I'm still unsure. It was a win at home against a bad team, but a win nonetheless. Some of the same problems creeped out at the end there that we had against CLE (and all last year). Some of the same encouraging signs too. Anyway get back to me after 10-15 games and I'll be more sure of how I'm percieving this team.

First, we are assuming that the Wolves will be a bad team. But they have a top-flight PF, a shot-blocking center, 3 pt shooters in McCants, and solid forwards. They really are only lacking a pg b/c Telfair is not good. That being said, they are not going to be a playoff team but they will probably be one of those teams that plays hard and loses games at the end because of youth, which is what happened last night. We have a tendency to play down to the competition and I think that was what was going on last night, but that simply cannot happen for a team like the Knicks, who have really not accomplished anything. I like Crawford's play, but Zach and Curry have got to learn to pass more.

Team defense is bad as usual. For some reason, our guards are wholly unable to recover after double-teams. I think it is a combination of poor scheming on IT's part and lack of focus from our guards.

Unsure
I was expecting the win and... an easy win.
But mini looks better that I was thinking and we looked bad defending scrabs, perimeter, and the paint.
So it was not very convincing...

Posted by firefly:

Funny, I voted encouraged after the Cavs game and unsure after the Wolves win.

I was encouraged with the greater emphasis on teamwork. I'm not sure what Playa is refering to, but Crawfors only started shooting when someone needed to step up. And he did step up. Other then that, I saw a pretty good team game. Marbs pass to the trailing Lee was something we didn't see last year. And while Curry is by no means a good rebounder yet, I saw him fight for a few in traffic, which is also encouraging.

On the down side, watching the Wolves, we should have won this game much more easily. We don't seem to have that killer instinct to destroy a team by 20+. How we only won by 4 I don't know. After that 2nd quarter, we should have pulled away and ended it before the 4th.That really worries me, and hence my unsure vote.

A little defense is what would allow us to blow out the timberwolves.

Even in pick up games If I don't recieve the rock or touch the ball early on, don't expect me to always play team defense in the end i will fell unattached.

On the other hand if I touch the ball and it goes around to everyone early in the game , I would go all out of the defensive side of the ball because I feel like i'm apart of the game and team.

Some who understand basketball will get what i'm trying to say.

One on one ball on the knicks will kill team defense ! Watch the games

Posted by misterearl:

If the much-coveted Gerald Green only squeezed in :45 of time off the pine, perhaps the Wolves don't suck that bad.

The season is a work-in-progress. The whining for winning by larger margins is ridiculous. There is no column in the standings for "easy wins".

Just win baby.

[Edited by - misterearl on 11-05-2007 09:41 AM]

Mista , you know what I mean.

How you win sometimes determine the kind of respect you get in the league.

When toronto blew out the nets in NJ by 40 you don't think that was more than just a win?



[Edited by - playa2 on 05-11-2007 09:53]

Posted by Vmart:

Good sign is that they finally beat this group of players if you guys remember they pretty much took it to the Knicks last year when they were on Boston. Overall a win is always encouraging no matter how they get it just win baby.

[Edited by - Vmart on 11-05-2007 09:48 AM]

yea when we blew them out 101-77 in boston

Ok pal thats bull****, defense comes with hustle. A win is a win, but either you can play defense and you can't.

Question, what is the only thing that Daniel Gibson can do?

Hit any open jumper, and the knicks for some reason after he already made a number of threes can't defend the line.

It's not being familiar it's being smart; the knicks always double down for what reason i don't know, and leave the three open.

Marbury is a disgrace on defense he isn't even looking to see where his man is, eddy, jamal, and zach there is a reason we are not going to blow out teams, because the guards don't guard and the bigs can't close.

Defense is going to be improved when balkman is on the floor, who i thought was terrifice at challenging shots and shots hedging down to make things uncomfortable on post players. Nate is going to make some nice defensive plays and the same goes for Mardy when he is healthy. Chandler has a long way to go on the defensive end but at least his body is made for defense. The team is only going places if the necessary players get the time the need to glue it all together.

And the one on one play needs to end, it was disgusting to watch, zach shoots everytime he gets it, double or triple teamed, these guys need to swing the ball around and look for the open man. If they do that and actually put fourth the effort we can be a .500 ball club who might even be able to steal a round

Posted by Vmart:

I was encouraged, as usual after wins, here is what I saw. Crawford is balling this year. He had a good shooting percentage over .50 from the field and that is always good. Defensively they need work I think Q is finished. Balkman should be starting in his place soon and I think Jefferies will get rest of the minutes. Lee needs to improve his defense too along with Curry. Curry did challenge shots which was a good sign and he only took 8 shots on the Offense I don't know if that is a good thing but I would like to see him getting the ball some other way than just post ups. Curry is very dangerous when moving towards the basket, Knicks shold look to exploit that. Good sign is that they finally beat this group of players if you guys remember they pretty much took it to the Knicks last year when they were on Boston. Overall a win is always encouraging no matter how they get it just win baby.

[Edited by - Vmart on 11-05-2007 09:48 AM]

Boston had Pierce.
What this Mini team has except of emerging PF?
Bunch of youngsters and scrubs...
They will go hard for the lottary.




[Edited by - arkrud on 11-05-2007 10:30 AM]

The knicks don't run any plays. They don't have a clue what to do next if the play they are trying to run doesn't work.

Everything is one on one. Make a move and force a shot while your own teamates are in your way. Its terrible.

Q is done guys. He can't run, can't shoot, can't drive, can't rebound, can't play defense......there was plenty of plays where he would be in the paint, under the rim while his man was chilling by the three point line. He's done for. On offense he runs to a spot on the elbow behind the 3pt line everytime....there must be a warm spot there or something.

$7.75 for a ****in bud. I told the guys last night that there had to be diamonds or rubies in there. I wanted to save it to I can hook a chain up and rock it like a medalion.