After shooting the lights out in the first summer league game, the Knicks have signed Anthony Roberson to a two-year deal believed to be worth the league minimum. Good for Roberson. He looked like Starks a little bit out there with the bombs from downtown. I wonder if he and David Lee played together at all at University of Florida.
Initially shot down by Donnie Walsh in their efforts to get Zach Randolph for salary cap space, the L.A. Clippers went out and pulled the trigger on their second choice for Elton Brand’s replacement, the defensive 4/5 Marcus Camby. Denver took the cap space the Knicks would not. One less team we can trade Zach Randolph to if we are still looking to do that.
I’m not trying to second guess the summer league coaching staff, but if I were for some reason the coach yesterday, I would not have played Gallinari while Robert “Tractor” Traylor was in the game. Traylor comes from a line of NBA players with histories of creating chronic injury where there wasn’t any previously. Karl Malone is another guy that comes to mind.
Tracy McGrady basically was an entirely different player before Traylor tackled him in the air many years ago. Now McGrady has chronic back problems that have limited his ability to get to the rack.
You might say that’s the NBA, and Gallinari should get used to it, and I don’t think Gallinari backed down from Traylor. Gallinari is going to fill out in the years to come, but I think there is nothing to gain putting those two against each other right now, one has a future in this league and the other is just trying to get back in.
Wilson Chandler looked absolutely great in the first game, looking forward to seeing more from our “baby matrix” maybe he’ll earn his own knickname in orange and blue this season. Glad to see he still has his hops and a steady jumpshot from the top of the key.
Nate Robinson is supposed to join the summer league team today, no word yet on if he will be the starting PG for this afternoon’s contest against the Spurs.
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@LIVES,
One more things, AFRICAN was right when he said Chemistry was an issue. In my expereinces, Leadership is responsible for creating the envrions for Chemistry. In this instance, the coach and the players that assume that role must build that chemistry and demand accountability from within…(NEW YORK GIANTS ARE AN EXAMPLE)
When you review IT’S history, he was a LEADER on those Piston Championship teams, but he did not always lead them the right way. The Bulls incident is a classic example and the Dantley scenario is another. Now, JDUMARS was also a very quiet Leader on those same teams, and his Leadership ability is reflected in the success of the team he represents.
Great Leaders build and create more Leaders! You know the deal my Brudder!
ONE LOVE!
Keep it POPPIN!
Good back and forth on both sides of the Knickindyblogosphere with major contributions by Lives, Cooley, Peaceman et al.
I’ve found myself pinched for time this weekend but hope to read a thread or two sometime soon.
Latez!
OBTW
Does anyone think we can get live game time blogging at a neutral website for the upcoming Knickseason? We might not be a playoff team and we are as some say “a work in progress” but there are some exciting players showing their game in Summer League who I hope have a chance to shine also in the regular season.
Latez!
Did anyone notice how Alan at Knicksfix put up a thread speculating on the questionable source leaking the information on why the Knick Clippers trade didn’t go down.
Seems like Alan read DLT and my convo on that topic.
The MSM reads us, to me that means a lil respect goes our way.
Whats up guys?
very good convo indeed.
d.j. augustin is nowhere in sight thus far for the summer league game today.
chandler is however, tearing it up (love those spin moves and the kiss off the glass) and from everything I heard D’Anotoni say yesterday, I have to believe Wilson is getting major consideration to start come november over the likes of Q-rich.
Gallinari and Chandler do different things on the court, I think they could compliment each other nicely and we saw a glimpse of that in the fourth quarter of the game in which they played together.
The quintessential inside outside, chandler can get to the rack, gallinari the guy on the other wing if we swing the ball around on a double.
D’antoni made a great joke yesterday about Robeson, saying “guy didn’t miss a shot in the first five practices, then we started talking to him about signing him, and he hasn’t made a shot since.”
hey harlem, who was ever rooting against mardy? afaik we all want mardy to do well, want all our knicks to do well. if anything, the man you want back in nyc was the only one keeping these players on the pine like collins and chandler, preventing them from developing during a 23-win season.
mardy just hit a three point play.
they’re talking to duhon right now.
second game nate has played in, and it looks as bad as the first one currently 87-59 with five and change to go in the fourth.
chandler is on the pine.
nate just followed suit.
Love: Not Leaving Las Vegas Just Yet
By Jerry Zgoda
Kevin Love’s relentless summer-league play has impressed more than the scouts sitting courtside: USA Basketball on Saturday selected him as one of two final players picked for a young select team that will practice and scrimmage against the U.S. Olympic team in Las Vegas this coming week.
Love and Robin Lopez join O.J. Mayo, Derrick Rose, Rodney Stuckey, LaMarcus Aldridge, Kevin Durant, Jeff Green, Luther Head, Al Horford, Andre Iguodala and Kevin Martin on a 12-man team that begins four days of training against the Olympians on Monday. Oklahoma City’s P.J. Carlesimo will coach that team.
Love leads the Vegas summer league in rebounding with a 15 a game and is seventh in scoring (20.7 PPG, 45.1 percent) shooting entering tonight’s game against Milwaukee. The Wolves conclude summer league on Sunday afternoon against New York.
I have no problem with D.G. except he is not Kobe, he will not be ready for years, yes YEARS, if ever.And that is only on the offensive side.Check out Dirk’s and Kukoc’s defense.Don’t know why D’Antoni’s talking about D.He has none.What bothers me is his ignoring Mr.Love, who is NBA ready and has a huge upside.Trading Lee with Love in the pocket would have made sense.Potential may make sense for a team that has a core to add to.If Eddie doesn’t come around we’re looking at a death march.Remember this is a team that doesn’t rebound, turns the ball over, doesn’t rebound or block shots.And I like these guys.That’s a lot to blame on chemistry.I like D’Antoni’s and Walsh’s attitude so far, but don’t pee on my leg and then tell me it’s raining.I hope they are a lot smarter than me.Roberson can play a little, but he’s been in the league for 3 years.He’s bench help, that’s it.When D’Antoni sets his rotation he rarely goes eight deep.James Jones could shoot and never got off the Sun’s bench.Watching these summer games hurts my eyes, and makes my heart heavy.These guys are rookies and scrubs.The play here doesn’t translate in any way to regular season play.I hope you know who is a Knick fan!We need Him.Enjoy your summer!LGK
TMAN, so right, I’ll co-sign it twice.
My brother I hope you and the family are doing very well. It is very good to read you. I am trying to get through “Seven Seconds or Less” to get a better understanding of D’Antoni and you hit it right on the head. I look forward to hearing more from you as we _______________ (pick a word, I couldn’t think of one) our way through this upcoming season.
Good AM Defenders!
I pray all have a Blessed Sunday and spend quality time with the People you Love the Most.
I had a great time at breakfast with our AWOL Defender STEADY AS IT GOES…He is well, the Family is well, and he is still one of the Sharpest Knives in this Threads drawer. He is STEADY and Remains so, and he looks forward to the new season, despite all of the BS and the hyperactive seeds many are posting around the sphere. We were crackin up!
As I told him earlier, I have been amazed at the hysteria surrounding our TEAM and extremely disappointed in the negativity from so many so called Fans that may possibly be phantoms. This penchant for Summer League thinking is quite amusing. Can anybody tell me what Rookie in the 2008 season outside of Durant turned their stellar play in Summer League into something substative during the season other than Durant. Can anyone name five players that performed at a high level at last year’s Summer League, and subsequently made major impacts on their respective teams this season; and please back up your contentions with facts and not conjecture. I’ll be waiting!
@TMAN, you know I’ve got nothing but Love and Respect for you Bro, but we were talking about KLOVE and RWESTBROOK bakcin December when most of you on this thread didi’t even know who they were. It surely would have been nice to have drafted one of them if not both, but that was never going to happen. I have always statedi think both youngins will have decent careers, but it will take awhile. All this Bayless, Greene, Speights, Randolph chatter cracks me up. Holla at me at the end of the upcoming season and If I’m wrong I’m MAN emough to admit it, but I’m confident the muzzle affect will apply. You always take proven NBA talent over Potential if you plan on winning. This Supersized SUMMER lEAGUE CHATTER has been very enlightening.
Lastly, can anybody name players on D”Antoni’s former Phoenix roster that joined his team during their run whose games expanded under his tutelage and why…I’m just a former BBALLER that has a mind of a three year old and somethimgs have to be explained in more detailed to me…Can any Defender help this Ole Sorry Brudder out? I’m soliciting assistance…Please come to my aid…
Lastly, I pose this question. Are the MOVES and TRANSACTIONS we are witnessing by our Knicks, are they Walsh’s moves or are they Isiah’s Moves…Is Walsh all PR? ANd,is IT still the Braintrust on Talent and Team Direction… I am very interested in the reviewing Defender’s responses…
As always I have nothing but ONE LOVE for my DEFENDER BRETHREN AND SISTERS…
Keep it POPPIN!
I’ll give you a hint on those High Flying Rooks: Rodney Stuckey, Al Horford, and ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
ONE LOVE!
Keep it POPPIN!
Greetings and salutations to all the Lovers of life, the game and what it represents to you.Special greetings to our brothers Lives and Cooleyhigh!Always a decided pleasure to be uplifted by your prose.My last word on Mr. Love.Then I’m done, unless, of course, he becomes a monster!We picked at 7.He went at 6.We made no effort that I could see to get him.That pissed me off!But that’s over and I’ll stand behind our version of young Rambo, the Italian Scallion, oops! Stallion.Being a Knick lover will make you patient, if nothing else.As for Westbrook, nice player on the defensive side, didn’t impress me that much offensively.I didn’t covet him.As for who jumped on bandwagons for whom, there is a record if it matters to you, but who really cares?
As to the question of who has D’Antoni developed, that’s an interesting one.What came first the chicken or Steve Nash?Certainly whoever made that trade and those who had major input deserve much kudos.Below are some of the awards beyond improving scoring and playoff runs, etc.under D’Antoni’s & staff’s tutalege.
Steve Nash – two times NBA MVP.It don’t get any better individually!
Amare Stoudemire-2003 Rookie of the Year-3XAll Star
Sean Marion-4XAll Star
Boris Diaw-2005-6 NBA most improved player award
Leandro Barbosa- 2006-7 NBA 6th man award
Raja Bell- went through Phil.-Dallas-Utah before becoming a force in Phoenix
Who has D’Antoni and staff developed?Did Phil Jackson develop MJ?Who gets credit for Kobe?Nash was a great player getting older in Dallas.Certainly Mike was smart enough to at least get out of his way in Phoenix,if not more.I will be more than happy if this team in transition comes out with the right competitive attitude.We can agree to disagree about some personnel moves.What I’m holding Mike and Mr. Walsh to is that it’s not business as usual.If Mr.s Walsh and D’Antoni are 100% in charge it will be pretty evident early in the season.Inshallah, & LGK
@TMAN, Greetings and Salutations My Good Brother. Just curious, how did your nephew enjoy Hampton Univ. this year? We Pirates stick together, and the NETWORK is huge, so if I can ever be of service, don’t hesitate to ring my bell…Also, TMAN, I wasn’t calling you out, during the college season me and Bronx went back and forth a bit about KLOVE and his skills. He was LIVE during the HS All-Star games, and he surpassed the buzz that was swirling around him in HS because of his pedigree. I’m familiar only because the Kid is Wes Unseld’s Godson, and Wes’s son Mike who coahes with the Wiz was alw2ays chatting him up. I’m with you on this, if I was the GM I would have drafted him, because I said awhile back he reminded me of DaveDEBUSH…That say is ALL to me anyway…
Lastly I was hoping you or any other Defender would answer the series of questions to really start a narrative on who is actually pulling the strings…I maintain that Zeke is still pulling the lever behind the scenes and has played his role due to my findings on my Scriptology Crystal Ball…As STEADY would say, the LiL General aided the Big General, and the Corp. Players in reducing the dfallout fromthe Gambling Scandal.
Your answers are D’Antoni were ROCK ON, and we’re both sensible enough to know that D’Antoni was not totally responsible for their total success, but his style of play and his coaching and his TEAM (TOGETHER EVERYONE ACHIEVES MORE) management have been quite impressive debunk a NBA Championship. For that reason, I would like to see what will occur with the pieces we’ve added ot will add, and the pieces left on the current roster. All of my connects (Michael Wilbon being the primary) tell me that this Kat has this uncanny ability of making the pieces fit, work harder, and build the kind of cohesion that breeds success. So I’m in an acute Holding Pattern until the season beigins…
Finally the ROOK SNOOK is basically Top Shelf Reality, cause proven talent usually understands the rigors of the PRO game and what it takes to prosper in it. Of course, like anything else there are exceptions…LOL LOL You know TMAN, I don’t take to much of this stuff or myself too seriously, cause in the end as I always say, I cannot and will not contribute to the final outcome…I’m A Lounge Chair Sports Prophet/Prognositicator from way back…I got some bulshyte trophys…LOL LOL LOL LOL Fruitful Engagement and the Avoidance of Negative Persuasion is always my motto…As always TMAN, it is great reading your posts…Mucho Repsect & Adniration….
ONE LOVE!
Keep it POPPIN!
O&B,
Why doesn’t anyone mention Collins?They skipped over him right to Roberson
“In addition, there is a case to be made for keeping Steph around for one more season. Duhon has been a steady player thus far in his young career, but hasn’t shown he is ready to play heavy minutes as a starting point guard. And while Anthony Roberson had a few nice summer league practices, he has had little more than a cup of coffee in the NBA. Jamal Crawford and Nate Robinson can play PG if need be, but they are both better suited playing off the ball, a role they both should excel at under new coach Mike D’Antoni.”-Tommy Beer,Hoopsworld
Article
Sorry O&B
They do mention him in article.
“And with the signing of Anthony Roberson, the Knicks now have 16 guaranteed contracts on the books. This means that they will be forced to cut at least one play prior to the start of the season. While Jerome James and Mardy Collins are two possible candidates to get canned, Marbury remains the odds-on favorite.”
This article should be entitled, “Berman has Gallinari doubts,” instead of “Knicks have Gallinari Doubts.” No substance, Marc.
hey fellas,
don’t take the shouting to heart. just a frustrated knick fan letting off steam.
no true ill will against walsh either. just wanted to allocate the “hate” that’s been happening to knick management for the past 3 years.
i don’t care if the clips wanted 2 first-rounders: to get away from Randolph’s $48 mil, MAKE THE DEAL. I would have given them 2 first rounders and Randolph. our plan is to get under the cap. it’s not going to happen easily.
who cares about 1st rounders in NY anyway? when is the last time we had a great pick in the 1st round (excluding the Patrick Ewing layup)? We might as well give them away, and do what we do best: signing stars in the prime of their career at a maximum rate.
If there was even a conversation with the clips about Randolph, Walsh should have not let elgin baylor hang up the telephone.
WOw,
Looking at history Harlem brings up a very good point. When was the last great Knick first round draft pick?
Even Going way back in history Knicks have had very limited success via draft. Willis Reed was a second round pick to Jim Bad News Barnes. Bill Bradley,Cazzie Russell and Walt Frazier were great first round picks. To Me Ray Williams and Sugar Ray Richardson were good ones though Sugar’s issues diminished his output. CArtwright wasn’t bad until he got hurt.
Ewing was a no brainer. Mark Jackson and Rod Strickland were good ones also.
I can’t remember anyone of consequence since Jackson and Strickland. Many of our key players came via trade or free agency. Bellamy, BArnett, Debusschere, Monroe, King, Houston, Sprewell,Camby, This is looking back 30 or 40 years and if these are the only first round picks we got right then what does that say?
Damn knee’s injured too many knicks
http://www.memoram.com/kenny_sky_walker_slam_dunks.htm
What’s up Kevin and all other cuzins!Nice to see the blood pumpin’for the love of the game.I like your last point.There’s a lot more luck than brains that goes into drafting.Proof is you have guys like Dick McGuire who has been around the Knicks forever, along with Holzman, who headed up the scouting, coaching and drafting for the Knicks over so many years, and struck out so many more times than got a hit.Reed, arguably the best Knick ever was a 2nd round pick to Barnes who was out of the league in 6,7 years.Another interesting question would be to make a list of guys picked #1 by their teams and were predicted to be SUPERSTARS, who then became SUPERSTARS!You might be very surprised at how few there are.Some guys surprised their management as much as themselves and their fans.Case in point,Bill Russell,MJ, Dr. J, Earl,Kobe and practically everyone else we call a superstar.Let’s see now, who was projected SUPERSTAR and lived up to it from day one!Got to start with Wilt, probably the most underrated big man ever.There’s Oscar, the one and only.Shaq certainly did his thing!Jabbar, without a doubt, 2nd most underrated center ever.Duncan, nah, something seems to be missing.I guess that about does it for me.Help me out here?Remember, he had to be the Man, from Day One, and drafted as such.That let’s out Kobe,traded,West, warmed the bench for half a season,and Russell traded by draft rights to a genius(?)Auerbach who admitted he had no idea how good Russell could be.The point is aside from a few obvious SUPERSTARS drafting is an educated crapshoot.You need a certain amount of luck.Case in point.I like Ode(i)n, the Portland center a whole lot.He could be the next ONE.Would I bet my first born?Puhleeze!GM’s can put together good teams.Only Destiny can give you the piece you need to be great!IE.The C”s weren’t a great team, but Ainge did put together a very good team.Is Garnett a SUPRSTAR of the first order?Love the guy, but he needed to much help,Minny is case in point.It’s been great shooting hoopshyte with y’all.One luv, LGK
PS.
Mr. Cooley, you know it is always all good.Love your stuff!My nephew is graduating Hampton this spring.Thanks for the support!His mom and dad need it more than me!
Mr Lives,I ate at PJ’s the other day, pretty good.Dropped a niece at P.Enjoy your summer and come back with your plume invigorated.
Mr.H.It’s all better than good.W is touring in Cali.God is Good!All the time!
Cousins, it’s hot up in here.Write on, write on.Every little bit helps us chill.LGK once again.
Now Tman, you know I am very disappointed that your were in the hood and didn’t scream at me across 27. Next time you are around let me know, please. It would be my honor to treat you to Carousel which is better than the overhyped PJ, although it is minus PJ’s sense of history. I hope your neice enjoys the joint and I use that term with fond prison-like memories. Just kiddin’. Usually when the kids come into town they don’t need anything from us old foggies, except the knowledge that we are here, but if your neice is in need of some quick assistance, the family is right around the corner and if we can’t help, there is a 99% chance that we can find it. I know unc is proud of his families’ broods.
But, Mr. Philosopher, the next time you turn into our gateways and haven’t given me a ring, I will tell the boys (or gals) in Silver and Black (we don’t do blue) to pick you up and call me. LOL.
Peace, Love and Blessings.
Good PM Defenders!
I see all of the Master Blasters are peeking their heads in the door to drop a Lil Knowledge and to Fellowship… Now that’s what I’m talking about! I’m gearing up for the next GMAN RUN… Big first step today, getting rid of the Cancer…Shockey is a heck of a Tight-End, but his head is all over the place and it out weighs his gifts; and if life has taught US anything, it is that we are ALL REPLACEABLE….FORGETTABLE NAH!
Marucs WMS was traded to Golden State today… Now so long ago the MSM was blasted Zeke for not drafting this kat…Funny how the Tide or (for you soap opera loving brudders)the World Turns…
ONE LOVE GENTS!
Keep it POPPIN!
P. S. Our Beloved Knciks will probably have to do the same thing….
Wow. Money makes you, changes you, relaxes you, allows you to focus.
Arenas said the city of Washington embraced him. He said he was a “young hothead” when coming to town but now’s the time to focus more on doing his job and helping the Wizards get a shot at winning a championship.
“I do all the little things I do out there [and that] is going come to a halt,” Arenas said. “I just need to cut out some of the foolishness I do. I create hype but some of the other stuff, I know I’ve got to calm down.”
–AP
I was reading a lot of the earlier posts…Someone said Mardy is going to make us eat our words…I think that’s funny – Mardy is a certified BUM.
Unless you like super slow point guards who can’t shoot. Everyone calls him a “good defender” just because they feel bad for him. I haven’t seen him guard anybody. He doesn’t even dominate summer league – at least Nate and Chandler do that…I mean, they didn’t retire Mardy’s jersey like they did Nate’s. And Nate’s one step below a certified BUM and he got his jersey retired. But don’t worry, Nate is enrolled in BUM school and well on his way to gaining his certificate (i think he’s only a few credits shy)
Deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeefenders,
I agree with PC.Why else are we signing point guards(Duhon and Roberson)if Mardy can do the job?It’s not just us thinking this way.It looks like Walsh and D’Antoni think the same of Mardy.I haven’t seen this “great defensive player” everyone is talking about.I saw many quicker PG blow right pass him.As I said earlier,he has had 3 years to show us something,what are we waiting for…dump him,let’s move on.There is a thought on this blog,that we are NOT DEVELOPING our younger player.That’s not true!!N8 seems find,so does Lee and now Chandler.He may need to get released to wake up,cause he is not helping the Knicks.
Other players that need to go before the start of the season:
1)Marbury-The Knicks need a new attitude and Steph was the begining of the bad years.Plus,it seems that other Knicks and the management don’t want to work with him.He was Thomas’ first choice,and he needs to go to change the attitude.Buy him out,no team will trade 21 million dollars of their assets to get his expiring contract.
2)J.James-Hasn’t done anything since he has been in New York.Didn’t do that much in Seattle either.Talk him into a medical retirement.1 year 6 million expirng contract.
3)Malik Rose-He is a good person,great attitude.BUT,we need players the can run the floor.Malik is getting up in years and doesn’t seem to fit into the Knicks new plans.TRADE HIM,there has to be a few team that would like a 7 million expiring contract.OR,buy him out and let the contract expirer.We could use that spot for young talent.
4)Mardy Collins-3 years is long enough to see if he’s got game.Buy him out!He has 1 year left on his contract 1.034 million.Open a spot for some young talent.
5)Q-He’s not making 3′s any more and we have many players who can play the 3 spot.
Trade him.Make some team a good deal and get him out.2 years 8.6 million.
Don’t need to resign Jones(who I liked) or Morris(who I didn’t like).We may have to live with Zach and EC for now.
Roberson NOW a Knick
Good stuff DLT. I was wondering if they were still going to follow through with that signing considering Roberson’s waning field goal percentage as the summer league winded down.
Guys thanks for keeping the thread poppin’ with the excellent analysis we sometimes take for granted at Knicksdefense.com.
I look at some of the other Knicks blogs and some of them sound like babble to me, but I know I can come to knicksdefense and expect some perspective from a real knicks fan point of view, people that have clear ideas and know how to express them and I just want to thank you for blogging here.
yo if anyone sees steady (Lives, I think you said you were hangin’ with him recently) please tell him I said hello.
last decade, we had expectations of winning on a regular basis. remember how that felt? with Oak and Ewing and Starks and then a few years later with H20 and Spree and Camby. we didn’t win the title, but it felt pretty good to know we were going to win on most nights.
i don’t know if the newly installed brass will bring that kind of winning culture back to the garden, but I know for a fact that you all deserve it as the most die-hard of die-hards. it has been a long time since we were “king of the Hill” in the NBA and I only hope that we can start to take steps back towards winning the Atlantic Division and competing for a title. that’s the way it used to be, that’s the way it should be in New York.
Much respect to Lives In New Jersey, Loves New York, DLT Knicks, Orange and Blue, KnicksRealist, saipanknickster, JohnQ, George M., HarleminMD (been a while bruh), Bx in MD, Cooleyhigh, the entire Force MD squad, Tman, kevin Harewood, Pete, PC, and all the others I may have missed.
One love defenders. Hope we start to turn the tide in ’08-09.
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