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.
{ 75 comments… read them below or add one }
Interesting how in the Isiah Era too many players of one type became known as roster redundancy.
Are 6 gaurds on a team peaches and creams with Walsh?
Why keep Steph around with this many other gaurds. He’s not a leader, wasn’t the most team oriented, wasn’t their best shooter, and only played D on occassion.
Cummutively Collins, N8, Crawford, Duhon and Roberson would provide what his Stephness couldn’t.
A see a multi headed full court pressing pestering three ball shooting hydra.
Gosh that’s scary!
KnicksD
A guy like tractor traylor is a tragedy waiting to happen against another teams players. Man that big jumping in the air with his weight and gravity smashing into unsuspecting 3s-4s-5s scares me something awful.
I’m glad Nilo is resting today he needs R&R after having that anvil fall on him.
6 guards isn’t a crazy amount. You can have 3 players at every position. The roster size is 15. The problem is that the shooting guards are small.
There are too many small forwards: Jeffries, Balkman, Richardson, Gallinari, Chandler.
KR
I should have expressed that I presumed D’antoni might use Q as a 2 to cut down on the over abundance of 3s. Same for Jefferies being used as a 4/5 on a small quick lineup.
Hit us back.
He(Roberson)impressed me very much in the first game.I gave him an “A” along with Chandler.Good signing,fresh young talent.
Ready to release Steph,JJames and trade/waive Collins and Q.Collins just got pushed back 2 spots(Duhon & Roberson)in the rotation.
I’m really disappointed that the Nuggets,NOT THE KNICKS,got that cap space deal from LAC.Walsh was trying to play his cards,but they had other options(Camby & Denver).
Now how will he unload that contract?
Who has the cap space AND is in need of a black hole?
I’m for dumping James and Marbury.
But I am also for waiting out the crest and see how Collins responds to thsi second summer league session, now that he appears trim and fully healthy.
If Duhon doesn’t pan out or he opts not to resign with the team, developing Collins as Duhon’s understudy with the competent mentorship of D’antoni would be preferrable to just junking an inexpensive 1 with size, who appears to be working on his J and does get his share of assists and rebounds.
Roberson’s got a great J but gotta see more work on the assist side before I dub him Duhon’s understudy. If he is not a pure point he might be the situational spread the floor jump shooter that the Bulls and Spurs have enjoyed.
DLT, I know you think otherwise but this is my two cents bruh!
O&B
I hear you on Mardy…he looked better the other day with it appears to be all about confidence
last years yo-yoing and infighting plus the injury hurt Mardy’s confidence
and getting rid of Steph may help the morale and focus of the young ones
Roberson seems more like a Dell Curry(zone buster) type with a somewhat better handle
his shooting ability is a skill that will suit the quick motion passing game of M9ike D and a playoff slowdown style if you place him on the same side of the court as your low post threat(needs practiceon how and when to throw the entry pass)
I know many are disappointed that the Clips said “bump you” to the Knicks and went for Cambyman.
There is always gonna be differing opinions but I have a bit of faith in Walsh’s savvy and experience. As our ancestors knew we should remember “there is more than one way to skin a cat”.
I feel Walsh has other options likdeals with other teams(it’s still summer) if zach is still on the roster @ the start of the season he will put up his numbers and will be happier that Steph is gone(hopefully) and that Mike D(consistency and a players coach) is calling the shots instead of Zeke.
If we have to go that route Zach will have been rehabilitated even more(no off court issues this past season) thus his value would be more!!
The MSM and other GM’s are trying to play the zach scenario as a weakness for the Knicks… however i feel that Donnie W is dealing from a postition of strength
DLT if you drive JJ( larcenious one) to the airport
I’ll pay triple your gas plus tolls and a meal
I just read over on Hahn’s that Gallinari will not play for the rest of the summer league……………………..
Gallo AKA the Rooster may sit out the rest of the Vegas Summer run
That sucks.
cosign #11.
@Saipanknickster,
I got enough rope,hopefully won’t need the gun.Will need your help getting him in the van.
After we can split a Happy Meal!
Look at this Box Score,nobody shot good.
Roberson 4-13
Chandler 4-11
Collins 1-8
Robinson 2-10
Hope Roberson does lose his fire.
Saipan
getting a lil conspiracy to happy meal steal Snaxx out of Empire State.
I’ll joint in the it’ll take a couple of people to hold that behemoth down.
DLT and Saipan
The fact that no one shot well is something that will happen several times during the season. That is why defense is needed.
Lives pointed it out well.
Ball hogs get the highlight reels but ball hounds get the bounds, hustle plays, and necessary steals that keep teams in games when the guns aren’t firing like they should.
Holla back!
O&B,
On second thought,if you would just show Big Snaxx the Happy meal,he will follow you into the van and Saipan won’t have to use the gun.:-)
LMAO!
So your saying that Snaxx team loyalty is only as strong as his latest dig on a happy meal.
Super Size em I say!
O&B, KnicksD,
What should we do with Malik Rose?He’s in the last year of a 7 million dollar contract,great trade asset?He really doesn’t fit in this new system? Shouldn’t we trade him or release him. I know he is a good hearted person,but this is business.
also,He is too smart and won’t fall for that Happy Meal trick.
Does anyone have any news on Balkman’s ankle injury ?
O&B, DLT this is the plan we need two vans
One with a hottie in the back holding a liquor bottle(remember JJ’s New Years fine form LB?)
the 2nd with load of White Castles , with a trail of the meat drippings and onions leading up to the truck
He will definitely go for one of them while he’s distracted and decides which thrill he wants we slip the gun and rope in his pocket with a note(may be neede d later)
once he gets in either car have a recorder shout Jerome “it’s time for practice”
and he will lock himself in..
Hit the gas and head to the County of Queens
. .. if he presents problems at the airport yell the big dude’s got a gun
then the guys and gals in blue and white will nab him at the airport
find the weapons and the note that reads something anti establishment then in a wink
homie will be in GITMO till
Galinari’s garndchildren are born!!!!
Malik’s trade bait, I say!
Iam also cooking up another multi team hypo blockbuster.
You’ll see it out soon.
Yo Defenders,wazzuuuuuuuuuup!!! Hoopshype rumors has it that there are possible trades on the way. Read this:http://www.nypost.com/seven/07162008/sports/knicks/roberson_deal_could_be_end_for_marbury_120090.htm
George M. Long time, no read. Hope all is well in your parts.
Gentle Defenders, LMAO about the Big Snaxx kidnap plot. I bet Walsh would pay a ransom for us to keep him at Gitmo. He needs that spot and it would be cheaper than paying our all-time favorite freeloader. (Compare to Bernard King. No comparison).
I was about half an hour from getting my flight to Las Vegas and then I heard Kid G called it quits, so I changed my mind, but I’m making plans in advance to be there next year.
DLT, Malik is a tradeable asset, but his soon-to-be-on-the-shelf life is probably 52 weeks after the end of his contract. I’m only slightly surprised that his name is not being mentioned in trade rumor support groups, but where does he fit in the D’Antoni way. At this point, he is little more than a one trick pony.
I hope the remaining summer league games are better.
Later.
Camby insulted by trade to Clippers.
http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/53629/20080717/camby_insulted_by_trade/
Suns looking to trade Barbosa.
http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/53626/20080717/suns_still_looking_to_trade_to_make_room_for_dragic/
someone did a write-up on the knicks’ summer team thus far:
http://www.nba.com/summerleague2008/knicks_feature_20080716.html
Just Blogging but can anyone else see that uncanny resemblance?
http://weblogs.newsday.com/sports/basketball/knicks/blog/37504454.jpg
http://assets.espn.go.com/photo/2008/0402/nba_g_walsh_300.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v480/punkboi/Parno2/emperor_sidious05.jpg
LMAOOOOOOOOOOO.
I’m pretty funny with those uncanny resemblances heh?
This is some news for anyone who thinks that the Knicks and Clippers might revisit the Zach Randolph trade.
Today I read on RealGM that the Clippers have made a qualifying offer to SG Azubike.
Of course the Warriors could match the offer. But just to fan the flames, say Mullin does a skip pass on the matching offer as a wink wink to Walsh to facilitate a separate trade between the Knicks and Warriors apart from a redux of the Knicks Clipss Z-Bo trade. Say we obtain Harrington, Camby and Azubike and turn in Z-Bo a gaurd or two and work down our glut at tht 3 in the process.
Just Blogging really!
http://sports.espn.go.com/fantasy/basketball/fba/story?page=nbaoffseason080718
WHY THE KNICKS TURNED DOWN THE CLIPPERS OFFER,according to SI.Com
“I have learned that the Clippers’ offer to the Knicks for Zach Randolph last week was much more audacious than first suspected. In addition to Randolph, they wanted the Knicks to send them a first-round pick and $3 million in exchange for Brevin Knight. The Knicks said no”-SI.COM
<A HREF=”SI.Com Article
Here it is
2 Professional opinions
I asked two experts to tell me who they liked in the opening week of summer league here.
2. Anthony Randolph, Warriors. “This is a long, multiskilled guy with freaky athleticism,” a Western Conference GM said. “He can put it down on the floor and he can pass it. He has a good feel for the game. Because of his size [6-10], athleticism and versatility, he can hurt you in a lot of different ways. He plays with a lot of energy too. People were saying that he might be too skinny [at 205 pounds] to have an impact, but in his one full game here he went right at everybody. Look, he isn’t going to move Yao Ming off the blocks, but with his speed, quickness and smarts, he’ll find ways to hurt you.”
si.com
why did we not make that trade for Brevin Knight?
If Isiah was still in charge the mob would have went nuts.
We shall overcome. Yeah right.
Why did we sign this kid for two years? Why not let a hungry All-star play for his next contract? who is Nate going to guard?
WTF is a Duhon? Give me a break.
Walsh ain’t shit. L-O-T-T-E-R-Y.
Knick guards:
3 PGs listed at 6’2″ (Marbury, Roberson, Duhon)
1 big guard that plays Point, not shooting (Collins)
1 shooter that is too small to defend (Robinson)
1 shooter that is too light to defend (Crawford)
____
L-O-T-T-E-R-Y
Randolph for a 1st rounder/$3 mil? Why the hell not? We don’t know how to draft, so we might as well give them away and get rid of salary.
Walsh is an ass.
We’re on the hook for $48 MILLION!! $3mil plus a 1st rounder? please!!
This guy is selling woof tickets. If the idea is to reduce salary for the big Free Agent class in 2010, why the hell didn’t we make that trade???? Shit, he can’t guard anybody and he is too slow to play in the new NBA.
We lost out on our get-out-of-jail card.
Bring back Isiah.
And for all you guys talking smack last year, thinking Mardy was a bum, I’ll be waiting for you this year when you have to eat those words. He isn’t Chris Paul, but he sure is a better passer than a lot of the guards in the NBA. A little confidence and maturity and that talent will surface.
@ Harlem
Concur with you on post 35 and 37.
Still to early for me to opine on who the Knicks drafted. Time will tell. I agree that Donny is being given great PR from many in the MSM.
If you’ve read my prior post I’ve been defending Mardy, and he had a solid game yesterday. I think he got 6 assist which should have been more had his teamates knocked down the open jumpers. If he develops a solid jump shot he may be our most versatile gaurd.
Good to read you back on the thread.
@HarleminMD,
You must read my post @ #30 again.
The Clippers wanted Randolph AND a 1st round pick AND 3 million for cap relief and B.Knight.
It was a bad deal for the Knicks.
@ DLT
I’ve been reading that SI story and if true then Walsh did well not to let the Knicks get punked again.
BUT
I wonder what’s the source on this story. Is it a Knick official, insider, exec?
Who Knows maybe the story was put out there as a form of damage control?
What are the ops here?
…And even if the trade were better, I would not want Brevin Knight.We already ready have a Brevin Knight his name is Nate Robinson.We don’t need another 5’5 point guard.But to give up Randolph,a 1st round pick AND 3 million was a bit too much.
The Nuggets took the trade but ONLY gave up Camby.
If it were just Randolph it would have been a great trade.
Teams are still trying to jack us with money.
TELL ALL THE NBA TEAMS………NO MORE JACKING THE KNICKS FOR MONEY!!!!
O&B
Good point!!
Don’t know who the source is.
BUT
I think if it were just Randolh,Walsh would have made the deal.
I really think he wants to dump that contract.Why not to it.
HarlemMD. Yeah Baby. I hope you have had a wonderful summer. Today is the Harlem book fair and I am miffed that it is far too hot for me and the family to hang out pushing a stroller in the city. So this is as close as I get to Harlem today.
There is no doubt that Walsh’s moves are very, very questionable but I get the sense that the priorities on their agenda aren’t the same ones held by people who want to see a Championship sometime soon. The priorities are about product and market expansion. Steady has the script. The league put the Knicks into managerial receivership, brings in a little International flavor — mostly Italiano, and Walsh tries to accomodate Dolan’s shooting-starbury (out the MSG cannon) mandate.
So we get another name coach (D’Antoni), a very handsome and marketable young stud of a project(Gallinari), a four-year back-up point guard as our major acquisition (Duhon), and a nomadic sharpshooter (Roberson). The newness of it all is exciting, but no one can say we have gotten anything more than potential thus far. We still haven’t cleaned the rim of the toilet bowl yet with those shitty contracts still floating around. Well, our acquisitions give us the potential to get rid of Marbury.
I can’t fault anyone for cheering for potential. But I can’t fault anyone for complaining about us bring on nothing but potential so far. No one and nothing with a record that would lead you to believe that a Championship is on the horizon.
The Summer League competition has the juices flowing and the Defenders and Fanatics poppin’. On the Roll Call the past few days: Knicks Defense, DLT Knicks, O&B, Bokonon, LIVES, Saipanknicksters, PC, John Q, Cooleyhigh, Jackie J, George M., Post-Up Prince, Vic Corbit, HarlemMD and Kevin Harewood.
Also big ups to our cousins ( we may be separated but we’re not apart) sighted at the Fanatics (including those of us doing double deficit duty). Summer sightings on the red carpet included:Jay Bee, Orange and Blue, Vic Corbit, DLT Knicks, LIVES, Statesman, Peaceman, Dross, Decataur, Kandiman, African and Cooley
But Kudos to Knicks Fix where Alan Hahn (Alan Con according to Statesman) is rebuilding his following with superb customer service. BARF is right, that Cover It Live is live and Hahn does a very nice job. We’ve been doing live blogging for a while, but that Cover It Live format is nice and easy to do. However, I love the fact that at least one of the Beats loves his job and appreciates his readership. You guys should be proud that you helped shape this new standard and that someone had enough sense to be responsive.
LONG LIVE THE INDIES.
BRING BACK ISIAH. (HAHAHAHAHAHA).
Ola! Que Pasa Defenders! I have to Co-Sign my Brother from Another Mother last two post. The Chatter on the threads by the Usual Suspects has been impressive and insightful. And, I’m hopeful My Dear Brother Steady will re-engage soon and bring his special brand of Knickism back to threads…
Lastly, it is clear that WCHANDLER is working hard to take the step in his professional career. A few of my Partners out at Summer League in Vegas have called me and proclaimed he is best player out there, and most are more impressed with his defensive play and leadership. Also, I got a text from JTjr. about MARDYC and his words were He’s Back! Hopefully STEADY and I will have Breakfast tomorrow, and I’m hopeful he’ll confirm right here on this thread…LOL LOL LOL
I know, I ain’t shyte…LOL LOL
@HARLEM, welcome back Young Steed, but you got to get with program and be a little more optimistic, and BY ALL MEANS TELL US WHAT YOU REALLY FEEL AND THINK…LOL LOL LOL
Here’s some Stats for you number crunchers and wannabe CPA’S…LOL JUST BLOGGING!
2008 knicks Summer League Averages
Name G GS MPG FG% 3p% FT% OFF DEF RPG APG SPG BPG TO PF PPG?
Wilson Chandler, F 3 3 31.3 .510 .500 .867 2.3 6.7 9.0 1.3 1.0 1.0 2.33 3.00 22.3
Anthony Roberson, G 3 2 28.0 .378 .313 .667 0.3 1.7 2.0 0.7 0.3 0.0 2.00 2.00 15.7
Danilo Gallinari, F 1 1 30.0 .455 .000 1.000 4.0 2.0 6.0 2.0 0.0 1.0 4.00 5.00 14.0
Mardy Collins, G 3 3 26.0 .409 .333 .833 0.7 3.7 4.3 5.3 0.3 0.0 1.00 3.00 11.7
Nate Robinson, G 1 1 26.0 .200 .167 .750 0.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 0.0 0.0 2.00 4.00 8.0
Von Wafer, G 3 1 22.0 .353 .375 .556 0.0 2.3 2.3 0.0 0.0 0.3 1.00 1.00 6.7
Renaldo Balkman, F 2 2 22.5 .571 .000 .500 1.0 4.5 5.5 0.0 0.0 1.5 0.00 2.00 6.0
Paul Miller, F/C 2 2 24.0 .625 .000 .000 2.0 3.0 5.0 0.5 1.0 0.0 1.00 5.00 5.0
Delonte Holland, F 3 0 9.7 .400 .000 .000 0.0 1.7 1.7 0.0 0.0 0.3 1.00 1.00 4.0
Brandon Hunter, F 3 0 14.3 .375 .000 .500 1.0 3.3 4.3 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.67 2.00 3.0
Antonio Graves, G 2 0 6.5 1.000 1.000 .000 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.50 1.00 2.5
Marcus Hall, G 2 0 9.5 .500 .000 .000 0.0 0.5 0.5 1.5 0.0 0.5 0.00 1.00 2.0
Zhang Songtao, C 3 0 8.0 .500 .000 .000 1.3 0.0 1.3 0.3 0.0 0.7 0.67 3.00 2.0
Dan Grunfeld, G/F 0 0 0.0 .000 .000 .000 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.00 0.00 0.0
Antione Johnson, G 0 0 0.0 .000 .000 .000 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.00 0.00 0.0
Team Averages 200.0 .437 .286 .696 9.0 26.7 35.7 11.3 2.7 4.0 11.67 27.00 83.0
Opponent Averages 200.0 .456 .250 .671 12.0 30.3 42.3 12.7 3.0 1.7 14.00 21.00 85.3
Like KD said, Coolie High Got you WIDE…Camp Lo Baby! LOL LOL
ONE LOVE DEFENDERS!
Keep it POPPIN
FYI Defenders! The Knicks vs. Phoenix replay is on NBA TV right now and running for real at 4PM verses DJ Augustin and LB’S Bobcats…Enjoy!
ONE LOVE!
Keep it POPPIN!
Hey Cooleyman, I’m co-signing on the reappearance of Steady. It just ain’t the same without ‘em. Plus, you Gents are cloggin’ up my busy bizness e-mail with that b-ball insight. I mean it’s enough that Peace writes a freakin’ thesis. (LOL). Just kiddin’ sorta. Hey Steady, what I gotta do to bring back your innovative-self back to the blogosphere? You got the only copy of the damn script and we wanna, need to know. And I need some more of those acronyms and govbament chedda.
Just Bloggin Cuzin’
Cooley, O&B,
We really do have problems this upcoming season. We have no idea what we’re going to get out of the Knicks. Their play was not horrible the past two years combined, it was schizophrenic. If we get the post-Denver fight team, we may be competitive. But who knows what D’Antoni is going to do with this team on the floor and how the chemistry will eventually work. D’Antoni intends to play Curry which means that Zach is in the plans almost as much as Marbury.
But I am more concerned, as others have pointed out, how we match up against the rest of the Eastern Conference. Boston, Cleveland, Detroit, Toronto, Philly, Miami, Washington, Orlando and Atlanta are stronger than us. New Jersey and Chicago have reasons to like their huge improvements. That puts us pretty low on the totem pole.
Duhon will have to be something mighty special to keep us from being a lottery team again. We won’t be able to rest our entire interior defense on Wilson Chandler. I’m seeing the units but not the victories
Starting
Duhon
Crawford
Curry
Wilson
Richardson (if Lee is traded)
Other units
(1)
Robinson
Crawford
Gallinari
Lee
Chandler
(2)
Collins
Crawford
Gallinari
Chandler
Jeffries
@LIVES,
I do understand your quandry and concern about our abilty to compete with some of the new additions and upgrades other Eastern teams have made during this active off-season. Not to mention how SUPER competitive the Western Conference will remain.
Here’s the thing LIVES, IMHO the biggest change needed in our lockerroom is their approach to the mental aspects of the game, which is directly correlated to coaching and their vision for success. The thing that is most obvious so far is the current roster of players have re-dedicated themselves to conditioning and a collective work ethic (Curry’s and Randolph’s conditioning is key). That’s the physical aspect and every NBA team has talent. The area we must improve in his the Mental aspect and approach to the game, and it is here where I think D’Antoni and Staff will make the the biggest difference. This new scheme requires team work and a commitment to sharing the ball and playing hard at all times. I believe a greater emphasis will be placed on the Defensive end due to the players being in the best shape and the style of play will inspire players to bring that DESIRE and EFFORT that will help them showcase some of the unique talents that this group of players possess. IMHO, outside of a BIG with great defensive skills, these players have tremendous talent. Buying into the Philosphy and Scheme is the real key. And, I believe D’Antoni will hold these players accountable and demand their very best effort day in and day out.
IT and his coaching staff did not get buy in from these players last season due to all of the turmoil swirling around and in the franchise. You know the deal LIVES, successful people normally have the best ATTITUDES WHICH DETERMINES THEIR ALTITUDE.
The Celtics are the greatest example of that fact. KG’S Professional and DETERMINED ATTITUDE made the difference in their incredible turnaround. Knick announcer Gus Johnson’s words from a couple of broadcasts continue to ring in my head, “These players have not played hard or up their capabilities for the guy (IT)that made them ALL rich men and that’s not cool”…
That will not be acceptable this season!
ONE LOVE!
Keep it POPPIN!
Well Cooley,
You know that I hope you are right in that all that is required will all be achieved. It is very difficult to visualize that now, especially when the makeup of the team remains unsettled. The chemistry is critical to the attitude which is why the Knicks are working so hard to pare teh team down to a manageable essence of success. As individuals most of the players have a very professional work ethic, but one bad apple can mess up a barrel, especially when it is the biggest apple in the barrel. There was no leadership last year, first from Isiah mired in his own personal woes and then from Marbury, who has always been asked to be something that he is not. Hopefully, the maturation of the rooks and 2Yrs as well as the growth and dreams of the Seattle boys help turn this teams ATTITUDE into a higher ALTITUDE. But still, these boys have got to play the game and the talent on the aforementioned teams is very high and their players have also been together for awhile. I won’t write the Knicks off, but I wouldn’t move my chair too far from the lottery podium either.