New York@Orlando
Back to business. The Knicks take on the Magic tonight in Orlando, game time 7pm. Orlando is one of the top teams in the eastern conference, but they’ve been much better on the road (13-5) than at home (5-6), and have recently struggled losing 7 of their last 10 games including four straight losses at TD Waterhouse. The odds are still against the Knicks since they are a dismal 1-10 on the road this season, but if Isiah actually follows through with his recent remarks about finally changing the starting five, this could be a very winnable game for the New York Knicks, because if Isiah plays the right team, the Knicks won’t be digging a hole in the first half–as has been the case lately for the Knicks.
Stephon Marbury is rumored not to be available for tonight’s game. Nate Robinson would be a good choice in the starting lineup, although Isiah will instead choose Jones again.
Turkoglu recently suffered an ankle injury that may limit his playing time tonight, and he is a 20-point scorer for the magic this season. Rashard Lewis has struggled shooting the ball recently, and it is safe to say this team is only as good as Turkoglu and Lewis’ play. Dwight Howard doesn’t know how to have a bad game this year and is averaging MVP-candidate numbers at 23.4 points 15.0 rebounds and 2.6 blocks on the season. The Magic have been booed by their fans lately. They probably shouldn’t have traded Trevor Ariza away last month.
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Bulls fire Skiles, shop Wallace
Scotty Skiles just got fired from the Bulls (9-16) with a better record than the Knicks (8-19) had going into the holidays. It will be interesting to see if Isiah has any interest in acquiring Skiles as a coach for the Knicks, assuming Isiah can stay on as GM. Also, realgm is reporting Ben Wallace is now available from the Bulls, should the Knicks be interested in packaging either of their two low-post scorers to get TEAM DEFENSE and SHOT-BLOCKING, two major areas of weakness for the Knicks. I personally like last season’s Knicks team better than this one, and I’d imagine Eddy Curry and Ben Wallace or Zach Randolph and Ben Wallace would be a great pairing for the Knicks to return to relevance in the NBA. It seems with Joakim Noah, Ty Thomas and Nocioni, the Bulls no longer need Wallace and would like to make a move to acquire the one thing they don’t have: a real low-post scorer. Consider it sleeping with the enemy, but the two former eastern conference titans could help each other out. It probably won’t happen, but I don’t think it should be dismissed so quickly considering New York’s needs. Wallace is having a bad year statistically, however, and may be slowing down in his 11th year in the NBA.
Do you know how hard a side tre is if you’re not a shooter. Pleeeeze.
Poor guard play? Please. Poor team play is the problem. Poor unit changes is the problem. Poor execution of the system is the problem. ZBo missing jumpers is the problem. Forcing the ball into Curry is the problem.
Steph makes this better, right? Yeah right.
Get Q lips out the freaken game!
I’m off.
Gonna pop in Heroes Season 1 to watch with the missus.
Later guys. Good luck.
LGK
Yeah, I got five more minutes of this mess.
‘Lives’,
Atctually I think they miss Crawful’s leadership, defensive & wild shots. He has all of the attributes of Wade, Kobe, & Iceman.
‘Lives’ the question is would Crawful make a difference?
Peace & Blessings
Done.
Dumb.
Just plain dumb and stubborn.
Goodbye Zeke.
No States, that’s your question not “the” question. And I see you have a built in answer with the reference to “Crawful”. Now tell me how this team gets better with the players they have. I’ll assume we’ll start with that great general and motivator Steph at point. What next?
Aren’t his two weeks up yet.
Guys it’s over…this whole team!
Lets blow it up! I’ve had Enough! I’m done unless Marbury
didn’t play because of TRADE! WE SHOULD KNOW TONIGHT!
Who goes includeing Zeke?
Now, the rebuilding will start. And it is going to start with the departure of Zeke.
This team is done. Lets hope for a top 3 pick in the draft and then go from there. The only way to go is up.
And lets pray for no more stupid desperate trades. See out the players contracts unless you can land talented teamplayers for them.
And build through the draft.
Hard to defend this stuff. Isiah must make a trade or take himself out of the picture; perhaps stay on as GM and let Herb Williams coach the
team for the balance of the season. Maybe Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson
could be persuaded to come over next year as a package.
@ Post up…
“Maybe Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson
could be persuaded to come over next year as a package”
Not.
Why would they???
Bronxboy,
I don’t know about Jackson, but Kobe could make more $$$$$$$
in NY with endorsements and Sneaker sales than 10X his NBA salary!
Whoever is left standing among this current wreck, along with Ron Ron
coming home, it’s very possible!
These Knicks believe the MSM instead of in themselfs!
We have lost that battle, lets win the War! KFFL!
Guys, patience, patience! These problems have started at the top. Dolan’s obviously going nowhere–if Stern could oust him, he would’ve by now–and it’s anybody’s guess as to how long Isiah will stay around. He hasn’t done anything to merit keeping his job for the last few years, but that hasn’t persuaded Jimmy yet.
Assuming he goes, as he should, what’s to be done with the roster? I contend that band-aid trades will do more to harm than help. Cleaning house quickly isn’t possible, because you take back someone else’s trash in the form of more bad contracts. Every trade, right now, should be done with two purposes in mind: (1) creating a more complementary roster; and (2) easing the salary burden. With that in mind, a Randolph-for-Wallace swap makes very good sense, for both Chicago and New York (and it works in ESPN’s Trade Machine). Chicago needs low-post scoring, and they already have a sound defensive club: Randolph fits their need perfectly. Wallace is a shell of his former self, to be sure, but he’s still a better presence defensively and on the boards. Most importantly, Randolph is signed through 2111, Wallace through 2110. If the Knicks are to make a serious run at LeBron in 2010, they need to strip themselves of all unnecessary salary before then. Let Stephon and Malik come off the books next year–DO NOT trade away those expiring contracts!
I think Wallace will be a good addition because he’s a defensive-oriented player, who can provide good help inside, his specialty. People who call David Lee a defensive-minded player are wrong. He’s a rebounder, first and foremost, especially on the offensive end. He excels in the most brutal aspect of the game. However, he’s too slow to guard anyone on the perimeter, and he doesn’t play angles well enough to dislodge guys from the post and defend good 4s and 5s down there. He can learn, for sure, but Lee is absolutely not a stopper, or anything close, right now. His lack of offensive polish doesn’t automatically make him a defensive whiz.
Oops, my bad. I meant, Randolph is signed through 2011, Wallace through 2010. Not the next century… : )
Zach truly infuriates me when he puts his head down and ignores 4 other players on the court… It drives ME craaaaaazy… it has been getting worse lately and that’s what happens when teams lose…
But let me be more positive, as we embark on the New Year, I will be using the psychologically comforting tool of pretending that we are 0-0 in 2008. And here is what I’d like to see barring the obvious (a trade): Isiah should step down and hand it over to someone else; yes, Lives, have a hopefully renewed Marbury run this offense WITH THE NEW STARTING LINE-UP; and allow the young and defensive guys to play through mistakes especially when people like Q are given forever to do so.
If there is no change in wins or development in January, and we agressively root for OJ Mayo or the kid from Memphis.
It’s a New Year folks. Let’s start fresh. For your own sanity if nothing else.
Peace and Blessings (I have permanently and unapologetically adopted Statesman’s signature closing)
Fire sale on Q, Steph, Collins, Jerome James and Rose.
That would be a great start!
Mike, Dolan isn’t going anywhere,
unless you suggest we invade the garden like
we did Iraq? In fact I’m not giving up on these Knicks,
but if a change with Thomas comes I’m ready!
I’m not dismissing the absents of Marbury and Crawford
as a distraction in lue of a Major trade!
Hell, nothing would surprise me anymore!
Too many 1-dimensional players that are put together improperly lineup wise even at full strength.Hell has truly frozen over,Curry out rebounded Lee.I never thought I’d see that day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Me thinx the rebuild bomb should be set off.
BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Ben Gordon scored 25 points in his second consecutive strong performance since returning to a reserve role, leading the Bulls to a 100-83 victory over the New York Knicks today.
Luol Deng added 17 points for the Bulls, who are 2-0 since Jim Boylan became the interim head coach this week, three days after the firing of Scott Skiles. Boylan’s first decision was to ask Gordon to give up his starter’s role, and it has immediately paid off.
» Click to enlarge image
Those are Ben Wallace’s shoes flying by Nate Robinson after a collision.
(AP)
RELATED STORIES
Boylan Point Mo’ means yes in trip to MSG Skiles maintains big NBA fan club
Gordon, the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year as a rookie in 2004-05, scored 31 points Friday in a victory over Milwaukee. He made 11 of 15 shots Sunday in another good outing at Madison Square Garden, not far from where he grew up in Mount Vernon, N.Y.
Zach Randolph shot only 8-of-23, but had 18 points and 12 rebounds for the Knicks, who have lost four straight and fell to 8-21. Nate Robinson led the New York with 19 points.
New York played without leading scorer Jamal Crawford, who bruised his right hand in practice Friday, while fellow starting guard Stephon Marbury was back with the team but not in uniform. He has missed most of the month following his father’s death.
Knicks coach Isiah Thomas also has tinkered with his lineup, but the results haven’t shown yet. Randolph was back in the lineup and Eddy Curry started on the bench Sunday, a game after they had the opposite roles in a loss at Orlando on Wednesday. Thomas won’t say the Randolph-Curry tandem is done for good, but it hasn’t clicked thus far. They played a good portion of the second quarter together and got plenty of good shots. They just didn’t make many of them, combining to go 5-of-20 in the first half. Curry finished with 12 points and eight rebounds, going 3-of-9 from the floor. New York shot 37 percent. Despite those woes, the Knicks trailed only 59-55 after Randolph converted a three-point play with 6:42 left in the third quarter. The Bulls answered with 10 straight points, including a pair of baskets by Ben Wallace, to open a 69-55 advantage on Deng’s two free throws with 1:48 remaining in the quarter. Gordon tossed in a runner with 0.7 seconds to go in the period, making it 73-57. The Knicks’ final chance had them within 12 with 8:25 remaining, but Gordon nailed a 3-pointer and knocked down another jumper, making it 84-67 with 6:29 to go. Chicago hit 10 of 15 shots in the first quarter, opening a 30-22 lead after Gordon’s layup with 16 seconds remaining. The Bulls opened 7-of-10 from 3-point range, with Gordon hitting behind the arc to make it 36-28 with 9:48 left in the half. The lead grew to 11 late in the half after consecutive buckets by Gordon, and Chicago led 50-43 at the break. The Knicks took nine more shots in the half but made three fewer, mostly because Randolph (3-of-12) and Curry (2-for-8) struggled from mostly point-blank range.
BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Ben Gordon scored 25 points in his second consecutive strong performance since returning to a reserve role, leading the Bulls to a 100-83 victory over the New York Knicks today.
Luol Deng added 17 points for the Bulls, who are 2-0 since Jim Boylan became the interim head coach this week, three days after the firing of Scott Skiles. Boylan’s first decision was to ask Gordon to give up his starter’s role, and it has immediately paid off.
» Click to enlarge image
Those are Ben Wallace’s shoes flying by Nate Robinson after a collision.
(AP)
RELATED STORIES
Boylan Point Mo’ means yes in trip to MSG Skiles maintains big NBA fan club
Gordon, the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year as a rookie in 2004-05, scored 31 points Friday in a victory over Milwaukee. He made 11 of 15 shots Sunday in another good outing at Madison Square Garden, not far from where he grew up in Mount Vernon, N.Y.
Zach Randolph shot only 8-of-23, but had 18 points and 12 rebounds for the Knicks, who have lost four straight and fell to 8-21. Nate Robinson led the New York with 19 points.
New York played without leading scorer Jamal Crawford, who bruised his right hand in practice Friday, while fellow starting guard Stephon Marbury was back with the team but not in uniform. He has missed most of the month following his father’s death.
Knicks coach Isiah Thomas also has tinkered with his lineup, but the results haven’t shown yet. Randolph was back in the lineup and Eddy Curry started on the bench Sunday, a game after they had the opposite roles in a loss at Orlando on Wednesday. Thomas won’t say the Randolph-Curry tandem is done for good, but it hasn’t clicked thus far. They played a good portion of the second quarter together and got plenty of good shots. They just didn’t make many of them, combining to go 5-of-20 in the first half. Curry finished with 12 points and eight rebounds, going 3-of-9 from the floor. New York shot 37 percent. Despite those woes, the Knicks trailed only 59-55 after Randolph converted a three-point play with 6:42 left in the third quarter. The Bulls answered with 10 straight points, including a pair of baskets by Ben Wallace, to open a 69-55 advantage on Deng’s two free throws with 1:48 remaining in the quarter. Gordon tossed in a runner with 0.7 seconds to go in the period, making it 73-57. The Knicks’ final chance had them within 12 with 8:25 remaining, but Gordon nailed a 3-pointer and knocked down another jumper, making it 84-67 with 6:29 to go. Chicago hit 10 of 15 shots in the first quarter, opening a 30-22 lead after Gordon’s layup with 16 seconds remaining. The Bulls opened 7-of-10 from 3-point range, with Gordon hitting behind the arc to make it 36-28 with 9:48 left in the half. The lead grew to 11 late in the half after consecutive buckets by Gordon, and Chicago led 50-43 at the break. The Knicks took nine more shots in the half but made three fewer, mostly because Randolph (3-of-12) and Curry (2-for-8) struggled from mostly point-blank range.
2 weeks are up for Lord Thomas.
What is Zeke’s grand master plan now?
I prefer not to see DLee and Balkman playing together but I’d rather have that than Jeffries in the starting 5.
Mardy Collins is another useless player. Collins is worthless (hope fhat he proves me wrong but I sincerely doubt it.)
Love & prayers.
MIKE
I actually see a point in your suggestion that the Knicks attempt to work a trade for Ben Wallace in exchange for Zach Randolp. Your argument for such a trade appears sound to me.
Whatsmore, many people on KnicksDefense are starting to see a correlation between the regression of the current Knick Squad with the acquisition of Zach Randolp- this is not a disparagement of what talents Z-Bo possesses but it’s effect is, as Lives says, placing a round peg into a trapezoid.
Mike
My question is…what additional items will the Bulls seek to extrapolate from us in exchange for Wallace?
I am also very much tired of making excuses for Thomas… but neither Crawford nor Marbury were available and there shots would certainly have helped make the game less of a laugh fest than it was today.
However, here is where I will not give Thomas a pass.
What the fuck happened? Why’d you take out and refuse to reinsert Jefferies?
Why does Q continue to start and in addition play major minutes when his shot is so off?
Notice that when Thomas had Curry and Randolph in the game he had an otherwise small gaurd lineup of Q, Nate, and Jones.
Curry’s weakenesses are masked by a) a caddy like hustle rebounder at the four; and b) a long defensive three.
Didn’t happen.
ISIAH STEP DOWN AS COACH NOW!
If not you will soon be not only without a headcoaching gig but also without a GM gig as well.
Isiah “Lord of the Flies” Thomas!
Please stop coaching the team.
Jay Bee,
Well, December is done. Your prediction was Knix 12-2, worst case 10-4.
My prediction was 4-10, best case 6-8.
Knicks go 3-11 in December with the easiest schedule they are going to see for a year.
One big……I TOLD YOU SO!
From your gay, knick-hating troll, Happy New Year.
TOM
I love the way you merrily apply that salt deep into the wounds of this bunch of Diehard Knick fans.
But all the acerbic sarcasm, and salty lemon juice on the deep wound that is our Knicks losing season will not make me change my stripes or root for another fan.
You came to this blog with a respectful tenor, and perhaps even with the goodwill of reviving a Knicks Celtics rivalry, which is far from manifesting itself do to our GM’s terrible choice of appointing himself as coach.
Enjoy your holidays.
I have no doubt that you and the team you root for will have a happy a New Years.
For us it is coal in our teams stocking.
Enjoy.
By the way.
Do you happen to have a website of your own?
I meant root for another team.
Go to a Celtics Blog.
Lord knows you wouldn’t be this bold to the cats here in real life.
Happy Holidays.
Screw Ben Wallace! He’s going to have his AARP card soon!
What we need is to get rid of Q, Rose, Marbury, Bring in a floor general with Bibby
and a Defensive general in Artest! Embarass Currys fat ass by sending him to the
D league ( They don’t eat so well down there) until he drops 25 pounds, bring him back
as a role player! Work with Jeffries at the 5 and let him develop a “Skyhook” like Kareem!
Whoever controls the ball should control Zach’s touches!Develop a second unit that presses
full courtlike Nate and Jones are capable of doing! This team has got to stop being like TOM and playing with their tool!
Peaceman,
“This team has got to stop being like TOM and playing with their tool!”
ROFLMAO!
Black and Blue,
You are absolutley right, I came here originally from a link from Celticsblog. You are correct about my intial intentions but then it got ugly whenever I said something negative, then right away I was gay or something. It seems like it’s ok for you to state it, but when I state the same thing, then everyone attacks me, and I’m not the type to back down from much. You are also again right about saying some of these things to your faces, I would absolutely not, and I ‘m pretty sure you wouldn’t be calling me gay to my face.
Honestly, I don’t blog on Celticsblog anymore, you know why? It’s actually boring now. I’m a believer that most of this posting is done to let it out about how your team is doing…Well there’s not much to complain about now, so it’s a lot less interesting not to be calling for Danny or Doc’s head.
I have been a dick many times on this site and even I’m tired of it, so this will be my last post, all negativety aside…Have a Happy New Year, and I mean it.
A clue. Buy a freakin’ clue.
Read KnickDefense.
Tom: Please go back to your favorite gay bar….. And go get SHITFACED you fucking Celtic QUEER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yo Peaceman: #530,Holy Shit LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fellas
Perhaps I am gullible but I believe Tom when he says he will be exiting our blog.
To that end Tom a sincere happy new years. Enjoy that deep playoff run your team will be having this year.
I don’t think there is any further reason to ruffle feathers between ourselves and Tom.
Let him go on his merry way, and lets get to engaging other subjects related to our Knicks.
I think Wallace would be a mistake. Not that the Knicks couldn?t use him. He?d bring a lot of dimensions currently missing. But I support the general structure Isiah has been using to build this team. And Wallace would cost too much for too little longevity. Younger and more athletic is the right direction for this team. I just no longer believe in Isiah?s ability to put the pieces together in a cohesive fashion. Maybe he?s better at finding the talent than developing it? To be fair, a GM in his position had to gamble, because he never had the talent-assets to build with. And unfortunately, some players haven?t panned out for him the way they might have. Conversely, however, there is an argument that Isiah hasn?t nurtured the talent he brought here well enough. I can?t be the only one who thinks that Balkman is being wasted, precisely when we expected this to be a break-out year for him. Is Collins the future or isn?t he? Now?s the time to find out. Chandler too. Why not? Normally, young players don?t break into rotations quickly because too much is on the line. What have we got to lose? We?re already losing. I?d rather see the young kids get tons of experience this year. Let them learn. Let them make mistakes. Let?s see what we?ve got.
Trane
I think one of the upsides of acquiring Wallace would be that his salary would be off our books in 3 years not 4 as in Zach Randolph’s case.
With regard to a shift to developing the talent we’ve got.
I pretty much agree with you. I sure couldn’t be worse than continuously sending Q out there when his shot is so suspect and he is easily exploited by taller/longer Small Fowards.
That is another area in which trading Zach might help. Why b/c then he wouldn’t be commanding as many minutes on the team as he currently is- think Portland’s player development w/o Randolph.
Good New Years Trane.
Trane
I also agree with the following line:
“[A] GM in his position had to gamble, because he never had the talent-assets to build with. And unfortunately, some players haven?t panned out for him the way they might have. Conversely, however, there is an argument that Isiah hasn?t nurtured the talent he brought here well enough.”
Again Thomas, as a coach has really let the team down by prioritizing, higher paid talent on the basis of their past accomplishments rather than as to what those players are doing now. Nothint that is. And that being the case I would rather see Balk and Chadler man the 3.
Defenders,
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
Another bad double-digit lost.I will stop using the word “team” for the Knicks. They don’t play together like a team should.
I was watching the game listening to the Chicago Bulls annoucers.They were fair when they spoke of the Knicks.They said:
Zach is a black hole,ball goes in,doesn’t come out.Poor defense.
N8 has great upside,but needs to find his role with the team.
Curry COULD be a dominate center if he were consistant.
Lee is a high energy,rebounding machine……..all true
I don’t think Collins has what we need in a point guard.
He does not have the foot-speed to keep up with other PGs.
He never tries to get into the paint,always stops at the top of the circle,no treat to score.
Turns the ball over too much.
I know this is only his 2nd year,but you can’t teach foot-speed.
Other 1st and 2nd year PGs are so much more advanced in talent.(see Utah,New Jersey,Philly,Boston and New Orleans)
Zach and Curry have no defense, we need help or better coaching to get them to start working harder on defense.
Q has lost it……nothing else to say.
Balk still needs more burn….he will get better.
Lee is one of the lowest paid players on the Knicks,but plays hard every second.
Where do we go from here?
B&B ? It pains me greatly to say this, but I totally agree about Q. I say it pains me, because I?m a huge fan. He was a pleasure to watch last year, until he got hurt — our best all-around player. Is his career finished? I sure hope not. But I could only justify continuing to give him the minutes he?s been getting if I were living in Fantasyland. Same with Malik, of course. I never want to see him on the court again.
Zbo is a dilemma, however. I love Lives? line about Randolph being a black hole, but a monster of a black hole (I paraphrase, but that?s the idea). Yet, I also wonder what the problem is. Certainly, he doesn?t have the instincts of a great team-oriented player. Yet, while he?ll never be a defensive enforcer, I?ve always wondered if he couldn?t be coached into being a better passing big-man. I mean, what?s going on here? Is he resisting good coaching? Is Isiah or Aguirre in his face constantly about passing out of the double-team, and getting more assists? You want to think they are. So he is just resisting it? Could the offense be designed to help him more? One way or another though ? either on the court, or in a trade ? he?s a valuable asset. Yes, 3 years is better than 4 years . . . but , if he?s going to be traded, I still wonder if Wallace would be the best way to use that asset. (Full disclosure: I believe there isn?t a player in the league who would help this team more than Artest ? excluding a super-star, like Kobe or LeBron, I mean. I just love the combination of talents he?d bring ? perimeter defense, plus scoring without needing plays run for him. Also, as opposed to Zbo and Curry, who stunted each other?s games, I think Artest would thrive on a front line with either, maybe even both.)
Happy new year to you, too . . . and to all Defenders . . .
What’s up guys…bad loss today.
Nothing went down at the Garden today. At
least nothing that I could see. If it did, I
missed it. I had my sign that read
“We Support Isiah”
AFter the game today, I wanted to rip it up but
I didn’t.
I’m glad we have a great night cap tonight.
Celtics at Lakers…10PM
You guys know, I’m all with the Mamba coming to NY
but I would rather have Lebron here.
The guy will either be a Net when they go to Brooklyn
or he’ll be a Knick.
Don’t ask me when but it will happen.
Lebron and his management are to smart not to
get that endoresement money.
Guy…..we suck!
So now that his 2 weeks are up….
What is he going to do?
You guys really want Wallace?
I guess I would trade Zach for Wallace.
Not sure how much it would help us but at
this point…anything is worth trying.
I still say we chase Mayo in the draft but
that’s just me.
This is what Curry needs to do.
If only he had the Mamba’s dedication….
Its called the 666 workout. 6 hours a day, 6 days a week, 6 months a year.
Consists of:
2 hours of running
2 hours of basketball
1 hour of Cardio (boxing, jump rope, etc)
1 hour of Weights which are listed below:
Day 1 & Day 4
Bench press
Lat pull-downs
Incline press
Military press
Abdominal crunches
Day 2 & Day 5
Lateral dumbbell raises
Bar dips
Tricep press-downs
Bicep curls
Abdominal crunches
Day 3 & Day 6
Back squats/Front squats
Leg curls
Leg extensions
Calf raises
Abdominal crunches
Also an important thing to know is that Kobe focused on plyometric more than anything, which for those who dont know is a method to develop explosive power.
As for what else Chicago would ask for, it’s not necessary from a salary standpoint to add any more players. The two contracts are within 15% (or whatever the percentage is) for a one-for-one swap to work. And I think Chicago would be more eager to be rid of Ben, since he’s providing them with a lot less than they expected, and they actually seem to play better (especially on offense) when he’s not on the floor. This is where the patience is necessary: don’t give up more than you need to (like Isiah did in acquiring Curry). Propose the deal, and let them sit on it for a while, as the trading deadline gets closer. Would Chicago rather give up Tyrus Thomas and change for Pau Gasol, or Ben Wallace for Zach? It’s worth letting them consider it for a while. If Chicago thinks its season can be salvaged, they’ll be more anxious, not less, to do a deal as time wears on.
Another deal–and I wish it were my idea, but Bill Simmons wrote about it first–would be to trade for Shaq, whose deal expires in 2010. He’s slipped even further than Wallace at this point, but a deal of Curry and Malik Rose for Shaq works in the Trade Machine. I argued above for keeping Rose and letting his deal expire, but as a trade-off for being rid of Curry’s deal, it might be worth it. The main question is: do you think Curry can be saved? Will a change of culture, plus better coaching, turn him back into a viable NBA center (note I’m not saying franchise player: I’m not asking for 20/10, maybe even just 16/8)? If you think so, then don’t trade for Shaq. If you don’t, then Shaq’s the guy. Clearing out cap space for a viable run at LeBron is the major priority now, and as it stands at the moment, Curry and Randolph together stand to make $28M in 2010-11.
Miami might go for the deal because Malik’s contract expires sooner, and Riles might go for a young Curry over a decrepit Shaq. That would leave the Knicks–if they were to have Wallace plus O’Neal–with the creakiest front line in the East, but O’Neal would be a huge draw, he’s a great guy and he’d win fans back over, and the holy LeBron grail would be the ultimate goal in this salary dump.
What do y’all think?
DVJ
Great work-out program for EC,now all you need to do is run it pass Zeke.lol
PS Just for comparison’s sake, for Chicago to land Gasol, in a 3-for-1 trade, they’d have to give up Tyrus Thomas, Andres Nocioni, and either Joakim Noah or Chris Duhon. If you’re thinking about whether the Bulls’d rather trade for Pau or Zach.
DVJ,
Thanks for what you do. You are a REAL Fan. With that move today, you have regained 100% of your credibility. I believe we may have gotten to Mr. Joe V. Lately. We do say here, “don’t start none, won’t be none”.
I’m co-signing on Modi’s plan and looking at 2008 as fresh and new start. Not that Herb should not get the nod, I think Hanners should be the caretaker for the rest of the season. For starters, the MSM will be kindler and gentler to a red gum than they would to the blue gum Herb. Moreover, Herb will have to be out of the Monty Mix as caretaker when that regime ends (whenever that day comes). As a recap, IT the GM + Zeke the Coach = Monty (the story flippin’, line-up changin’, story tellin’ character playing friend and coach in the NYC). Just bloggin’.
Being a fan of the NYK is not for the faint of hearts. We have to deal with/endure the NBA, the Lone Rogue Refs, AND our own prophets.
Here’s to a healthy, prosperous, and serene New Year 2008 to the Defenders and all your loved ones.
Sincerely yours,
Steady
A Knick Fan and Lover for Life.
Good PM Defenders!
First and foremost, BLOGZILLA/KNICKDEFENSE/STARBURYFAN, 500+ posts; best NY KNICK FANS in all the land; tremendous fellowship amongst the Defenders; a site so HOT TROLLS from everywhere want to chime in to engage and inflame DEFENDERS, because no other site has these great minds, passionate fans, and quality posters which equate to quality individuals.
So sorry I’m late to the posting party on the BEST KNICK THREAD, but my wife and i have some familia in town from La Isla Del Encanto, so we’ve been entertaining and hanging and doin it up COOLEYHIGH STYLE for the PEEPS. During the course of the day I did sneak away and caught the second half of the game at the ESPN Zone, and I have to admit I was not suprised by the end result. Unfortunately, it is more of the same we’ve have witnessed for the last few weeks. I must admit, when I read your posts Defenders, and I hear and sense your frustations, I am moved by YOUR PASSION and COMMITMENT for our BELOVED KNICKS, and I certainly feel your pain, because it exists for me too. I WISH OUR TEAM HAD THE HEARTS OF ALL OF YOU…
NEVERTHELESS, I was BORN and RAISED in NYC and I will ALWAYS BE TRUE TO WHO I AM. I AM A NEW YORK SPORTS FAN…So when my TEAM straps on their Uni’s and laces up them shoes, I’ll be rooting for MY NY KNICKS.
HOW ABOUT THOSE GIANTS! They played HARD and with HEART and that is ALL you can ask of your TEAM…GO GIANTS GO GIANTS GO GIANTS GO GIANTS GO GIANTS GO GIANTS GO GIANTS…
LIVES, great stuff my man and hang in there Resident Poet, you rooted for yuour TEAM PLAYA, and that’s all that is expected. The same goes for BLOGZILLA (the host with most posts..you go DAWG), DVJ, O & B/B & B, Staesman, Peacman, Steady, BARF (Enjoyed your posts soldier, and we miss you when your not around) African, Folly, Modi, Post-Up, Jay Bee, BRONX, DLT, George M, Maestro, Ali-G, Trane, Syd, Mike, John Q, Jazz, and ALL of MY Bruhs & Sistas from from other BEAUTIFUL MOTHERS. DEFENDERS, all of you are the truth, and after going back and reading ALL 500+ post again, I am convinced, no let me change that, I am CERTAIN the BEST NY KNICKS FANS in the WORLD POST HERE on this incredible THREAD…Hang in their Partners it is always darkest before the dawn. There’s aa change a coming, and we may not know when or where, but we defintely know why…LOL
Lastly, I want to give a shout out to some Defenders MIA and I know we’re all praying for them; Vic C, Anti, St. George, Harlem, MINNY, Rush, and any other Defender I may have omitted.
CONTROL YOUR FANSHIP DEFENDERS! It is a priceless EMOTION… IF YOU’RE A NEW YORK KNICK FAN THROW YOUR HANDS UP RIGHT NOW…Cause I’m on my New York SHYT!
Peace, Love, Longevity, and Prosperity is my prayer for EVERY DEFENDER…
Keep it POPPIN
Mike
Your case for Wallace makes more sense than your proposed trade for Shaq.
While I don’t think Curry may ever be the dominant force, Isiah, “Lord of the Flies,” Thomas, thinks he’ll be, I do believe he’ll be a quality NBA big with the “Proper/Right” coaching, which most certainly isn’t coaching by Zeke.
Shaq seems to be in such a state of decay. He is not in Curry’s position where he has to share the paint in a failed experiment, ala the Curry and Randolpho experiment. He is just not playing as well, call it what you will perhaps the officiaiting in the game has changed to the point where his style of play is no longer allowed.
I would rather try to trade Zach and perhaps Balkman for the following package. If not then I would consider this package. The following package is probrably more realistic. I don’t know if that is at all feasible though.