Knicks@Heat
For those of us who were wondering how long the streak could last, our questions were answered last night: three games.
I have to admit something to my defenders this saturday afternoon. I missed the game. I was going to watch the game, but I accidentally locked us out of our house last night. Thirty degrees out, I was just answering the front door, and for some reason the door that I’ve been using for four years seemed to react differently to the air pressure in the room and shut behind me. We ended up playing Texas Holdem at my cousin’s house five blocks from here while we waited for Robin to arrive with the spare keys to save the day.
So tonight we’ll try again with one of the few teams with a worse record than the Knicks this season, the Miami Heat. Every additional second Jerome James plays is a new season high because let’s face it, since he came to the Knicks, he’s been one of the league’s most expensive bench ornaments.
Q found his touch from the looks of the box score. Good news for Q, bad news for Jeffries, Renaldo and Lee because Isiah will play Q, we should concede that by now regardless if we understand IT, or agree with IT.
We could still finish with a .500 record for the month of January if the knicks bounce back and do the right thing tonight against the Heat.
My stomach is cramping
Nervous
Taking a chill to finish watching this game —-BIG TIME FOR US
GIANTS NEEDS TO SCORE!!!!
We get this stop and the game is ours!!!
Aight Giants…..clock management, and a field goal will do!!!
N8…I mean Bradshaw almost broke one.
Fuckin’ penalties!!!!
Huge first down by the Giants!!!
Oh man, this game is ours!!!
GB calls a timeout to ice Tynes….
We make this, we go to the “bowl”….
he needs to make a 36 yard field goal…
I can’t watch.
We miss the field goal, and they win the coin toss…
Damn.
That ends that FG kickers career!
@ Peace..
You aint never said a lie about that..
Webster with the pick!!
Damn, how many opportunities are u we gonna get??
Hell with the field goal…we need 6 points!!!
Tynes resurrected his career!!
We goin’ to the Super Bown!!!
Nothing comes easy for NY!!!!!
We’re going to Disneyland! LOL
Like someone mentioned earlier, it’ll be nice if the Giants make an appearance at the Garden tomorrow to motivate our troops on the hardwood!!!
Hell, maybe fat Eddy would be moved to rebound and defend!!!
Word. I’ll be back during breaks. Time to pop bottles. Beer bottles of course. The other bubbly.
Comment by Jay Bee — January 20, 2008 @ 6:41 pm
BRING IT ON , JAY BEE—-BRING IT ON!!!!
YES BABY —–BOSTON,THAT’S A FORMIDABLE FORCE—CAN U SPELL SUPER BOWL!!!!!!!
Hell, maybe fat Eddy would be moved to rebound and defend!!!
Bronx,
Either that—at least nice hard tackle on Garnett!!!
I take it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Super Bowl
Giants getting the Shiney Stuff before the Knicks—–I Take it!!!!
Hey fellas
Great win for the Gmen although Anit is right that those bone headed turnovers off the interception and kickoff return and the field goal misses nearly did the Giants in.
I am also on page with Anti’s suggestions that the Giants show up at MSG to rev up the Knicks.
Hope that team oriented, never say die, championship heart and determination rubs off on the Orange and Blue.
Hey Anti
The interesing plot line in this Super Bowl is the Dominance of the Boston Area sports team, with the shine and panash BSPN is hitting them up with, versus the grit low profile blue collar ethic of the Giants.
I’m really pulling for the Gmen to win the Superbowl and smack that smirk off of the Boston area sportsfan.
But
First things First
The Knicks getting their self respect back from that Boston Celtic team that raped them on TNT.
I like you Anti hope the Giant’s vibe rubs off on the Knicks.
In a way I believe it sort of is.
Go NY Go Ny GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Steady
Perceptive as usual
Steady as IT goes brother!
Black & Blue,
Un Rey del Pico.
You know what’s good.
Go NY, Go NY, Go!
KFLL
Edwina Curry needs a zapper/taser kind of device put in his shorts so the staff can hit the button when he needs to jump!!!!!! This zapper also needs to be put on Edwina and Biggie Snaxx when they are sitting in Burger King together!!!! LOL!!!!
Oh yeah, NYG BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SUPER BOWL AAAHHH YEEEAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO GMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And, tomorrow the KNICKS will keep it POPPIN for NYC!
Peace
Black and Blue,
I dont care how they do it but the Knicks better win
Boston’s not invincible—they shouldn’t be feared.
Curry got dominate,Z-bo inside scoring,Nate being great,Craw going point for point vs Allen.
David, Taz, come on Knicks show some pride and win at Mecca.
Steady
Un rey del pico igualmente.
Peeps.
I’ma dream a championship dream for the NY teams.
And like all are saying Giants and Knicks take back the pride New York holds in its home town clubs.
Buenas Noches a todos!
O&B, here is the best answer to your “Injured Exception” query. If you really want to hone those GM skills, this and similar info can be found at You Too Can Be A CAPOLOGIST, AGENT OR NBA GM.
DISABLED PLAYER EXCEPTION — This exception allows a team which is over the cap to acquire a replacement for a disabled player who will be out for the remainder of that season (if the player is disabled between July 1 and November 30) or the following season (if the player is disabled after November 30). This exception can also be granted in the event of a player’s death. This exception can only be used to acquire one player. The maximum salary for the replacement player is 50% of the injured player’s salary, or the average salary, whichever is less (see question number 24 for the definition of “average salary”). Approval from the league (based on a determination by an NBA-designated physician) is required for this exception to be used. This exception can be used to sign a free agent, or to create room to accept a salary in trade. When used for trade, the team may acquire a player whose salary (including any trade bonus) is up to 100% of this exception plus $100,000 (not 125%). Also see question number 20 for more information on the availability and use of this exception.
If a player is disabled between July 1 and November 30, the team must acquire the replacement player within 45 days. If the player is disabled between December 1 and June 30, then the team has until October 1 to sign a replacement. If the disabled player comes back sooner than expected, then he may be activated immediately, and the replacement player is not affected. However, if the disabled player comes back before the exception is used, then the exception is lost.
Teams sometimes have had difficulty getting the NBA to approve an injury exception. For example, Danny Manning tore an ACL toward the end of the 1997-98 season, yet the NBA did not approve the Suns for this exception. More recently, the Magic did not receive this exception in 2003 for Grant Hill. However, this exception was granted in the 1999 offseason to San Antonio, so they could replace Sean Elliott, who was disabled due to kidney problems. This exception was also granted to Charlotte soon after Bobby Phills was killed.
Don’t confuse this exception with the salary cap relief teams can apply for a year after losing a player to a career-ending injury or death (see question number 53). This exception allows a team to acquire a replacement player. The salary cap relief removes a contract from the books.
AS to available guards, I was not promoting Ridnour although Sam Cassells would be an interesting pickup, but I doubt that he would want to play for the Knicks. Cassell, although he can be difficult to deal with because he is so strong willed, would be the perfect back-up floor general for this crew. I know he is not available but I also like the penetrating skills of TJ Ford. Mike James is an interesting thought, but I wonder what is happening with him in Houston that he has continued to stay down after his Cleveland stint. Knick fans should just cry rivers if Isiah traded anybody for Larry Hughes. He would be as useless to the Knicks as Vince Carter. We don’t need another athletic jump shooter who is really a tweener, someone so skilled that you can’t quite figure out their position but they need to have the ball to maximize their talent and when they get the ball they don’t.
We need a penetrating distributor, although Crawford and Robinson, with 7 assists each against Miami, definitely made a concerted effort to get to the basket. Nash would do. Kidd would not.
LET’S GO GIANTS. PLEASE BEAT THE CHEATERS/TRAITORS, I MEAN THE PATRIOTS.
What’s up all. Apologoies for the delay on this post which I really should have done Friday evening. In no prarticular order:
– Cooleyhigh is a G-O-D! Friday night’s game against the Wiz was an enjoyable experience despite the loss. How close to the court were the seats? Close enough to high five all the Knicks as they left the bench to go into the tunnel. How close? I swore that I smelled a fart from Jerome James! How close? If Bronxboy didn’t bail out, he could have reached around and given Jamal that handjob he has been dreaming about! How close? Those were the best seats I had since I saw X-Man (Sonics version) drop 40 on the Knicks back in the day. I also remember that Rory Sparrow nailed a shot at the buzzer to send the game into OT.
– Too bad that Cooley wasn’t actually there. He was missed. But I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed the company of Steady and HarlemMD. So much so that I actually missed a lot of plays because I was engaged in prime Knicks convo combined with interesting non-basketball stuff!
– I thought that HarlemMD was a doctor. Turns out that he just lives in Maryland like me! Okay, from now on I’m ModiMD! HOWEVER, he was dropping enough Knick knowledge that his PhD was well-deserved.
– I still don’t understand Isiah’s coaching to the point where I might file a lawsuit for emotional damages… and only because of his coaching I do not anticipate continued success this year despite the last 4 games. The Miami game could easily have been a blowout win instead of a nail biter. From a developmental point of view the only exciting right now is the growth of Nate Robinson… besides that — nothing.
– Did I mention that cooley is a G-O-D?
Also, I missed a lot of posts but just read “A Corner has been Turned” by Lives on the Wizards thread. I wish that I can be as optimistic, but a corner could not be turned unless Isiah “gets it”.
– Firstly, Marbury’s loss will be mitigated by Nate’s emergence as a point guard. (I really don’t like Jamal as a point — never did). But will Isiah start Nate?
– Broken record: Against the Wiz, Knicks down -5 when Eddy-Zach are split in 1st quarter. In Miami -8 at time of split. Will Isiah EVER break up the Eddy-Zbo combo? You can come back against a team on a 12 game losing streak, but what about others?
– If Nate does get the start will he continue to start 5 scorers instead of a mixture of scorers and role players. If he continues with the other 4 guys, then Nate will have about as much success running the point as Marbury this year. YOU CANNOT HAVE 5 SCORERS ON THE FLOOR AT THE SAME TIME! It has been a problem since day one this year. Whether starting or bench the best Knicks mixture is when they have 3 scorers and two role players. We always get caught up in the names, but it almost doesn’t matter when there are STRUCTURAL FLAWS in the line up.
– We are not making the playoffs. That means give Collins some burn as the back-up point to Nate. Let him play through some mistakes. Am I the only one who saw some development on his part last year at the end of the season? If the Knicks will not make the playoffs, shouldn’t we develop our young talent?
– Lives will only be right if ISIAH turns a corner. I have not seen enough evidence of this. Isiah teases us with a good 5 man unit that brings us back in a game… but then goes back to the same ole, same ole… it’s all on Isiah’s coaching…
Modi,
I am excited for you, Dr. Harlem and Steady. I know you guys had such a great time. It is truly a blessing to meet such knidred spirits in person. I swear that last year I had a great year but I count my blogging experiences plus meeting Peaceman, African and Kevin Harewood as way up there on the list of blessings. I’m really glad you guys got that experience. More of us really need to get together just to shoot the shyte one day. Isn’t it great to be able to hang out with no tension around something you love with kindred spirits, even if the thing you love is not whole (the Knicks with their holes are not whole, man). Cool stuff.
Oh Modi, you be nibbling on my fishing line. At #229, I think you only said one thing that I disagreed with or you disagreed with one thing I said — that thing is the definition of “turning a corner.” That’s cool because there is one small thing I learned about life that is true and I share with you now (throw in that I’m almost 50+ line here (LOL)). That truism is “He Who Controls The Definitions Controls The Answers”. It is true whether one controls the definition of another (like what is being “Black.”) or the wording of a question (like what “corner” are we talking about); the one that is allowed to control identity or meaning is the one who controls the answer. Therefore, I try to make it my business to own the meaning of myself and my words like “turning a corner.” For me, “turning a corner” is turning from slackers to players; for you and others it may be from “slackers” to “winners.” Nothing wrong with that, but I like to look at life and my basketball in small bites (or details) instead of big indigestible (for me) chunks.
All that to say, you’ll need to find another opportunity to make LIVES WRONG and I’m sure that time will come before I have the pleasure of meeting you at the “corner” we both agree upon — hopefully that will be the Corner of 33rd and Seventh Avenue. Otherwise, Isiah turning a corner (as coach) is remotely possible and necessary for this team to win consistently.
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Cooleyhigh, you are the man. Happy Martin Luther King Day to you and everyone else. Regrdless of and because of your various races, creeds, religions, genders and ethnicities you have all been blessed to have been touched by the efforts and the expression of love and sacrifice of this hu-MAN. Without his leadership and guidance and the fellowship of hundreds of thousands who joined him in spirit and heart, we would not be reaping the many benefits we are today. The least of those benefits is the nature of our own fellowship around a sport graced with people who touch the world and help fill our lives. While there are still many corners to turn regarding how we treat each other based on immutable characteristics and how we chose to define ourselves and others, Dr. King helped this nation (therefore this world) turn a significant corner in understanding how human beings ought/must be treated in a nation of civility and how the application of love can overcome the darkest of times in the depth of cruel heartedness. We have a long way to come, but we have travelled so far. Everyday I feel how he has touched my life and my hope is to “Pass It On.” A day of recognition is great, but the true celebration happens everyday in our encounters with others. May your celebration of MLK last at least until the next MLK day.
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Tough game today. Start with Zeke. Will Q be guarding Pierce or will Isiah put Jeffries on him early? Who will be fighting with Garnett — ZBO, Rose and Balkman? And who will be shadowing Allen? I thinnk ROndo is not playing. So will somebody pressure House and not allow him to stand on the tre line and take easy potshots at the scorecard? Zeke, you might as well start giving Mardy some playing time, because you will need him in the next 11 games unless you are getting a ready made for the Knicks point guard. You can’t run our heroes into the ground. Now Q is hitting shots early. WHen will he start to consistently hit them late in the game too.
The Celtics have been opening a can of whupass on just about everybody. EFFORT, EFFORT, EFFORT will keep us in the game. Jeffries, Lee, Nate, Craw, ZBO, Balk, Q.
I’ll probably DVR the game and catch you good folks later.
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Would Dolan trade the new face of his product? Me don’t think so. I for one am happy for Jamal because this is really his first chance to shine and lead a team. He seems like he may be up for the task. When he apologized to the Knick fans for his team’s play, I was just really impressed. I am also impressed by his demeanor and quite intelligence. I know he has B-Ball deficiencies, especially on defense, but how many good offensive ball players actually play good individual defense (I think we call those guys superstars). The deficiencies of most shooting guards are hidden in team defensive schemes. I wish nothing but good for Jamal. I wish the same for Nate who brings such great joy to the game. I hope they know that if the Spurs were in New York we would be talking about them and Duncan like a dog. We would be talking about how Duncan is misused and old, Bruce Bowen can’t shoot, Ginobli should be starting and the french point guard is too preoccupied with Desperate housewifes. Heck we had Torre fired years ago and Coughlin in a noose 15 games and a pre-season ago. New York fans are rough (at least not uncivilized like Philly fans) but we love winners.
BTW, did any MSM reporter have the balls, honesty and integrity to report that the Knicks and Isiah got a standing ovation at the end of the Washington victory.
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PEACE
Chauncey Billups On The Knicks
The question was put to Chauncey Billups after Detroit was beaten by 24 points on Sunday at MSG.
“Are the Knicks really as bad as their record indicates?”
“No, no, no,” he replied adamently. “They’ve got some really good players over there. Really good players. For them, it’s just about finding the right mix. They are as talented as anyone in the league -from 1 to 15. But, talent [alone] don’t win too many games around here. You’ve got to become a unit. That’s what makes a great team.
“When I got here [2002], Detroit already had what it took to be a great team; that’s the reason I came here. I felt like I was one of the players who could continue what they had going on. The year before, they had won 50 games. They had the Coach of the Year in [Rick] Carlisle, Sixth Man of the Year in Corliss [Williamson], and Defensive Player of the Year in Ben [Wallace]. They were on the way up; personally, I was on my way up, too. I thought it would be a perfect marriage. As soon as I got here, man, I realized the culture in this locker room, and how Joe Dumars did it. There’s a trickle-down effect. I have believed that ever since.
[Note: Dumars would win Executive of the Year the following season].
“I don’t know what [the Knicks] have got going on over there. So, I can’t speak for them. But, they have talented players, and they’ve got a coach in Zeke, who has seen every battle, and every war. They can learn from him. That’s all I know. I’m on the outside looking in. I can’t speak for anything else, to be honest.”
I’m puzzled. I thought I read Zeke’s comments about the ejections. I don’t remember them being printed this fully in the NYMSM. Do you?
The Story Behind Isiah’s Ejection
January 10, 2008 2:49 pm johnburo General, Houston Rockets, New York Knicks
(See Insidehoops.com)
Yao Ming had tortured the Knicks last night. In more ways than one. It wasn’t just the 36 points. It was the five dunks and four lay-ins, and the way he would linger in the paint on the offensive end. All of it was too much for Isiah Thomas to take.
The Knick coach had complained to the officials that Yao should’ve been called on a number of three-second violations, but to no avail. Danny Crawford hit him with a ‘T”, then wasted no time in tossing him.
Afterward, a much more subdued Thomas explained his stance, after getting bounced 41 seconds into the fourth quarter, with the Rockets ahead 77-74.
“In the second quarter,” recounted Thomas, “I spoke with [Crawford] and asked if they could watch Yao in the lane. I also said that, if you are not going to call [a violation], would I need to get a technical foul to bring your attention to it?
“I wasn’t trying to get ejected. But, I was trying to get a technical, because I did want to bring it to [the officials’] attention.
“I was close enough to [Crawford’s] ear that he could hear me. I didn’t bump him, or anything like that. You can look at my reaction two ways –I could have been given a tech, or be thrown out of the game. I have shown, that I am not a guy who complains a lot. I just needed to make a point, because there was no way that we could guard Yao in the lane that long.”
Thomas paused briefly.
“Even out of the lane,” he joked, “we couldn’t guard him.”
Subsequently, Yao converted the ensuing free throw, fueling the Rockets’ 78-74 advantage, and the Knicks were effectively beaten after that.
Dag, Insidehoops has been rockin’ with inside tidbits on the Knicks. I’m just patrolling the web this morning since I can’t play ball and some of the stuff out there is really interesting. Last season, I mentioned O’Neal and Mikki Moore as possible Knicks. I’m glad we don’t have O’Neal, though that may still happen if Randolph is going, but I did not know about the real possibility of getting Mikki to the Knicks. I really like his game. They underestimated how important he was to the Nets. I also love teh way he palms the palm away from his body like Dr.J, teh best Net ever
Would Mikki Moore Have Helped Knicks?
January 8, 2008 11:15 am johnburo General, New York Knicks, Sacramento Kings
Mikki Moore, the Sacramento Kings’ back-up center, knows all about persistence. He is in his 10th NBA season, and with his ninth different team. Job security was never something he took for granted. Last season, with the NJ Nets, he averaged a career-high 9.8 ppg and 5.1 rebounds, and became the only undrafted player since 1976 to lead the league in field goal percentage.
Over the years, he has gotten to know Isiah Thomas, the Knicks’ coach.
“Me and Isiah, and Joe Dumars, have been talking for years. My first team was Detroit. He has been wanting me on his squad for a long time, ‘cause he respects my hard work, and how I play –old school. No lay-ups. Foul, if you have to, but not to end someone’s career. That’s how I was raised –on old school basketball. And he likes that.”
Imagine that. A big man who defends the paint.
“Me and him see eye to eye on a lot of things. I’ve told him, “Keep your head right. Don’t let this crowd get you out of your element. All this picketing, and all that stuff -you turn these boys around, [the fans will] be kissing your butt by the end of the season. He already knows that. That’s just how it is.
“You have hard times, and you struggle. Just keep on trying hard. Don’t look at what happened yesterday. Think about tomorrow.”
Perhaps, had Thomas made a play for Moore during the off-season, he would’ve had more tomorrows to pursue his vision of a championship.
Who benefits from an O’Neal-Vince Carter trade? Maybe both, but not substantially enough to prove the fortunes of either team. The Nets lose their best player, turning Jefferson into their best weapon. He’d need to retool his game not to become a younger version of Vince Carter. But at least they could play a real inside out game with O’Neal’s presence. Still they can’t run and they would be largely a jumpshooting team. They would need a new coach too.
Vince would add more athleticism to the suspect Pacers, but where is Indiana’s leadership. Indiana now becomes a jump shooting nightmare without an inside presence.
Winner? None.
O’k I’m done. Enjoy the day.
Oh no, I forgot. I just visited the Fix (I’ve done so twice during this win streak) and although it is a little dead, I saw Peace and Starburyfan bring some life to the place. Yes, I said Starburyfan. The thing I am most interested in is the story behind the resurrection of the Starburyfan moniker on a public commercial blog. If it is still Knick Defense, I know the reasoning is very interesting and notable as is his reasons for most things he does. So while I’m in an Entertainment Tonight mode and mood, KD can you give us the skinny on your moniker re-dressing?
O’k, now I’m out.
Lives
Great reads today.
I see your point regarding Mardy. If we can’t get someone to fill our rotation at PG then Mardy will have to be allowed to redevelop-i.e., get back his confidence and recapture the ability he showed at the tail end of last season.
I think KnicksD go by starburyfan there perhaps b/c the Fix won’t take his KnicksDefense moniker.
That’s just a theory.
Ejoy MLK Day!
Lives @ 230, fair enough. Didn’t mean to over-nibble! Besides, I’m only 37 and have no problem absorbing wisdom from my elders!
Thanks for 231 & 232, very helpful as I’ve been slipping at COSELLOUT on NYC MSM… or lacking time… or both
Happy MLK to all.
yo, MODI when you do have time, i’d love to see your response to the espn version of “the book of isaiah” published recently. happy mlk day to all