if Vecsey, P.’s report in today’s Post:
http://www.nypost.com/seven/12142007/sports/knicks/time_to_fire_isiah_380074.htm?page=1

is accurate about how toxic the locker room has become (no shock, but still interesting to see it spelled out), I don’t think it’s fair to judge the young role players on this team too much. they get jerked around in terms of minutes seemingly unrelated to how well they’re playing, and they’re forced to play with the remarkably deficient veterans. Collins I think we know enough about to know he shouldn’t be more than an emergency guy at most, but Balkman and Nate I think could thrive if they knew they were getting 20 minutes a night consistently. plus it’s absurd that Chandler doesn’t get any minutes, not to mention Randolph Morris. SEE IF THESE GUYS CAN PLAY OR NOT! thank you.

Curry was abused once he had the ball tonight more than I’ve ever seen, really sad. he’s definitely regressed this year, and I don’t think it really has that much to do with Randolph’s addition. Bill Simmons had a trade proposal that made a lot of sense both ways today:

“this trade works after Dec. 15: Eddy Curry (less than half the price tag of Shaq for the same stats), Stephon Marbury (expires in 2009) and Fred Jones’ expiring deal for Jason Williams’ expiring deal and $82 million worth of Shaq and Mark Blount (both of whom expire in 2010).”

Curry would be better next to Mourning and Haslem, and Shaq would be so fun to root for, even if he’s a shadow of his former self. NY right now would be better if they traded Curry and Marbury for nothing, so anything you can get from Shaq over the next few years is a bonus.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/071214

No, it really couldn’t be. The Knicks offense could always get worse, especially if Balkman is as bad as you say he is. But it doesn’t get worse when Balkman is in the game.

If Balkman tried to do things that are outside his skillset it would certainly have a negative impact, but he doesn’t. He moves the ball, cuts and crashes the boards, and that is all.

Mike K: I do watch the action off the ball, and particularly on the defensive end. And yes, Crawford is an atrocious defender, but bear in mind that it is magnified by the defensive ineptitude of the front court players. Balkman does have a decent handle, but nowhere near good enough to cause any sort of penetration on offense. His strengths on offense might be somewhat masked by playing for Knicks, since they don’t really run the break that often. But a player of Balkman’s skill set and physical stature needs to be able to hit an open jumper, especially if the Knicks continue to feed the post on offense. If he can’t, he makes it really easy for the opposition to double team Curry/Randolph (although, even if he could shoot, there’s no guarantee that those 2 would even bother to pass out of the double team, anyway).

Also, I retract my previous statement of him having no value in 5 years time. I think he will have LITTLE value in 5 years time.

that was this season and in his first game back. last year he did OK against LeBron, not amazing, but no one can really guard him.

I also remember him getting 3 fouls in less than one minute guarding LeBron James…

But I still like him.