Was just watching the local NYC news just now when the sports portion of the program came up. They showed the Nets highlights and I was surprised to see Vince Carter can still get up so high on those lob passes, that’s impressive that at his age he can still be so athletic. The Nets lost, however.
The Knicks were the next topic. Stephon Marbury did not dress for the last game against the Sixers, and they cut to interview footage of Donnie Walsh saying he hasn’t spoken to Mike D’Antoni about it and basically did not know anything about whatever is going on between D’Antoni and Marbury. The sports crew at WCBS was highly skeptical about that claim. They also couldn’t understand if Marbs is indeed on the way out (obviously he is) why they wouldn’t want to play him to boost his trade value (especially since he’s believed to be in his best shape in years).
Another newscaster jumped in on the Knicks discussion and said “I heard it’s all Dolan, and Donnie Walsh is taking the blame for it.” I don’t know why it hadn’t occurred to me sooner, but this does sound like something Dolan would do. Micromanage this Knicks team after having promised Walsh full autonomy over basketball-related decisions. Dolan probably blames Marbury for the ABS trial debacle, although it was Isiah Thomas who was in the end found guilty of sexual harassment.
With the Knicks now 1-1 I’m going to make my season win prediction now of 41-41. I guess I’m the eternal optimist but I do think there are some more personnel changes in store for the Knicks before the February trade deadline. Get rid of the bad attitudes, get rid of the deadweight. Since Patrick Ewing, Jr. was none of those things, I think Walsh is off to a less than stellar start, but Duhon was a good pickup and the jury is still out on Gallinari. People who are already claiming Gallo is a bust are probably just haters. We haven’t seen enough to come to any conclusions, not about Gallo, not even about the 2008-2009 Knicks, really.
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
Who got rid of the people?
Turns out most of the people on here were Isiah Thomas fans, so it’s a good thing that they’re gone.
@ Jackie J. That was funny. I hope after today we all get a signal that diversity, including differences of opinion, is a good thing. It builds strong communities. Intolerance destroys them. I look for a historic lesson and an elevation of my country today. Get out to vote Defenders no matter who you support.
What’s up?Here’s a few thoughts posted yesterday at the other spot to get the ball rolling again.Welcome back KD.
Morning gents, a few perambling ruminations for the K-nation.Submitted for your sublime contemplations.
Stephon is hist-story.His tale, viewed as happy or sad, is a sociological study of entitlement based on the effects of racism.There is a lot to learn there no matter whose role, whether the oppressed or the oppressor, the enabled or enabler, that you choose to view it from.Curry can be perceived through the same lens with the added personal personality traits that prevent him from being an NBA superstar.If he sleeps comfortably in his bed then it’s all good.If not the irony is he will probably write a book and end up as an excellent motivational speaker on the rubber chicken circuit.Oprah awaits!
I have no problem with Coach D’Antoni wanting to make it with his own team.I am puzzled with his lack of de/fence.NYers who have been around the block a few times are holding on to their respective wallets with his lip service to de/fence, or is it deference to a one dimentional viewpoint on the game?What we’re hearing opposed to what we’re seeing looks very much like the shell game you find being played on a busy street corner.Here’s a quote from Frank Itoldya
.
“So much for the Knicks putting up pinball machine numbers and turning the Garden upside down. And the problem isn’t that they haven’t grasped D’Antoni’s offense; it’s that they still play the same lame defense.”
Mike is that your hand in my back pocket, or are you just glad to see me?
Okay, okay enough negativity.It takes time to change things.Believe it or not I would trade Jamal.Why? Because he is too mentally fragile and plays no D.He is a subtle factor in not being a positive consistent person.I like him a lot as a person and a great talent, but he needs to come off the bench for a winner.It’s that or get him a shrink.He cares too much.Most big time scorers are selfish pricks inside no matter what they say on the outside.He’s not.Just an observation.What to do?What to do Mikey!Well, how about, “Let let Mikey taste it! He’ll try anything!”
Along those lines I suggest Mikey reads, “Born to Coach”, by NY Knick coach Rick Pitino who also loved to run, and WIN, but also believed in defense.He became coach after the Knicks had averaged about 23 wins per for 3 years.He inherited a bunch of so called losers and turned things SLOWLY around by creating a positive attitude, getting everyone(almost everyone-had to trade a few) in shape and putting in some killer defenses to create havoc, turnovers etc. a few quotes from 1988.
“The basic premise of my system is to fatigue your opponents with constant pressure defensively and constant movement offensively.(Sound familiar?) You’re trying to get more shots then your opponents by forcing more turnovers. By using multiple substitutions and ten to eleven players, you go into the final five minutes of play as the superior-conditioned team.” Pg.9
“It’s based on the theory that as the game has become more physical, passing the basketball has become a lost art. Most teams, at every level of basketball, have two or three players who don’t pass well. We never trapped a control dribbler or a stationary passer. What we wanted was to trap the speed dribbler, constantly forcing the ball handler to make decisions and adjustments on the run. Our match-up press reacted to what the offense did and to beat us the offense had to react to us. That’s why it was difficult to prepare for our defenses.”pg.29
“See?” Pitino yells excitedly. “See what you’re doing? You’re making them make four or five decisions every time they catch the ball, and they can’t do it Can you see what you’re doing?”
“That’s not a small thing. It’s a major thing. The number one thing in our press is deflections.”
“Deflections…deflections…deflections…get a hand on it …deflection.” Pg.41
“This is the first time I’m pissed off in the NBA, Pitino said out of the side of his mouth so no one can see or hear. And it all because of you. I don’t care if you miss free throws. I don’t care if you miss shots. Hustle. Run. Do something. Make something happen.”
Where’s Balkman when you need him Mike?
Do what you wanna do Mike.But in NYC we know shit from Shinola.Read Pitino, a NYC guy, if you want a few hints on how to do it right, and stop treating us like we’re the ones that just got off the bus.
Marbury to sit the bench, no buyout or trade is coming:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3682264
I want to get paid 21 million to sit on a bench and practice with the Knicks, would someone please sign me up for that. If the Knicks keep losing with the players they have is this a good decision?
Previous Comment by Bilz not Kd. My brothers using my computer apparently.
Gallo can;t be properly judges until the middle of year 3 and even the 4th year.
I have no problem waiting for a young kid like that. He’s going to be a stud.
cheer up guys.. were 2-2 and possibly 3-2 tonight… above .500 for once.. we’ve come a long way folks. lol!
turns out you were right thelegacy.
knicks pick up another w.
didn’t get to see the entire game but i did like what little i saw from nate and zbo. haven’t even looked at the stats but the team seems to be coming together little by little.
3-2. this is the biggest winning percentage we’ve had in years.
i think much of this has to do with new leadership in the back court. chris duhon, a team-oriented point guard who plays d. that’s the antithesis of what we’ve had since somebody traded for marbs years ago.
more change is coming. i don’t know if i like al harrington for the knicks, depends on who is given up. plus, we already have glut of small forwards on the knicks that need pt, giving up a center (although clearly an underachieving center) for a position we already have enough of isn’t very logical at this point.
i remember the days when jerrod mustaf was our best three, and it was basically our weakest position. now we have threes, are rumored to be interested in acquiring more threes and will go after even more threes in 2010.
Who gives a sh– about Marbury
well, for one, I’d say the person who has to sign off on 21.7 million dollars to pay marbury for this season.
“well, for one, I’d say the person who has to sign off on 21.7 million dollars to pay marbury for this season” well that was Isiah Thomas and he’s gone. So again I ask, who gives a sh– about Marbury. Let Marbury and Curry rot on the end of the bench.
see that’s where you’re wrong. the person who signs off currently is james dolan, not isiah thomas.
And Dolan is an idiot too, but we can’t get rid of him.