What if the Knicks fired the wrong Hall-of-Famer, again?
February 5, 2008 – 12:33 am
some of us have been saying that even though they’re not the greatest, the knicks can catch up.
just looking at tonight’s game alone, they looked like they’re going to stay at the bottom of the ocean.
james dolan may be the only person who can change anything at this point.
this season is too closely now resembling the 23-win team titanic knicks of 2005-2006.
most of the cats thought Larry Brown was tanking those games to overthrow isiah’s power.
but what if we fired the wrong Hall-of-Famer, again? Could we have some of these players now on the contenders, like the Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics, LA Lakers?
Lenny Wilkins, Larry Brown both brought in with their championships, track records and accolades; both coaches are long gone. All that is left is Isiah Thomas, his empty promises and his suitcase full of arrogance.
What if Isiah was sent packing four years ago instead? Could it be any worse than this Knicks team?
Die-hards, rest your head, take a break from the losing. I’ll be here in case you want to check in from time to time.
Don’t forget to vote tomorrow.
55 Responses to “What if the Knicks fired the wrong Hall-of-Famer, again?”
http://www.nysun.com/article/70738
By knicksdefense on Feb 5, 2008 at 2:56 am
http://www.newsday.com/sports/basketball/ny-spknix035562884feb03,0,1263683.story
By knicksdefense on Feb 5, 2008 at 2:57 am
Time for new blood! As I have posted from the summer..we get Artest or we bust!
WelI guess wew are a bust! The only saving grace may to be to give up Lee for Artest Now
along with whomever’s salary would make it work! Have Zeke go back to GM and bring in
Bobby Knight as coach! If there’s an ass hairs chance of an 8th seed we will make it with
those moves! We will never catch the Heat or the Wolfs or Memphis for the #1 pick….
which I don’t think is going to have a major affect on any team in this years weak draft!
By Peaceman on Feb 5, 2008 at 6:09 am
zeke has to go peace, as gm and coach he’s got to go. he’s had enough time to do it, but he hasn’t.
why does he deserve to stay as gm? what has isiah lord thomas proven as knicks gm to this day?
By knicksdefense on Feb 5, 2008 at 6:15 am
I love peaceman’s optimism.
I don’t know how much I have left myself.
I’ll always be a Knick fan but the team and organization are being taken to the wood shed in so many ways .
By Black and Bruised on Feb 5, 2008 at 7:00 am
Google Alert - new york knicks Tue 2/5/2008 5:48 AM
Maggette, Kaman spark Clippers to win
Crawford denies wanting out of New York
Maggette, Kaman Return to Lift Clippers
LA Clippers 103, New York 94
As Knicks’ Play Improves, Coaching Must Reciprocate
Super Bowl draws record 97.5 million viewers
By Syd on Feb 5, 2008 at 8:00 am
By the way, guys, Jerry West did not hook up LA in the Gasol trade. West has retired. Memphis’ GM is former Celtic Chris Wallace.
By Agramante on Feb 5, 2008 at 3:27 pm
IT’S OFFICIAL MONTY’S BROKEN THE SPIRITS OF THE VAST NUMBER OF THE KNICK DEFENDERS!
Still I’m a ride or die Knick fan and lover for life!
I think I need to have my head examined!
By Opaque and Bruised! on Feb 5, 2008 at 4:14 pm
yeah Agamante somebody already said that.
but i’ll bet everything I own West still has stings in each location, espeically since he is expected to rejoin the lakers in a non-gm capacity soon.
By knicksdefense on Feb 5, 2008 at 4:55 pm
lol @ Opaque. We have thirty games or so left to return the colors. Keep the faith.
Isn’t faith the belief in things unseen?
We’ve been kicked on but we ain’t dead. We’ve been pronouced a dead franchise but we’re actually getting better and at the right time. We’re almost, but not quite. There is a light that comes on for individuals and for teams. The light seems to have come on for a few of the guys but not all. The team light needs to come on and burn bright for all of us. They should’ve stomped us out while we were down. Now we get our licks back.
By Jay Bee on Feb 5, 2008 at 5:10 pm
anybody have the full article?
http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insider/columns/story?columnist=ford_chad&page=Gasol-080205&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnba%2finsider%2fcolumns%2fstory%3fcolumnist%3dford_chad%26page%3dGasol-080205
By knicksdefense on Feb 5, 2008 at 6:50 pm
Guess the Knicks never had achance with Gasol.
We still need somebody,some help.
By D L T Knicks on Feb 5, 2008 at 7:39 pm
I don’t care if we have to win 30 out of 30 to make the playoffs!
Until the math eliminates us…I’m not giving up on anything!
Next game the Pacers! Nothing is a sure thing…even the Knicks not
getting a playoff seed IS NOT A SURE THING…Just like the Draft players you have Positioned above
could all be BUSTS! Lets go Knicks!!!
By Peaceman on Feb 5, 2008 at 8:06 pm
Jay Bee, Peaceman,
Hey I’m still pulling for the team, ad would like to see them improve, which I believe can still happen.
I’m just down right now with all the hope I saw a stirrig with the fiestyness the Knicks exhibited on the road trip.
But the showing yesterday against the clippers was so mum, haphazard, uninspired, lackadaisical and when that is contrasted against a team that was viewed as a complete underdog- the Giants- that pulled off an improbable champsionship, it makes it hard for me to cheer for the Knicks performance last night.
Of course I’ll be watching the next game against the pacers but I’m mortaly wounded.
By Opaque and Bruised on Feb 5, 2008 at 8:17 pm
Ron Artest publicly states The Kings would be better off with out him!
Why??? It’s Personal man, Personal, said Artest! WTF???? What are we waiting for????
Our last six games we blew leads and all 6 games could of went either way!
Lets do this and not look back!
By Peaceman on Feb 5, 2008 at 8:30 pm
Peaceman
The Sac Bee is reporting the same thing.
Here’s a clip of that story…
Artest reiterates he’d be better off elsewhere
February 5
Sacramento Bee
“Asked after Monday’s practice about first-year coach Reggie Theus and the job he’s done this season, Artest – who said last week that he didn’t see himself in the Kings’ long-term plans – said Theus and his team would be better off without him. “He’s doing good; he’s doing good,” Artest said of Theus. “I just think they (the Kings) would be better if I wasn’t on the team. I think (Theus) would be doing much better.”"
By Opaque and Bruised on Feb 5, 2008 at 8:48 pm
pau gasol in his first game 10-15, 24 points, 12 rebounds, lakers win though kobe scores under ten, they had two other guys over 20 besides gasol.
that’s it. barring injuries, very high probability of lakers-celtics in the finals due to these trades that obviously made sense to somebody, not me.
fire isiah. if you don’t watch him go and get another shoot-first offensive minded, non-defensive, non-team concerned player at the deadline.
the proof is in the pudding. we’re dead last in the atlantic. no pulse. jimmy dolan, you piece of crap, wake up!
By knicksdefense on Feb 6, 2008 at 12:48 am
shaq almost a phoenix sun
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3232862
deal seems done barring a failed physical exam…
By knicksdefense on Feb 6, 2008 at 4:25 am
KnicksD
Good morning. I do believe the NBA is letting too many lopsided deals happen. Note that both the Lakers and Celtics deals happened for two flagship franchises. It just seems to scripted for me, when one considers that other very arguably better offers were on the table for both Garnett and Gasol.
Rogue Refs? Rogue Commissioner!
At the very least he ought to have the magic 1rst round lotto ball come up with the Knicks durig the lottery.
I’d shut my trap then. Lol.
Oh yeah John Hollinger, thinks that Suns Heat trade of Mario for Shaq makes no sense at all.
http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insider/columns/story?columnist=hollinger_john&page=ShaqSuns080206&action=upsell&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnba%2finsider%2fcolumns%2fstory%3fcolumnist%3dhollinger_john%26page%3dShaqSuns080206
By Opaque and Bruised on Feb 6, 2008 at 7:26 am
Hey if the Suns are willing to trade for a power center dinosaur…
Why not for Curry, and Knick role players!
By Opaque and Bruised on Feb 6, 2008 at 7:28 am
Google Alert - new york knicks Wed 2/6/2008 5:50 AM
Can big win by Giants lift Knicks?
Spurs 116, Pacers 89 Slumping Pacers go from bad to worst
NBA Photo Wire
Puma Basket 1970s Champs New York Knicks
In Dismal East, Even the Knicks Have Playoff Hope
Indiana Pacers vs New York Knicks Game Thread 2/5
By Syd on Feb 6, 2008 at 7:38 am
KD,
Where’s Mayo on that list ? Has his stock dropped that much that he doesn’t crack the top ten ???
By JohnQ on Feb 6, 2008 at 9:11 am
Sam Cassell on the Knicks………….They’re not trying.
“New York fans are far from fair-weather fans, but if you don’t play hard for them …” Cassell said at his locker after the Clippers wasted the listless Knicks, 103-94. Cassell didn’t finish the sentence. Didn’t have to.
“They want effort,” he said. “They want guys diving on the floor for loose balls like the early ‘90s. They want guys getting at it, making it a tough basketball game. That’s what New York is all about – battling, like the Giants in the playoffs. But when they don’t see that, they tend to get discouraged. Tickets are very expensive in New York. If you’re paying $1,000 a seat, you want to see effort every night.”
Cassell, who has been around the block in this league, couldn’t figure out why players who should be privileged to play basketball in New York wouldn’t try.
“They’ve got Isiah over there, their best three guys played, it pays well,” Cassell said. “Damn, what more you want? You’re playing in New York City. Damn, I wish was like eight years younger and had the opportunity to come to New York to play. Shoot, every night to play in the Garden? Damn, there’s no place like it.”
Cassell kept referencing the Knicks team that his Rockets team faced in the 1994 Finals, so I asked him what he would say about this Knicks team.
“I can’t describe what they are now,” he said. “I know Isiah gives those guys a lot of freedom to play basketball, but you’ve got to get a guy who makes plays.”
That’s when I asked him if he sees a team that is giving full effort.
“No, I don’t see that,” Cassell said. “I don’t see that aspect of it. I don’t see it. I’m just thinking about the days with Patrick Ewing. This was the place. You went in here, you went in this building during those times, guys would still be icing down right now.”
And how’d the boys feel on this night?
“I think we’re getting out of here pretty fast,” he said.
This is a clip from Bergers article the other day.
By JohnQ on Feb 6, 2008 at 9:32 am
Shaq joining the team that is responsible for turning his style of play into a thing of the past?
Wow.
I can’t believe Kerr is willing to pay $20+ million to a player who’s going to fulfill the same role as Kurt Thomas.
The one thing I will be watching for is if the abundance of shooters already on Phoenix will open the post for Shaq. Can he produce at a pace more appropriate of a man nicknamed Superman?
Not a terrible trade but things on the Phoenix side need to pan out to judge. Shaq in the post? Amare at the PF? No Marion?
At least, the Western Conference Playoffs will be something to watch. LA Lakers with Gasol. Phoenix with Shaq. Same old Spurs.
Interesting.
If for nothing else, Shaq in Phoenix means $$$$ for the Suns. Who’s more popular than Shaq?
By BARF on Feb 6, 2008 at 1:43 pm
barf, i think phoenix got scurred when the lakers got gasol.
i would be too if i were them.
By knicksdefense on Feb 6, 2008 at 1:50 pm
KD,
Thats exactly what happened. Everyone on the Suns can now play more of their “natural” positions w/ a real C anchoring the paint. Stoudamire actually gets to be a PF for the 1st time in his carreer. Hopefully the big anchor won’t pull the ship down w/ him.
By JohnQ on Feb 6, 2008 at 2:05 pm
johnq, the rankings at the top are from nbadraft.net. they now have oj mayo listed at #11 for some reason. nothing to take too seriously, but it illustrates where we are with our crappy record and where we could end up if we improve or continue to suck.
By knicksdefense on Feb 6, 2008 at 2:22 pm
KD
We only need to draft a center b/c Curry can’t block a shot or rebound.
Question:How do we trade Curry for a good PG?
By D L T Knicks on Feb 6, 2008 at 3:06 pm
Yeah! Trade Curry for a point! That would be so smart!
The reason Phoenix wants Shack is because playoff basketball is all about power ball.
The running and jump shots is exciting and entertaining, but post season play makes every posession count that much.
Run and gun will never win a chip. That’s what Kerr knows.
Will Shack work? Maybe. But the philosophy still remains the same when it comes to the post season.
Trade Curry and have Craw and Zach shoot jumpshots all day. That would win you a chip.
Trade curry and have Zach and Lee play up front will win you a chip really soon.
KnicksDee:
That lead post was right out of Frank Isola’s mug.
Do we have an Invasion of the Body Snatchers?
Hmmmmmm…..
By African on Feb 6, 2008 at 3:25 pm
Af
We can’t call Curry a “center” when he can only grab 2 rebounds per game.
Doesn’t block shots,doesn’t change shots or play defensive.Other low price centers out play him night after night.
(See Perkins(Bos) 24 points & GS center 26 rebounds).
Phoenix expects that shaq will block the paint and play big!!
Why have a big “power center” if he plays SMALL on defense?
By D L T Knicks on Feb 6, 2008 at 3:36 pm
Also AF,
This will only make sense IF we draft a center.
Keep in mind that the Knicks have played better while Curry has been on the bench.
By D L T Knicks on Feb 6, 2008 at 3:39 pm
DLT:
Your logic is so clear, I’m speechless.
Never thought of it.
Sorry.
By African on Feb 6, 2008 at 3:45 pm
Sarcasm is ugly and God don’t love ugly.
I can’t believe the Nets have Stromile and Sean Williams and we can’t get a shot blocker to save our roster.
By BARF on Feb 6, 2008 at 3:49 pm
DLT,
I’m w/ 100 % sir. Too many on this blog still think that Curry is an ideal C because he can score. I say to that big f’n deal !!!! What good is Curry’s scoring when the oppositions C has just as many points if not more ? How many points are given up on lay ups because Curry doesn’t defend ?
AF,
You aint the brightest star in the sky are ya ? Do you think Phx is getting Shaq for his scoring ? Didn’t they have the best record without him ? If Amare was a great defender, do they even bother to make this move ? Cmon man, get your head out of EChunky’s ass. It’s too big already without the extra weight.
By JohnQ on Feb 6, 2008 at 4:19 pm
@Af
Your sarcasm only shows me you are missing the point.
As shown at the top of this blog, the MOCK DRAFT has the Knicks drafting 7′0 C Brook Lopez from Stanford at #5.
WHY WOULD WE DRAFT A CENTER WITH A LOTTERY PICK AND LET HIM SIT BEHIND CURRY? Makes no sense.
BASED ON THE KNICKS DRAFTING A CENTER(Lopez),WHAT DO WE DO WITH CURRY/ZACH?
Af,put on your reading glasses!!
By D L T Knicks on Feb 6, 2008 at 4:21 pm
Please don’t hurt me.
I already said I was wayyyyyy off base!
I’ll leave the thinking to you guys.
By African on Feb 6, 2008 at 4:26 pm
lmao
By BARF on Feb 6, 2008 at 4:34 pm
Curry is a point guard, because he grabs two rebounds per game!
Amare is not a great defender!
The mock draft is gospel!
KnickDee sounding like Assola!
What a whacky world we live in!
By African on Feb 6, 2008 at 4:36 pm
Phoenix now have the best record!
All these things happened when I fell asleep!
WTF!
LMAO!!!!
By African on Feb 6, 2008 at 4:47 pm
that’s real original, african. i never heard that before.
just like Isiah’s never heard, “GTFOH” from the MSG patrons.
some people can drop by every once and two weeks and feel they can say some shit like that to the people that hold it down every night. i’ll just spit that back out like the phlem i got from the flu.
By knicksdefense on Feb 6, 2008 at 4:49 pm
sorry i’ll correct myself……….best record in the west.
wake up you’ll learn more.
By JohnQ on Feb 6, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Are the Knicks in the playoffs yet?
Please tell me they are.
By African on Feb 6, 2008 at 4:53 pm
DLT,
I doubt they really think they’d draft that particular player.
it is more of a ball park guess as to what kind of talent will be available.
although the people in control of the knicks have said over the past three drafts they draft according to talent available, not NEEDS.
By knicksdefense on Feb 6, 2008 at 4:53 pm
I guess I was wayyyyyyyyyyyyy off base.
Curry is a great rebounder and defender!
Can’t understand why Phoenix would want a 35 year old broken down center over the 24 year old defensive specialist in Curry!
Phoenix is crazy to pass on Curry!!
We should not comment on the topic of THIS BLOG(The Mock draft)!I was wrong!
Af is the smartest person on this blog………………please forgive me.
By D L T Knicks on Feb 6, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Knickdee;
Just calling it as I see it.
I’ve heard this sorry line before. It’s not original, and it sure is lame.
Don’t get offended, It’s the truth.
By African on Feb 6, 2008 at 4:57 pm
KnicksD,
I really don’t think the Knicks will draft a center.(only if he is the best player available and we can trade someone).
I was just commenting on the Mock draft at the top of the page.
We do need a shot blocker if this Lopez guys fits the bill,good.We will have to deal someone.
Still believe we need a PG to give Jamal some rest.
By D L T Knicks on Feb 6, 2008 at 5:03 pm
DLT:
By now you should know I’m on welfare, didn’t go to school, can’t read, write, or spell, a boor, smell bad and stubborn.
If that makes me the smartest on this blog, what does that say about this blog?
That’s an insult to the good folks on here.
You need to apologize to them for that statement.
By African on Feb 6, 2008 at 5:04 pm
Get Curry’s fat ass out of here.
We need to start over.
Just start from the ground up.
Fire the coaches and the staff.
Bring in a GM to shake up the roster from
the ground up.
That’s the only way we’ll get out of this mess.
All these trades going down and Isiah can’t even pull one off?
I still think we should see Carter and Artest here before Feb. 21 but that’s
just me.
By DaVonn Jefferson on Feb 6, 2008 at 5:17 pm
Af,
I have been reading your post on this blog for a long time now.
I have read posts where I agreed and disagreed with you.
We are bloggin’ here.
Why sarcasm? My Brother.
By D L T Knicks on Feb 6, 2008 at 5:22 pm
Disclaimer: DVJ predicted 57 wins in the offseason.
Credibility= Zero.
Sorry dude. But I dont agree with you. Blowing up the team means this hell continues that much longer. No, thank you.
Quitting is never a good idea. Its what you do when you have nothing left.
By BARF on Feb 6, 2008 at 5:38 pm
LMAO @ Post #57…
I do agree with the need for new leadership. I don’t agree however that we need to blow up the team…I have maintained we have some good pieces.
We need a serviceable pg for starters, with a shot-blocking big not far behind….
Most importantly, we need to rid ourselves of Isiah. We’re going nowhere with him at the helm.
@ BARF…
I predicted 43 wins at the beginning of the season and got crucified on here for not being a true Knick fan…go figure. I guess I have zero credibility a;so….lol
By Bronxboy in Md on Feb 6, 2008 at 5:45 pm
ooops…meant post #50…long day…lol
By Bronxboy in Md on Feb 6, 2008 at 5:46 pm
@Bronxboy in Md
I agree with you.
A pure PG is needed as well as some shot blocking.
If we have a PG that saved 3-4 turnovers a game, and we could block 2-3 more shots a game.
That would give us +10-14 points a game. WE win more!
By D L T Knicks on Feb 6, 2008 at 5:54 pm
Hey DLT…
u know us Force MD’s think alike!!
By Bronxboy in Md on Feb 6, 2008 at 6:11 pm
Bronx
Are you going to the game on the 19th?
By D L T Knicks on Feb 6, 2008 at 6:12 pm