Just how miserable is Stephon Marbury as a Knick? As he headed out the door of the hallway outside the visitors locker room at the IZOD Center, he flashed a big smile when he saw a few familiar faces and sang, "Three straight!"
It's a nice break from the norm around here, that's for sure. We can analyze what it means (it means they added three wins to the left column), if this could be a turning point of the season (are you serious?) and why all of a sudden the Knicks seem to be doing all of the things you might have expected of them in November (Jamal Crawford is shooting lights out right now, Zach Randolph is making quicker decisions with the ball and their opponents aren't shooting well). I'm sure there are varying theories all throughout Fixer land. Lemme hear them. 
I think it begins and ends with Crawford, who has supplanted Stephon as The Man in the Knick offense. He's always been a streaky shooter and lately his dribble-drive pull-ups have been money. Jamal's game continues to evolve on the offensive end to where he's not just a chuck-and-duck kind of player, but he's finding people when he gets into the paint. He also is moving quickly from strong side to weak side and running his man off picks. Jason Kidd looked exhausted by the end of the game from chasing JC around.
Here's an old trick that Jamal uses quite a bit: when he gets into the lane and a big converges, he'll yell "Ohh!" as if he just got mugged. Some referees just can't resist the Pavlovian response.
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Lots of Knick-related rumors coming out of Sacramento lately. Is Geoff Petrie trying to put public pressure on Isiah Thomas, who, apparently, refuses to give up David Lee? The latest suggests the Knicks could be close to getting Mike Bibby, but Isiah won't give up David Lee. There was also a suggestion that Crawford has been shopped around, as well.
Isiah keeps insisting he's not looking to sell the farm because he sees that there are plenty of vultures out there poised to strip the carcass.
But there is something to be said about playing hard to get.
Still, do you make a trade right now at 12-26? Is it worth it to give up a young blue chipper such as D-Lee in a deal that brings you Mike Bibby? Is the short-term gain worth it?
I think you're better off staying in the holding pattern. Don't be easily seduced by the idea of the quick fix (just be seduced by the Knix Fix).
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I'm sure you guys saw the print edition stories that addressed the ESPN report that said Zach Randolph, in front of his teammates, told Isiah to trade him after the loss to Toronto last week. Isiah said he didn't hear it and Randolph said it wasn't true.
Actually, Z-Bo said, "Nah, nah, nah, hell nah."
I asked a few Knicks people about it and no one could (or would) recall Randolph making that kind of demand. But we all know things are muttered and murmured (and Zach definitely does a lot of muttering and murmuring) in the heat of the moment.
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David Lee has two claw marks on his upper back. Looks like he was attacked by a mountain lion. He said it was from the Wizards game. Hope he got the number.
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Quick programming note: I've heard from a few of you in Fixer Nation about the condition of the blog lately. I stopped doing the PreGame routine because I thought it didn't have much of a shelf-life. However I didn't realize it provided a place for "live-blogging" to take place and comments to be made throughout the game. So it'll be back on Friday against the Wizards and will remain the rest of the season.
Comments (18)
I’ve gone back and forth about Lee since last summer. At first I thought it was a no-brainer. You try to substitute someone else, but for a player of, say, Artest’s abilities, yes, you give up a role player like Lee – even though he’s a role player par excellence.
Now I’m not so sure. Even though Lee hasn’t taken another big step forward with his game this season, he could still be very valuable to this team for a long time. So – no, I wouldn’t trade Lee, unless it was part of a package for a franchise player. That, of course, IS a no-brainer. They just don’t come around very often.
Yet, when I look at this team, I see a LOT of 2nd unit/role players, and very few who can hold down their position starting on a serious professional basketball team. At some point, we need a starting unit. Despite Crawford’s resurgence of late, I still think he’d be most valuable coming off the bench. And yet, for a team with as little talent as the Knicks have, we can’t afford that. So he’s gotta start. Nate is also playing a very high level, but will never be a starter in this league. All that said, small forward might still be our biggest need at the moment. Too bad Isiah didn’t draft one and use some of this year bringing him along and seeing what he’s got. Every time Q takes the court, I’m afraid he’s going to break in half. Despite all the chaos and inconsistent play all year, my feeling is the biggest obstacle to success has been the hole at small forward. We’ve had absolutely nothing from that position all year. And look at what’s happened the minute we start to get even marginal production from the 3 spot.
It seems that having Marbury out and Jamal playing the lead guard makes Jamal more unselfish - like he embraces the roll of playmaker unlike when he is primarily the 2. He is streaky and on a tear right now, so he looks better than he is (just like when he's going 5-18, he looks worse than he is).
I don't think this streak is totally fool's gold - if anything is is reassuring to see that there are some guys on the roster who can play. I don't see the nucleus of a contending team here, but it is definitely more intriguing than the wasteland of the last few weeks.
I would NOT trade for Bibby in any circumstances (except maybe if the Kings would take a package built around Zach and James). One of my biggest complaints about Isiah's "management" is that he trades for names with no thought for how they fit in to the team he is supposedly building. Bibby is a shoot-first point without much in the way of size or speed. He is also getting on in age and was never much on d. At guard, the Knicks need either a floor general or a big 2 with a consistent perimeter shot so Jamal can move to the bench (Bibby can shoot, but he can't play the 2), and plus defenders at both spots. Bibby provides none of this. He also isn't that good - what have the Kings accomplished since the Webber/Peja/ Vlade core was broken up? I don't even think he is a "quick fix" - really, what is Bibby going to do to transform this current team?
And I certainly wouldn't give up Lee for him - Lee is the kind of guy who would still be valuable on a contender as much as a lotto team. An efficient guy who boards and doesn't need the ball to be effective. There is a reason why Petrie is pushing for this deal, and if Isiah bites, he is even worse of a manager then I dreamed.
I J.Kidd can play another 4 years the way he is going....All jokes aside the guy is good! I wonder If thorn w/ be interest's in taking back Stephon (only to buy him out) for Kidd? I know one can dream!...LOL
Marbury on any NBA team= bad.....I remember when the guys 1st came here...27 years old, and elite PG, a 20 and 8 guy...now just a scrub...His name/ Contract has been involved in many trade scenarios...so what should the knicks do?
Well according to many sources.....Knicks are interested in Artest and Larry Hughes. Ok I know Artest might cost us Balkman or Lee, and Hughes is always injured....But lets assume the best case scenario...
-Knicks deal Marbury for Hughes...(after this Trade I can totally picture the Cavs trading Marbury to Sacramento w/ a 1st round pick for Bibby)
-The trade Jerome James Malik Rose, Fred Jones, (That's close to 20million off the cap for Next year) 1st round pick, and David Lee and Mardy Collins, for Kenny Thomas and Artest and Brad Miller
NOW....this deal will make our front court defensive minded, also make the entire d-fense better, putting Artest and Hughes in the starting 5 is an extra 5 steals a games. Forgot about Offense since the Knicks can score. I don't like the Idea of getting Mike Bibby, since he is another scorer...something we don't need. I think if they Knicks make this trade there become an elite team on paper....
C-Curry
PF-Z.bo
SF-Artest
SG-Huges
PG-Crawford
Bench
-Nate
-Balkman
-Brad Miller
-Kenny Thomas
trane ur the worst,ur opinions are like jellyfish no backbone
Alan likes the lyrics, so I offer this:
Got no job in the city, postin' as Anonymous every night & day
And I never lost one minute of typin',
Claimin' I knew the way things should have been.
Big baby keep on cryin',
Poor baby keep on tryin',
Trollin', Trollin'...
Trollin' on the Knicks blog
Cleaned me off the Knicks Fix as Mark,
Postin' obvious stuff, like we're all in the dark.
But I never thought of doing it well,
Keep echoin' crap, like I'm down in a well.
Trollin', Trollin', Trollin' on the Knicks blog...
Please put away the ESPN Draft machine. It's like crack for sports fans. I was listening to Max Kellerman's show on the way to practice and so many Knicks fans calling in with trade ideas. Shut it down already! Trading half the mediocre Kings to the awful Knicks will only make you mediocre. Get under the cap and don't trade away good character players who will be part of the solution one day.
Love the lyrics, Old School. Like where your head is at.
Heading to DC right after practice....
Actually, Z-Bo said, "Nah, nah, nah, hell nah."
Heheheheheheh
Hey Beavis Zach is cool, yeah
While it's nice to get some W's, as I look in the rearview mirror, I see Derrick Rose moving further away. I'm sure will win just enough to lose out on one of the 4-5 impact guys coming out of this draft.
There’s so much frustration that it’s natural to want to see trades. But Alan has convinced me this is the wrong time. His main argument that is that you’re bargaining from weakness, because everyone knows we’re desperate. At the same time, do we really want Isiah Thomas making those decision? I don’t. He’s proven that building a franchise is not his strength. Setting aside for a moment the question of his much-vaunted “eye for talent” . . . the problem is, that doesn’t translate into making good decisions about putting a roster together. Also, now that he’s got a few wins under his belt, you have to worry he might trade for a quick fix. I would consider Bibby a quick fix. This team doesn’t need another 30-something PG. Bibby himself isn’t the problem. It’s what we’d have to give up to get him. It’s not impossible to imagine this team sneaking into the playoffs. Which could be a total disaster if (1) it means Isiah isn’t fired this summer and (2) we don’t get a lottery pick.
In the very last days before Nixon resigned, the rumor is that Al Haig (his chief of staff), contacted all the relevant cabinet members and heads of the military, to make sure his boss didn’t go a little nutsy and do something stupid. Essentially saying: If my boss calls, pay no attention, and call me right away. I hope someone is protecting the Knicks from Isiah in a similar way.
BTW - Old School -- great lyrics. I've been trying . . . and failing. Nice work.
trane when we want ur opinion, alan will give it to you
check dis lyric out
you'd know me for sure
if you were in the loop
my name is trayne
altho not like choo-choo
i come to the fix
and discuss the knix politrix
never talk about hoops
cuz about that i know d1ck
not a bit, not a little,
not a smidgeon
why chat wit me
when you get the same thing
talking to a pigeon
so thats the deal
now you know the scoop
ev'rything out my mouth is
poop, poop, poop.
I'm flattered. Any adman will tell you - no such thing as bad publicity. It's nice to have fans.
poop, poop, poop
Hey – I’ve had good reviews in my life. And I’ve had bad reviews. A very smart producer once told me: Don’t start to worry until they stop paying attention. So keep it coming, my man. You’re making my day.
i'll lend u some help
dftt
poop, poop, poop
dont trade lee or crawford offer anyone else on the roster (try not to trade nate) but those two should be untouchable based on their attitudes and talents. The biggest difference and the reason for this small taste of glory is that the cancer is gone, our hair is starting to grow back. BYE BYE SO CALLED STARBURY do us a favor and dont ever come back...
Alan, last night nate robinson had a poor shooting night and still was able to make an impact on the floor. He's looking more and more like a point guard to me every game. Last night after he hit that 3 and the knicks went up 14 he soon would come out. Then new jersey tied it up, nate came back in, found jamal for those clutch shots and we won the game. By the way nate didn't play much in the first quarter and thats when Jkidd did his damage. Nate played well on him for the rest of the night.
I normally don’t respond to the Trolls like “trayne” but, as they say, imitation is the highest form of flattery.
Obviously it’s either Mark (The Man Without a Blog) or, worse yet, a Mark Wannabe. I don’t think there’s any lower form of existence than someone who’s a bad imitation of Mark. That’s rock bottom. Even for a Troll. DFTT.