Finestrg
Posts: 27296
Alba Posts: 1
Joined: 1/1/2006
Member: #1069
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Guns, nyk...couldn't agree with you guys more. I've been screaming about Ron for weeks. He's exactly what we need. Also, I don't think another PG is going to do anything for this team. What are guys like Earl Watson, Kevin Ollie or Eric Snow supposed to do for this team exactly? Nothing that's what. And that's who's available out there when you talk about PGs. Steph and Nate are fine (I'm praying Steph's injury isn't too severe - he took a good pop out there today. X-rays were negative thank God). Also, Craw's a big plus, providing ballhandling and scoring off the bench - even though he had a rough one today. Nate almost won this thing by himself today if not for Craw's key turnover and Hudson pulling some shots out of his ass late. The backcourt's fine: Steph, Nate, Jamal, Q and even Woods as you go a little deeper are fine. A lot more then what most teams have. They can absolutely win games with the backcourt they have. No doubt in my mind. That's not the problem. The problems with this team are (and have been for a while now) (1) we need a legit 6'7" - 6'9", 200-220 lb. SF that plays both sides of the ball - a guy that can shoot and stretch the defense, take the ball to the rim and also play some defense himself AND (2) we need another solid interior presence - a young athletic big who can block shots and provide quality defense and backup minutes along the frontline. Believe me, Isiah and the Knicks know this. We're only a few pieces away from making some real noise in the eastern conference if you ask me. I really believe that. I like all the components Zeke has assembled so far. We're growing as a team but still coming up short in these 2 key areas. Two things I would do to improve the team. You hit the nail on the head nyk. I know Zeke doesn't particularly care for Larry Bird and Donnie Walsh but I would absolutely pick up the phone and make a second call to Indiana about Artest. I'm shocked we haven't been in this thing from the beginning. Unless it's Isiah's poor relationship with his former employers that's causing the lack of communication and interest (please don't tell me that - play the game with them Zeke - we're talking about making the Knicks a lot better here) or Isiah's alleged spotty relationship with Artest himself. Look, the Clipper thing's dead and I really don't think he's going to the Warriors for Mike Dunleavy. He's right there for the taking! A combo of Nate or Lee plus Ariza and/or Butler plus expanding the deal to take back a bad contract or two (Croshere, Bender, Stephen Jackson, etc.) should be enough to get it done. No other team out there can supply cap relief in a trade the way the Knicks can. I really don't think it'll even take that much the longer this thing goes on - you're right on the money bro. I would love to hold onto Nate and Lee but you gotta give up talent to aquire talent. We're talking about Ron Artest here!!! If they can't do that, I seriously consider making the Jalen Rose for Penny Hardaway deal if, and only if we get back their 2nd 1st round pick (which amounts to Denver's drafting slot in the next draft's 1st round). That pick's projected to go midway in the 1st round. I would do it. Let's look at that trade for a sec. So we get Jalen Rose, a heady, experienced, useful SF with only this year and next left on his deal (he'll serve as a good bargaining chip next year just like Penny and Antonio are this year) who, even though he doesn't play a lick of defense, is better than what we have at the position right now. He can score, drive, dish and post-up, he'll help stretch the defense and best of all, he'll help us salvage enough of the season to avoid surrendering a top 3 pick to Chicago - the last thing anyone wants to happen around here. Plus, we get that mid 1st round pick who we can turn into any # of useful players (Hilton Armstrong anyone? - he's not gonna be there with our own pick around 28 or 29). Now imagine if the Knicks surprise us by doing the Artest deal AND the Jalen Rose deal? Now that would really be something...
[Edited by - finestrg on 01-16-2006 5:37 PM]
[Edited by - finestrg on 01-16-2006 8:05 PM]
[Edited by - finestrg on 01-16-2006 9:51 PM]
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