It was cool hanging out with the ultimateKnicks.. HArdcore, Marv,Djsunyc,Killa4luv and don't forget FishMike who had left early.

Couldn't say more on what Isiah was talking about.. He actually made you feel pumped up for the upcoming season.. I actually now see a vision to this organization..

Can never stop talking about Knicks Basketball.. After it was all over, the four of us continued our discussion about Knicks b-ball in front of the garden.. That was really cool

Props to Zeke!!! Welcome Home LArry....

Don't forget, I missed out the first opening season meeting at that sports bar. I'd love to get together with you guys. I have met Killa, Big Sm00th, and DjSunyc at the 2005 NBA Draft (my first time at a draft...it was really something!). Would love to meet the rest of the boardies.

Yes Isiah said some things that us keen Knick fans were aware of all along.

-We are building a winner now and for the future and the two are not mutually exclusive

-When he got here everyone said he couldn't move the players on the roster they were all untradeable and he had no assets.

-Whether Stpeh or Craw is playing the 1 or 2 is not super important, Isiah played alot of the 2 at different times, its about using a player where they are effective for ceertain stretches of the game. You have to think outside of the boxes we put players in, and use them where they are strong.

-Following that theme, don't worry about Sweetneys weight as much as you worry about whether or not he is effective playing the game. Does he score and rebound well? Yes. He does alot of pushing and shoving and moving guys out of the way and he may not be able to do that if he slims down.

-Isiah being from Chicago if he would have played for Chicago, no matter what he did the fans would have supported him 110%. In New York we have a guy like that in Steph and there is so much criticism it is unbelievable. He quoted Stephs numbers and how he had an unbelievable season but he hasn't had the players around him to win and now we are trying to do that for him.

-He said he cannot publicly detail his plan because he has 29 enemies in the league and if he explains his plan in full detail they will try to stop him from executing his plan. He has to keep some things quiet.

-The Larry Brown deal was done a week or two ago, but they wanted to build up some excitement for the Q & A session. Marketing.

-He did like Andrew Bynum and thought he was very mature and very skilled and would have liked to get him as well and tried to get LA's pick but they wouldn't give it up and they had a good draft. But he thought Frye was the better player, he played under some solid coaches in Arizona and thuoght he was the better player no question about it.

-Allan Houston is trying very very hard to come back. He hasn't played like the player he was before Isiah arrived and we hope and pray that he does but we realy don't know what he will look like next season.



....I have to think of some other things he said, but like DJSUNYC
said, he is smooth and cool as hell and was very very open and honest and didn't duck any questions, he give long and explanatory answers.

[Edited by - Killa4luv on 07/28/2005 23:38:23]

[Edited by - Killa4luv on 07/28/2005 23:42:43]

q&a recap:

this one wasn't as personal as the last one as there were ALOT of people tonight. again, isiah is one SMOOTH talker, and is very deliberate in what he says. it's very EASY to not like him when you see and hear him on tv, radio, or even what you've read about him. but when you actually talk to him, and see him in person, he comes across VERY intelligent and makes you want to cheer and hope for success.

some idiot asked a question about a bad vibe from marbury and how he stares at tim thomas in a bad way - we were all like STFU retard. (no offense to the retards in the audience)

nothing really groundbreaking tonight. i asked him about LB and the draft and if we're committed to playing the youth or will we be bringing in veterans in a win now sort of mode b/c of LB. he said what he's always been saying, that we can win now with what we have and still have youth.

one person asked why he passed on bynum. isiah said he liked bynum, he was high on the draft board but had to take frye b/c he was in school for 4 years with a great coach and thought that he would be a better player. he said when he looked at the draft, there were two big men that could help us, and that was bogut and frye. he said he tried hard to get the #10 pick but couldn't. said bynum was a sleeper and lakers got a really good player.

when asked about crawford's ball handling and a possible move to the point - he made a really strong argument that they shouldn't be pigeonholed into a position. he brought in players that can play multiple positions. he even used himself as an example. the night he scored 16 on a bum ankle, he wasn't the point, he was the off guard. it depends on the situation on where craw or steph or nate or Q will play.

he also defended marbury by bringing up his #'s (which are SICK btw) and said ONLY in ny can a hometown boy get dogged out. if isiah played in chicago, no matter what happened, they would back him. not in ny though, and he likes us for that.

he said with steph, there's always 9 guys in front of him when he brings the ball up. with those 9 other guys, he has to run the offense and still dropped 20/8. when you're the off guard or any other position, you have to beat 2 or 3 players but the PG has everyone in front of him. (i'm not doing justice to what he said but it was a very nice description).

funny moment - one person asked about the nazr trade and asked why he did it. he said we traded nazr for rose - isiah responded "and...", and the guy said "2 #1 picks", and isiah responded "well that's your answer"

when asked about sweets coniditioning, he pretty much said forget the body and the weight but concentrate on the impact. he "loves" sweets.

also said they are happy with jackie butler's progress and that aguirre is working with him.

he did mention aguirre and glymph as the player development coaches so that means they'll still be on the staff.

so in total, nothing groundbreaking. he did talk about jerome james so the signing is finalized. we don't know the terms tho (nobody asked).

and we found out the deal for LB is 4 years/ $40 mil. and herb is all but the next head coach when LB is done.

i know some don't like him. and some don't like the moves. but today was a really important and good day for us with LB. we had a very good day at the draft. things are positive so far. now, we have to see what happens from today forward. i feel like it's a CLEAN SLATE for everyone, from isiah, the coach, and the players.

[Edited by - djsunyc on 07/29/2005 00:05:11]

Thanks for the recap.

Posted by Nalod:

Isiah too is a work in progress. Im sure his toronto experience really helped him, as has some of the bumps he hit.

Isiah did mention that he's working on his naivete' in his current GM/Prez position. He's still learning and will only get better.

...and although there was no kool-aid served, the orange and cran juice was fresh and sweet, like Isiah's (and alot of others') vision of this season and the future of the Knicks.



[Edited by - HARDCOREKNICKSFAN on 07/29/2005 00:05:52]

[quote]
Posted by djsunyc:



from left: fishmike, killa4luv, djsunyc



from left: djsunyc, marv, hardcoreknicksfan (aka dennis scott), woodmannyk, killa4luv



Come on man, who taught you guys how to dress?

[quote]Posted by BRIGGS:

Posted by djsunyc:



from left: fishmike, killa4luv, djsunyc



from left: djsunyc, marv, hardcoreknicksfan (aka dennis scott), woodmannyk, killa4luv

Come on man, who taught you guys how to dress?

LOL I heard all those Dennis Scott and Alonzo Mourning jokes years ago... LMAO!

Too bad you couldn't show up wearing your thong and show us all how to dress.

[Edited by - HARDCOREKNICKSFAN on 07/29/2005 00:51:01]

Posted by Marv:

now THAT was a good time!

Isiah was very cool. He and Steve Mills both just had friendly, sly, hip, professional and ultimately COOL ways about them. Isiah wasn't afraid to call out the haters in the crowd (when that one guy was going off about Stephon's "glares" and "Rucker" ways, we all looked at one another and blurted out, "ISLES!!"

Most fun of course is getting together with the Ultimate dawgs and basically standing in a circle and posting verbally to one another for about 4 hours. Truly a kick. And the occassional disruptions weren't bad either, like the ongoing commentary about every woman walking past 33rd and 7th including a bevy of Knick City Dancers in their civvies looking unbelievable!

A great night. ANd Scott, we talked about 1st road game of the regular season all getting together at a bar to watch.

P.S. My mother taught me how to dress so take it up with her.

It's all right, I just thought you guys might've hit an 80's night party before hand or something.