no one has been better. If he can sustain this type of play, there is no telling what we can do.

I mentioned this the other day, that the team might do better *without* Crawford. R we better without Craw? No, atleast I hope NOT!

But what has happened is the D has tightened up+ the offense has not been so willdy erratic.

Hopefully when Craw comes back, he will come off the bench and hone his skills. Play within the team--move the ball--drive the ball-pas the ball--and when your off, stop shooting--we have many guys who can score.

I dont want to get ahead of myself, but I think this was a win that could start good things.

man... Briggs, I'm laying on the couch with my son. We both have fevers and are feeling crappy and as I'm watching this game two things are going through my head...

1) If Marbury commits to playing D he is EASILY a top 10 player in this league. Shaq, Kobe, Dirk, Duncan, Oneil, Amare.. yes, you would have to put Marbs in that class IF (a big if) he commits to playing D. Not to beat the Layden thing, but isnt it nice to have a GM come out and tell his star player that his defense sucks?

2)If the Knicks go on and have a bigtime year, ie win 48-50 games I think you will look back and see these 2 wins as the defining moment.

Also, strategy going forward.

We should do what we can to get Alonzo when /if his contract is bought out.

I think we should be opportunistic at the trade deadline, but smart and not desperate. If there is something there that makes tremendous sense, we can use a money deal with baker i.e 3mm$ and baker to take salry off another team--
But I do think we need to lobby hard for Zo--he doesnt need to play much, maybe 12 minutes-15 a night and can take some games off

Posted by Caseloads:

what about the huge blowouts the knicks got crammed on this season? and all the big double digit leads the knicks blew?

Come on, after a big win like this, the Kool Aid is free. Have a cup. Think about the losses and the blowouts after a loss...but for now, enjoy.

Marbury has been playing great lately. If all he needs is a chat with Zeke, I hope he has his number on speed dial.

steph has been AMAZING that past two games. AMAZING.

the offense has a calm about it without craw in it. alot of passing, assists are up and not too many easy transition baskets by the opposition.

craw is a 6th man and was brought in to be a 6th man. this injury turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

Posted by BRIGGS:

no one has been better. If he can sustain this type of play, there is no telling what we can do.

I mentioned this the other day, that the team might do better *without* Crawford. R we better without Craw? No, atleast I hope NOT!

But what has happened is the D has tightened up+ the offense has not been so willdy erratic.

Hopefully when Craw comes back, he will come off the bench and hone his skills. Play within the team--move the ball--drive the ball-pas the ball--and when your off, stop shooting--we have many guys who can score.

I dont want to get ahead of myself, but I think this was a win that could start good things.

YOu nailed it, they are playing better.

Big props must go to KT, the dude has been a rock and we'd be up the creek with out him. I understand the reasons to trade him, but if we do it for an emerging talent, we take a step back.

Tonite we had our big boys play well all at once. Nazr, KT and Sweets did great down the stretch.

His catch from marbs cutting to the basket was huge. I said yesterday, he INHALES THE BALL!

Steph was might impressive. One time he lost it, and the game was swung in the wolves favor. We were up ten when Madsen held him on a drive. HE held him from falling, but Marbs got all indignent pushed him off and got a technical. The wolves erased the lead after. I love the passion, and being tough, but it can also fire up the other team and break the rythem going on. Steph needs to just keep it level and stay focused.

He got it back together and was brilliant in the late 4th period.

I thought Marbury proved himself in the Philly game more than anything. All the guys in NY that are supposed to score, Craw, Houston and TT were off and we were down by 18. Then they setup Stephon as the lone scorer around a bunch of defensive hustle guys. I remember it clearly: Stephon carried us on his back that game. He drove to the hoop, got the foul, passed at the right time, hit his FTs and everyhting.

Thats the game I think will be this season's defining moment. I think the whole team saw that night that this guy is our leader and we need to follow him.

Case: Those blowouts sucked but you know that the Knicks are better than that. They did not show up to play against Dallas that night. All we can hope for is that they dont do it anymore. I am guessing we will see some more nights like that one this season.

Posted by Rich:

Give Isiah props, because Marbury's improved play coincides with a telephone converastion they reportedly had in which Isiah told Marbury that his D was awful.

MJ sure can pick up a thing or two from Isiah about getting the best out of your star players, remember Kwame Brown wink wink

Posted by technomaster:

Wow... 2 good games in a row and we're talking MVP?

I dont know about others but I can guarantee you I always thought Stephon is an MVP candidate. If starts doing poorly in a game, the Knicks are gonna have a really tough time winning and if he is on, there is a very little chance the Knicks will lose. Calling him an MVP of the league is kinda premature right now so I understand what you are saying.

This is what happends when u have a coach or GM or Owner that the players really respect. Zeke put it on Marbury and Marbury listened. Im sure others have said the same thing to Marbury over and over again over the yrs and he just did his own thing.

This is also why guys like O'neal and Artest where saying they wouldn't play at the level they are playing now if it wasn't for Zeke.

I disagee, he turns the ball over a bit but, if anything, he's stayed a little too much within himself. The problem I've had with Steph is, sometimes he abandons his offensive game while getting his teammates involved. He has to be an intregal part of the offense (at all times) ... not one at the expense of the other, as it has been at times during the season.