Comments on: Game Recap: Bobcats 94, Knicks 87

By: J Weezy

J Weezy — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 01:19:22 +0000

great start from the knicks…3 ball is going down smooth…hopefully the knicks can learn from charlottle and put opponents away and not let them get any hope of a comeback by lingering

By: ess-dog

ess-dog — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 00:41:01 +0000

My bad- Bender is in uni, not starting. I hope he gets burn. You’d think they would showcase Nate and Al tonight for the bulls…

By: cbrooklyn

cbrooklyn — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 00:36:10 +0000

larry hughes is out for the next two games…i wonder if nate gets to play now…

By: ess-dog

ess-dog — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 00:29:48 +0000

Wait… Is Bender starting tonight’s game?

By: Sandy

Sandy — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 23:15:42 +0000

byron scott was fired this year after losing to us. teams can’t handle losing to us. its does a number on the psyche.

By: d-mar

d-mar — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 22:58:13 +0000

Hey, didn’t a couple (or maybe even 3?) coaches get fired last year right after losing to us? I think we have a chance to do that to DelNegro tonight. Not to wish bad tidings on the guy, but all I care about is the Knicks winning, so sorry Vinny if it comes to you getting the boot.

By: Ted Nelson

Ted Nelson — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 22:32:32 +0000

rrude,

The Raptors are the #5 offense in the NBA right now. Their defense is terrible, though: dead last. If the Knicks added Bosh and Joe Johnson and could play something resembling defense they’d have a shot to be better than Toronto this season. The biggest thing I think they would need to get into the top tier of the east (top 3, say: Orlando, Boston, and Cleveland right now is the top tier to me) is defense. They might be able to add some through low cost vets who want to come to NY, their 2nd rounder, and development from their young players. PG is not really a concern to me. Joe Johnson takes care of a lot of the ball-handling, so an efficient guy to share those duties and defend the 1 well might be the best match next to him. This is what Douglas looks like.
LeBron should absolutely be the top target, and Wade #2. But if the Knicks ended up with Bosh and Johnson I wouldn’t be upset.

Frank,

One question is whether Danilo’s shot would eventually start falling. He’s the highest % outside shooter on the squad, so the chances of him finding his jumper is higher than that of anyone else on the squad. Hughes and Harrington were a combined 2-10 from 3… Why are those guys taking 10 3PAs in a game ever, let alone when you’ve got 3 pt shooters like Gallo, Douglas, and Nate on the bench? Their peripherals? 8 TOs, 8 rebs (in 55 mins), 4 asts., and 3 stls, and 2 blks… Intabgibles? Both -15 on the game…

hyperpick,

Wade isn’t a max level player? Really? One of the top 2-5 players in the world and you’re not willing to risk his body holding up? Bosh? One of the best offensive bigmen in the game? Amare and Johnson are less obvious cases, but they’ll both get max deals easily. Larry Hughes got a max deal a few years ago, and there are tons of teams with tons of cap space plus each one of those guys teams really wants them back.
I am by no means hoping for Amare and Joe Johnson, but I think your take on that theoretical situation is too grave. You’re one of the best offenses in the NBA. You don’t really need a great playmaking PG wth Johnson, his assist rate is higher than Bibby’s or Crawford’s this season. You don’t even have the mid-level if you go into the offseason with cap space, but Kurt Thomas and Joe Smith are by no means the only bargain FAs you can bring in (those kind of signings have been helping teams win rings for years, so they’re not always sucking wind after 10 minutes of playing time). With a top 5 offense and a mediocre defense you can make it to the 2nd round in the East. And then, as you say, you’ve got space again in 2011.
“Without him, get the two next best things, and hope you can get a third in the summer of 2011.”
That I agree with.

By: Sandy

Sandy — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 20:06:11 +0000

and I’m not saying its right either. i haven’t watched the bulls, but changing coaches mid season rarely produces different results.

By: Sandy

Sandy — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 20:04:13 +0000

hope that Knicks can grab a victory tonight and then again on Tuesday against the Bulls. I fear what will happen to Vinny Del Negro if his team loses the next 4 games including two against NY, one against Atlanta, and one against a dangerous Sacramento. You never like to speculate about a person’s job, but with 4 more losses, and a three day break after that, I believe the Bulls might pull the trigger. in any case, let’s hope the knicks start a new win streak.

By: hyperpick

hyperpick — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 16:56:27 +0000

With the cap projected to drop further next year, the Knicks have no choice but to move Jeffries for expirings in order to have the ability to get 2 marquee FAs. The question being, if LBJ isn’t one of those, what’s the point? I don’t see, say DWade* and Bosh, or JJohsnon and Amare, being anywhere near the quality to command at or near max money for 5+ years. The Knicks are bringing over 4 youngsters plus Jeffries/Curry to the roster in 2010. Let’s assume Jeffries is moved (this isn’t a safe assumption, but this is a moot point without it). If you signed, sake of argument here, Joe Johnson and Amare, to the tune of ~$33 million combined, adding that to the committed ~$21 million for Curry, Gallo, TD, Chandler and Hill… you’ve pretty much maxed out your cap. Not much room for a much needed PG or veteran PF or C who still has legs. Sure you might sign Kurt Thomas or Joe Smith to the mid-level exception but how many minutes do they give you? 10 before sucking wind? So the roster might be playoff eligible, but it’s not likely to get out of the first round. Which gives a mid-level draft pick, which isn’t good, but then you’ve waited out Curry’s contract and freed up the money to pursue another marque FA.
In essence, if you don’t pry LBJ for 2010**, you are running another summer of risk looking for another big-time player. You get LBJ next summer and your plan/foundation is set: build it around LeBron. He is a singular talent to whom the rest of the vaunted class of 2010 doesn’t compare (as good as many of them are). Without him, get the two next best things, and hope you can get a third in the summer of 2011.

* Yes, DWade is a great player who’s won a championship, but I don’t have confidence that his specific style of play and body type will lead to many more years of elite productivity and health.

** Total shot in the dark on my part, but somehow I expect Chris Paul to be made available in a crazy move. Similar to the Pau Gasol trade, where the Knicks could get CPIII for Curry, their 2011 pick and Wilson Chandler because the Hornet’s owner wants Paul’s contract off the next several years worth of books. Excuse me while I lapse into a coma dreaming of CPIII, LBJ and Bosh on the same Knicks team. Somebody whisper this in George Shinn’s ear (I think that’s the Hornets owner’s name)… he could save a lot of money in the long run. Do it, George. Become a hero in New York. Do it.