There was a point when we were getting close against Cleveland when, as Garland was bringing it up, Beilein called out from the side for three guys to head to the far side of the court and then for the one guy already there to come back and set a pick at the top of the key. It wasn’t calling out a play, it was “you, you, you -there! You - here!” The guy covering the screener got slowed by the cross traffic of the clear out. The screen caught the guard guarding Garland completely off guard. The three defenders who’s men cleared out we’re past the key and heading in the wrong direction when Garland turned the corner off the screen. Garland gets the open layup putting to bed the Knicks’ best run. That kind of impact and engagement with the game through coaching is what allows an unlikely team to over achieve. Any rumor that Fizz has ever done anything like that?
Good point.
And I have always been a Fizz supporter.
But some of his moves seem, oh, suspect.
Having said that, as per DAWG, hanging the coach out to dry, as if this wasn't a team effort from top to bottom?
Again, as per Mudiay, Utah inked him for a minimum contract, and his defensive faux pas notwithstanding, Fizz repurposed Mudiay, got his offensive game in gear, worked on kinks in his closeouts...
I like Peyton, and his steady presence as a rudder at the point (when ambulatory), but given our offensive inefficiency, it would've seemed prudent to hold on to an asset who could give up instant offense off of the bench.
Perhaps the thought was that this would conflict somehow with Dennis Smith's development.
In any event, what's done is done, but the departure of Vonleh, Herzonja, Kornet and Mudiay, after such time and effort was invested in "development" let alone in the team chemistry and bond developed in sharing the pain of 2018-2019, and starting from scratch as it were, save for Robinson, Knox, Ntilikina and Smith, is surely subject to reflection, and that ain't all on Fizz, but surely on Mills and Perry (Perry having been a Peyton booster, much as he was a Herzonja booster).
And of course, as many will duly note, while I was taken aback by letting Mudiay walk, I was surely on board with the other moves Mills and Perry made.
Still, having tossed out Plan A, Plan B and Plan C, moving on directly to Plan Q, should it be a surprise that given the up and down nature of rotations, that up and down play accrues?
And of course, let's not overlook the reality of injuries to Robinson and Peyton and Bullock, Smith's own injuries and subsequent loss of rhythm, not to mention loss of a loved one, and Fizz's motivations in granting floor time and allocating minutes.
In closing, having said all that, whatsoever Fizdale's failings, having him walk the plant a month or two into the season does nothing to address the Dolan-Mills-Perry-Fizdale scrum, nor does it set the stage for the recruitment of yet another coach, but rather, sets the stage for another Tankathon, and perhaps, months of civic masturbation surrounding Draft Savior 2.0 (James Wiseman), the Greek Freak...
In the meantime, calls for Fizz to be fired and the widely touted Mark Jackson to be hired, I mean, FUCK MARK JACKSON. Not to discount his attributes, but hey, grow up Knicks fans.
And for the pathetic misdirection play regarding our alleged corporate pursuit of Toronto Major Domo,
Masai Ujiri, that is simply beyond pathetic.
Why in the name of all that is HOLY, would Ujiri bail on his cushy spot, unimpeachable control, proven track record as a leader, judge of talent, breeder of champions (and rapist of James Dolan) to come to NYC for all the greenbacks in perdition?
Donnie Walsh?
Phil Jackson?
Kyrie Irving?
Kevin Durant?
Kemba Walker?
Zion Williamson?
James Wiseman?
Everyone needs to take a deep breath. Changing horses in mid-stream accomplishes NOTHING.
Making FAZZ walk the plank accomplishes nothing.
Assigning blame accomplishes nothing.
The sound and fury of a fire sale, the trade of all our newest signings and present assets?
Draft picks? Future cap space? Better chemistry?
Or just re-arranging deck chairs on the Titanic?
DOLAN DIVESTING?
Hahaha...The Knicks are, for all the chaos and ever-mounting dysfunction, THE MOST VALUABLE FRANCHISE in the NBA, or damn near the top.
Embrace the pain, Knicks fans. No amount of scapegoating or blame laying will change things.
Our team, such as it is, needs to own this season. As for Jimmy The Jizz, and his merry band of men (Mills & Perry, and Fizz The Wiz)?
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