About D’an time…
October 29, 2008 – 6:46 amThe Knicks kick out the jams in their first game of the 2008-2009 season tonight against the Heat. A prolific leader, Olympic gold medalist and 2006 NBA champion Dwayne Wade will be suiting up against the Knicks, as well as Shawn Marion and rookie Michael Beasley.
I believe in fresh starts. This is still very much the previous guy’s team, but we’ve got a new point guard in Chris Duhon, a Wilson Chandler that actually gets playing time (and is doing something with said PT) and a new front line assembly in David Lee and Zach Randolph. Where they were once seemingly mutually exclusive, they are now starting together and showing signs of what Clyde likes to call “cohesion.” Gallo may be a factor later into the season, but I doubt it will be tonight.
The Knick defense probably still blows, but the Knicks are going to put the ball in the basket, especially the seattle boys Jamal Crawford and Nate Robinson, the latter of which led the Knicks in scoring during the preseason.
The odd guys out from last year are probably going to be Stephon Marbury and Eddy Curry, but maybe one of two can be moved soon so that they can play for somebody else. All signs indicate they may not be key players in Mike D’Antoni’s system.
I have night class tonight so I’ll have to TIVO the game, but feel free to post any key observations on the game on here. Sometimes watching a TIVOed game is better than live because you can go right through free throws and commercial breaks. The key is not to talk to anyone who knows who won the game before you get home.
14 Responses to “About D’an time…”
Welcome back from your adventures abroad KD, good to see ya back.
I am really amped for Opening Night, I know the Knicks will struggle just to be a below-average NBA team - but i think we can finally begin focusing on defining consistent roles and a steady rotation, so that players know what is expected on them in a concrete sense - and can then begin developing some chemistry within those roles with each other.
i think the Matrix/Beasley/Haslem frontcourt rotation is gonna be a real tough matchup for Z-Bo, Lee & Chandler. They’re athletic, active & more physical - probably more skilled as scorers as a unit, though i think Z-Bo has the most refined offensive skills of any of them.
KD, i agree that our backcourt needs some support. Duhon coming here and being better than advertised would go a long way towards charting a new course for the orange & blue. If he can become a steady starter who plays smart, spreads the ball around and competes on “D”, then Steph/Craw/N8 have to battle for the backcourt scraps which might just keep them on their best behavior. =)
i see us winning 31 games this season, but generally having some good storylines and advancements to keep us placated.
Let’s Go Knicks!!! Keep the noize TURNED UP!!!
By PaulNoize on Oct 29, 2008 at 9:22 am
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/29/sports/basketball/29knicks.html
By Jackie J. on Oct 29, 2008 at 12:14 pm
Curry ’stunned’ to be out of Knicks’ rotation.
The 285-pound center doesn’t fit well into new coach D’Antoni’s faster offense.
Think players should be given a heads up before announcements are made?
http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/27423006/
By Edward on Oct 29, 2008 at 2:19 pm
i don’t think Malik Rose or Mardy Collins needed a “heads up” to know they are on the outside looking in.
Then again, Eddy’s sense of entitlement is almost as bloated as his waistline.
The poor kid just has absolutely no guile, no wisdom, no creep, no hustle. i repeat a brutal line from last year, “If he won’t defend his own family being threatened at gunpoint, why do we think he’d ever start defending the rim?”
The one downside to the D’Antoni plan is that asking Chandler to play the 4 might just physically ruin a very promising young 3.
The Bobcats had an interesting situation last year where Gerald Wallace and Jason Richardson were two of their two best players.
When going to a small lineup with Carroll & J-Rich as swingmen, they often with Okafor & Wallace up front at center & power forward. Wallace had a tough injury-hit season that he thinks would have been a lot easier if he wasn’t banging with the bigger boys in the paint.
i think illWill is down for whatever gets him some burn, but I just hope the nagging injuries heal and no new ones hamper him on his road to becoming a true player in the NBA.
By PaulNoize on Oct 29, 2008 at 4:36 pm
No Isiah Thomas on the bench, no Marbury on the court, Knicks win. This is a work in progress, but at least they won. Last year they would have lost this type of game.
By ed drossman on Oct 29, 2008 at 11:55 pm
nice to see the team sharing the ball, playing together and making shots. this was the first time I saw duhon in a knicks jersey. i kept thinking about chris childs who was the same size and wore #1 for the knicks in the 90’s.
i was surprised miami didn’t put up more of a fight.
gallo didn’t do much, as I expected, but marbury with zero minutes, well, how long will it take for the next locker room tirade?
nate impressed me tonight with his passing abilities. didn’t think he was tall enough to be a good passer but he did make some good ones last night.
7 seconds or less…
By knicksdefense on Oct 30, 2008 at 7:11 am
Hey guys.. great to start off the season with a win.. and amidst all these trade rumors.. what do you guys think of the eddy curry al harrington swap? Considering that eddy is gonna be useless to us all season.. just thinking
By thelegacy on Oct 30, 2008 at 4:21 pm
i think Curry for Harrington is a steal for the Knicks. i can’t think of a single reason why GS would do it or even consider it, Al’s a stud and Curry is a bum.
Seems like one of O&B’s or DLT’s “homer” trades to me. Maybe if we throw in a second round draft pick they’ll add Steven Jackson too, LOL! =)
By PaulNoize on Oct 30, 2008 at 5:01 pm
i read about that trade, they want lee instead, which makes no sense to me because they already have a david lee clone in andres biedrins.
By knicksdefense on Oct 30, 2008 at 5:55 pm
KnicksD
I agree about the duplication factor of what the Warriors are looking at in David lee. But if you think of it in terms of talent flipping Lee playing well in the last year of his contract could provide the Warriors with sign and trade options.
Paul-bring the-Noize
LMAO!
Nothing but love for ya homie.
DLT seems intent on trading away my man crush, (no homo), Pardy Hardy Mardy Collins.
Yes that would be a favorable trade for the Knicks in terms of getting back a player who is not only a rugged and capable inside scorer but also a player who would likely be a better fit in the smaller more uptempo Knicks.
I think the Knicks would have to throw in an additional player and a pick. I suppose Roberson or Mardy along with Curry and hopefully not budging on a one but offering a 2nd rounder. That would clear roster space and allow Ewing Jr. a chance to do a redux with flavor.
Curry’s value is so low right now though, that it’s a buyer’s market on him. I wouldn’t sell the barn yet for Harrington, even though he’ll give the Knicks Depth.
Next year Steph will definately be out and so will Rose. Curry will have to learn a hard lesson watching his teamate rot, and perhaps if their is an iota of self respect in that lug he’ll work himself into shape and into the rotation to do an exhibition to up his trade value next year.
Patience I say.
Though of course Mullin won’t be under contract with the Warriors and a sweet heart deal to GM at MSG might butter some workable trade out for both parties.
Aight Paulnoize hope to check you out on both sides of the indy blogosphere.
Dalegacy
DVJ reborn. I love your lakers this year though. Bynum is the real deal. He puts Curry to shame rehabing and improving to help take the Lake show back to the title.
Night all.
By Orange and Blue on Oct 30, 2008 at 10:47 pm
Interesting Take on Marbury on Bloomberg.com
Here’s the Title and Link
Knicks Now Understand the Skill-Talent Debate: Scott Soshnick
Commentary by Scott Soshnick
Oct. 30 (Bloomberg)
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601039&refer=columnist_soshnick&sid=ayxukuit_Law
[My Notes: The Author is trying to categorize words but does so incorrectly.
My take is that Skills can be learned- Lives dead on observation between a shooter and a scorer is instructive. For example the proper mechanics on a jumper, on how to position oneself to rebound, footwork on the pivot, dribbling the basketball.
Talent is different, to me it is a pot luck sort of thing that some individuals are able to put together and put out better than others. Moreover it consist of at least two-perhaps more-- add on please- abilities. One abilty is the ability to improvize from options within a given set of skillsets. An example would be the scorer who not only possesses the basic skillsets others have-dribbling, shooting, posting up, slashing etc- but is able to weave them and mix and match these different components in a creative way that allows for additional options to exploit with the ball. Jordan, Kobe and our own Crawford anyone.
Another component of talent is the capacity/ability to be able to improve upon or maximize the effectiveness of a given skillset or set of skillsets. Reggie made an art of working the picks and the catch and shoot as has one of his admirers Rip Hamilton, Olajuwon took footwork in the paint for a big man to a new level with his dreamshake and fade, Jordan mastered the fade away to the discontent of many an adversary, Kareem made that skyhook a thing of beauty.
That's my basic take on how I see the skill talent distinction- artisan artist that I was reffering to in a question I posed- stumped- Lives with.
I believe what the author of this piece on Marbury is speaking to is to the concept of professionalism and maleability "coachability", which many here and around the vast fanbase of the NBA believe is wilting and at times dissapearing.
The article talks about Duhon's maleabilty to adapt and take to his coache's instruction/guidance. The article also speaks to Duhon's professionalism in how he goes about approaching what is surely the grind of the NBA season.
The purported maleability and coachability of Duhon is contrasted with Marbury's stubborness and obstinence. Murbury no doubt has skills and is very talented but to date most would agree that he has neither been the most coachable nor professional Knick. ]
Happy Halloween all.
Hope the Knicks trick the Sixers and don’t treat them to a no defensive showing that they, the Sixers, exploit to the Knicks’ detriment.
By Orange and Blue on Oct 30, 2008 at 11:26 pm
would be great if GS threw in Anthony Randolph too lol!!! Damnit, would be nice if the Knicks got the better end of these deals for once… jeez
By thelegacy on Oct 30, 2008 at 11:34 pm
I heard the chant of “We want Steph” but that was coming from a bunch of uneducated basketball fans and not real Knicks fans. Those same fans, who chanted we want Steph, probably want Isiah Thomas here too.
By Edward Drossman on Oct 31, 2008 at 11:08 am
Game tonight at 7 vs Philly.
Hope we get a treat!
Happy Halloween.
By Edward on Oct 31, 2008 at 1:32 pm