The Knicks Fix

I think "[Fill in the Blank] is a good guy" is going to be my new go-to phrase to describe when someone goes on an epic boozing, gambling, hooker murdering, bender.

What lecherous secrets are in Kirk Heinrich's past?

I must know!!!

Where's the party, Chris?

not to beat a dead horse, but this isn't bad:
http://slamonline.com/online/2008/08/one-day-in-the-life-of-isiah-thomas/

@ Willis. I don't think it is fair to blame Carmelo for Denver's lack of post season success. Yes I'm a Carmelo fan and would trade anyone on our roster and a first round pick for him but I think like KG in Minn they have not surrounded him with players that compliment his strengths and make up for his weaknesses (lack of consistent D, streaky outside shooting). Bringing in Iverson would have been good (two dominant scorers) if they had three other guys who cared about defense. But Nene and Kmart were always hurt and Smith is a nutcase. Their PG situation has always been a revolving door mess. With two scorers like Iverson and Melo George Karl should focus the rest of the team around defense, but instead he makes them try to outscore people. You can blame the GM too because Karl may just not have the players. Melo is young too, I can't imagine him not getting a ring with his talent before his career is over but I guess Barkley and Ewing never won a ring so its possible.

Perfect example of building a team that does not compliment its star is KG in Minn, T-Mac in Orlando, and LBJ in Cleveland. KG got to concentrate on defense and rebounding in Boston b/c Paul Pierce and Allen are such talented offensive players. KG is also a natural leader and those guys personalities allowed them to defer to him. Orlando would have been a good fit for T-Mac but Grant Hill couldn't be Scottie Pipen because he never played. T-Mac had to carry too much of the scoring load and the team didn't have enough other scorers although they could play a ton of D. Cleveland is just a disgrace. I can't even tell what kind of style they are trying to run there. Half the team is uptempo half the team is half court and can't play D. I still can't believe they made the finals.

The Lakers, Pistons, Spurs, Mavs (before Kidd trade), Rockets and now Hornets all built their teams the right way. The Heat were built perfectly before Shaq got hurt, Walker got fat, and Williams had no knees. The Blazers are a veteran scorer away. Jordan was an amazing player but that Bulls team was also built perfectly to compliment all of his skills. If the Knicks ever want to be mentioned as serious contenders for a title I think we have to acquire pieces through draft picks and free agent signings that may hurt financially now but will be attractive to a free agent in 2010. Think the Jets (I know different sport); they never would have landed Farve if they didn't spend in the offseason to upgrade their talent. I say trade Zach, Marburry, Curry but we have to get at least one star before 2010.

@Knicks4Life

I think the concept of building a team of complimentary players is pretty foreign to many fans including those that are primarily advanced numbers and stats crunchers. I think the early evidence suggests that Walsh and D'Antoni "get it". There's still a lot more work to do, but at least someone appreciates that the game is more than just advanced stats on a piece of paper.

I absolutely agree with you Life. Like I said earlier, I don't think Denver has much of a plan - K-Mart??? Losing Camby was a result of salary issues, remind me again, who deserves the money more? -Why exactly is Nene untouchable over there? Why get rid of Najera? At least they see the value in Kleiza.

My thing is, he's a special, special player. And since you can find yourself in these situations for your whole career - as Patrick and Charles did, you have to do everything in your power to make yourself better. I think we should expect great things of these players, I just want them to be able to get everything they can out of their careers and out of themselves. Don't end up like Derrick Coleman (NOT saying these guys are whoop de damn near anything like him) a huge talent who could have owned the league if he cared to.

Would you take him over LeBron? In D'Antoni world, I would.

Wow WIllis great question. Most of the fans here would say we are crazy but I think that is actually a legit question. Melo is a phenomenal offensive player who really cares about winning. He actually works on his game every year and you can see the improvements on both ends of the floor. He still is not a consistent defensive player but with him on your team I think you can almost guarantee a playoff spot in the East. His defense stops him from being a top 7 player in my book but he has the work ethic, I can see him being top 3 before his career is over.

LBJ is a phenomenal passer and scorer. I was arguing with somebody about Crawford before and watching LBJ drive to the hole, get to the line, and finish is incredible. Crawford needs to study tapes of him. He is a natural leader and makes his teamates look much better than they are. I mean I'm talking making them look like Jordon made B.J. Armstrong, Steve Kerr, and those guys look. I think his defense is actually underrated which is incredible when you think of all the responsiblities he has on offense between handling the ball and rebouding. LBJ can guard the 1-3 spots and does it at will, especially in the clutch. Melo can only guard the 3 and 4 and does it ok as opposed to very good like LBJ. I waiver on who the better player is between him and Kobe because Kobe has the will to win, killer J, is super clutch and his defense to me is incredible, maybe the best in the league when motivated. LBJ also has decent range on his J although he still is not a good 3 pt shooter yet. Like Melo though it is crazy to watch him improve from year to year and I have no doubt that like MJ he will add it to his game.

Final verdict: I take LBJ because even though Melo has a better shot and would be great in D'Antoni's system, LBJ has the better handle, is a much better passer, can play the pick and roll better and is a much better defender who can guard more positions. They are both leaders (which there is a lack of today) but LBJ is the greatest on-court leader since MJ (yeah even better than KG). If we are lucky enought to get either, and built a real team around them our championship drought would be over. CP3 I also think would be incredible in NY but he just signed that extension.

I'm CP3 over both LeBron and Carmelo, but, alas, it is not to be. Call me sentimental for the old days, but I'll take Carmelo next. You are right, in today's game, LeBron has the advantage over Carmelo, but I can't stand the institutionalized carrying and traveling in the game today - its an unfair advantage for the offense and LeBron makes better use of it than Carmelo.

I'll gnash my teeth in the corner, but how a guy can pick up the ball off the dribble behind the foul line, sail 8 to 10 feet into the lane and then LAND ON TWO FEET and jump again and they call it a layup (and he'll probably go to the line because he ran around the guy with defensive position who had to lunge) and the foul.....It just kills me. Ask the Mavs about that one.

You have to figure, if things look bad for getting LeBron in the Garden in 2010, Walsh may have to trade for Carmelo. Interesting scenario really; when do you realize you can't get LeBron, and then, what do you do. There must be flow charts in about 20 GM's offices right now mapping the possibilities.

willis, i am shocked. absolutely shocked, by your enthusiasm for melo. the dude is about one dui/nod-out from being a forgettable footnote in this league. he has future is more likely to resemble derick coleman's (what is it about these 'cuse guys?) than kobe's or lebron's.

i think you would have to be psychotic to give him the max deal at this point, he has not proved himself to be a player who plays hard every night, shows up in the best possible shape, or makes players around him better.

i do however agree that the best player to build around would be cp3. and he's only been in the league 2 years!

Sec11 and Willis.....for you to sit here and even think about taking CPE over Lebron, let alone type it is simply incredible to me. I have to give it up to you though....you have the most confidence here to say that.
What is stongest part of CP3's game?
Passing/Assists where he led the league with 11.6 PG
Total statline = 21.1PPG 11.6APG 4RPG 2STLS
Excellent is an understatement for a statline like that.
Lebron James is not a better passer than #1 CP3....BUT he comes in allllllllllllllllll the way down the chart at #8 with 7.2 PG
Total statline = 30PPG 7.2APG 7.9RBG 1.84STLS
Obviously Lebron has a better statline.
Now let's look at the age factor since you said....
"Pauls only been in the league for 2 years"
CP3 is 23 years old.
LBJ is 23 years old.
Throw age out the window.

Lebron is the 2nd best and arguably the best player on this earth. Only exception would be Kobe Bryant. I'm not even a Kobe fan like that but I can't front on his skills. He is probably (takes a deep breath) the best scorer any of us have ever seen. (Barf...I can't believe I said that).

dajoka. i'm not old enough to say i saw chamberlain play in his prime, but i did see plenty of jabar, and he was a much more dominant offensive player than kobe. as great as kobe is, he does has his off days, and if a team focuses on him he can be contained to some degree. jabar was unstoppable.

I don't agree with you guys about Melo. He may be talented and exceptional in a few ways, but to say he really cares about winning without him doing much yet, that is ridiculous. For me, the fact that he is overweight and remains that way throughout the season, says a lot about his desire. Just compare his body structure with Lebron's and Kobe's, that will tell you something. Please don't tell me that it is his natural structure. To me, any sports person who is overweight, is not trying enough and lacks in desire to reach the top.