One Game ’til the Lottery
April 15, 2008 – 6:37 pmKnick rookie Wilson Chandler’s injury seems to be just a sprain, or so they say. An MRI was performed today and Dr. Lisa’s people have announced that there is no tear or ligament damage, which is obviously a good thing for the young athlete.
It was a big concern of mine a month and a half ago that Isiah would play Chandler and Morris too much after months and months of inactivity, I hope that this most recent injury to a young player Isiah drafted isn’t as bad as Mardy Collins’ or even Channing Frye’s respective injuries.
I guess Ed Drossman has season tickets to the Knicks games, he must have enjoyed all the free food and drink last night during Isiah’s swan song. I actually had a dream I was there last night (could have been there in reality, but I chose not to) but I am glad I wasn’t, because it wasn’t much of a basketball game in terms of competition. For the sake of ping pong balls, however, I’m glad they lost; also Nate did hit quite a few rainbow outside shots, but overall, not much to see other than that.
These days in Knickland, we have relatively little to look forward to in upcoming weeks. At a time when 16 teams’ fans are eagerly anticipating their first round matches, for knicks fans, there is the draft, hopefully that will work out (remember that the Rockets won 28 games when they landed that first pick in the lottery used to nab Yao Ming) and also Donnie Walsh’s upcoming announcement on Isiah Thomas’ fate, which could come literally hours after the last game of the season is played.
The playoffs are going to be very interesting this season. I heard someone say last night that any of the 8 teams that are going to make it in the West each have a legit chance of winning it all. And then in the East, you’ve got cocky, outspoken Gilbert Arenas publically asking for LeBron and the Cavs in the the first round–I hope Arenas gets what he asks for in this case, and then some…
A good summer for the Knicks would be the landing of Artest and D. Rose in orange and blue, a bad summer would be the 8th pick and another contract extension for Isiah, while a great summer would have Jim Dolan suddenly deciding to sell the team to a competent owner.
For now, I’ll settle with Walsh taking 95% of Isiah Thomas’ power. It is a start!
39 Responses to “One Game ’til the Lottery”
BRAVO Knicks D for adding Knicks Fanatics to your blog roll. Well Done and I am very glad to hear you are doing well.
Peace and Blessings
By Lives In New Jersey, Loves New York on Apr 15, 2008 at 7:37 pm
Oh, BTW, I predict that Isiah is the coach next year. (Just Blogging unless I’m right).
By Lives In New Jersey, Loves New York on Apr 15, 2008 at 7:38 pm
KnicksD
Good to see you still posting and toasting with this recent bit.
I’m also glad you add Knicksfanatics to your blog roll. They have a link to your blog as well. Detent and mutual respect is a good road to travel in healing old wounds, misunderstandings and the like.
I was very much also being a tease with the Isiah Bashing bit. You’ll note that I said “LOL,” in a good humor gesture.
Anyways did you check out that bit on ESPN 1050 pod center. The bit by Checketts on Isiah Thomas?
As a Knick fan if Thomas’s ouster is followed by the development of the talent available the smart and selective acquisitions of players that fit a coherent and reasonable rebuilding plan, and eventually winning and championship calibur basketball, then that’ll be splendid. If he stays and they do that also with him in a lesser role, that’s ok with me also.
Perhaps I’m gullible but when I see a person I could relate too, in terms of urban upringing get mud thrown all over him, deservedly at times but with too much vitriolic zeal for my taste, then I have to feel for Isiah.
Sure he’ll be ok selling popcorn but will he ever be able to resurrect any hope of launching any sort of succesful career in NBA mgt afterwards? That is what sours me on the overgorging on Isiah carnage.
We’ll see what the future holds. Hope that injury is just a “sprain” I was starting to like the thought of developing Chandler into the teams 3 going foward.
By Orange and Blue on Apr 15, 2008 at 8:21 pm
O&B:
In New York, it comes with the territory. they weren’t at all kind to Layden either. And these are the same media people that ran Ewing out of town, and I never forgave them (Isola&company) for that. isiah knew this before he took the job. it is supposedly the same reason phil jackson didn’t take the coaching job.
Isiah stepped up to the plate, but he didn’t get us back to the playoffs in four years. he’s going to get paid either way, and Chuck Daly believes he’ll land on his feet either way, so his post-knick future, whenever that may be, will most probably be more than co-owning a gourmet popcorn company.
By knicksdefense on Apr 15, 2008 at 8:54 pm
last year’s lottery was towards the end of may, so we may have to wait another month before we know where we’ll be selecting in june’s draft.
By knicksdefense on Apr 16, 2008 at 2:31 am
Who runs Knick Fanatics ?
By JohnQ on Apr 16, 2008 at 9:32 am
There was a lot of free food, ate a lot, and got boxes of M&M’s on thew way out (people who share my office space enjoyed the M&M’s), but generally the food wasn’t good. They didn’t have my favorite grilled chicken sandwich at Ranch one, only chicken fingers.
But, the free food doesn’t make up for the years with Thomas.
By edward drossman on Apr 16, 2008 at 9:58 am
African, statesman, peaceman, and “Be A Real Fan” are the knicks fanatics blog.
last game of the season tonight is against the pacers. multiple layers of irony for that one.
will isiah one-up next town brown’s 23-win season in gotham? does that prove he’s a better coach than brown, who has had one less year than isiah coaching the knicks to 23 wins?
besides lottery balls, does it really matter?
there was nearly consensus two years ago that brown was tanking games to overthrow isiah’s power.
and yet here were are again with 23 wins on the season, possibly 24.
if it means d rose or beasley, then it will be a great consolation prize to not making the playoffs since the early 2000’s.
2008 time to set the record straight. the knicks belong in the playoffs with the rest of them. how long will it take go get back there? Donnie walsh better have the answer to that one.
By knicksdefense on Apr 16, 2008 at 10:13 am
does that prove he’s a better coach than brown, who has had one less year than isiah coaching the knicks to 23 wins?
No it doesn’t. Brown’s a hall of fame coach. Thomas is a complete failure as a coach. It just proves that both of them did terrible jobs while coaching the Knicks.
By edward drossman on Apr 16, 2008 at 11:08 am
Who cares where African, statesman and peaceman are? They aren’t real Knicks fans anyway, they’re just Thomas fans and worship the ground he walks on.
By edward drossman on Apr 16, 2008 at 11:10 am
writeup for tonight’s game, against the Pacers. Last game of the heavily disappointing 2007-2008 year. disappointing for a knicks fan, but if you look at the survey on the link, you’ll note that they’re only the third or fourth most disappointing team in the league, despite the 23-wins. people like Rick Kamla were expecting the knicks to suck this season, and they were right, and we were wrong.
By knicksdefense on Apr 16, 2008 at 12:02 pm
We were all VERY wrong. I actually thought that they would have 40+ wins and squeeze into the playoffs in the 7th or 8th spot. sigh. Now I’ll be sitting there w/ every good luck symbol that I own, rooting for the 1st or 2nd pick.
If not Rose or Beasley, who do you guys think the Knicks should pursue ???
By JohnQ on Apr 16, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Today in the NY Post, Donnie Walsh said that Wilson Chandler will start in place of Q. That would be a very good move. I would try and buy Q out and if we can’t then play him behind Chandler and Balkman. So in essence he would be third on the depth chart at SF.
Also in that same article, it was brought up that Eddy Curry would not approve of Scott Skiles as coach. My question is who cares if Eddy Curry doesn’t want Skiles here? Curry isn’t a important piece of the Knicks any way.
By edward drossman on Apr 16, 2008 at 1:11 pm
I just went over to Fanatics just to look around. Its those 4 guys jerkin’ each other off and saying how great it is to have freedom sans Defense.
I’ll miss BARF (he was good most of the time) and States (he had some great points) but I won’t miss those other 2 for a second. Less BS and more basketball.
By JohnQ on Apr 16, 2008 at 1:13 pm
the force md’s had the skinny on the lottery kids, johnq. they’re all still around here somewhere.
if we don’t get either of those two can’t miss players, I’d hope we take a big guy that can and will block shots. maybe Brook Lopez, maybe DeAndre Jordan fits the bill. we’ll see where we pick.
nbadraft.net has been my home away from home these past four years at this time, because, let’s face it, we haven’t had any playoff basketball to talk of in New York in many years.
By knicksdefense on Apr 16, 2008 at 1:28 pm
KD,
This is actually been the 1st season that I have refused free tixx. And to think I almost bought a plan. After the C’s preseason game, I almost jumped the gun. Thank god I came to my senses.
By JohnQ on Apr 16, 2008 at 1:30 pm
@ John Q..
They’ll probably wind up with picks for 4 - 6. If they draft on needs, they should probably select a skilled big…Love or Lopez comes to mind. However, if they draft the best available player, they might go with OJ Mayo, for D. Rose and Beasley will be long gone.
By Bronxboy in Md on Apr 16, 2008 at 1:38 pm
If Knicks’ management were smart, if they didn’t get a top five pick, I would trade down to get a mid-late first round pick, and try to bait em’ into throwing in a early second-round pick.
Who owns a mid - late first round and early second round pick?
By Bronxboy in Md on Apr 16, 2008 at 1:50 pm
“Today in the NY Post, Donnie Walsh said that Wilson Chandler will start in place of Q. ”
I would have honestly made that decision in november. honestly, i was writing that in early november the way Q was shooting 25% from the field at the time. plus, you couldn’t slide a phone book underneath his feet with the limited hops he displayed early into the season.
“They didn’t have my favorite grilled chicken sandwich at Ranch one, only chicken fingers.”
my favorite madison square garden treats:
1. cotton candy, gotta have it
2. the msg knish. with mustard.
first year isiah coached the knicks i basically was there every night.
this season, i wasn’t certain it would be worth the huge investment…
By knicksdefense on Apr 16, 2008 at 3:24 pm
had we not got blown out by boston by 50 in the preseason (the game I drove up to boston to witness first-hand) i probably would have bought all those home game tix…
that game was an omen of bad things to come.
By knicksdefense on Apr 16, 2008 at 3:27 pm
KD,
exactly. It was a week of big highs followed by big lows. The 50 point loss was what changed my mind.
By JohnQ on Apr 16, 2008 at 3:41 pm
KD, I too want Brook Lopez. I mentioned him personally to Marc Berman. He is better than Kevin Love. I like Love too but Lopez plays with a chip. This kid has a nasty disposition and won’t back down. Listen to what I am about to say, he will make the Garden forget David Lee. This Kid has more upside in my opinion than Beasley. He blocks shots, runs the floor, can put it on the deck, hit the trey and post you up. Many East Coast heads don’t know about this kid but the real scouts and ballers do. What how this kid becomes a top 3 pick. You heard it first.
By Vic Corbit on Apr 16, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Knicks defense agreed 100%, in fact I made the same statement.
Q is done as is Jared, Jerome James and Marbury.
I was going to get the
hot dog knish but it wasn’t on the menu for thatr game.
By edward drossman on Apr 16, 2008 at 4:56 pm
They took lots of good stuff off the menu for that game.
By edward drossman on Apr 16, 2008 at 4:58 pm
Vicbit
if we don’t get “lucky” with the 1 or 2 pick then your Idea of going for brook lopez sounds very feasible.
Curry is likely on the trading blocks, and we need a presence in the post.
By Orange and Blue on Apr 16, 2008 at 5:09 pm
No one wants Curry.
By edward drossman on Apr 16, 2008 at 5:21 pm
you know who would make a good combo with eddy curry?
tyson chandler.
just kidding.
By knicksdefense on Apr 16, 2008 at 5:51 pm
i enjoy hearing that championship back court call the games together. with clyde and pearl, i can put up with mike breen.
Mike D heating up against the knicks again tonight…
By knicksdefense on Apr 16, 2008 at 8:09 pm
it really seems to me that whoever is directing the broadcast of the MSG game tonight is very often zooming in closeups of Isiah Thomas’ grill.
and then they cut over to walsh.
sometimes they even show the game, but right now they’re really trying to paint the good guy/bad guy contrast.
MSG is being blatant about it. Isiah is done. i’m 99% sure of that now.
By knicksdefense on Apr 16, 2008 at 8:14 pm
they’re kicking around two head coaching names.
Scott Skiles–obviously has beef with eddy curry, maybe even j-chuck.
Mark Jackson–walsh brought him to indy.
By knicksdefense on Apr 16, 2008 at 8:17 pm
NBA draft lottery is on may 20th.
By knicksdefense on Apr 16, 2008 at 8:17 pm
breen and clyde both think the knicks should aim for derrick rose if he is available.
pearl feels differently. he thinks stephon can be the guy next year for the knicks.
By knicksdefense on Apr 16, 2008 at 8:20 pm
“zach randolph, david lee and eddy curry. now that is a formidable front line. do you HEAR that boston? formidable? do you KNOW what that word means?”
paid actors.
By knicksdefense on Apr 16, 2008 at 10:20 pm
@ Knicks D, #32..
Whether Pearl is correct or not, Steph is gonna be our man next year on default, because Rose ain’t happenin’ unless we either get lucky or trade up.
Let’s just hope that a rejuevenated, clear-headed Steph shows up next season. I know I’m reachin’ on the second part of that request.
By Bronxboy in Md on Apr 16, 2008 at 10:44 pm
Bronx,
Not a bad idea in theory, but that kind of higher-pick-for-a-multitude-of-lower-picks things generally flies only in the NFL, where there are several more rounds, and many more players to be drafted (befitting a roster 4 times the size of a NBA team’s). The first question another team would ask is, Who are we going to draft with that #5-6 pick? Now, pair the pick with a player, maybe, and we could start talking…that might be a way to get teams to look much harder at Zach or Eddy.
KD, where did that Eddy, Zach & Lee quote come from? Seriously? That could be the worst defensive front line in NBA history (especially since Lee would be forced to guard 3s).
By Mike on Apr 16, 2008 at 11:31 pm
BX, I’m with you on that. clyde and pearl also said it is about humbling yourself after your star status has begun to fade, so if steph can do that, 2/3 of the battle has already been accomplished.
Mike, that was a MSG tv commercial they were heavily airing during this past preseason, and until about the end of december.
don’t believe the hype indeed.
i bet it is on youtube somewheres. check back later i might find it.
By knicksdefense on Apr 17, 2008 at 7:03 am
Fine Print Warning: This is a “SLAP” (Silly Long Ass Post). The only reason I warn you that this is a SLAP is because there is the potential that the realism in this post is taken very seriously. What follows is a dramatized account of the events that could be transpiring at this very moment. All resemblances to the truth and real characters is a mere coincidence and the result of high quality, fully constitutional, FBI-regulated, CIA-grade spy technology.
NOT SO FINE PRINT: This is a serial post which will be updated until all 5 parts are published by the author. I am trying to finish this piece before Donnie Walsh fires Isiah Thomas as reported by media folks as diverse as Isiah-hater Frank Isola and the MSG team of Legend Clyde Frazier, Earl “The Pearl” Monroe and Mike Breen. I also hope to finish before the blog “Trial of the Century” tonight during which Isiah will be tried for alleged atrocities against Knick Nation. Isiah’s defense team will try to show us why Isiah is allegedly one of the best GM’s in Knick history and why he should be retained as coach to finish the job.
EXIT, THIS WAY OUT PART I
Somewhere in the bowels of the Knicks’ practice facility at SUNY Purchase a few of the Knicks players have gathered to say the goodbyes they did not share after the last home game. A few of the guys are also around for their “Exit Interviews” with Donnie Walsh. The laughter in the facility locker room was raucous. There was little sign that the players had taken part in one of the worst seasons in Knicks’ history. The mood was light and the emotional temperature in the room was a cool “It is what it is.” Even Jerome James felt like he had done his job as he joked around with Eddie Curry and Malik Rose.
At about 10:30am, a young man in bleached jeans and blue sweater entered the room and said “Mr. Walsh is ready to start the interviews.” Nate Robinson shouted “Who are you? I’ve never seen you before.” The man grinned and replied, “I am one of Donnie Walsh’s people. You know. One of his peeps they keep reporting about in the Daily News and the New York Post.” Everyone laughed. Jamal, in that steady soft spoken voice said, “Yeah, even the janitor has peeps these days.” Zach chimed in, “I can’t wait until they start reporting that Donnie’s posse is bigger than mine ever was.”
As the laughter died down, the man in bleached jeans told the players that Mr. Walsh had an interview order but since neither Steph nor Renaldo were there yet, Mr. Walsh would take whoever wanted to go first. After that announcement, Jerome James and Malik Rose ran out the room and down the hall faster than anyone had ever seen them during their careers. Jerome, reconstructed foot and all, won the race to Donnie’s door as he elbowed Rose in the head to gain the advantage.
The 7′1″ Jerome bent over and stepped in the room as Rose was rubbing his forehead like a genii’s lamp. A casually dressed Donnie was standing inside the room near the door when James came in. Walsh extended his hands before offering the tall Knick bench center-piece a seat and some coffee. Jerome noticed the room was nothing special. In fact, it almost looked like the interrogation room on CSI:Miami. There was a long table and chairs and blank white walls. Some bookshelves and no window.
James sat and the interview began.
Walsh: Tough year, huh?
James: Not really. I did my thing. Worked hard, made a little money. They should have played me more though.
Walsh: Are you ready to play?
James: Sure thing. I’ve been ready most of the season. But I don’t think I’m part of the plans here. Age discrimination, I think. Just kidding. You’ve already had more than enough lawsuits. . . But, HOW do you see me?
Walsh: Well, quite frankly as a $6.6 million contract.
James: Yeah I understand. This is a business.
Walsh: Yes, you’ve been in it for almost 10 years. Why was this year so bad for the Knicks?
James: I don’t really know man. I don’t pay attention to negative stuff like that. You know these cats are young and they don’t understand how blessed they are and how fleeting life is. I just don’t get involved in that mess. I’ve been taking care of my feet and getting ready for somebody to call my name.
Walsh: What are you doing this summer?
James: Waiting for you to call my name about the team you’re trading me to. My contract is very tradeable next year.
Walsh: I’ll see what we can do.
James: Before I go and since I am the first one in here, can you tell me when you are firing Zeke?
Walsh: You think he should be fired?
James: No, not necessarily. I just wanted to be the one to sell the story to the National Enquirer. I could use the extra cash.
Walsh: That was a joke right.
James: Sure, if you want it to be. . . . I’ll hear from you this summer right.
Walsh: Absolutely. We’ll be checking on your exercise regimen. Thanks for coming in.
James: No problem. See ya, wouldn’t want to be ya. Just kidding.
Part II Coming As Soon As Possible. Unlike Jerome James, I Gotta Work For Real Today.
By Lives In New Jersey, Loves New York on Apr 17, 2008 at 7:07 am
Huh, I watched some games, but caught more by radio…guess I missed that particular promo. I’d've spit my food out or sucked my drink up my nose if I’d heard that one while I was having dinner.
By Mike on Apr 17, 2008 at 8:49 am
gotta love youtube.
by the way, who has the best front line in the nba?
i’m voting for the magic
rashard lewis
hedo turkoglu
dwight howard
each are 20 point scorers, each are great team basketball players. there might be a better front line out there, but i can’t think of it off the top.
By knicksdefense on Apr 17, 2008 at 9:39 am