Knicks

[kam]

Thats it we dump Francis and scoop us Telfair let him and Mardy battle for the starting job.

Is Telfair an upgrade from Nate? I'd rather take the headcase i know over the one i don't.

[lesterdog]

Whichever one takes off is the one i'll visit more. I think this place is more of what we're accustomed to but i wasn't averse to the blogs either.  Ultimately its up to the quality of posts.

This place is better for the freeform running back-and-forth we're used to and has fewer barriers to post-a-bility. FWK's is nice for single topic excursions and he deserves much credit for keeping things alive. The trouble with both and probably Emann's upcoming joint is that unlike the Times site, I don't know how they grow new posters. The nice thing about the Times is that someone would be reading the paper, click on discuss the knicks, and boom, we had new blood. Of course, we didn't have this:

Rembee: He kept starting Jeffries until the poor boy looked like he was going to break into tears in the tip-off circle. It was public humiliation.
Now Rembee, you're correct in that I don't believe the letter of my arguments, but absolutely the spirit, and I really do think Zeke was about five minutes away from being fired until the brawl suspensions forced his hand and saved his @$$. Patrick was in the red seats every night for awhile and that wasn't no coincidence, as Xeno speculated.

[lesterdog]

Nate v. Telfair.

Nate all the way. Unfortunately, Nate doesn't have a lick of sense, can't play defense or find an open man. I believe Nate is bait at this point.

Remember all the bashing LB took for giving it to Nate. We'll maybe LB blew the season and is a cantakerous ego-driven fool, but with him, you had hope & the possibility that he would turn guys like Nate into players. That's what I find truly depressing about Zeke's "just-good-enough-to-keep-the-job" season. NOTHING that I saw leads me to believe he's the right person to coach and develop the nice talent he found in the draft.

[jaqdavisone]

I think Zeke did a great job nurturing our talent but a few things were happening this season, first of all he had to change the state of the players because of the mental damage LB had inflicted( I know they're men they shouldn't feel emotions).  Secondly he had to change the culture and create a winning atmosphere and last but not least he had an omen over his head from his azzhole boss which had the media and fans influenced by the media critiquing his every move. Every lost magnified - every win downplayed so he wasn't just trying to nurture the youth I also believe he was trying to also keep his sanity and whats funny is he almost pulled it off man I wish we could have made the playoffs just to see ol no mustache Vecsey eat crow and look even more stupid then he does on nbatv.

[rembee]

I really do think Zeke was about five minutes away from being fired until the brawl suspensions forced his hand and saved his @$$. Patrick was in the red seats every night for awhile and that wasn't no coincidence, as Xeno speculated.

...or maybe he was in line for an assistant coaching job, or maybe he was brought in to give advice to Isiah's charges as Magic and Micheal Ray Richardson were, or maybe Pat was in the Garden to watch a Knick game.

As long as we are wildly speculating...Don't you think if Zeke's head was minutes away from rolling the suspensions, no doubt due to Isiah calling for the hit on Anthony, would have in fact pushed Dolan to make that call?  A huge brawl and bad press for the Garden would have been the perfect opportunity to give his new coach only 10 games to accomplish what he publicly stated would take a season.  You really think he would have instead said "hmmm, well, let’s wait to see how they play after this."  No sale on that one.  Though I do find it amusing how easily you transfer your own desires onto Dolan.  I wouldn't admit to having that much in common with the man.

As for Thomas' development of the players...I think his strength as a coach is building a team mentality, not necessarily the development of individual players.  This is true.  He isn't a guy who is going to break down a player’s tendencies to rebuild him in his image, he takes a players strengths as a starting point.  This seemed to work with the young talent in Indiana, but with problem children the reigns are not tight enough.

And LB's record with problem children?  Take a real look at his record with young players before believing the hype that he is teacher, especially his record in Philly.  He Always looked to move his problem children somewhere else rather than coach them.  Did it in New York too with Ariza, and would have liked to do it with Frye and Robinson.

[kam]

Fire Sale in Seattle?  They just fired their Coach and Reassigned their GM.  They've stated their readiness to re-locate to another town.  And they have a player who may just be the most sought after Free Agent Small Forward.

Well I thought i'd share this little bball morsel: I was reading a Seattle fan forum and they're resigned to the fact they're losing Rashard Lewis and actually happy to go after Gerald Wallace because he "actually plays defense".

[connectivity999]

One thing folks may have forgotten but I have not is....The knicks could not stop anyone and where falling behind early in every game....Isiah inserted Big Snacks as you call him to give them a defensive line that would not put the Knicks behind every freakin game at the start.  

It worked...... Snacks did not play lots of minutes but his big butt presence at the start of games helped hold the the Knicks down when defense was the call of the day.  

 i dont know what you guys are looking at but Big Eddy Curry is not your most intimidating defensive center around...teamed with "I am soft as jello Channing Frye" and you have what Clyde calls Matador defense...guys just blowing by the the knicks guys with no shot blocking...  

The Knicks need a guy that plays hard nose defense....much like Artest without all the drama... The defense needs to be respected next year right now teams like the Nets and jason Kidd and jefferson as well as scott skiles have no respect for the Knicks defense...

If I was Isiah I would get Artest at all cost...JKidd and teams like the bulls need to see the knicks make some stops...win some games they thought we would lose...and really show dramatic gain....That my Knick friends starts with defense... Balkman and Collins are a start!   The knicks have enough offensive weapons!  Lets get some stops!

[kam]

With Balkman and Jeffries and even Q... what extra defense is Artest going to bring to the table at SF?  He'll just cancel out what we have now.  If we're building around Curry, then Lee/Frye are not good enough defensive PFs. And other than Collins and maybe Marbury, our backcourt has no defense either.

We need a PF who can rebound like Lee and play D.  Jermaine O'Neal, or Emeka Okafor would help.  Maybe the Bobcats land Oden and would trade Okafor for N8, Lee, Frye and the 23rd pick.

[thebizneverloses]

Why the hell would we want Telfair? For starters, him and Stephon don't see eye-to-eye. Second, he was a bench player on a 20-win team. He's a worthy project, but he's 4 years away and New York City is not the place for Bassy from Brooklyn to take a journey to find himself as a basketball player.

[trains1]

Kam

Couldn't agree more. I mean really, both Balkman and Jeffries showed some promise at shutting down SFs. Q was the better two way player. But our problems lied with no defense Frye next to Curry. If Curry stays he needs a defending sidekick. The apathetic look alone from Frye made me want to toss something at my TV.

Hope Collins takes a zillion shots over the summer and practices getting it to Curry, especially the lob.

[tysonnnyc]

Kam, thanks for the links.

As for Artest, not only is he a better defender than anyone we have, he is one of the best 2-way players in the entire league.  He would provide much better defense than Jeffries (who was suspect, IMO, all year), Balkman and Q.  In addition, Artest can play SG.

For me, the only problem with getting Artest is he would probably cost the Knicks some of the assets needed to get a PF like Jermaine, provided Indiana would even deal with Isiah.

Who would you rather have guarding the likes of Kobe, T-Mac, Wade, Rip etc?  Balkman, Q or Artest?  And keep in mind our perimiter defense sucks.

[jaqdavisone]

I still want Artest so here's my trade scenario for the day we trade Frye,Francis and N8 to CLeveland for Drew Gooden and Larry Hughes,  why do they do it because they like Frye and it gives them a three point threat and scorer to play next to Lebron. Then we trade Crawford and Jeffries for Artest and Shareef Raheem.  Our Projected starting five before the draft.

PG  Steph
SG  Hughes
SF  Artest
PF   Shareef
C    Curry

thats a hell of a lot of defense to mask any if not all of Currys defecencies


second unit

PG  Mardy
SG  Q
SF   Balkman
PF  Lee
C   Randolph


Thats enuff Offense and defense to net us about 10 more wins and give a team a fit in the playoffs

[bodiddley]

Good to see badblk and trains here.

I agree with Kam that we need defense at the PF next to E-city.
But also we need defense at the SG next to Marbs.

I think the Artest train left the station, but I can see getting a two-way player at the SF.
Jeffries can't score and Balk can't shoot.  Artest at least can post and shoot and is an offensive threat, as well as a threat to be offensive.  That's why I like Q.  Rashard Lewis or Gerald Wallace would be great.  But SF is not the highest priority.
We really need better starters and defenders at the 2 & 4.

As for Seattle, Connectivity makes a valuable point.  Any deal for Rashard, Ray Allen (I think highly unlikely and he's too old for us), Sene, Petro, or Ridnour involves dealing with Lenny Wilkins, who we kicked to the curb.  Not going to be easy.
Petro and Frye could be a nice PF combo next to Curry.

Jaq said:

Isaih is a young GM who came in gun happy but have since learned a lesson and is approaching the job with patience and diligence. 

Good point, but I think part of Isiah's lesson was forced upon him, when Uncle Dolan took away the checkbook.

Lastly, Telfair has moves and quickness, but poor shooting, lack of finishing, no defense, and not good decision-making.  Nate is better, though Telfair still holds out the promise of becoming a decent-to-good point guard.  While Nate will always be a midget-SG microwave type.

[connectivity999]

Who said Q was a great defensive player?  he is out more than 60 games over the past 2 seasons due to injuries...  he is not the answer....and is not available come playoff run time....Balkman is a good player and I would play him over Q but he is a rookie....  Lets face it Artest is what we need.... We could also use a guy like Jermain ONiel who when healthy is the best offensive playing big man in the East.

The thing that scares me is it looks like after all the bull...The checkbook may be closed from Isiah....If that is the case its a stupid blanket thing to do...because now is the perfect time to make a move on Artest, ONiel, Garnett,Webber, Lebron, Carter, Artest is not welcome in Sacremento says he wants to retire, Oniel should want out in Indy,they went down from a payoff contender to a bottom dweller, Garnett is a trooper but he is waste-ing  his career with the Timberwolves! 

After watching last night Kobe may want out soon!   THE LAKERS STINK -If I see two players in the world perfect for the Knicks its Kobe and Lebron....I see a lot of changing of the guard going on...Chicago is ready to pass Miami, Suns (Raja gets last laugh) over the lakers...

Did everyone see how Nash could not even get in the ballgame because Barbosa is playing so well?.... Nash is the 2 time MVP and Barbosa must be destroying him on practice.... 

I like the Nuggets in that series but I see the Spurs winning tonight its Duncans Birthday tonight....its in San Antonio....If they lose again at home its over...so bet the house on Big Timmy tonight...   Lou Deng and Ben Gordon destroyed an injured DWade who is at times a liabilty to his team cuz his strength just not there...

Bottom line is the Knicks need a defensive stopper and at least one player that can shoot consistantly from the outside...like kapono or steve Blake...if isiah does not upgrade or as he says improve...he will be out ....this team still is not completed.

[jaqdavisone]

Do we really think Isaih is staying put this summer I sure hope we don't also I believe Dolan was seriously thinking about canning Isaih which is why he closed the book but I now believe he is convinced Isaih is the man wherefore giving him full run of the team. Isaih first said he would trade his mama if the right deal came along and think that still stands this is not the team that will be playing for the ring next season its a short list on a few players. I believe  Crawford, N8, Frye, Jeffries, Malik and maybe Lee or Balkman are all on the block  the last two because we'll have to give to get.