This is not your previous year’s New York Knicks.
Here we are, 20% of the season already gone. Two major trades that sent our top two scorers out west and in return we received only two healthy bodies and some cap space to be used at some point down the road.
Here we are, 8-8, hovering at .500, despite a couple recent blowouts in the aftermath of the capspace moves. We still don’t have enough healthy bodies to even practice, but we managed to get a win last night with only 7 players in the rotation. Golden State was without their big guns, but a win is a win in the NBA.
Here we are, in the 8th playoff spot as of today, without Stephon Marbury’s services, but still with all of his negative karma, for now. D’Antoni isn’t going to let him play no matter what, but that hasn’t stopped Marbury from making headlines and causing turmoil in the locker room.
If Mobley never plays in a Knick uni, and D’Antoni gets this particular group of short, no-defense players to somehow get into the first round of the playoffs, he deserves coach of the year. Last year’s Knicks team won just 23 games. It is still November and we’re on pace to nearly double that number of wins.
To no one’s suprise, Lee’s numbers are up since Zach Randolph has been moved. Lee may or may not be here by the time the summer of 2010 rolls along, but Walsh isn’t about to let him walk for nothing, should he have to go.
What was our record at this time last year? We were still talking about ABS last year at this time, not that Stephon Marbury this year is any sort of conversational upgrade, but it seems to me that the powers that be at MSG have pinpointed the problem, and since they have, the Knicks haven’t lost as much as they have in recent years.
Duhon should pay someone to optimize his name in google search so that all those girls from Duke University don’t come up. Not a single return in a Knicks uni, just lap dances from white girls at undisclosed locations.
But on the court, he’s doing just fine as a Knick IMO.
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
Did you take the black and white photograph? If so – very impressive. I’m jealous you were close enough to see the reflection of the players on the floor! That’s art.
steph did it to himself the show must go on! and should go on without him
Cumbaya my cumbaya!
I will say that I figured the team would be hovering a tad below 500% at this juncture so [ ]‘antoni has surpassed my expectations.
I saw the team as a 35-38 win team this year before the trades. I’m not quite sure how they’ll finish now. [ ]‘antoni has to acclimate the new guys into the mix. But Thomas and Harrington are much more athletic players and are capable of attacking the rim far better than Zach. Yet those two could be better rebounders- saw signs against the woefully thin Warriors front line of Biedrins but lets see how that fares against Portland and the other big frontlines of the NBA.
Yes TT especially needs to step it up on D and rebounding… too bad Mobley may not play….i guess once the decision is made re : his future the Knicks may troll the D leageu to pick up another guard
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3736322
Przybilla really was the x-factor in the game tonight imo.
a shot blocker makes a huge difference in the game.
it also helps/hurts when the refs miss obvious calls (fouls, traveling, ect.)
Marbury needs to take advice from MJ (no not # 23) the gloved on and take a lot @ the man in the mirror…..KD yes Pryzbilla made a big impact down low on both ends…the Knicks need a glass eater/shot eraser in the worst way
Chris Webber And Gary Paton were on NBA TV tonight coming to Stephon Marbury’s defense saying that what Q.Rich said about Marbury not being a teamate was wrong, that Marbury did everything that was asked of him, and also that Q.Rich is lucky to be in the league right now and shouldn’t talk about what other members of his team are doing. While Q.Rich is truly shitty player, anyone comes to Marbury’s defense at this point is truly retarded themselves, he’s not a team player and if you cant recognize that your ignorant.
http://www.ohio.com/sports/cavs/35432519.html
agreed Bliz …Q is not perfect but I am sure the players that Marbury has played with these past few years are fed up with him… I can see where Q was coming from where was Steph’s team spirit when he left them in PHX last year ..when he threatened to “tell all” on Isaiah (the one man who had his back thru most of his Knick tenure) when… he did not really speak to Tim Thomas during TT’s first Knick run, but gives the man an Ipod when TT went to Chi-town in the Curry deal… Lets not forget he went sour on fou
I guess the team is giving him taste of his own medicine …
Anyone hear any updates on Mobley,,, the team could use his D at the 2 and outside stroke
Hey Saipan
Check the NY Post
Berman has an article indicating that Mobley is mulling a medical retirement. The Knicks in such a scenario would save 75% off of Mobley’s salary were that to come to pass. I read the medical retiremetn will open up a roster spot, which the Knicks are inclined to use on either Ewing Jr. or on an Alan Houston redux.
The Knicks will now, unless a capable guard is signed to replace Mobley, be severely short handed at the guard spots. Aside from Nate and Duhon the Knicks have no other capable guard. Crawford is gone, Mardy’s budget friendly size, defense and point gaurd skills are gone. The knicks only have Roberson/Chuckerson launching shots that miss way more often than make, who doesn’t provide what the other Knicks guards provided IMHO.
I will agree with the general sentiment that Marbury is not a team player and he did bring alot of the recent storm upon himself. No doubt that is a consensus all can agree on.
But I do think the organizations braintrust, lametrusted the Marbury affair. They did well in marginalizing him and containing him by showing him that Walsh and [ ]‘anotni are the ones running the show. Having him take a lesser role and shorter minutes off the bench in the preseason was a correct approach, and where Marbury fell in line he could have been utilized when needed to provide roster depth at the guard spot and allowed the Knicks to play a deeper bench- of course that is anthetical to [ ]‘antoni’s approach. But the Knicks as an organization used the sword of Damucles where a scalpel would have sufficed to remove and contain the team cancer that was Marbury, In so doing they guaged themselves and sullied themselves where that clearer could have been avoided.
Irrational reactionary attack on my comments in 5, 4, 3, 2, …
Joe Johnson as Pippen to Lebron’s Jordan not a bad Idea.
But the team seriously needs size inside. No not the crispy cream, big time heisting the knicks salary cap size that the twin garbage towers of Curry and James provide. But rather a mobile athletic active big with a good motor. Doesn’t need to be the man on the scoring end just competent but needs to provide the size and aggression to slow the easy pass opposing teams have been having at the Knicks lane.
I agree with the positive sentiment towards Zach, Z-Bo the Hero I say. He was a pawn b/c of his huge contract compare to his limitations but he played hard was willing to conform and take the opportunity for what it was even if the end result for him was to become a one way ticket out of NYC. He handled it as professionally and graciously as anyone could. Bravo Z-Bo, Bravo!
I actually would like Walsh, [ ]‘antoni and Marbury to go to couples therapy and stop acting like stubborn children in the sandbox making a mess of a situation that could go quietly and painlessly into the night. Walsh and [ ]‘antoni could use Marbury at the very least to provide relief to the overtaxed backourt that is now w/o not only nate but perhaps Mobley depending on the outcome of his follow ups with Dr.s on his heart condition.
Now the fool wants to play the organization needs depth at the guard spot. Rise above everyone play goodbye while setting perameters as to whose the conductor and orchestrators. Let a motivated Marbury use the time to prep his ticket to italy and ta ta at the end of the season. No more drama with this dude ever again.
Agreed his situation could have been handled more smoothly… but hers’s Steph again showing he cannnot be trusted…. the team probably wont be able trade for him now b/c everybody knows the braintrust does not want him to play here…the time to do that would have been during preseason….I hope the reserves come soon… Duhon esp.. needs a rest!!!
Agreed Saipan:
Had the organization held it’s cards close to the vest with regards to Marbury conducted their show of force and unity to set Marbs in his place early on while deciding a course of action to contain the drama- sending him home or playing enough to show his wears- the outside perception of the organization as it pertains to Marbs would not be the same.
The bargaining position to trade him would be better that way. But they-the organization- dropped the ball there
I have a question for you guys…….
Before I ask let me just preface by saying I support Walsh and D’antoni becuase the culture of the franchise needed to be completely overturned. That being said, does anyone really think that after all is said and done in 2010, that a team can actually win a chip playing “run and gun” ?
NO!