Who in their right mind is coming to this game tonight? Seriously! It's raining, it's Wednesday and it's a preseason game against the Sixers.
Just kidding.
But seriously, cozy on the couch at home watching on MSG Network is how I'd rather catch this one. Unfortunately, my couch is still covered in tarp, my cable has not been turned back on and my TV room is plaster-covered and empty.
But the renovation is almost done. I might be painting this weekend and may start moving back in sometime next week! I know the Fixers out there care about this kind of critical information. I would care if it were you.
Here's what you really want to know:
Renaldo Balkman got the good news today. He can start jogging tomorrow and hopes in a week he'll be cleared for full-contact practice. The Balk Man is dying to get back into action. Sitting around just isn't his thing, even if he does often look half-asleep.
My man was rocking some diamond-studded Yankees ear rings (the interlocking 'NY') tonight, on the same night of Game 1 of the World Series. "Gotta represent my team," Balkman said.
Starting lineups:
KNICKS
Jeffries
Randolph
Curry
Crawford
Marbury
SIXERS
Evans
Iguodala
Booth
Green
Miller
Injuries:
Q-Rich is out with a mild sprain in his left ankle. Jerome, you know.
The Sixers are without Sam Dalembert (stress fracture in his left foot) and Louis Amundson (hip pointer).
Just a hunch, but I expect to see a lot of the bench tonight. Tons of minutes for Wilson Chandler. Maybe some Jared Jordan earlier than garbage time. Perhaps even Demetris Nichols. Friday against the Nets is the last preseason game and usually those are dress rehersals for the season.
Remember - midnight is the deadline for the Brandon Tierney mailbag. Get em in.
Enjoy the game.
Comments (15)
Here is a POSITIVE view of the Knicks by Peter Schrager:
http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/7367456
they need to make room for d-nich.
that is one of the sweetest shots i've seen in a while.
I like the way DNick came out shooting and scoring. To me, that was his way of giving IT the finger. You gotta like that.
We have to find a way to keep D-Nice. He is a big time shooter and will be a good NBA player. Cut that bum, Jerome James!!
He could be our Kyle Korver, which will open things up for E-city and Zbo down low. With the lack of consistent outside shooting throughout the league, D-Nice is an assest that we have to keep.
Knicks fan for life............Go NY, Go NY, Go!!!!
I agree with the people here that we should try to keep D-Nick. While I recognize J-James value, honestly I do, keeping him should not come at the expense of an NBA-ready talent. If it was just Walker Russel out there then fine, cut him and keep James. But for Nichols, we should let James go.
But regardless of all that, even if we keep D-Nick, he's not seeing the light of day this season. I'm realizing just how hard Zeke's job will be to make a rotation. We've got our starting 5, and then Nate, Lee, and Balkman are for sure off the bench. Jeffries is gonna get minutes (remember I'm the one who said he'll bounce back this year) and thats a 9-man rotation. Maybe there is some room for Malik or Fred Jones every now and then, but thats it. If this were to extend, we've still got Mardy and Wilson to look out for!
So for those of you saying to keep Nichols for the impact he will make this year, its a moot point. In my opinion at least.
Wow, how about Clyde's attire tonight. One for the ages. And when Al Trautwig asked him how long until we see it again, he paused for a second, looked very pensive, and then answered 30 games. I wonder if every suit is on a 30 game rotation, or just that one. I'll certainly be keeping a close watch this season.
MAILBAG:
There are a lot of issues, deficiencies, red flags, whatever you want to call it in the make up of the Knicks. Still, its clear they have plenty of talent, and certainly a lot of people around here see them being a force this year. I think there are lots of realistic ways they can improve off of last year, cutting down on turnovers and hitting free throws being some examples of that. My concern in this question though is with the Eddy-Zach combo. We haven't seen enough of it here to know how/if its going to work. But, going off of past seasons of these 2 guys, what do you think is one key improvement/change or adjustment, that is also realistic that we need to see in their games to complement each other and be the great 1-2 punch we are hoping for? I say realistic because them becoming shot blockers would be great, but it ain't happening. Them learning how to have quick feet and clog lanes ain't happening. So what do you see? What can they do to hide some of their flaws and accent their strengths?
Thanks.
Alan, I just found your blog and I love it. Looking forward to reading it during the season. Now let's get to work...
10.6 Biiiillion Dollars. Please, for the love of all that is good, buy out James and keep Nichols. The kid can LIGHT IT UP! I'm a Knicks fan and Syracuse graduate and I can tell you that when he gets going, Nichols can fill it up and do so QUICKLY. I realize if we keep him he might never see the floor but I'm telling you now that he's the kind of guy where if it's a night were nothing is happening, you can throw him out there and see if he's on. If so, you feed him the rock. If not, no big deal, we were looking like garbage anyway. Randolph Morris brings enough to the table, imo, to be that back-up-when-necessary big man. With Eddy, Zach, Lee, Balkman and Jeffries, to go along with RM and a good rebounding Wilson Chandler (the kid can board) we have enough size. Cut James and keep Nichols. He can be a player for us down the road.
Also, Malik Rose should get ZERO burn. The only time you notice him when he's on the floor is when something bad is happening to or being done by him. Sure he hit one nice jumper tonight, which was a fade away chuck that just happened to fall, other than that he was awful as always. If they love him in the locker room, let him be a "coach" on the bench. He should never see the floor, as far as i'm concerned.
I love Zach Randolph. Last year I thought that the Knicks were a really good team 2 through 12. What I mean is we lacked that #1 type guy. While Zach is no Duncan, Kobe, Lebron, Dirk, etc. and since we likely aren't getting any of them, Zach is already our best player and a good enough #1 type guy. He is so smooth out there, I just love watching him play. That sweet lefty is gonna be nice to watch for a long time. I'm very impressed.
Finally, I love the chemistry the guys seem to be developing. They look like a really happy and tight knit group and that makes me very pleased. I know this isn't a perfect unit and that there are plenty of pitfalls that might await, but if the guys can get off to a quick start and begin to believe in themselves, I see plenty of reasons why they can make a deep run this year. I can't wait for the season to begin.
Alan, I just found your blog and I love it. Looking forward to reading it during the season. Now let's get to work...
10.6 Biiiillion Dollars. Please, for the love of all that is good, buy out James and keep Nichols. The kid can LIGHT IT UP! I'm a Knicks fan and Syracuse graduate and I can tell you that when he gets going, Nichols can fill it up and do so QUICKLY. I realize if we keep him he might never see the floor but I'm telling you now that he's the kind of guy where if it's a night were nothing is happening, you can throw him out there and see if he's on. If so, you feed him the rock. If not, no big deal, we were looking like garbage anyway. Randolph Morris brings enough to the table, imo, to be that back-up-when-necessary big man. With Eddy, Zach, Lee, Balkman and Jeffries, to go along with RM and a good rebounding Wilson Chandler (the kid can board) we have enough size. Cut James and keep Nichols. He can be a player for us down the road.
Also, Malik Rose should get ZERO burn. The only time you notice him when he's on the floor is when something bad is happening to or being done by him. Sure he hit one nice jumper tonight, which was a fade away chuck that just happened to fall, other than that he was awful as always. If they love him in the locker room, let him be a "coach" on the bench. He should never see the floor, as far as i'm concerned.
I love Zach Randolph. Last year I thought that the Knicks were a really good team 2 through 12. What I mean is we lacked that #1 type guy. While Zach is no Duncan, Kobe, Lebron, Dirk, etc. and since we likely aren't getting any of them, Zach is already our best player and a good enough #1 type guy. He is so smooth out there, I just love watching him play. That sweet lefty is gonna be nice to watch for a long time. I'm very impressed.
Finally, I love the chemistry the guys seem to be developing. They look like a really happy and tight knit group and that makes me very pleased. I know this isn't a perfect unit and that there are plenty of pitfalls that might await, but if the guys can get off to a quick start and begin to believe in themselves, I see plenty of reasons why they can make a deep run this year. I can't wait for the season to begin.
Let Fred Jones go!!! He is in the last year of his contract and we probably won't resign him. So why keep him for a year when you can sign Dnice and have him around longer. Fred isn't as important to the knicks if Balkman is healthy.
Here's hoping the big love Jones has been getting is because Zeke hopes to move him in a trade. Nice speed and ups, commitment to D, but we have Mardy Collins to guard the perimeter AND make everybody better. Defensively, he was great last night; picking guys pockets, riding guys to the rim then blocking the shot (the refs already let him get away with pretty physical play).
One more for the Consensus: keep D-Nic. His first shot was net-ripping pure off of a low, difficult cross court pass with a defender running at him. Guys just can't so that in the league anymore. if its between Jones and D-Nic - we know the answer (hell, Balkman can guard twos and ones -give him the extra burn). Best case would be the final excision of Big Snacks. I smell a Dolan on this one - I'd bet dollars to dounuts (Holla Snacks!) the "Decider Guy" has "decided" there will be no more buyouts. Three years and gazillions of dollars too late. Like allowing the trial and then making a stand to appeal the verdict. Like letting kids play with matches in the house and then making the tough decision about whether to take grandma or grandpa with him when the house is burning to the ground.
No wonder Zeke looks like a whipped dog.
Glad we got to see the Nate Nate Nate show last night. The kid is pretty sick.
I think the ball should move through Zach. ECity aint Ewing plain and simple. There is no need to run the offense through him. A dominating player such as Zach shouldnt have to defer to Curry in the beginning of games. Curry should get the ball when the D collapses on Zach. He could still get 18 points a game that way.
I liked JJ at the 3 tonight for his length alone. 6′11″ is better than 6′6″. I still think Balkman should start there because he has better athleticism. So here I go beating the drum again that Q should start at 2 w/ Renaldo at the 3 and JC off the bench. So be it, thats how I see it.
I’m in favor of playing our starters sparingly on friday even if it costs us the win. I want them going into the season w/ fresh legs and ready to roll.
GO NY GO NY GO !!!!!!!!!
In terms of picking the roster I will just wait to see what Zeke does. He has proven to be a good judge of talent. In spite of critism he has taken a team that had no valuable parts a few years ago and made them into a team with several players other teams may want. I myself have always felt James was a bum. However maybe he is kept for now as Zeke may force him on somebody who really wants a stronger Knick chip (Balkman, Chandler, the contract of Malik Rose) in a trade. Kind of if you want Balkman you have to take this bum James type deal.
As far as Nichols he is a great shooter but he is not going to be a rotation player now. CHandler is definitely ahead of him as Chandler can do other things such as rebound, finish at the rack, play better d. NIchols can flat out shoot but I feel he could use the seasoning to develop into a crazy scorer at the NBA level. Keep in mind last night he was lighting up folks in garbage time of a pre season came. NOt exactly doing this against Kobe Bryant or Ron Artest. I would love to be able to keep him as a fifteenth man. Send him to the D for a second then turn him loose next year. MOrris is the only player who is not at the place I thought he would be at. He is not garbage but he does seem to get his shot block alot at the rack. Maybe he still needs to catch up to the speed of the NBA game. Maybe the strength. I am not sure. He still seems to have a good attitude and has legions more upside then James.
Last night felt like Eddie and Zach are not comfortable being on the floor with each other. When Eddie got called for an offensive foul Zach was making facial expressions like why is he the go to guy on the post. I handle the post way better.
I was at the game and paying close attention to Zach's body language. I hope I'm just paranoid.
Lee can't play with his back to the bench, he's awful in help defense, his rotations are way tooo late, he can't shoot from 18ft, so it seems like he took the summer off. He's one on one defense is average at best.
While I love his tenacity, passion, and a keen sense for where the ball is gonna go after it hit's the rim, He will never be a star in this league. As a matter a fact he will never be anything more then a great role player.
I'm sure that he's at the high point of trade value this year as he will continue to give you ten/ten in a loosing squad that misses a lot.
Nate is another story, he has the potential to lead a team and is begginng to understand how to slow the game down and then turn on the switch.
Collins was solid last night. JJ showed he's our best one on one defender. Fred Jones needed a performance like this seal a spot on this team and allow IT to make the case of buying out jerome as oppose to cutting jones who would be cheaper to let go by about 15 million.
It's gonna be either Jones or Dnick as Jerome is too expensive to let go.
two question marks this preseason are our starting back court or marbury and Jamal. they look like they are playing for LARRY BROWN. They look a step slow and very confused.
If it comes down to Jones or DNick then Jones should go. He's been in th eleague for six years and amounted to nothing. Jones defense and athleticism is easily replaced with Balk who adds rebounding as well.
DNice has a potential to be a Gilbert Arenas and propel Isiah into Drafting hall of fame.
My two cents.
Alan, love the blog and link to it often from mine. The first place I go on my morning internet journey is the Fix.
The Knicks NEED to cut Jerome James. Honestly, Isiah was the only one who thought it was a good move when he signed JJ and he's the only one who thinks it still was a good move. He tries to defend it saying that James brings certain intangibles to the court when he is out there, but just being a really big guy doesn't get you far in the NBA. On top of that, the only basis for signing the guy was one series of decent performance in the playoffs, and the Knicks have been stuck with him ever since. Jerome is the Carl Pavano of the NBA and he's only taking up roster space. Granted, you still need to cut someone else loose to make room for Demetris, but cutting ties with James is a really good start.