Donnie Walsh took in his first Knicks practice, which was everyone else's first Knicks practice in three-and-a-half weeks. Isiah gave his boys love and praised them because they "busted their tails today."
Walsh's presence had nothing to do with the effort. Just a normal day for this well-run and organized franchise that is just down on it's luck is all.
Please disperse. Nothing to see here.
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Walsh talked about a few topics -- still no decision on Isiah, but knows one has to be made sooner rather than later -- and praised the play of rookie Wilson Chandler, who has played with a great deal of confidence and shown an ability to score.
Walsh said he noticed Chandler in Indiana back on March 17, when he scored 15 points and 8 rebounds in the 110-98 loss and matched up with Pacers swingman Danny Granger, who had 26 points and 11 rebounds in the game.
“He went at him," Walsh said of Chandler. "He ddin’t take a step back. And I think Danny’s going to be a terrific player, so that showed me something. And in the games I’ve seen him come in, he gets things done right away.”
Chandler's play has gone mostly overlooked amid Walsh's arrival and the change in direction for the franchise, but as we've pointed out here on the Fix, the kid can play a lil.
And here I want to credit Isiah for making a decent draft pick, but then again you have to question why he didn't play the kid sooner? Even Chandler questions it.
"Definitely, I always wished I played more earlier in the season," he said, "but I don’t really think about it too much because I’m playing now. It doesn’t matter.”
Do you think about selling yourself to the new boss?
“I think about it sometimes," he said, "but being my first year I don’t know too much about the business. I try to learn every day being around the veterans. I listen and I watch a lot, but at the end of the day I don’t know what’s going to happen.”
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OK, as I said, I have a couple of votes to make. We discussed Rookie of the Year. I took in all of the Fixer opinions and will let you know what my ballot reads when I send it in. Next up is Defensive Player of the Year. Always a challenge to come up with five names to vote for, but I think the first-place vote should go to Marcus Camby. Dude is blocking almost four shots per game and also does work on the defensive glass.
Thoughts?
Comments (26)
Allan
I HAVE TO GIVE TO MY VOTE TO KG!
he is the best defensive player on the best defensive team
i can't give it camby...he is on the the statistical worst defensive team in the NBA.
have you watched the nuggets play defense?
i think they are worse than the knicks on the defensive end.
how can you give it to him?
i think shane battier should get some votes as well.
Wilson Chandler was a good pick (i hate to give I.T. credit but he made a good pick).i like this cat because he is active on the offensive and defensive side of the ball.how many knicks actually care about defense?
the mistake Isiah made was waiting too long the play the guy.
Q-rich is at best a backup small forward right now in his career.
Chandler should start at small forward next year!
Those 4 blocks a game might be slightly deceptive in this case, Al. As in, more indicative of Denver's nonexistent perimeter D which needs Camby to bail them out on nearly every possession. The Celts have the best (or second-best) 3-point goals-against percentage in the league, Denver is among the worst. Consider the player's role within the team. Boston can afford to D up hard on shooters because they trust their interior defense...and why is that? Camby gets lots and lots of chances to come off his man and go after guys driving the hoop...and why is that? Is Camby really having a great impact on Denver's defensive play?
Nice blog. I've been reading it for a few weeks.
Camby is an okay pick, but I think, with how the Celtics are playing on defense, you have to give it to KG.
I don't understand why everyone continues saying the Nuggets are so terrible on defense. Adjusted for pace (they play at the fastest pace in the NBA), they're 10th in the league in defense, and they're also 16th in eFG% allowed. While I think 10th is probably a little too high, it's a good indication that the Nuggets aren't as awful as everyone keeps believing. I've watched the games. Their perimeter defense is lousy, but Kenyon Martin and Camby do good work inside. I think, when you really get down to it, Denver is probably an average defensive team -- they have lapses but also get a fair amount of stops. People are just thrown off by the final scores. You also have to consider that Denver causes a ton of turnovers.
Adjusted for pace, the Knicks are, statistically, the worst defensive team in the NBA.
A few points on the Knicks this year and how they have disappointed their fans:
--raised expectations by playing the Vegas Summer League like it was the NBA playoffs
--starting the year weakly, and then launched the blame Marbury game.
--flushed season down the toilet, so that by January the games meant nothing
--when it finally was fun to watch the Knicks to root for a high draft pick, they mess that up as well, winning against Orlando and at Detroit virtually ensuring a sixth pick in a draft with five top players.
--when finally they do the right thing and hire Walsh, they diddle around with Thomas so that he can pontificate about how we should judge him on his "record," and how Knicks fans have not had a team since 1973. FIRE HIM ALREADY.
--and by the way, although Chandler has played well in these last few meaningless games remember that Mardy Collins was a star at the end of last year. And for those true Knick fans, remember Lavor Postel, another weekend wonder.
What a mess.
so let me get this straight: granger lit chandler up for 26, lebron dropped 50 on him, the guy is a streak shooter (at best), his handle sucks, and everyone thinks he is a starting small in the league next year? well, on the knicks that just may be true, but anywhere else, forget it. he;s mediocre, and DAVID is right to remind us of what collins (who is horrible) did in garbage time last year.
you should be able to block 4 shots a game if the opposing guards can get into the lane on every other possession
@sec11rowH
that is true about chandler vs granger but granger also had a good game against tayshan prince of detroit...so does that devalue the fact that prince is a good defensive player?
also that was right when isiah started giving him quality minutes.
at first he was playing at garbage time and then one day isiah woke up and decided to play chandler heavy minutes.
from what i have seen(and i have watched or tivoed every knick game) is that he is showing improvement defensively and also offensively
th guy has a good looking shot and every game i see him blocking someone else's shot and geting a good number of rebounds.
that is true about mardy collins but the big knock on collins was that he had NO offensive game.
can't shoot and was a mediocre athlete.
when you read the scouting report on chandler from college they all say he had a good jumpshot, was extremely athletic and was active on the defensive end.
i see potential....i think as he learns the league he will be a much better stopper because of his athleticism.
people said the same thing about andre iglodala of the sixers and look where he is...in fact i think they have similar game but andre had A.I. to learn from and chandler has jamal crawford...LOL
@Alan... I'm still not understaning why u dont think Rick Carlisle is a candidate for the coaching job... If Van Gundy even has the slightest chance after he quit on the Knicks... Seems like Carlisle is also a better choice than Skiles, and has better credentials... He won with two completely different teams, with different styles...
I think the DPOY has to go to KG. His addition and presence has vastly improved the Celts overall D. I honestly cannot think of one player's additon having the level of impact to a team's defense that KG has to the Celts this year. Were it not for Chris Paul, I think KG would be a no brainer for MVP and DPOY.
As to Chandler, I think Donnie is just saying that it's nice to know there is at least one guy that has a chance to be a good player and has shown the hunger/desire on his own (heaven knows few others on this team have). There are very few positive things that Donnie can possibly point to on this team at this point, but saying that Chandler has a chance is a fair statement.
Alan's looking to us for our opinions has driven home a sad fact. I realize I've watched less basketball this season than any other in the last 30 years. Wonder why. Some of that has been work, but I've been busy before, and still made time to catch games. It's as though this team sucks the life out of you. I, at least, found it difficult to muster the enthusiasm to watch many games. The sad fact is, Alan - you don't want my opinion. I'm completely unqualified. But I'm eager to see your choices.
KG is definitely on the ballot and is every year, no doubt.
Great points by you Fixers, the best defensive player on the best defensive team should be the winner. Also a great point that Camby gets a lot of blocks because his guards give up penetration, but you still have to be able to have the instincts and ability to get there and make the block (see: Eddy Curry).
Shane Battier, for sure, gets on the list, too.
@TheKid: I should clarify that I don't include Carlisle among coaching candidates only because I have been told Donnie isn't high on him. Very good X and O, but not great at communicating with his players. It's not my opinion of Carlisle, just what I'm told.
Also, Sec11 brings up a fair comparison of Wilson Chandler with Mardy Collins' finish last season. But Mardy had a bad summer (knee surgery and not the best conditioning effort) and was not 100 percent at the start of camp. Then he was tossed in and out of the lineup.
I'd like to see Mardy come to camp in great shape - maybe the best shape of his life - and then decide if he can play. And if he doesn't show up in shape, then he's making it clear he's not that interested in being a legit NBA player.
Wilson is a different kind of athlete because he's already in tremendous shape. He can run all day. So as long as he keeps his head screwed on straight and keeps working on his game this offseason, he's got a future.
Be sure to send Isiah a 'Thank You' card.
Let's get a roll call of who plans to attend tonight's game for the free food and drinks and to see the Celtics play their reserves for 90 percent of the game.
I haven't been all year, and I'm not going tonight. I can barely watch games at this point.
Why do I have the bad feeling they are gonna win this one?
Alan, I haven't been paying attention to records, any chance we can get back to the 5th draft position?
On top of this, what if we are the team that drops...it would be a perfect ending to the Isiah era wouldn't it?
Put me down for KG for DPOY, for his transformation on the Celtics into the best defensive team in the league. His individual d is first-team worthy, but his effect on his teammates is even more impressive.
Shane Battier.
Only a hockey writer thinks a shot blocker on the league's worst defensive team would merit anything other than scorn.
Of course, we'll soon see Marcus Camby's Greatest 23rd Row Swats alongside the video of Derrick "Choke" Rose's Worthless Circus Dunks.
Where have all the Knicks games gone?
Can anybody help me finding coverage of the Knicks games lately? Most of the past 5-10 games have not been on MSG due to conflicting schedules with the rangers. So I assumed they would be on My9, but often that is the Nets game instead, and the new MSG+ is running specials and whatnot.
Have Knicks games just not been aired on TimeWarner in NYC lately, or is there yet another channel I am missing? I know tonight’s game is back on MSG, but the last game of the season will not be. The Rangers have a playoff game then, and when I searched the TimeWarner guide, it seems the only channel airing Knicks-Pacers is one of the NBA League Pass channels.
Is it possible the last game of the season will not be televised?
Last year I remember there was a website, something like msgoverflow or something like that, that had a list of game broadcasts, but I can’t remember it.
Any ideas?
I may just go to the game tonight. I'm watching the development of Nate and Wilson Chandler late in the season. They are the only two young guys I would keep (Nate as a Boykins type 2-guard) and we have to start somewhere.
@ Adam L: I live in the BX and the Knicks games have been on Channel 14 which is the TV Guide channel. Yes the Knicks have fallen that far.
Def Player of the Year: You have to look at who gaurds the best player on the other team, can guard multiple positions, and whose team's defense hinges on that player's performance (almost like the MVP Paul on offense). I say that is Stephen Jackson with KG a close second. I've seen Jackson gaurd the 1-5. KG too but that team was also great on D while he was out injured.
Why does everyone always talk about buying out Marburry and give J.James a pass. I'm tired of watching his fat a$$ laugh on the bench (when he bothers showing up) while the Knicks lose game after game. Can't have clowns like that on the team Donnie when you are bringing in young players and building for the future.
Alan, I promised not to set foot in the Garden until Isiah Thomas is fired. So I won't be at the game tonight -- free food or not.
Besides, by beating the Magic and Pistons last week, they totally screwed up their shot at Rose or Beasley, and likely landed themselves in the sixth hole.
Also, as noted by Isola today, the Dolan slaves were still typing into their blackberries when Walsh spoke to the media, so I fear nothing has changed at the toxic MSG.
Knicks4Life- thanks for the tip. I guess that is the problem, that the games are on other channels, but they are not listed ono the programming so you would not know it was a basketball game by searching the listings.
This website has the info though
http://www.msg.com/overflow/
It seems MSG2 has been doing mosst of the missing games
I think we need to get Ewing in as a coach and get him on that dais for the Draft lottery drawing...Viva la frozen envelope!
cwod - I hope you don't mind my repeating some of your post, for those incapable of reading.
"I don't understand why everyone continues saying the Nuggets are so terrible on defense. Adjusted for pace (they play at the fastest pace in the NBA), they're 10th in the league in defense, and they're also 16th in eFG% allowed. While I think 10th is probably a little too high, it's a good indication that the Nuggets aren't as awful as everyone keeps believing."
To mindlessly equate points allowed with team defense speaks volumes about one's understanding of basketball.
Peter and whatever life form a cwod is,
Um, in basketball, the team that scores the most points wins the game.
Now, a team can either try to outscore its opponent, an effort that results in short-term success and long-term failure.
OR
A team can stop its opponent from scoring points. The team stops or otherwise limits the number of points its foe scores more often than not wins the game and The Ring.
Defense wins championships.
Offense gets you on ESPN and lots of love from Stu Scott.
Hockey writers, sub par hockey writers, posts videos of carnival dunks that have no applicable use in the pursuit of championships and foster mindless adoration (your specialty) on chokers, like Derrick Rose and Chris Douglas-Roberts, who brick free throws when the money is on the table and the championship is lost.
Whenever you see the word "Anonymous," just think of . . .
"Lonely . . . I'm Mr. Lonely . . . "
Whenever you see the word "Trane," just think of....
A scrawny guy bent over in a jail cell grabbing his ankles while a 6-foot-8, 375-pound mouth breather named Tiny D. stands behind him with a wide smile on his face...
take it easy guys...alan whats the deal, isiah's last game no update? even bermans posting...stay focused!
enjoyed the blog all season though, thanks
and i do have to agree with the anonymous ahole, derrick rose might be more ricky davis than dwayne wade..can we get back to talking about drafting someone who can PROTECT THE FREAKIN RIM...damn u eddy curry
eddy curry...WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY?
"Um, in basketball, the team that scores the most points wins the game.
Now, a team can either try to outscore its opponent, an effort that results in short-term success and long-term failure.
OR
A team can stop its opponent from scoring points. The team stops or otherwise limits the number of points its foe scores more often than not wins the game and The Ring.
Defense wins championships."
Clearly. But you have to consider how fast a team plays, too. Compared to games involving a team like the Pistons, the slowest, most deliberate team in the league, a game involving the Nuggets, because of their pace, will naturally result in more possessions for both teams. So how can you compare how many points the Nuggets give up to a team like the Knicks? You do that by adjusting for the number of possessions, so that all teams are on equal footing, which allows for real comparison. When you do that, you realize Denver is a lot better on defense than the final scores would lead you to believe.
Defense wins championships.
Losers, and second-rate hockey writers, fawn over YouTube clips of practice dunks that have no practical on-court application and are made by Child Losers who gag on free throws in the final seconds of championship games.
For all his posters, Mr. Jordan was money from the line, off the window from 18 out on either wing, jump stop and money from 8-12 feet, and a dominant force on defense.
Leave the circus dunks with Barnum & Bailey and/or The Rucker League. Defense, fundamental execution, and turn out the lights the party's over at the line in the final ticks define champions.
Or you could follow the foolish notions of a second-rate hockey writer who picked the Knicks to make the playoffs.