Posted by bitty41:

Posted by Bippity10:

Posted by sebstar:

Posted by bitty41:

What happens if Lebron leaves Clev for NY and the whole thing is a complete failure? The Knicks become just a playoff team that can't make it past the 2nd round, the NY papers rake Lebron over the coals on a daily basis, and the Knicks don't have the necessary cap space to bring in a better supporting cast?


Or has everyone just dismissed this as a impossibility?

I cannot imagine a team going very far with subpar defense, no consistent outside shooting, and medicore to poor point guard play. Does everyone that much confidence in Walsh that he will address this all in a year with very limited assets and no draft picks? I think anyone believing that if Lebron signs here it will just be apart of the rebuilding process is deluding themselves. There is absolutely no doubt that immediate expectations for the Knicks will be to win a title.

[Edited by - bitty41 on 09-02-2009 12:48 PM]

Ill take my chances with Lebron on the squad, thank you.

There's also the possibility that Lebron tears up his knee and has to retire. There is also the possibility he ends up like Ewing and comes up short every year. He could come here and become a prima donna and slack off and become the scourge of NY that gets boo'd out of town. A lot of things could happen. I'm still all for going after him.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I would support this plan more if Walsh was currently upgrading the talent. Because I don't really subscribe to the belief that one single free-agent or even two will make everything fall into place.

Posted by Bippity10:

Question: What does rebuilding mean to you?

a.) Starting over by getting yourself in position to acquire a top level talent or core to build around

b.) Starting over by trying to sign whatever free agents happen to be on the market

Posted by bitty41:

Posted by fishmike:

and Briggs... Lebron wouldnt be leaving for no apparent reason. There would be very clear reasons. He can make more money. He will get more exposure. He likes the coach 100x better. He wants to live in the area. There are always reasons. Just because you dont like them or agree doesnt mean there are no apparent reasons.

He can make more money

Can't Clev offer him a better long-term contract and endorsement deals will always come Lebron's way as long as his team's remain successful. If Clev wins a title while he's there you honestly think Nike or any other other company is going to pay him any less because he won it in Clev? Money and success run hand and hand. If a player performs well on a elite team money will follow him. If Lebron comes here and NY performs expectations now how will that play for his endorsements? That's the real question.

He will get more exposure

So I honestly think the exposure issue would be very valid 20 years ago but not in the age the internet, NBA TV, all-season packages Pre-Season International games etc. My good friend in Australia probably watches more NBA games then I do.

He likes the coach 100x better

If serious doubts about this statement because if this was really true Lebron would have pushed D'Antoni's name when he was available last off season.

He wants to live in the area

There is nothing stopping him from purchasing a home in NYC. Somehow I think Lebron can afford the airfare to NYC on a regular basis

Posted by djsunyc:

Posted by Moonangie:

We ALL want the same thing in NY: A reason to cheer, championship or not. I just want to get excited when I watch my basketball team (for whom I have rooted ardently since the 1970's) and to feel that hoops at the NBA level has relevance for me once again.

you are in the minority on this board. the overwhelming sentiment on this forum is that if you don't win a title, you're not "winner".

when a team has advanced to the 2nd round or conference finals, most here look at that and ask "but what have they won?"

you're view of sports is probably alot more healthy than many others. a reason to cheer doesn't necessarily involve lebron.

Who comprises this "overwhelming majority" you speak of? Who are you talking about here?

BTW, I don't think the Knicks have even made it past the first round since this forum has been in existence. They were swept by the Nets in 2004.

[Edited by - basketballjones on 09-02-2009 16:14]

Posted by bitty41:

Does anyone on this current rooster address the following:

Lack of defense

Poor point guard play (who knows maybe Douglas will be our Rondo)

Inconsistent outside shooting for a coach whose offensive scheme is largely built on offensive shooting?

I'll have to agree to disagree about Gallo, Chandler, Nate there are nothing more then gimmick players and glorified subs.

Posted by djsunyc:

Posted by PresIke:

with djsu and others rationalizing things as "all about 2010" one wonders how any gm ever survives working in such a high pressure environment for long...

it's easy to last in ny as a gm - you just can't FUBAR the situation like isiah...

easy?

hmm...not quite seeing right now how that's clear.

isiah was himself, but also acted in a way that most nyc fans like. always making moves.

think about how this off-season has drove knick fans crazy.

isiah would NEVER do what has taken place this summer.

in other words, isiah, as much as many knick fans hate him, did exactly what many fans wanted, in these sense he always tried to act corporate.

like how disney buys marvel.

like how some company does some b.s., cooking the books, ripping of people's pensions, etc. to make their business seem "reinvented" so the stock prices soar, even if it's a deck made of cards.

how's that for a paradox?

you get what you want, but really, you won't get what you want if you get what you sensationalisticly desire.

[Edited by - PresIke on 09-02-2009 5:45 PM]