fishmike wrote: is here because the elite players in this league love him and his system. He's a guy they want to play for. He can do anything he wants here. If we get Lebron he will have an even longer leash. If we dont get Lebron or max FAs and guys are quitting on him all bets are off

agreed.

i don't get the people who act like d'antoni has done a bad job this year. he's doing exactly what he's supposed to do - make the team borderline respectable with a bunch of expiring contracts who don't really fit his system.

we can start judging the walsh/d'antoni era for real some time next year when we see what their team looks like after they can really start building.

fishmike wrote: is here because the elite players in this league love him and his system. He's a guy they want to play for. He can do anything he wants here. If we get Lebron he will have an even longer leash. If we dont get Lebron or max FAs and guys are quitting on him all bets are off

Lebron has more juice than any coach. Lebron is being coached by Mike Brown . Mike Brown running the GTBTL* offense to perfection. Lebron could careless about the coach because they can/would easily be fired to appease Lebron. Elite players do whatever they feel like.

*GTBTL - Give the Ball to Lebron

"I really haven't felt like this watching the Knicks since the 90s, really. I was a little kid back then. This is great"
- orangeblobman

The Knicks ball movement is crisp and more decisive than it was in November. Win or lose, the way the Knicks play in Atlanta on New Year's Day will be a great test of road resolve.

No doubt that David Lee stays in New York. Chris Dudley... I mean... Jared Jeffries is working his way into future consideration as a defensive specialist. JJ has no offense worth mentioning but the rebounds, deflections and blocks are very welcome.

The Mayor with 23 and 8. Keep the cortisone handy.

If The Donniefather can turn Larry Hughes and Cuttino Mobley into Tracy McGrady there should be a parade down Seventh Avenue.

into Did I mention that I love David Lee?

misterearl wrote:The Answer Man Must Be Stopped

...if you watch closely how this new Knicks edition plays, they are playing more cohesive basketball defensively.

Jonathan Bender is different because Donnie Walsh, like Al Harrington, has an intimate, eight year understanding of his character and skill set. The only "Johnny Come Late-lies" in this case are the lately-conditioned Eddy Curry, the moody and lately looking forward to his return to Europe Darko Milicic and the late-to-discover the serious nature of being a champion, Nate Robinson... who may never arrive at the conclusion that being a winner trumps putting on a show.

Walsh gives Bender the opportunity to apparently "walk on" because he knows who Bender is. If any player takes it as a personal insult, good for them. Play better.

Why is the grass greener? Because THE New York Knicks are only two players away from earning serious respect from their competition on a consistent, nightly basis. With a four man core that is being welded together as we speak, the bar has also been raised for professionalism and team personality. Complainers, or players who feel minutes are entitlements and not earned - will be gone faster than you can say Lonnie Shelton. That is a necessary and tough decision that is NOT based on popularity.

The replacements? Hear The Answer Man now and believe him later.... ONE of those new Knicks players will be a floor leader and facilitator - and the other will be a player who can snatch a rebound, as well as dunk, in traffic. At least one of those players will be a free agent signing. The other will be acquired via a creative transaction that no one saw coming.

David Lee: 30 pts last night, 20/10 minimum every night, getting help on D = Keeper
JJ: Lots of D and intangibles, keeper for modest deal, jettison otherwise
Mayor: Gonna be a star if we trade him, but may have to come off the bench behind Lebron. I say we keep him, short contract so he can go FA later if he wants, or we resign him.
Bender: 7', runs, blocks, passes, hits 3's, cheap contract due to risk = Definite keeper. He's the semi-answer to what ails us (aka Curry).

It's a bummer we can't jettison Curry this year, but his 11mil and the 7 from JJ will yield us a second max FA and a cheap resign of Fishlips (or his replacement) in summer 2011. Lebron can spend the year developing his championship squad and forming his media empire, then milk it during the wonder years that are forthcoming.

Mister Earl: Clever, articulate, detailed, positive, forward-looking = keeper. You're on a roll, Earl, keep the good stuff flowin.

1 - The Mayor - Doris Burke knows and Doris is drop dead smart. Wilson Chandler is the most graceful of big men who is still learning how to use his 6'8, 230 to his advantage. Watching him take players off the dribble is athing of beauty as it seems his handle has improved to the point he is seen advancing the ball from the backcourt against token pressure. Wilson Chandler made adjustments against one of the most athletic of frontcourts, the Hawks. He demonstrated his versatility and potential to also be a dominant rebounder with 17 snatches to compensate for David Lee not being on the floor. The Knicks fans would be wise to recognize The Mayor will only get better with experience. 22 years old, with the fluidity and grace of a gazelle. his future is so bright I gotta wear shades.

2 - Danilo Gallinari - A legit 6'10 yoot with the upper body to defend the post. In less than an NBA full season, Gallo is also adding dimension and depth to his game. Against the Hawks, he protected the paint and showed better lateral footwork as he traced Horford across the lane. As Lee was less than effective on defense than in the las meeting, Danilo stepped in and played excellent defense despite last foul trouble with 5. He boxed out. Imagine Charles Oakley with a deadly three point shot. Of course, he is a long way from Charles Oakley with a three point shot and I despise comparisons. I just wanted to see if you were paying attention to how Gallinari was playing defense. Last night he did the blue collar work that does not always show up in the box score.

3. Nate Robinson - perhaps if writers like Frank Isola did not insist on referring to Nate as "Lil Him", then perhaps Nate would not feel the need to ever flex in defiance for defying the odds. I cannot say what it feels like to be the source of derisive names or what it feels like to be challenged every step of the way because you are too small, but I can say this - Nate Robinson is more tenacious than a pit bull with his jaws locked on a victim.

Rather than debate the so-called "Nate-Gate" I would rather enjoy the shock and awe on the faces of about 17,000 people in Atlanta, who were trying to start their New Years Day with an expected win. Sorry. Nate had other ideas. Forget the scoring, his passes were crisp and accurate. He picked his spots and the results were stunning. I'm happy for Nate Robinson. And I'm happy for his head coach. May they both continue to play 'em one at a time. May we also learn to keep our heads in the game, and not our politics. Robinson said, "It taught me a lot how to be humble. We have the best job in the world and not to take it for granted." Standing ovation tomorrow night at The Garden. With no obligation for Nate to take a bow.