They didn’t just whoop them, the Celtics nearly doubled up on the Knicks last night, 104-59.
I can not dismiss the possibility posed to me by a fellow knick fan that the Knicks players deliberately tanked this game, because no NBA team should lose by this amount, let alone a healthy team with far and away the largest payroll in the league. The team I saw tonight, if this is how it is going to be, they’re headed straight back to the lottery just like that suburban dork Rick Kamla sarcastically remarked in the offseason Atlantic Division preview.
The ultimate dis tonight didn’t come from podunk Charles Barkley, or sworn enemy Reggie Miller, or even sour grapes Marv Albert, although each of them had their knick bashing moments on the TNT national telecast. No, the ultimate dis came when they cut to a shot from the crowd; to an older, chubby, understandably disgruntled Knicks fan who was representing with his knicks jersey. Having to sit in that hostile environment and watch that kind of a blowout, he took off his jersey and threw it towards the court in pure disgust, a gesture TNT captured with their cameras and played back to us in slow motion. Maybe that one will make youtube.
So what are you going do, Jimmy Dolan? Sit on your hands and wait for the Knicks to get better accidentally?
Looking for some nugget of wisdom on what I had just witnessed, I headed over to Knicks.com and got as far as this single sentence I’ll leave you with here:
Nate Robinson led the Knicks with 11 points.
{ 484 comments… read them below or add one }
← Previous Comments
@ Barf
I agree with that trade.
At least Kwame has hops and can blocks some shots.
Rose is so horrible out there it hurts to watch him.
Even though I love when he calls the games….
Bill Walton is a real prick when it comes to the Knicks.
DVJ, you heard Walton with the “they need to be blown up and start over” comment.
Reminded me of you. Its easy for him to say it though cuz he doesn’t have to follow them. He’s not a fan.
Question:
Would you trade Curry for Jermaine O’Neal?
“You’re always going to be open to criticism in professional sports,” said O’Neal, who is averaging 13.2 points — 11 fewer than in 2004-05. “I know people are saying I’m not the same player I used to be. I accept it because it is what it is. I’ve been hurt the last few years. I believe once I get over the hump, and I believe I’m going to get over it, I’m going to be the player I was before.”
I wouldn’t. O’Neal is older and more injury prone but I want to know if you would. If you hate Curry and think so little of him to trade him for a REAL risk.
Dwight Howard is at the top of the MVP talk early in the season:
• To think there was an actual debate, Howard or Emeka Okafor, at the top of the 2004 draft. Howard’s been magnificent for the Magic this season, his improved face-up game making him unstoppable most nights and making the Magic a legitimate contender to come out of the cluttered East playoff race. That $86 million spent on Howard’s contract extension looks like money very well spent.
Atlanta’s rookie is having quite a year:
• REBOUNDING MACHINE: Hawks rookie Al Horford is rebounding like anything but a first-year player. His 9.9 rebounds per game lead all rookies by a wide margin; Toronto’s Jamario Moon ranks second with 6.7. Horford ranks 14th in the league overall. He had 10 in 12 first-half minutes Friday night, securing his seventh double-digit rebounding performance in 15 games.
Great win! desparately needed. great job by fred Jones
Listen, I think that I part company with many of my comrades here who believe the Knicks couls win with Jamal running the point. Marbury, when motivated, is still the Knicks best bet at point. He kicked ass against Utah just on Monday. Last year he sucked in november but had a good second half. Let’s see this thing through some more games before pronouncing marbury dead.
The biggest reason we won is because Isiah sat Curry down in the home stretch. Down the stretch i only want one of the two big fellas in the game — whoever is playing better that night. Their defense is so much better.
DVJ,
Looks like the Knicks proved you wrong tonight. Anyway, I am happy we won tonight. All I pray is Marbury is out for Sunday’s game. Like I said earlier tonight Jamal should start at point.
IT trade Marbs. I am sure there are some teams looking for a PG. Miami can get a 3rd team SAC or Philly involved. We get Ron, Miami gets Bibi, SAC get and waive Steph. Hey just dreaming but you never know. Or we might get Andre Miller and Philly gets and waive Steph. It is dangerous trading within the conference but I Steph will hurt us anyways
LGKs.
Please show some grit against PHX
Modi,
You have a point but how can Marbury be motivated? He should be the leader of this team but he’s not been setting people up and thinking only about himself. I we can get another quality playa for Steph, I am all for it. I doubt that Marbury’s heart is in the game. He seemed to be concerned about only himself. If he scores 30 and the Knicks win he is happy if he score 30 and the Knicks loose, he doesn’t care. Yesterday showed how much he can lead his team
Modi says
“Marbury, when motivated, is still the Knicks best bet at point. He kicked ass against Utah just on Monday. Last year he sucked in november but had a good second half.”
He may be the most talented player we have but if the team isn’t behind him it doesn’t matter. The team has to be behind him and after what he did in PHX..they are not.
We all saw what happened with the vote before the Clippers game. None of the team wanted him to play….there’s a reason for that.
There’s also a reason why we played better as soon as the team knew he wasn’t coming back. Everybody here knew when he went back to the locker room that he wasn’t coming back.
I keep saying it’s all about attitude!!!
We had an attitude that was positive as soon as he left us.
Now people can sit here and say…we didn’t have Marbury last time we played the Suns and lost….
We also didn’t have Zach and Balkman.
Marbury has to go…just like I said before the game.
Curry needs to go or get limited minutes…
I also said Jamal needs to go because he doesn’t play defense….Jamal had a good game tonight.
However, we’ve all seen this before so it’s very hard to get excited.
We all saw Crawford give a better performance last year against the Heat and then the next game what happened?
He was nowhere near his previous performance. No let me rephrase that….he had a bad game not even a good game.
All I know is I’m not going to stick up for this team when they don’t give effort.
You can sit here and give excuses and say we need more time or that Curry needs to learn how to rebound all you want.
Not me !!!
Changes are in the air.
Get Steph out of here!!!
Get Curry out of here!!!
Jamal goes to the bench!!!
Q slides to the 2 !!!
Get Rose out of here!!!!
Comment by DaVonn Jefferson — November 30, 2007 @ 2:32 pm
Lakers are getting their asses handed to them
You’ve been off all night.
Why would any fan want to see us give away Curry, Stephon or Rose? For nothing?
DVJ, back to the GM drawing board for you. You gotta do better than that.
Comment by BARF — November 30, 2007 @ 3:30 pm
Jazz and davonn, I’m not saying you guys are definitely wrong on marbury. I’m just not convinced. Firstly, EVERYBODY sucked against Boston. But I thought marbury was exceptional against Utah, not just scoring but spreading the ball around. even though he only had 6 assists, he had many of those pass to the pass things. All I’m saying is that we should see it through. Why? Because Jamal is not a point!!!
However, if that Bibby/Artest trade opens up for marbury and Lee, then we pull the trigger.
Kobe called Bynum a bum in the Summer. Now you’re saying he’s a great pick.
Comment by HarleminMD — November 30, 2007 @ 4:41 pm
Do you think Bynum is a bum?
Answer that question for me.
Bynum is 20 years old guys!!!
Curry is 24 and Bynum already is a better rebounder and defender than Curry.
Comment by DaVonn Jefferson — November 30, 2007 @ 4:46 pm
“However, if that Bibby/Artest trade opens up for marbury and Lee, then we pull the trigger.”
If that happens, I’m naming my first-born Isiah-Lord Sanchez.
Ariza doesn’t play any real time (as opposed to garbage time) minutes?
MODI…Jamal ran the point in Chicago.
I know you can say “well they lost when he was their PG”….
This is not the same Jamal as in Chicago.
All I’m saying is if the team follows him then he should be the leader.
Maybe he can develop into our starting PG.
Marbury has been a posion on every team he’s been on bro.
posion = poison
Anyone else love that commercial for Guitar Hero III with Slash?
That’s a helluva good commercial. Especially nowadays, where there are a lot of head scratching commercials. That leave you thinking “people are paid to put together 30 seconds of boring television?”
Yo BARF…I was just re watching that commercial.
I rewinded it like 5 times…
That’s one of the hottest out.
MODI,
The other nagging issue is the potential for locker room drama. First he turned his back on IT and now I wonder what will happen if another player stands up to their coach? We know he has been leaking stuff to the NYPost and others (granted he is not the only one), He’s been taking digs at his coach calling Suanders a genius, etc. I feel there is another round of drama waiting to go off, soon as the Knicks start playing well again. I would sit his ass on the bench till he request a trade. Then wait for the offers which come in
DVJ, I’ve seen it like 10 times butt he solo gives me goosebumps. When he rips his fist through the guys mouth and his skin falls off…that shits bananas.
Perfect commercial for a video game.
“Dude, I’m telling you. I felt like Slash came out of me when I was playing it…”
Fesenko sporting a cut eye. Nice.
What happened, Charles . . . fading away? Let me make sure I got this right?
?the espn and msnbc links don?t mean anything since they?re just parroting forbes.?
And sure . . . Forebes . . . what the hell do they know, right? Get real. You asked for proof, and I provided it. Conclusive proof. Q.E.D. Over and out . . .
Yea I kind of wanted Marbury buried on the bench for a few more games.
Yes, he’s the better point guard on the squad. But he’s no leader.
He’s said himself that his stay in NY is temporary. He wants to bring his shoe movement to the world at large. He wants to get paid in Italy while he still has the skill and namesake to further capitalize on his passion for roundball.
And while he’s in Italy, he can look forward to his Starbury shoe collection gaining more ground on the Nike establishment.
So with all that to look forward to, why try to feature him as a starter? Every comment he makes publicly seems to be Steph denying responsibility for one thing…or another. Eventually, this team will NEED someone to stand up for the team every night out.
When the three 30-somethings on the team are Malik Rose, Jerome James and Stephon Marbury…Stephon has no choice but to LEAD. He’s the most respected (biggest contributor) veteran on the squad. By undermining all authority, he’s basically reminding people that Stephon in NYC is temporary.
Stephon: “DON’T BUILD AROUND ME”
I can’t defend marbury’s lockerroom drama. i’m just saying that I don’t know how much it is still a factor for sure.
Bad News for Jameer
The Magic cleared the locker room of media and closed their door after point guard Jameer Nelson received news via a text message and became upset following the Magic’s loss to the Suns.
It was not known what upset Nelson, but according to others in the dressing room, he broke down and cried after getting the text. Teammates then tried to console him.
Nelson has had a traumatic year. He lost his father, Pete, this summer after he was found in the water down the river from a dock where he worked in Chester, Pa. Authorities ruled the death accidental, but Nelson wasn’t satisfied with the findings and pressed for an investigation.
I say get rid of Marbury any way we can! Put Curry on a short leash!
In the post game interview Zeke said that we don’t need Curry to score 20
points every night. He stated Curry needs to defend and rebound, and if he scored
20 points it would be a BOUNUS! A CHANGE OF DIRECTION? YES!!!!!!!!
Also I don’t believe Nate was a DNP for nothing! Somethings brewing here!
We would be idiots to ignore that there may be a BIG TRADE warming up for the Knicks!
With Fred Jones a solid player, Nate is expendable! I love Nate, but if we must include
him for an Artest trade, so be it! Crawford will more than acceptable as our lead PG.
Rose is the key to make an Artest trade happen! They will have to include him along
with Nate. Artest’s family’s health Issue was not as serious as origionally believed,
but he did say ” I’ll ask to be traded to where ever(NY) her medical team is at!”
I believe Varejao the estanged CAV, may be the glue in a three way trade,
that gets us Artest and may help get rid of Marbury! Bibby may be Knick by default
and $$$$$ to make the trade work! Varejao may end up a King along with Nate and Rose
and next years #1 pick! Of course this is all hopeful speculation…
MODI,
I believe you are wrong about Marbury! I strongly believe the whole team wants him gone!
I also strongly believe that the team voted No for him to play the Clipper game!
His karma brings this team down! It was a pleasure watching this team improve and win last night without him!
Google Alert – new york knicks Sat 12/1/2007 10:18 AM
Isiah Should Fire Isiah
Hell is covering the New York Knicks
Milwaukee 88 New York 91
Smoke signals loud and clear
Team Game In LA. New York? Not So Much.
Zach Randolph has been the best player on the New York Knicks so …
Milwaukee Bucks Vs. New York Knicks
Rock bottom for the New York Knicks
Good High Noon Defenders.
Good Night Last Night.
I had the added pleasure of hanging out with Brother African last night at his secret lair at the Garden. A last minute invitation that I couldn’t pass up despite the embarrassment in Boston. And as I expected, it was another treat to make this season one to remember. Af showed no signs of wear and tear from his encounter with Drossie and the Pussyettes. In fact he has been re-energized by his opportunity to perform a little CSI on some CF DNA.
I expected the highlight to be finally catching up with my brother from another mother, but lo and behold the New York Knicks decided to come to MSG too. And that my friends just raised our blood levels to the rafters. The Knicks are driving me crazy, but the reality is that they are 3-1 in the last four games and only 2 games away from the 8th spot with a couple of teams ahead of them in free-fall.
So now, just from this bloggin’ I’ve had the added pleasure of greeting the personages behind the huge personalities of African, Kevin Harewood, Peaceman and sorta TMAN (by phone). And it has been one blessing after another. Good spirits and more encouragement to keep on sharing that energy we’ve got going. I again recommend that we have a major meet up at MSG.
Hmmm. The Professor was throwing down some persuasive positions on the positioning of Jamal, even while Jamal was doing his thing while Marbury was getting his massaged and treated. (His shoulder thing, nasty mind) I think I’m buying not having Crawford, Marbury and Q in the starting lineup. I am also buying not having Marbury and Crawford in the starting lineup together. So that leaves a conundrum that Zeke still has not answered. Who’s Who In the Starting Five. Marbury is beyond a doubt the best point guard on the team, but he is not the leader the team needs.
Jamal is a major offensive talent and but his defense is as consistent as a wireless connection in the Lincoln Tunnel, especially when guarding the opposing two guard. He was even exposed by Rondo of all people. Quite frankly I blame it on Zeke. Why do his players guard guards from four feet away and continue to slide under screens with the same result? Jamal does it over and over. He has starting line-up hops if he is involved in the offense and slashing early on, but he is not. Zeke has it being dumped in and if it is kicked out, it turns into a tre miss instead of a kick and drive with the potential for a foul. Live it’s also easier to notice that if Jamal is not involved he is stationary on the tre line while the bigs are hoisting up shots on the other side. In other words, he is too often useless on O with both the bigs in. Take the plunge Zeke. Sit Crawford or at least design plays for him to drive very early in the game and force him to crash the boards when the bigs are posting on the opposite side.
Kudos to Zeke for making the right call on Fred Jones last night. (4-4, 1-1 from the golden arc)
More to come later. I am very concerned about Phoenix, because I am still very concerned about the Knicks ability to handle a high quality up tempo team with a point guard who does not give up his dribble for anything but a pass or a shot – not to think about a pass or a shot.
All’s well again in Defender land after a good win.
It was all my pleasure last night Lives. You’re a good man.
Whoever said there’s no benefits to be on welfare, just don’t know any better. Everything’s negotiable. Even Knicks tickets in the secret lair at MSG. Thanks for a wonderful evening(No homo)
The game proved my point in relation to Crawford.
The combination of Steph, Craw and Q cannot cut it in this league. Craw cannot guard any two in the league.
Fred Jones was the player of the game because he amped up the defensive intensity when it mattered. If Marbury didn’t go down, we’re looking at another bad loss.
I was looking at Fred’s intensity on Redd. He was in his pocket all night. Redd has a quick release, and would get some off, but they those were tough shots he made.
Do you think Craw at the two could make a dent into Redd? Hell no!
Craw played a great fourth, but with the ball. I still think he should come off the bench.
Start with some defensive intensity at the two and three, and bring Craw in at the one.
The team would be much more balanced.
Notice my comments before the Boston game and why I felt really concerned. The starting five needs some testosterone. We need someone to show up defensively to limit the opposing scorers before they get on a roll.
We do have some good pieces, but we nood cohesion.
Folly:
Why do you have to state on a blog you’re going to pick up your wife?
Still trying to convince someone? That was too obvious. You are what you are.
I’m not easily fooled.
Post #446
So HarleminMD, you want start 2 guards(Crawford and Q) that are shooting 41% and 31% respectively and are even worse on defense?
Good idea!
Sign Allan Houston? Are you crazy? Who’s he going to cover in this league? Penny Hardaway? Don’t you get it? As bad as the Knix are on Offense (Team shooting 42.9% and getting 1.15 points per shot- that means they’d have to take like 94 shots a game to get to 100, they only avg. 80 a game now) they are much worse on defense. You mean to tell me you want Crawford, Q and Houston covering guys like Nash, Ray Allen, Kobe, etc., omg manslaughter.
Zach as first option in power offense? He’s only shooting 44%. If that’s the best you got.
It’s simple, wrap your mind around a rebuild.
There goes the baby and now we’re drinking the kool aid he was pissing in.It’s usually not as bad, or as good as you think, it’s somewhere in the middle.We played some defense, we looked better!Let’s stop going to extremes and get back to playing the original brain-trust choices that were envisioned.Start Jeffries, Q, and get Balkman, Lee, and Jones in when you need more D.Stop playing to the public, you play for them, not to them.Pull Curry as soon as someone puts one in his face and he doen’t respond.Mason kept turning into Curry using him for a pylon to lay the ball in.If you’re going to get a foul, reject the ball and the man.Send the message.Stop being a traffic agent.Crawford needs to come off the bench, great O, no D.He fits well into a team that plays D. That’s the second unit.It’s not who starts that is important.The mark of real pros is consistency.Who brings it every night no matter what their talent is?Isiah is all over the place, probably due to the enormous pressure.Make some decisions and stick with them.You may not be loved but you will be respected.By the way did you notice Kenny Smith’s critique of Curry?”He’s not in NBA shape. Plays like a fatigued player.”Who wants to take responsibility for that?Look past the Phoenix game.Give it your best shot,but everyone is not them.We need wins and time to get better.Every game is not armegedan!You get out what you put in.Nice to see Jamal say something, we need leadership!I’ve seen a lot worse teams than this one.Let’s keep getting better.LGK
Just came out of Steve & Barry’s at 33rd ST.
There giveing away free Starbury Neck Braces with every sneaker purchase!
It fits nice when you have a towel over your head!
trane, i was hoping a defender with a more experienced eye @ financial accountin might give the numbers a once-over, but seeing as none have stepped to the plate and my crow is getting cold, fine, i’ll start nibblin a lil bit. hm. tastes like chicken.
you should dial down your reverence for forbes (and the like) tho. they’re just reporters coverin the financial beat. they’re just as susceptible to mistakes and fuzzy thinking as the knicks beat reporters. something seems fishy about the numbers, but i lack that kind of acumen to pierce the (suspected) b.s.
“african,” now that you’ve purchased Lives’ shotgun seat, i’ll bet you’re feelin pretty secure. good for you. perhaps i’ve underestimated you b/c, looky-looky, by my count you’re up to three talents: one, raving hyper-paranoia, two, calling others fags to cover your own sexual preferences (i know you’re a self-hating toe-tapper, guy. relax. we can be coo’ as long as you stay on your side of the stall. you should tell your wife and kids tho), and now a third, buying off the talented.
omg, there’s an ass coveting OTP! oh, it’s just davonn. made you look.
**********************
guys, amazing win last night. they showed some guts against a team they should be able to beat more often than not. i have some zeke-hatin friends who were goin off on the celtics loss, but they’ve been forced to put away the carving knives for a while. i’m going to force myself, even if sorrely tempted, to give zeke the benefit of the doubt for anything he does for another month, or as long as he has his job, whichever comes first.
← Previous Comments