I would give the team a C. The record is below expectations (we should be at least 9-11), but the team has made progress and improved with each game. Plus, the team has played through a number of injuries. Our 7 wins matches us with several playoff teams. If the team can finish this home stand by winning the next 3 of 4 games, we should be right back in the playoff race.

You really can't go higher than a D for a 7-13 record.

BUT.... there's obvious improvement on the court. I think the Second Quarter will paint a much clearer picture for our Knicks.

i will give us a D+. we have been competing which is more than i can say last year( which if you asked me to grade would be an F-). so we are improving and playing good teams tough. we do have an "easy" stretch but when that happens like the last couple of years, we botch it up. as a matter of fact, i think this month should be the first winning month since the wilkens days. there shouldn't be any excuse why not unless curry and only curry is injured. i am very impressed with curry as he is not bullying his way to the basket as much. he also finally used an arsenal of post moves this year which makes him more potent. marbury and francis are disappointing. i wasn't suprised with francis but marbury is clearly on the downside of his career. he looks like gary payton of today. frye was getting back into the swing of things with some double digit scoring when he got injured again. his hardiness will be questioned at least at the beginning of his career. q-rich is a pleasant suprise as well as nate improving his game. looks like the trade to phoenix isn't one of isaih's blunders after all ( though he has made numerous and some the jury is still out on). d-lee is our most consistent player and he should be our starter right now. a rebounding machine. i can sense some optimism and confidence but 7-13 is what it is. however, the east is so weak that we should be well in the race throughout the year. so i am not worrying that much until next month when teams start to find a rhythm.

I had to give them a C. I don't like the home record, but at the same time we knew this early schedule would be tough. Not only was is a lot of games, but they've already played 5 back to backs and more games than anyone else. In addition to them having to deal with trying to jell as a unit at the same time. They got his with a lot of things including injury and I think they came thru it still together and actually moving forward a bit.

The development of Curry's game has really been great along with Lee's great play. Q has been able to keep his great D and O going as well. Steph and Francis have been getting it together as we've gone along, despite some early problems.

Now they MUST start winning at home. If we can do that this team will be in VERY good shape.

I would say Poor - The team has looked lost and while its a slight improvement from last year.. its still not acceptable

Grade C (Satisfactory)

In looking how this team came out this year; as opposed to last year; there's better effort in the first 20 games.

Winning record? No; but the team and players are more aware of their roles then they were at this point last year, and with a 5-5 road record and wins against some good teams early; it can only be looked at as an improvement IMHO.

I wish we had a more sound roster with better players (but we don't); but for what we have; and the 7-13 start; we have room and the potential for improvement.

I can't give this team a poor rating or less; because it's a team that's attempting to fight out of the muck of being a constant loser. The effort to be close enough to pull out some wins in most of the games played to this point; points to this team maybe being able to turn things around to finish near .500 at the end of the season.

If the team didn't show any fight (even though they seem unsure of themselves at times); then it would be easy to give them a poor mark. Like it or not; it's a team taht looks like it's out there for the first time trying to find their way to having a positive identity in this league. In part because of al the turmoil in recent memory. They have a feel like they're surprised that they can win some when they're expected to lose; and they're far from being a team that fans can go into a game and feel like "we should have this game in the bag".

You have to start from somewhere; and no, not many (if anyone) could have seriously thought that this team would come in here and be considered a bonifide playoff contending team; showing no signs of weaknesses, or hesitency. So I would have to question most lower grade scoring as being a personal vendetta against certain players or coaches.

Some come in with there eyes closed and want the team to be 13-7 or better; or else it's a complete failure. Teams don't make that turn-around in a season unless they're bringing in a franchise player (or two) that makes a difference from one season to another. This is the same team from last year that has to learn a new identity; with a few better defender players added to the mix.

If the Knicks can win 38 games this year; it takes off the "laughing stock" peg given to bottom of the barrel teams each year that finish amongst the leagues worst teams; and sets them up and open for more solid moves in the way of player trades and dealings. That's a 38-44 record. Ho hum? Yes. They really should have improved to that point last year; and there was a lot of blame to go around.

If this team can continue at this pace and imrove upon it in the next 3/4s of the season; learn to start and finish better. Come in playing with intensity. help out each other more on defense, etc., etc. Then we have something to look forward to. ..and that's with Isaih or no Isaih; or Marbury or no Marbury.

Grade "C" at this point is a fair grade for me.

Posted by islesfan:

F

You are what your record says you are. And the Knicks record says that they're still one of the worst teams in the NBA.

As for individual player performance:

Frye is much worse than last year.
Crawford is much worse than last year.
Marbury is worse than last year.
Francis is worse than last year.
Nate is a bonehead like last year.
James is a waste like last year.
Curry isn't necessarily better as much as they're forcing the ball into him more.
Lee is better than last year.
Balkman has the makings of a good role player with limited minutes.

Overall, a lot more bad than good.

But other than that, they're doing great, right?

i think to call them "gutless" is a little harsh... i mean they did have some good comebacks in most of the games they played this year... they just fell a little short... i don't see the same quit in this team that i saw in them last season.

Posted by TMS:

i think to call them "gutless" is a little harsh.

I was thinking it was a little generous. Our reserves have played nice, but it doesn't counteract that when we have Curry, Frye, Marbury and Francis on the court that we're the worst team in the NBA.