Been meaning to say it's great to have some of you Original Fixers (OF's) back in the suite. We should point out to those prodigal sons from the early days of Fixer Nation that we've sort of adopted some sayings that were often used (and appreciated) by posters back in the early days. One of the best phrases was "Just bloggin'."
The multi-purposeness of the phrase -- and how it became a staple in the comments area -- motivated me to make it part of the parlance here now.
Aside from that, love the energy that's been generated lately. Concern remains at an all-time high and yet there seems to be a hunger for optimism.
But a few things:
Jerryd Bayless as the "one that got away" is a bit of a stretch right now, unless you're trying to be like Starberman and make a finite statement so come March you can credit your mystical powers of foresight and instinct.
Whatever Uncool-aid you may find yourself drinking right now, chase it with a sobering cup of get-a-grip. We're basing projections on summer league games. Summer league.
Should I remind some of you here that Nate Robinson was the MVP of this elite circuit last season. How'd that work out for him come November?
Bayless, we knew, is a scoring talent. That's his dimension. The Knicks discussed him in the war room -- along with Eric Gordon (clearly not the one who got away because he came up lame with a hammy....to follow some logic promoted here) -- but decided neither was better than what they had currently on the roster. The guards they targeted were OJ Mayo and Russell Westbrook. I know this for fact - those were the guards the Knicks wanted and if that Memphis thing could have worked out on draft night the Knicks might have wound up with Mayo (trading love to Minnesota like the Grizz wound up doing).
They went with Gallo because he gave them what they were looking for most: potential.
One thing I don't disagree with some of you on is Joe Alexander. That's my potential "one that got away."
As for Starberman and the Italian scout saying Gallo was always getting hurt....not quite how I heard it. What I was told is Danilo isn't soft, but maybe too bull-headed. Kid takes a beating and keeps on coming (as we saw when he kept going at the rim against the Cavs and redwood-thick Tractor Traylor). Problem is, that can result in being worn down. Let's remember he's 19, not 25. Not yet a man in either the physical or mental POV.
Just bloggin. (copywrited, used with permission, some assembly required)
Comments (49)
@ willis, pete, brian, even peace....great posts in last discussion. as alan wrote, the energy and thoughts in here of late have been really impressive. thanks.
Jerryd Bayless...the one that got away? How about 1.3 assists per game versus 4.7 turnovers...against summer league competition? He fell into the perfect situation in Portland where he can have Roy running the point when he is in, so he can play shooting guard on offense but guard point guards. Even if he excels this year in Portland, can we all please think about how bad he would look running the point for the Knicks?
i like when you make fun of Berman lol
The other one that got away (sob):
http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=9515
... Anthony Randolph and JJ Hickson also look like sleepers, who could possibly have better rookie seasons and better futures than Gallinari ... i wanted the Knicks to pick Randolph or Bayless ... at times during Summer League play, Bayless looks like the 2nd coming of Tony Parker ...
Good lookin' out Alan..
I would even go so far as to say Steady started that 'just bloggin' around this time last year, but that's just how i remember the evolution of the phrase on the knicks blogosphere.
Also, enjoyed the Hunter S. Thompson references in the preceding post. For years, I really admired his work, and then I read a Page Two article where he was tearing the Knicks to shreds! I believed I then called him a senile old fart (I've also used this phrase to describe Charlie Rosen over at Fox Sports) but have since forgiven him as he was probably right. He is to me an American hero. Just found it weird at the time that a guy who had covered desert motorcycle races could be such a knick hater but it turns out we did suck (some would argue that we still do but i'm waiting for the ball to go up in november before coming to any foregone conclusions).
still waiting to see that documentary Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson. It is still playing over at Anjelika on Houston Street, maybe I will try to make it this week in keeping with the theme of the Knicks recent stint in Vegas.
in knicksland I must say this: the absolute best thing right now for the 2010 plan would if Team USA wins the gold this summer. obviously we hope that happens in any case, but it would go a long ways towards securing one of the big-time players on that squad when the time comes.
'just bloggin
Anyone have the copyright on "wacky"?
Any truth to the rumor that Berman has his bags packed and will follow Starbury to Boston, Miami, or Italy?
Just bloggin
What about "Troll" I think that's pretty d@mn funny? Holla!
correct me if i am wrong, but:
according to alan, wacky belongs to the guy from the newsday it department. the guy who told us to "deal with it".
"don't feed the trolls" is the invention of mr. Trane.
I'm really glad some of the other beat writers are calling out Bermanbury aka Starberman for his lack of credibility in the last 6-12 months. He is making the NY Post look worse than the National Enquirer when it comes to journalistic ethics in my opinion.
European players are always high risk,high reward
that is why thought it was curious that we drafted
Gallo at #6
the knicks don't need potential they need
people that can actually play the game
the knock on euro players is that they are soft
the knicks are already soft as tissue paper
Bayless i thought would be a sure thing
i know they say it would be replication but
bayless does stuff that no one on the knicks does...
like take it to the hole and draw fouls
he did the same thing at AZ
remember that was the knock on gilbert "Agent Zero"
that his assists were low and that he did not have the vision
to be PG...now look at him.
he a super star
i think that Bayless has star potential
the question is does Gallo?
Anthony Randolph was another one
i thought should have been a knick
when all things are even
i say go American
Kudos to Al for exposing that babysitter Marc Berman. Can you please tell him to quit that corny "Italian Stallion" nickname for Danilo Gallinari?
I Read in some Chi town paper
that Curry put on some extra pounds
because of inactivity from the knee surgery
he working out right now but they say he much bigger
than last year
Alan
have you heard anything on curry's condition?
Berman suggests that Curry waited on purpose
for all the NY writers to leave so they would not
report how out of shape he is
any truth to that?
Do we have a "Big Snacks" PT 2?
For every turnover prone combo-sized scorer that turns into Agent Zero (basically a total of one), how many are out of the league. I've said I'll eat my words if I'm wrong, but I think odds are Bayless turns into a lower assist version of Jason Terry than the second coming of Gilbert.
Willis - I'm with you on Dorsey as a nice player to have. Also on your take last thread on the summer league style of play and its implications for shoot-first guards (nice post).
@ NYC2I - What's the opposite of the Twin Towers? That's what we have with Fat Eddy and Big Snacks!
We should decide on a nickname for this Flabulous duo...they could be a WWE tag team on the side!
@ Old School...
Gruesome 2some?
Scale Busters?
WHOA! (haven't figured out what the letters stand for...)
Or, is that, "Baby Big Snacks"
Has anyone seen pictures of Eddy? He's shorter than James, but is he fatter now?
Argh, there are so many problems with this roster!
@Old School
haha...i like that one
"Flabulous Duo"...LOL
how about "Fatman and Slobbin"
@Foolio
i like "Scale Busters" too...LOL
how about the "The White Castles"
Curry/James: The East Wing and the West Wing.
Somebody call Greg Brittenham and remind him that he's collecting a paycheck from this organization - and that Curry should be #1 on his to-do list.
zbo & curry = tweedle-dee & tweedle-dumb...
nothin' more, nothin' less !!
throw in jerome & you have moe
throw in isiah, you have shemp....
G's up.
How about the "Twix Towers"..LOL
@Pete
Do you think that Gallo's upside is bigger
than Anthony Randolph?
if your logic about combo guards is
few make it...
what about the logic that euro players
are too soft to make it in the NBA
There are way more Euro busts
Lampe?Weis?
now we do have tony parker,manu
but how many euro players become big
NBA stars?
Didn't Toronto dratft a Euro Kid with #1 Pick?
how did that work out?
oh bty he was also a star on the Italian League
like i said i feel that when all things are equal
go American
esp with high draft picks(Lottery Picks)
manu and tony parker were 2nd round picks
thats good value
low risk high reward
Twix Towers!!! Winnahhh!
That's what I'm talkin about Fixers....bring it. Bring it hard. Get right to the felonies.
I've been trying to check in on EC since I got to Vegas. No hit-back yet from Grover over at Attack. Q says he's working hard, but of course he is.
Bottom line, D'Antoni will just play without him if he's not in shape. Only helps D-Lee.
Check back after the game today....FYI: my son has hockey this afternoon so the post might not come until the evening.
Gallinari has "bust" and "soft" written all over him. The guy is already out?!?
Walsh talked about he can't afford to screw up with this draft pick. Early returns say no good.
kwame brown was a #1 pick and an american, how did that pick work out for MJ and the wizards?
greg oden was an american pick that went #1 last season, he got hurt getting up off the couch in the off season, had to sit out the whole damn season, how's that for "Ford-Built" american toughness?
as a fellow knicks fan please stop being so closed minded. each player is different, you can't paint broad brush strokes and say euros are weak. lakers would not have got to the finals without gasol. calderon is so good they couldn't wait to get rid of t.j. ford, a knick killer in his own right.
only southern rednecks with pickup trucks littered with NRA republican bumper stickers would say some of the sh1t I've read on blogs since went down.
four years ago in olympic competition, we took home the bronze. that says something to me, that says the sport will sooner or later take over soccer/football as THE definitive global sport. players are everywhere. virgin islands, africa, russia, china, denmark, canada. number one pick or second round pick, to limit your scouting to the U.S. is simply the most asinine thing any nba team could do.
quit being so prejudice and judge players by the basketball they play on the court. gallinari can't be fairly judged until november is over. there are players that have been hurt in summer league and have gone on to win rookie of the year.
these vapid generalizations are beneath me. if i have to explain it to you after the past ten years of nba history, quite frankly you're a lost cause.
we probably didn't take bayless because he resembles marbury, either on the court or otherwise.
Guys are you really going to believe any hit piece that Berman puts out? He seems to hate every Knick not named Isiah. Even Berman said it was just a rumor.
LOL that should have read Marbury not Isiah. I get them confused some days.
He seems to hate every Knick not named MARBURY. Even Berman said it was just a rumor.
How about Hurt and Gurney?
@ KnicksDefense
i like euro players but not as lottery picks
name one euro lottery pick players that have gone
on to be a star?
Dirk was not a lottery pick.
RC Buford the GM of the spurs says that he likes to draft
euro players in the 2nd round because of the value
Low risk high reward
when you draft a player in the lottery
you are expecting a star
remember channing fry?
he never had the potential to be a star
but Isiah took him anyway
MJ drafting Kwame brown was a true waste of a lottery pick
but if you read the scouting review
they said that he had all the Physical tools
to be a great player
but that he was mentally strong
Everyone questioned MJ drafting kwame brown
so i am not bashing euro players
but i am saying that in the Lottery you are suppose
to draft players that will become future stars
thats why they call it "The Lottery"
am i not entitled to my opinion?
even if i disagree with the pick
can't i voice my objection?
i have given valid points
in my posts not just euro bashing
name a euro player drafted in the lottery to become a star?
and by lottery i mean top 10 picks
and remember your point about the americans
playing in the olympics is true
but Gallo will not be playing in the euro league
he will be playing in the NBA
a more physical and punishing league
if he is getting hurt in euro play(an italian scout said that)
then why would he stay healthy playing in a more
physical and athletic league?
Alan
you like "Twix Towers"...LOL
just keeping it real on the Blog
i would love to see some pics of Curry
Regarding all the Bayless-Agent Zero comparisons:
How many times has Arenas gotten out of the first round of the playoffs? And that's with two All-Star teammates, in the Eastern Conference.
Name the last team to get to the Finals with a ball-dominating, shoot-first point guard. I would say Iverson with Philly, but he didn't play the point there -- LB was smart enough to move him off the ball. Beyond that, I can't think of any. And if you think Bayless is going to be as good as Iverson, well . . . not sure what to tell you.
The track record on these types of players is not good. I was disappointed when they passed on Bayless, but sometimes there's a reason why guys slip in the draft. Maybe he landed in the right spot in Portland where they can slide him to the 2 and let BRoy facilitate, but, c'mon, his game would have been very, very problematic in New York, with its roster of ball-dominating, shoot-first guards. You all know it.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3494576
gotta clear that cap room for summer 2012.
@ NYC 2Infinity
dirk was the 8th pick in the draft ....just so u know tha lottery refers to the top 13 picks in ANY nba draft. i swear some of you cats should get bumped down to tha JV blog named tha ny post. u write a whole lot but like my man black thought from tha roots said "you ain't sayin' nuffin' "
p.s - pau gasol was a 3rd overall pick and R.O.Y. i think he constitutes being a star....wouldn't you?? smh.
I don't know but from what I see in the Italian kid is a possible allstar or future mvp ala Dirk. Toronto picked up Bargnani with the first pick in that past draft and they sd that Bargnani and Gallo had been going at it before that and Gallo always abused him and was younger. Gallo plays like a different player unlike any euros...My man is 6'10 and can handle the rock like a point guard...has a killer jumpshot that is the same every time he shoots...he has a high release and with his height unblockable..almost automatic. He's fast for his height and can pass the rock smoothly high IQ...and above everything else is that he's only 19 unbelievable. U guys watch ya gonna be at the garden chanting Galllo Gallo Gallo.
"We comin they scared now"
I don't know but from what I see in the Italian kid is a possible allstar or future mvp ala Dirk. Toronto picked up Bargnani with the first pick in that past draft and they sd that Bargnani and Gallo had been going at it before that and Gallo always abused him and was younger. Gallo plays like a different player unlike any euros...My man is 6'10 and can handle the rock like a point guard...has a killer jumpshot that is the same every time he shoots...he has a high release and with his height unblockable..almost automatic. He's fast for his height and can pass the rock smoothly high IQ...and above everything else is that he's only 19 unbelievable. U guys watch ya gonna be at the garden chanting Galllo Gallo Gallo.
"We comin they scared now"
@ The Prowler
Gasol is good but not a Star! His career numbers are slightly
better than Average on a terrible team!
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2001–02 Memphis 82 79 36.7 .518 .200 .709 8.9 2.7 .5 2.1 17.6
2002–03 Memphis 82 82 36.0 .510 .100 .736 8.8 2.8 .4 1.8 19.0
2003–04 Memphis 78 78 31.5 .482 .267 .714 7.7 2.5 .6 1.7 17.7
2004–05 Memphis 56 53 32.0 .514 .167 .768 7.3 2.4 .7 1.7 17.8
2005–06 Memphis 80 80 39.2 .503 .250 .689 8.9 4.6 .6 1.9 20.4
2006–07 Memphis 59 59 36.2 .538 .273 .748 9.8 3.4 .5 2.1 20.8
2007–08 Memphis 39 39 36.7 .501 .267 .819 8.8 3.0 .4 1.4 18.9
2007–08 Los Angeles 27 27 34.0 .589 .000 .789 7.8 3.5 .5 1.6 18.8
Career 503 497 35.4 .513 .227 .733 8.6 3.1 .5 1.8 18.8
All-Star 1 0 14.0 .000 .000 .000 12.0 1.0 .0 .0 .0
jeez PEACE, you've got some high standards. are you saying you wouldn't be satisfied with gasol's career had you made him your sixth pick?
props to KNICKSDEFENSE for calling out all you zenophobe's who are blowing out so much anti-european ht air.
what's next, black men can't golf?
jeez PEACE, you've got some high standards. are you saying you wouldn't be satisfied with gasol's career had you made him your sixth pick?
props to KNICKSDEFENSE for calling out all you xenophobe's who are blowing out so much anti-european ht air.
what's next, black men can't golf?
Parker, Jameer Nelson, Allen Iverson, and Jason Wiliams are just a few "scoring" pgs I can think of that people knocked just like Bayless as not being able to be PGs b/c they had a shoot first mentality. With good coaching you can convert a guy but you have to do it early in his career. Bayless is still young enough and hungry enough, he should have been our pick. I disagree with NYC on drafting international players being a bad move in the lottery (Yao, Gasol, Dirk) all didn't play American b-ball but are great players; however you are dead on about the Knicks not needing another SF. The two toughest positions to fill are Pg and C. We had a #6 and got a guy for a position that was already stacked. Lets hope he is just that good. And stop with the talk of Danillo at PF, from what I saw he is a 2 or a 3. I can't ever imagine him gaurding Howard or Bosh and the kid can put it on the floor!!
NYC 2 Infinity
I respect you and your right to an opinion as a knicks fan, but I just think it is too soon to write the kid off. especially since as of this moment he is still slated to ball for the italian national team this summer, not like he is supposed to be out for long.
what I wrote was not entirely directed at you, but at all the negative comments over gallinari's disappearance from the vegas summer league. what I read on this blog and the other knicks blogs.
makes me kind of sick to think they gave layden four years to fail, they gave isiah four years to fail, and yet walsh can't make it til november without people calling for the orange and blue guillotine to be rolled out.
maybe with the injury it is better that it happens now than in november or december. now he knows we have lard-asses like tractor traylor who have made careers out of charley horsing people in their midsection. Gallinari needs to know what to expect, he got a very small taste of it. he has the rest of the summer to hit the gym and develop upper and lower muscles that will protect him from injury over the 82 game haul.
he already looks bigger/stronger than balk imo. nobody here ever seems to mention that balk has stayed rail thin going on his third year in the league.
if gallinari is as competitive as i think he is, he's going to do what is necessary to compete in this league. get some crates of myoplex, metrx bars, ect.
i hope walsh can next find us some dale davis/antonio davis kinds of players after we cut some of this jerome james malik rose deadweight--no offense to the scholar but airballs get us nowhere. maybe look at dalembert since philly just got brand maybe they can do without. bring back another big east player to the garden.
Just to let yall know, Chandler just blew up for 31 in a Knicks victory over Phoenix in summer league.
Also, as a long time reader first time commenter, you Alan are by far the best NYK writer in town. Thanks for frequent and insightful posts!
I know i'm late with this but.....
A few days ago a poster on Berman's blog told him that he is starting to smell like the backseat of Marbury's truck... lol
Sometimes you peeps get off some good lines
how about these two trades tracy mcgrady and steve novak for marbury expiring contract david lee and a future 2 round pick. this would be a great trade for both teams. i think houston would go for it considering that yao ming and tracy mcgrady can"t stay healthy for a whole season and it gives them much needed cap relief.The knicks greatest benefit would be getting rid of marbury and getting back a true shooting guard with all-star credentials.jamal crawford would come off the bench where he need to be anyway.
Another trade i would consider would be sending zach randolph and nate robinson or renaldo balkman to the nuggets for kenyon martin and linas kleiza or we can replace zach with lazy ass eddy curry and malik rose
starting lineup would be
chris duhon
tracy mcgrady
wilson chandler
kenyon martin
eddy curry
@tha prowler
i know they count it as the top 13
but the stars come from the top 10
check draftexpress on their breakdown on the
percentages of stars outside of the top 10
it ain't good
i will give you Dirk and Yao Ming
but they are both 7 footers
but i would not consider pau gasol a star
a good player...but not a star
@ sec11rowH
If you say Gasol is a Star...you'd have to say Zach is a Star....NOT! Compare their stats!
Don't know how sound is this rumor but I just read it at insidehoops story from Sports Illustrated.
However this is really crazy.
Seems like the Clippers' offer to the Knicks in addition to Randolph, they wanted the Knicks to send them a first-round pick and $3 million in exchange for Brevin Knight. The Knicks said no.
What you think of this nonsense!
wrong again...
just off tha top of my head i can name plenty 'stars' who were drafted outside the top 10. starting w/ the obvious one kobe bean bryant at #13 in '96. also look at manu, tony parker, arenas, rashard lewis....all late picks N true stars.
i didn't consider yao in my argument since he's from asia...not europe.
@Tha Prowler
i did no say there were no stars
picked outside the top 10
i said the percentages drop severely
outside the top 10
just check draftexpress...they breakdown the percentages
and i also said
that drafting a euro
has a higher value if you get them
in the 2nd round.
RC Buford who drafted manu and tony parker
said he does not like to draft euro's in the first round
because of the high bust potential
I'm thinking Anthony Randolph is the one who got away from 13 other teams. If he stays healthy, gains 20 lbs. and keeps up that tenacity, he'd be a rare player. He scored 30 the other night.....still too early, yeah.....
DTR