The Knicks Fix

Six pages of questions I've collected since the Mail Call was made. I won't waste your time (or mine) with any fancy anecdote or cute lyrics.

Let's get at it....

Darren
Alan, After watching the Knicks intently the past couple seasons, I am not convinced that this year's team will be able to fix some awful habits. Specifically, the "go down by 25 in the 1st half, only to rally in the 3rd/4th quarter and lose in the end."
I supported the Z-Bo acquisition and the rooks look promising, but why should I think this season will be any different, albeit with more offensive prowess? And were James Posey or Desmond Mason even on our radar this offseason?

The awful habits of which you speak, Darren, I believe could be attributed to poor focus, which, of course, is attributed to the leadership on the team. Those down by 25/too little, too late comeback nights were often fool's gold, in my opinion. The Knicks knew they were good enough to make a run on teams. You make an excellent observation in wondering if they can get over those bad starts. All about focus. I point to team leaders...guys who have to be ready at the tip and get on those who aren't. Look no further than Eddy Curry. It's time he stopped being the nice guy in the locker room and started demanding more out of his teammates. At least more than we've seen from him. Q-Rich is a loud and respected voice in the room. Jamal as well. Malik Rose, if his role increases enough to be considered a regular, would also be a very strong voice.
This team will continue to be strong offensively, especially with the addition of Randolph. Defense is a question but to me the bigger question is health. Can guys like Richardson and Stephon Marbury stay healthy enough to be effective? I don't mean healthy enough to play, but as close to 100 percent as possible? After a while, you're tired of hearing that so-and-so is dealing with nagging injuries. Too easy to make excuses when a guy says he's playing hurt. Enough of that. Get to camp in shape and do what you have to do to stay in shape through the winter. Everyone gets banged up, but enough with the sore-this and injured-that as the reason why a guy can't keep Mo Williams in front of him or get to that loose ball.
I'm sure Isiah considered Posey and/or Mason, but not with a great deal of interest.

David
Alan, why do you think that there are so many in the new york media who have such an aggressive and nasty way of writing about/covering the Knicks? What has caused them to cover the team with such a negative and angry tone?
I realize that this is a politically tough question to answer and if you are not comfortable, then my other question would be whether you think that Isiah Thomas will come to the realization that being tied to the hip with Stephen Marbury is not really good for Thomas' career or future?

Hey David. Loaded question. But I won't duck it. I don't think you're correct when you say "so many in the new york media" are tough on the Knicks when I believe there are also some who are notably gentle.
Many of you seem frustrated by the heavy hand that comes down on your team from us writers and I have tried to explain it before. The bottom line is, we are the one entity where the standard is maintained (or should be). To me, the Knicks franchise should be held to the highest of standards and when that standard is not met, it should be said so. For instance, I've told many people who have asked me how my first season covering the Knicks went that I've never seen a more heralded 33-win team in my life. I remember this team when 50 wins was the expectation. I believe the media should not allow the standard to drop to the point where we're cheering the fact that for a few days in March the Knicks held the eighth playoff spot in the East. That's why there was so much skepticism when James Dolan immediately announced Isiah Thomas' contract extension at that point in the season. It's not that any of us felt Thomas didn't deserve it or he wouldn't get it (most of us felt it was a given anyway). It's just that the timing was poor. I blogged about it back then (we had tumbleweeds and crickets in this blog back in those days!) and I still believe it. Dolan basically called off the dogs before the race was won. Bad move.
As for your other question, I think Isiah knows how to handle the Stephon situation. He didn't get enough credit for leashing Steph to the bench early in the year and basically doing what Larry Brown wanted to do, but couldn't: get Steph to play a more controlled, traditional PG style. Once Marbury bought in (as he admitted to doing), his game went to another level.

Lefty
Hi Alan.
Love your blog. My questions are related. What the hell really happened with DLee's injury (should I worry this will effect his future) and will the knicks make any changes regarding medical staff given "Misdiags" of Dlee, JJeffries and Crawford (any idea if other teams have these kind of problems?).

Thanks Lefty. David is recovering well after a long and frustrating bout with this lower leg muscle strain. I know exactly what if feels like because I had it in my senior year of high school. It drives you crazy because you can run but stopping hurts. It doesn't hurt to jump but it kills when you land. Your leg simply feels dead. No bounce. David gave it the rest it needed and got himself going in July and then practiced on the development squad for USA basketball in Vegas. He'll be ready for camp.
I've smoked the medical staff several times about the rash of problems over the past season. No heads rolled, so I guess Dolan and Isiah are satisfied that it was merely one of those unlucky injury years. Most of us would beg to differ.

Bronxboy in MD
Alan,
As a spin-off of Lefty's question, what do you think about the Knicks medical staff? DLee's ankle/leg? Crawford's ankle (just after he scored the winning bucket the night before..I wanted to cry like Marbury when I got the news....)
That staff outta be evaluated for competency. They cost us the season, in my humble opinion.
You got the best b-ball blog in the world Alan, with the most knowledgeable fans in the world posting!!

Thanks Bronxboy. You remember a dude from the Bronx named "Terminator"? That guy could ball. You are on point with your concerns about the medical staff. I think it's more of a higher-up thing, too, because I know the trainers on the bench work their tails off. I don't personally know Dr. Lisa Callahan, who is considered the head of the medical team. It should be noted, however, that she isn't exactly the "team doctor" like we've known teams to have in the past. She oversees a staff that has specialists such as orthopedic and others. So it's a group effort. Like the Titanic. They blamed Edward John Smith for running into the iceberg, but he had a crew that could have taken him to task for his decisions, such as sending the iceberg back into a game with a broken wrist that never got X-rayed even though the Garden owns an X-ray machine that is on premesis.
What? I'm just speaking hypothetical.

Peaceman
Ok Alan,
My question will be an easy one. Why do you have a picture of Doug Collins with a tool belt on in your biog picture? lol

Dude, Doug Collins can't rock a toolbelt like Tim Allen. Or me.

Jwambera
How do you assess Isiah's performance as a coach? As a GM?

I think I answered this in the last mailbag. Not much has changed because Isiah hasn't done much of either job since then. Good move to get Zach and trade basically unusable parts for him. It's a risk, but considering his age and potential, worth it. I think Isiah the GM is hoping Isiah the Coach can reach Zach Randolph. I'm wondering how Isiah the Coach will cut down the roster that was created by Isiah the GM. That oughta be interesting. You want to believe that Isiah the Coach will be the one who makes that decision, because Isiah the GM has too much of a personal stake in some of those bad contracts.

Kevin Harewood
In what is now an improved Eastern Conference (Boston, Charlotte should be better than last year. New Jersey, Orlando, Washington may be as good as they were last year) is it playoffs or bust for Zeke's regime?

What do you mean by "playoffs or bust"? Do you mean if the Knicks fail to get in, Isiah loses his job? Break up the team? It's hard to say because we saw last season that the Knicks and Dolan will always lean on excuses for failures rather than lay blame. This year, despite the improvements of Boston and Orlando, I don't think the Knicks are allowed a pass. This will be the third season this group has been together -- regardless of the Larry Brown error -- so it's put-up or shut-up time, I'd say, for everyone involved. Don't expect the media to give anyone a pass. At least not me. Fans should demand more of this team than just an improvement on 33 wins. Anything under .500 is failure. That goes back to what I was saying about standards. Raise the bar and make them reach it.
The good news is, I think the players - most of them - feel the same way this season. I'm very interested in seeing which players show up at camp with that kind of focus. No more rhetoric, no more excuses. Like Yoda said, there is no try, it's do or do not!

Yo, now I'm quoting freakin Yoda ova here.
Movin on...

Flybanjo
Why would Isiah cut Dickau now? Why not hang on to that contract as long as possible? Does Isiah have the freedom to overspend on guys like he has in the past, or has Dolan cut him off? Do you think Kirilenko is available? Would Dolan OK spending $13M per year for four years for a role player (although he's a pretty darn good role player)?
I know that's five questions, but they're all related so I'm hoping you'll forgive my exuberance.

Exuberance is always forgiven, Fly, but bad scoops aren't. You're reading the wrong newspaper, baby! Danny D is still a Knick as of Aug. 30 at 12:26 a.m. (when the keys get tossed to DVJ and the Graveyard crew). I don't believe there is a "freedom to overspend" anymore, unless the player they overspend on is named Kobe Bryant. Plus, the roster is already bloated at 17 players (16 plus Demetris Nichols). I can't see Isiah adding another body before he knows he can move at least two. AK47 is a good two-way player (hockey term), but with Jared Jeffries and Renaldo Balkman on the roster, I don't see Isiah making a move for that type of player, especially not if it adds a contract to the future salary cap number. Remember, the goal is to get under the cap or darn close to it when some of those big names start slipping into the free agent pool.

Willis
Alan,
Enjoyed the piece on Nate, as you say - we will see if his talk will be borne out on the court. I can't think of a better player for him to pattern his game after than Nash - I hope he continues with the film work.
My question is - are there any two for one trade scenarios out there? We've been handicapping Artest possibilities, but the fact remains we have too many guys and I'm in agreement with everyone here that Nichols should be on the roster. A Plains Dealer piece about Bibby drops Knicks and Mavs as two teams with extra men with which the Cavs might deal - is this just surmising, or has there been any talk with Cleveland? Even just wishing, I have a hard time coming up with any player the Knicks should bring in (not named Artest) who would even crack the rotation, with what we're willing to offer. And I can't think we are willing to give up players valuable enough to warrant getting an expiring contract in return, so what's the move?

Clearly Isiah has to be working phones trying to see if he can unload a few unwanted players in a 2-for-1 or, best-case, 3-for-1. Problem is, Geoff Petrie won't take Jared, Malik and Nate for Ron-Ron. I just don't know of anything lying in the weeds right now, but you have to understand that it's the offseason and there's very little access right now. Some franchises have lighter media policies so reporters can get a GM or an assistant GM on the phone. Here, where there are seven newspapers covering the team, the GM just doesn't give that kind of access.
I think the Knick roster should be set right now. No more moves. Wait until the trade deadline, see where Sactown is and see if Petrie is a little more desperate to make a move with Ronnie's opt-out only months away.
Stay the course is something I've been preaching since June. I'll accept the Z-Bo trade because of the kid's age and potential. But for now, stay the course. Keep your kids and let those assets grow. Mitch Kupchak will be watching.

Jon
Why is it that James Dolan was so pre-occupied with the Jets Stadium in Manhattan and not with the Brooklyn Arena when the latter is gonig to pose a bigger threat to Madison Square Garden then the former? How do you see the Brooklyn-Knicks rivalry playing out when they first move?

I think you and I have had this conversation before, Jon. I hear you and have wondered the same exact thing. Part of me thinks he is laying low about the Brooklyn deal because he - and many others - don't believe it's really ever going to happen.

GodSaveTheKnicks
Is it possible for me to place a bet anywhere in the world that Jerome James will show up overweight and average less than 3 in all categories except DNP-CDs?

The same place you can bet that Will Ferrell does partial nudity in his next movie.

Don
Hi Alan,
Even with a cut or two, how does Isiah find minutes for everyone? It seems that minutes will be tight for Collins and/or N8, and possibly up front for Lee and Balkman if Q is healthy, and getting time at the 3. Is there any way the rookies get any court time?
Is Jerome James a Big Mac away from the waiver wire?

Whoa, Big Jerome is taking a few shots. He definitely needs to show something if he wants to play. Emphasis on wants. His contract is guaranteed, so he can either sit on the bench and collect or be waived and collect it at home. Minutes will be tough to come by and I think Isiah will handle it on a game-by-game basis. Most of his bench rotation will be situational. He'll use more athletic players against the run-and-gun teams and go with beef when he needs to play half-court. He did this last season. Tough to get into a rhythm if you're a reserve, but that's the life. I can't imagine either Chandler or Nichols will get much burn early in the go. But if injuries mount....

Steady
Say Alan, what's good with the summer workout plan for our NYK ballers? What was the workout regimen/assignment given to the players at the post-season exit interviews? We already saw Jeffries, N8, and EC. What about the other fellas?

I'm not privvy to the exact instructions of each player as they come out of exit interviews, but what I know from asking some of the trainers and strength coaches is that each player is given a specific workout regimen to follow during the offseason. The trainers visit each player to check on their progress and adjust as necessary. I'll have more on this soon because I checked in with someone who spent some time working out with some of the players this summer. He didn't call me back in time for the mailbag, so I owe ya Steady.

Cooleyhigh
If Posey, Eddie House, and Pollard, are a a part of the 8 or 10 man rotation for the Celtics, they are in big, big trouble...They are definiely assembling the All Geritol Team---Ole gizers and world renowned losers...Their biggest concern is if Rando can't paly the point, who will?

KG and Ray Allen are still in their primes. Paul Pierce is, too. I think they'll need help to support Rondo. Talk about Geritol, the word is Gary Payton could be that guy.

Starburyfan
Alan,
We're all happy you're blog has taken off the way it has. thanks for hosting it.
my question is about the knicks organization. when i met fred kerber of the post (nets beat writer) earlier this year, he confirmed this, but I want your feedback on this.
many of us on this blog came here from another blog where the host always seemed to be b*tching and moaning about how badly the knicks organization treated him as a reporter. considering some of the personal attacks he and his cohorts published through their newspaper, it can perceived as a which came first, chicken or the egg situation, because unlike Iraq, we don't know who started that war. as knicks fans, the last thing we want to hear is about how some reporter is complaining because he no longer gets to sit courtside next to chloey sevigny but rather closer to us "common folk". Yes he did say that in so many words.
can you attest to this unjust treatment of the media by the powers that be at the garden? that is, have they ever been less than professional with you or Ken Berger? Incidentally, I'm not a big fan of Dolan, don't think the boy's done his homework when it comes to the subject of basketball, or the knicks, but with the franchise so safely in his pocket, I guess it doesn't matter if I like him or not.

I just have to say this: until you've sat next to Chloe Sevigny, you just have no idea how sweet it is to sit next to Chloe Sevigny. I remember two things from our evening together: Chanel No. 5 and goosebumps. And man that girl can rip them. The horse that pulled our carriage around Central Park nodded back at her with much respect. Cameron Diaz and her world-famous flatulence can't hold a candle to Chloe's. And if she did, we'd have a mushroom cloud over Manhattan, yo.
You're right about Dolan, makes no difference what you think of him. The man owns the title so it's his car to drive how he wants to drive it (even if it means right off a cliff).
As for the media stuff, I've only experienced one full season at this point. My opinion is the Knicks main PR people do their jobs under a strict media policy handed down from the King's throne. It's sort of like Fight Club. The first rule about the Knicks media policy is no one talks about the Knicks media policy. They have some crazy and restrictive rules that frustrate me, such as the no-access practices. We literally sit in the media room and wait to be called in to view the final few minutes of practice, which usually involves foul shots. Awesome. Let's see Jared break another backboard. Oh good, just in time to catch Nate practicing his half-court shot.
There is a general mood of discomfort when the media mingles with the players. Assistant coaches, usually the best source for X-and-O stuff and scouting reports (and, admittedly, some good gossip) are almost off-limits. It's kind of sad that there is such a solid divide created and maintained between the traveling beat writers and the Knicks team. I came from hockey and what was essentially a one-paper beat (most of the time we were the only paper to travel with the Islanders). I loved the interaction. It was fun to chat with equipment guys and trainers about life, not just the job. You get to know people you see every day. You develop a personal connection, which I think is important when you are establishing a positive atmosphere.
The Knicks media policy - again, which is something I believe is a Dolan order - suggests fear. Suggests a lack of confidence in their people and also suggests an overall disdain for the media. Players shake their heads at it. Writers mock it. Writers from other NBA teams find it pathetically funny. As I said before, most writers in any sport have a pipeline to the GM. A cell phone number or email. You need something off the record, some background or a question answered, the GM will do it for you. Or, at the very least, the coach. With the Knicks, that does not exist.
I don't care where I sit to be honest. Let me rephrase that: I don't care where I sit as long as it is somewhere courtside. I still have one of the best seats in the house. Baseline next to the visitor's bench. Right in the action. In earshot. Reading expressions. Seeing the play develop. Awesome. In some arenas - Cleveland, for instance - the media is shoved up in the middle bowl, well away from the court. Might as well stay at the hotel and watch it on TV. You guys have to understand it's not about having to sit with the "common folk"...it's that we're not there for entertainment. We're there to cover the game. Give the reader who likely watched the game and perhaps even went to the game a closer perspective. Sure, we get the locker room postgame (it's a total mosh pit in there, quite frankly), but insight into the game and how the team won or lost is much keener from the front lines. So this is why you hear writers complain about seat location. Hope that is a lucid explanation.
I could go on for 50,000 words about this topic. I'll spare you.

Director
Assuming a healthy Q and back to his old self, anyone of the starting five can make the all star team. Who do you think will represent the Knicks at the break this year? And who do you think will be the Most valuable Knick for the 07-08 season. Last but not least, are you brave enough to post a prediction of how many games the Knicks win and which seed do they finish in the Eastern Conference?
Thanks for a great Blog and good luck with the sink!!!!

The sink is awaiting a plumber to run new lines to the new location. So the remodel has stalled at that point. But if you ignore the exposed studs, hanging wires and torn up floor, the kitchen is looking awesome.
You're looking for predictions that are tough to make without even a training camp yet. But I'll play along...I pencil Eddy Curry as the all-star and MVP. As for wins, let's put them at 42. Yes, one over .500. Rome wasn't built in a day and any city that was certainly didn't stay built for long. As for seed...I'll refer you to the next question....

Evan
Hey Alan,
How does your playoff bound 8 look in the Eastern Conference? The EC is much improved over last year...even with the Knicks improvements ...I still feel as if they are a bubble playoff team? Thoughts?
Thanks
Usually Very Optimistic Knicks Fan

My late August, baseless and useless prediction of the Eastern Conference: 1. Miami. 2. Detroit. 3. Celtics. 4. Chicago. 5. Toronto. 6. Cleveland. 7. Nets. 8. Orlando.
Yes, I have the Knicks on the outside. But like you said, Evan, they are a bubble-team. I need to see them play before I can just toss them into the group ahead of others. The same goes for Boston, even though I put them at No. 3. I'm doing that based on the KG thing. It would be easy for me to put the Knicks at No. 8 instead of Orlando, but I can't. Not yet.

D L T Knicks
Alan
Good Blog...love bloggin'with true Knicks fan...some crazy ones too!
My Question: What do you think is our weakest position(pg,sg,sf,pf,or center) Why?.. and how/or who would improve it?(leave out Kobe).......Really is ONE question.

SF. Q is a question mark only because he is coming off back surgery. You have to see how he responds after that kind of an offseason. Jared had a bad year but how much better of an offensive player is he, really? Balkman is not a 30-minute player yet. Chandler is a kid. My second choice would be PG because you don't know how many miles Stephon has left on his body. He breaks down late in the year. And what do you have at the backup between Nate and Mardy? We really don't know who the heir apparent is.
One way to improve SF obviously is by getting Artest, but your deficiency there isn't enough to make you weaken an area of strength (i.e.: the bench) just to get him.

ItzallgudHey Alan,
Here is my mailbag question for you. I think my general question is about how much Isiah cares about this roster he has assembled via draft and trades. But I have a side question that goes along with it. We have known since the draft that Dickau and Jones couldn't be moved until the end of August. I found it peculiar that a week before, its written(Berman I think) that Dickau will be released. Do you think there is a chance that this was floated to maybe make Sacramento nervous and entice them to make a deal that was on the table for Artest? Otherwise, whats the point in letting that out?

I know it's all a business at the end of the day, but just listening to Nate and Q and Marbury and Lee and Jeffries this summer, it just feels like everyone is invested in the team and in making themselves better to succeed under Isiah. They all sound hungry in other words. I would think that would make Isiah feel good and want to keep the roster as it is right now, minus Dickau and preferably a bought out Jerome James. Thanks for your time and keep up the good work.

No one needed to "let it out" about Dickau and Jones being eligible for trade or waiver. It's a well-known rule (that I screwed up earlier this summer...rookie mistake) that a player can not be moved from your roster within two months of you acquiring that player. It just protects a guy from being tossed around. So the report you are referring to merely was one guy going out on his usual limb in an attempt to be "first" instead of being entirely accurate. Notice there was no timeframe given. Just that it was expected Dickau would be released. Being vague is one way of protecting yourself from being 100 percent wrong. It's like me saying we'll be getting rain soon. Then when it does rain I can say, See? Told you it would rain. If we have a few straight days of sun I can say, Well, I didn't say it was going to rain today!
I think you are right about the tone the players have set during the offseason. There is this feeling that the group has something to prove and wants to prove it. If Isiah senses this and has reason to believe it, then he'd be wise to leave this group alone. Remove the unecessary pieces as you stated and roll the balls out. See what you have by midseason and re-assess if need be.

Roy Tarpley
Alan:
If you believe in "second chances" and that Michael Vick should be given one, would you knowingly hire a convicted felon to work on your house or a law-abiding citizen?

If I didn't know the convicted felon but knew he was a convicted felon, I have to admit I lwould go with the law-abiding citizen 10 times out of 10. We're talking about my house, my family. A man has a protective instinct to follow and that is my first responsibility in life, not the convicted felon.
Now if you asked me if I would hire a convicted felon to work for me at my place of business, I'd need to know the man's background. That's a loaded question, Roy, with too many loopholes to discuss.
Somehow I think Mike Vick won't have trouble finding a job when he is released from prison. And he'll find plenty of people ready to give him a second chance. Fame is more valuable than money sometimes.

Kenneth
Alan, who do u think will get the most playing time as a back up guard this year if we assume stef and jamal are the starters.

I have to believe Nate Robinson will continue to move between the PG and SG spots, depending on matchups, foul situations and injuries. Nate's weakness was at the point, which is why his performance at the summer league was important. He made himself more valuable off the bench. Mardy Collins didn't get to play in the summer league because of his minor knee surgery. He brings a different element (defense, distribution) than Nate and also can play both spots. The X-factor when it comes to minutes in the backcourt is Freddy Brown. I want to see how Isiah plans to use him and how it impacts the others. Ask me again at the end of the preseason.

Trane
Wow – not sure there’s a lot left to ask. I’ll lob you an easy one but for all I know, somebody’s already asked it.
Assuming the current roster, I’d like to see your starting unit and some guidelines for positions coming off the bench? (I know we’re not allowed to ask about Artest, but let me only point out that one of the many reasons I think it’s a good idea is that it solves other line-up, substitution problems because I would start Q and Steph in the backcourt and bring Jamaal off the bench.)
Anyway, thanks Alan . . . I hope the powers that be at Newsday are aware of the revolution this summer among Knicks blogs. You deserve it. (167 posts can’t be all wrong . . . )

Whatsup Trane? Thanks for the easy one. I'm already over two and a half hours into answering these things!
My starting five: PG Steph, SG Jamal, SF Q, PF Zach, C Jerome (kidding...Eddy).
Coming off the bench (depending on matchups): David gives Eddy a blow and moves Zach to Center. Balkman comes in for Q to create more of a transition game, maybe pressure D. Jared comes in for Zach and Nate, Mardy or Freddy in for Steph for a much different look. Very athletic, but Jamal is now the focal point of the offense. Got to score on transition because halfcourt will be ugly. Malik comes in with David to go up against bigger teams (San Antonio, Miami, Boston, NJ) and Jared plays more of a 3-spot role in those situations. So many variables, Trane.

LNJ,LNY
Alan,
I've go one question, 33 sub-questions and one post. LOL.
During the next season what do you intend to do as a Knicks Beat reporter to continue to improve your coverage of the Knicks, to distinquish yourself from the other beat writers and to turn this opportunity into a telee commentary gig?
In your answer (sounds like a test question, huh?) can you give us the scoop on what relationships (that aren't going to be anonymous sources) you would look to develop on the team to get the best feel for what happens during the year; can you tell us whether Isiah Thomas gives you any special consideration, and if not, will you change his attitude towards you..

Lots of curiosity about the media biz I see.
Without giving away all of the secrets - ha - I plan on just doing what I've been doing. I like to talk the game with as many people as I can (or who are allowed to under the Dolan media restrictions) and write what I see. I don't know what else there is to do. I'm not big into making up rumors or promoting some agent's causes or trading my credibility for access to a certain player. I am what I am and I do what I do. Telee commentary gig? I think that market's been cornered by a far more experienced guy than me. Plus, I have a face for radio and a voice for closed captioning.
Answering the second part of your question, I plan on getting cozy with Dolan so I can find out just why he loves putting his team in those ugly green jerseys on St. Patty's Day. I hope to develop a great relationship with Malik Rose's tailor because we wear the same size (I ain't to proud for a natty hand-me-down Ralph Lauren Black Label) and I hope Q-Rich takes a liking to me so I can get in his Air Jordan Brand circle. Dude apparently hooks people up with all the gear he gets from Nike.
In all seriousness, you want to develop relationships with every player, even the ones who hate you for just standing there and especially the ones you hate standing there with. I think it's important that a player knows who you are, especially if you're calling him out for shooting half-court heaves and stuffing 20 McNuggets into his mouth before games. You spank and you hug.
I'm still new to the group, so Isiah doesn't know me well. We've had a few one-on-one chats, but that stuff takes time. I don't expect "special consideration" nor do I believe I should get it over anyone else. I think when that starts to happen, you can quickly get yourself into a compromising position. Then what? What good is having a pipeline to the GM that no one else has if you're being used to promote the rhetoric? I tread carefully as my mentors taught me to do. My attitude toward Isiah doesn't change from a professional level whether he smiles at me or not. When we're in the scrum, it's all business. Not personal.

Tigerkid6
Alan,
My question is this, if YOU were Isiah Thomas, what moves would you make at this point to be competitive THIS year with the elite teams in the improved atlantic division? I know you're tired about hearing names in trade talks such as "Tru Warrior", but with the current roster I can't really see the knicks being competitive with the best teams in the atlantic division, let alone the rest of eastern conference...

Hate to disappoint you, but I wouldn't do a thing. I disagree with your assessment that the Knicks won't be competitive with the best teams in the Atlantic. I think they're good enough to compete with the Nets, Raptors and Celtics. I don't know if they have enough to win the division, but they should - should - be competitive. It's all about the key players staying healthy and the Curry/Randolph thing working on the posts.

Erik Font
whats good alan,

also nate is fun and all but he is a burden. as much as i hate to say it dickau would probably be better. nate just isn't reliable. we have enough nasty flashness on the knicks and a point guard just needs to win games. i think at this point ny would be happy if we were as boring as duncan and the spurs if it meant winning.

Erik: first of all, I didn't write the Buggin Out quote, Spike did. I just love the scene. The Bird jersey on the guy pushing his bike...it's like could Spike have made him any more cliche?

Buggin Out: Not only did ya knock me down, you stepped on my brand-new white Air Jordan's I just bought, and that's all you can say is "excuse me"?

Clifton: What, are you serious?

Priceless stuff!!

I laugh at that scene and the ice cube scene Spike does with Rosie.Perez. Thank God for ice cubes.

Here I go with your 10-part question:
1. Jordan. If you had Ed Tapscott in that list, I'd say him. I still can't get over Fredric Weiss. Set the franchise back almost 10 years.
2. Ewing. I think they could have won it in '99 if he was healthy. But he was so out of shape that year, who knows. You want to believe he could have given them something against the Spurs, though.
3. Ward. Defense, defense, defense.
4. Jamal. Icewater in his veins.
5. Trevor has ridiculous upside. All the kid needs is a consistent J. But that's like saying all I need is a better command of the English language to be a great writer.
6. Dudley ruled.
7. Van Horn. Talk about cliche white guys. I mean, the high socks was one thing, but the Opie haircut and the chin fuzz? I think it ruined his game. I really do.
8. Greg Logan for Alan Hahn
9. Oakley because Patrick is a lover, not a fighter.
10. Let's see the Knicks play "team basketball" first.

DVJ
Um Alan….I don’t know if you’ve been reading YOUR blog, but in case you haven’t noticed….There has been news coming out about Artest and Josh Smith….
CAN YOU HELP US OUT A LITTLE?!?!?!?

There's no "news" as far as I know...it seems to be a lot of conversation. I haven't seen an actual report about Josh Smith, nor have I heard anything about it. Dude is a human highlight film (hey, that's a cool nickname, I should copyright it), but I'm not a fan of his basketball IQ. Again, I think Isiah would be best to leave this team alone for now. He's got a core, he's got a bench. He's got depth. He has two spots to cut that he can do at the end of camp. Certainly he would prefer not to cut a contract he'd still have to pay, but that's a small price to pay for team chemistry.

Officially, this took me almost three full hours to complete. Going to bed now. Tossing the keys to DVJ and the night shift.