With Lee and Robinson now playing as starters, it only highlights even more, the weaknesses and flaws this team has. Its obvious to me, that Lee and Robinson would be far more effective as role players off the bench than as starters. It looks fine for now, especially comming off a big win, but if you look at the big picture, and Isiah is always talking big-picture and the sole purpose of competing is to win a championship, right now, as we speak, the Knicks only have 2 legit starters. Curry and Marbury.

Frye can and eventually will take over at the power forward spot, but right now he isn't cutting it defensively, which is why he has lost his starting role.

The way this team is designed, right now, I think most of the role players are in place to make a run deep into the playoffs. Now they just need a star player to run with them.

Crawford is a perfect six-man, similar to the role Starks played for us in 92 when Knicks lost to the Bulls ina classic 7 game series. Of course Crawford can give us the same offensive spark that Starks gave us that year, but wont come close to the defensive intensity.

Lee possess unteachable intagibles that are necessary for a team to have while navigating its way through the playoffs. Lee would fit perfectly in a similar role Camby played for us during our run to the finals in 99 (except Lee doesn't play the 5). But Lee brings similar energy and inatgibles, runs the floor well, throws down crowd pleasing jams, gives his body up for high flying rebounds, can pass well, seems to be athletic and quick enough to be a good help defender and can play the 3 & 4 and give us a spark off the bench.

Nate Robinson is a 5'9 shooting guard. He's a specialist and has no business starting. (except for on this team because Q has been so horrible).
Even Jackie Butler is pretty crafty in the paint. But all of these guys I named are role players. And I can definitely see them hoisting the Jim O brien trophy one day. But a super star wing player is going to have to help them hoist it.

Now where and how do we get this super star? Well, I've been singing the Ron Artest tune eversince we idiotically passed him over for French-Toast Weiss. Theres no way anyone can convince me he doesn't posses the physical tools of a champion. The question is, does he posses the mental tools of a champion? Well, Ras'weed' Wallace turned out fine for the Pistons. Latrell was helped us to a final appearance and even All-time fan favorite Bernard (why isn't my jersey retired at the Garden) King had massive problems out in Utah and Golden state before turning his career around. Put Artest on this team, and all we need as a defensive minded 2G who can it an open jump shot. Once Curry develops, a team like that can serioulsy compete in the weakened east.

Posted by crzymdups:

...maybe we can get one for the MLE next summer?

Might have to wait for Artest to become a free agent. But by that time, Marbury, i believe will be 31. Might need to make somehting happen before that

Posted by bigbeast:

Posted by crzymdups:

...maybe we can get one for the MLE next summer?

Might have to wait for Artest to become a free agent. But by that time, Marbury, i believe will be 31. Might need to make somehting happen before that

I was just kidding. It's not too easy to get a star. I don't there's a problem with Curry/Fyre/Marbury/Crawford being our star power. We definitely need a starting SF. I'd rather see Lee as a do-it-all forward off the bench. I'd be thrilled if he could become a starter at SF, but I don't think he's quick enough.

[Edited by - crzymdups on 01-04-2006 4:56 PM]

We still need a legit 2g. I like Crawford as a six man. In a perfect world, we'd trade for Artest put him at the 3, then draft Brandon Roy and put him at the 2.

We don't need a J-Rich type two guard on this team with crawford. If Roy or someone like him can give us 12-13 pts a game, play some D and hit an open Jay, we'd be well on our way.

we're a tim duncan type star talent away.

Question is- can either Curry or Frye become that? I doubt, but the possibility is still there.

The other way to get that star, the best way- is the draft- and that's not likely to happen for us the next two years.

This is the mentality that has us floundering without a title. I call it the "savior mentality". Fans always thing we are one player away. Then we make a trade for a star and everyone thinks that's the guy that will win it for us. Then when he doesn't the fans turn on him and we trade him and try to get another star. It just doesn't work that way. You have to build a team.

I wasn't targeting you I was actually targeting management. Didn't mean to make it seem like I was targeting you. I'm just frustrated with management, but I am excited about our role players but we do have a long way to go.