3-0? Break Up the Knicks!
Break up the Knicks. After last night's win over Sacramento, they are 3-0 in Summer League.
If only they gave out trophies.
A few thoughts now that I'm back home from Vegas (had no choice, I blew my expense account in a poker game at the Playboy Casino...man, those girls are good!) and watching the summer league on TV like most of you (yes, I'm that psychotic about my beat):
- Nate Robinson's statistical performance has been impressive. He had 10 assists in the win over Sacramento last night, which suggests he's really getting the hang of the pass-first mentality. But a closer look suggests that he's still looking for his offense (he had 21 points) while paying more attention to where his outlets are. And the fact that the Knicks shot the ball so well through most of the first three quarters (Demetris Nichols, y'all) also helped his numbers. I keep paying close attention to his assists-to-turnovers, the true sign of a point guard in control of an offense. In the first two games, he had 11 assists to 10 turnovers, not good. But last night he was much more efficient, with 10 assists against only four turnovers.
You also got a good idea from listening to MSG Network's mic'd up segment with coach Dave Hanners how much coaching is being done with Nate this summer. Hanners was in Nate's ear regularly, pointing out what he needs to see in the offense and offering encouragement with the criticism. I was quite impressed with Hanners, actually. But you know those Carolina guys....it's in their blood.
- I saw one of my colleagues took on Eddy Curry, Jared Jeffries and Jerome James for not being in Vegas for the veteran workout. I only agree with one of the three. In fact, I was the one who asked Isiah Thomas about Jerome and the fact that he's not there. Isiah tried to spin it as if to suggest Jerome might have things at home that keep him from spending a few days in Vegas with his teammates. Funny, those issues didn't come up during the all-star break, when James was in Vegas (as a tourist, of course).
I checked on Curry and I know he's been working out. He has a pretty elaborate home gym that the Knicks helped him set up and he regularly checks in with strength coach Greg Brittenham, who designed an offseason regimen specifically for him. Curry has also worked with renown fitness guru Tim Grover of Attack Athletics in Chicago. Grover has worked with many NBA players, including Michael Jordan. Quentin Richardson, who also lives in Chicago during the offseason, said Curry is working hard. "He'll be ready," Q said. Anyone listening to the broadcast last night heard Mark Aguirre say he's gone to Chicago to work out with Eddy and said "he's farther along than he was last year."
I will give Curry the respect that I trust he's taking his career serious enough to put in the offseason work. He promised his wife an anniversary trip. The guy is gone all season long, so I think it's fair to give his wife precedence in the summer. My wife would have preferred that I didn't have to go to Vegas, either!
I also respect Jeffries as a pro -- yes, I take shots at his shooting inability, but I never would say the guy is a bum -- and believe that he's also doing everything he should be doing. It's not like he'll become a better shooter by spending four days in Vegas.
Now Jerome...
I think this should be it for him. Twice he's showed up at camp not in top physical condition after the Knicks gave him an ill-advised five-year contract. To me, this is it. With no room on the roster for unusable bodies with hefty contracts, if James arrives in Charleston this October once again not in peak form -- in fact, if I'm Isiah, I'd like to see him in the best shape of his life, to show me he cares -- I'd cut him. Buy him out and send him on his way.
It's mind-boggling that anyone who gets that much money to play basketball for a living can't keep himself in top physical shape. Of the many NBA coaches and GMs and media types I met over the five days I was in Vegas, every single one shook their head when the topic of Jerome James came up. As one former player said, "Is it that hard?"
- It's interesting that Isiah has looked into what it would take to acquire some of the point guards on the market, such as Mo Williams and Steve Blake. I know you guys probably thought I was nuts in suggesting they draft Taurean Green, but now you see what I was getting at. Stephon Marbury's Knicks career will be over sometime during the 2008-09 season, if not right after it, when his contract expires. His game doesn't fit the latest Knick gameplan, which is a power game. Thomas is realizing he needs a pass-first guard, a drive-and-kick guy and a distributor. The offense will funnel into the paint with Curry and Zach Randolph and no longer be dictated by what the guards do on the perimeter. I know Marbury is trying to conform his game, but I do think the Knicks are wisely putting serious thought into who will be Marbury's successor.
- I don't believe the Ron Artest stuff is totally a dead issue. In fact, Geoff Petrie's defiant stance could be mere posturing. But I don't want to reward ignorance with ignorance.
- Jon, your idea about sending the young players to the NBDL is a good one, but unfortunately, the NBA charges you a roster spot for players you send to the DL. I think it's a stupid rule, because teams should be able to have more control over the development of their players (plus it would help the DL sell tickets). It's clear the NBA needs a legit minor league system.
Think of it, the Knicks could have their own DL affiliate. Maybe have that team play at Nassau Coliseum. Put out there players such as Wilson Chandler, Demetris Nichols and Randolph Morris. I like the play of Brian Greene, the kid from Colorado State on the Knick summer league roster. Collect some young assets and call them up if a veteran gets hurt. So much better than letting these players go over to Europe. I don't know if the players would agree, but the chance to get an NBA call-up should trump a year touring Greece or Italy or...
Yeah,maybe not. Never mind.
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Comments (23)
Read one of the espn NBA chats with David Thorpe,who said Jeffries was working out at IMG where Balkman works out...
and that he was looking impressive, whatever that means. I agree that James won't make the opening day lineup, he will be bought out. Morris will get his minutes anyway, or they will sign another Cato-type to vets minimum.
goodstuff alan.
Alan, if Nate keeps devoloping into a point guard like he has this summer I think he could be ready to replace Stephon Marbury after the 08-09 season.....You said Nate still looks for his offense a lot in his 21 pts...im not sure, but i think your saying thats a negative,but scoring 21 points is great even if it is from your pg. I watched the game and most of his points were off good shots like a few wide open 3 pointers and fast brake points. If your saying Nate should not look to score I think that would be silly because thats what he is best at scoring. I think that last nights game he had a great balance of passing and scoring. I agree that he needs to be more of a pg and i think he is still devoloping. I also think with Nates superior athletic abilities he could be great off pick and roles. I think he could be a great drive and kick guy like suggested the knicks would need out of a point guard. He gets into the paint at will (i know its summer league but still) he could brake down defenses when he needs to.
I agree with you on that the Knicks should Jerome. I think they should also cut Dickau, if they cannot work out any trades that can not get them 15 players.
Also last night at halftime they interviewed Nate. I know how in the past you've said Nate does not consider himself a point guard and he also called himself a "whatever happens guard" but in the interview it sounded like he was embracing his position of a point guard saying he wants to be like chauncey billups and steve nash.
As usual, you're reporting is a breath of fresh air. So not all NY reporters are soulless robots.
Still, I dont agree with your skew on Nate's performance. He's a scorer and damn good one. The fact that he's taking his point guard skills seriously is nothing but refreshing.
If he became a pure point, it would sour my opinion of him. He is a scorer. A good one. Don't expect to kill that in him.
Did you see him block Hawes (I think) that guy on the baseline by anticipating his shot. He soared over him an by the time Hawes decided to put the ball up Nate was over his head and blocked the hell out of him. There was a foul on the play (not on Nate) so no highlight reel. Hawes is pretty impressive. A bit nutty, taking too many shots, but good.
I don't think the hahn post is suggesting that Nate's 21 points is a bad thing.
When i read it, i got the impression that he simply is stating a fact, that nate indeed did score 21.
What i love about his 21 points is that he was so successful when he drove to the hoop and dished out to his mates that the D gave him some space.
And when he was provided with that space, he took advantage with wide open jumpers.
THAT is how you play the game.
its the rope-a-dope.
Also about Nates turnovers, some times there pretty good passes but his teammates cannot catch it, or just a miscommunication that might not happen the better players on the Knicks.
Alan, your reporting and blogging continues to be head and shoulders above anyone else in New York. I thought that the Berman article today was typical, nasty, negative reporting that we've come to expect from Berman/Isola/Lawrence/Vescey.
BTW -- I buy Newsday, but not the other papers due to your reporting as well as others on your paper. And your blog is the one I read first and recommend.
Alan:
Excellent write up on Jerome. His days of providing high comedy when he would attempt hook shots and fall aways is over. We can't afford to have him out there if he is not in peak physical condition for the 3rd straight year. Buy him out and trade 2 for 1 for James Posey before Dallas gets him. Or a 2 for 1 for Desomond Mason.
Kenneth, I'm really not viewing Nate's scoring as a negative, especially when he's the best player on the team in the summer league. I'm merely saying he still looks to score first. What he needs to eventually show us is he can adjust and curb his instinct to score when he has Zach and Eddy on the floor. Right now, obviously, he doesn't really have to deal with that.
Overall, I've liked what I've seen on the court with Nate. I just can't be sold on him as the future of the franchise until I see him play in control and run an offense against real NBA competition, not Pooh Jeter!
Have a great weekend everyone.
Great blog, once again!
For the first time, maybe ever, I was impressed with Nate's passing ability last night.
great blog, your objectivity and dedication is appreciated.
Does anyone know when Eddy got married? I never knew he had a wife.
I’m new to Newsday Sports, and very impressed. But I tend to agree with Berman about Curry even if, apparently, I’m the only person in the world who does. Although, Alan, you make a good distinction. I buy the idea that players need to give their wives/families precedence in the summer when they’re away so often during the long NBA season. Still, Curry’s in the middle of a 4 or 5 month vacation already, when Isiah wanted him in Vegas for 4 or 5 days. That doesn’t seem like a lot to ask.
You’d think he could have done both, if both were important enough to him. It’s not as though it was an either/or decision. You’d think he could have spent a few days in Vegas, then left for the vacation (within a vacation) a few days later. If it was important enough to him. I’m a little sorry he wasn’t eager to be in Vegas, to start working with a new, elite player who’ll be on the front line with him.
After all, isn’t this symbolic of one our greatest fears about Curry? That there’s something missing in the motivation department? I guess I can’t help reading his decision in that context.
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Wow, that NBDL/roster spot rule does stink. If Stern really wants the NBDL to grow, he'd change that rule. Morris, Nichols, Chandler and Nate (5 summer league games does not make a PG) need extra PT. Knicks would be better served with those guys playing and someone like Andre Barrett filling out the roster (shameless Seton Hall plug there).
Another great post... this blog is a must read.
Trane, I believe this board, and many Knick fans reaction to the Berman/Curry piece was twofold:
--many, many Knick fans are very tired of the negative/sarcastic/nasty reporting of Berman/Isola/Vescey/Lawrence and find articles like the Berman report to be another in a long line of negative stories. There is no news there, no insight, and no new ideas.
--Mark Aguire said the night before the Berman story that Curry has been working out regularly, invited Aguire to Chicago to work with him, and Curry, in the words of Aguire is "way ahead of last year at this time."
So instead of jumping to bash a guy who played very well last year and seems to be on the right path, maybe give him the benefit of the doubt.
David – what you say makes sense. And if it were just the benefit of the doubt, I would agree with you. I only wrote what I did after reading many pieces attacking Berman that seemed as one-sided as his piece was. I don’t have much of an opinion about Berman. Obviously, a lot of people on these blogs don’t like him. And I suspected that attacking Berman was getting mixed up with the story about Curry. (i.e., because people don’t like Berman, it was easily accepted that he was completely wrong, and Curry completely right) I’m opposed to any reporting that tells only one side of a story. Certainly, a real reporter would have included something like: “We contacted Eddy, who explained . . ..:” Yet, everyone else seemed to just assume, without any question, that EC was totally in the right. I suspect it’s more complicated than either side made it appear.
I admit my instinct tells me a compromise could have been worked out. But I don’t think I was bashing Curry. I do think I was raising questions about what happened. Also, though -- wondering if there is something revealing in all this. After all, it doesn’t appear as though this was some kind of Sophie’s Choice – team OR family. And I couldn’t help associating what happened with many of the concerns that have been expressed about Curry’s game – a lack of effort/motivation, etc.
In the end, we don’t know what really went down. And Vegas was voluntary. We’re all just speculating. I’m not condemning Curry. But I also felt it fair to question why a compromise couldn’t have been worked out when it at least seemed available.
Trane,
All fair comments, and you are correct in that because Berman takes a negative tone with all he writes, it has become easy to negate anything that appears under his byline.
Curry has been an underacheiving athlete and has been disappointing, but this past season could have been a breakthrough. I suppose we will see come training camp.
On the other issue of Knicks beat reporting, I think the majority of fans have finally decided enough is enough. Its one reason why Alan Hahn's excellent reporting and blogging is a breath of fresh air. We are all tired of the Isola/Berman/Vescey/Lawrence view that says all things Knicks bad/all things rest of NBA good.
Both Berman and Isola have been covering the Knicks for years. Either they are burned out, or have some signficant personal issue with the Knicks. In either case, their newspapers should replace them, because that bias comes out in all they say and write.
David – I, too, have been impressed by Hahn. Just started reading him this week, but he seems both smart and fair. And I certainly hear what you’re saying about the state of the art of beat reporting, in general, in New York City these days. Red Smith, it ain’t. At the same time, I’m both surprised and suspicious when I see such extreme, hate-filled attacks on these writers. I don’t claim to know their writing as well as others here. But I haven’t seen the kind of bias I keep reading about. (I’m not saying it isn’t there. I’m saying I haven’t seen it.) Can beat reporters possibly be as prejudiced against the team they’re covering as everyone claims? (That’s not a rhetorical question. Just a skeptical one.) You see, I worry that any criticism – and anything negative - is interpreted as bias. I’ve certainly seen evidence of that on these blogs. Of course, that in itself wouldn’t mean they’re NOT biased – just that we need to distinguish between criticism and bias.
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