When considering what to sing at the Garden tonight, let us offer some creative ideas to the Fixer Faithful....
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
in the days of all bad sign-(ings)...
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
Might drink a cup of champagne, yet
For auld lang syne!
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Patrick Ewing will be in the house tonight with the Magic. The Knicks will do a little tribute to the Big Fella during a timeout as an anticipation of the Hall of Fame Class of 2008 announcement, which will be made at the NCAA championship on Monday. Patrick expects to be among the class along with Hakeem Olajuwon and Pat Riley.
Takes ya back to that Spring of 94....MSG Network does a pretty cool documentary on that spring, which included the Rangers run to the Stanley Cup and the Knicks run to the Finals. What a time to be in New York. But it was heartbreaking how it ended for the Knicks and, especially, for John Starks. No one played with more heart-and-soul than he and it was so hard to see him have such a nightmarish game at such a critical time.
Yet you would give anything to have those times back if you're a Knicks fan. The optimism of Donnie Walsh's arrival gives you reason to hope those days will be back again, but so many things have to fall into place first. Walsh is just the start, the first piece to get this franchise back on track. But his decisions will be critical - all of them.
I see so many scribes in New York are pushing Mark Jackson as the coach. I'm not one of them. It's not that I don't believe Jax will make a good coach, I just don't know if he's the right coach for right now. Can the Knicks afford to have a guy who has never worked an NBA bench, even as an assistant, learn on the job?
I also don't believe going after a John Calipari is the right idea, either. We saw how that worked in New Jersey and, quite frankly, I'm not sure Cal is the type of guy who can handle taking orders from others. College is where he belongs, but obviously he is outgrowing Memphis.
To me Tom Thibodeau has to get an interview. He would bring back the focus on defense to a team that already knows how to score. Thibodeau is intense on the bench and is consumed with game prep. His type of work ethic is what this franchise needs more than anything. Now is he too tightly wound for the New York media crush? Possibly, but he has to get a serious and long look.
Scott Skiles might be the perfect fit, but, again, I'm not sure if he's perfect for right now. You'd go from the player-friendly Isiah to a whip-cracker in Skiles...it would be major culture shock. Again, can this franchise afford another year of mutiny? Since you can't trade or cut everyone, you have to have the right coach for your personnel. Can't have Eddy Curry picking his fingernails in the corner of the gym every time his coach reminds him to "jump" if he wants to get a rebound.
If Walsh wanted to really get this franchise in the right direction, he should convince Dolan that the right man for the job is the last man to have the job with any success: Jeff Van Gundy. Let Jeff bring Patrick in to work with Curry, et al, and, if you want to get Mark Jackson into the fray, bring him in to get some bench experience. Let him groom Derrick Rose (Dream, Fixers! Dream!) while he, himself, is groomed.
IMHO, Jeff would be the best hire to bring more credibility, stability and direction to the franchise. It would be a smooth transition, because he's been here, done that and knows what it takes in New York.
And if Walsh could make this happen, it would prove he had the autonomy that Dolan says he has.
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Quick shout-out to a new blog on the Knicks Fan scene: Knicks Fanatics
. It's for those of you adult fans who need to let it all out without a filter. Have at it and good luck with the site.
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Yes, I'm feeling good, Fixers. Thanks for asking and thanks for your patience with the pause between posts. Without further ado, here is my little girl, the latest of my collection of love everlasting. Gracie was born 7 lbs. 5 oz. and 20 inches long.
Again thank you for all of the well-wishes and kind words. Let's get back to talking Knicks basketball and keeping this place poppin.
Comments (26)
Cute kid. Congrats to you, your wife and the rest of your family. I hope everyone is well.
As for the Knicks, I don't think Jax would be a bad choice as long as he's surrounded with a bunch of really good X's and O's coaches. There are zero expectations on the Knicks for the next 2 years so he has time to grow into the job and get comfortable with the players that Walsh will keep and bring in.
I really like Tom Thibodeau but a part of me thinks he could be one of those guys who is best as a top assistant than the head coach.
JVG would be great but I'm sure Dolan would rather add the NFL Network on basic and cut cable rates 50% before he signs off on that.
Yes van Gundy should be the only choice. D up or sit down Gundo
Blessings to Gracie. May she be guided by grace throughout her life.
What is it that you don't like about Calipari? Perhaps he has learned a few things after his humiliation in the NBA.
We have a very young team, that will get younger over the next couple of years. Calipari seems like the right kind of coach for such a team. Have you seen how the Memphis team is playing, especially offensively? All I can say is WOW.
Watching a young team grow is often a very tedious affair. Having a fast paced, well oiled offense, can be very entertaining as they build their team defensive skills and their 82+ game conditioning.
Blessings to Gracie. May she be guided by grace throughout her life.
What is it that you don't like about Calipari? Perhaps he has learned a few things after his humiliation in the NBA.
We have a very young team, that will get younger over the next couple of years. Calipari seems like the right kind of coach for such a team. Have you seen how the Memphis team is playing, especially offensively? All I can say is WOW.
Watching a young team grow is often a very tedious affair. Having a fast paced, well oiled offense, can be very entertaining as they build their team defensive skills and their 82+ game conditioning.
I'm a bit surprised by the advocation of JVG as the Knicks next coach. If you remember, the style of play he preached was pretty boring (dump the ball into the post, wait for double team, pass back out, and all over again). Also, he didn't have a lot of success with the Rockets, and he did quit the Knicks in the middle of the season.
My first choice is Mark Jackson, as in this rebuilding mode, the team needs someone who is smart, communicates well, and understands the nuances of the game. Also, someone who is willing to build for a brighter future.
But of course, it comes down to players, and there is not a better match for the Knicks than Derrick Rose. The team really should play their younger players, and not play Crawford 47 minutes (like they did against the Hornets), and they should do what the Heat are doing.
Congrats again on the birth of your daughter!
Good point on Skiles. Him and Curry already have a track record and it is not a good one. A ballbuster like Skiles probably won't be a good fit for this team right now. A teacher like Thibideau as HC would be the best fit at least for the short term.
Defensive-minded coaches seem to be able to create bigger turnarounds in their teams than offensive guys, usually because, defense is the more consistent part of the game. Defense is about intelligence, knowing your rotations and anticipation, for sure, but mostly about effort and desire, just like rebounding (and especially offensive rebounding). Shooting is an erratic enough part of the game, that the safer bet for team improvement is to focus on defense. That's why, I think, guys like L Brown, Van Gundy, Jim O'Brien, Tom Thibodeau (albeit only as an assistant), Skiles, Carlisle, Daly (looking back), and even Mike Brown, have been successful. It's never a bad strategy, to improve a team's defense.
So if defense is the philosphy, who's the man? Not Skiles--as stated above, too much bad blood. I don't know about Van Gundy--there are no players left from his last stint, but still, he's already been here. Thibodeau's earned an opportunity, for sure. And I bet there are other guys whose names I'm forgetting or don't know...
i agree, thibodeau should be brought in for an interview. but i also think mark will make a great coach, and given the low expectations for the coming season, what better climate to make your rookie mistakes in. as for jvg, i'm with david on this, fugetaboutit. his misery level just exhausts me, and his style of ball is boooorrring.
some good ball in the final four last night. the memphis guards were very impressive, as was dorsey. collison was completely exposed, as was, i am sad to say, ty lawson. forget about hansbrough also, no hops, all heart.
Oh, for that face, I've gotta come outta my slumber.
Congrats Alan. She's a doll.
FIRE GRACIE
congrats! she's beautiful.
lets only hope for JVG. I agree someone to groom jackson would be a great thing too.
at least walsh gives us some hope, here's to some much needed and wanted changes for our knicks!
ALAN,
Congrats and thanks for the stats on Gracie.
Also, great pix.
Boy, that baby blanket is a great reminder of my dependents when they were babies.
Laimbeer has paid his dues. He's earned a shot at being a head coach.
Mark Jax will quickly find out that second guessing someone is much easier than being second guessed. He needs to do some apprenticeship for 1 or 2 years as an Assistant Coach. He has great potential to be a very good head coach.
Just imagine..... had Znake hired Kareem as an Assistant Coach instead of a Consultant (with no defined responsibilities) 3 or 4 years ago. Jabbar would've had a few years experience as an Assistant Coach already. Then Mr. NY born & raised would be a prime candidate for the NYK Head Coaching position right now.
CONGRATS ALLAN...
you have a beautiful baby.
their is no way in hades dolan is rehiring van gundy.
you do remember the fact that he quit the knicks in mid season...
i don't think there is any chance dolan will forgive him for that and that is what it would take for him to be able to come back.
SO FORGET ABOUT THE AND LETS MOVE INTO THE FUTURE!
derick rose is the truth...
if only we could get lucky enough to get the #1 pick...
alan she is very cute. As per the Knicks, what about the assitant coach for Boston, i cant recall his name but i believe he worked under Jeff Van Gundy( who i would love to come back to ny but doubt he would consider even with the new media policy) anyway thiss guy from boston is very defensive minded? can anyone remember his name, if so what are ur takes on bringing him to NY with our team so lacking defense and all?
As for Derrick Rose I AM PRAYING FOR HIM!!!! LEts go Tigers, he can have the next K.Durant commercial where his jersey's change and its for the nba" where dreams happen", DERRICK ROSE IS THE CURRENT KNICKS FANS DREAM
Enough with the future hockey writer pictures.
Get back to work.
Or get a job at Home Depot.
Alan - congrats on a lovely daughter.
Anon - sorry, this isn't the coping with mental illness support group...
All - Oops, I just acknowledged Anon - does this mean he's getting all tingly now?
netta-lee, NYC 2 - Rose has looked really good in the NCAA's - hard to argue with drafting him
Excellent work, Alan. She’s a sweetheart. Mazel tov.
I also agree about Jackson and JVG. Jackson may have the makings of a terrific coach. But not now. Not here. Just too big a gamble. We can’t afford any additional turmoil. And I don’t know all the various candidates as well as some of you guys, but I know JVG, and I can’t think of a better man for the job. He represents everything we haven’t had: discipline, defense and preparation. You know, like a coach is supposed to do. He’s had a lot of bad press on these blogs, which is insane when you consider that he was being slammed by the same people who supported Isiah. Crazy, huh? But NYC is right – no way Dolan ever hires him.
I can’t say I like the way the Knicks went about the so-called “job search” for a new president (do they not even know the term “due diligence”?) . . . but we’ve gotta give Walsh the benefit of the doubt. (A) Do we have a choice? And (B) He’s gotta be better than the disaster of Isiah. He sure can’t be any worse.
Pete – it’s okay, we all succumb to that temptation sometimes, because it’s such an easy target. You just don’t want to make a habit of it. Or he will.
You’ve had a terrific year, Alan – thanks for the site . . . and now you have Gracie. Again, congratulations . . .
I dont contribute to the blog but I read it daily.
Congratulations Alan
your baby is gorgeous!
may she have a blessed life!
i am a big JVG fan. He is one of the few intelligent coaches out there even if the games are not fast paced. I feel that the knicks need to take three years to become an established defensive team and then come cap space, buy ourselves some high scoring free agents to play on a team that can play D. Not only would we be a good team but we could establish a team that is appealing to a free agent, especially one that hasn't won a championship yet. To get into the playoffs we need defense and only as a a playoff contender will the knicks attract any of those players that could win us a championship. This is a time not to take big risks but to be like the tortoise, slow and steady, and when no one is looking, win the race.
Alan, Congrats. What a great pic. Your daughter is very beautiful.
Fixers, I think Tom Thibodeau would make a good coach for us . But I can't help thinking that the best coach for the direction that the team wants to go in is........Larry Brown. Call me crazy but if the Knicks will stretch to consider JVG, then why not Brown. Brown left under slightly better circumstances than JVG. Despite what happened before, he is still a great X and O and fundamentals coach. He just needs the right higher-ups to handle him in his crazy moments. And he would have that in Walsh and if Billy King comes aboard, then he have another person who also handles him well.
Imagine DRose (not a dream, Alan) learning from the best point guard coach. Imagine Asst Coach Mark Jackson being tutored by one of the greats. Imagine the Knicks playing defense with more passion. That is what he will bring us. The Knicks didn't win many games under him, but at least they played with some defensive intensity. This time around he is coming into an environment that will have accountability and no hidden agendas by the higher-ups. Add to that the freedom to talk to media (which he loves to do) and there is no reason why he can't do what we expected the first time around.
Give him a contract for the same 3 years as Walsh (the players will get tired of him by then anyway) and the Knicks should have a philosophy in place to carry them into the future. Jackson steps in then and the rest could be history.
Call me crazy but it just seems like the right (best?) move. If not, I can learn to be happy with Tom Thibodeau.
It seems to me that since Walsh was hired and Zeke knew that he'll be vaporized at season's end, he is now trying to sabotage the Knicks' lottery chances.
Why try to win now? He tried to win against the Hornets too?
What happened to the tanking strategy? Why the sudden change of heart?
Maybe because he knows that he won't be around anyway to benefit from the lottery.
The SnakeMaster has a genuine opportunity to do some good during the final few games for the NYK org. and the fans.
Is he that classless that he'll even sabotage the pick?
Or after 4 and half years, he is finally coaching/GMing for pride.
Go figure
Why get bent out of shape now? Knicks never do anything right so they were bound to ruin a prime chance at the 3rd pick by beating a lethargic Magic team and moving back down to 5th. You can kiss Derrick Rose goodbye. Looks like our only hope of getting a franchise talent is through the NBA draft.
BTW, who the heck predicted people would boo and sing today? The fans at the game weren't even Knick fans. Instead the arena was filled with children and tourists.
The season cannot end soon enough.
Sorry, I meant our only hope of getting a franchise talent was through free agency.
the kid looks great alan, congrats to you and your family.
...at least seattle also won tonight along with the knicks.
Congratulations to you and yours and yours....