we could have the poorest frontline defense in basketball right now, not that we were great last year, but there is quite a fall off from kT to Frye. We improved the guards, BUT there is a problem of PT--how the hll do we play 4 guards unless we play 3 guard sets? Im guesing that nate will be screwd out of minutes he looks like he is earning.
Frye hasnt showed he can guard guys like Beasley and Peter John Ramos---and even though we break KT's blls, he does pretty well against guys like Tim Duncan--he can compete---and we all know he had to go, but they may feel the sting defensively a bit unless some things are changed--i cant guarantee we acquire another player, right now we are until we are not.
Frye should be much better longer term on the D, but right now I would say that has been the main dissapointment with him. I just wish as a 4 year player that he would use some better technique, hopefully he will really work on his legs and technique over the next 4 months.

The roster is nowhere near done. Let's leave projections alone until October. what if Larry Brown, Stpehen Hunter and Kwame show up?

there's no way Isiah is done, this is a very unbalanced roster.

If the coach, probably Herb, gives the rookies major minutes, they could win less than 30 games. I have no problem with that since they are rebuilding, but it's all the more reason to look to move (not give away) Marbury.

Posted by crzymdups:

The roster is nowhere near done. Let's leave projections alone until October. what if Larry Brown, Stpehen Hunter and Kwame show up?

there's no way Isiah is done, this is a very unbalanced roster.

Yeah, I was just playing along with the thread, but you're 100% correct.

Posted by DarkKnicks:

I agree that we are a 30-34 wins team right now. If we add Hunter or a decent center, I think we could reach the play-offs.
I don't know why everybody thinks that we have to get rid of Crawford or Marbury. I'm fine with having 4 skilled guards for two positions. There are injuries and it's better to have Nate Robinson than Brewer to back up Marbury.

[Edited by - DarkKnicks on 07/10/2005 10:22:46]

What you're saying, basically, is if we add a Center of Steph Hunter's talent......we can make the playoffs???

Please. Don't kid yourself. Jerome James isn't gonna push us over the helm...hell, either is Stromile Swift. Right now, what we're lacking is interior Defense, simple as that. Kurt provided us exactly that, but it was his time to go. Frye is def. not ready to start, lemme tell you that. He'll probably get around 20 MPG, and at PF, not Center. He needs to start getting strong lower body strength, and being more aggressive and intense on the court.

The problem with the roster is this: We have 3 starting-caliber Guards, 1 PG on the bench that WILL be starting caliber soon, a somewhat shaky SF position, a plethora of skilled PF's but no starter, and plain and simple -- NO CENTER.

Lee's a nice player, but cmon, let's face it. He isn't getting **** for playing time next year. Bringing in Kwame might be nice, but personally, there might be better options out there. And James probably isn't the best way to go -- the guy's 29. He's OLDER than Marbury.

I think, knowing that Marbury is staying put, we, unfortunately, have to use Penny or Timmy to get a guy like Gasol or any other talented, experienced, young, athletic PF/C. I don't personally like Gasol's game, but you see where I'm going with this...

Posted by roblackman:

I think we should send Penny (or Timmy) to Orlando for Cato and Garrity--if the Magic would be interested.

Why exactly?

Posted by bobs3304:


What you're saying, basically, is if we add a Center of Steph Hunter's talent......we can make the playoffs???

Please. Don't kid yourself. Jerome James isn't gonna push us over the helm...hell, either is Stromile Swift. Right now, what we're lacking is interior Defense, simple as that. Kurt provided us exactly that, but it was his time to go. Frye is def. not ready to start, lemme tell you that. He'll probably get around 20 MPG, and at PF, not Center. He needs to start getting strong lower body strength, and being more aggressive and intense on the court.

The problem with the roster is this: We have 3 starting-caliber Guards, 1 PG on the bench that WILL be starting caliber soon, a somewhat shaky SF position, a plethora of skilled PF's but no starter, and plain and simple -- NO CENTER.

Lee's a nice player, but cmon, let's face it. He isn't getting **** for playing time next year. Bringing in Kwame might be nice, but personally, there might be better options out there. And James probably isn't the best way to go -- the guy's 29. He's OLDER than Marbury.

I think, knowing that Marbury is staying put, we, unfortunately, have to use Penny or Timmy to get a guy like Gasol or any other talented, experienced, young, athletic PF/C. I don't personally like Gasol's game, but you see where I'm going with this...

Excellent post Bobs... I think you've said every point that I've been sayin on here for the past month haha. Knicks will be fun to watch next year because they are going to score a ton of points (in theory). The Knicks really need to add some interior defense, Stromile would help but he wouldn't solve the problem at all, it would be like last year when KT would have to leave his man and play help defense. If Isiah can somehow find a way to get a Gasol or Randolph with the expiring contracts then that would change around the whole complexion of this team. I think IT is gearing up to do just that becuase right now the roster is flawed and unbalanced and there has to be a reason for it no starting center to be on the roster, I think Isiah has been biding his time and putting the right pieces together for a trade, but we'll see. There's still alot to be done before opening night at the Garden.

Posted by tapseer:

You guys have no faith. At least 40 wins. An emphasis on defense will easily get us 7 more wins than last year. Ye of little faith. You're so used to bashing your own team, you fail to see what could be.

EXACTLY

We have improved our team rebounding, our back court and our depth at all positions.

7 - 10 more wins easily.

I know you are just starting this thread to light a fire under Zeke (assuming he reads UK) but you may as well said 20 wins.

Posted by simrud:

I think 35-40 wins is more accurate of a prediction. Assuming we are done with roster moves.

The scoring of Marbury, Q, and Craw whould be enough to remain a mediocre non playoff team.

exactly. and add in a jerome james or kwame and we're, what -- 10 games better MAX. 8th seed if we got very very lucky.

[Edited by - bobs3304 on 07/10/2005 12:13:45]

Our roster will be as good as Seattle's was last year. But with Herb coaching we'll be lucky to win 30.

Posted by nadavshomron:

I think we will win as much as our coach is talented...i mean if we get a great coach(larry) , get a shot blocking "C" we can win 45-50 games.
i think herb has a big plus because he gives the youngsters play time ,maybe we won't be in the playoffs but we will get better.
we are already a deep talented team at guard and many teams have problems against deep talented teams on regular season play(energy,inj)
so don't get your hopes down i think we will add some more beef in the near future and next season the garden will host playoff games!!!

was this a joke? herb did not play the youngsters at all. he played marbs 40+ mins a night trying to get some meaningless wins...
he like NEVER played ariza once he came on board. never played jackie butler... Herb is a garbage coach.