Worse Loss to Portland

Knicks still showing enough bright spots to feel like this is a break-in phase with this team.

We had a lead that we should have held - a coke in many people's book and a bit of a bad flashback to years past.  I think this team will win a lot of games but they can't afford to let these slip away.

Tough Loss to Boston

Knicks looking very much like a playoff contender.  Lose by four but just barely.

45 To Go

Knicks beat Raptors!  Chandler comes up big.  Fields has nice debut as a starter.

So far Knicks have a better record than the Heat.

My Fearless 2011Knicks Season Record Prediction

I'm predicting a 46 win season for the Knicks in the coming season.

Atlantic

1 Knicks
2 Toronto
3 Philadelphia
4 Boston
5 Nets

Central

1 Bulls
2 Bucks
3 Indiana
4 Cleveland
5 Detroit

Southeast

1 Miami
2 Orlando
3 Washington
4 Charlotte
5 Atlanta

Southwest

1 Grizzlies
2 Mavs
3 NO
4 Spurs
5 Houston

Northwest

1 Jazz
2 OKC
3 Minn
4 Den
5 Portland

Pacific

1 Lakers
2 Suns
3 Sacto
4 GS
5 Clips

I expect Boston's aging trio to break down this year.  The schedule will be tougher on lots of teams whose veterans have clocked long minutes.  Denver, Mavs, Boston, and Spurs all may falter sooner than later and inspire a trading frenzy of veterans moving to teams more likely to contend.

Miami may be a paper tiger.  Wade is brittle, Bosh is timid, and LeBron has no stomach for true competition.  Teams that play hard against Miami will not only win but psychologically wreak havoc with the egos in Miami.

And as Miami is exposed as a house of cards, playoff teams will bulk up come February in the full expectation that a ring is not an entitlement in Miami.

The Knicks are a dark horse team this year.  Stoudamire and Felton are a major upgrade over the Duhon and Lee combo from last year.  While I remain a David Lee fan, the Knicks were wise to change the chemistry.  For all his statistical prowess, Lee's energy did not turn into wins.

Stoudamire on the other hand is a closer.  And Felton, even if he fails miserably, will still be a far better PG than Duhon was last year.

Taking Lee's place at center is Timofey Mozgov, a 7'1" brick shit-house of a player that Walsh miraculously signed out of the European ranks.  Unquestionably, Mozgov has played his way into the status of 'untouchable' by demonstrating that his skills are as rare as hen's teeth.  He's a big man with speed, intuitive basketball IQ, and a work ethic.  Good lord.  And backing him up is Turiaf, a hard-nosed but profound upgrade over last year's clown prince, Darko.

That makes three NBA quality starters.  Let's add a fourth to that.  Danilo Gallo will have a breakout season.  He's played hard and injured in the pre-season and is expected to ratchet up his game a notch this year. If he doesn't, wild-card Anthony Randolph will be competing for minutes.

Finally, Toney Douglas may lock down the two guard position thanks to his tenacious defense and hard-work.  Bill Walker and Landry Fields will be pushing and getting plenty of playing time.

Lastly, Wilson Chandler, the Knicks most versatile player can compete for sixth man award.  He's a rock-solid player who, now that he's healthy will re-establish his trajectory to become an impact player.

The one weakness this team has is at the back-up PG position.  Expect an early trade for Rudy Fernandez or similar talent.

One Word:

Mozgov!

Let Me Count the Ways

The LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, Pat Riley deception is finally over.

History has probably witnessed far more contemptuous acts of self-serving, loathsome behavior but not in recent memory can I remember a more despicable group of social pariahs doing so much collateral damage in pursuit of raw, rabid personal gain.

I was never convinced that LeBron James was sincere in his free agent lap dances that left teams panting for more.  But then, as good a player as LeBron may be, he has always left me feeling like he was a quitter.  If it wasn't handed to him, LeBron saw himself as too entitled to go the extra mile - TO. WIN. IT.

This year's NBA playoffs only reinforced my doubts.

But even a cynic like myself was surprised at the extent and audacity of the ruse that was being played for over two years by these premiere NBA players.  When players, whose wealth allows them to slack until they get what they want, can in wholesale fashion manipulate wins and losses and other-team rosters to align their own personal agenda, a fan needs to ask why the NBA is still considered sport and not a ponzi scheme manipulated by the league's richest and most devious entities.

How is the manipulative behavior of these players, leading one team after another to drastically alter rosters for over two years, changing competitive impulses into fiscal prudence not the same as Wall St shenanigans?  The Knicks front office, sacrificed one talent after another in desperate trades to rid themselves of salary and competitive edge.

In the end, Lebron cliams he has no responsibility for this stuff.  The Yankee cap posing, the assertions that "The [name the suitor team] are not out of consideration!", and the endless flirting and courtship rituals that were all a game within a game within a game - none of this had consequence...  LeBron is an innocent "just trying to find personal HAPPINESS".


Personal happiness that is a manufactured all-star team virtually guaranteed of winning with little or no problem.  This, THIS insulting denigration of the game, he believes will catapult him to greatness.

But forget the Knicks.  What about Cleveland?  Another team that acquired expensive, absurd players who happened to "make LeBron happy."?  Cleveland is left holding the empty contracts like a sad sack.  LeBron's responsibility to that community, "I gave them seven years..."  And they, they were just "witnesses", suckers in a global marketing scheme.

But lurking in the shadows is an even more despicable deceit.  Dwayne Wade, feigning concern for losing quality time with his children due to a divorce, pretended to entertain playing for Chicago.  Yep, jerking their own kids around was fair game too.

Sport has tests for steroid use but what it needs is a test for integrity and character.  Miami has acquired a critical mass of sports scum unlike the world has seen in a long, long time.  May they all get what they deserve.

Dr. C May Sign with Knicks

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KM Mockapalooza Knicks Mash-up 2010 Version 1.0

Potential Eddie Curry draft day trades [in order]:

Curry and a second-rounder for Elton Brand and #2 [D. Cousins] - Knicks assume an albatross contract but assure themseles of a potential All-Star center.

-OR-

Curry and a second-rounder for Monta Ellis and #6 [Greg Monroe]

-OR-

Curry and a second rounder for Al Jefferson, #16 [Saunders] and #23 [Brackins]

-OR Finally, -

Curry and a second rounder for Turkoglu and #13 [Aldrich]

In every case NY assumes long term debt on contracts that strangle the other team.

Otherwise,

NY buys Boston's pick #19 [Saunders]

At #38 NY catches a falling Stanley Robinson

At #39 NY drafts Greivis Vasquez

Wooden Remembered

Donaghy Analyzes Game 1

Donaghy on Game 1