Knicks Blog - Latest Comments

Re: CBA Information Seminar

speedster — Wed, 16 May 2012 15:37:52 -0000

@Irvin. I've never blamed the refs. Read my posts!

And yeah, injuries did hurt us. We lost our best SG/perimeter defender, our best PG, we lost our starting PF for one game, our starting center and defensive player of the year had the flu for the first 2 games (I also believe Chandler was gassed for the year because of all the minutes he played), our back up Center was hobbled with a knee injury and we lost our second starting PG for the final game. And you're telling me that none of that had an affect on how we did in the playoffs and it was all just because of a lack of effort and not having the right players?

Its a small sample size, but the way we played under Woodson when Amare and Lin were healthy was very encouraging. We were 6-1 and destroyed several teams, including Indiana. Im not sure why you think players for other teams can improve but ours cannot. We get out of the gate much better next year and we won't be as tired going into the playoffs. Its quite simple. But please, call Knicks fans who have some hope about the future stupid if it makes you feel better. Your's is the safer, more cynical position to take. You can say "I told you so" when it doesn't work out and therefore risk nothing by taking a leap of faith.

Re: Catch and Makes Telling Key Stories in Round 2

Fields Fanatic — Wed, 16 May 2012 15:05:53 -0000

Who would you recommend getting at the veteran's minimum to replace them?

Re: CBA Information Seminar

JacesAces — Wed, 16 May 2012 15:04:13 -0000

I don't know why so many people argue that he was 'selfish'. He had NO offensive weapons on his sixers team, so had to play 1-5 consistently. If you remember his olympics and all-star games, you'd see real 'team play' (same could be said with Melo for that matter). Moreover, if you consider him 'selfish' based on his play, than so are MJ and Kobe.

I'd argue that he was a championship player & teammate, but that he lacked help on his team. An aged Chris Webber was not help. If you put AI on those Lakers teams with Shaq, he would have won the same three rings as Kobe. Moreover, AI was actually less selfish than Kobe - and so I'd argue that he wouldn't have feuded with Shaq. I've never heard of one reference to a feud that AI had with a teammate.

People remember him as 'selfish' because that was the image that the media portrayed. I don't think its truthful (especially when you look at how much money he has given away to charities and friends/family).

He did have a chip on his shoulder, but his "thirst for stats" didn't negate his "thirst for victory". AI wanted to win, he wanted a championship.

He did have a 'poor attitude' in some regards. His reckless abandon for being the 'good guy' in the eyes of the media was perhaps poor decision-making. He wanted to do things his way, and he had a 'ghetto image'. He didn't want to come off the bench. But can you a fault a guy that wants to work? He wanted to play, why should he have come off the bench? He was the 3rd leading scorer in the NBA, and was then asked to come off the bench. Made no sense.

AI's quote that you provided to me is true. He did make mistakes. He did perpetuate an image that was disliked by Stern, and that is the reason he is not in the NBA. His talent is not the reason for why he isn't in the NBA, because he can still contribute at a high level.

Anyways, as you have been an AI fan, I'm sure you already know all of this, and it is unlikely I can convince you otherwise. I just strongly disagree.

Re: Catch and Makes Telling Key Stories in Round 2

SperoDedesYesICan — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:59:02 -0000

While I don't know how much Ewing has really helped Howard (or if Howard is willing to be helped) but yes indeed, good point on Tyson needing to become a force offensively, like Amare needs to on D.

I'm telling you -- if Odom comes, it's buckets of blood on Khloey every night. Those half-time celeb interviews are gonna be awesome next year!

Re: Catch and Makes Telling Key Stories in Round 2

sprewellhasmouthstofeed — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:51:06 -0000

replace douglas with novak's name. Novak is the best damn shooter in the league.

Re: Catch and Makes Telling Key Stories in Round 2

bkyguy78 — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:50:25 -0000

I still don't understand the debate between players who are naturally gifted at skills like defense versus players who try to play hard regardless of their defensive limitations

(ex. Amare's lack of intelligence vs. lack of effort)

Re: Catch and Makes Telling Key Stories in Round 2

OLD KNICK — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:43:18 -0000

Makers instead of takers!

Re: CBA Information Seminar

SampsonBlk — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:42:39 -0000

I was one of Iverson's biggest fans, especially when he was at Georgetown. I pulled for Iverson (and Marbury) for years.

But Allen Iverson wasted his talent by being a selfish jerk. He had championship talent. But he never became a championship player or teammate. He came into the league with a chip on his shoulder, a bad attitude and a thirst for stats. He maintained those throughout his career in Philly. I made every excuse in the world for that dude. But enough is enough. If he had shut up and worked hard, he would have rings, and other teams would have hocked their grandma to get him in their uniform.

His words, not mine: "I want to finish my career out in the NBA, if that’s possible. And that’s in any capacity. I did a lot of things, I made a lot of mistakes as far as my actions and things that I’ve said, and I think that was the reason for me not being in the NBA. My whole thing now in trying to get back is letting any organization know that I’m willing to play any part that they want me to play."

The greats of the game worked tirelessly to improve themselves and their teams. Allen Iverson will never be among them in my book. Working tirelessly was something he just never learned to believe in.

Re: CBA Information Seminar

JacesAces — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:41:48 -0000

"very smart and very objective"...

Another pretentious comment. No where do you argue "how exactly" we can't match up with the Pacers, or even "who exactly" would prevent us from getting a 3rd seed (as a ceiling).

Also, your failure to combine two lines of reasoning in addressing an idea is beyond my comprehension, so I will try to spell it out for you.

1) We already match up well with the Pacers this year (as illustrated by our victories in the back-to-back home/away.

2) While they can get better, so we can we (development of Lin/Shump).

So given that we both improve, and given that we've already proven we can beat them - it's preposterous to suggest that our ceiling caps us at #4/#5.

Re: Catch and Makes Telling Key Stories in Round 2

MELOSTAT301 — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:29:57 -0000

+1.. Exactly what i have been saying here for months. OKC isnt there yet, people fall in love with the espn/media "sexy" teams. You know..heat..thunder..bulls..clippers..ect.

Re: CBA Information Seminar

Irvin — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:19:07 -0000

Sorry to disappoint, Lobcity!

:-)

Re: CBA Information Seminar

Irvin — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:16:54 -0000

Sure. Assume the worst for others, but the best for us.

"Who knows where D. Howard will be next year, and who knows when D. Rose will return (and in what form). "

"With development to Lin/Shump, how can you argue that we cannot match up with the Pacers "

Very smart and very objective.

I guess it's time to admit it: you're right in anything you say from here on. You won't be getting another reply from me. Have the last word, my friend!

Re: Catch and Makes Telling Key Stories in Round 2

Drewpreme — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:13:10 -0000

Lifetime Knicks Fans. Long Time TKB Lurker. First Time Poster...

With that out of the way, what the Knicks need to do is make amends with Ewing and if he doesn't get a HC job, then we need to hire him. Amare admits he has no post moves, Tyson can use benefit of his wisdom. Just right there you're investing in almost half our salary cap. Throw in young bigs like Jorts Harrellson, and another young Jamaican center in Jerome Jordan, and if we add another PF (or keep Jefferies), you have a third of your roster that can benefit from Patrick's experience. I understand all this talk about guard play, but our cap is tied up in our front court. Its time to cut the bullshucks and make amends with our best modern player we've had. To any Knick fan it would be disheartening to see Pat toiling under Jordan's inept ownership as the head coach of the Bob-Kittens, just to see Jordan kick him to the curb down the line like many of a playoff runs in the 1990s.

Also, sign Phil Jax and we'll you'll get Odom for the vet minimum, and the NYC media will finally benefit us all by keeping the Kardashian Koven in check.

Re: CBA Information Seminar

Irvin — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:12:29 -0000

Too many mental issues to merit a reply. Sorry!

I'm not into the 'hate' thing. Sorry.

Re: CBA Information Seminar

JacesAces — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:07:47 -0000

Well it'd be a S&T for D. Williams (he'd get re-upped at the max), so the contracts should be closer than you'd think.

Re: CBA Information Seminar

JacesAces — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:05:33 -0000

Regarding your comment below where you state that a 4/5 seed in the east is our 'ceiling'...

That is absolutely untrue. At the very least, you'd have to think that a 3 seed is our ceiling. With development to Lin/Shump, how can you argue that we cannot match up with the Pacers (current 3 seed)? We beat them back to back in a home/away. Outside of the Bulls/Heat, I don't know how even a pessimist would argue that we can't finish 3rd.

Who knows where D. Howard will be next year, and who knows when D. Rose will return (and in what form).

Re: CBA Information Seminar

JacesAces — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:01:44 -0000

@bkyguy78. I don't disagree with what you are saying at all. But, we were incredibly lucky to get the 1st pick which allowed us to draft Ewing (many argue that it was rigged).

Building through the draft is a great way to go (OKC is a good modern example), but it is infinitely easier said than done.

Re: CBA Information Seminar

JacesAces — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:58:17 -0000

1) "I opposed the trade that brought Carmelo because it would put the team in the straight jacket it wears today".

Hmmmm interesting. So it's the Melo trade that puts the team in a straight jacket, not the Amar'e signing? And yet regardless, you would want Amar'e amnestied. Ok, so you want a team of Felton, W. Chandler, Fields, Gallo, Tyson Chandler (provided he even would have signed, which is incredibly doubtful without Melo/Amar'e), Mosgov, and whatever other scrubs we had.

Ok so with this team, we're not in a "straight jacket" because we have youth and cap room, but that team is not going anywhere. We'd still be playing with D'antoni as our coach... Felton is overrated (look at him now). Wilson and Gallo are above average players, but they cannot carry a team to a championship (and both have looked injury prone this year). Don't forget, both of them would have been resigned to larger contracts (which would begin to eat away at our cap space). Let's not forget that neither Wilson, nor Gallo are even the best player on their current team (that would be Ty Lawson).

And what exactly would you do with that cap space? You already would have failed with LeBron/Wade/Bosh, and you'd have used your amnesty on Amar'e, and who knows whether you would have gotten Melo in free agency (the Nuggets were convinced to trade him). So then you'd wait around for CP3 or D. Williams. Good luck convincing either one of the to come to NY to play on a rebuilding team. That NY team is no better than the Mavs (where D Will should go), or the Clippers (where CP3 went).

So you can look to try to build a team of role players, comparable, perhaps to this current Nuggets team. You'll never win a championship with that. You wouldn't have the coaching or the talent that the Billips / Rip / Prince/ S heed / Ben / Okur team had. You'd never beat the Heat / Bulls. I don't even think you'd beat the Pacers or the Sixers.

Cap Space is not worth anything if winners do not want to play for you. NY was a joke until Amar'e signed, and if amnestied (along with the lack of a Melo trade), we'd continue to be a joke (but with cap space).

Pretend to know more than our front office (I agree, it is easy to think so at times, but you'd make a horrendous GM).

2) "I don't analyze sports or players in terms of "hate". That's for kids or dumb fans."

That's just pretentious. Who the hell are you? What merit do you have to claim that someone who thinks differently from you is a 'dumb fan'? I hate teams. I've hated the Heat and the Lakers for as long as I've hated basketball. That makes me a dumb fan? What a pathetic comment.

Re: Catch and Makes Telling Key Stories in Round 2

VerysilentJay — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:48:26 -0000

I think SA's in a great position. They're way too disciplined and consistent. They bring it 100% every game. They look like a well oiled machine every night. Tremendous job by management and coaching staff to consistently maintain SA as a winning franchise. If OKC goes through, they're gonna have to fight through 7 games against SA.
I wouldn't place Miami as a sure fire ECC yet. With Bosh out, West and Hibbert will have less opposition to do their thing, and if they can play consistent ball on offense, Miami's gonna have their hands full. George did more than a decent job yesterday on Wade, and when switched upon James he held his ground pretty well. George Hill and Ty Hans coming off the bench gives tham an edge over an inconsistent Miami bench.
The wild card, to me, is Granger. He needs to step up as the team leader and put up strong performances consistently.
Don't count the Pacers out just yet.

Re: Catch and Makes Telling Key Stories in Round 2

ShumpandMelo — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:42:11 -0000

Yeah i completely forgot we could split the mid level but i would definitely pick up delfino and a solid vet pg with the remaining 2-3 million. Other options at the guard position i would like are deshawn stevenson and mikael pietrus.

Re: CBA Information Seminar

JacesAces — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:37:32 -0000

Wth are you talking about with the Iverson reference? I agree with a lot of what you said, but couldn't disagree more about AI. Iverson left it all out on the court. He played with more heart and effort that any player I've ever seen in a Knicks uniform (and that is actually saying something). He gave 110% every night, despite taking a constant pounding (without any help from the referees). He'd play injured, and contrary to popular belief, he even passed fairly well (averaged 6.2 assists over his career, compare that to Rose's 6.8).

Look at the 2001 season when he carried a team of eric snow and aaron mckie to finals. In game 1, he beat a Lakers squad that is easily a top 10 team in the history of the nba (giving them their first loss of the post-season).

Pound for pound, he was the best player to ever suit up, and I'd argue he's a top 5 SG of all time.

So looking at what you claim we need:

"What we need is GOOD players:
[AI is about as prolific as it gets]

"who are professional"
[now, you may spew media BS here and talk about how he was a bad teammate, or how he didn't practice, or how he didn't want to come off the bench, etc. - but there is not ONE account of a player saying they did not like playing with Iverson... Claims that he "doesn't practice" are completely immature and off-base, and entirely based on one misrepresented press conference... and you're really going to discredit a guy who didn't want to come off the bench when he was a top 3 leading scorer in the previous season? You're going to say that a guy who WANTS to play and who wants to do his job is not professional? A guy who keeps focus every night, no matter who he is playing? No.]

"who believe 100% in what they are doing"
[this comment is pretty useless... but yah, I find it hard to believe that AI doesn't believe in what he is doing. He just wants to play basketball and he wants to win]

"who have pride"
[AI has more pride than a single person on this current Knicks squad (Tyson may be the only rival, but I really don't think it's that close especially when you look at that Cavs game and the Heat series. Sure he had the flu, but AI was practically injured throughout his whole career and he never gave up)]

"who hate to lose"
[AI is as fierce of a competitor as Kobe Bryant (and he'll admit to that). The only players who may hate to lose more than AI are perhaps Kobe and MJ, and even that is hard to qualify]

Anyways, rant over, but you couldn't be more off base with you Iverson comment. I would have taken him on the Knicks any day (and to be honest, I still would).

Re: Catch and Makes Telling Key Stories in Round 2

Yugo Schticklitz — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:22:52 -0000

U need a real PG to break down the defense have them collapse and pass out for the catch and shoot to work... See Novak in the Playoffs

Re: Catch and Makes Telling Key Stories in Round 2

Yugo Schticklitz — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:21:08 -0000

Signs the World is ending ....

Marbury get statue in China with Dennis Rodman speaking @ ceremony

Re: Catch and Makes Telling Key Stories in Round 2

ShumpandMelo — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:20:54 -0000

I called the spurs months ago and everyone said okc will take them out. When has a team as young as okc win a championship? They dont and that is why the spurs veteran savvy will prevail this season, okc gets comfortable with shooting jump shots while the spurs have the best half court offense in the nba. It would be a great series but i would take the spurs in six.

Re: Catch and Makes Telling Key Stories in Round 2

knicksinburbank — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:18:50 -0000

We would have the full MLE which we can offer to Allen, or use by giving 3 million to delfino and 2 million to Parker. We could then use our biannual on either Pargo or Camby or even use a vet mini offer to Pargo or Camby