Knicks Pickup Options on David Lee, Nate Robinson, Renaldo Balkman and Mardy Collins
So these four guys will be playing another year on their rookie contracts. I can’t say I disagree with keeping any of these guys here, they’re some of the best players on the team.
African,
That was the definitive post of the pre-season. I know you know because YOU WERE THERE.
I believe the Wally Pipp story was intended for the likes of Stephon and Jamal who are feeling entitled based on their past performances. Still, as you know I’m wont to view an NBA script being played out, I don’t believe the team will play the same way starting next week. I really believe the team did all the things that it WILL NOT do in the regular season. The NYK will not be able to sneak up on teams the way IT wants it to play out. The NBA knows that there are two beasts at the post in NY.
While you criticize Steph for not being able to feed the post, I see the inside game as being more predicated by the ability of the bigs to establish position early and correctly. That mano a mano breakdown you reported about Steph and Kidd, recall that we saw it during the the losing days of the HOF coach–he threw the team under the MSM bus about it.
Another point about the Jamal enigma is his defense. I disagree that JC can’t play defense. As we (Defenders) all know here, defense calls for commitment. For some reason, JCraw played effective D for the HOF “right way” coach: cutting off passing lanes, staying in front of his man, running through screens, rotating off his man, cutting off the baseline, putting his hands up on D (for cryin’-out-loud), just the basics. Someone can’t have me believe he can do it one year with one coach and then forgets it the following year.
Lives,
Very well expressed about the Shaq and Sheed revelations. I suppose I would not be steady if the “frozen envelope” was not mentioned at least in passing. Let the Lil’ General run his scripts but let them favor our side from time to time. Like when Kobe was held out of NY for that flagrant blow to the head after his “follow-through”–thanks Lil General (5*). We beat LA in da NYC. Now we need a steer to NYC a la McFhale to the C’s. There’s so much not bein g told about the “Lone Rogue Ref” that the complicity of the MSM should be questioned by the “watchers” (hint, hint, hint.) If you can send Modi your past posts on the “wacky” episode, including the timeline to Modi, that would be a great start. Blogzilla has the key since much was done here so he can “search”, copy, paste, post.
Trane, LGM–the coach needs to start the season with a bang. One of the regulars is startin’ the season on the LR (lurkin reserve). You know what’s good.
Cooleyhigh,
In the powerful words of Statesman, Peace and Blessings.
KFLL
Just a repeat post on Crawford!
He did himself a Major injustice lifting for the extra muscle!
He needs to go back to his Allen Iverson frame and keep his tone!
Crawford didn’t need the extra weight for offense, and it’s making him two steps slower on the D! Crawford’s not a Power Forward, so someone mis-advised him, and you can see how hard he worked! The first thing to go on a bulked up Ectomorph is quickness and coordination!
Micheal Cooper, the “Iceman”…Jamal(silk) Wilkes…and too many to list, were never allowed to work on their upper body….just their legs. Hopefully he will slowly lose that bulk!
Gentlemen,The Daily News? today reported that Cablevision will be raising their TV package rate only, not internet or digital phone service, rate by 4.7% starting in December.Nice to have a golden goose whenever you need a little spare change.Sheed may find a horse’s head in his bed one of these days.The history of the NBA is no different than any other hustle that became legit.The liquor barons, Seagrams, were smugglers and bootleggers during prohibition, watch me now?Ned Irish who started the Knicks was a,gasp,NYC sportswriter who saw an opportunity to sell college b-ball games to the Garden.It was always about a dollar with him.There is no “sanctity of the game”.That’s just a fiction to get in your pocket.What there is,is a fabulous game that fulfills the human spirit with physicality, individuality, teamwork and grace.The game and the people “are the thing”,to paraphrase Willy S.Those who love this game know there is nothing like it.That’s why we’re all here, trying to stay close to it.As to the fleas,the flesh peddlers of every variety, that live off the body of the game,I say, “a plague on all your houses”.Sheed, Shaq and every one of us that’s ever busted their asses on a court and walked off,head high and heart fulfilled knows “what’s good”.Love the game,respect it.LGK,Guys,keep bringing it write!
Modi,
Before I say this, I am going to say that I loved your article on how getting Curry offsets not getting Noah or Thomas. Under those same principles, if the Bulls use those 2 assets as the means to get Kobe, how does that trade look now ?
If that trade goes through the Bulls could start
Hinrich
Kobe
Nocioni
Smith
Wallace
w/ an anemic bench.
Kobe said he wouldn’t accept that trade so lets replace Thomas w/ Duhon.
Hinrich
Kobe
Nocioni
Thomas
Wallace
Thats a decent starting 5 ! albeit it still leaves them bare on the bench.
If this happens, and I predict it will, the Bulls still won’t make the finals. I’m sure there will be some picks thrown in as well because of the Thomas substitution. This should set the Bulls back years. If Thomas doesn’t blossom into a star Kobe will be stuck in a much similar situation to the one he’s in now. Wallace is just about done. Hinrich is overated. If Kobe isn’t coming here, I hope he goes there. Having him in Chicago will once again nuetralize the games best player.
http://www.nypost.com/seven/10282007/sports/knicks/take_to_court.htm?page=1
http://www.newsday.com/sports/basketball/ny-spknix1028,0,4691089.story
http://www.newsday.com/sports/basketball/knicks/ny-spberger285436093oct28,0,2989516.column