The Knicks Fix

Great blog, Alan and your regular reports really keep fans close to the team. I hope Knicks management appreciates that. I do question whether sports management in general understands the new power of the blogosphere?

Regarding the Knicks, it is clear to keep the positive vibe going, the team is going to have to try and find a way to separate from Marbury. He won't accept anything less than a starting role and 35 minutes, and he does not have the capacity to lead this team, with this new offense.

My prediction is that there will be a blow up by the end of November and he will be suspended, and ultimately released.

I can't wait for November.

That was a great question about self-policing.
If Q wants them to listen to him (or anyone else)in the locker room he better make sure he leads by example on the court (on both ends) or it will fall on deaf ears. The locker room rule should be the guys who walk it are the only ones who can talk it.

I figured it was some sort of disc problem with Gallo from what they were saying about him. If you are reading this Danilo, a cold gel pack on the disc after every workout is great for this type of injury. Ever since I started this treatment a few years ago, I havent re-injured my back and it was pretty messed up.

That lineup Coach D had was telling. Looks like he is sending signals in a variety of ways, I like that.

Houston is smart to go at his own pace and coach is smart to give him the call. No sense in
him trying to act like he is 20. Hope he can contribute.

With Marbury the question isn't if he will implode but when. Wish it wasn't the case, I was happy as anyone else when he came back to NY but I was wrong about him. Nothing would make me happier as a fan to have him prove me wrong but I doubt he will.

Read some quotes about Tupac in the last post. Tupac had the thug in him but he was also honest in his music about his
shortcomings.

If Marbury can do the same maybe he can become a better teammate. I'm not holding my breath.

Rather than trying to dump Zach they should try to dump Eddy. Knowing D'Antionio is going to play fast this fat bastard comes in out of shape? He's got some nerve.

Curry needs to get moving, there's some serious marketing to be done w/ Fat Eddy & Big Snacks:

This is going to be a TREMENDOUS season! Your team is LARGE and in charge! The excitement will be IMMENSE!

Welcome...EPIC PROPORTIONS!

There's just no market for Curry, Loki.

Would you even entertain a trade where you take back Curry for a contract with less years/money on it if you were an opposing GM?

He's never showed up in shape.

He's never going to give 100% (or even 85% for that matter)

He's got an uninsured heart condition...

You'd be crazy to take on a guy like that (see: Thomas; Isiah)

We're stuck with this guy.

Hey Alan,

What's the update on Patrick Ewing Jr.?

I can't find anything on him in practice or scrimmages yesterday?

Is he there?
How does he look?
How's D'Antoni using him in lineups?

It will be interesting to see if D'Antoni get N8 to buy into playing defense. If they're going to press, he could play an important role.

Who's had more donuts this week, James, Curry, or Berman?

Alan how's my boy Nate doing?

For the players to be able to police themselves, there has to be crystal clear guidelines and leadership from the coach and GM. Any favoritism, dog-house-ism, end runs by players around the coach to the GM, special love from the owner (i.e. the Zeke Protocols) and this can't happen. One player can torpedo the whole thing. Ha ha, look at you assholes trying so hard, whoop de damn doo. What wee've heard from D'Antoni so far sounds like he'll have that vision and discipline that allows the players to advance on their merits and character. This in itself will have my devotion as a fan. If they aren't talented enough to win a single game, I'll watch every single game if they are a team. Talent we can fix, we've got all the time in the world, its a long way up from the bottom, but without a team, there is nothing.

Gallo should be kept out as long as it takes to make his back as whole and strong as it can be. This kind off injury could be the end of him as a player. Let him sit all year if that's what it takes. Oddly, my sister had to go to the hospital last night because of a flare up with a degenerative disc condition. Other than offensive lineman, I can't think of a more punishing sport for a bad back than basketball. This could turn him into a shambling wreck. Take as long as it takes.

Bulging disc is usually bad bad news. They don't heal. What luck! Gallo might need surgery at some point and be out a long time. But then I think Pippen came back strong after a major disc operation, and Bird managed pretty well with a bad disc.

Alan, why is the 6'-6" forward who can't jump or shoot well anymore or defend faster, taller small forwards, Q-Rich, even in the Knick's plans? He's their best leader but really way past his prime and obsolete. They should go young. After a few months when he is averaging 10 ppg and 35% shooting, I hope they get the hint. Hopefully Chandler will take his playing time away.

Dave-the-Rave

Thaks for the Positive news.

Though the names of JerkBury and JJ "WorstKnickEver" or WKE
set me in a morbid rage...

I feel optimistic and positive.

QRich is a solid guy with a good charchter. Just get that jumper back.Q

More Positive stories. Lets hear about Dave Lee, is he showing a jumper? How about getting some quick putbacks in the new O?

And Zach is a good player. I think he will run himself in to shape and contribute.

Alan, for the fans like myself who are very anti-Isiah Thomas, please also report on players like Anthony Roberson and Patrick Ewing Jr.

And Q-Brick is such a hypocrite.

I've been pushing for them to dump Zach and keep Eddy, but I think I'm wrong.

I hate to just pull a 180 after one day of camp, but enough is enough. If he didn't show up in the best shape of his life for this camp, then I'm afraid Eddy's time here is done. They should start exploring trades for him now (I think he's an easier chip to trade because of his contract than Z-bo).

Start Zach, who should get big numbers if he's not sharing the paint with Eddy, and then trade him when his stock's higher.

Then, let the rebuilding begin.

The two big problems with Q last season were his lingering health problems ad Isiah's inexplicable decision to start him every game - we all remember those recurring first quarters when he's go 1-6 or 2-8 as the Knicks dug a double-digit hole. If he is fully healthy and able to contribute, then I have no problem with his having a role for his defense and toughness, but if those problems are chronic, then the less seen of him the better. My blood pressure can't take another go-round of first quarter Q.

Regarding Gallo - its unfortunate if the organization was really in the dark about the severity of his injury in the weeks after it happened, because soft-pedaling it all summer only to have him wind up on a stationary bike in October undermines their credibility in a lot of people's eyes. You know - the "same old smoke-blowing garden" crowd. Its worth remembering that it was back problems that sunk Q's career.

It looks good on D'Antoni that he hasn't felt obliged to officially "respond" to Marbury's provocative comments - no reminders as to who's team it is, who sets the line-ups, etc. No fake swaggering tough-guy stuff either. Nice change from the catfights of last year - just an air of confidence and professionalism.

Has Burger King James pulled up lame yet?

Burger King James - very good!

Why is everybody saying that Q had an injury plagued season last year?
His back didn't give him any problems last year.
After he had that special surgery, he was good to go all year last year.
People here are so forgetful when they want to be.

I LIKKKKEEEEE IT!!!!!

BURGER KING JAMES

- you have been crowned!!

Alan, you do a fantastic job on this blog and I read it every day. Lot's of good inside info.It really helps to build anticipation for the upcoming season.
But I found a significant factual error in today's edition, and I apologize, but as a physician I just couln't let it pass.
Eddie Curry cannot have a bacterial virus.It's either bacterial gastroenteritis, of viral gastroenteritis. One or the other-take your pick.
Anyway, please feel free to contact me for medical consults in the future.

Dr. Stu

Seriously though, are we going to have another season with J. James active on our roster. Seriously. And what exactly did he accomplish in Seattle that was so great. He had one good playoff series and suckered IT into giving him a huge K. He has done nothing in his career and my only hope is that if he is not waived or forced to retire that we make him play all 82 games for at least 10 minutes a game since we don't have a backup C anyway. I don't even care if his leg falls off, I refuse to watch him laughing and clowning on the bench in a suit and using a spot on the roster that could go to a hungry young player like Nicholas last year.

The circus that has become Marburry, the fact that both Curry and James are this out of shape, Chris Duhon is actually on our roster for the full mid-level and the fact that we could have had a PG but now we have a Q-Rich in training as our # 1 pick has me disgusted. At least Zach has said he'll come off the bench for the good of the team. Did I mention we have actually added salary rather than subtract it? Sorry Alan, until Donnie does the right thing by the team, and we all know what that is, I can't share the optimism. We are just going in the wrong direction.

How are we going in the wrong direction?
Are you kidding me?
These reporters are all reporting that everything is positive.
All the players quotes have gone on to say things like "there is a big difference this year".
We have a new regime in charge.
I actually think Isiah did a good job bringing in players but he just couldn't get them to play together.
Let's see what Dantoni can do with these guys.
I think he'll get the best out of them.
All you people with these negative comments...you can either keep them to yourself or you can go to another blog.
As soon as the Knicks start to win some games....you'll be right back to slurping Richardson.

"I actually think Isiah did a good job bringing in players but he just couldn't get them to play together."

Lol. This is why I stopped responding to you. You're a blind loyalist but in a way I guess I respect that. Its like a Palin supporter, you have to admire their simplicity.

The players and management and media say this every year DaJoka. Every year is the same old spin to get you to buy tickets and read the papers. I will amend my comment, though, to say D'Antoni was a huge step in the right direction. As far as giving us winning personnel or culture, we are going in the wrong direction. More SFs, Duhon, Danillo, no leader and no toughness inside or defense = Wrong direction. Of course we'll win more games than last year, maybe even 30-35, but at the end of the day, are we better off. Are we closer to a championship. I'm not calling for Donnie's head but I also want to see my team start laying the foundations for a championship.

"These reporters are all reporting that everything is positive"
Really. Are you selectively forgetting the contempt his teamates are showing for Marburry, or the utter fat mess Curry and James are? Danillo not being able to do training camp or the preseason? Zach alleged spat with Donnie Walsh? James claiming he wants to go back to Seattle? i guess when you compare it to last year, yeah, everything is great in Knicks land.

@ Dajoka - I think the point is: We'll believe it if/when we see it.

There's a difference between having "athletic" players and having "skilled" players - "skilled" requires fundamentals of the game & thinking about options.

All Isiah did was get/keep a bunch or "athletic" players, who know how to play for themselves...Crawford has to prove he's not a chucker, Zbo, Big Snacks & Eddy think "Teem" is a soda (Google it, kids!) & we all know about Mebury's "I want my $" speech.

Knicks4Life - you and I have been on the same page this summer about wanting to see changes. I haven't changed my opinion that that was the right way to go, just that for whatever reason (lack of good trade offers, overcautious paralysis) the wait and see what we've got philosophy won out. So I'm waiting and seeing. The optimism comes from the time of year (this time last season I posted that this was the year Isiah gets it together, and that Zach was a great pick-up...), and the fat jokes are a way to not throw my laptop across the room when I remember that those slobs are still around.

DaJoka - optimism is one thing, but as for the suggestion that there is no room for negative comments - we've been through the whole cheerleaders only thing last year. If you don't like someone's point, refute it.

Fat jokes aside, Burger King James, if able to play, actually has a skill set that fills a huge whole on this team - rebounding and shotblocking. Hollinger has posted his NBA previews on espn.com, including a reminder of how bad the Knicks were in that regard:

"While the Knicks were bad in almost every phase, one thing that really stood out was their inability to block shots. New York sent back only 3.2 percent of opponents' offerings, a pathetic rate that was barely half the league average (see chart).
The team's leading shot-blocker, Renaldo Balkman, had only 30; to give you an idea of how sad a figure that is, consider the fact that inferior players such as Marko Jaric and Mike Dunleavy blocked more shots than anybody on the Knicks; or that then-Warriors point guard Baron Davis blocked nearly as many (43) as Randolph and Curry combined (45).
Not surprisingly, given the lack of a deterrent inside, Knicks opponents shot 50.7 percent on 2-pointers."

And I can't believe I'm actually thinking about how James might help the Knicks this season. Now that's optimism.

May be DAntonio suprises us not only with weird running style of
bball but also with starting lineup - imagine
JeromeJ at C, Eddie at PF, Zach at SF, Q at SG and
Merbury at PG :-))
Such a lineup does not need to move at defense, they will eat
all space down low...

"They will all sit and eat in the space down low."

Instead of always running, they will always have the runs.

Just bloggin', sorta.

q-rich was really awful last year. awful awful awful. he finished the season 35% from the field!!!!!!!

last year was supposed to be his "i'm healthy this year. i can finally dunk again" breakout season

i think he contributes nothing. between chander, gallinari (when he returns), and the guards, there is nothing q-rich does that nobody else can't do. his minutes are better filled by someone else.

this "leadership" skill of his is crap. you have to be worth something on the floor for your words to have any credibility

if the knicks are looking to trade marbury or randolph, both of whom would contribute far more than q-rich would even considering the fact that theyre nutcases, they better ship q-rich along with them

Knicks4Life and DaJoka: Let's go for some reasoned balance. Many observers have stated in the recent past that the Knicks have a great deal of talent, though not well matched. There is reason for optimism with new leadership, but we have significant issues.

I can't agree that people who see the problems should go elsewhere, nor can I see the value in declaring that the sky is falling. Danillo hasn't proven to be a bust or a success. Duhon is respected in some corners as a capable pass first point guard. Give these guys a chance!

Direction has been improved by Donnie's refusal to make sucker deals, but we will need to move some people. None of this is all that surprising considering the zany events in recent years.

I believe it's possible to be optimistic and realistic simultaneously. If a year passes and we see no progress, then we can be concerned.

knicks4life
"The players and management and media say this every year DaJoka. Every year is the same old spin to get you to buy tickets and read the papers."
Actually, last year or the year before last I don't remember anything positive at the beginning of the season. The media was crushing us at the beginning of last year. Did you forget about the trial that fast or are you just in denial?

"More SFs, Duhon, Danillo, no leader and no toughness inside or defense = Wrong direction."
Actually Duhon is a PG but I think that may have been a typo so I'll let that one slide. Did PHX have toughness inside when they were going to the western conference finals all those years? Amare is not toughness. His defense is actually almost as bad as our bigs. He is a superior athlete so that's what seperates him from others. Defense wise he sucks though!!! Sorry to burst your bubble. I'm not saying we don't need toughness on the inside but I think your overreacting to the lack of moves Walsh made. Have patience my friend and everything will be ok. Remember, we are currently at the bottom so the only way to go is up.

"Really. Are you selectively forgetting the contempt his teamates are showing for Marburry, or the utter fat mess Curry and James are?" I'm trying to understand what you want Walsh to do about any of these factors you just laid out. OK...we all know none of the team likes Steph. With the right coaching they'll learn to play with him. The game is not a popularity contest....it's a game. Quick reference for you.....did anybody on the Bulls team like Rodman when they wion a world record 72 games? I think not...Phil Jax was able to coach that team and everybody tolerated Rodman. The same can happen here my friend.

"Danillo not being able to do training camp or the preseason?"
And your point is what? The kid got hurt...what do you want him to do. Bottom line is this...Gallo will be better than the 2 PG's we didn't draft that you all seem to love...D.J. and Bayless.

"I also want to see my team start laying the foundations for a championship."
They fired Isiah and hired a new President and bought in a offensive genious in Dantoni....if that's not laying the foundation....I don't know what is. Your losing me here my friend but I'm trying to keep up with you.

Welcometotherealworld
"There's a difference between having "athletic" players and having "skilled" players - "skilled" requires fundamentals of the game & thinking about options."
Where do you think players get their skills from? It sure as hell ain't themselves, unless your talking about Kobe or Lebron. They get it from great coaching. Which is why you saw Jamal improve when we had Larry Brown. Once he was gone and Isiah was the coach..you saw Jamal go back to bring the chucker we all knew he was.

fff, DaJoka - For some reason I was under the impression that Q was suffering from lingering effects from his back last year (can't remember where I read that - never a good sign). If you guys are right and he was considered 100%, then there is no reason to expect any more from him this year - he's just lost it. Yikes.

No, you're right Pete, Q's back was no good (listening Gallo?), his conditioning suffered, and he was hampered in what he could do. I'm a Q fan, when he is healthy he destroys anybody from PG to Small Forward in the post, can shoot it, and is a committed, good defender. When healthy - alas, there's the rub.

"I don't remember anything positive at the beginning of the season"

You should. Remember that 20/10 guy we brought in that was supposed to get the rebounds Curry refuses to jump for. He was supposed to help us build on that 32 win season from the year before. Some people were also excited about Chandler.

"Actually Duhon is a PG but I think that may have been a typo so I'll let that one slide."

Wasn't a typo. I was saying we have many holes: (1) too many SFs, (2) Duhon (who sucks), (3) assuming they try to make Danillo a PF, (4) no leadership, (5) no toughness inside. The whole reason PHX brought in K. Thomas and later Shaq was because they realized you can't win a championship without some toughness inside.

"I'm trying to understand what you want Walsh to do about any of these factors you just laid out."

Simple. Get a real PG and a shotblocker. Instead of trading for Patrick Ewing J.r. (who I actually think is a good player) bring in Dorsey who fills a need. Do a sign and trade with GS for B. Davis who would address both your leadership and PG holes in one swoop instead of letting GS let him walk and sign with LA. If you can't do that sign Pargo or Arroyo for 1/2 the mid-level and use the second 1/2 for a Ratliff or Chris Anderson. This way we wouldn't have to be counting on J. James or Marburry. We could waive James and tell Marburry to sit on the sideline and trade him at the deadline. To me Marburry's attittude, and James/Curry commitment epitomizes everything that is wrong with this team. When I talk about laying the foundations for a championship, I agree Walsh and D'Antoni are a good start. Walsh also brought some really good people in the front office which also gets overlooked. But Marburry and James/Curry and even Zach to a lesser extent, will destroy this team. They all don't have to go, but the fact that none of them is gone is a major off-season failure that can't be ignored. I'm talking about foundations on the court.

No the sky is not falling, and yes we can turn this thing around, yes I want to see this team succeed, but look at the other teams around the league who were as bad as us. Tell me they did not improve as a team this summer or make moves that put them in the right direction. Miami (Beasley), LA Clippers (Gordon, Davis, Camby), Bobcats (DJ, Larry Brown), Memphis (yeah I know but they have Mayo and Gasol), Bucks (Jefferson), Pacers (Ford), Bulls (Rose), all got better or added the foundations. If Love is better than I think, than Minnesota also has a nice 1-2 punch down there. We just didn't upgrade our talent this offseason and still have the same cast of characters. My fundamental disagreement with others about Danillo is not that he will not be a star. He may be. But if the goal is to get Lebron in 2010, and Danillo can't be a PF because he can't take the abuse, where do we play him? Where do we play Chandler? Won't we still have Jeffries, and Q-Rich under contract. What about D. Lee if Danillo is your PF. Is a team, when we are closer to 2010 and they also want cap money, really going to help out the Knicks by taking on Zach's contract. DaJoka, my friend, the fundamentals of our team are not strong.

And there is a diffrence between skilled, athletic, and smart players.

Harold Miner and Gerald Green are athletic. They have an abundance of physical gifts. They will never be stars or winners to me.

Magic Johnson, Tim Duncan and Larry Bird were skilled. Not the greatest individual athletes, but man their heart, work ethic, and ability to use their limited athleticism to make them better than everybody else was amazing. They were also leaders which made them great.

Bruce Bowen and Robert Horry are smart. To me these are the guys who aren't that athletic and aren't that skilled. They are not your superstars but they are just ballers. The guy on the court that always finds a way to win.

To me what made Jordan so great was that he was a combination of all three. Kobe is too but for whatever reason I don't think he makes his teamates better. Can't explain why though.

i'm not a doctor, but i have had a bulging disc before, and i have completely recovered. this is definitely not a dire prognosis, especially for a young and strong athlete.

Severe bulging disc probs can last for years and decades. Mine was a problem for 20 years. A friend of mine had to have a painful back operation for his and was never the same. Can't say this is definitely not dire. Pippen's surgery extended his career....you don't know..... A pro athlete's routine can wear a body out. Hope Gallo heals.

Since Q-rich had his back probs he has not been able to jump, bend over or shot straight. He is not the same player....he's a dinosaur.

DTR

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.

Hey Alan. I read all of your articles and blogs on the Knicks everyday. I'm a student at St. John's University and I'd really appreciate it if you could answer some of these questions I have for you. This is for my journalism class..

1. Why did you decide to be a sports writer and what steps did you take?
2. How do you feel about your career choice?
3. What is your favorite aspect of the job?
4. Would you recommend sports writing to someone else, why or why not?
5. What skills do you feel are most important for this job?
6. How long does it take for you to write an article?
7. How are you able to deal with deadlines?

If you could answer these questions and email it to me at: imran.khan08a@stjohns.edu I would GREATLY appreciate it. Thank you