This has been the way of the Knicks across the season’s first 72 games, hasn’t it? Whaddaya got. Is that all ya got?

Most NBA teams are allowed to simply play the games on their schedule, and win them as they come. The Knicks? It seems like from the start, critics have been bemoaning the quality of their wins, the strength of their schedule, as if every team in the East doesn’t play essentially the same schedule, as if they’d bought a few guarantee games against Prairie View A&M, as if they had to worry about their RPI ranking.

Have they beaten some bad teams? Sure. Miami has beaten the same bad teams. So has Indiana. If the Nets (who’ve lost to the Timberwolves and Wizards) or Celtics (who’ve lost twice — TWICE! — to the woeful Bobcats) had beaten a few more of them, maybe the Atlantic Division would be a race right now, maybe the Knicks’ magic number to clinch would be larger than six over the Nets and one over the C’s.

But they’ve survived, they’ve thrived, they’ve recaptured about 95 percent of the form that had them serving as league wide darlings in November and December. The schedule does stiffen somewhat — between now and this time next week, they’ll play at Miami, at Atlanta, at Oklahoma City — but suddenly even the tough patches don’t seem so daunting. It is amazing what playing well can do for a team.

“They do a great job of moving the ball,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers marveled. “They had the spirit of the pass all night.”

And there’s more: After seeming to go along with the rest of the NBA — Whaddaya got. Is that all ya got? — and looking for 4 1/2 months like a team still finding itself, the Knicks seem — and sound — a lot more sure of themselves now. It’s not a bad time for that to happen. The division is within reach. And when they returned to the locker room after the final buzzer last night, they were greeted by a none-too-subtle message: a big “50,” drawn in blue magic marker by Rasheed Wallace.

Actually it has been 13 years, and has felt like 30, and the vibes around this team are starting to feel good again, sweet again. Sure, April could be a bear. But March was supposed to break them. Yet here they are: unbroken. And playing some damn good basketball.

Whaddaya got?

Plenty, it would seem

- Mark Vaccaro, NYPost

I know we have flaws and our players aren't perfect, but I like what we've accomplished in the regular season. The only tough spell was that western road trip disaster- I was worried our season was about to implode.

Who knows what will happen in the playoffs, but I'll think about that nearer the time.

smackeddog wrote:I have really enjoyed this season, and I like the players we have- I can really root for them. Nice to see them all getting along too, with no naked fights in the shower like in the IT days (was it Nate and Jerome James or something, or was the fight between them the one with the broom?). If I could change anything obviously I wish Sheed and Amar'e hadn't been afflicted with injuries.

I know we have flaws and our players aren't perfect, but I like what we've accomplished in the regular season. The only tough spell was that western road trip disaster- I was worried our season was about to implode.

Who knows what will happen in the playoffs, but I'll think about that nearer the time.

"Tyson knew that something illegal had occurred and was seen leaving the scene."

Now the fable reaches epic proportions -- Whaddya got? Is that all you got? You ain't nothin!

smackeddog wrote:I have really enjoyed this season, and I like the players we have- I can really root for them. Nice to see them all getting along too, with no naked fights in the shower like in the IT days (was it Nate and Jerome James or something, or was the fight between them the one with the broom?). If I could change anything obviously I wish Sheed and Amar'e hadn't been afflicted with injuries.

I know we have flaws and our players aren't perfect, but I like what we've accomplished in the regular season. The only tough spell was that western road trip disaster- I was worried our season was about to implode.

Who knows what will happen in the playoffs, but I'll think about that nearer the time.

I think both those fights were the same one and it was between Nate and Malik Rose.

knicks1248 wrote:beat miami tmrw and I'll be impress..we haven't won more then 8 games since 93/94 season when we won 15 on our way to the nba finals..

That was also the last time the Knicks won the Atlantic.

loweyecue wrote:Yes the team was running on vapors in Jan - Feb and we got an injection of Kenyon Martin to turn things around. Thta was a good pickup that panned out to be excellent for the first few games and put us back on track. This isn't some magic coaching miracle Woody has pulled off and the Kenyon Martin effect is already waning - look at his production last three games vs. first few. With Tyson back we may still have enough bigs to work things out defensively but minus Kenyon's offensive punch we wont sustain this. If you think JR smith will continue 30 pt games into the playoffs - you just need to put down that drink.

loweyecue - Kenyon Martin is headed to the injured list. His abdominal strain will rupture against Miami. Guaranteed. Tyson Chandler is not walking through that door. Amare Stoudemire is done. Kurt is in a walking boot. Marcus Camby's heel will be tender until next year this time. Earl Smith will morph back into World B JR. Pablo Prigioni will hit the 10 game 35 year old wall.

Big freakin deal.

We will not finish the season on a 15-0 run. Woody will be forced to play shrimps and still manage to win 6 of the last 10. That puts the win total at 52. A nice round number. Coaching miracle? Only if you prefer to deliberately demean his 64-32 overall record as head man. Miracles are for Disney and fairy tales, right?

What Really Happens?

Rasheed Wallace will replace the slumping Kenyon Martin. Earl Smith may never have another 30 point game in his career but he WILL grab double digit rebounds before the season is over. Pablo Prigioni enjoys New York so much that he will apply for US citizenship, or at least consider one more season. Kurt Thomas will suit up and give everything he has for 12 good minutes. Carmelo Anthony will continue to piss people off, just because.

Bring it on.

CrushAlot wrote:

loweyecue wrote:

misterearl wrote:Battered Fan Syndrome

loweyecue wrote:Yes the team was running on vapors in Jan - Feb and we got an injection of Kenyon Martin to turn things around. Thta was a good pickup that panned out to be excellent for the first few games and put us back on track. This isn't some magic coaching miracle Woody has pulled off and the Kenyon Martin effect is already waning - look at his production last three games vs. first few. With Tyson back we may still have enough bigs to work things out defensively but minus Kenyon's offensive punch we wont sustain this. If you think JR smith will continue 30 pt games into the playoffs - you just need to put down that drink.

loweyecue - Kenyon Martin is headed to the injured list. His abdominal strain will rupture against Miami. Guaranteed. Tyson Chandler is not walking through that door. Amare Stoudemire is done. Kurt is in a walking boot. Marcus Camby's heel will be tender until next year this time. Earl Smith will morph back into World B JR. Pablo Prigioni will hit the 10 game 35 year old wall.

Big freakin deal.

We will not finish the season on a 15-0 run. Woody will be forced to play shrimps and still manage to win 6 of the last 10. That puts the win total at 52. A nice round number. Coaching miracle? Only if you prefer to deliberately demean his 64-32 overall record as head man. Miracles are for Disney and fairy tales, right?

What Really Happens?

Rasheed Wallace will replace the slumping Kenyon Martin. Earl Smith may never have another 30 point game in his career but he WILL grab double digit rebounds before the season is over. Pablo Prigioni enjoys New York so much that he will apply for US citizenship, or at least consider one more season. Kurt Thomas will suit up and give everything he has for 12 good minutes. Carmelo Anthony will continue to piss people off, just because.

Bring it on.

Whatever Clark. My standards are simple and definitely not that high - for a coach to win my praise he has to show that he can win deep into the playoffs against quality opposition. Woodson has done NOTHING such. I don't really jump up and down over regular season "accomplishments" and I dont do cartwheels over 50 win seasons. You may have a problem with that - but ask me if I care.

Who is your bench mark coach? The last guy to win 50 was JVG 13 years ago and I believe he lost to the raptors in the first round.

does any knick fan think back on that season with fondness? i agree with the point that 50 wins and regular season stuff is nice -- do something in the playoffs though. not many will care in the long run about this season or any others if it ends fast in the post season.

most recall the riley and parts of jvg cuz they made some ecf or better runs or had some memorable series, pacers in 95 was an earlier than expected end for example that sticks for me.

CrushAlot wrote:

loweyecue wrote:

misterearl wrote:Battered Fan Syndrome

loweyecue wrote:Yes the team was running on vapors in Jan - Feb and we got an injection of Kenyon Martin to turn things around. Thta was a good pickup that panned out to be excellent for the first few games and put us back on track. This isn't some magic coaching miracle Woody has pulled off and the Kenyon Martin effect is already waning - look at his production last three games vs. first few. With Tyson back we may still have enough bigs to work things out defensively but minus Kenyon's offensive punch we wont sustain this. If you think JR smith will continue 30 pt games into the playoffs - you just need to put down that drink.

loweyecue - Kenyon Martin is headed to the injured list. His abdominal strain will rupture against Miami. Guaranteed. Tyson Chandler is not walking through that door. Amare Stoudemire is done. Kurt is in a walking boot. Marcus Camby's heel will be tender until next year this time. Earl Smith will morph back into World B JR. Pablo Prigioni will hit the 10 game 35 year old wall.

Big freakin deal.

We will not finish the season on a 15-0 run. Woody will be forced to play shrimps and still manage to win 6 of the last 10. That puts the win total at 52. A nice round number. Coaching miracle? Only if you prefer to deliberately demean his 64-32 overall record as head man. Miracles are for Disney and fairy tales, right?

What Really Happens?

Rasheed Wallace will replace the slumping Kenyon Martin. Earl Smith may never have another 30 point game in his career but he WILL grab double digit rebounds before the season is over. Pablo Prigioni enjoys New York so much that he will apply for US citizenship, or at least consider one more season. Kurt Thomas will suit up and give everything he has for 12 good minutes. Carmelo Anthony will continue to piss people off, just because.

Bring it on.

Whatever Clark. My standards are simple and definitely not that high - for a coach to win my praise he has to show that he can win deep into the playoffs against quality opposition. Woodson has done NOTHING such. I don't really jump up and down over regular season "accomplishments" and I dont do cartwheels over 50 win seasons. You may have a problem with that - but ask me if I care.

Who is your bench mark coach? The last guy to win 50 was JVG 13 years ago and I believe he lost to the raptors in the first round.

It's ironic that this thread is coming from someone who thought DKH and I cared too much about the past.