These morning shoot-arounds are getting boring
So Isiah Thomas is no longer talking about his job status. What else is there to talk about? Stephon Marbury had his boot on and talked a little more about his injury. He and Glen Grunwald actually match now. Grunwald has a boot on his leg after some recent surgery. With all this talk about Marbury's future with the Knicks likely headed for the end, Grunwald could literally give Steph the boot.
Catcalls. Hisses. Boos. Lemme hear them. I'm like Michael Richards at the Apollo: no suitable material.
Despite his protective boot, Stephon was nimble enough to dance around a few questions about his sudden bone-spur ailment. Such as, if the team were in a playoff race, would you delay the rehabilitation? I can't go into that. That's the future.
So 10-26 doesn't play into this?
My foot is messed up and I've got to do what's right for my body.
Are we all satisfied now?
*
Isiah said he wants to wait until the MRI results on Thursday before he considers a long-term plan without Marbury. Right now, the short-term is Fred Jones will start -- welcome back from hibernation, Fred! -- but not much really changes. Jamal Crawford has had the ball in his hands now the majority of the time, with or without Stephon in the lineup.
Long-term, you might think Isiah would turn to Nate Robinson at the point and let the kid use the remainder of the season to show what he can do, learn from his mistakes and prove himself a starting point guard. Then again, only last week Isiah said he didn't quite consider Nate as the "point guard of the future."
Hey Mardy. Feel like playin' today?
*
Nothing more amusing than walking into the shoot-around and seeing Renaldo Balkman and Jerome James having the time of their lives while shooting free throws. It really should be termed "practicing" free throws, but, really, let's not call it what it isn't. At least while he continues to work hard in his rehabilitation, Jerome can set a good example for young players.
Wait, let's not call it what it isn't.
*
On my drive today had the MP3 on random. Couldn't help but change some lyrics. See if you can name the songs. See if you can find me a good shrink.
-----------
Windin' your way down 33rd Street
Light in your head and dead on your feet
Well another crazy day
You think they came to play
But they forget about everything
This city's team leaves you with a hole
It's got expensive players but it's got no soul
And it's taking Jim so long
To find out you were wrong
When you thought it had everything
You used to think that it was so easy
You used to say that it was so easy
But you're tryin'
You're tryin' now
Another year, you swear, they'll be happy
Just one more year and they'll all be happy
But they're cryin'
They're cryin' now....
-----------scritcha, scritcha-------------------
Meet Grady, a 29 year old construction worker
After putting in another hard days work,
he heads to the Garden to watch the Knicks
only to find them down by 20 at the half
(Fire Isiah!)
[Knix Fix]
Alright calm down, relax, have a beer...
[Knix Fix's alter-ego]
Forget all that, this team sucks every year!
You work all day to watch this team look tired?
To hell with patience, this dude needs to get fired!
[Knix Fix]
Wait! What if there's an explanation for this already?
(What? He didn't realize Zach would hinder Eddy?!)
Alright Shady, maybe he's right Grady
But think about the tickets before you get all crazy
[Knix Fix's alter-ego]
Okay! Thought about it, still wanna renew?
Sign the big pink slip and go protest on 7th Avenue!
That's what I'd do, be smart, don't be a dingleberry
You gonna take advice from somebody who tried to defend Mike Milbury??!
[Knix Fix]
Whatchu say?
[Knix Fix's alter-ego]
What's wrong? Didn't think I'd remember?
[Knix Fix]
I'ma kill you!
[Knix Fix's alter-ego]
Ah-a, temper temper!
Mr. Newsday? Say hey? Givin' sympathy to Starbur-ray?
Ink-loaded uzi so you better make way?
How you gonna tell a fan what you think you know?
[Knix Fix]
Cause I've seen this situation a few times before
Been there, done that...and did the Islanders turn it around?
Wait, you're right.
Burn this thing to the ground.
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Comments (14)
Love the changeup on Eminem. hahaha.
Is this a basketball blog or The Singing Cowboy's website?
You really fell offf, hahn.
i liked summer-you alot better.
...and i liked the summer-knicks with playoff expectations and dreams of zach and eddy dominating together in the low post a lot better.
after a 10-26 start to the season, things change. and after you know that the coach and gm who are in charge of that mess are staying for good, there's nothing left to write about.
Love the lyrics, Alan. Keep'em coming. Perhaps a "Best Lyrics" contest, like the New Yorker's caption contest. What songs can be adapted to best describe the current culture of chaos at MSG? Off the top of my head, I still think the Beatles said it most succinctly with "Help!"
Sorry -- that was me, above . . . my computer is supposed to do that stuff for me ? ? ?
Keep up the good work Hahn, surely this hasn't been what you envisioned when you landed this gig.
Oh and Trane, you probably cleared your history or something along those lines
alan, stick to writing...drop rapping? even vanilla ice laughs at you.
hey, how'd that ? get in there.....
Do Bock!
I am on the road in North Dakota (-14 F) and missed a good game. We actually kept a lead? Is the post Steph chemistry kickin in? And did I hear we almost had Villinueva?
Somebody hit me up with how the team looks on the court, bench, Wal-mart, anywhere? Are they serious and is N8 looking good (8dimes,8assist:)
Welcome back peaceman.
BAZ - It was a good game - sort of the opposite of a lot of the losses this season. The Knicks built a 20+ point lead early and Washington couldn't catch them. The closest they got I think was 7 - enough to keep you watching, but never really a threat.
Jamal shot the ball unusually well, looking to pass and not hoisting a ton of running threes. But the surprise hero had to be Q - he made a bunch of shots in a row at the start of the game when the Knicks were building their big lead, and moved the ball as well. He looked like a different player out there from what we've seen this season.
That's two pretty impressive wins in a row (Detroit may have been road weary, but its not like that one was close). I posted the other day that I was skeptical that getting rid of Marbury could make that much of a difference, but its enough to make even this harsh Isiah critic wonder. With the Nets up next (who the Knicks have owned this season) there is a good chance for three straight.
If the Knicks can make it interesting for a somewhat comical run for a playoff spot. Ronaldo "Taz" Balkman will most definitely be the MVP of this dismal and in uninspiring season.
Balkman is the man, the energy, and the ingredient to any run they make. Off the bench he complements Lee, Robinson, Q-Rich, Jones well. I would like to see Balkman get more playing time. It's funny - the one who got booed on draft night is probably their missing link for success minus Starbury. Granted , he need to shoot better, free throws, but his hustle and heart is inspiring a team that needs a lift.
Last night’s win feels very reminiscent of the run they put together last year around this time, before the injuries hit. Even when the Knicks were winning last year, it always felt like the result of someone getting hot at the right time. It was more about energy and individual talent than a team coming together . . . or turning the corner . . . or whichever cliché you prefer. Last night was another great example of that. Especially if, to win a game, the Knicks need an opponent to be coming off 4 games in 5 nights . . . AND they need Crawford to hit 6 of 7 3-point shots AND they need Q to play probably his most productive half of the year. It hasn’t been a secret all year that the Knicks would be a better team if they had a decent small forward. For 24 minutes last night they did. But which Q can we expect the rest of the way? Odds are we’ll see a lot more of the Q from the second half, not the first half. One legitimate good sign is that Nate’s play of late doesn’t appear to be a fluke. Indeed, finally given some consistent minutes, he seems to be picking up just where he left off last summer in Vegas.
What last night’s game showed us is that Isiah probably has put together a very respectable backcourt tandem for a very strong second unit. The Knicks subs could do a lot worse than Nate and Crawford. Now all they need is a starting point guard and a starting shooting guard, and the backcourt problems will be solved. Then they just need to get a starting small forward . . . a starting center . . . and decide whether Lee and/or Randolph could be a decent rotation at the 4.
Isiah’s roster is the deepest 2nd unit in the league. Now all they need is a starting unit and we’re all set.