Knicks Defense

What are we playing for?

Are we just going through the motions?

Padding individual stats for the inevitable move? The players, except for a few, know they have no invitation to come back next year.
I don’t know if Wilson Chandler is a keeper. Something in his game is missing. Statistically this is not true, but I’ve seen enough of Wilson Chandler these past few years to know his game isn’t complete. I think it is the competitive spirit. He’s got the tools, but I don’t see the will to compete for the victory every night. Last game, yes it was there, “emphatically” as Marv would have said. I’m probably very wrong, but he hasn’t reached his potential in New York. Maybe he’ll be like Trevor Ariza and blossom someplace else.

I’m not crazy about Sergio Rodriguez so far. He’s definitely better suited than Duhon, but Sergio needs some rebounders on this team, because he needs that quick outlet to run-and-gun, and we’ve seen the Knicks really suck worse defensively and on the boards since we sent Jared Jeffries packing. Sergio hasn’t had the opportunity.

This team really misses Jared Jeffries. He was their best team-player and he NEVER got the recognition this year, it all went to Lee–perhaps unjustly. If we are a 20-something win team this year, half those victories are linked to what Jared Jeffries gave the Knicks this year.

I never gave Jeffries a proper sendoff, so I am doing it now.

Jared, we appreciate what you did for the Knicks this season defensively, but your contract was a hindrance to the 2010 bonanza we’re about to have. Thanks for being a Knick these past few years. There were worse players than you, despite what most Knick fans think (Balkman, Curry, James were all worse, to name a few).

Think big. Donnie Walsh is.

I no longer understand what the direction of the team is at this point.  If this is a throwaway year from here on out, so be it.

We just reserved our renewal season tickets at last night’s game.  We’re moving closer!  It was between a section in the 300’s closer to half court, row e, or a section in the 200’s, row b.  The difference is about 800 bucks per seat for the season.  We currently have two seats in the 300’s closer to behind the basket.

The game sucked.  Why do people get their career highs against us?  I think I know the answer to that question:  we can’t play defense.  With Jeffries went any semblance of team defense.  I am sad to see Jeffries go but if you’re going to make a big omelet in 2010, you going to have to crack some eggs.

The highlight of our experience at MSG last night was going to the Knicks Team Store and buying some stylish new Knicks gear.  I got the new world champion warm-ups, I really like the look.

I saw Frank Isola, he walked right in front of me in a tunnel in the 100’s. Since he has blogged here on Knicksdefense before as ” News Man”  I was going to say hi.  Then I remembered what prompted him to write on here, I called his Macbook laptop girly, which obviously pissed him off.  Well Frank, you were right about Isiah.  I apologize for defending him for 3 years.  He was a complete disaster for the Knicks organization.  Your laptop is still girly.

Saw Luis Biggs too, he’s becoming the garden’s manufactured celebrity.  He’s the heavyset guy that dances for the cameras during a timeout in the fourth quarter.

The last game of a forgettable month for Knicks fans begins tonight when they face the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Knicks picked up a much needed win when they took Washington to overtime and were able to close out and snap their 8-game losing streak.

Hopefully they can continue and make it two in a row tonight.

I have to mention some non-knick news, apparently Phil Jackson got his panties in a bunch over the Cavs recent flip-flop regarding the reacquisition of Zydrunas Ulgauskas (I can’t stand plays whose names are as difficult to spell as Big Z’s.) Apparently Coach Jackson thinks it is unfair and he believes the NBA should not have allowed the trade which gave the Cavs Anwtawn Jamison essentially for nothing.

Does Phil Jackson remember when he got Pau Gasol ESSENTIALLY FOR NOTHING??? Many people(myself included)at the time of that transaction, believed the NBA should not have allowed that trade to take place. When the shoe is on the foot the spineless Jackson who only goes to ready-made teams complains it is unfair. I hope somebody kicks the Lakers’ ass this summer, but it is unlikely because there are certain people in the league that get hooked up. Phil Jackson got hooked up by Laker legend Jerry West, Danny Ainge got hooked up with Kevin Garnett thanks to Kevin Mchale.

Well, at least Donnie Walsh is friends with Arn Tellem. Wait, wait, who, if anyone, does Arn Tellem represent from this upcoming free agent class of 2010?

…In other news, the lowly Nets are about to beat the Boston Celtics. Go figure.

Nate Robinson will have his season debut tonight against the team he loved to play for, the New York Knicks.

Tracy McGrady is listed as probably for tonight’s game, despite having banged knees during last night’s game and asking to come out of the game.

The Knicks are 0-2 since the trade deadline, lets see if playing on the road makes any difference… I won’t hold my breath.

Look for Toney Douglas to get more minutes before S-Rod.  We’re testing both of them for Mike D’s system for the 29 games.  Actually, everyone not named Wilson or Danilo is on notice.

Lets Go Knicks!

See you at the Garden!

The top six players this summer looking for new contracts HAVE ALL PLAYED FOR MIKE D: Wade, Bosh, LeBron, Amare, Joe Johnson and Boozer.
Now if the money is there and you know that you like the coach and you’ll be playing with a fellow all-star do you really think they’ll all say no? In New York??

Knick trade deadline casualty #1 has been completed.

Darko out.

Brian Cardinale in.

This is strictly for cap space, but let’s face it, Darko didn’t play here, so if Brian gets any burn, it would be an improvment.

Go to work Donnie!

We have a REAL GM in command at 2 Penn Plaza.

Lookout Chicago!

Nate is on his way to Boston.  This supports my theory that D’Antoni was only playing Nate in January so he’d have his rhythm in the dunk contest.  Mission accomplished.  Nate, you have a future in the NBA, no doubt, but, let’s face it:  your future is not with us.  Good luck to you Nate, I won’t miss you.

The best memory I have of Nate was during his rookie year when he hit the three point shot over Allen Iverson to win the game at the buzzer.  I was at that game, great game.

The T-Mac rumors have been beaten to death.  The Rockets want Jordan Hill, and Donny Walsh Isn’t budging –he wants to keep Hill. 

I really think Donnie Walsh is a great GM.  The NBA is a fraternity, and Walsh is a guy with connections.  Walsh is friends with T-Mac’s agent, Arn Tellum, who is pushing Houston hard to make a deal with New York.  Chicago wants a piece of the T-Mac action; obviously I hope Chicago doesn’t get what it wants.  They already have Derrick Rose; let us get someone with a pulse in our back court.

I think Mike D’Antoni  is a great coach (you probably won’t agree until you see what he works with NEXT season) we have a positive future ahead of us as long as James Dolan stays the hell away from an kind of decision making process that involves the basketball team.

We’re aiming high, and when was the last time you could say that about the Knicks?  We’ve been aiming to get into the first round of the playoffs for 8 years and failing every time, but this summer, the goal is to get two FRANCHISE PLAYERS.  We don’t know which two it will be, but if Dwayne Wade is dreaming of playing with LeBron, might I suggest he dream of it on the Garden floor?

Not just blogging!

Donnie Walsh for President!

Mike D’Antoni for Vice President!

Haters go pick another team and will the real New York Knick fans please stand up!

I just realized something.  I titled this blog, “the shape of Knicks to come,” fashioned after the Ornette Coleman masterpiece, “The Shape of Jazz to Come,” except for one thing:  the Knicks are pretty much shapeless right now.  Assuming we get both trades completed, there is even a possibility of a third trade if the Knicks continue to acquire Tyrus Thomas from the Bulls, we have only a few players that we are sure to keep for next year:  Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari, Toney Douglas, and maybe Jordan Hill.  Eddy Curry will be here because nobody wants him at all.

We’re looking at a full-fledged roster gut, except for those four guys and maybe T-Mac.  We have a shell.  The nucleus has yet to be formed.  Stay tuned to July 1st, 2010.