Patrick Ewing, Jr is a Knick.
Frederick Weis, the worst draft pick in this generation of Knicks basketball that I am aware of, is finally gone.
Today is a good day.
Thanks to Paulnoize for breaking it here on Knicksdefense in the last post.
I have not seen very much of Ew2′s game, but for those of you that have, is he any better than Malik Rose? If so, we’ll take him.
This sort of reminds me of when Allan Houston announced that comeback at this time last season. There were defenders that considered it nothing more than a publicity stunt, and for all intensive purposes they were right. Who knows if this latest move will result in a spike in season ticket sales. If they really wanted my money all they had to do was get the OG Ewing and Oakley on that bench as assistants to teach Eddy Curry and Zach Randolph how to play Knick basketball.
Imagine if Houston makes his second comeback attempt with the Knicks? Maybe if we could have sent Zbo packing earlier this summer we could have had Camby back as well. Houston, Camby, Ewing, throw in a Spree and a JVG and you’ve got nostalgia, if not another lottery team…
But I say give the kid a chance, if he at least has the heart and hustle that his father brought to the basketball court every night for 15 years, he may earn a spot on this roster ahead of career underachievers such as Jerome James.
Oh, did you guys hear? I heard Marbury is buying a jet of some kind. Whatever.
Goodbye Freddy… We should have drafted Artest, but you already knew that, didn’t you?
Jacked this clip from Berman’s. Enjoy.
{ 62 comments… read them below or add one }
KnicksD
I like the video!If this kid has skills enough to be a role player,that’s good.We have enough shooters.We do need hustle,defense and rebounding.And if this MSG crowd can get behind him,he may be able to give us quality minutes off the bench.I would like to see this work out.
Pending a Z-bo trade,we still have to fix this rooster.We may have to buy-out/release/cut someone.Ewing Jr should make the team ahead of James,Rose and even Steph.We need develop young talent.Rose and James are paid well and we have no use for him.I do like Rose as a person,but we need ball-players able to run and jump with the best of them.And this kid can do just that.
DLT and KnicksD
Although the move has Good PR written all over it. I too would prefer to see this young man make it on the starting roster. I suppose coming to the Garden under the large shadow of his father, and with something to prove, will make him more motivated than the aforementioned ovepaid underachievers- e.g., James, Marbury.
Co-sign.
The kid may make it as the 15th man. At this point Jerome James should definitely be sent packing. Malik is a classy guy and should be given the chance to adorn the bench of a team in a better situation. Jr should be kept as 15th man and sent to D League for seasoning. His athleticism gives him a chance to be a low cost Ariza or Balkman on defensive end. Actually might shoot better than them at this point though shooting won’t get him in league. Defense and attention to little things will
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/30/sports/basketball/30knicks.html?em
Perhaps there is no such thing as a Ewing Curse, as one former blogger’s moniker once suggested.
Perhaps their is a long running Weiss curse that will hopefully be excercised with this feel good publicitiy and good PR signing of Patrick Ewing.
By that I mean Weiss duped the Knicks into selecting him with a number 1 pick based on the results of his workouts, a small peek insufficient to make a long term judgment on ones ability to play when other background factors would provide a better sample set of the player an organization is getting.
Since that time the Knicks have been duped plenty of times by either one year contract year wonders (Jerome James), marketing oriented feel good stories to bring back a local star who might magically be rehabilitated in the atmospher of MSG (Marbury) or large contract big name players who big stats aren’t indicative of whether that player will improve the team overall or undermine team chemistry (Zach Randolph).
With the acquisition of Ewing Jr. a relatively low profile college player of whom not much might be expected, might just surprise. But gratification is never instant and might require an item New York Sports fans lack… patience.
Good week end gents.
Good PM Defenders!
Great pick-up! He is a Good athlete and the consumate role player, who’s offensive game might come around in the time.
Like Shawn “the Matrix” Marion, who came out of college a great athlete and suspect shooter and scorer. With hard work, he could beome a Poor Man’s version. I thnk D Antoni sees some of the same skills and makeup.
I believe his upside far out weighs any negatives. Our TEAM speed just increased and if he works hard and brings the intangibles to our TEAM I’ve watched over the last two years @ GTWON, we will see a tremendous a lot of Small Ball in the NYC….I wish him NOTHING BUT THE BEST….
ONE LOVE!
Keep it POPPIN!
Thanks Cooley. I was wondering what the ForceMDs thought about this acquisition.
We will see how serious they are about him next week. I believe they must give him a tender offer by Friday or he becomes a free agent unless they make some other type of arrangement, such as the one Isiah tried to make with Nichols.
In any event, I don’t see how he sticks with all of the SF around and the need to develop Galinari. D’Antoni said there is no playing time available at that spot with Chandler, Galinari, Jeffries, Richardson and Randolph ahead of him on the depth charts.
A lot of space needs to be cleared in order for this acquisition to have any real substance.
It’s almost Labor Day.Has Eddie Curry been laboring?Put him on a scale and you can virtually predict the direction of the Knicks’ season.Eddie is still the key.He can choose to be a sledge hammer in the middle or a sludge hammer for the team.Eddie, train or get on the train.What’s the deal Mike?LGK
@Tman,
Good point!Curry will need to get up and down the court faster this year.More important,he will need to clog the middle and block some shots.I really don’t care if he scores,he needs to rebound,about 10-15/gm avg.We have nobody that can stop guards from driving in the paint.We need some defensive help down-low.Curry is our only hope right now.Zach can’t play defense and will most likely be traded.
DLT,
Even in his best shape, you really shouldn’t expect more than 0.5 blocks and 6.2 rebounds per game from Curry. He hasn’t demonstrated the mindset to do any better. Don’t expect Mike to get him to raise his arms above his neck often to block a shot. A major complaint about Mike D was his inability to get Amare Stud-admire to do the same.
Mike will want him to run the court and score. He will probably have Curry moving a lot in the paint instead of standing around on offense.
As for defense. Curry needs team defense or a 48 minute zone.
Lives,
I hear you,valid points.But,where will the rebounds come from if Z-bo is traded?6.2 avg is just bearly more than 1 rebound per quarter.
Is it wrong to expect more from him?
I think his biggist problem is that he doesn’t block out.With his size and a little blocking out,the rebounds should fall into hands.Yes,you are right,he doesn’t put his hand up…..why not?
No way,no how, should he NOT be a 20-12 guy even in a zone defense.
the most optimistic article you will ever read about the knicks this offseason is linked here.
whoever this guy is, he’s making no secret of his admiration for our new knicks head coach.
i think the article could have secretly been written by mike breen.
just bloggin’
As far as Curry, I feel pretty safe in saying that he won’t be the first, second and third option like he was during the year he was “e-city”. instead of coming back strong to force his way onto the all star team, he gave up the ghost and deferred to zach randolph, a telling moment not exactly indicative of a true knick warrior ‘s spirit.
Eddy needs to be effective when he does have his opportunities, and I guess mike D is trying to figure it all out right about now.
Eddy has never shown the desire required to rebound the basketball with any sense of urgency. getting pretty late in his career to think he’ll be able to change that, especially having worked with the talented Mark Aguirre (see Mike Sweetney, Jackie Butler, Randolph Morris).
Yeah, Eddie needs to face some type of deprivation, like the loss of a job, to improve his game.
DLT, Knicks rebounds should generally increase with the pace of D’Antoni’s game. If teh NBA is true to form, the Knicks should be leading quite a few games for the first 2 1/3 quarters during which teams trying to keep up will make plenty of bad shots.
Still, without Randolph I don’t see enough defensive rebounds for the Knicks unless Chandler and Lee are playing 25-36 minutes per game. I don’t think Galinari is a rebounder, yet.
We should get more offensive rebounds on general principle because we’ll be hoisting more open tres.
I co-sign KD on Curry. And that Mike Breen comment was funny. Now I’ve got to read that article.
KD,
I just read the article and I think it is a must read for every New York Knicks fan.
I am in the middle of writing my version of how I think D’Antoni will coach and my research says that the D’Antoni Booster is right on many, many things about the coach. If he wasn’t questionable on a few areas, I would scrap my article because his is more definitive than mine could be.
I note that he said D’Antoni will make NYK basketball fun again: I agree. I also note that he did not say D’Antoni will lead us to a championship. I think he was correct to avoid that issue — but he probably doesn’t realize that while Knicks fans like fun and want to be proud, they are rarely satisfied with less than banners, rings and trophies — shiny stuff.
He is absolutely on target about D’Antoni and his rotation, but it will be interesting to see how D’Antoni works with what he has here and whether he actually changes his philosophy slightly.
Finally, D’Antoni does preach a little defense to generate offense, but his defense has not been the same since Iavoroni jetted to Memphis.
Maybe I’ll scrap my piece anyway and just repost that article. It’s pretty good.
Well here’s a thought, if some within the Knicks organization see Gallinari as a project who will need PT and some time to pan out, could an inexpensive Patrick Ewing Jr. be a similar situation. Except in this instance, shoudl Jr. remain, his development might have to happen in the practice squad and on the Knicks NBADL affiliate. Balkman left but already was two year along and perhaps some of the questions about his work ethic counted against him and made him more expendable despite the much needed on court hustle and agression he displayed. Perhaps in Ewing Jr. the organization sees a younger more maleable version of the skill and talentset Ronaldo brought but without the possible pressure to include significant PT in the meantime.
Here’s a question to those who are more familiar with Ewing Jr. from his time in George Town. Is he more of a a small 4 or an oversized 3? If a small 4 then that sort of player can brace any loss in productin the Knicks will experience with the departure of Zach Randolph, should that happen.
If there is any coherence then perhaps Ewing Jr. on board is a prelude of a Z-Bo trade to come
KnicksD
That article does give us Knicks fans hope.I also learned something about coach D.Great find!!
the esteemed kevin harewood, 100% cosign on your assessment of the situation.
cooleyhigh, good to read you. I know being a force MD you’ve got the 411 some of us in NYC are looking for right about now. if he was sixth man of the year, who was starting ahead of him? (did that cat make the pros too?)
tman knows whats good! damn shame nobody has installed an eddy curry treadmill webcam to monitor the amount of cardio E-City has been committed to since April. the proof is in the pudding. just hope the dude hasn’t been eating it.
brother lives, glad you liked the article so much. i thought it was pretty good too, but i’m looking forward to reading the peace you have been working on.
dlt, eddy curry needs to have a big year no doubt about that.
O&B I don’t know what position Ew2 is going to play but considering the fact that his dad is inducted this year into the hall of fame, what kind of stain of a public relations stunt would it be to cut the man’s son in the same month as his induction?
ew2 looks like a keeper for now. goodbye to jerome, and goodbye to someone else too (hopefully not roberson).
Read the article and am unimpressed.Mike D must have a chess master’s mentality because I still see us playing checkers.The writer is a bit of a sophist.He talks about the circular nature of the game and compares it to the rain cycle.Well, circles have no beginning or end, so boo to that.Then he compares us to the Showtime Lakers and the old Celtics of Cousy while saying it all begins with DE-FENCE.I’ll cosign that, but those teams had Jabbar and Russell as anchors on D.We have Curry, who is still the key if he loses 30lbs in the weight room and decides he’s an NBA player instead of just a two bit playa.He can do it, but it’s his decision, his move to make.If he doesn’t we’re done this season, barring a major trade to shore up the middle.That’s why the pick of Vanillo is a little disconcerting.If you have a defensive presence n the middle you can afford a no D chucker like a Heinsohn.”Pick’em up Bill!”But where is our stopper.A skinnier just Eddie might do.It’s a reach but it has po’.David Lee in the middle is fun, but very limited.Curry is a mystery, but one worth solving (Elton Brand is patiently waiting).Handle your bizness Mike!Waiting for Lebron is one thing, but we need to be competitive, not just fun, right away.Get Curry in shape and we might be there.We’re paying him.What do we have to lose?
Defenders/KnicksD/Tman,
I re-read the article KnicksD linked on this page about D’Antoni.
My biggest concern about D’Antoni was and has always been on the defensive side.Phoenix could not get past the defensive-minded Spurs for many years under D’Antoni.Now the Suns are trying a slower ball-control game with Shaq.Slower,like they are playing here in the Eastern Confernce.Boston became a better team under and Champions under the defensive-minded Tom Thibodeau.
This 7-second offense maybe fun to watch and high scoring,BUT can it deliever Championships?Playoffs are usually half court ball-control games.Even the 1980′s version of Showtime slowed the game down and dump the ball into Jabbar.That team also had some great defenders.
All of this is based on a PG that can control tempo and flow of the game.We don’t have a Steve Nash.The writer of this article is predicting a reunion between Nash and D’Antoni in New York.Nash is now 34 years old and still has 2 years left on his contract.Are we suppose to wait till 2010 for the then 36 year old nash to lead us?
Maybe Duhon can be the next Steve Nash for D’Antoni.It isn’t Marbury and N8 doesn’t seem to fit that mode of player.But it does seem like the PG has to be an All-Star caliber player to make his system work.I’m behind him,but I have my doubts in the long run.
Some D’Antoni Facts:
A)Was fired by Denver.
B)Did not have success until Nash arrived in Phoenix.Was then allowed to leave when Shaq came in.
Here is the article:
Early NBA
The first NBA coaching job held by D’Antoni was with the Denver Nuggets in 1997-98 as the club’s director of player personnel. He also did some broadcasting work with TNT during that season. The next year, he became Nuggets head coach, but was fired after a poor performance during the strike-shortened 1998-99 season. D’Antoni then went on to become a scout for San Antonio Spurs during the 1999-2000 season. He was also an assistant for the Portland Trail Blazers in 2000-01.
Phoenix Suns
In 2002, he made his return to the NBA as a Phoenix Suns assistant. In 2003, D’Antoni was hired with 61 games left in the season as the head coach of the Phoenix Suns[2] and, despite leading the team to a poor record in the second half of the year, he received a vote of confidence for producing inspired play from an injury riddled team. The next season, D’Antoni helped the team to acquire Steve Nash, which began an incredible turnaround for the franchise. After the addition of Nash, the D’Antoni-coached Suns won fifty or more games in four consecutive seasons.
Good morning Gents,
The evidence is that it cannot and will not deliver a Championship.
But at least, you won’t have your hopes up and you can enjoy the excitement and false promises of the regular season.
I’m at least a little curious how folks are mentally approaching the next three seasons with the liklihood that a Championship is not within reach unless something miraculous (or very controlled) happens. Or is their someone amongst us who really believes that D’Antoni can deliver a championship without a defense guru? At least the Isiah Thomas era gave us hope, no matter how false it turned out to be, that we could be Champions. Walsh does not even give me that illusion. How do you get through the next three years — by believing anyway or just lowering your expectations?
Lives in the moment,Loves the dream,
When you play our “beautiful game”, because it truly belongs to all of us, why worry about a Knick championship, or a bunch of petulant adults screaming, “it’s my ball, it’s my ball (sic, money)?Many of the best times of my life were hooping with my friends and teaching my sons to play.If it were only about winning a Knick championship I would have found something more productive to do a long time ago.The game has a soul for many of us, and that soul IS definitely connected to the Knicks, but not only the Knicks.I have my problems with the hucksters who try to package and sell you something you own in your imagination and blood, but so be it.Tell you a secret.Whenever there was a choice between playing or watching the NBA, I played.Live the game,but love yourself.The Knicks will be fine.They’ll make money and that’s what they’re all about.Don’t fool yourself, read history.Haven’t they been shooting themselves in the feet for years in so many ways?More important, the game lives on wherever there is a hoop hanging up high all over the world.LGK, and let’s go us!
In addition “Mr.Lives”
This whole 2010 dream seems unreal to me.I can’t see The Cavs letting LBJ getting out of Cleveland,or Miami letting DWade walk.I would extend their contracts if I were Cleveland and Miami BEFORE the 2010 free agency comes about.
….And if we do get lucky,who will be playing along side them?
What players would we have to show LBJ or Wade that there is a championship in waiting here if they sign?…..Curry?….Danilo?
The one thing LBJ knows after last year against Boston is that”defense wins Championships”.
So,is D’Antoni’s system the right one for the 2010 Dream class?
Lives, I chose to believe. I believed under Layden (at first, though it was brief), I believed under isiah (though looking back it was for too long that I held on to believing), and now I will give walsh and d’antoni the benefit of the doubt as well.
we’ve had the same owner throughout but we can’t do anything about that unfortunately ownership is not democratic.
here is another “light at the end of the tunnel” story.
http://www.tsn.ca/nba/story/?id=248374
I say IF LeBron doesn’t want to come here in 2010 for the max contract in the history of the NBA, *uck him. a few posts ago I listed all of the free agents and he isn’t the only game in town.
Tman, you still play ball, if so, are you in NYC area?
Did anyone catch Willis’s post on Ewing from Hahn’s blog ? Deffinitely a must read.
KD, had to hang it up a few years ago and I haven’t recovered yet.Something is missing.Don’t give up on the game unless you want to be a grown up.xBxballer.
KD
Read both articles
The first one dared to see the possibilities an was written by a person familiar with watching the new coach at work. The second articles started off with some positive conscessions to the change in the front office but was unimanginative.
Just rememeber that many were scorned for telling the multitude that the sun is the center of the universe. D’antoni appears to be that type of visionary. However, the playoffs will require more defenses focus. But that is an issue that I hope will eventually be addressed when and if the Knicks begin to make the playoffs on the regular.
Tman
Excellent post on 09/3/08
Co sign with the spirit of that paragraph.
KnicksD,
What are your thoughts on this:from ESPN
Updated: September 5, 2008, 1:41 PM ET
The Knicks have a trade proposal on the table with the Memphis Grizzlies that would see Darko Milicic and Marko Jaric dealt to New York in exchange for Zach Randolph.
An executive with knowledge of the trade talks said Friday that Knicks president Donnie Walsh initiated the Randolph-to-Memphis talks with the Grizzlies recently and it’s up to Walsh to sign off on the deal. But it appears Walsh has cooled to the idea of trading his player, the executive said.
A Knicks spokesman declined comment Friday.
Milicic is reportedly owed $14.5 million over the next two seasons, and Jaric will make $21.3 million the next three seasons. The Knicks want to trade Randoph because his contract runs through 2010-11. He will be paid nearly $48 million over those three seasons.
The move would help the Knicks with their salary cap. It has been widely perceived that their goal is get under the cap before the summer of 2010 so they can make a run at LeBron James and other high-profile free agents who will hit the market that offseason
Bad deal.You’re trading a ball player for two scrubs.Both play no D.What did they do last year in Memphis?Do want to watch those two guys for two(three) whole seasons?Isn’t watching Danilo’s learning curve bad enough?More sad Euros.Make a better deal.That’s what Walsh gets paid for. Patience.lgk
Good morning Gents,
This is Sports Saturday for me, a holiday I just made up. I haven’t decided its frequency — whether it’s weekly or annual — mainly because my wife doesn’t know about it yet, but today is the day that I can read and write all I want except for interruptions by my nine-year old and 17-month old cherubs.
Oh and except for the fifteen minutes my wife will take asking me when I am going to repair the stairs, the porch screen, the bathroom door, the refrigerator shelf and the leaking hole in the ceiling over her side of the bed.
Unfortunately, my back hurts and it is raining so all I can do today is read, write and listen to Sports Center.
Anyway, I’m around much of the day, with the Fanatics, Knicks D, and the Fix in my windows to the blogosphere ready to talk shit, if even to myself, and to learn more about what’s happening in the blogosphere.
Maybe, I’ll also figure out how I’m going to handle this upcoming season. For sure, I will not write another pre-season analysis of the Boston Celtics (LOL).
But, I guess I’ll figure out whether I can really ever handle dealing with three blog communities simultaneously. My guess is no, but what the heck.
I’m also going to hunt for Steady Gone — I saw him at Modi’s place in the summer.
O’K gents, wake the heck up. It’s almost time.
Oh BTW, Lindy’s Pro Basketball is out. The Knicks evaluation/prognostication bored me to death, but I will share some highlights.
The Knicks new 2009 wall calendar is out and Stephon is a no-show while Jamal, David Lee, Jared Jeffries, Quentin Richardson and Zach Randolph have been given two months each.
Tman, my brother from another mother,
I am feeling you on playing the game. Every day that I wake up still able to ball, I am very thankful. I actually hug the ball before I take my first shot of the day, because I know the days are numbered. But you know, I love this game.
In fact, I may be repeating something I have said before, but some of my favorite life lessons have been on the basketball court. One of my favorites had to do with never giving up — lose the dribble, gave it up?, so get it back and go forward again.
I learned another lesson sometime between a time when the Laker’s lost a finals to the Celtics and the 76ers were spanked by Portland. I remember being so upset about a loss that I couldn’t sleep for days. Then one day it dawned on me that these guys were at home, not too upset, with lots of cash and I didn’t have shit but a pot to piss in. And I also remember reading a story or a book where Riley and Magic were out on some beach after a series loss, commiserating but having a really good time and I was more broke than window pane in Baltimore.
But, I really appreciate you, KD and DLT addressing the question. Clearly, we all hae different ways of coping with our favorite team’s performance. It seems there really is no one right way — KD chooses to believe, you adjust the impact of the team’s condition to your priorities, and DLT sees the long view as incredible or lacking credibility but he still loves his team.
For me, I am not sure how to take it. Right about now would be my time to focus my attention on someting else — like playing ball, family, etc. I usually have little interest in watching the Knicks lose when I believe they will lose.
But now is different because I have a family of Knicks fans that I keep in touch with and who have meaning to me beyond the loss column. The Knicks feel more like an excuse just to share some fellowship with people and voices I like a lot.
I don’t believe like KD. If this was about believing in the team, I certainly would have given up a long time ago, because I absolutely did not believe in Wilkens and Brown. I did believe that Isiah was on the right track in many ways. I did believe that Stephon could excel on the court. I actually still believe that under the right circumstances they both could succeed, but they did not. They failed. Still it is not belief in these rich boys that keeps me coming back.
It’s the bloggers. It’s you guys.
(Beware the kissy kissy.) LOL.
Damn, I’m the only pitiful soul with nothing to do on this Saturday but hang out on the KnicksDefense playground all by my little lonesome.
Oh well, some people got lives. I just got Lives. I guess I’ll just mosey on over to Knicks Fix where the commentary is a little more generic but at least they’re alive.
I think I’ll go blogosphere hunting. Later.
Lives, I’m here too my man. I’m just trying to piece together something for a next post, but i recently started a new job which has really been time consuming for now.
Did you ever make that post you were working on D’Antoni over at Fanatics?
I missed the patrick induction. Going to try to find it over on knicks.com.
Jamal has his own blog, that is bigtime! Wow!
Hey KD. Just returned from a short blogosphere trip. Got a couple of goodies which I will post soon.
I was looking for Patrick’s speech. I can’t find it anywhere. I was going to use it as a lead on the Fanatics. If I find it, I’ll let you know. Knicks.com, as you probably know by now, has a nice little article but nothing special.
I couldn’t help but notice that they did not fail to mention (and use) the Junior acquisition in the piece.
I hope you like your new job and it does what it needs to for you.
I might finish the D’Antoni piece today. I really don’t think I have anything new to add, but I’ll finish putting something together anyway.
Yeah, I think Jamal’s blog should definitely add some entertainment value, but he can only do and say so much.
I’ll be back.
Some Ewing Goes To The Hall Finds.
Houston and New York forever linked together in NBA Championship History.
Excerpt from Houston Chronicle article:
Really, I should have the college and NBA championship,” said Ewing, who led Georgetown past Hakeem Olajuwon and the University of Houston to the NCAA championship. “All I can do is take my hat off to him. It was hard being in Houston (as a Rockets assistant coach) and sitting in the players lounge and seeing that damn shot and you guys (the media) rubbing it in my face, showing the replay.”
Riley said he enjoyed watching the competition between Olajuwon and Ewing in that series. He said the difference might have been a Rockets rookie.
“It really bothers me,” Riley said. “I always think I could have done something just a little bit more. I don’t know what it was. We jumped out to a 15-7 lead in the first quarter in Game 6 and I thought our guys were ready. I go back and I always second guess myself on that series. When you get there, you got to win it. The team I had in 2006 (in Miami) had a little more awareness about the now.
“The biggest shot in that series was Sam Cassell’s (the Game 3 game-winner). We went down (to Houston) ahead 3-2 and couldn’t close it out. We did the same thing in Miami, went to Dallas 3-2 and closed it out in six. I said, `If we don’t win it tonight, it’s going to be hellbent for leather with Hakeem,’ and that’s what it turned out to be.”
The Courant on Ewing’s Induction
Excerpt:
“As he aged, Ewing became the Knicks’ leader in ice bags. His knees ached and his right wrist was shattered, but he continued to put up big numbers as the Knicks began to fight with the Miami Heat for the spot of top challenger to Jordan’s Bulls.
“Those were great times,” Ewing said. “They were frenetic. The energy level in the Garden was wonderful. Those were moments that I cherish.””
Other articles:
New York Times: Ewing asking “What If?” Inducted in Hall
Newsday
Ewing’s ESPN: Hot and Cold Relationship With New York Fans
Hey KD, can you folks get the time stamp onto the comments or are you still working on the numbering system when you get a chance?
lives, I hear that. i too miss the time stamp and the numbering of the comments, we are trying to implement a new format that will address some of these issues as well as some others the defenders have brought up.
thanks for the feedback!
next month we get to see this team play.
although i know the knicks as they are currently constructed are not going to be much, i have to root for them to win each game.
this is why other knicks fans i know feel sorry for me. they’ve simply decided to stop watching until they get good again, but we, the die-hards are still watching, still hoping for the best (although maybe expecting the worst), still there as a fan.
but the first time they get blown out by boston this year, should that happen, it will be a very telling moment as to their ability to compete this season.
Patrick’s Induction Speech On NBA Broadband
A long list of Thank you’s, but he has a lot of people to thank.
What up KnicksD
Lives, DlT, Tman…. Knicksdefense squad
The more I thought of the Randolph for either Darko, Marko, or Walker trade to Memphis the less and less I like it.
Why
Well both Walker and Jarric have contracts that run through 2010. One is gauranteed through 2010, Jarrics, the other is a plyer option, Walker’s, which can be excercised for Walker to opt out at 2010. But given the way Walker’s career has declined, and the stellar free agent class he will be bidding against there is little reason to believe he will opt out- especially if his game does not show signs of dramatic improvement.
Here’s a question, if a trade does go down, and other players are thrown in- yes Mardy Collins too DLT- would it make the trade more tolerable if the Knicks were to get back one of the Memphis’s point gaurds?
Lives
Nice to read you on the blogospher again. Will you still be doing a piece on D’antoni the coach, will it include the recent articles posted here with reference to the same topics?
Me I’m finally freeing up some time so it’s time to go to some art stores to purchase materials. I’ll contact you or Peaceman about getting my project up and running by early next month.
O&B:
it has been said plenty of times on the blogs before that the knicks should go after kyle lowry from memphis. i would like to see that happen although i believe he is still on his rookie contract which is dwarfed by zbo’s contract.
by the way, you were the first one to break it to me that Zbo for darko and marko might be goin’ down.
yeah it makes us even more soft down if that were possible. but last time I saw darko he was on the magic, and he was a decent shot blocker if nothing else. we haven’t had a quasi-decent one of those in YEARS and YEARS.
it would be the second opportunity walsh has had to deal Zbo. He was right to say no last time (assuming Camby was not involved). He may be right to say no this time.
If walsh says no, that’s fine with me, because zbo is greater than the sum of those parts, but what other offers are on the table at this point?
we’re probably not going to get al jefferson for Zbo or anything like that.
is it not an option to move curry instead and keep zbo? does that open up any other trade offers for us?
remember the summer that isiah went after crawford? we were basically bidding against ourselves on that one.
if no one but a team or two is willing to take on zach and all the cap space his salary commands, we should not hold out for another deal that may not in reality be there.
i do not trust that walsh will do the right thing, but i do believe that walsh will make decisions that are in accord with D’Antoni.
KnicksD
That is perhaps why other bloggers here and elsewhere are suggesting that the Knicks wait it out untill the trade deadline.
We can assess Curry and Randolph during that course of time prior to the trade deadline to assess 1) whether there are teams out there looking to address a need at either the 4 or 5- be it inside scoring (Curry) or scoring and rebouding (Z-Bo); 2) which one is the more valuable commidity in the long term for the Knicks- if we go by the 2010 mandate, Z-bo’s case is weakened, if we go by who addresses more team needs and is a better all around player Z-Bo is ahead on that curve so far; 3) which trade package involving either one of those two players is a better long term situation- again 2010 as usual is always a consideration.
OBTW KnicksD
Here is a trade from the RealGM trade checker I cooked up.
Tell me what you think.
Trade ID #4765702
Yeah, I’m thinking trade deadline but I cannot factor in what D’Antoni can and that is team chemistry. The first thing that needs to change is the way the team interacts on multiple levels and that may mean getting rid of Marbury, James (please) and Randolph as soon as possible.
As it stands the trade seems to save the Knicks 10 million in 09-10, which is probably one of the reasons the Grizzlies want the Knicks to pick up some deferred compensation. I guess they’re weighing a six million dollar or so swing versus giving up a quality player. That’s a guess — I really have no idea what the deferred comp is.
Since you and KD mentioned it, I will finish the piece on D’Antoni by tomorrow, but don’t expect much insight — I think it’s all been said. But we do need out own unofficial voices out there, since collectively we are the experts. Hee Hee He.
I’m telling you KD: I am as uninspired by this team as I was excited by last year’s summer league and pre-preseason. I hope the effect/result is the exact reverse of last year. If not, I expect you guys to keep me engaged.
Lindy’s Picks
Atlantic Division
Celtics
Sixers
Raptors
Nets
Knicks
Central DIvision
Cavaliers
Pistons
Bucks
Pacers
Bulls
Southeast
Magic
Hawks
Bobcats
Wizards
Heat
O&B
I’m glad to hear that you’re about to do your art thing. What medium are you working in?
Lindy’s Western Conference Picks
Southwest
___________
Mavericks
Rockets
Hornets
Spurs
Grizzlies
Northwest
___________
Jazz
Trail Blazers
Nuggets
Thunder
Timberwolves
Pacific
___________
Lakers
Suns
Clippers
Warriors
Kings
Lindy’s Shiny Stuff Picks
NBA CHAMPIONS
CELTICS OVER LAKERS, Seven Games
MVP
LEBRON JAMES
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Michael Beasley
Good afternoon Defenders!
@LIVES, TMAN, O & B, and Top Dawg, I want you all to know that even though I hanging out with the Ghost of the Alamo, I’m PEEPING through the back window and got my glass up to the window so I can stay intuned, keep abreast, and get some laughs cause you Brudders CRACK ME up n the most complimentary way.
TMAN, I Co-Sign your post on the trade. How ridiculous. That’s worst then these new reformers called REPUBLICANS…I’m not interested in personalities. I’m all about the issues, and the fact remains ZBO is better than both these retreads and weak game having Euros. Nothing against our continental comrades, but that like selling your priciples to win an election and then pretend like you’re American Hero instead of an American zero…Donne knows better! If you’re hip to the economy of scales, the CAP GAME IS A SAP GAME…DONNIE PLEASE, I KNOW YOU AIN’T TAKING ADVICE FROM EXPEREINCE EXECUTIVE FROM THE NORTH SLOPE…
And LIVES, your blogsphere Holiday is not work in vain, but a window to a provocative perspctive, a learned Brudder from another Mother, who has the SOUL OF A POET….But don’t forget to do your chores, cause I charge for the spare suite at the Compound…But it is available to set up your HQ for the Ultimate Search, ‘Looking for STEADY GONE.’ Trust me DEFENDERS he couldn’t get far, cause I swiped his Passport at Modi’s favorite place…He’s defintely a Domestic fugitive…I paid all of My Underworld Dawgs so he can’t catch a damn BOAT nowhere….
Gotta bounce Gents, but I had to let you know COOLEYHIGH is still peeping and creeping…Trying to move this Chronic…LOL
(For the Sponsors, I’m not talking about Cheeba, but irresponsible Politicians that actually think my fellow DEFENDERS and their Families are complete IDIOTS…)
SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER-In all things DEFENDERS, please get understanding…No time for Mental Midgets…
ONE LOVE!
Keep it POPPIN!
I tell you that while I have this muted feeling about my Knicks, there are some NBA storylines that have me excited, especially in the Western Conference:
Are the Rockets, with the addition of Ron Artest, the team to beat?
I am looking forward to the Rocket’s playing the Celtics, Portland, the Hornets, and the Lakers.
Can Terry Porter turn the Suns into a defensive team and prevent Nash from running himself into the ground?
How strong will the Lakers by with Bynum and Gasol on the floor together?
Will the Celtics have a Bill Russell hunger or will they be Championship punch drunk and flop?
How long can Jermaine play well? And will Bosh’s confidence soar and elevate his game after his Olympic performance?
Will Chris Paul get the MVP this year?
And boy will I enjoy watching the Portland Trailblazers and their rookie Greg Oden. Is he really that special? Is the big man about to make a comeback?
Maybe I should get the NBA Pass.