Changes Are Coming
No matter what the high-ranking Garden officials are whispering to select members of the preferred media, this can't last much longer. Even as Isiah Thomas desperately tries to adhere to James Dolan's strict media policy that prohibits public criticism of players or the organization -- note: Thomas has $24 million left on his contract and wants to make sure he gets every penny -- he could not avoid the obvious after yet another defeat in which the Knicks showed no collective determination to win.
I asked him after the game, when do you reach a point where changes need to be made?
He paused a moment and I knew he was formulating his words and carefully reviewing them in his mind.
"You give it some thought . . . " he started, before another long pause.
"You know, if things do change," he then said, "it'll be a conversation we have with the players, before I have it with you. Just out of respect.
"I'm not going to come in here after a loss and then tell you, 'I'm gonna start changing things' and I haven't said that to the players."
What I know is he didn't have anything to say to the players after the dreadful loss to the 6-17 Sonics last night at the Garden. He went into his office and then right to the interview room. When he was done speaking to us, every Knick player had already dressed and split. David Lee was the only Knick to stop and talk with reporters.
Thomas tried to shake things up five games into the season when he attempted to bench Stephon Marbury. That blew up in his face and was only made worse when he surrendered to Marbury to the point that he went against the players' vote and played Marbury against the Clippers after he had ditched his team in Phoenix.
Since then, all Thomas will do is put up an optimistic front in regard to his players, when all anybody wants is for him to just be honest: This team is in desperate need of a ball-moving point guard (how many times recently has Thomas made reference to the Knicks' needing "better ball-movement" in their offense?), Curry's alarmingly awful defensive instincts make it impossible to play him and have obliterated any potential he had to be an all-star, Q-Rich, considered the heart-and-soul leader of the team last season, is not the same since that back surgery last spring . . . the offense is about as creative as stick-figure art.
"We're not a good team right now," Thomas said, sort of acknowledging all of the above.
The first and most obvious change to be made would be in the coach's chair. I wouldn't put it past Thomas to remove himself as coach -- as long as Dolan approves -- and hand over the team that has tuned him out to someone else. But can you see anyone with credibility (and with that comes ego) accepting the job under Thomas?
Jeff Van Gundy's name keeps coming up in the media, but I don't think you'll ever see him back on the Knicks bench. I say this because it's hard to believe Dolan would agree to this, considering that Van Gundy was one of the few people who had the courage to tell it like it is around here, something Dolan despises. The second is that Van Gundy only has to look at the roster, consider the contracts and know it's almost impossible for him to win with this group.
Some of you in Fixer Nation are already having visions of ping pong balls dancing in your heads. If only there were a Ewing, a Durant or Oden or LeBron, to that matter, ready for the Class of 2008. With 61 games left, it's too early to tank. And with so many other team's putting up mediocre records in the East, a playoff berth isn't at all out of the question.
But if you want that to remain a possibility, you have to act now.
So if Thomas is to stay, as those high-ranking Garden officials have insisted, what other changes could take place?
What you don't want to hear about is another ill-fated and half-hearted lineup shuffle. Moving someone like Curry to the bench is merely re-arranging the furniture. It's like sending Marbury to the bench. Unless you have someone who could do a better job, what's the point?
What the Knicks need is a blockbuster. A locker room-shaking deal. A move that creates buzz, creates a little excitement and changes the atmosphere of the room.
A wish list:
- A ball-moving point guard who lives off assists, not points, and works the offense from the top of the key like a traffic cop. A heady player who knows how to get Jamal Crawford his shots while also keeping Zach Randolph happy and yet has the stones (and credibility) to bark at either of them when Jamal goes into chuck-and-duck mode or Z-Bo morphs into a Black Hole.
- A shot-blocking center who will finally keep people out of the damn paint and not be afraid to use the six fouls the NBA gives you in each game. A big man who inspires confidence in a defense that too often is caught running around because no one trusts the other guy to be where he's supposed to be.
You get those two elements, you might have a reason to believe even Isiah can't mess it up.
Now what they don't need is more of the same rhetoric from the team president and coach that the organization believes in the players it has.
Why? Because judging by their effort and body language, the players no longer believe in the players the team has. And when you reach that point, you need change.
That's why you can expect it to happen.
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Comments (47)
The value of the players are at an all-time low and there is nobody available that would help this team. This team needs a rebuild, not another patch-up. People may be saying Isiah isn't getting fired but when we win 28 games and hopefully get a top 3 pick maybe that will change. It's not time to make any stupid moves now. This team sucks and the season is over. Isiah needs to be fired first and foremost. He should be banned from making trades and banned from even thinking about removing himself as coach. He should coach the mess he compiled, end of story.
Alan Hahn says
...or Z-Bo morphs into a BLACK HOLE.
------------------------------
... yo Rush Limbaugh, what's his complexion got to do with it? ...
... lol ... "Alan Hahn doesnt care about black people" (c) Kanye West ...
*LOOKALIKES*
... Zach Randolph & Anucha B---- Sanders ...
Why would anyone trust Isiah to make the right trade? Why would anyone trust Dolan, in case he did fire Thomas, to bring in anyone who can clean up this mess? No coach with any credibility will come to the garden. This situation is hopeless.
Alan, I agree that changes are needed, but the thought that Isiah will be making them worries me. Knicks fans overvalue our players, even now - no one around the league wants our main guys. Curry, Crawford, Marbury, even Zach would be hard to give away, let alone trade for something useful. Name a team who would give up a good rebounder, defender or distributer for any of them? There is a reason why all these guys were available in the first place. And I don't want to throw away another lottery pick to bring in some chucker with a huge contract who never sniffs the playoffs, but scored a bunch of points on a terrible team.
If we're talking changes, here's two other things for the wish list: a shooter who can spot up or come off screens and knock down shots (not Jamal dancing around at the top of the arc before launching another off-balance three with a hand in his face) , and an NBA coach.
Actually, i have a line up change for you. Right now the 5 starters (Steph, Craw, Zach, Curry, Q) are all offensive minded players. The bench is filled with defensive/rebounding/hustle type role players (Lee, Balkman, Nate, Jones, Jeffries). How about starting two of the bench guys so it's easier to get the remaning original starters into the flow early. I saw go with Zach, Lee, Jeffries, Craw and Steph. Then bring in Curry when the other team brings in some crappy back up. Curry, Q, Nate, Balkman and Jones is your second unit. Worth a shot???
At this point we getting more numb to losing and the season looks like a waisted effort. Whoever is starting or gets more playing time is irrelevant. This current roster is not working the system has failed. Losing looks habitual with this team (bad or good teams) it doesn't matter. But, to make matters worse their body language looks just as bad. This team has regressed backwards and is in need of a shake up. No one has come forward and said I like playing here in New York and want to remain here when this turns around. They have looks of "i want to get out of this mess" looks on their sorry faces. They are all losers and disgraceful to have NY on their shirts!!!
A deal that brings us Raymond Felton & Emeka Okafor would be the perfect deal....Too bad it will NEVER happen!
Forget about line up changes, the last thing we want is so start to win a few games and just miss the playoffs. Do you guys seriously want a draft pick in the mid teens?
Let's just tank and get a top 3 pick in the draft next year. Then we can start to look for trades involving our garbage such as Curry, Crawford, and Randolph.
Let Marbury walk after his contract.
Keep Nate, Lee, and Balkman. Or trade them in the final year if they want to leave, which is very likely. No one would want to stay in this mess, and I don't blame them.
But that CAN change if we get Derrick Rose or a player of his caliber. It's the only solution.
Derrick Rose is like a young Steve Francis. Nice dunks and no D. We got that already. N8.
Since the draft is the only to look forward to:
Two men that I would love to see in the Knicks uniform is either Deandre Jordan from Houston H.S or Roy Hibbert from Georgetown.
Both are monsters in the low post and 7 footers.
First off, to the guy that said Derrick Rose is like Steve Francis....you are SADLY mistaken and obviously know nothing about that player. Which brings me to my point...
Alan...I read this blog daily, never really post though. I couldn't refrain this time. I usually agree with everything you said, except for todays entire entry. Changes? You're calling for a trade? Seriously? HA! Look....I know it's a long shot, a risk, whatever you want to call it. But "tanking" for a top 3 pick in this draft is WAY more worth it than continuing on with this mess. You don't think if Dolan finally canned Isiah, announced Herb Williams and Grunwald would fill in while he finds reputable replacements, Knick fans around the world wouldn't let out a collective sigh of relief? Heck, tell everyone you're seeking help from the league to make sure you find the right guys, and people might even cut Dolan some slack around here.
Have Herb come in...or maybe even Dave Hanners who I like a lot and just play our young guys. Let it be known that we're finally going to rebuild the RIGHT way. Who WOULDN'T be happy about that? Why make another trade that's going to get us nowhere, especially when you're leaving that responsibility up to Isiah Thomas? I like Isiah as a person, but as GM and coach of the Knicks, this guy has run out of chances in my opinion.
You say there's no Lebron or Oden in this draft. There wasn't a Lebron or Oden in Chris Paul's or Dwight Howards draft class, but I'd have to think New Orleans and Orlando both have pretty pleased fan bases right now. Fact of the matter is, if you've been following college basketball at least a smidgeon, you know there is plenty of impact players in this year's draft. Namely Derrick Rose and Michael Beasely....both being the kind of player that would change this franchise completely. You want a PG who can move the ball, look no further than 6'4" Derrick Rose who they compare to Jason Kidd with Kobe/Jordan type athleticism. That's no joke....look em up on Youtube.
I'm so tired of the patch up trades and the lies fed to us by this organization. If this team had some real young talent on it, then losing games would be ok. But what's going on right now is a disgrace....which will make it that much harder to get anything of value in a trade without trading the few good players that we have. Keep the David Lees and the Renaldo Balkmans....even the Nate Robinsons. These are the guys that want to win and show it in their play every night. As for the rest....I'd be thrilled just to get back an expiring contract for Eddy as well as Zach. Same with Jamal. It's time for a change, and not the kind you're talking about Alan. C'mon.
I agree with the positions and player types suggested by Alan.
I disagree with AR that Derrick Rose, 6'5", doesn't play D, plus he is a pass first PG. Almost to a fault.
Rose, and Hardin from Cal would be great pick ups.
I don't want the 8th seed anymore. Because 3 years from now that's all this team could ever be.
The worst thing that can happen would be a Playoff spot. If you truly care about the Knicks, root for them to LOSE. That means that loser Isiah Thomas is gone. That means new management comes here and cleans house. That means a high lotto pick. What's the point in making the Playoffs as the 8th seed, getting swept by Boston and have Thomas and his losers back next season?
I agree Beasley and Rose have a huge upsides and can change a teams dynamics immediately. However, the Knicks need a defensive minded post player to set the tone for the rest of the defense. I like Beasley's size and athleticism. But he is not a center. They need to draft to their needs. After trades this year I don't know where they would stand after any trades this season and where it leaves them as a team. And more over who is going to be doing the drafting when that time comes? Isiah or someone else if this is Team Titanic:the sequel.
LOL @ AR. C'mon man. The whole point of rebuilding is to START OVER. Of course we need a defensive big....but if you land the top 1 or 2 pick...you don't pass over Rose or Beasley who by the way can defend in the post among the million other things he does. Either of those 2 players would be an amazing start to a rebuild...then you either draft a big next year, or try to trade for a young one during the season. You don't have to do it all at once, and certainly don't have to draft for your needs if you're rebuilding. Theres no such thing. Like I said, rebuilding means starting over, which means your "needs" are at every position. Thing is, we already have some nice players...but their burried on the bench. Trade the overpaid morons. If the Knicks trotted out a starting lineup next year with Derrick Rose at PG, and Wilson Chandler/Balkman and Lee at the forward spots...I'd be happy as can be. Not to mention, we'd see the lottery again next year and pick up yet another impact player. Anyone who doesn't see this as the most legit option is out of their mind.
Its easier said than done with regaurds to trading players for expiring contracts with that said, how about a Curry trade for Kwame Brown? Q for Ira newble and eric snow and Crawford for hakeem warrick and stromile swift? these are all expiring contracts and these players are hardly used on their respective teams. The players the knicks are giving up could help the new teams by being productive players off the bench. The knicks would save over 70 millin over 4 years and we would have a horrible team and thus end up with a top 3 pick can u say Rose, Mayo or Beasley?????
When all else fails, feed these Knicks players steroids and all kinds of performance enhancing drugs. That's the quick fix solution that Coach Thomas is contemplating right now.
And Isiah is the kind of person to make this happen.
Hey jl....those are the exact kind of moves I'd love to make happen right now. If Dolan was smart enough to can Zeke already and bring in someone who knew what they were doing, those are the kinda moves they'd be doing too. It's called blowing it up. Do we give up a bunch of talent for basically nothing? Hell yeah. But we'd be under the cap by the end of next year. It's a NO BRAINER! The sad part is that it's going to be hard just to get expirings for these guys. (especially Q and his uninsured back) All this "talent" we have isn't looking so talented right now. Who wants Curry when it's known league-wide how unpassionate and effortless his game is? Zach is putting up numbers...but he's still a NY Knick with a giant contract. This is no easy puzzle to figure out. That's why the sooner Zeke is gone, the better. We need someone with credentials to come in and sort this mess out.
I dont know about you guys, but Jermaine O'neal and Jamal Tinsley are about the best answer out there. JO to get stops and blocks in the paint and score too. Tinsley for all of his faults at least dishes dimes. If only Bird didnt hate Thomas.
It might be fun to ponder potential GM/coach teams that could dig NYK out of this mess. My top choice would be Greg Anthony GM/Tom Thibideau coach.
But I could also get excited about:
Donnie Walsh/Rick Carlisle
Allan Houston GM/Mark Jackson coach
I don't think Herb Williams is the long term answer. He's too tied to the Isiah regime, and if he was really a star then he wouldn't have been interim coach a half dozen times.
I'm interested in hearing other folks ideas about who might take over.
^Why would you want Allan Houston or Greg Anthony as GM? Im tired of experimenting with our execs. Its like a little game Dolan plays as he tinkers with his half billion dollar toy that is the Knicks. Time to get someone with real experience in here. That's like making Ewing the head coach based off his sentimental value. EXPERIENCE. It's what the Knicks need. They need a leader in the front office that know's what they're doing...that has a specific plan of action and the balls to see it through.
With that, I don't have many suggestions besides the obvious few. I'd really love to see Jerry Collangelo come in here and work some magic as some reports were suggesting he'd be interested in doing. If that's a no-go....then I just hope to God Dolan stops being so stubborn and lets David Stern help him search for a worthy replacement. As for Herb Williams...once again he'd just be the interim coach to tank with while we look for someone worthy of that spot too. To be honest, I'd rather give Dave Hanners a chance at interim coach....he did a really nice job with the young guys in the summer league. Maybe the guys cling to him, have some success and we bring him back next year too. We're in no rush as far as coaches go....but GM? Damn we better fix that soon.
First of all these losses have been hitting me hard. I take it personal man! Next-I dont think Isiah will be fired. Dolan held on to Sather with the Rangers and will do the same with Isiah. What I do believe will happen is that they will be sellers at the trading deadline and get expiring and young talent. They believed they had a chance to compete with this squad and it has failed miserably. At this point the plans commence for 2009. Several players should stay. I am not down on Zach and Crawford. With defensive players around both of them the knicks can win. If I were Isiah...I would do the unthinkable and bring in Artest if possible-what do you have to lose. Give them any of the following: Curry, Marbury, Q, Rose, Jeffries, Balkman, Collins, Chandler and or James. Except for Balkman and Chandler they are all are all players who should go. Next year you get a top 3 pick, Isaih goes back to being GM and brings back van Gundy and Kurt Thomas said he would come back to be the veteran leadership. The front office cleans up its act and we offer Lebron half of Madison square garden to be a Knick.
For the immediate future we can have Crawford, Artest and Zach all you need is a shot blocker and distributor. The bench would still have Nate and Lee. Vote Me for GM! Damn all the losing has me delirious.
Guys, let's get one thing straight. No more trades! The only trades that can help this team are impossible, i.e. Kobe or LeBron.
We need to get over this silly idea that we can make a trade that will help this team. When we make a trade, let's make it for all the right reasons. The reasons being that 1) Clean house 2) Draft picks.
I don't want any trade will get a decent player in return. We might actually start winning a few games, end up 10 in the East, and blow our chance at a top 3 pick.
This may sound like an incredbily cynical approach, but we this band-aid approach has to stop. Let the bleeding continue. Help it if we must.
But our goal should be Derrick Rose in 2008.
And several other draft picks if anyone will take Curry, Crawford, and Zach.
Kilolo: You certainly do NOT have a future as a GM.
DNM: I completely agree.
I can only wish that we have a draft that Portland just had.
We need to gut this team and start from scratch like the Blazers. It's very possible too considering that if all we want is draft picks from Curry, Crawford, and Zach.
But IT is so hated around the league that no other GM may want to deal with him.
Boy was I wrong when I praised IT on draft night when he "stole" Zach from Portland. Turns out Portland was right all along.
Addition by subtraction. The template is there for us to follow. We just need someone to carry it out.
We know that IT's ego will never get it done.
Like Eric suggested, Colangelo would be a god-send.
Not that it matters anymore, but I blame last nights lost (to the lowly Sonics) on Isiah. He can try to allude to other people as to why. But Jefferies (even though everyone hates him) was playing well and he pulled him with 2 minutes left for Curry. Who was sitting on the bench for quit some time. Even the look on Zach face when Curry check in was of disappointment. Need less to say we couldn't get a stop or a rebound down the stretch and the Sonic went on to win.
Also didn't Balkman shut down Durant over the summer league? I know it was only summer league but why not see if he could have done it in the regular season. Is Balkman in the dog house now?
Not that it matters anymore.
Henry: Agree with you 100%.
Jeffries was actually having a pretty good game...but I will never understand why he was yanked for Curry late in the 4th.
What the hell was Curry in there for anyway? And if I remember correctly, this happened when we were on defense. Unless IT expected that Curry was going to be another offensive option the next trip.
And unless Balkman is hurt, I don't know why IT won't play him. Maybe it's him picking up a lot of fouls, who knows.
Sometimes it feels like IT is secretly tanking this season. Or maybe he's just an idiot for a coach.
He's an idiot, because they’re times when the opposing team goes on a run and god forbid he call a time out.
And how hard is it to teach a pick and roll defense? Or help defense?
And that stupid offense, drop the ball down to Eddy or Zach and stand around in case they get in trouble. Then hoist up a three with the shot clock running down. Then watch the lay-up drill on the other side of the court. It's boring/horrible to watch.
And why, when we're getting blown out (which is the norm now) doesn't he play Morris, Collins or Chandler. Chandler can learn and he might be a player.
@eric
where have you been man,,,your insight is much appreciated. as for myself, i have been much too depressed about the state of the knicks to comment in these pages in recent days. but eric, your frustration is boiling over into words, and it's a beautiful thing.
the only hope for this franchise, short of an act of god (dolan's death), is for colangelo to come in and clean up the mess. obviously he would clean house (clear contracts), and start the rebuild.
the kids (lee, balkman, n8) should stay, and i do thnk that jamal and zbo could succeed with the right players around them (a defensive center, a pass-first point, an assasin from downtown). it's not so easy to replace the numbers these two guys are capable of. yes, zbo needs to hustle back more, and jamal needs to put consistent heart into his D (and lay off his kool-aid), but were they to be surrounded by better leadership on and off the court, they could be part of the solution.
the patient is terminal, the death watch has officially begun. whether isiah-bitch goes now or later, he will go, as the bleeding isn't about to stop. in the meanwhile, it is time to move on from the curry-craqberry era. jeffries yeah i know, he's spastic) should become the center, lee the pf, zbo the 3, and jamal/fred/n8 should share the minutes in the backcourt. yes, this team will suck too, but it would have a heartbeat, and would we really hate them like we do the current crew?
someone will give us an expiring contract and a mid-level one for curry (the lakers, nets?). Q (back) and steph (head) are untradable, unless riley wants to take a wild last gasp shot on d'wade-shaq-craq. Q can be useful off the bench, craqberry would be poison to have around for a rebuild, he will have to bought out after the trade deadline passes. jamal is tradeable, though you won't get much for him unless he's part of a bigger deal. zbo actually has a lot of value in this league, certainly an expiring and a mid-one. n8-s only a throw-in, and trading balkman or lee would be really stupid.
it's gotten late early, and the ship be sunk.
I still don't understand how Nate was leading the team in scorring in the first half. Then he only plays 4 minutes in the second. Nate was driving the ball and going to the lane. He's still the best jump shooter on the team. All summer we heard about nate and now he is on the bench.
How can you start collins for 4 games to punish Marbury. Then Marbury goes out and you don't even play collins.
He is taking the season. Whe should be used to this because he's becoming Larry Brown before our eyes. If you think back two years ago we had the very same issues with Larry that we are having with Thomas right now.
Tobacco Road
So basically you want Andre Miller and Samuel Dalembert?
Think we could trade Nate, Jeffries and Curry for them? What would it take? Lee? I'd send Marbury, but contracts probably won't align
People that root for their team to lose are not real fans. Fixers are sheep and Hahny is the shepherd. Who encourages home fans to boo their own team? What happened to home court advantage? What you are doing here is sickening.
Alan,
Your analysis is right on the money. IMO, what has to happen is the separation of GM duties from coach loyalties. Isiah must be forced to become an impartial coach rather than a nice uncle to these guys.
Assuming Isiah is relieved of coaching duties, he should be replaced by LB or Van Gundy precisely because either one has the guts to turn this thing around.
Hand the GMing over to Magic. He wants it, he feels it, and he can do it. Dolan needs to just shut up and go away for a while.
In terms of talent to be moved. Curry and Crawford both need to go. Sooner is better.
I would love to see Andre Miller take over at PG with Marbury (who is immovable at this juncture) moving over to SG. Maybe Philly would take Curry as a project more or less for Curry.
Toronto needs a PG - they might ship Nesterovic for Crawford, Rasho is not an ideal Curry replacement but might be enough to make us respectable.
I am not a fan of tanking. The history of lottery teams is in many cases disappointing and we're almost ten years into a rebuild (such as it is). It may be possible to build out this team but Isiah's personal coupling to untenable players is killing us.
Isiah has to get out of the business of "benching" layers and just play the best combinations - to hell with names and salaries.
The fan base really does need to take a sabbatical from booing because, quite frankly, it is just making a bad act worse. We have to let these guys breathe enough to pull themselves out of the tailspin. The continuous hate behavior can turn into a self-fulfilling prophecy that takes a life of its own above and beyond our team's bad play. That would only prolong the tailspin and isn't a smart response.
Assuming Miller at PG and somebody who can block a few shots at center, there's plenty of talent here to make some noise in the playoffs.
WE ARE ONE GAME IN FRONT OF MIAMI FOR THE WORST RECORD IN THE EASTERN CONFERENCE!
why not just go young...play randolph morris,wilson chandler,david lee,and all the other young guys.
LETS SEE WHAT THEY GOT...
why play all the rich lazy veterans who don't care about winning.the season is almost lost...
EDDY CURRY IS A LOST CAUSE.
LAZY,NO DEFENSE...NO EFFORT.I AM TIRED OF SEEING HIS FACE...REALLY...EVERYTIME I SEE HIM I THINK ABOUT ALL THE DRAFT PICKS I.T. GAVE UP TO GET HIM AND IT MAKES ME MAD.HE SHOULD JUST RETIRE...
IF ANYONE TRADES FOR CURRY WE SHOULD THROW A PARTY....
Infinity,
Don't confuse the record with the talent. We agree Curry must go.
Philly has a young PG who needs minutes and Curry is simply a player who doesn't belong in NY. Andre Miller is just a backup for a rebuilding team there. Curry would add gravitas to their center position and is slightly more inexpensive and younger.
The veterans are not so much lazy as ill-fitted to each other. Zach works very well with centers who don't need the ball (Curry needs the ball). Curry works best with self-less PFs (unlike Randolph who needs the ball).
My bet is that a guy like Jerome James will be more effective playing with Randolph than Curry is. This doesn't make Curry a lazy guy per se, just a guy who isn't selfless enough (or savvy enough) to work with Randolph.
It also screws up Isiah's offense in that Curry is a bad bet as an offensive centerpiece, here he needs to play 'D' not 'O' - something very hard for him. In a place like Philly, Dalembert plays 'D' so Curry would complement what they have there.
In fact Q and Jeffries are both playing better each outing more or less. The losses make that hard to see. A guy like Andre Miller (or even an Earl Watson) would do wonders for confidence in NY.
We just need somebody steady. And once in place, Marbury could go back to being Marbury and play his game instead of this subdued superstar role. Marbury needs to score at will instead of second-guess himself playing PG.
This team needs to simply rid itself of confusing excess (Curry and Crawford) and get on with winning some games.
Stock-piling talent is not the same as winning.
FWK,
My mainest man, I agree about Curry but I think I'd prefer to keep Crawford over Marbury. Crawfords synergy with Curry can be replaced with his burgeoning synergy with Randolph. There was a play in the Sonic game, 1 minute and change to go in the 3rd quarter. Crawford fed Zach in the low post. The double came quick so Zack bounced it back out to Craw at the arc who immediately flicked it back down to Zach as the double had dissipated. Zach makes the pretty hoop and points to Craw as he runs back up the court.
A Zach/Crawford focused team is an upgrade over a Marbury/Curry team.
it says a lot about this team that the only company willing to sponsor the backdrop (look at the picture) is Dolan's own Cablevision..
im sick after watching that video of the late 90's playoffs.
Kam,
First, Crawford has no synergy. He's a chucker. He's played horse here to win a few dramatic games but plays zero 'D'. But okay, I'll put my personal disregard for Crawford on hold.
Even if you want to keep Crawford -shudder-, how do you plan on getting rid of Marbury? Nobody wants him, his Dad died and Marbs declared he wants to retire a Knick, and he has more talent in one hand than Crawford ever will.
The bottom line is that Crawford is movable and needs to be moved. there's probably a few takers out there.
And, quite frankly I don't see a Marbury Curry synergy either. Good Lord, get rid of Curry.
Maybe its time to hire Spike Lee as a GM huh..
I keep saying this. Pau Gasol is a perfect fit for the Knicks. 7' feet tall. Plays D rebounds and always plays hard. I think him and Randolf at Center and power forward will be really good under a better coach. Need to find a pass first Point guard. Go hard after Ron Artest. And I can guaranteed that we will be better than we are now. The season is not over we still have a chance. The only thing holding us back is James Dolan. He has to make the first move firde IT. IT wont quit. IT wont trade any player he brought here. He wont know what to say to the news if he did that. He wont admit he made some mistakes. Later. GM hire someone with a good backround. NY wont be a good place for a bigginer. Like I said before Marbury has to go. He is like a Cancer to this team.
Hello All Disgusted, Miserable, Die-Hard Knick Fans,
Sunday December 30th 2007
11:00 AM (Noon Game)
Protest in front of MSG to OUST ISIAH.
The time has come to raise our voices.
Knicks vs. Bulls (Sure to be another pitiful loss!)
email: joeyvworks@yahoo.com
Step up and push to get Isiah removed!
Hello All Disgusted, Miserable, Die-Hard Knick Fans,
Sunday December 30th 2007
11:00 AM (Noon Game)
Protest in front of MSG to OUST ISIAH.
The time has come to raise our voices.
Knicks vs. Bulls (Sure to be another pitiful loss!)
email: joeyvworks@yahoo.com
Step up and push to get Isiah removed!
It has reached the point where wins and losses really don't matter, and whether they fire Isiah or they don't doesn't matter. The team and the franchise reeks from the top down.
Yes, they won last night. And yes, the team will win 35 game or so. And the team will categorize that as a victory. They will choose another swingman with the 10th pick in the draft, maybe trade for another player from a losing program. And they will win 37 games next year.
The Knicks are on track to be, at best, mediocre for the next decade.
I've about had it. As a long time Knicks, fan, I'm ready to ignore them.
Alan, you have done an amazing job with this blog. Too bad its about a lousy topic like the Knicks.
And Fixers, you are a strong and powerful community. Its too bad you are doomed to root for such a dysfunctional franchise.
Hey, only 90 days to pitchers and catchers.
REY T, WHY IS IT THAT PEOPLE LIKE U ALWAYS WANT TO BASH STEPH. THE GUY IS SACRIFICING AND YET HE IS A CANCER. HECK LET ME TELL U, LET STEPH BE STEPH AND U GONNA GET RESULTS FROM HIM. PUT THE BALL IN HIS HAND AND MAKE HIM RUN THE OFFENCE INSTEAD OF CRAWFORD. THERE ARE TEAMS OUT THERE WHO WILL GO FOR STEPH WHEN HIS CONTRACT HAS EXPIRED. HE IS JUST EXPENSIVE AND TEAMS DON'T WANT TO BE ON THE SALARY CAP. HECK, PAIR HIM UP IN MIAMI WITH WADE AND SHAQ AND THAT SPELLS TROUBLE IN THE EAST. I BET U THE MIAMI WILL TAKE MARBURY OVER JASON WILLIAM. IS NOT LIKE HE CAN'T PENETRATE OR SHOOT, HE STILL GOT GAME IN HIM. ISIAH JUST DON'T KNOW HOW TO USE HIM. DID U GUYS FORGET DURING THE LARRY BROWN ERA, WHEN HE WAS PLAYING AS STARBURY AND JAMAL WAS THE GUY OF THE BENCH. THE KNICKS WON 6 GAME WINNING STREAK BEFORE STEPH WAS INJURED BY THE WALLY SZERBIAK PICK. COME ON MAN U WOULD RATHER WANT THE BALL IN JAMAL'S HAND RATHER THAN STEPH? LOOK AT WHEN LARRY BROWN WAS THE COACH, CHANNING FRYE WAS PLAYING BETTER BUT WHEN ISIAH TOOK OVER AS THE COACH, HE COULD NOT USE FRYE TO HIS POTENTIAL THATS WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE KNICKS. ISIAH TRUST CRAWFORD, CURRY AND RANDOLPH THAT HE PUTS THE BALL IN THEIR HANDS MOST OF THE TIME. SO DON'T BLAME STEPH. IF THE KNICKS HAD A BETTER COACH LIKE BARON SCOTT OR FLIP SANDERS, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO GET THE BEST RESULT OUT OF MARBURY, EVEN LARRY BROWN DID. SO WHY CAN'T ISIAH DO THE SAME THING.
How can you get rid of Jamal when he is one of the only Knicks who can actually make an open shot. Zach Randolph is another. I LOVE David Lee and like Balkman and Nate. But who is going to score? A team of nonshooters. And, a collective basketball IQ in the moron range.
traderHSS,
Jamal will never reach his potential here and he is redundant. He is not a PG and that's what we need. Marbury is a better 2 guard than Jamal.
Ergo, trade Crawford for something we need.
Crawford and Balkman for Andre Miller. There's plenty of firepower here without Crawford.
see: http://knicksmecca.blogspot.com