Knicks@Wizards
Hey, regardless of exactly why, the knicks are winning so let’s keep the ball rolling New York and learn how to win one on the road. In time, we’ll know the exact reasons why we’ve had three solid wins against top teams, because we’ll either keep winning, or revert back to what we’ve been doing for the majority of the season.
You know Caron and company are going to come out strong, because we just beat them, so lets see good continuity from tip-off to the final buzzer.
Force MD’s, please represent our Knicks defense brotherhood with orange and blue colors in D.C. and I’ll do my best to do the same from the pub down the street. Who knows, in time maybe we’ll have our defenders in every NBA city showing up at game time, I know there are truly knicks fans everywhere.
So Stephon’s having surgery. Good luck to you, Steph. Looks like Isiah’s sustained, season-long effort to paint you as the scapegoat for this team’s struggles is nearing consensus, but I’m not buying it. Truth is, he is just now playing the guys that SHOULD have been getting burn all season long. That’s a conspiracy to me. MSM asked Isiah why Balk didn’t play for six weeks and Isiah made up some fake crap up that Balk didn’t even understand when they asked him about it. Quite frankly, Isiah is more Machiavellian than some of the dudes running in the primaries right now. Hope you prove them wrong Steph while the knicks keep this winning thing going. However, if it turns out down the road that the knicks can’t win with you, it will be time for you to go. But we’re not there yet in my eyes because I can’t even remember a time when you and Balk were on the court together, let alone you, Nate and Balk.
Anyone heard anything about the injury Jeffries sustained last game against the Nets?
In keeping with DVJ’s reverse prediction trends, I’m going to change things up and hope that Chandler DOES NOT play tonight, and see if that makes a difference.
Everybody can’t take jumpshots.
LOL, kind of disingenuous to claim fatigue as a factor after we pooh-poohed that very same excuse during that three game win streak.
A win is a win, a loss is a loss. We are who we thought we were. We are what our record is. Still some bright spots in this loss though. DEFENDERS, we have exposed Isiah as an NCAA-level coach – at best. His coaching style is tailor made to optimize the talents of HIGHLY MOTIVATED players looking to prove something, not blue blood NBA multimillionaires. Zeke is just too slow and too optimistic.
Kinda funny to listen to the accounts of Q in this game. i wonder….maybe Isiah sticks with Q because when healthy enough to practice, maybe he DOMINATES Chandler, Balkman, etc in practice. Who knows? Dolan’s MEDIA POLICY denies us, the fans who underwrite this whole fuggin operation, those kinds of salacious details.
Oh boy,a Biggie Snaxx sighting.OMG!!!!! This jackass should’ve been on Nutrisystem up until now.If in condition this guy could compliment Z-Bo well and guard the paint.But unfortunately,it is what it is.Too little,too late.Disappointing Loss but this is the best I’ve felt about this team since 1 yr. ago. LGK!!!! KFFL!!!!!!!!
The Knicks are garbage!
I crushed them to the ground!!!
Thanks Cooleyhigh, you sure know how to do it.
Defenders,
This loss is also on Zeke. We were in it for 3 Qs and then the handle was lost. Lives, at post 165 and 166, it’s as if you were there. These guys don’t take losing seriously. They’re playing a script and are bad actors at that. JJames can and should be playing but he does not fit the script for now. A move looks imminent. Modi and Harlem may have more. We missed you Bronx. DLT, did you cop that Arenas jersey or were you a DNS/WD (Did not show, wife’s decision)? Fenna greet the porcelian goddess–despicable display of non-professionalism so I will promptly go upchuck.
KFLL
So much for that streak. Not like Isiah had any kind of idea of how to keep it going, either. He’s clueless, and he gave up on this team long ago. The more he talks about his heart and commitment, the more convinced I am that he’s just biding his time, standing idly by while the team fails. By this time I think he’s enjoying every minute of it, soaking in all the disapproval as some kind of just deserts for New York fans.
Interesting how it it was Zach and Crawford who drove the win streak. On a team with any flexibility whatsoever, they might be a half-decent nucleus. Pair them up with a zippy point guard (and I don’t mean a gunner like Nate…though he did distribute the ball more nicely than usual tonight) and a defensive-minded forward–someone old like P.J. Brown, but wouldn’t it be nice to see Kirilenko alongside them–and you’d have four very nice complementary starters.
As it is, both are simply contracts to ship out in the quest to get under that cap sooner than 2011. A smart GM would tell Zach that if he continued to attack, and pass smartly out of double teams, he’d increase his trade value and the GM would do everything he could to shop him. Quid-pro-quo. As it is, the Little Indifferent is most likely planning nothing whatsoever, perhaps thinking that after 82 more games together, Zach and Eddy will vindicate last summer’s trade.
Mike you right!!!
Hey Defenders,there’s an UGLY TROLL in the house.Should we shoot it or ignore it??????
” So Much for the streak” Mike.)
What a retarded point! Did you think we were going to go undefeated the
rest of the year? And BTW our mini steak ended getting beat by a team that just beat
the Mighty Celtics back to back! Tonight we Start over again. Playing 27-16 at worst
the rest of the way gets us 7th or 8th seed in the terrible east! We can do this!
We will do this! It must be done. We have to stop looking at who we are playing and just play Ball!
Mike the troll, drive fast and take chances buddy!
THE CORNER HAS BEEN TURNED
Yes, the streak is over but the lessons have just begun.
Most Knicks fans were relieved but skeptical, suspicious and a bit jaundiced about the recent three game winning streak. In order to preserve the sanity and some semblance of normalcy where being a Knicks fan is anything but sane and the Knicks exhibit anything but normalcy, fans attempted to find excuses, not reasons, why the Knicks had a three game win streak. The prevailing and simplistic sentiment was that although the horrid Knicks beat two playoff teams, the two teams were tired. And although the putrid Knickerslackers beat the New Jersey Nets, it proved nothing because these days they always beat the Nets. The Knicks can’t win for winning. Anything not to disrupt a fan’s well-beaten dismay and displeasure aimed at the Knickerbockers.
I ain’t mad at you, but I got a message that will continue to disturb your efforts at finding some consistency even in consistent horror:
THE KNICKS HAVE TURNED THE CORNER
That’s right. Turned the corner. They are no longer in front of MSG selling empty crack vials. They have actually progressed a few steps and started to change the product. The bad news is that they still have a few more corners to turn before they can become a consistently victorious group.
What is clear is that these Knicks are much more like the 33 win team last year than they are the effortless motley crew they showed us four games ago. They are now playing with effort and for each other.
Marbury fans and Zeke conspiracy theorist get a little upset (a little?) when the blame for change is shifted to Marbury. For good reason, because Marbury isn’t the only reason for the 2007-08 debacle. There is a lot of blame to go around, beginning with Dolan. But there is little doubt that Marbury’s attitude and relationship with the one now referred to as “3 Card Monty” by some was the focal point of the mess in the locker room and on the hardwood floor. That problem has been at least temporarily sidestepped by what one can “assume” was mutual agreement and as a result a corner has been turned.
The result of the corner turn has been effort. The Knicks are playing with EFFORT. What has also changed is that stubborn Monty has been forced to deal with the rotation change – which means fans are no longer waiting for him to use his energy players and sit at least one poorly performing malcontent. (Note poor performance includes all aspects of play including leadership, attitude, teamwork and the like, not just passing the ball instead of shooting all the time). So Isiah has also turned the corner although he is being dragged by circumstance on the cement by his tie/hanky ensemble.
Despite the new found effort and energy, now Isiah has a gaping hole in his rotation. He does not have a back-up point guard (sure some will say he doesn’t have a point at all, but he does, just not one fans think is a good one). In his system, it is possible that he can play Crawford and Robinson plenty of minutes, but they are both best as a tandem when they have energy. They are both worse when they have less energy and are forcing both their energy level and their game. And Collins remains suspect as he has no shot and has become a bit careless with his possessions.
We were reminded of a lack of a point backup in the Washington loss last night. Crawford is an excellent player, but his entire game, which is not versatile enough for him to be a great point, relies on his legs. Crawford’s shot depends on his ability to get lift and to keep his arms high and his hands above his head. His form is as important to him as Tiger’s is on a long drive. As he tired from being overplayed in a fast pace game, like most jump shooters he lost his form, push and energy on his shot. Then he becomes as useful as an errant Q and he is no longer an energy guy.
Nate has the same problem. Nate expends a lot of energy on both ends. Everyone knows that the more energy you expend on the defensive end, the harder it is to play on the offensive end. It’s simple logic. As Nate tires he makes poor decisions and can’t get the lift he desires and needed for long three point shots. He also tends to force his energy and therefore the action. He becomes more of his football self.
Forcing Nate and Crawford to play too much will result in losses; worse it will probably result in injury for both players and the Knicks will be right where they were last year. Losing Marbury, first mentally and then mentally and physically is a big blow to both the rotation and the strength of the Knicks. The Knicks major strength last year at the end of games was their ability, with Crawford and Marbury playing off each other, to get points out of the penalty and controlling the game with dribble penetration. Crawford and Nate settling for threes is the antithesis of that strength.
So a corner has been turned; we should see good effort for the remainder of the year. Still, a few more corners need to be turned for this to be a legitimate playoff contender.
The good news is that if it is possible to turn one corner, the Knicks can turn another.
_______________________________________________
Additional Note: Someone had the audacity to claim that recognizing that Crawford and Nate were playing worse due to exhaustion was “disingenuous” because we didn’t credit victories against Detroit and Washington to them being tired. I would usually ignore such silliness, but since it is so easy to refute and it seems directed at my comments I would suggest that the poster read my previous comments at #109 where I stated:
“First, although the Knicks played extremely well and Isiah used sensible substitution patterns and unit combinations, one cannot discount that the effectiveness of the energy units was heightened by the scheduling circumstances. The Wizards coming off two playoff atmosphere victories against the Boston Celtics simply did not have the team energy to compete with a well-performing Knicks team.”
Secondly, although the comment was certainly not an attempt to do any type of analysis, I’ll add a bit of analysis. Consider the difference between getting tired in a game because of the amount of time played. That’s a pretty honest assessment of what often occurs to players overplayed and it is usually the reason jump shooters percentages are worse later in games. Then think a little bit and consider the difference from an entire team playing horribly from the start of the game even at the end of four games in five days. As I noted, being tired impacts both situations, but there are differences that make the comparison a bit more nuanced.
__________________________
I’m out for the day. Enjoy yours.
The record don’t do them justice,” Butler said. “Isiah is really working that squad down there.”
from Knicks Lose (But Turn A Corner)
Thomas needs to be fired or step down
At this point, he’s an embarrassment to NYC, The NBA, Cablevision and the Knicks. And worse yet, he’s destroying his reputation. People like me remember him as an NBA great, but if he keeps this crap up with the Knicks, people might remember him as a failure as a GM and a coach and forget that he was one of the best NBA players ever. Under Thomas, the Knicks choked again last night. Isiah must go now.
Google Alert – new york knicks Sat 1/19/2008 4:28 AM
Jamison, Wizards End Knicks’ Streak at 3
Fixing the Knicks, Part II: Four steps to success – NBA
Thomas’s tenure in New York a train wreck to watch
New York Knicks Or New Jersey Nets: Who’d Win A Zach Randolph For …
New York 98 Washington 111
Missing the point
Ford’s Fix for the Knicks
Knicks 98, Wizards 111, Final – Jan. 18, 2008
Lives @ 210
The distinctin between the Knicks victory over the Wizard and Detroit, who were at the tail end of 4 games in 5 nights, and our loss against the Wizards according to your theory of Crawford’s and Robinson’s exhuastion may be the following.
With regards to the Wizards, and Pistons the reduction in energy was team wide as a result of a scheduling scenario where the team played an intense schedule of games w/o sufficient rest to recharge the team personnel overal.
With regards to the reduced energy of Crawford and Nate, the team was still yet to play the tail end of 4 in 5, and the reduction in energy affected the gaurds mentioned as a result of a lack of competent, or at least serviceable, substitutions. I took that inference from your comment regarding Collins, and Jones, whose shortcomings you already made note of.
My suggestion would be that untill we can obtain a servicable gaurd, we could use Q at the 2 sort of as a form of apoxy glue. Lol I rhymed. But seriously, if Q’s shot is coming around, and is at least somewaht consistent, the Knicks could place him at the two, depending on his shooting that night, to provide some perimeter offense, and provide some additional rest to either Nate or Crawford. Likewise the same may be said about Jones, yes he is not as a dripple penetrating gaurd, yet has hit the three ball and can slash to the rack on occasion.
My suggestion will also allocate additional minutes to Jefferies, Balkman, maybe even Chandler if Thomas ever gives him his walking papers, at the three. Additionally Balkman at the three can relieve Crawford, and Nate of the responsibility of having to bring the ball up the court on every possesion.
I think I would consider the moves suggested above, sort of as a short term fix to our current gaurd line-up woes.
Sad to say your piece @ 210 almost makes it sound as if with Marbury the Knicks, currently, can’t live with him but they also can’t live w/o him b/c of the relief he provides the the Knicks gaurd rotation.
Throw me back your two cents on my proposal. Do you have any other suggestions for the interim?
Paulnoize
In a way I can see your point in your rant @ 202, which went like this.
“DEFENDERS, we have exposed Isiah as an NCAA-level coach – at best. His coaching style is tailor made to optimize the talents of HIGHLY MOTIVATED players looking to prove something, not blue blood NBA multimillionaires. Zeke is just too slow and too optimistic.”
Mike @ 206
“So much for that streak. Not like Isiah had any kind of idea of how to keep it going, either. He’s clueless, and he gave up on this team long ago. The more he talks about his heart and commitment, the more convinced I am that he’s just biding his time, standing idly by while the team fails. By this time I think he’s enjoying every minute of it, soaking in all the disapproval as some kind of just deserts for New York fans.”
I would think that Thomas is at times either more clueless or irresponsible, meaning he doesn’t fess up to his foibles.
But for some reason I don’t think he is messing this up to stick it to Knick fans. I think there is alot riding on Isiah regarding the Knicks fortunes. He wants to validate some poor moves as the Knicks GM, and has done so by playing line-ups that don’t mesh in order to try to make them mesh so that he can save face and show to his critics that he was right all along. I think that is one of the reasons the Knicks have sucked this year, and only recently has Monty been more willing to play the effort and energy players over his handpicked trade obtained multi-millionaires.
In short Isiah is a solid GM draft wise, and gambled too much on the trade front.
I think Frankenstein is the current troll. at least Mike attempts to make some points, which I don’t all agree with.
Holly cow a Drossman sighting.
Quick pull out the baygone!
LOL!
Yo MODI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They stole the name of your shot bro!!!
The Book Of Isiah.
Check out the NBA ESPN page!!
Quick before they take it down.
It’s so obvious now that they read us!!!
shot=shit
They even got 2 parts!!!!
LMAO
We lost last night….that’s it.
Towards the end it looked like we didn’t want it anymore.
I want to see how we play today.
If we lose, I know there was no change.
If we win, the turn the corner argument will go on.
Let’s go Knicks!!!
MODI..I don’t know what to say man.
That Chad Ford is a pisser ain’t he?
Unfortunately I don’t have the insider so I can’t actually read the story
but I think you, I and everybody here knows where he got that concept from.
It also might actually be him taking a shot at you or this entire blog in general.
Who knows….
Where’s African when you need him? He can usually see through these horrible reporters
and uncover their true intentions with no problems.
Lives @#210: compelling and useful stuff. it was a true barometer game. the knicks are not yet an elite team in the eastern conference, but if they can hold it together balance of season there’s no reason to (strongly) doubt they can play .500 ball the rest of the way. And that’s real, bona fide progress.
DVJ
I checked out the ESPN swipe at MODI
“The Book of Isiah”
Subheading
“Only Isiah can spin positive the huge mess that is the New York Knicks.”
Translation from “The World Wide Leader” in sports and entertainment.
TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT, IF YOU CAN EVEN CONCIEVE OF LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL OR HAVE AN OPINION DIFFERENT THAN CHAD, PREPPY, FORD YOU ARE OUT OF YOUR MIND. THEREFORE KNEEL DOWN AND TAKE ON DOOM AND GLOOM AS ONLY THOSE, ESPN & FORD, WHO KNOW BEST CAN GIVE IT TO YOU! DON’T DARE TO HAVE A DIFFERENT OPINION.
ESPN Chadwick, preppy, Ford STFO!
In defense of Modi I will throw down the gauntlet.
At least MODI had the courage and audacity to think outside the box with regard to how Isiah might have approached/concieved of how to retool the team. He had the cogones to publish it, and to take a scholars shot at conventional wisdom regarding Team and Organizational management. Too bad Monty the coach, had to cover up for Monty the GM, and subjected the team to lineups and pairings that didn’t work.
But the time to come “with it” and challenge MODI is not when the result fits your conventional theory, Chadwick, its when the gauntlet/challenge is first posed. That Chadwick, preppy, Ford didn’t do. That is why, amongst other reasons, his shit is weak. Weak also b/c its rehashed, boring, lacks imagination, and was even doubted by GM’s he consulted.
STFO!
Cooley,
You did it again. Thanks as always.
Steady,
Certainly was a pleasure. If somehow we get into the playoffs, we should meet again with a round on me.
Modi,
Keep up the great work. It sure would help your writing if Isiah wouldn’t be so stubborn in his rotation, but… yada, yada, yada.
KFLL
Here is a nice blog piece about possible Knick King trade scenarios by old man Stevie Adameck of the Bergen Knicks Knacks blog.
Hey this a decent blog piece by old man Stevie Ademeck from another Knick Knack site.
The article sites the Sac Bee’s trade scenarious involving the Knicks and the Kings.
Ok no more from me.
I’m audi!
Good PM Defenders!
I hope this post finds each and every Defender and their significant others in the best of health and in the best of spirits.
I see all of you have been holding the THREAD, sharing your BBALL knowledge, and bobbing and weaving your points of view agressively, but respectfully…LIKE TRUE DEFENDERS
The FORCE MD’S were out in FORCE last night repping NYC and KNICKDEFENSE.COM (unfortunately duty called for yours truly, but one monkey don’t stop the show), and despite the outcome, their FANSHIP is developing into KINSHIP, and that will always bear Good Fruit.
In Commemoration of the Dr. M. L. King, Jr’s Holiday Weekend and the opportunity for OUR BELOVED NY KNICKS to embark on another winning streak, I’ll drop a God-Driven Nugget to the Defender Family and on behalf of the Blogzilla and the Defender Family.
“Dr. King your memory lives on through the Hopes and Dreams of Many that exist in the Human Rainbow, and we hope your message and aspirations are exhibited daily in OUR Daily Human Acts.”
“I am thanking our Creator and Omnipotent Spirit for His staying power!
When we find ourselves in difficult situations or circumstances that seem insurmountable, we sometimes feel helpless to make a change. It’s easy to get caught up in a pattern of self pity and self deprivation; and the longer we feed into that defeatism the longer we remain stuck in the mire. The Creator’s plan for your life is a plan of action – of forward movement – and of growth. The Creator intends GREAT things for you but YOU have to shift your focus – from the past to present – from the present to the future – from neutral to HIGH GEAR; and not only realize, but actualize what the Creator has in store for you!
“A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.” “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.”
Enjoy your day of rest if this is your Sabbath.
Lastly, I have a friend whose 4 year old son will recite Dr. King’s ‘I Have A Dream’ speech on Monday at a Major Event in celebration of the Holiday; and I share that fact to express to ALL DEFENDERS that indeed our own Children, Grand Children, Neices and Nephews, and the Pequenos Souls in OUR respective Villages are truly the FUTURE; and hopefully we will continue to instill and extoll Dr. King’s beliefs and sensibilities in their lives.
Go Knicks Go Knicks Go Knicks Go Knicks Go Knicks Go Knicks Go Knicks Go Knicks
Go Giants Go Giants Go Giants Go Giants Go Giants Go Giants Go Giants Go Giants
Keep it POPPIN Defenders!