Again - there could well be more than one person who feels similarly in terms of the moves made to improve the team. It's not like the Knicks had any assets - (for example a healthy Allan Houston) etc-to begin with. Cossellout- has already commented on the roster (pretty accurately) on his blog- and all you have to do to confirm the paucity of talent that Isiah inherited is to confirm the fact that a large majority of that roster is not in the NBA. This is unprecedented - since most of the players are not in the NBA with in two years of being moved by the Knicks!!! All I have been saying is that it is possible to understand why the moves were done- and that if you view Francis/J Rose and Antonio Davis as being a by product of LB - it can explain why the team envisioned has not emerged.

Curry- did lead the Knicks in scoring and the NBA in field goal percentage for one year- so one can not say that he is a bust in the sense of an Adonal Foyle or Nicolai Tshsivilli (from Denver). In addition - he is only being paid an average of 9M a year over 5 years - which is not a bad thing. Randolph - is continuing to provide double/double's and in fact is the highest FG% (46%) on the team- also he is a direct result of the signing of Steve Francis. Crawford- what can I say - streaky and his decision making, ball handling are still quite disappointing. Q Rich - as someone said - back injury and he is basically done and we are stuck with it. Jared Jeffries- does and may provide more versatility- he has had good games, defensively it is not the worst thing in the world to have a 6'11" guy who can defend several positions for a mid-level EXEMPTION (hence no cap/luxury tax implications).

The draft picks in terms of Lee/Balkman and Robinson are all contributors -of all the picks - Mardy Collins is probably the worst. But essentially - they represent the core of the team and the type of team envisioned IMO- defnsive minded, athletic and verstatile.

The point is the intentions of Isiah can be be understood and it is possible that he was sincerely trying to improve the team. Thats it - and it is only my opinion. I am not sure why there is so much hostility to this point of view. Like everyone else - I am extremely disappointed with the Knicks performance and seriously saddened to see this season being as dismal as it is. I can certainly say - that I understand the disappointment expressed by many - as I am also disappointed and many times do feel that the hope invested in Crawford, Curry, Marbury, etc etc was misplaced. No doubt - one can say that it was a dismal failure and that any attempts to inject positivity and ask for patience is at best Polly Anna-ish.

However- it must be said - that it is always after a period of a few years that Isiah's work was understood in proper context. For example- in toronto- Vince Carter/Tracy McGrady and Damon Stoudemire would have been an excellent core- however- at the time - there was a definite lack of chemistry and no winning record and no patience. Several years later; particularly after the explosive development of Mcgrady in Orlando; it was acknowledged this core would have been worth keeping intact.

In Indiana- it is now apparent that Ric Carlisle took a team that barely made it to the playoffs for 3 straight years and so in his fourth year - they became more comfortable and had a 60 win season. At the time - all accolades were heaped on Carlisle- until the following few years showed that Carlisle's ability to coach an experienced young core only resulted in fewer and fewer wins and more and more dissension. In haste- Harrington, Jackson and Artest were dispatched and now you have yet another effort at rebuilding - and this time -instead of a team with an experienced Sg (s.Jackson), a versatile defnesive stalwart at Sf (Artest), a budding PF who ccan shoot from 20 feet away and still pound the ball inside (Harrington), a very good passing center (Brad Miller) and an established all pro young center/pf (O Neil) -a developing PG (tinsley)- you have todays team- what a difference (and not for the better)!! It is only 2-3 years after the Bird/Carlisle debacle that Isiah's work was appreciated and that is why he was considered for the Knicks job (otherwise -why?).

Isiah has left us with more pieces on the bench and starters than when he came in. Most of the players are below 27 and in a few years - may actually fulfill their potential. In addition- if the Marbury and Rose contracts are moved this summer- the Knicks will be under the luxury tax for the first time in almost two decades!! This is the part that people tend to forget - that despite all these moves - every year we are actually improving our cap position- and I don't think it is unreasonable to attribute the moves of Francis, Antonio Davis and Jalen Rose to LB. In addition - this is the NBA - and it is very competitive in terms of acquiring and trading for players- did we forget that Rashard Lewis is a 100M player, or that Ray Allen comes with a 20M a year salary for 3 years , --no doubt - it hasn't been perfect- in fact far from perfect- but at the same time- with all the moves that occured - it feels like a whirlwind (especially the first 3) and if I am confused - I am sure the 'team' itself - needs some time to just settle down and play with each ther.


[Edited by - iyamwutiam on 02-11-2008 4:25 PM]

Why did you just quote yourself?

Sorry am at work - will try and edit -now that I have some time