Comments on: Suns 133 (3OT) Knicks 140

By: dave crockett

dave crockett — Thu, 05 Jan 2006 20:16:23 +0000

Since all discussions seem to lead back to Isiah perhaps it would be useful to put some detail into rather than keep it abstract.

I think the question before Knick fans (and Thomas critics) is this. Would you rather have the young nuclueus of Curry, Robinson, and Lee that Isiah acquired via trade this past offseason (leaving out Channing Frye who was drafted straight up) – OR – would you rather have kept Thomas and Nazr, added Frye, and one of the top 14 players coming out next season (listed below)?

NBADraft.net’s top 14 (as of 1/3/06) – this site does a pretty good job of rating the top players coming out, including Euros and prepsters.

1. Rudy Gay 6-8 220 SF UConn So.
2. Adam Morrison 6-8 220 SF Gonzaga Jr.
3. LaMarcus Aldridge 6-11 245 PF Tex. So.
4. Andrea Bargnani 6-11 240 PF Italy 1985
5. Rajon Rondo 6-2 171 PG Kentucky So.
6. Ronnie Brewer 6-7 217 SG Arkansas Jr.
7. Patrick O’Bryant 7-0 250 C Bradley So.
8. Shawne Williams 6-9 225 SF Memphis Fr.
9. Rodney Carney 6-7 205 SF Memphis Sr.
10. Daniel Gibson 6-2 190 PG Texas So.
11. Shelden Williams 6-9 250 PF Duke Sr.
12. Tiago Splitter 6-11 240 PF Brazil 1985
13. Josh Boone 6-10 237 PF UConn Jr.
14. JJ Redick 6-4 190 SG Duke Sr.

Frankly, I don’t think it’s a slam dunk either way, which is why this conversation seems to be at the point where it’s going in circles.

By: NGLI

NGLI — Thu, 05 Jan 2006 00:57:38 +0000

Gabe…?detrimental conduct?…listed as ?excessively sucking?even for him?… gotta give props to that one. ^_^

Calm down, New Yorkers… 2006 will look much better than 2005.

I promise you guys… The roster isn’t that bad. Maybe a few tiny changes, but what can the Knicks do in reality? Perhaps unloading Q, Ariza, Butler or Rose, but don’t expect any impact players joining the team any time soon…and certainly not Artest. Don’t worry, I have a feeling Artest will end up in New York within the next 2-3 years. Davis/Hardaway should be left on the roster after the trade deadline: the cap situation needs to get fixed sooner or later, and now is as good a time as any.

The players will continue to adapt to Mr. Anal as the season wears on. Really, the Knicks have shown flashes of serious potential:

Marbury, Crawford, Lee, Frye, Curry???

We’ve got some talent here. Don’t fret.

By: nosam

nosam — Wed, 04 Jan 2006 23:43:28 +0000

i think the point of the article was that we aren’t in ‘win-now’ or ‘win-later’, we’re in the middle and that ain’t good

By: Seth

Seth — Wed, 04 Jan 2006 22:10:59 +0000

i don’t know about us being in a “win-now” mode. it’s been pointed out on this site that isiah has made some moves of that nature, but plenty that seem to be for the future (signing 3 draft picks). brown’s new plan to focus on the young players seems to be for the future as well.

By: mase

mase — Wed, 04 Jan 2006 19:02:05 +0000

one other point, how can Isiah afford not to be in the Artest sweestakes?
…we’re clearly in a ‘win-now’ mode but aren’t winning.

By: mase

mase — Wed, 04 Jan 2006 18:53:08 +0000

I want to start by wishing everyone a happy new year!
on to the new year’s list:
1. lets hope in 2006 LB stops overcoaching and being a control freak coach(did anyone hear him recently in an interview criticizing his sons coaching decision to play zone instead of man in a game for kids 8y/o and under?), he is not a basketball god who is going to bail Isiah out for his dreadful decision making.
2.Isiah has to own up to these bad moves and start instituting a ‘damage control’ mentality from here on out or be fired. There is something wrong with a guy who trades away 4 unprotected 1st round picks while expanding the salary of an already bloated cap in 2 years.
3. Dolan is getting raped and I feel for him.
4. Has anyone noticed the Knicks have a team identity with Curry playing? too bad he’s always hurt and rarely plays but imagine where the team would be if the last minute trade to get Curry wasn’t made? please note we only have 8 wins, would we have 2? 0? we definately wouldnt have more than 8. That’s why sports analysts will tell you that they would ‘ve made the Cyrry trade 10 out of 10 times not because he’s that good but because of the hole that the Knicks were in leading up to it, either that or they are all nuts.
Not to confuse the issue but Curry alone is not responsible for the 8 wins and it was a collective effort of the best minds in basketball with unlimited resources to bring forth such success..lol

By: Gabe

Gabe — Wed, 04 Jan 2006 14:16:36 +0000

I stand by my earlier rant:

With about 11 minutes left in the 4th, I was in a state of disbelief about the game against the Suns. First of all, I am stunned that the Knicks were able to put up 61 points (including a 12 point lead) in the first half considering how many of the “little things” they were unable to do.

Secondly, I am not at all surprised that after that they put up only 20 (by comparison) in the 3rd quarter and that the Suns were within 3 of tying the game at that point (they would tie it later on).

Thirdly, I’m also not surprised the Knicks were cooling off (despite Jamal Crawford hitting a nice jumper — did you know that Crawford has the highest difference in points/game in wins vs losses this year in the entire league?) and wouldn’t really have been shocked if the Suns win this game. Of course, as I originally typed that, Frye (one of the few bright spots in an otherwise dismal season, even though he ran up 2 quick fouls in the 1st quarter) just nailed a monster dunk. Still, we’ve all seen this self-combustion one too many times recently. Wasn’t this the kind of stuff LB supposed to fix?

And lastly, Jerome James suspended for “conduct detrimental to the team”? Why am I not AT ALL surprised about that one. In the official report, I wonder if the “detrimental conduct” was specifically listed as “excessively sucking…even for him”, or if they just left that space blank on the form.

By: Nathan

Nathan — Wed, 04 Jan 2006 06:42:46 +0000

Steve: Tell that to Mark Madsen!

By: Steve

Steve — Wed, 04 Jan 2006 06:20:25 +0000

on ariza, the guy needs to develop a skill. he needs to either make jumpshots, score with his back to the basket, or become a defensive stopper. he needs to find a role; right now, he doesn’t do anything particularly well, except bring “energy.” guys like that don’t hang around the league very long.

although, his dunk on ben wallace in that espn game early in the season was nice!

By: Jesse

Jesse — Wed, 04 Jan 2006 04:05:39 +0000

To answer some of your questions:

1) Marbury did miss some shots, but overall shot 46% on a night when he scored 32. And in the OT’s Marbury without question won the game by carrying the team on his back.

2) Frye’s minutes has come up on several boards. Early on it was because of foul trouble. But those were the only fouls he had. I’m guessing that the team that LB felt there was a matchup issue, because Lee played a ton. But when someone came in at one point, it was Rose!

3)As for Lee, I think you are spot on. The kid is an unbelievable athlete and has a nose for the ball. In a few years he will be a solid all-around player, and a huge rebounder. I think his future lies at playing the 3 or 4 depending on the situation.

To go back to Brian’s post, let’s hope that LB has settled into this rotation as it seems to be working well. Friday’s game will be difficult because of the length of the Wizards. Have to see how Brown handles it.

I also hope that Ariza can get back into the rotation (take Rose’s minutes, please!).