Apologies for the weekend absence, Fixers. I needed a few days to get some sh, I mean, stuff, um, sorted out. Thanks to K-Berg and Hot Rod Boone for picking up the slack. And thanks to the Fixers for taking the keys off the table and keeping the place warm while I was away....loved the 'Fire Alan!' chant....also liked the suggestions.
I also agree you should give Wilson Chandler some more ticks. Why not? You know he'll play hard. But before we get to that and the discussion as to who to keep and who to dump in the Great Knick Rebuild, Part XII, let's get to current events....
Here we are a year and a day after the infamous brawl against the Denver Nuggets. I bring it up only because it provided a turning point of sorts in a season that was heading nowhere fast a a year ago. OK, so in hindsight the season still eventually headed nowhere, but it didn't happen as fast.
And that night, Dec. 16, had something to do with it. You as a crowd suddenly went from jeers to cheers because you loved the effort of the undermanned squad, which took last-second wins over Utah and Charlotte a year ago this week. The team went from whining about the lack of home crowd support to being galvanized by a roaring Garden.
They didn't win with much more frequency, but their effort was more respectable. Stephon Marbury emerged out of the doldrums in January and for most of the second half of the season was the Knicks' best player. They were on the verge of capturing a playoff berth, mainly because the East was filled with teams that had losing records.
You noticing what I'm noticing?
No, I'm not jumping on any bandwagons. In fact, I stick to what I've been saying all along: this team needs a ball-moving point guard and a shot-blocking center (not named Jerome James, that is). One of the two has to have some leadership quality. The rest of this team is fine as it is, loaded with a strong supporting cast of foot soldiers. All they need is a cause (like they had last year, when they were rallying around Isiah Thomas).
We've been hearing from Isiah that there is still plenty of season left. A little less than three-quarters remain. But take a peek at the January schedule and you have to believe these next two weeks are what will judge what this season will be all about. You have Indiana tonight, Cleveland on Wednesday and Charlotte on Friday. Then at MSG against the Lakers, at Orlando and home against Chicago to end the calendar year.
At nine games under .500 already, you can't afford anything less than 4-2 over this stretch. I don't care what the Nets, Cavs and Bulls are doing. You are 3.5 games behind Milwaukee for the final playoff spot.
And if you're still there in January, then it's time to start worrying what the Nets, Cavs and Bulls are doing, because history shows these teams to have the ability to run off a winning streak. This Knicks group never won more than three straight last season and two-in-a-row is this year's longest run of success.
So will it be playoff calls or ping-pong balls? These next two weeks might provide the answer.
* *
* - Stephon Marbury participated in the shoot-around this morning, but didn't speak. We're told he is planning to maintain some media silence while he works his way back into shape.
* - Malik Rose was here, too, and, apparently, the story that he didn't make practice yesterday because his car was snowed-under is legit. Neither Rose nor Thomas will suggest the veteran is getting traded or cut any time soon. You can bet if he is put on waivers, teams such as the Nets, Cleveland and even the Bulls might want to grab him up to strengthen their respective benches.
Comments (5)
I hear that last playoff spot talk. It would mean more if I felt this team was our future. I have recommended tanking. But not tanking by trying to lose. Hell this team can do that on their own. I would like to see some players get some minutes and the point and SF spot. Namely Collins, Nate, and Chandler. I know they are not the answer but I believe we have a better chance being better next year with high draft picks than keeping this team together.
If we buy out Steph in the off-season prior to Oct 1 we use the Alan Houston rule and we catch a tax break on his salary. Then maybe he can go play for ring and prove us all wrong. Dumping Malik as well will free up two roster spots.
I'll keep Curry and the rest of the team as long as we can draft a PG and C to challenge people. We have great role players I agree. Riding the next two seasons out with youth can be enticing to free agents who could be available.
Sorry Alan and others who think I am quitting on the team. They all ready quit or can't play together. They have way too much talent not to win games. That was point about NJ the other night. Others mistook it as claiming our win was not legit. I meant they have talent and trouble coexisting and winning as well.
I'm not screaming for Isiah's or Dolan's head. If I were Dolan I wouldn't cave to the media pressure either. Sorry I can't get excited about struggling to win the 8th spot.That was last year. I really thought making the playoffs wouldn't be a problem this year.
"Apologies for the weekend absence, Fixers. I needed a few days to get some sh, I mean, stuff, um, sorted out...."
In other words, a Jessica Simpson Save The Suburban Bacon Home Improvement Project.
I know the Knicks are always looking for the quick fix. And in the NBA when you need quick fixes usually you end up out of the playoff picture quickly with a blockbuster multi-player deal that goes no where. Does Isiah admit Eddy Curry was a huge mistake and trade him to salvage this season and whats left of his reputation? You have to come out of the gate with effort and wins like Boston has demonstrated to be a dominate NBA team. Not the case here in NY.
Now, the Knicks need a strong defensive presence and the ability to score. Josh smith is in the last year of his contract with the Hawks. He is young and can develop into a star with this team. Isiah took a shot with Steph and Curry and failed for franchise players. Josh smith is young and plays with passion. I would give this guy a night out on the town to lore him into the Knicks organization. Because, lets face no one is running here to play. If not, then consider bringing NY's Ron Artest in the picture. Fantasy basketball at the fantasy garden!!!
Baz writes:
"If we buy out Steph in the off-season prior to Oct 1 we use the Alan Houston rule and we catch a tax break on his salary."
Not True. This was a one-time exception and we didn't even use it on Houston.
Time to offer Curry for Artest with other players thrown in to make it work. Put Balkman in the deal if that's what it takes but not Lee.
Trade Marbury if we can get back expiring contracts, draft picks or a useful player. Otherwise buy him out and take the cap hit; his contract expires after 2009 anyway. This is addition by subtraction.
GIVE WILSON CHANDLER SOME MORE PLAYING TIME...
HE IS THE ONLY PERSON THAT CAN PLAY THE SMALL FORWARD SPOT THAT CAN DEFEND AND MAKE AN OPEN JUMPER (unlike balkman and jeffries)...
it seems like q-rich will never be the same player he was.
playing wilson.chandler might help the present,and the future.
I SEE CHANDLER LIKE A ANDRE IGLODALA TYPE.
i don't know what to expect from the knicks....the playoffs are only a remote.possiblity but maybe we can develop for the future.
I AM GLAD WE BEAT THE NETS THOUGH