Instead of just arguing over who's positive and who's not and who's a real fan and who's not I figured we'd talk about something that I find interesting. Because it is all about me.

I was curious to get everyone's expectations about the pre-season. Either individual, team, or both.

In terms of how they play I'm not to concerned with that. I'm assuming that things will be sloppy with the adjustment to the new system and guys trying to learn(for the first time) how to play together as a team. I'm not concerned with the level of play. Poor play is irrelevant. Good play would be nice but to me is also not that important at this point. What I will be looking for is two things. Unselfishness and extra effort. I would be happy to see guys overpassing in order to show that they are good teammates. And I think in the short run this is what you will see. Same goes for the effort level. I want to see stupid hustle. Guys diving in the stands for balls that have already been whistled dead just to show they are here to hustle. And in the short run I'm confident that guys will do this for Isiah.

On the defensive end I'm not so concerned at the early going. I think Isiah will change things 100% from LB(even if just for the sake of change) so I'm expecting sloppiness. I will be looking more for effort. Are guys willing to attempt to draw charges, cover for teammates, get in a defensive stance for pete's sake.

Individually going on my experience when guys work on their J's over the summer sometimes it takes 2 or 3 games of regular speed action to adjust and see the fruits of their labor. Again, I'm not expecting perfection here. I repeat I'm expecting unselfishness. Maybe to a fault in the early going. I want to see D. Lee taking jumpers confidently even if he is 0-10. Same with Q. I want to see Marbs picking them up if they don't.

For the team, I'm looking for body language. We were horrible at responding to other teams runs last year. How will we respond this year? Will they battle and scratch and claw to get back into games? Will they fall on bad habits they learned last year and then use "it's only pre-season" as an excuse. I'm expecting a lot of progress from the debacle that was last year. And I'm confident at least in the early going that we will.

style of play

We havent seen one since we were a playoff team (I dont count the last time we went)

Since Isiah brought in every single player on the roster I want to see some semblance of a style of play

thats what I want to see

What I expect to see it our starters blown out, poor teamwork, finger pointing and guys like Balkman and Nate put up great numbers in garbage time against NBDL non-roster invites. That alone should be enough to keep the koolaid pouring

Posted by fishmike:

style of play

We havent seen one since we were a playoff team (I dont count the last time we went)

Since Isiah brought in every single player on the roster I want to see some semblance of a style of play

thats what I want to see

What I expect to see it our starters blown out, poor teamwork, finger pointing and guys like Balkman and Nate put up great numbers in garbage time against NBDL non-roster invites. That alone should be enough to keep the koolaid pouring

I think that's a great point. We really haven't had an identity since the championship game run in '99. The teams after that had the iso offensive identity but lacked any real team concept. I think that goes back to my point about our GM's and coach's being at odds for five years. JVG wanted a defensive squad and Layden went out and got powder puffs. Chaney wanted up tempo and Layden got fat PF's and 2 PG's that were turtles. Wilkens found chemistry with the pick and roll and Isiah traded the guys that worked best in that style. Isiah brought in run and gun free willing players and then brought in a coach that wants discipline and grit and defense.

Style of play this year will come down to if Isiah can stay true to himself. The guy definitely has a style but will the ultimatum lead to him trading for players that don't fit that style in order to save his job? Legitimate question although I'm sure someone will call me a pessimist and say I want Isiah to die. Good posters we have on this board.

[Edited by - bippity10 on 10-12-2006 09:36 AM]

Last year, turnovers were a huge problem and it's something that has to be addressed as well. Since it is pre season though, I can understand turnovers while just trying to adjust to the new system. But when the season starts, taking care of the basketball is crucial. Notice the correlation of high TOs/bad defense? I actually hope that this is something Isiah IS working on.

However, I agree that being unselfish is great, and I'm not even talking about passing. I think for the most part, we have some players who are willing to pass. Even Marbury passes obviously. It's the whining and complaining I want to be put to a minimum. I don't want Marbury to ask to be put at the 2, be denied and see him protest this. I don't want guys pointing fingers.

I also do want to see who is just talking and who is actually doing well. I don't want to HEAR about how great Craw and Q and Curry have been. I don't believe other people's words. Especially Isiah. I want to see it for myself. I want to see Curry stay out of foul trouble.

Obviously everyone wants to see tough play and hard play and work no matter what, and everyone wants to see the guys climb back in rough times. Goes without saying.

In tems of individuals: I want to see Frye put that added muscle to use. I want him boxxed out a lot less easily. And I want him taking his shots less hesitantly. I want more consistent D from Crawford 100% effort all the time from everyone. I want to see that Curry has been wising up a bit in terms of seeing double teams so that he doesn't run over everyone all the time. I expect Nate to be pretty much identical to what he was last year, b/c I don't really see a change in tude from him quite yet.

There's plenty more for me to type. Maybe a lot of what I said is unrealistic, but hey, I always have high expectations.

Teamwork between the veterans.
I want to see what roles the players have.
I want to see how much Curry/Lee and Frye have improved and what Balkman and Collins bring to the table.

Posted by Bippity10:

Posted by fishmike:

style of play

We havent seen one since we were a playoff team (I dont count the last time we went)

Since Isiah brought in every single player on the roster I want to see some semblance of a style of play

thats what I want to see

What I expect to see it our starters blown out, poor teamwork, finger pointing and guys like Balkman and Nate put up great numbers in garbage time against NBDL non-roster invites. That alone should be enough to keep the koolaid pouring

I think that's a great point. We really haven't had an identity since the championship game run in '99. The teams after that had the iso offensive identity but lacked any real team concept. I think that goes back to my point about our GM's and coach's being at odds for five years. JVG wanted a defensive squad and Layden went out and got powder puffs. Chaney wanted up tempo and Layden got fat PF's and 2 PG's that were turtles. Wilkens found chemistry with the pick and roll and Isiah traded the guys that worked best in that style. Isiah brought in run and gun free willing players and then brought in a coach that wants discipline and grit and defense.

Style of play this year will come down to if Isiah can stay true to himself. The guy definitely has a style but will the ultimatum lead to him trading for players that don't fit that style in order to save his job? Legitimate question although I'm sure someone will call me a pessimist and say I want Isiah to die. Good posters we have on this board.

[Edited by - bippity10 on 10-12-2006 09:36 AM]

This is a great point. I definitely would like to see a quicker offense (no need for a play to be called from the bench every time down).

Would like to see the floor open up more which would alow Marbury, Francis and Craw do what they do best which is get to the basket and draw defenders, which should lead to easy basket for Curry and Frye.

Would like to see Frye and Marbury play pick and roll a little more.

Would like to see Curry turn over his right shoulder and finish with his left hand instead of running through defenders. Would like to see him make freethrows (at least at 75%) because he's going to live at the line. Hopefully Curry will stop trying to box out for reb's directly under the basket.

Would like to see Q hit some open jumpers for a change. Would to see Jared hit a few open jumpers and not be total liability on offense.

Posted by Bippity10:

I'm with you on the whining and complaining. I'm actually okay with Isiah using LB as a motivation. I don't mind guys dedicating this season to proving LB wrong. That doesn't bother me. Whatever motivates the unmotivated is great. Whatever works, do it. Sooner or later though as we build something and consider going deep in playoffs we need to focus our energy on winning for the sake of winning and not because of LB. Hopefully we will see this trend as time goes by.

On a side note: How come the "optimists rarely chime in on posts like this? Are they too busy running around trying to find someone who is being negative instead of taking the time to discuss things? Somebody say something extremely negative so we can get them in here.

The problem is, most of the so-called negative people spend most of thier time in Marbury/Isiah threads to spew their nonsensical venom and hatred over and over and over and over, (did mention how they say the same thing over and over). Don't believe me, just check the TradeBury thread. Its triple-platinum and we've discussed trading marbury on this board at nauseum last yr. Its starting to sound like Hot 97 around here. Same Sh!!!t different exlax.


[Edited by - bigbeast on 10-12-2006 4:01 PM]

Posted by bigbeast:

Posted by Bippity10:

I'm with you on the whining and complaining. I'm actually okay with Isiah using LB as a motivation. I don't mind guys dedicating this season to proving LB wrong. That doesn't bother me. Whatever motivates the unmotivated is great. Whatever works, do it. Sooner or later though as we build something and consider going deep in playoffs we need to focus our energy on winning for the sake of winning and not because of LB. Hopefully we will see this trend as time goes by.

On a side note: How come the "optimists rarely chime in on posts like this? Are they too busy running around trying to find someone who is being negative instead of taking the time to discuss things? Somebody say something extremely negative so we can get them in here.

The problem is, most of the so-called negative people spend most of thier time in Marbury/Isiah threads to spew their nonsensical venom and hatred over and over and over and over, (did mention how they say the same thing over and over). Don't believe me, just check the TradeBury thread. Its triple-platinum and we've discussed trading marbury on this board at nauseum last yr. Its starting to sound like Hot 97 around here. Same Sh!!!t different exlax.


[Edited by - bigbeast on 10-12-2006 4:01 PM]

When team will show good results, wins and respectable competition the negativity will go away.
And depending on who will contribute to this the opinion about personalities will change too.
If Marbs will play hard and became a soul of the team he will be Goodbury or even Greatbury.
And if IT will lead the team to success he will be forgiven for all blunders. In fact the blunders can became a genius moves
But so far... No meat...

I'd like to see this team initiate more cuts the basket.
I'd like to distribute the ball more and not be dependant on the PG to get the a play going.

I'd like IT's offensive scheme be adaptable to the zone defense.
Last year we were massacred with the Zone D. We had absolutely no answer for it and got killed plenty as a result.

I would like our defensive schemes to incorporate both Man to Man and Zone.
The switch on defense tends to throw opposing offenses off sync for a couple of plays before they adjust.

I would like to see better help defense and a team oriented defensive mentality that minimizes other team's cuts to the basket and backdoor passes. This is what absolutely kills us everytime we play the Nets... We must be better at defended this.

And last but not least... I want to see Eddie Curry rotate to the basket on offense without his elbow leading the way. This almost always leads to an offensive foul.


If we can incorporate these things into this team we will be good against anyone.

I just wanna see them run up and down the court with purpose.

Pre-season you can't really get too upset. When the season starts? Game 1 you all will know how I feel. That's how it was with every coach. I like everything isiah is saying and summer league was a taste. I'm hungry mofos.

Posted by Bippity10:

I'm with you on the whining and complaining. I'm actually okay with Isiah using LB as a motivation. I don't mind guys dedicating this season to proving LB wrong. That doesn't bother me. Whatever motivates the unmotivated is great. Whatever works, do it. Sooner or later though as we build something and consider going deep in playoffs we need to focus our energy on winning for the sake of winning and not because of LB. Hopefully we will see this trend as time goes by.

On a side note: How come the "optimists rarely chime in on posts like this? Are they too busy running around trying to find someone who is being negative instead of taking the time to discuss things? Somebody say something extremely negative so we can get them in here.

Because calling the team "unmotivated" is ridiculous. Last year was a train wreck orchestrated purposely by Larry Brown. This season will be so different it will be like night and day. I'm just waiting for people to see the team play so we can actually talk about the interesting stuff like who should play and what should our lineups be.

You want to talk about style of play, talk about Lee and Frye being a year better, Crawford being our fourth quarter killer, Marbury being allowed to run pick and rolls, etc. I want to see what our defense looks like, that's a huge question mark for me. But I'm not worried about this team giving a hard, competitive effort. Maybe I'm wrong and it will be a disaster, but that would be a shock to me. Last year I said repeatedly that I thought Larry was a horrible coach for this team. I think Isiah is a good fit, not a great fit, but he will be effective because the team will be on his side.