The Knicks Fix

Just a quick thanks, Alan. It's pretty cool to get this kind of coverage of your favorite team, even if they are the Knicks. It's a lot of fun to read all the seemingly insignificant training camp stuff -- really gives you a good sense of the team and what it's like.

Think Malik is a buyout candidate, especially if they're really considering Houston? Doesn't make much sense to me to have them both on the team.

Also, how's Nate looking? Any more reigned in? Or does this style of play have him running around like a madman?

Keep Malik for the year, he is a good guy and good influence on all the junk we have. We have 10 people to waive over him..

Keeping 2010 alive
with some Bulljive

houston is the man!!! i hope he gets major minutes

Wow, were talking Mardy again?

Mardy had a great end of season 2 years ago.

I cant say he has game but cant blame him for tanking last year.
Isiah destroyed everyones confidence!

I am with Donnie in the fact that I cant stand buying out these scrubs....BUT....its Dolan's money and he doesnt seem to care?

Alan has anyone heard anything from Dolans?

Can we just get some David Lee news? No one ever reports on the good guys.

Do you think D'antoni's system is a plus or a minus for Al Houston?

Houston used to be great coming off picks, but with the 8 second rule, maybe he can just stand on his spots for the kickout and the 3, making a decent opening for Zach/Houston post to perimeter to post game?

And none is saying anythin about Nate?

A second to that first comment. Being able to read these entries is terrific. Well before you were born, us old guys who lived out of town had to schlep down to get the NY Post (it arrived in the afternoon) and hope that it had maybe one column inch on what happened in training camp the day before. The team was occasionally better then but the coverage was much, much worse.

All of the past Knicks teams that made legitimate attempts to be champions had tough defensive plays that embodied their coaches philosophies (Van Gundy, Red Holzman, Pat Riley) I hate to knock Coach D but he doesn't have Amare Stoudamire, Shawn Marion, And Steve Nash any more. We need D'fense!!! Curry can't stop a fly going to the hoop. Bench or trade him. We needed a low post defensive specialist and shot blocker. Since we are guard heavy why cant we trade for someone like Marcus Camby. I don't think Jefferies is the answer.

We all want ribs righttttt? Waiter, Just bring some ribs for the table! My hurniated disco is making me hungry like a hippo!

I am glad alan houston is back.
i hope his presence will add some professionalism
to the team.
if he can contribute 10-15 minutes a night
i think it really helps the knicks

i wish they could trade curry
he came to camp again in terrible shape
how is he going to run and gun
if his conditioning is poor?

even Big Snacks(JJ) is doing drills...lol

I had the chance to go to both practices today (Wed)….my random thoughts (for what they are worth)
*Nate looks great…he certainly seems like he will flourish in this system…what an athlete!!! One Nate story from today…at one point of practice he was trying to tell Houston a joke…Houston told him to be quiet and pay attention to the coaches…Nate then went out and hit a 3pt, got a steal, and made the hoop…another reason to keep Houston!!!!!
*Marbury was clearly the best player on the floor…I was shocked at how obvious this seemed…I guess I always knew this fact, but seeing it live today was eye-opening…but then again so was Marbury’s whole day….for most of the day he sat alone, and didn’t talk to anyone. It seems that Jerome James is the one guy who he has a real relationship with….Marbury sat out the last 30 minutes of the 5 on 5 at practice because his Starbury tore apart (plenty of people made fun of him for that) and he apparently didn’t like the other pair of shoes the equipment guy brought him…it was quite a scene…funny and sickening at the same time…for all his dominance on the court…I still left convinced that he has to go…but I also think he is going to have a monster year for someone.
*Jeffries looked very good…I think he fits this system well and he looks to be slotted in to the rotation
*James worked pretty hard…seems like a funny guy…at one point he went down the lane to throw one down…instead he got stuffed by the rim….it was a riot…even Marbury was doubled over laughing.
*Ewing was the first guy shooting and the last guy off the court…one great finish in transition…looked a little confused in the offense…but they have to keep him.
*Lee, Q-Rich, Craw….all worked hard and looked solid
*Can’t help but be impressed by Rose’s professionalism…
*Duhon struggled…hope it iis the learning curve
*watched Gallo hit a number of 3s after practice…very smooth
*I thought Mardy looked good..strong…one tremendous finish in the lane
*Would have liked to see more from Chandler
*Houston is an incredible shooter…he was doing a shooting drill with Roberson and Marbury…there were two balls and people would shoot until they missed and then rotated…Houston barely missed…at one point he must have made 12-15 in a row….in the 5 on 5 he made a couple nice hoops…one of his 3s had Q yelling “H2O for threeeeeeeeeeeeee”…didn’t notice him too much on D…which is good
*loved D’Antoni’s style…he was laidback, yet direct…and seemed funny (people were laughing at what he said in the huddle)….great to watch him…
Well…just my random thoughts for the day…it was a blast…this team might not win a lot of games…but Knicks’ fans should feel confident that this organization is going in the right direction.

Wow!

Keep it coming Ewing33! Lots of great info.

Predictions:
So it sounds like Roberson and Malik wil be gone. Maurbury will come off the bench and cause major problems. He will talk talk talk his hasheesh and attempt to disturb the team..he will be fined and suspended. Eddie Curry will begin to shed weight and throw away his lifetime Mcdonalds credit card. David Lee will average 15 and 10. Occasionally his jumper begins to catch fire in 08. Jerome James will blow his knee out and retire. Zbo will be arrested for making "luv in the club". Jamal will be an allstar this year and will let you know on his blog. N8 will become most improved in the league. Alan Houston will need to have his warm-ups surgically removed from his body. Wilson Chandler will shock the league. Jared Jeffries is fired from the NBA for having one of the grossest games and running trots in the league. Lil Ewing wins the dunk contest. Pat Duke embarrasses his son by going crazy at the dunk contest this year with his patented move of flapping his wrists in the up right motion to the crowd. Danilo Gallinari is rookie of the year and is signed by Adidas. Mardy Collins discovers that he is Walt Fraziers son. Coach Dantoni and Walsh look like Mr. Clean and Co Jack in 09........I'm sorry , I have no more strength.

Sorry but I can't honestly believe H20 would make the roster. One of he or Roberson has to go -- they are duplicate pieces. And if Alan can only go 5-10 and has essentially no future value and can't be dealt...he would have to turn in one hell of a camp to beat out the younger Roberson who has tons more upside. Not that I think Roberson will actually be anything -- but at least he has a chance. H20 is at best -- one and done as the 12th man.

AP:

The Center for Disease Control flew into Saratoga, New York
last night to investigate what the Knicks Medical staff called
a " Bacterial-Virus" that Curry was diagnosed with. This is truly
a Medical discovery of EPIC preportions since a Bacteria and a
Virus cannot co-exsist, unless Curry has indeed uncovered a
new mutation that will have many organizations such as
the WORLD Health Organization trying to find out how such a Mutation could possibly happen. Such a development would
dwarf the current economic collapse, as this Bacterial-Virus
mutation could cause the entire collapse of the Health industry.
" Eddie Curry Syndrome could be the end of the World."

Wow. It's good to see the Knicks will have some hopes and aspirations this season! Ok. So let's begin with Allan Houston and Roberson. Although Allan Houston is pretty old(37), we can't possible think that Roberson has the same shooting ability that H20 has? Yeah he is still young and would be a possible future prospect to keep around, but being how Malik Rose will most likely be waived due to his inability to do anything but lead behind the locker room doors, why else wouldn't you keep the veteran Houston. He'll certainly be an asset to the players around him. Perfect example as to how he told Nate to quiet down and still be able to hit 12-15 3's in a row. According to one of the comments above, Ewing33 who saw the practice, Duhon was struggling and Marbury looked like the best player. D-Lee, Crawford, and Q-Rich all had their equal share of great work performed. Even Z-Bo made quite an impression on everyone running up and down the court. However, we're missing the "franchise player," Eddy Curry. The one player who knew the second that D'Antoni was hired that it would be the biggest struggle for him to adjust to the offense. Yet, he still managed to waste an entire summer without conditioning or improving in any aspect, but only taking for granted that he would be given minutes and that the team would just have to work around him. Clearly he has made the wrong impression already by coming to camp unprepared. And to top it off, he gets sick, although that's not entirely his fault, or is it? The media might be clustering and eating up the whole Marbury being waived off issue, but have they yet to see how big of a disappointment Big Eddy has been? His contract is pretty big, but there are teams who could use him. D'Antoni couldn't win with Shaq on the team huffing and puffing up and down the court last season. How does he expect to manage both Z-Bo and Curry. At least Z-Bo will produce both points and rebounds, but all Curry can do is score on the low block. That's it! He can't defend nor catch a ball if it fell right on his hands. Moving on to Jerome James. James, could have been an Eric Dampier or Alonzo Mourning type of player, but didn't turn out to be what "Isiah..." thought he could be. I'm not sure exactly what his role was last year, but I know this much. He's not fit to run this offense unless the staff sees something that we haven't seen since his little run in the playoffs with Seattle. In the end, I think he is toast. He needs to be gone. Jeffries is up next. Not being liked at the Garden can be real harsh especially for someone who cannot shoot but has to prove his ability to play ball by playing defense. I like Jeffries on the team because he can definitely defend against all types of players. Last year he would shoot because there was no set offense visible to the public except have someone run down with the ball, either hold it to shoot it or throw it in to the low block where the two towers bumped into each other, causing havoc. This year, Jared will have a role. He'll defend and run down to be the role player he needs to be. He's a great athlete, no question about it. Keep your offense open to lay-ups and dunks please? Mardy Collins, is not consistent, although the Knicks will most likely keep him because he shows signs of becoming a great ball player coming off the bench. Not much has been said about Chandler, but know this, he will surprise people this year just like David Lee did his second year. Lastly, "El Gallo" and Little Ewing. "El Gallo" is most likely going to have a slower beginning this season but not as slow as Curry. The kid can shoot. The kid can dribble. However, many people weren't too happy with the pick but many also don't understand that Europeans like himself need to be molded before becoming something great. When Nowitzki came in his first year, he was expected to learn the NBA game and develop into something great. It was fulfilled. Gallo's game is very similar to Nowitzki being that he can move swiftly and shoot long range shots. In addition, he can probably move around with the ball a lot better. Bargnani was suppose to be the next best thing but he's not the same player as Nowitzki or Gallo. His style is different. But mark my words, Gallo will be great for 2010. By that year, we will hold a star player along with other key assets such as D-Lee and whoever else flourishes these next two years. Lastly, the little Ewing. I guess he replaces Balkman in the sense he doesn't shoot too often but keeps a lock down on opposing players with his ability to defend and move quickly. I say we keep him around. So summation, this year looks to be pretty hectic already being that we have many valuable players but some have to be cut like Roberson, Rose, and James. Ouch. Who else will make the cut?

@Peaceman - so silly....yes, a technical typo on my part. bacterial "infection"...obviously not bacterial and virus in the same. My bad.
Tho with Eddy spending all that time up-chuckin in the hotel room for 48 hours, maybe the CDC does need to pay a visit.

I remember being 16 years old in high school pausing and rewinding my VHS tapes trying to perfect Allan Houston's shooting form. LOL I really hope he makes the team and is that end of the bench zone buster and veteran leader.

Is it possible that this Eddy Curry "Illness", is really a silent suspension or reprimand from Walsh and D'Antoni for showing up completely out-of-shape?

I mean, wouldn't an IV have him back to normal in at least 48 hrs?

I'm no doctor, but this illness seems awfully suspicious.

What're the odds on this, Alan?

@ Nostra-DAN-us

"Mardy Collins discovers that he is Walt Fraziers son."

Brilliant.

And Alan -- thanks for the training-camp reportage. How much more open is this feeling access-wise compared to Isiah's media blackout? Think you'll be getting deeper behind the scenes this season?

@bulljive - i see what you're saying, but it's just not realistic. they're going to have to make cuts. and i think that if they're planning on keeping houston, they should cut rose. one veteran locker room leader is enough. and at least H20 could shoot. and he has Knicks pride.

Also, if they keep Houston, that might eliminate the need for Roberson. I just hope that they give Ewing Jr. a shot...

Ewing33 or Alan;

Are the workouts open to the public? I live near Saratoga and would love to pop in and have a look.

Some really tough decisions for Coach D and Walsh coming up.

Hard to waive Marbury if he is your best player on the team, and in a contract year. Better to let him play, and if he's doing well, see what you can get at the deadline for him. Knicks aren't going anywhere this year, and if Marbury goes nuts, you can just bench/suspend/fine him.

Curry is rapidly turning into the Jerome James of the last two years. Kinda funny that James is actually playing now, while lazy Eddy can't even get on the court.

James, Rose, Roberson, Collins, Ewing and Houston...at least two have to go...James, Rose and Houston are at the end of their careers, while its hard to tell if Roberson, Collins or Ewing will ever have careers in the NBA.

How does Q look? Can he jump or shoot? Will be interesting to see who gets the minutes at the 3, him or Chandler

Like the look you guys are getting from Collins. He should take to D'Ant's system well. He's always been an anticipatory passer, intuitive, moving the ball like a QB - he would often have the ball in the air to a player as they were on their way to where they would catch it. I've seen him feed the post from half court because the man came open; how many times have you had to watch a guy get a great initial position and passer stares at him because he isn't ready to pass. A pass with the right timing is one of the best things you can do in an offense. It should be the root of what D'Ant does. Of all the current players we have, Mardy is the best prepared for this.

Mardy is slow, he needs to do things off rhythm and needs his teammates to have that rhythm too. When hurt, he was impossibly slow. When healthy he has enough speed, and can use his length to compensate. Mark Jackson was slow, but he used his body and moxie to be a very good PG. Mardy needs that Moxie. Without it, he'll be out of the league. With it, he can be an asset. I think Zeke stole his Moxie last year with the Starbury benching. Mardy was not up to speed after the knee, and the starting was clearly a cynical, political move aimed at embarrassing Marbury, and I think it crushed Mardy's confidence. Those deft passes we saw in his breakout month became turnovers, and he never recovered. Here's hoping D'Antoni finds an apprentice here.

IT'S amazing to see a professional, even an old one, shoot with nobody guarding him. I bet a guy like houston shoots 90 percent from anywhere on the floor when he's shooting around. young houston would be such an asset in the D'Antoni system. he'd have scored 25-30 a game.

Can't forget the limits to Mardy's game though Willis. He can't shoot so while mentally he may be able to run the offense, defenses will lag off him and double team our big guys who don't know how to pass. I also think he makes terrible decisions at times, but even conceding that he is young and can improve on that, he still is not a good enough offense player to get meaningful minutes behind Duhon, Marburry, or Nate. I could see him being used for defensive purposes, matching him up against a big guard like B. Davis who is giving us trouble, but you can't play him next to Duhon, you would have to play him with Marburry, Roberson or Nate who can score. We also have too many slashers and not enough shooters, and big guys who just clog up the lane and don't/can't shoot. So while Mardy's biggest asset is getting to the rim, I don't see him doing it with this team.

All that being said, I like Mardy, I would trade him to a team like Miami that really could use him for a 2nd round pick, and I think he could actually be a decent backup for them. Just don't see it here in NY where his confidence has been an issue and will always be an issue in the big Apple.

If anybody thinks Houston won't make the team your nuts. his stroke is sweet as sugar. WOW!!!!!!!!
Only way Houston doesn't make the team is if he's not healthy. If he's healthy, there is no reason why he won't make it.
As far as Mardy goes...I like him also....however, as much as it hurts me to say this...I actually agree with Knicks4life about trading him to Miami for say a second round pick. He's a good player, he just doesn't fit here.
Where do I start with Curry? I think we should really try to move him...if that's possible.
Zach is better suited for this style of play.
Is there anyway we can trade Curry and Mardy to Miami for The Matrix. He's in the last year of his deal and the salaries match up. Riley will get a big man he can work with and he'll also get a back up PG that may actually be better than their starting PG. Who is their starting PG right now anyway?
I tell you right now...if Steph keeps playing the way he's playing, there is no reason why he shouldn't start. Dantoni may even switch it up and put him at shooting guard. He and Duhon may be a good tandem in the backcourt. Especially if Crawford starts to chuck the ball like we know he'll do anyway.
Should be very interesting to see what happens.
The first preseason game is next Wednesday...I can't believe the season is here already.

No Gentlemen, he can't shoot, so obviously he will have to be balanced by shooters in ensemble. Pair Mardy with Robinson or Roberson, and either of those guys will be happy to take his shots. I disagree to a point about lack of shooters - Q, Chandler, Crawford, Robinson, Gallo, Randolph, Marbury, all can shoot - Mardy's role will be that of a swiss army knife - does the screwdriver work as well as a Stanley? No, but when you need to do something other than drive a screw, you're not out of luck.

Mardy will find his offense within the flow of the system. If players sag off of him because they don't respect the jumper, he'll drive through that vacuum and ride the defender to the rim as we saw in summer league and his healthy quarter season. he has a much better chance to excel in a motion offense than a static half court offense I believe. So actually, I think D'Antoni's offense would be the best fit for his skills and lack of skills.

Trade? Maybe so, but I'm not sure there is any desire for him around the league.

Mardy is like Eric Snow to me Willis. I think he is better suited for a half court game than an up and down game. You can't run effectively with guys who are as slow as Mardy and Snow runnnig the break. They slow the break down. Plus in a 1/2 court game Mardy can shut down individuals on D using the baselines as an extra defender to make up for his lack of athleticism. In a full court game guys like AI and B. Davis will run right around him. On offense what I've seen from Mardy so far tells me he makes poor decisions with the ball, especially when his confidence is shaken. Bottom line is though: I think he'll be on the team so I hope you are right and I'm wrong.

Good trade DaJoka. Chalmers I think is going to start there. Marion would be a nice fit, although I think D'Antoni probably had enough of his whining to last a lifetime. And its ok to agree with me, persistence beats resistance (1 convert at a time).

Walsh's job this year is to do whatever he can to dump salary for 2010. D'Antoni's job this year is to keep this team competitive and watchable. Don't look for anything more than that. Forget playoffs -- or hope that we DON'T make them. Hope that D'Antoni can find the guys who can be part of the 2010 solution over the course of this year and weed out the guys (Curry, Marbury, James, Randolph) who can't. I have my doubts that ANY of the current guys would be here if we weren't stuck with their contracts, including Jamal, and certainly Q-Rich. DLee and N8 may get contract extensions to come off the bench behind a more legitimate 2010 first string. I'm not a doctor, so I would be reluctant to say Danilo is a bust when he has not yet spent one day on the regular season DL, but I understand why other Knicks fans are conditioned to be pessimistic.

Mardy Collins will be lucky if he averages 3 minutes a game. If your playing time is questionable on THIS team, you really stink.

My 2 cents.

Hmm, no Lebron to Brooklyn is very good news for us:

From CNN/SI:
Wall Street crisis jeopardizes Nets new arenaViews 1312 Comments 19 04:58 AM ET

Four months ago, Goldman Sachs assured all financing would be in place for a $950 million professional basketball arena in Brooklyn by today. Bruce Ratner, owner of the New Jersey Nets and developer of the ambitious, $4 billion Atlantic Yards project, said he was "inches away from completing the deal." That was before prestigious investment firms started to fall and credit markets went into full-scale panic, triggering a financial crisis on Wall Street unseen since the Great Depression. Atlantic Yards -- 16 skyscrapers, an 18,000-seat basketball arena for the Nets, and thousands of apartments at a site at the corner of Flatbush and Atlantic avenues -- has been delayed by a string of legal challenges and questions about financing. That leaves the Nets playing at the aging Izod Center in the Meadowlands for at least the next three years, which will perpetuate competition with the Prudential Center hockey arena in Newark. The latest delay may complicate the $400 million naming-rights deal with Barclays Bank, which is expected to help offset the cost of the arena, according to published reports. The deal with Barclays was contingent on Ratner's financing for the project to be in place by the end of November.
-Newark Star-Ledger

Hey Alan, maybe the caption contest should have been for the photo that accompanies the "Knicks' D'Antoni leaves jury out on Marbury" article? I'm afraid some of the replies wouldn't have made it past Newsday's filter.

Interesting discussion on Mardy Colliins.

The D'Antoni way point guard does not need to be the fastest player on the court. Speed is not the priority at the point. A running attitude, court vision and an ability to pass on the run are the critical skills for the point guard. It's the wings that need to be the fastest players on the floor. It is the point guards job to move the ball, not his feet, with great speed. Their is a difference.

But even for the wings, fast break isn't just about speed. It's about being in a condition to run for 20 to 40 minutes. If Mardy is in good shape, he will excel in this system. His size and nose for the ball (rebounding, stealing, pressure on ball) will elevate him quickly. (I said a while ago that I would not be surprised if he beats out Duhon). D'Antoni looks for his breaks from steals, rebounds and ball pressure (Mardy may be the best on the team when considering all three skills combined -- no, not much of an endorsement, but we are talking about the Knicks.)

Mardy's biggest problem will be his outside shot. However, his size will make him very difficult to handle because D'Antoni's offense is predicated on player movement and lots of movement off screens. Mardy's big body will mak it hard to stop him on the ddrive. He can be a foul magnet and if he learns how to play in the shallow waters on offense, he can really benefit from this system.

I agree that his passing can improve, but it is so much easier to pass when you know where your teammates are supposed to be in the scheme of things. It would be smart not to count Mardy out,especially if Marbury is a goner.

But if Marbury stays, Mardy may be a waiver candidate and he will miss the opportunity of his lifetime.

Eddy Curry did not have an infection. He was really pregnant and went into labor.

Curry had a factorial infection -- the fact is that D'Antoni did not want to embarass him in front of the media and the NBA Executives who may be willing to take him in a trade.

Didn't think about it that way Lives, good point. Nash wasn't the fastest player on the court and he did great in D'Antoni's system. But my point was on transition defense, not offense. Nash certainly wasn't the best defender, but he had shotblockers behind him. As we all know quite well, Mardy will not have that benefit and our guards are forced to keep people in front of them.

As for offense, I hear you, but remember, outside shooting is a must in D'Antoni's system. If Marcus Banks couldn't excel in that system why do you think Mardy Collins will? Same limitations.

Knicks4Life,

You get no disagreement from me on the defensive liability and outside shooting points.

In half court sets, some guards would just leave Colliins in the dust. (I'm thinking Philly, unless Brand slows them down, is a hard team for the Knicks to beat). But, in those sets, if he has some players who can fill the lanes (watch how good Jeffries really is) and who are willing to switch, Mardy might not look so bad. (I'm thinking Chandler and Jeffries are essentials; Can Craw fill a passing lane?). But, D'Antoni will try as much as he can to keep the game from "deteriorating" into the half court and will try to pressure the ball, ASAP. That also will benefit Collins.

There is nothing I can say about outside shooting. It is what it is until he gets better. He must get better, at least on that mid-range jumper for all the times his defender sags into the post or he moves to a sweet spot uncontested on the wing. He absolutely needs that mid-range jumper and at least a little accuracy from the wings. Otherwise forget about it and watch his butt sit for 7 seconds and much more.

The good thing is that D'Antoni practices shooting as much as running. This my friend is up to Mardy. If Rondo can do it, Mardy can at least do better than he has been doing.

Let's see. I hope he makes it interesting.

Knicks4Life,

I just re-read your post and I had to laugh a little, because D'Antoni would not like me, if he knew me, for what I'm thinking: Nash's defense sucked, especially in the fourth quarter when he was basically worn down from being overplayed. Watching nis lateral movement against quick young guards was like watching a man in lead boots -- but when the ball was in his hands, no matter how tired, look out.

But D'Antoni never, ever criticized Nash for lousy defense (which pissed Marion off) because 1) he doesn't dwell on the negative and 2) he truly believes that great offense makes the defense.

The point is that I'm not so sure that Collins needs to be that good defensively under D'Antoni -- although we must all admit we definitely need some better two-way players.

Ugh. Jeffries is out.

http://knicks.lohudblogs.com/2008/10/02/jeffries-out-6-8-weeks/

Hopefully, we'll be winning a few more games, but we're not laying the groundwork for a championship team here; I saw this summer as an opportunity to clean house and bring in a defensive-minded coach, like a Tom Thibodeau. Defense is heavily dependent on effort, which you can pull from any squad. Riley did it;Van Gundy did in NY and Houston, but D'Antoni will never push our players on the defensive side of the ball.

A guy that preaches "Great offense makes great defense"? No wonder the Suns repeatedly got that a** whooped by the Spurs.

"It takes your groins a long time to get back to wanting to moving laterally (and, quite frankly, they really never want to)."

Al,

Let's keep away from the genital descriptions, OK? Like Harvey of "Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid" who got caught talking about rules in a knife fight, you'll only embarrass yourself.

Besides, any reference to the groin area only figures to excite Peaceman.