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djsunyc
Posts: 44929
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Joined: 1/16/2004
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Rebuilding in the Big Apple
New head coach Larry Brown.
By Rick Kamla, Senior Editor
September 20, 2005 3:00 PM ET
2004-05 Recap: The two-part question entering the 04-05 season was when/if Allan Houston would return, and how he would fit in with new Knick Jamal Crawford when/if he played. We never really got an answer to the second part, because the team received a bad answer to the first part. Houston played only 20 games, and he wasn't that effective when he played, scoring 11.9 ppg on 42 percent shooting in 26.6 minutes a night. Crawford, on the other hand, was exhilarating at times and frustrating at others, and his overall numbers were solid in his first season on the rock. The former Bull averaged 17.7 points, 4.3 assists, and 1.3 steals, and canned 185 threes in 70 games. Stephon Marbury posted terrific numbers as well, giving fantasy owners 22-8-1.5 with 46 percent shooting and 115 threes. Unfortunately for the Knick Nation, those digits weren't enough to get the team over the hump, and the powers that be decided to fire Lenny Wilkens with the team stuck at 17-22. Herb Williams took over on an interim basis, but went 16-27, including a backbreaking nine-game losing streak that bridged March and April. The Knicks lost 12 of their final 16 games, leaving Herb's status for the upcoming season very much in doubt. New York finished 33-49 and tied with Toronto for last place in the Atlantic Division. Kurt Thomas (11.5 points, 10.4 rebounds) combined with Marbury and Crawford to give the fantasy world three reliable Knicks, but Tim Thomas (12 and 3 in 27 minutes) and Michael Sweetney (8 and 5 in 20 minutes) did not step up as much as hoped.
Offseason Overview: Once Bill Davidson brought the hammer down on Larry Brown's Piston career, it was pretty clear that LB would be signing with the Knicks. After all, last January he called the Knicks his "dream job". Whether intentional or not, that quote had as much to do with his dismissal as anything. To the surprise of absolutely no one, Brown landed on his feet once again, signing with the Knicks for about $10 million a year with the hopes of turning the franchise around with his discipline and defensive focus. In a very classy move, Herb was retained as an assistant to Brown, who will need to improve this team by at least 10 games for the Knicks to even be on the fringe of the playoffs. To help Brown in that endeavor, Isiah Thomas traded Kurt Thomas to Phoenix for three-point champ Quentin Richardson and Washington rookie point guard Nate Robinson. Isiah addressed the frontcourt as well, signing center Jerome James to the mid-level exception, and drafting Arizona big man Frye with the 8th pick and Florida big man David Lee with the last pick of the first round. There was widespread speculation that Houston would be released due to the amnesty provision that allowed teams a one-time drop of an excessive contract to save money against the luxury tax. Houston was such a perfect candidate for the purge that many dubbed it "The Allan Houston Rule". As such, it was incredibly ironic to see the Knicks use the one-time exception to waive Jerome Williams, one of the only players on the roster who loved playing defense. Junkyard Dog subsequently retired, but remains with the Knicks' organization. In keeping Houston, the team remains on the hook for the final two years and $39.8 million of his contract. Have fun with that.
2005-06 Outlook: The Knicks upgraded significantly on the sideline, and they now have a true Big Three with Marbury, Crawford, and Richardson, but this team enters the season with myriad questions. Will Brown move Marbury to the two as he did with Allen Iverson in Philadelphia? Will Marbury or Crawford be traded? Will Sweetney finally step up or will he be traded to Chicago for Eddy Curry, as rumored? Is James more than a one-hit wonder? Can Frye and Lee bring anything to the table as rookies? What becomes of Tim Thomas now that the team is loaded with chuckers? Will LB's inconsistent health allow him to coach 82 games? Now you know why I chose the word "myriad".
Rotation Analysis: First of all, if you don't play defense, you won't be a member of LB's rotation. Actually, upon taking another look at the depth chart, LB doesn't have too many defensive stoppers, so the famed coach is going to have to settle for fleeting defensive effort. I mean, whether they play D or not, LB has no choice but to play Marbury and Crawford all the time. They are by far the team's best players, and both will hover around 40 minutes. Richardson has averaged 36 minutes over the past two seasons, and that will continue as long as he doesn't completely dog it on defense. Tim Thomas logged 27.3 minutes last year, but he'll be lucky to break 20 this year. At the four, Sweetney will start, but I don't see him playing 30 minutes when the team also has veterans Malik Rose and Maurice Taylor, who need clock as well. James will get every opportunity to stay on the floor and give the team a double-double, but he's never averaged more than 20 minutes in his career. The five will be split three ways between James and the rookie bigs. If you're wondering about Robinson, all I can say is this: LB would rather coach in his boxers than give big minutes to a rookie point guard.
Player(s) to watch: I'll be watching to see if Brown shifts Marbury over to the two, because if he does, Crawford would move up to the point and post even better numbers than last season. Crawford has the versatility and tenacity to pack the stat sheet from the point guard position. I'm talking about a three-cat line of 19-5-6, or something pretty close. But, then again, Isiah and Brown may decide that things aren't working out with Crawford, and they may trade him before the deadline. It could go either way for Crawford, but I'm betting on the right way.
Player(s) to fear: I fear every big man on this roster because none of them are good enough to stay on the court for more than 28 minutes a night. Sweet will be looking over his shoulder at Rose and Mo all season. James should consider himself very lucky, because I don't consider him worth $30 million over five years. Good for him on the cash-in, but shame on the Knicks for thinking he's a suitable replacement for Kurt Thomas. When the best rebounder on your team is also your best three-point shooter (Q), it's going to be a long year on the boards.
The Stat: Marbury doesn't always play "winning basketball" in reality, but he wins games in the fantasy realm because he's so consistent and durable. Steph has averaged at least 20 points and eight assists in four straight seasons and six outta seven, with the lone miss coming in 2000-01 when he registered 23.9 ppg and 7.6 apg. Plus, he started 82 games last season, and he's missed two games over the past four years. At the risk of jinxing him, Steph is one of the safer players in fantasy hoops.
Bold Prediction: I have as much respect for LB as anyone not playing for him. So this bold prediction has nothing to do with the Hall of Fame coach. Just so we're clear on that. All that said, thousands, maybe millions of Knick fans and NBA heads are assuming that New York is a lock for the playoffs under Brown. Alas, this group of chuckers and random bigs does not have 45 wins in them. I don't care if this unit is coached by a combo of Red Auerbach and Phil Jackson, they do not have 45 wins in them. As such, despite LB's best efforts and at least one trade during the regular season, the Knicks will miss the playoffs for the fifth straight season.
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9/21/2005 5:28 PM