this makes perfect basketball sense. The issue isn't whether or not Marbury could play a better game than Mardy Collins who had a poor showing. The broader issue is that Mardy Collins needs the opportunity to succeed or fail in D'Antoni's system so that mid-season trade decisions can take that information into account.
Marbury's absence in garbage time may more be a sign of respect for Marbury than an insult. Marbury is not on the bench as a garbage time player. Inevitably, D'Antoni will insert Marbury into a high-pressure, must-win situation and D'Antoni will expect Marbury to respond with an "I'll show you attitude." Part of what makes D'Antoni's high octane methodology work is adrenaline.
You can be sure when Marbury takes the floor there will be sparks.
*****************************************************************
There's some talk about an Eddie Curry swap with Golden State to acquire disgruntled Al Harrington.
No one would be happier than I to rid ourselves of Curry whose shelf-life in New york has expired. Curry has created a situation in which fans and team are emotionally exhausted from watching him mold his character around Jerome McJames instead of Shaq in his prime.
Curry should be working 24/7 to redeem any self-respect he has left or this contract will likely be his last.
But the broader issue for me is what Al Harrington might add to this squad and that's an odd algebra. I like the fact that Lee, Gallinari, and Chandler are developing. While Harrington is a better Malik Rose, he would inevitably steal minutes from our future core.
The real player question is whether or not Harrington enjoys playing the uptempo game. If he's unhappy under Don Nelson, anyone trading for him needs to understand why. After all, not even getting rid of Eddie Curry is a good enough excuse to acquire a player who hates the system we're running.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Knicks Beat Miami
Curry and Marbury sit.
Lee and Chandler shine.
D'Antoni livid - Knicks blow twenty point lead in the fourth. I'm guessing that doesn't happen again.
The skinny: Crawford needs to discipline his game, Mardy needs to shake a bad outing.
Lee and Chandler shine.
D'Antoni livid - Knicks blow twenty point lead in the fourth. I'm guessing that doesn't happen again.
The skinny: Crawford needs to discipline his game, Mardy needs to shake a bad outing.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Predicting Surprises
I'm predicting 40 wins this year.
Tonight the Knicks will need to re-establish a tradition of winning at home. My guess is that they beat Miami with a superior offensive game.
Because the Knicks are not odds favorites to win anything, fans will be keeping a close eye on the injury situation of teams that need to win now and there are plenty of them. In the current economic climate few teams can afford to get off to a lousy start. Those that do will either trade for help or think about moving to Seattle.
Tonight the Knicks field a team that will never look back. Eddy Curry is going to have to work very hard to play again. I doubt that Zach, Lee, Gallanari, or Jeffries will let up their desire to play. That leaves Curry in a position to shape up or consider becoming an over-sized comedy duo with Jerome James in a Big Momma sequel.
Curry's benching has a strange sense of deja vu to it. Last year, Curry informed Marbury that he was being benched which set off the entire Marbury/Thomas disaster.
Yesterday, Curry was told by the press and not D'Antoni that he would be guarding the Gatorade. My guess is that Curry is traded at the first opportunity.
****************************************************************************
If TNT and ESPN have decided to eliminate Knicks games from the schedule their sponsors should accept the fact that nobody will be buying their product. Love them or hate them, the Knicks draw an audience that few other teams can claim.
Barkley will be howling to a lonely studio. I sure as hell am not tuning in if the Knicks aren't featured.
Tonight the Knicks will need to re-establish a tradition of winning at home. My guess is that they beat Miami with a superior offensive game.
Because the Knicks are not odds favorites to win anything, fans will be keeping a close eye on the injury situation of teams that need to win now and there are plenty of them. In the current economic climate few teams can afford to get off to a lousy start. Those that do will either trade for help or think about moving to Seattle.
Tonight the Knicks field a team that will never look back. Eddy Curry is going to have to work very hard to play again. I doubt that Zach, Lee, Gallanari, or Jeffries will let up their desire to play. That leaves Curry in a position to shape up or consider becoming an over-sized comedy duo with Jerome James in a Big Momma sequel.
Curry's benching has a strange sense of deja vu to it. Last year, Curry informed Marbury that he was being benched which set off the entire Marbury/Thomas disaster.
Yesterday, Curry was told by the press and not D'Antoni that he would be guarding the Gatorade. My guess is that Curry is traded at the first opportunity.
****************************************************************************
If TNT and ESPN have decided to eliminate Knicks games from the schedule their sponsors should accept the fact that nobody will be buying their product. Love them or hate them, the Knicks draw an audience that few other teams can claim.
Barkley will be howling to a lonely studio. I sure as hell am not tuning in if the Knicks aren't featured.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Ewing, Jr. Cut
I'm actually okay with this move.
Ewing was a project on a team that isn't in the business of developing projects. Ewing will be better off developing a game elsewhere, maybe Europe.
D'Antoni and Walsh I think have done the kid a favor. The primary job for the Knicks is to thin the existing roster when the opportunities arise. There is a lot of redundancy that needs to be pared before a kid like Ewing would ever have a chance to see the light of day.
Ewing was a project on a team that isn't in the business of developing projects. Ewing will be better off developing a game elsewhere, maybe Europe.
D'Antoni and Walsh I think have done the kid a favor. The primary job for the Knicks is to thin the existing roster when the opportunities arise. There is a lot of redundancy that needs to be pared before a kid like Ewing would ever have a chance to see the light of day.
Friday, October 24, 2008
There is a God
Alan Houston was cut.
He'll hang around to appease the holy-roller crowd but IMO this is a welcome sign that D'Antoni's Knicks are free of the circle jerk that became emblematic of the Knicks downward spiral.
He'll hang around to appease the holy-roller crowd but IMO this is a welcome sign that D'Antoni's Knicks are free of the circle jerk that became emblematic of the Knicks downward spiral.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Van Gundy's Observations
Berman's blog features an entry that reports on JVG's Knicks prediction:
I think the Knicks are going to make the playoffs at the six or seven spot. They are in a pack of teams some of whom are worse and many of whom are over-rated. A season of uninterrupted play is really what the Knicks need. And that means no more delusional ideas that the size of the salary dictates the number of minutes.
So far, D'Antoni is doing what needed to be done for years - make the players earn their playtime.
*******************************************************
On a sidenote, the pre-season play of Zach Randolph apparently is opening the eyes of a contending team or two who are front-court player away from the top.
I'd hate to lose Zach but he might get reluctantly traded for a deal previously believed to be too good to be true (think three-way).
"They have a definable identity and it's the first step in turning it around,'' VG said. "I definitely think they'll compete for the playoffs. I can't see them not making a dramatic jump in wins, from the low 20's to high 30's or even the 40's. That's what they should expect, to make the playoffs. You don't pay those players all that money if they don't have talent.''I have had my differences with JVG over the years but I tend to agree with his analysis.
I think the Knicks are going to make the playoffs at the six or seven spot. They are in a pack of teams some of whom are worse and many of whom are over-rated. A season of uninterrupted play is really what the Knicks need. And that means no more delusional ideas that the size of the salary dictates the number of minutes.
So far, D'Antoni is doing what needed to be done for years - make the players earn their playtime.
*******************************************************
On a sidenote, the pre-season play of Zach Randolph apparently is opening the eyes of a contending team or two who are front-court player away from the top.
I'd hate to lose Zach but he might get reluctantly traded for a deal previously believed to be too good to be true (think three-way).
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