Knicks Season Preview: Will 2007-2008 spell redemption for Isiah and Co?
October 9, 2007 – 4:39 pm
Now that the first preseason game has been played it may be a good time for a mini preview story based on what we’ve seen thus far.
Looks like Stephon Marbury and Jamal Crawford appear to be locks for starting in the backcourt. Crawford put on 10-15 lbs of muscle and it should benefit his ability to get into the paint, because now he can absorb the contact and get to the free throw line, where Crawford is an excellent free throw shooter at 83.8%. Stephon seems poised for a great year as a leader and distributor, over the summer he admitted that he is no longer playing to keep his 20 and 8 career averages alive, but to get other players involved in a team-first manner.
Which brings us to the big guns, Eddy Curry and Zach Randolph. Nearly 600lbs and 13.7 feet of low-post scoring domination. Eddy will split the scoring duties with Zach. Zach can step out as far as Channing Frye and stroke the jump shot with consistency. He’s a lefty and since Eddy Curry is a righty who is at his best 6 feet from the basket, I don’t think they’ll be getting in each other’s way that much. Zach has shown the ability to pass out of a double-team, so he may get the first touch over Eddy. I do think they’ll be able to set some mean double screens to free up Marbury, Crawford or any of the other perimeter threats in New York.
The small forward position is still a subject for debate; it doesn’t help matters that the knicks have all of six of them to choose from. The common belief is that Quentin Richardson will be manning the three (a good choice considering he plays well on both sides of the floor), but you could easily make arguments for David Lee (a walking double-double with a high motor) or Jared Jeffries (a taller defensive specialist looking to bounce back from a subpar first year as a knick).
The knicks bench has got to be considered one of the deepest in the eastern conference. Nate Robinson and Fred Jones appear to be the first choices to spell Marbury and Crawford some rest, and the trio of David Lee, Renaldo Balkman and newcomer Wilson Chandler will prove to be one of the most athletic second units in all of the NBA.
Yet the story does not stop there, because the knicks have even more options to throw at you. Malik Rose proved late last year that he can still play, and most importantly, shut down the opposing team’s big man if need be. His classic pull the chair out from behind manuver was used on A list scorers like Tim Duncan.
Mardy Collins proved his worth in the last month of his rookie season with solid all-around numbers. Hopefully he can continue to work on his shot because that may be the only thing holding him back from more minutes at this point.
Jerome James has been injured early on in camp but many knicks fans think he will have the opportunity to prove his worth at some point during the upcoming season. Only time will tell.
Randolph Morris looks like a fundamentally sound back up big man, I look forward to the development of his game during the 2006-2007 NBA season.
There are some redundancies on this team, but if anything can be learned from the 2006-2007 NBA season, it is that injuries can and will happen. It is just part of the game now, will all the players spending many hours in the gym bulking up.
Turnovers and Defense will determine how far this well-stocked team can go into the post season.
19 Responses to “Knicks Season Preview: Will 2007-2008 spell redemption for Isiah and Co?”
What up dude
“My money is on Nate being ousted from the team. He improved his play in the summer league, but the essence of Nate is a wild player”
If you dont want your blogger’s license revoked, you’d better stop talking sh!t.
LoL. JK
He may be wild…but he’s also a young player. A 2nd year player. That has to be factored in your equation when you are trying to assess his value. You want someone who is passionate on the court…so much so that you think he is wild. That’s a good thing.
Good luck with your blog.
Maybe that wacky stuff won’t go down and we’ll all migrate here. Might be a little cramped…
By BARF on Oct 9, 2007 at 7:42 pm
Nice write up on this one.
Positive all throughout. It must have been hard not to criticize them.
Cant wait to see more of Chandler.
By BARF on Oct 9, 2007 at 7:46 pm
Good blog Starburyfan! At least it ain’t “Whacky!”
You left out Nichols, your oversight will soon be
adjusted! I have a big feeling this is not the final
Roster! We will all Know on Nov 2nd! BTW did you hear
that Reggie Theaus imposed a 11:00 curfew on the Kings,
Knowing it would piss off Artest the Most? Good news for us!
By Peaceman on Oct 9, 2007 at 8:22 pm
BARF! Peaceman! welcome guys, stay as long as you like. If such high-quality bloggers such as yourselves continue to visit, I may have to buy some tickets at MSG to keep the blog fresh for you all!
Check back soon fellas!
By Starburyfan on Oct 9, 2007 at 9:05 pm
yeah I left out Demetris, no disrespect to him. Hope he makes the squad, we can use his jump shooting on the wings.
By Starburyfan on Oct 9, 2007 at 9:06 pm
In all likelihood if Sacramento doesn’t get off to a good start, Ron will be gone by mid-season. The Knicks should feature Malik Rose more and package him with some draft picks for Artest. I think that will work, Sac will want to shed salary and rebuild and Knicks will get their man. The Crazy thing is that SAC may want to package him with Bibi. In that case the Knicks could get a third team involved.
This will give the Knicks a complete team to compete for a Championship
By Jazz on Oct 9, 2007 at 9:12 pm
Puttin’ my bags down….
Damn, movin’ is tough! Hopefully the rent won’t go up too much and I can stick around awhile.
Sup’ fellas!!
By bronxboy in Md on Oct 9, 2007 at 9:14 pm
Nice Blog site! I like the term roster redundancy (RR) you use. I actually think it is sort a part of two consistent tendencies I gathered from watching the Isiah Knicks this far. One would be that while it is a widely recognized fact that Thomas is a great drafter, Thomas also has to hedge his bets– e.g., acquiring JJeff as a defensive specialist at the three that in a sense is also replicated by the drafting of Renaldo Balkman and perhaps the acquisition and tryout of JJordan in light of the injury to Marty Collins. The other tendency is Thomas’s philosophy towards competition as a means of determining the best or more adept player for each particular position.
Anyhow I guesse I am a refugee now w/o a blog to go to until that wack as post job is lifted from the Fix. I’ll hang out her for now and hook you up with postings from around the leauge.
By Orange and Blue on Oct 9, 2007 at 9:48 pm
Open Practices will be!
http://www.nba.com/knicks/
By Orange and Blue on Oct 9, 2007 at 9:52 pm
FIXERS,
Starburyfan is defintely on to something here. This is truly viable alternative Starburyfan and I got mad respect foryour passion and commitment toOUR BELOVED NY KNICKS. I’ll be a regular.
By cooleyhigh on Oct 9, 2007 at 10:38 pm
Yo Cooley man, thanks! It is an honor to see you on this knicks blog. Welcome homie!
By Starburyfan on Oct 9, 2007 at 10:51 pm
I posted a wild idea in sbfan’s new write up. Tell me what you guys think
By BARF on Oct 9, 2007 at 10:51 pm
Guess I’ve been on your beaten path BARF. Knick fans (men/women) I’ve begun my major unloads at MODI’s site. I did a chapter by chapter submission that I intended for the other place. Star and Modi(cosellout) are cool so check it out there. If we ever get back over there, I can tell ya’ll about running with an old Globetrotter and libations at two oceans–sounds wacky doesn’t it.
KFL
By Steady on Oct 9, 2007 at 11:22 pm
Fixers, did you guys see the post by Oracle? Wow! I had to check and see If I owned my computer, because for a minute there I thought it was owned by KNIX FIX…LOL I’ve never had this much fun fellowshipping with a bunch of CRAZED KNICK FANS in my life. You guys are astute. witty, sharp, and on the Ball…Some how did I forget to pay my dues…LOL
It’s great bloggin with you guys and THIS SEASON IS ALREADY GREAT FOR ME…
Keep it POPPIN
By cooleyhigh on Oct 9, 2007 at 11:41 pm
Hey Cooley,
Whatcha kno good about the IT ownership plan in TO? I was at MSU at the time and with some of the connects (lawyer/agent) but the intel could never come. MODI is trying to plug a hole in his book. Maybe you can hook a brutha up!
‘Sup BX-MD?
KFL
By Steady on Oct 9, 2007 at 11:52 pm
Steady,
If I recollect correctly,in 94 or 95 Thomas was signed on as Exec. VP with the Raptors and Given 9 or 10 percent ownership, basically a minority postion. At the time, the Raptors were owned by this Kat who’s name starts with a B and another majority owner who’s name was slaigt or something like that. A couple of years later Isiah expressed interest in a majority position just when the team was talking about building the Air Canada Centre and I believe they had an agreement, but this slaigt character decided against it maintained majority ownership until he sold it to the Maple Leafs Ltd that currently owns both teams (hockey).
I believe financing for the new arena was one issue, Thomas’s financing was weak was stated an another (don’t know if that is true), and the other was I believe a Canadian entity maintaining ownership, but more likely the other owners (mainly Davidson was against it).
I would have Modi check my facts or research any articles Michael Wilbon may have written in the Wash Post in the late 90’s regarding the matter, since he and Zeke are Homies..
Steady, I hope I have been of some help to you and my man Modi.
By cooleyhigh on Oct 10, 2007 at 4:18 am
nice site dude. I wish it was a little “whackier” though. lol.
By JohnQ on Oct 10, 2007 at 10:21 am
So this is where all the wacky fixers went eh?
By shamgod on Oct 12, 2007 at 9:47 pm
http://knickscentral.blogspot.com ‘07-’08 Season preview player by player analysis
I just added your link to my blog your blogs awesome I hope you return the favor
By Alex B on Oct 31, 2007 at 4:11 pm