Mailbag Responses!
Another jam-packed mailbag....Allan Houston was the hot topic. Let's get right to it....
Posted by Matt | October 11, 2007 19:15
Do you think that if Allan Houston makes the team it will be because he was good enough or because Dolan told Isiah to choose him for the team?
A: It seems the only influence Dolan had on the Allan Houston decision was to allow him to come in two weeks into camp and try out for a roster that is already full. You have to hope Dolan leaves it up to Isiah Thomas to decide whether Houston is capable of helping the team. You also have to think that Houston wouldn’t want a token roster spot just to ride the bench. The guy has more pride than that.
Posted by Flybanjo | October 11, 2007 19:16
whoo hoo! mailbag time!
Will Kobe be a Knick in February? Is there any other team out there that could top an offer of Zach, Jamal, Balkman and a No. 1?
Why all the fuss about finding minutes for David Lee? It seems easy: run a three-big rotation of Zach and Eddy, Eddy and David, David and Zach. Each guy logs 32 minutes and brings fresh legs into the playoffs. Is the plan really to play Zach and Eddy together for 38 minutes a night? Why? Why? Why?
A: I’ve been saying this all along, I believe the Lakers will seek a deal that returns them as close to equal talent as you can find in the NBA. Your offer isn’t strong enough, for one. You’d need to start any discussion with the Lakers with Eddy Curry, in my opinion, and decide that Zach Randolph will be your post presence. David Lee also would have to be in the equation. We’re talking about Kobe Bryant here. Don’t let what Minnesota got for Kevin Garnett fool you. That deal was a completely different circumstance. The Minnesota owner didn’t want to trade him to a team in the West and also didn’t want to take back a huge salary star. The Lakers can handle a huge salary star in return for Kobe.
As for the minutes, there is plenty to go around, especially if David Lee can play some three-spot. I would like to see them go with Lee, Zach and Eddy sometimes.
Posted by JT | October 11, 2007 19:41
any idea who the Knicks P-A announcer is tonight?
A: Uh, no. But I would prefer they find a guy who can imitate John Condon, the best ever.
Posted by Kenneth | October 11, 2007 19:51
Alan, what percent chance do you think nate has starting over stef anytime this year if he has any
A: Zero, unless Stephon is injured. Or goes crazy again. But I like what I’m seeing out of Nate so far this season. He’s showing a lot of maturity but also showing he has a much greater grasp of the offense and a greater determination to use his God-given athletic talents to make himself that pesky full-court defense guard no opposing PG wants to see.
Posted by Giaps | October 11, 2007 19:52
In my opinion, the Knicks have 12 guaranteed spots and 3 are up for grabs between 6 players.
Demtris Nichols
Jared Jordan
Fred Jones
Allan Houston
Malik Rose
Jerome James
Who do you think the Knicks WILL keep? Who do you think they SHOULD keep? Do you think Jared Jordan would go overseas?
Thanks!
A: Malik Rose should have a guaranteed spot. He’s invaluable. Isiah said today after practice that we shouldn’t expect Fred Jones to be going anywhere, so you can write his name in ink, too. That leaves us with Demetris Nichols, who is a longshot that will likely wind up in the D-League or picked up by another NBA team, Allan, who is a longer-shot with a lot of catching up to do, Jared Jordan, who you will see in the NBA D-League if he doesn’t go to Europe, and Jerome James, who has made himself a punchline by not showing up to camp ready to go for the second straight season. James would be the easy choice to cut to make room for someone like Nichols or Houston, but you have to keep in mind that James has three years and $18.6 million left on his contract. That’s a lot of cash to burn in order to keep a guy who might not play more than 5-10 mins a game. It’s not like the Knicks haven’t eaten contracts before so you never know, but Isiah hasn’t given any indication he would do that.
Posted by Michael | October 11, 2007 20:12
Last year the Knicks did not defend the three well. They were constantly beaten by open 3's. Has this weakness been addressed ?
A: Isiah says it will be addressed and defense, especially on the perimeter, has been a focus of training camp. A lot of the time the problem was with guards going under the screens instead of fighting over them. When you step below the screen, it allows the man you are guarding to step back for an open look while you are lost behind the screen. Fighting over it doesn’t allow the shooter to have time or space. But it hurts to do it this way, especially when you’re trying to fight through a screen by someone such as Ben Wallace or Jason Collins. Fred Jones is a good defender and a quick leaper. Renaldo Balkman, when he returns, is another who should help the Knicks with their perimeter D. But it also falls on Stephon Marbury to get through screens and stay with his man, which he did well through the second half of last season (once he got into shape). Jamal Crawford often loses his man and looks for help from the bigs, which can cause a defense to completely break down. If a drive-and-dish guard such as TJ Ford is allowed into the paint, it draws help defenders, which then opens up shooters for the kick-out. So, to me, defending the perimeter isn’t just about stopping shooters, it’s also about stopping the dribble penetration so there aren’t as many kick-outs for open threes as a result of guys dropping off the perimeter to help.
Man, I need a chalk board. Did any of that make sense, Michael?
Posted by Charlie O's | October 11, 2007 20:26
Looking at the east, the Atlantic in particular, where do you think this year's Knicks rank? Toronto is tough, but Bosh may be hurt, and the Nets just have the Knicks number. That said do you say 2 or 3 in the atlantic? Also where does that place the Knicks in the field of 8?
A: The more I watch this year’s team, the more I’m convinced they have enough to be a playoff team. Where they rank is impossible to say because I haven’t seen the other teams in the East that improved. Toronto is always a tough matchup for the Knicks and they’re loaded with shooters. Can they defend the Knicks, however? The Nets are getting older and they’re not 100 percent healthy. They’ll have a tough time defending both Eddy and Zach and the Knicks guards just have to do a better job defending. Again, Stephon has to keep Kidd in front of him. Maybe this is a job for Nate this year, to pester Kidd up the floor. Nate is strong enough to hold off Kidd on a post-up and quick enough to jump to defend his fade-away jumper. Boston is a very curious team. Gotta see them before you even try to predict. But, like I said, if the Knicks can finally stay healthy, they should be among the playoff contenders.
Posted by d | October 11, 2007 20:47
have you seen the defense of isiah on cosellout.com...what do you think of it?
A: No I haven’t and therefore I have no opinion of it. I don’t think Isiah needs defense right now, other than on the court. He’s put together a good team that should bring the playoffs back to New York this season. They have to stay healthy.
Posted by not Hawthorne Wingo | October 11, 2007 20:48
Which teams are most likely to make a trade and who, if anyone, do you think Isiah is shopping (not including JJames)? Also, do you think the Knicks will make a trade before they have to cut players? Thanks Alan.
A: I think Isiah would love to trade contracts instead of cutting them, but who is really going to take on the Jerome James contract? No one in their right mind. Isiah doesn’t have to cut anyone with a guaranteed contract. The only players outside of the 15 guaranteed are partial-guaranteed deals to Nichols, Jordan, Houston and the other rookies. But if one of the partials outplays one of the guaranteeds enough, then Isiah has a decision to make.
I don’t think he’s looking to make any big trades right now, to be honest. I think the Artest stuff has died down. I don’t think Kobe is a real option. I think this is your team right now.
Posted by Don | October 11, 2007 21:18
Which young player's (N8, MC, RM, DL, WC,)game will improve the most over the course of the season?
If a move is made by Charles Dolan, how does it all shake out?
Thanks Alan.
A: I say Nate has already made major improvements and he might only get better (watch him as a defensive player). Wilson Chandler is someone to watch as well. As for Charles Dolan, whatever he does, we won’t know about it. There has been talk of a shakeup at the top, but I don’t think it’ll be anything we see. The X-factor is David Stern and if he feels something should be done by the NBA. So far, nothing.
Posted by Oaklee | October 11, 2007 21:20
Do we have enough big men to get rid of jerome james??
who is the better rookie W.chandler or D.Nichols?
A: Randolph Morris can play the role of practice dummy to Eddy Curry. He’s strong enough to take that beating. But James has a lot left on his contract. It’s a lot of money to eat just to keep a guy off your roster. Right now, Chandler is ahead of Nichols because Chandler has serious athletic ability. He’s so young, I think he’s only scratched the surface of what he can do on a basketball court. It’s now all about his basketball IQ and how he is coached from here on in. So far he shows no signs of hesitation, which is good. Very, very athletic and strong.
Posted by Don | October 11, 2007 21:21
When I saw # 50, I thought Joe C. Merriweather was making a comeback.
A: I thought Greg Anthony might have gotten a shipment from BALCO.
Posted by kurland | October 11, 2007 21:24
do you really think that the knicks will come out of camp playing good enough D to compete for a playoff spot?
A: I wonder if their D will be good enough at the start of the season, but I can tell you that the second unit definitely can play D. They’re just not much of a half-court offensive group. But they can helter-skelter and get transition baskets. Zach and Eddy down low won’t be Ewing and Oakley on defense, that’s for sure.
Posted by Julio | October 11, 2007 22:18
Do you really think they'll make room for Alan Houston?
A: No, Julio, I don’t. I think they have to respectfully allow him to try out, but unless he can be the Allan Houston of old (and that’s asking a lot in a matter of two weeks after a two-year layoff), I think he’ll officially call it a career on Nov. 1.
Posted by JohnQ | October 11, 2007 22:48
Hey Alan,
I have a media question. Why is it that we have 3 different papers, 6 beat writers and it seems that there are 2 of the same stories that run in each paper ? Why does it seem these stories share the same insights and observations with just a touch of the particular writers flair ? Don't think I'm calling you out Alan, you've been great this whole summer. Is it the limited time granted to team access? Do you guys sit too close to each other ? What is it ?
A: That’s a good question, JohnQ, because for those of you who have the time to read all of the papers – not everyone does – you tend to notice that. It happens in all sports and it’s more noticeable in New York because there are so many newspapers. Some days the story is just the obvious story, the news. Isiah and Al Sharpton. Eddy Curry’s injury. Allan Houston’s comeback. You are obligated to write the news of the day first. You aren’t supposed to assume everyone is reading all of the coverage. I can’t think, ‘Well, they’ll read this in the Times, so I’ll write something else.’ You have to assume they’re only reading your paper.
When there is no real news, I try to avoid the “pack mentality” that can exist. Everyone kind of follows the story of the day. Some days you can’t help it, but most of the time we all hate writing the same stories. It’s something we talk about as a beat. But, again, sometimes you can’t avoid it. The pack mentality also works against individuality because, for example, you always have to be aware if a few writers are talking to Stephon Marbury and you’re chatting with someone else. You worry that Marbury might say something crazy – wouldn’t shock you at this point – and you’re the only paper that won’t have it. You will eventually have it happen to you, perhaps more than once, and eventually you learn to get over it.
Of course we talk about the team when we’re together. We spend a lot of time together on the road, at airports, waiting for practice to end, etc. It’s impossible not to talk about the team. We don’t share secrets and certainly don’t talk about what one should write and the other should write. We do tease each other about certain things we may write or predictions gone bad, etc. That’s part of the fun and the only way to get through the long grind of the season.
My goal is to always offer the best insight I possible can with the resources we are given, which are: Isiah on a daily basis and the players as they walk off the court or are in the locker room. I also try to draw from my basketball background to offer insight on things others might not see or notice. There are veterans on the beat who have experience to reference things from the past. But no matter who asks the question, everyone can hear it and hears the answer from Isiah. So even though you had the insight to ask the question, everyone else gets the answer in its context. See what I mean?
Hope this explained it.
Posted by knicksome | October 11, 2007 23:12
Hey Allan thought we lost you there for a bit.
If Allan Houston show that he has his shooting touch and could give the knicks a good 15 to 20 min per game but doesnt have his defence locked down, do you think IT wouldnt want him on the team and who would he cut if he did?
Thanks Allan !
A: Wait, I’m Alan. He’s Allan. Got it? OK!
I think if Houston is still the lights-out shooter he once was and can move well around the court, he’d find a way to get him on the roster. Defense is a concern, but if you can add a great shooter you do. That’s my opinion. You don’t cut a guy who can still drain the mid-range like Allan used to. But if his defense is the equivalent of a traffic cone, you might have issues.
Posted by Shamgod | October 11, 2007 23:20
Get a load of this load from our friend @ nypost
<
We all know what happened next, but why so negative so early huh?
A: I don’t think any of us were intently negative, Shamgod. We had a good idea that the result would be what it was. Most of us were having fun with the fact that Macabbi got off to a good start and the Garden was roaring in favor of the visiting team. But I don’t need to defend a competitor. All the more reason to stick with Newsday, baby.
Posted by Hani | October 12, 2007 00:28
Hi Alan,
First, you're blog is by far the best knicks blog out there. I love your insight and all the inside information you provide. You do a great job, keep it up!
1) Just watched the tel aviv game, was really impressed with Fred Jones. I think he has alot more to offer, especially on defense, than Allan Houston can offer. Do you really see this as a competition, or are they just saying that out of respect for Allan?
2) John Hollinger from ESPN has the Hawks and Bobcats in the playoffs and the nets and raptors out. What are your thoughts on that? I personally see 4 teams coming out of the atlantic, detroit, cleveland, and bulls coming out of the central, and only one team coming out of the south? What do you think?
A: Thanks Hani. As I pointed out earlier in this mailbag, Isiah has already said that Fred Jones isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. I don’t think there is a competition yet and there may not be. Right now, this is a respectful gesture toward a former Knick. It’s up to Houston to make it more than that.
As for John Hollinger, I can’t see the Hawks and Bobcats being better than either the Raptors or Nets. Early on, I have Boston and Chicago as the teams to beat in the East. Miami, New Jersey and Detroit are the old standards you have to come to play. The Knicks will be like Orlando and Washington, if you don’t bring your game, you’ll lose.
Posted by Pat | October 12, 2007 00:33
Is Isiah Thomas as nice of a guy as he portrays in his post game press conferences? or is he just a good speaker?
A: That’s a good question Pat. Isiah is very good when it comes to playing the camera. He has the charming smile and keeps his voice soft and respectful. I don’t know him well enough on a personal level – we’ve chatted privately only a few times and always felt he was cool – to say he’s a phony or anything like that. We see him a lot without cameras around and he is usually the same guy. I can tell you this, his players love him. That’s all you need as a coach.
Posted by Tod | October 12, 2007 07:00
I was wondering if you could see Fred Jones being more valuable to the team than Mardy Collins? Fred Jones had 13 last night and was definitely one of the 10 best Knicks on the court. Mardy isn't much of a defender, has no shot, and isn't overly graceful. He can pass, but are you really excited when he gets put in. Fred Jones can play D, shoot the three, pass, and is very athletuc. he also seems to be upping Nate's game. Would you consider cutting Mardy instead of Fred if Allan makes the team?
A: Actually, Tod, Mardy is a very good defender. Right now, however, he is not playing at 100 percent. His knee, which was scoped last spring, appears to be still giving him some trouble. He’s not as fast as he was last season and sure isn’t showing the hops he had. Mardy has long arms and is strong, he has the tools to be a very good defender. Fred does, as well. Quick leaper, very athletic and strong. Ugly shooting form, but it’s been going in so far in preseason. Don’t know if you just cut Mardy like that. Not sure I’d want to go that route, but if Allan Houston is the Allan Houston of old, perhaps you can trade a guy for a second-round pick or something. Mardy would get you something on the trade market. He’s so cheap in salary.
Posted by Tim | October 12, 2007 08:33
Hey Alan, I just started reading your blog this summer, and now I read it every day. Keep up the good work. What concerns me most about this team is that we have a lot of players on the same mediocre/abve average level. The top teams in the NBA have their superstars, their role players, and their garbage time players. I just don't see any clear division of heirarchy with the Knicks, and we have a lot of duplicates. Is Isiah planning on tinkering any more with this roster, or is he hoping that players will just progress? (And by the way, James is worthless.)
A: Thanks for the compliments, Tim. I hope you keep reading and post comments. Get into the conversation. What concerns you is what I actually like about this team. No real major ego. Even Stephon, who used to strut the strut, has toned his game down to more of a team-first role. I think there’s not enough of that in the NBA. Now I know you mean that they don’t have superstar talent, which you are correct. Marbury did and still does in flashes, like we saw last season. Curry could be, but we don’t know yet. Randolph is a second-tier kind of star talent. I’d put Crawford there, too. Then you have David Lee off the bench. Perhaps there’s more talent spread on this roster than, say, in Boston, where the talent is loaded in three spots and then sparse everywhere else. Just another way to look at it (optimistic point of view).
I don’t see Isiah looking to make any major moves at this time.
Posted by Jon | October 12, 2007 09:27
So Alan, About that Brooklyn Arena... just kidding. Not sure if anyone has asked, but how do you see the Knicks season going from a statistical stand point? The Knicks have a lot of big-numbers guys on this team in Curry, Zach, Marbury, Crawford, Q, Lee, etc. Will anyone average more then 17 PPG? Will we see a different leading scorer everynight based ont he match up? Will certain guys take a hit from their career norms like Marbury did last year? I know it's one question, one poster but these all kind of tie in!
PS 50% of this question has to do with my fantasy teams, 50% is sheer curiosity!
A: No more Brooklyn Arena talk! Not until they actually start building this mythical place.
I think the Knicks have several fantasy-league type of players. Zach Randolph (scoring, rebounding, minutes played) is certainly one. David Lee (scoring, rebounding, field goal percentage). Curry (field goal percentage, scoring), Marbury (assists-to-turnover, minutes) and Quentin Richardson (three-point shooting). I think you’ll still see Eddy at 20 ppg, Zach at 18 ppg and 9-10 rebounds. Lee at 10 and 10. Jamal in the teens. You’ll see a balance of double-fig scorers. Marbury’s numbers might go down, but, like I said, his assist-to-turnover might be something to watch.
Posted by karma | October 12, 2007 09:42
Is Sharpton still calling for a boycott of the Knicks, or is he taking Isiah's word that he did not say what the video deposition showed he said?
A: Good question karma. It certainly disappeared as quickly as it came. Worth a follow-up.
Posted by SteveO | October 12, 2007 09:43
Hey Alan -- I've been lurking around all summer reading your posts, and I just wanted to say thanks for throwing us all the insight that doesn't fall neatly under a news lead. The only question I have: Is there any reason NOT to unload Jerome James? I just don't see one, but we're all still speculating. Why is booting him not a given?
Keep up the good work, man ...
A: Hey SteveO, stop lurking and join the fray. That’s what the comments area is for. But thanks for being among the Fixer Nation. The reason to not unload Jerome James would be all about money. As I said before, he has three-years and $18.6 million left on his contract. No team in the league would take that contract in a trade, unless it was for an even worse contract. If the Knicks cut him, they’d still owe him the money and it would still count against the cap. They could try to work out a buyout, but it would still cost them millions just to get rid of him and, again, it would count against the cap. So someone would have to really be outstanding to convince the Knicks it is worth it to pay a new salary on top of the money they would pay Jerome to not play. But the Garden has done it before (Shandon Anderson, Penny Hardaway, Jalen Rose, etc.) so who’s to say they wouldn’t do it again.
Posted by Adam L | October 12, 2007 10:22
Just curious, what sports teams did you root for growing up? Fanatical about any?
Oh, and how do I convince you to get me some free Knicks tix this year? Any mortal weaknesses? A certain type of beer? A good home renovation contractor?
A: My teams were, in order of importance: The Islanders, Knicks, Yankees and Jets. And my cousin, Lenny, emailed me last week about free tickets. He emails me each year and each year I have to explain to him that the media does not get free tickets. We get one pass and that’s for us to get in. Everyone else has to pay.
Plus, you’re too late on the contractor. The beer we can discuss some other time. Mortal weaknesses include my daughter’s laugh, my son’s smile and my wife’s . . . nevermind.
Posted by Poppy | October 12, 2007 10:44
Now that Alan Houston has decided to come out of retirement Who's next...Patrick Ewing or John Starks ?
A: Patrick might be in better shape than Jerome.
Posted by Itzallgud | October 12, 2007 12:53
Alan,
Love the blog, thanks for giving us Knicks fans something to look forward to each day. I know with you there's no agenda just straight honest analysis and reporting of the Knicks. Keep up the good work. My question is if Houston makes the roster and I think he will(just my gut feeling), and say Jordan and Nichols are off to Europe or cut, that leaves either buying out James, Rose, or Jones in my opinion to make room for Houston.
I agree with everyone that Jones has a lot to offer and should be on this team, but he has the easiest contract to buy out. Rose has an easier contract to buy out then James, doesn't have much to offer as far as playing ability, but I really love his veteran presence and think it would be a mistake to buy him out. James is the one that makes the most sense, but also has the most money to be bought out. Given the situation now, I'm not sure Dolan will be willing to buy him out.
Do you see a scenario where Dolan wants Houston on the team and Isiah says James has to go, and then Dolan says no, too much money, lets buy out Jones instead? Therefore, we get Houston but have to keep James and have to cut Jones and we lose Nichols in the process too.
A: Thanks Itz. I think your scenarios are probable. But Isiah said he plans to keep Jones, so if Houston plays well enough to have earned a spot on the team, the debate as to who has to go would be interesting. To be honest, I can see Isiah avoiding any buyout situation by trading a cheaper player off his roster for a draft pick. There is also a thought as to Randolph Morris. Remember he also only has one year left on his deal and, at this point of his career, he’s not someone who will play much of a role. Malik Rose has more value in your rotation, in my opinion. As we said before, with so many guards, Isiah could consider trading Collins for a draft pick, as well. I’m not promoting the idea, I’m just offering it as an example of his options.
Posted by knicksome | October 12, 2007 13:39
Someone here made a good point, Mardi collins doesnt have the outside shot and if you saw yesterday it was all layups and non from the perimeter (it looked like he was scared to shoot so passed). What now I'm leaning twards if we keep Houston. Cut Mardi collins keep Fred jones ( as you saw he was good on defence agressive to the basket and had the outside shot) we can send Jarred Jordan to europe then buy out James so we can some how bring RON ARTEST
THAT MY FREINDS WOULD BE A CHAPIONSHIP TEAM!
A: Good thing it’s not your money, knicksome! But it is your idea. Don’t hold your breath on Ron-Ron. Not right now, at least.
Posted by Itzallgud | October 12, 2007 16:25
Good point about Collins. I'm seeing some stuff now that says Houston looked good today and that Isiah specifically stated today that he is not cutting Jones. So that would leave supposedly James and Rose. But one thing I just thought of was what about Morris? His contract is the easiest to eat, has he showed enough to warrant holding on to him?
A: Itz, I swear I just read this after I answered your previous question. Great minds think alike.
Posted by xavier mcdaniel | October 12, 2007 21:02
Hey Alan, love the insight man. 2 part question for ya regarding the starting rotation and the bench.
The knicks have developed quite the tendency of falling behind to start games and then relying on the energy of the second unit to play catch-up the whole game. Wouldn't it make sense to start either Balkman or Lee in the frontcourt and have the other one off the bench (rather both coming off the bench and duplicating a lot of the same skills)? And maybe even Jones or Mardy at the 2 to start to play some D and set the tone, with Crawford off the bench to provide firepower? i realize that egos and salary are a factor here but i don't think they should be. We need to add some defense, hustle and intensity to the starting unit and that's not coming from Steph, Q, Craw, Zach or Curry...
Also, I think that it is going to be obvious as the year progresses that the knicks best 2 players are both power forwards, Zach and DLee. What do you think Isiah will do to get them both the minutes they deserve? I don't know about DLee at the 3, we want him near the basket. Do you see either of them at the 5 when curry is out to run with the second unit? I predict that it becomes an issue over the year and trade rumors begin to swirl. I just hope its not Lee who goes.
Xman
A: I loved X-Man as a Knick. Remember his tirade against Phil Jackson? Awesome.
I don’t see any changes in the starting lineup as of now. I do think you are lacking some energy in that group and, early on, Quentin Richardson has looked a little slow. Could be a residual of the back surgery and maybe some weight he gained as a result. I’d like to see David Lee there, perhaps, and go with Q off the bench for some outside pop and defense. But that’s the extent I would consider. That second unit is good as an energy unit to come in and change momentum.
I think you can move Zach to the five and have D-Lee play the four sometimes when Eddy comes out. Those three are the regulars among the frontcourt. Balkman can play 2-3-4 and Jared Jeffries can play 3-4-5.
Posted by harold miner | October 12, 2007 21:45
hey alan
one big question for ya
if the knicks put up lee,curry,crawford and a 1st round pick
could they get kobe from the lakers
i assume isiaha would be up for that
A: That’s a chunk of the core of the team, but it’s that much talent that the Knicks will have to put up to get him. Problem is, you strip the Knicks of some talent, though you do still have Zach Randolph and Stephon Marbury. I just don’t feel it happening however. Plus, why would the Lakers want to become the Knicks? That’s essentially what they’d become.
Posted by Fela | October 12, 2007 22:35
alan, you are loved.
I wanted to know if Jamal Crawford had been experiencing any bouts of uncontrollable rage lately? He's a monster. HGH, maybe? If he wins MVP the steroid rumors will come flying in.
How do you think his new size will effect his game?
A: I think he needed the extra size to deal with the pounding of an 82-game season. It was good for him to add it. I haven’t noticed any additional body hair or acne. Or cranial swelling. But he did seem a bit testy when we were asking him about Kobe Bryant . . .
Posted by Trane | October 13, 2007 00:03
Alan – this is a tough one. You’ve already got plenty of good questions about possible trades. And about the roster/line-up problems. I’m curious, though, for your take on the return of the other AH. In the spirit of full disclosure, I’ve always been an AH fan. But this moves looks more and more bizarre to me. He was a top-notch player, but this isn’t Wilt or Dr. J. or even James Worthy or Bernard King coming out retirement. He was a terrific asset to the team, when he was young and healthy. Now he’s old and the very best we can say about his health is that, ideally, his knee won’t break down and will give him 2 years, 3 tops, to play 15-20 minutes a game. Could he potentially provide a little instant offense? Certainly. I guess on a team with 12 or 13 guaranteed contracts, I could see taking a flyer like this. Why not? But with roster slots at such a premium? And already maybe not having room on the roster for two rookies with great potential . . . even before signing Houston . . . I don’t get it. Is AH potentially THAT valuable to the team? I can’t see it. Do you think Dolan forced Isiah to sign him? We’ve always heard Dolan has a “special” affection for Houston. I would guess it ain’t all that dissimilar to the loyalty he must feel for Isiah. But that’s another story.
Do you think this is Isiah’s move and purely about wanting more outside shooting? Or Dolan’s? Most importantly, what’s your read of the move, especially given the roster situation.
A: Trane, as always, you’re right on target with your instincts. It doesn’t make much sense. At face value, this is the Knicks being courteous to a former Knick who wants to leave the game on his terms, not because of an injury. It’s a two-week show and then it’ll be over. But you have to leave the door open for the possibility that Houston can still fill it like he used to. Then what? You’re right, if this were a team with 13-14 guaranteeds, you could say, sure, invite him in. Can’t hurt. But here you’re talking about cutting someone who could help you – well, Jerome James is supposed to help you – in exchange for a good locker room guy.
But I think this is Isiah’s call. The decision to invite Allan was the Dolan call, but the decision about whether he’ll make the roster is Isiah’s, as it should be.
* *
Great stuff as usual, Fixers. We'll do this again next month.
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Why will Kobe be a knick...In order to make an intelligent prognosis of this trade possibility one should use the process of illimination.
Process #1-Illiminate the west coast , this means, in spite of popular opinions , Dallas is not a destination because the last thing a prideful organization like the Lakers would want is this trade to come back and haunt them in the playoffs every year. That is why Iverson is in the west, Rsheed Wallace is in the east, Shaq goes from east to west then back to east via trades, Sir Charlse goes to Pheonix ...(I know he was traded to houston but at that point he was no longer a threat to pheonix because his skills had deminished)
So , now that we've established the pattern of great players being traded to a "non threat zone " let's go to process # 2.
Process #2 -Swapping great player for great player.
Now this one is interesting because you just never know the thinking of some organizations but I feel like Lebron and D-wade are the only players in the east who give you equal value for Kobe but these guys are younger than Kobe and it's just not logical to trade them before they reach their prime.
Process #3 -Multi-team trade.- This one isn't possible either because no one wants to be the team that helped another franchise acquire Kobe. So this illiminates a team like let's say the Hawks and the Pistons working together so the Pistons can get Kobe and the Hawks remain the hawks.
Process #4 Youth and expiring contracts. -Now we're getting somewhere...The youngest Teams.this list includes:
HAWKS
76ers
Bulls
Knicks
PACERS
Bobcats
Raptors
O.K , from the above list you illiminate all teams except the markets that Kobe prefers and also Markets the nba prefers him to play in. We are left with...
Bulls
Knicks
76ers
Process #5- What does each team have to offer. You must match this with what the team needs after losing kobe...-A scorer and star quality , someone that puts fans in the seats and wows them occasinally , a true personality and hope for the furture.
Keeping in mind this trade will take more than 1 or even more than 2 players.
This illiminates the 76ers because they don't have the extra pieces to make it happen. The lakers would love Iguadola but thats all, they need more for their franchise.
Now with 2 left it gets tricky. The anti knick sentiment promos a Bulls and Dallas scenerio but as we've seen , the way this league operates is to trade to an opposite coast ala K.G in boston.(SO NO DALLAS)
Simply , the Bulls have the youth but not the personality and flair that is needed in Hollywood and giving up mutiple pieces would leave them without the depth to compete, a situation similar to Boston and Kobe already knows the difficulty of winning on an unbalanced team plus at least Boston has 3 scorers the bulls would only have Kobe because it would take Deng ,Gordon and Heinrihc to make the trade happen.
and now it is one...The Knicks have 20 contracts because they've been preparing for this trade since the interview that STEPHON MARBURY had with KOBE on STARS ON STARS , MARBURY'S TV SHOW. The 2 players shared a deep interview and Kobe expressed "This is by far the best show I've done"....Wink!
Marbury went on to remind Kobe how much love New York and his hood Coney Island has for him. Kobe was visibly moved.
So forget about Steph being in this trade scenerio.
Say goodbye to David Lee, Jamal Crawford, Nate Robinson and Demetris Nichols.
Kobe...Welcome home. Allow me to introduce myself...
I am legend.The life.
By process of illimination I have concluded , either the knicks get him or he is never traded.
Good stuff Alan!
Why is the James money in issue with the personnel decisions we are considering?
If we keep Nichols or Collins instead of James there is very little difference in salary over the next 3 years and if James agrees to a small discount in the buyout we might even save money.
I agree we lose an expiring deal but if we want to reduce our cap number we have to let a few deals just go away.
If Collins and Nichols are typical Zeke draft choices I think I would rather buyout both Rose and James and keep the kids. I don't see either making an impact unless there is a disaster and I'm not sure either of them prevent a disaster from being a disaster anyway.
Thank you Alan for responding to all those questions. I appreciate all that u do for us.
Legend,
Dude great breakdown ! I agree w/ all your points but then you completely fall apart when you name the players on the way out for Kobe. Lee, Crawford, Nate and Nichols won't get it done my man. Salaries don't come close to matching and Buss staed he wants all start talent in any trade. Curry or Zach would have to be the focal point of that trade. If they are so in love w/ Bynum that leaves ZBO.
sorry I forgot to mention zach.
Legend
That was awsome stuff!
Thank you JohnQ and Knicksome for the big-ups and I really meant to put Zach in there but I was in a hurry.
The anti-knick sentiment will tell us that the knicks don't have talent but these are the people who pick the suns and dallas to win every year when the intelligent fan knows it's the PISTONS ,SPURS AND a healthy HEAT team who will be there in the end. THE TOUGHNESS dallas and pheonix always lack exist on these teams.
But the consensus always falls for the 3 point shooting and alley-ooping.
I'm kind of new in this community, and I really like your breakdown, Legend. You are completely right about the media Knick haters (damn, I almost feel like Bill O'Riley typing that). The Knicks of this year (and even the middle 25 games of last year) are an exciting bunch, with a huge upside. That said, I feel you have to make a run at Kobe if/when he becomes available, but at the same time the move scares me for the following reasons:
1) I hate to see D Lee go, but you are right it would take atleast a combo of: Z-Bo, Craw, DLEE, Nate, and poss Balkman. That move takes away so much depth from the team, especially upfront. We would be talking about starting Curry, Jefries at the 4, Q-Rich at 3. The bench would only have Morris (who isn't ready), James (who is a waste of life), and Rose (or another year or two but is undersized) up front. That is not far off what Kobe has now, and has proven to be a recipe for a first round exit. Plus this group is not going to scare anyone down-low, and this group also lacks any real rebounding prowess.
2) The guards: The knicks would still be left with Collins as your primary backup point. He is a good defender, but has never been a good shooter, and has to improve his decision making. With him we are talking, in terms of best case scenario, an Aaron McKie in the making (same highschool, same college, same almost slow deliberate style). After that Fred Jones, who could play well with Collins, but will get limited burn because ha can't play the point, and Kobe is going to play 38-40 mins.
There are obvious upsides to getting the best talent the league has to offer, but, I think without Kobe, the Knicks are 2 years off of making serious noise in the East. With Kobe, I think the team goes into somewhat of a rebuild/retool because the Knicks will be exposed down low. I think Boston may have a simmilar problem, in that neither Pierce or Allen have played a full season over the past two years. Depth wins championships.
Legend,
I agree except for dealing nate. a 1st round pick, randolph, crawford, lee and nichols will get it done. Nobody in the league can top that without ruining their organization. Holla!!!!
Add The Mamba, trade Z-Bo, Crawford, Lee and Nichols, we still have steph, Q, jones, nate, eddy, balkman, rose and chandler. We will still possess a strong starting 5 and a athletic 2nd unit. Make that trade now!!!!
Allan Houston was drafted only one year before Grant Hill who missed numerous seasons due to numerous injuries.
Is there any reason to think that Allan doesn't have more than a reasonable shot at a comeback?
Actually , I would rather play with the cards we were dealt because i feel we have enough to win now and we have youth for winning in years to come. but I was just entertaining this scenerio because I get upset at anti knick sentiment so I played devil's advocate and even when trying to be anti knick my scenerio still led me to the knicks being the only trade possibility for the Lakers.
So you really have to wonder about the hatred....do they hate the knicks or do they just hate New York City and would rather die then give our team any credit .
you'd think this was the clipper organization. We make the league go 'round.
GO ny KNICKS!!
well first off why keep j james or u can just let him make 25 mill doing nothing buy him out for 10-15mill save money but na let him make all the cash.byrant in n.y i doubt it but i would luv it.for every good thing thomas has done he has done 2 wrongz so i would of been fired him.mabury should just play his style his best season was in the suns when amare was a rookie.i'm done for now
the knicks got the best team on paper in the league but they the knicks.mabury should go back to 20 N 8 now with zach an his j=pick an roll.if mabury can score 15-20 a night with 8+ assist the knicks are good to Go
Hey, Alan – I know Mailbag is over (thanks for another great one), but I have a question that will prove relevant before next month’s edition. If you get a chance, I’d like to hear what you have to say on a technical question.
I seem to remember there was some kind of change last year to the way teams could park a player or two on the IR, right? Wasn’t there a change in the rules that let them keep an extra player around? Or something like that?
My question is: how does that impact the 15-man roster? Does that include the IR? Or can you have 15 players PLUS one or two on “IR”? Assuming there will often be a player down for some reason, could someone like Nichols start the season on the IR, and come off when another player goes down?
Also: Is it me . . . or did I go out of town for a few weeks, and come back to a LOT of different names here?
In case you don't want to wait for Alan...
You have a 15 man roster and no IR or NBADL league exemptions.
I'll have to defer to someone for the number you are allowed to dress for each game. I think it is 13 but it may be 12.
I wouldn't make this trade Legend. To give up a whole starting line up of the future for one player doesn't make sense. If Z-bo is involved its a two for one with him and Crawford for Kobe. This trade I can see Isiah doing but nothing more then this. Crawford Lee and either Balkman/Chandler/Collins is the other equitable option with Jones and Rose as throwins.
Thanks, emac2 - yes, it's that they can only dress 12 or 13 for the game. I'd forgotten that little hitch.
Alan, wasn’t your Mailbag answer to JohnQ at least in part disingenuous? I’m surprised that at no point in an otherwise detailed response did you even refer to a team’s ability to control the agenda/story of the day . . . in the exact same way a White House (particularly, THIS White House) controls what gets on the news.
It’s particularly odd when, say, in the middle of July, suddenly 3 different papers all have virtually the same articles on a reserve guard’s summer camp for kids, or an injured player’s summer rehab program. (In other words, stories that aren’t time-dependent.)
Isn’t it true that all teams put out a flood of PR every day? And that many, many writers will, at times, rely on a team’s PR department for "news"? Sometimes doing little more than paraphrasing the press release? (If that.) I don’t know how the Knicks work, especially in the light of Dolan’s media paranoia . . . but don’t most teams have PR people handing out releases on a daily basis that can be easily converted into “stories”?
Were you being generous to your colleagues? Or simply covering yourself for a long cold day in mid-February when you decide to take it a little easy? (As we all do, from time to time.)
i carry 15 men on a roster an like 2 or 3 are IR.anything elsee u goys want to know
a team carries 15 men 2 or 3 are IR..anything else u guys want to know
if phil jackson was coaching the knicks with this roster they would win a championship.
Damn i want Artest...best situation 3 for 1 trade. then we cut james and rose...that way we can keep houston and nichols seet j's.
oops meant "sweet"....but i'm dreaming anyways.
Allan,
I've been reading your blog since it's inception and just wanted to say THANKS. This is by far the best Knicks blog in existence.
Keep up the good work and GO KNICKS!
good blog just started reading it this summer.i would wait for artest to opt out cuz i would trade the future plus balkman can be better than artest...
"The beer we can discuss some other time. Mortal weaknesses include my daughter’s laugh, my son’s smile and my wife’s . . . nevermind."
Hi Alan
That was a very classy response on your part. Makes me think you're a nice guy as well a good beat reporter.
Wow! He's even classy when he is talking about his wifes....
:)
Hey lets talk about why we have James on the bench anyway. I would prefer to cut him and sign Marcus Phizer. I don't understand why this guy isn't in the pros. Also the second best point guard on the court last week played for the other team. I forgot the guys name but he had a great jump shot and performed very well against Marbury.
It always amazed me that once a team gets down on a player its almost imposible to get a second chance in the NBA. Phizer will be a better pickup then Morris and James put together. Does anyone disagree?
I don't think so Jersey J. Fizer is short and clumsy and will foul out in 10 min. in a real NBA game. He can't really score in NBA either. You saw him in a pre season game against the Knicks who are not exactly a defensive force inside with Zach. Fizer was a back up and he could still be one but maybe he prefers to start in Israel who knows. Some of American players do get paid over in Europe.
@ The Legend-
First off, like many here, I loved your post and the thought ant energy you put into it. However, I have to disagree.
Though I admit, I am copying this from the News, but this sounded very realistic to me:
"
Chicago is in a win-now mode with Ben Wallace slowing down and is said to be willing to break up its team for the kind of dynamic player they have not had since Michael Jordan. But as of now, the Bulls won't put Luol Deng in any deal, sources say. Still, they can offer Ben Gordon, Andres Nocioni, Tyrus Thomas and their No. 1 pick last June, Joakim Noah. That would allow the Bulls to put Bryant on the floor with Deng, Kirk Hinrich, Ben Wallace and Joe Smith.
"That team could win the East and get to the Finals,'' said the Eastern Conference executive.
"
Just wanted to throw that out there.
Thanks Legend, I agree with most of what you say but I would include the Wizards in the Kobe scenario since they can swap Arenas in a Kobe deal (that is if Kobe wants to play in DC). That would definitely appeal to the Lakers although Washington doesn't have much else to offer. Also I think that any team that trades for Kobe would have to take on Vlad Radmanovic's contact which also gives the Knicks the advantage since they can absorb money and he can shoot the 3 with the best of them. Kobe and Radmanovic for Lee, Crawford, Curry and a 1st round pick (and thensome maybe). I would not trade Randolph and Lee, you never trade your 2 best rebounders.
Also something to keep in mind, the Knicks can trade Marbury in a Kobe package after this season since next season will be the last year of his contract. The Lakers would love to wipe 20 million off their cap and get young players too. They can use that to sign a big free agent should one be there for them. If we wait until after the season we can get Kobe and hire Phil Jackson to coach him. Phil would come if we gave him Kobe and final say on all personnell decisions (and a front office title). Then we can keep Isiah to keep drafting young talent.
Alan,
Your stubbornness has cost you market share. When reporters think they are above counsel from the court of public opinion, you lose.
Silly. You have negotiated against yourself and blown up what was a burgeoning community. Your bad. Mistake.
Digging in with 'wacky' et al has cost you. Just a realistic opinion.
This blog is not the same read as I saw in the summer.
Out.
Funny how people said they were going to leave, and mysteriously, all these "new" bloggers appear.
and dude....success is fleeting if you don't pay attention.
lobbing mailbox Q & A will only mask the obvious. The braintrust has departed.
out....
@General: It's common that when the antagonistic bullies leave the room, everyone else feels more comfortable to talk. A Knicks blog is not a place for wanna-be political activists with veins to pop whenever someone dares to disagree. Get over yourselves and these feeble attempts to control what people think and write and then scold them for being controlled. As I said, it's my house. All are welcome, but it's my house.
Your reply to my question on whether Sharpton is still calling for a boycott of the Knicks, or has taken Isiah at his word was:
Good question. Worth a follow-up.
Are you following up? Or did you mean I should?
A quick (reporter's) phone call to Sharpton's office should do it. Seems like their reply would be news(day) worthy.
I didn’t mean to make light of the turnover in names a few days ago. I didn’t realize at the time there was, to some degree, a conscious exodus until I checked out that other site. I’ve watched most of those names migrate across a number of blogs at this point. I can’t say I’m surprised. Something would have ignited it. I’ll have more to say about this when I have 3 seconds to catch my breath . . . but let’s be aware that this may have shaken out in quite democratic ways. Perhaps this was bound to happen. The name of that other site says it all: Knicksdefense. Any opinion that isn’t a Knicksdefense (it should really be “isiahdefense”) is, by definition, considered bias and hate-based, and decidedly unwelcome there. (Check out the response to a guy named Don on this site last week. He got slammed for even mild criticism of Isiah.) That’s a kind of thinking that’s hostile to the very foundation of objective thought and criticism – not unlike the way the current White House labels any critic a traitor and unpatriotic. In fact, the analogy is quite appropriate.
Some liveliness will certainly be lost. But the explosion of exposure for this blog has skyrocketed it to prominence. This blog is now on the map with equal stature among all the others. Any Knicks fans looking for a place to hang out simply has one more option to choose from.
Bottom line – the summer spike was a huge net-plus . . .
Not uninterestingly, there was a question on another blog a few months ago - I believe from one of The Departed - in reference to another old rock ‘n roll song that’s not irrelevant here, now . The old Stephen Stills song: Love the One You’re With.
Alan -- If it hadn’t been “whacky” it would have been some reference to Isiah that wasn’t glowing and sycophantic (word?). It’s fine for the community to be watching. That’s what it’s supposed to do. But not with a gun at your head. That’s what things had been reduced to.
Looked at another way, the General has a point too. Alan could have capitulated. All he had to do was let the lunatics run the asylum. I think he took the right stand . . . even though I continue to be on record as hating the word “wacky.” But c’mon, guys . . . a little perspective here.
My last post revealed why the knicks will get kobe. Now I say...
The knicks don't need Kobe
Eddy Curry is the most feared offensive weapon in the low post, he is doubled even before he gets the ball , thats how potent he is and he stays down low like an old school center, no 15 foot jumshots. His growth last season is as undeniable as his potential.
Zach Randolph 23 and 10 is undeniable, only knick bias and isiah hatred can say he's no good, his outside shooting ability and deceptive quickness will open the floor for everyone , he has all star skills and puts up all star numbers again it is undeniable , I say that because the knick bashers and the mindless readers tend to go by what they hear and not what they see, forget the records and notice the individual talent.
Q-Rich is unique because he can post up with his size but also has a soft feathery touch from long range, could be deadly without back woes. Curry and zach will make him as dangerous as he will make them.
Jamal Crawford scored 52 points on D-WADE and Crawford's ankle wasn't 100% then and Crawford has improved every year in nyc and with added muscle but maintaining his speed along with his chemistry with Curry it spells trouble for defenders.
Starbury is leaner and looks quicker and he's diving on the floor for loose balls in preseason plus he'll get overlooked which will make him more of a threat.
KEEPING THE SAME SYSTEM IS VERY IMPORTANT TO PLAYERS BECAUSE IT HELPS CHEMISTRY AND CONTINUITY AND WHEN THAT HAPPENS , THE PLAYS YOU CALL BECOME INSTINCTIVE SO, WHAT USED TO BE A THOUGHT NOW BECOMES A REACTION AND EVERYTHING BEGINS TO LOOK IMPROVISED AND CRISPER AS YOU WILL SEE LESS TURN-OVERS THIS SEASON.
The Bench Mob
This is where we have the biggest advantage over alot of teams, David Lee , when healthy, no one in this league can match his rebounds per min, he is a Freak on the boards and Renaldo Balkman's energy and all-out hustle is the most relentless I have seen in some time, the man is an instant fast break when he gets a rebound and his ball handling has improved.
Jared Jeffreis DOES NOT EXIST AND ANYONE CALLING HIM A KNICK IS A LIAR.
jEROME WHO?
Nate Robinson is a calmer more mature player after getting over the novelty of being the short guy in the nba, now he will prove his worth on the defensive end. He has the ability to run the offense, he just has to show it a full season.
Mardy Collins will be a better player than anyone expected. As I watched him late last season I was shocked at how he fills the stat sheet , nearly getting a triple double a few times. He is a jumpshot away from running the knicks as a starter.
Allan Houston-Re retire.
Fred Jones - has proven to be an asset I like his toughness.
Now there is no denying isiah's eye for talent but as a coach I personally don't trust him.
His best move as a GM is to leave Kobe in Lakerland. That franchise is crumbling. I guess the owner is too busy drunk driving.
PAY ATTENTION TO THIS GAME BETWEEN OUR KNICKS AND THE CELTICS. IT WILL NOT BE YOUR AVERAGE PRESEASON GAME , THEIR WILL BE SOME TESTY MOMENTS .
alan, I have to admit part of me respected your decision to stand your ground even though I disagree with you on "wacky" and find your actual newspaper reporting to be in line with the chorus of hate and lies of the NYC media....Isola would cry like a little girl and beg guys to call him on his cell phone to listen to him cry some more when we put him to the test..what a p*ssy that guy is....but to now refer to people as bullies and wannabe activists once they leave the room is a real bytch move....you should have expressed your disapproval with there viewpoint and thoughfully challenged them, you're a very talented writer and name calling doesn't become you...
What happened to this blog?
Did someone fart in here?
I live in New Hampshire, with Comcast service. How can I view preseason, or the season, for that matter?
Alan CON
I AM YOU FRIEND .....right!
MY handle tells you the truth!
Alan,
come on man. those guys who no longer post here were not bullys dude. They are the ones who complimented you all summer and gave this blog its relevance at that time. I still respect you as a writer and I thought the migration over the word wacky was childish but to categorize the guys who wrote here all summer long is just wrong. Now the only one I check this blog for is you. All of the other fans in the know are gone.
Categorizing them as bullies or activists sounds like sour grapes now that they are gone. You are above that.
Alan,
If you get a look at practice today can you tell us how Randolph & Curry looked.
Thanks
Weak
I found some info
There's no reason to sound the alarm, but Eddy Curry and Zach Randolph have only been available simultaneously twice since training camp opened.
And there's not a soul to blame.
Curry was back on the practice court this morning, wearing a fairly involved resistance contraption to stabilize and strengthen his right shoulder. Randolph was back at home in Indiana to be with his ailing grandmother again.
There is a chance both of them will be in the lineup on Wednesday in Boston.
"I think our whole team needs to see them," Jamal Crawford said. "We all need to see them because they're a big part of what we do, especially the way we play inside out."
This whole process of building chemistry will probably take most of the season.
"I'm curious, but at the same time, it's preseason," Curry said. "We still have to work out some kinks or whatever. But hopefully, I can go in there and gel with him right away."
The arm brace Curry is sporting might be a little restrictive.
It's an elastic and Velcro contraption that's somehow hooked onto the waistband of his compression shorts. When the device comes off, he'll probably throw the first couple of shot attempts right through the glass. It's supposed to be worn for two weeks.
Yes, Curry's already heard the killer wedgie jokes.
Renaldo Balkman is getting on the court during practice. He's getting a number of shots up, but is not cleared to jump. There's no precise timetable. Balkman says there is no pain thus far, but is talking about a couple more weeks of rest and rehab.
Legend, by process of ELIMINATION ... anyone who keeps spelling it "illimination" can't write a 5 paragraph blog about why the Knicks will get Kobe ... Kobe stays in LA and the Knicks continue to be a mid-level team w/ a few good young players (Lee, Chandler, Curry, Crawford) and a bunch of duplicate parts that won't get anywhere significant until (1) they allow ALL of the expiring contracts come off the books, (2) actually get under the salary cap for once in their life, and (3) build thru the draft. Could you ever imagine the Knicks under the cap??? Seriously, what superstar wouldn't want to come here and be "the one" to bring the Knicks back to prominence??? I'm tired of hearing that the Knicks can't afford to rebuild ... screw that ... the Bulls did it after MJ and now look at them. Some of the top young talent in the NBA. That's the route the Knicks need to go and until they (and the fans) embrace it then we'll never get back to the top of the heap!!!!
these are the winner numbers for knicks starters in order to make the playoffs.eddy-15-20-7+bounds.zach-20-10 bounds.Q-10-15 points.crawford-17+points.mabury-10-15 points with 10+ assists.
Hey 3 ball...If the knicks continue to be a mid level team then so be it but the lakers will continue to be mid-level or worse.
The bulls are not as good as advertised and you will see that this season.
Sorry I spelled elimination incorrectly but I'm way to busy to proof read.
and plus genius( 3 ball)....this is not memphis this is nyc and we dont care about CAP restrictions(yankees). Plus you moron , if you stop reading other peoples assessments of the knicks you'd know that in 2 years, 2 years they'll be under the cap you NON- researching fool. Stop reading the papers and do your homework before you come after me with your amateurish poster!
Houston on the Knicks home page... The team's site has an interview with him.
If someone in the organization is having their web guy writing up a Houston interview, I have a sneaking suspicion that something is up. That Dolan might be orchestrating something to make sure he's on the team.
Or they just see it as a positive PR story that they need to ride for as long as possible before he's cut.
I decided to help the prickmyster -3 ball with his research
first go here http://www.cosellout.com/?p=134 and learn how howard eisly and weatherspoon etc becomes david lee and balkman etc. we had othella harrington for god's sake!
and you have the nerve to post the knicks need to get younger and rebuild well THEY DID THAT APPARENTLY RIGHT UNDER YOUR NOSE "3 Ball" (is your name in reference to your anatomy)
THERE IS A SALARY CAP MYTH IN REGARDS TO THE KNICKS AND TRUE RESEARCHERS LIKE MYSELF HAVE GIVEN YOU THE TOOLS TO FIND THE TRUTH...http://www.knicks4life.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=14098
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO is want to know the truth but fools like 3 ball recycle info - from the anti-knick , anti- isiah consensus.