I did not watch the loss Saturday night, but now Nate Robinson is starting to sit out Knicks games as well as Quentin Richardson, Eddy Curry, Zach Randolph and Stephon Marbury.
I understand the concept of tanking, and obviously it looks like the Knicks organization is electing to tank, but what I am concerned about is best illustrated by what happened to the once promising point guard Mardy Collins by the end of last season.
Mardy was a rookie last year, drafted at the end of the first round by Isiah Thomas out of the Philadelphia school, Temple University. Just before the preseason, Mardy showed me quite a bit in the celebrity wheelchair classic game in Madison Square Garden-he and Renaldo Balkman were catching and dunking alley-oops all throughout the game.
Still, Mardy basically sat for most of his rookie year, so those that did not follow Collins at Temple or during the NBA summer league didn’t know what he was about on the basketball court, until April came along.
When most of the Knicks backcourt fell out of the rotation due to injuries, Mardy Collins went from playing no minutes to averaging over 40 minutes per game. Collins played well, getting the ball to Curry, driving to the basket at will and playing solid defense. Collins has never been known as a shooter, but he showed that he may be an otherwise functional NBA point guard in the making. Clyde Frazier was impressed enough with Collins to proclaim that he would work with him over the summer to improve his game to be more “Clydesque.”
Then Collins hurt his knee so bad he required surgery. I assume the Clyde tutelage never had a chance to take place. The Knicks tried to prevent this surgery information from becoming public, then announced after the surgery had been performed, that Collins would not be available for the summer pro league that was about to start in Vegas.
Now I’m sure regular NBA practices and strength training are enough to keep a player fit, but when your Knicks team is sometimes skipping practices, shortening practices and basically giving up on improving this season, it seems risky to have players like Wilson Chandler and Randolph Morris getting thrown onto the floor against other team’s starters. You have to be concerned about preventing the past from repeating itself with these young players, if they are valued as such.
After secret knee surgery over the summer, Mardy Collins is just now starting to get some of his game back. He was basically a better player last season before the knee surgery then he is right now, almost a full year later.
All I’m saying is, I hope the kids that are finally getting a chance to play are in good enough shape to keep up with the demands of the NBA, because much is suddenly being asked of them. Possibly too much.
{ 13 comments }
If Q and Stephon Marbury sit the Knicks have a chance, to win a few games. Q’s lack of offensive output has hurt the Knicks greatly. Chandler is much more of an offensive threat then Q. I don’t understand why Zach is sitting he’s the only all-star on the team. When Balkman and Lee played major minutes the Knicks played well. As I said, a good line up would have been Nate, Crawford, Balkman, Zach and Lee, with Chandler, and Randolph Morris getting minutes. Those players are the future of the Knicks. Thomas is embarrassing the Knicks the NBA and himself.
If Thomas stays on as coach and gm, people might remember him as a terrible gm and coach and not one of the best NBA players in history. Its up to him to save his reputation.
April is gonna be a long and difficult for us NYKFLers KnicksDefense. Just look at Jay Bee’s
post and you’ll know what I mean. Guilty as charged. It’s so hard, to say good bye, to
yesterday. (thought you might like that one JohnQ).
@Cooleyhigh,
My brother from another glorious and beutiful mother–this has been an upset weekend. Who
woulda thunk that our boys could not hold up against that spicy flavor known as curry?
KFL
KnicksD
If we were in the playoff chase, these injuries wouldn’t be so big.
The players would play,including Steph.Maybe not Curry,no great loss anyway.
@Steady
Next time link the “It’s so hard to say goodbye” video or song with your comment,like Peaceman.
Guys from the tourney, look up yahoo’s second chance tourney and it will give a cance to pick up to 5 new brackets
for the sweet 16! This is obviousley easyer but the winner is going to have the closest score of the final game,
for one Million! Not a bad second chance!
As for the Knicks.. I refuse to watch them! I also believe that we are tanking because our 1rst rounder is already
gone to a deal that’s on the table and us tanking is the agreed part of this Major deal! Nothing else makes sense!
It out of our hand s now ……the next time I watch the Knicks will be the draft to see what this Major deal
consists of! Stephen Curry’s stock has hit the stars!!!! Mike Beasley will make no great impact on any team for a few years!
Curry is now a lottery pick!!!!
Thanks DLT your on the money! I know Bronxboy will like this!
Our Knicks have be Pimped this year, so this song says it all! Check it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDSv8js0rjE
Our song for next year for our Knicks!
Funny, the first line asks ” DO YOU EVER WONDER WHY TO WIN WIN SOMEONE’S GOT TO LOSE?”
Deep stuff and we will go on…next year!! Check it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oW0nhTwMsLY
Peace, when you have Thomas as a coach and gm, noting makes sense. He’s a disaster.
@STEADY
Ola! Good Season for the Hoyas; the program is back on good footing; something to look forwward to next season. Also, a BIG shout out to the other local schools that represented, like UMBC, American, Mt. St. Marys, and George Mason. I’m moving on!
It’s New York Yankee Time…and with Santana,the New York Mets has piqued my interest too…
Movin On!
Keep it POPPIN!
Peaceman what do you mean nothing else makes sense?
Making a deal makes no sense, especially if you have the
#2 pick in the draft. If you can draft Rose…you draft Rose.
Rose is the best PG to come out of college since Kidd.
That’s not me saying that….it’s all the analysts that have
been watching college ball for decades.
This kid Rose is the truth.
If we keep going the way we’re going…we will get the #2 pick
in the draft. We might even get the #1 pick.
Believe in David Stern…he usually follows through with whatever
he says LMAO!!!!!!!
Tanking for the pick, by itself, also makes sense. You deal the pick this close to the draft only once you know where it falls, especially with such a short draft as this year (and even more so last year, with two franchise players). Look at what Seattle, Milwaukee, Portland and Boston did back then: they tanked as blatantly as they could, each hoping for Oden or Durant. Portland and Seattle won out, so Boston and Milwaukee had to start thinking about plans B and C (and so on). Only Isiah (well, maybe McHale too) would be stupid enough to trade a pick in this year’s draft before learning where it will actually fall. The point is to address needs, and the draft does have some promising points, which is New York’s greatest need (and yeah, Beasley hasn’t really made himself look good in the tourney–but Curry’s helped himself a whoooole lot).
You got it DaVonn.
Good AM Defenders!
No doubt in my mind if the Knicks select one or two in this year’s Draft, Rose should be there pick. But if they slip to 5 or 6, and this BBALLER KLOVE the Bruin is available and they ought to snatch him up and run like hell. There will be some very talented and pro type PG’s in the 2nd round and via free agency. This KID is Dave DeBush reincarnated with shot blocking ability…
@Mike
Curry is a sure nough Gunner, but he is just a sophomore and he needs to stay one or two more years to get stronger, plus if he waits he could go 1-5 in next year’s Draft.
Keep it POPPIN
**REPOST**
@ Cooley,
Man, you don’t have to sell me on Mr. Love, bruh….we’re trackin’ in the same direction, for all the reasons you mentioned. IMHO he should be our pick, no if’s, and’s, or but’s about it.
I also believe we should try to get his teamate, Mr. Collison. That kid is tough as nails, and he’ll eventually be better than Jordan Farmar, whom I happen to like.
As for Curry, his performance in this year’s tourney has catapulted him to first round status. I agree, if he stays another year, he’ll be a lottery pick.
Do yall know he gave NC 30 last year….as a Freshman???
The kid has alot of Reggie Miller in him, and I’m not just talkin’ physical stature. His ability and willingness to take the big shot impresses me most.
The kid’s got cahunes.
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