Marv - Curry seems to have morphed into the lightning rod for controversy du jour. Curry is one of several decent options at the 4/5. If he does not produce satisfactory results, I have no problem with Jackie Butler or ever David Lee at center.

The classy, intelligent and skilled Channing Frye at forward, and future captain, is a good fit.

The point being, fix the backcourt and you fix the Knicks

Let's not get sidetracked


[Edited by - misterearl on 06-02-2006 07:09 AM]

fishmike - rather than simply complain about everything being wrong you gotta start somewhere

the strategy is to start where you are weakest, or have the most confusion

I submit the problem area is the bloated backcourt

you gotta start somewhere besides simply magnifying every negative trait you can opine. Larry Brown tried to tear down his players and all it resulted in was an exit-interview mutiny.

Especially with the young roster, the question is how to BUILD on and reinforce what they do well...

rather than harp on their imperfections?

show me a player who is perfect... or show me a team that can cover for one other



[Edited by - misterearl on 06-02-2006 07:51 AM]

its not being negative its reality. We need help in all areas, we have too many guys that just pound the ball. The roster is loaded with redandant players.

Why cant you accept we have problems? Why when anyone brings up the obvious your retort is always something like "show me a perfect player" ????

Ive been saying all along, start dumping the malcontents who have thrived in losing envirnments and start building with a new philosophy.

http://ultimateknicks.com/forum/topic.asp?t=16194

there is something I think is feasable.

fish

You think Frye is a malcontent?

Lee?

Please elaborate on your malcontent list.

Okay, I LIED.. there are TWO Best Damn Bootleg Posts

with sincere apologies to the entire NYTimes crew... and ex.machina... this was too well written NOT to be shared with a larger audience. Forgive the indiscretion, but it IS all about elevationg the level of hoops discourse, yes?


I promise it won't happen again. Promise.

-----------------------------------------------------------

exmachina - 8:03 AM ET June 2, 2006


What I'd like to talk about is the subject that Barkley and Kenny Smith have addressed some, and Eric Weiss has an excellent piece on in Draft Express (Draft Etiquete: It's About Situation, Not Position). What they are all saying is that most of these guys who make it to the League have plenty of talent and potential. Except for a few suepr-stars, whether they maximize that talent has more to do with the opportunity that is inherent in the situation, plus their attitude on staying ready to carpe diem.

This is appropos of the dialog about Jerome James, and whether we have enough talented players to field a competitive team. I don't have the answer, but TT is sure instructive. All the bitter comments about his play, lack of defense, lack of heart have become moot. Tim has redefined himself in these play-offs. Sure, there will be lingering concerns on the part of some teams. but you can bet Phoenix won't be one of them. The best thing for him would be stay right where he is. Even with Amare coming back, Tim Thomas will be made good use of, even with the other Thomas in the rotation. Actually Kurt is more likely to be odd man out, given his lack of athleticism, and lack of range.

I hope Q Woods gets the kind of chance Boris Diaw had this season. More clear rotations would help a lot. Each of these guys on Phoenix know their role, and what the other guys are likely to do. A zone buster like Tim Thomas would help, but Q Richardson was one of those last year for the Suns, and might be again. We've assumed it's a high percentage of 3s that's critical. Obviously you have to make some to make the threat credible, but the key is spreading the floor and leaving open driving lanes.

It also helps if you have a PG who goes north-south rather than east-west. Nash constantly goes n-s, probes, then either passes interior, kicks out for a 3, or pulls it back himself to regroup. Could Marbury do that? Damn straight. Does he want to? Don't know, but if he isn't glued to his TV, learning something, he's more of a fool than I think.

The Suns and D'Antoni aren't the only way to play basketball, and to some extent they are dependent on personnel, but not nearly as much as Shaq or MJ based teams. The one thing that Detroit and Phoenix have in common is how well players know each other's patterns, and how well they use them. That just takes experience, curiosity, and good coaching.

As many folks, particularly NYKnicks12 and FWK have been saying, let's keep the core of kids and hard-working vets together, and build a team.

Phoenix resigning TT not likely. chances are high he balks at 3 yrs 12 mill. this is Toine's return to Boston all over.

A team like LAL may pay Thomas to be a 6th man

Posted by djsunyc:

Posted by misterearl:

Having said that fish... if the Knicks had Ben Wallace it is a stone cold FACT that he would be villified instantly in the press (and on this forum) for not having an outside shot, his contract numbers, the draft picks or players spent to acquire him, his hair, and for not making his free throws

if ben wallace comes to the knicks, it will be lauded. he would be the first defensive player brought in. the first guy that doesn't need to score. and a guy coming from a championship caliber team and a BIG proponent of it. he's a throwback player that would remind all of us of the 90's knicks. i don't think he would be villified at all.

ben is an unrestricted free agent. unlike with jamal and curry, we would not be at the pistons mercy. if ben tells joe d. he wants to come to ny and we're willing to give him the money he wants, a deal will be worked out and i would assume it would be eddy for ben straight up. (which is something i would do)

and we'll be digging on his hair.

The obvious? What is obvious to me is there is talent on the roster than can be built upon. They are not ALL garbage as you insist.

There's always talent. This is the NBA. The young players are OK. Lee, Frye, Nate and Butler are nice. Maybe Crawford, maybe Curry. The rest are salary cap cast offs junked from other teams, and we did every team a favor in taking them.

That being said that young group I mentioned is pretty average. There's no Lebron, Amare or Chris Paul in the that group. There's probably some good NBA players, but whoop de doo. Playoff games arent won by pretty good NBA players, they are won by special players. Who do we have thats special? Who do we have that you want to build the future of your franchise around? I'm sorry these are difficult questions for you, and I assure you I am quite calm.

As for the Hawks trade part of their problem is they need players. Its a bad FA place... nobody wants to go there, so while yes, we do give up a lot for a guy like Josh Smith the extra picks help them. As for them having the #5 pick didnt you say there isnt much difference in this draft and position wont matter? Yea... pretty sure you said just that. They need players, and there will be some good 4 year CBB players that can help them with those picks.

Its important to focus on the negative. Thats what we have.

MrEarl = the Scott Layden of posters. "We love our team."

Another Mis-quote coutest of fish.mike

>>As for the Hawks trade part of their problem is they need players.

No. The problem with the Hawks is they need leadership to convince the restless fan base they have a clue for creating a cohesive roster of something beyond swing players. The TV-based Hawks, in the words of management, care a huge amount about the entertainment factor. Translation = our slam dunk king is here too stay.

The Hawks HAVE players. They need time to develop them under some steady coaching guidance that allows players like Boris Diaw, who they failed miserably trying to squeeze as a point guard, to be their enthusiastic selves.

>> Its a bad FA place... nobody wants to go there,

fish - Does that make Joe Johnson a nobody?

Atlanta is great place for FAs as many players have off season homes there. The summer pickup games in local health clubs are be worthy of an admission charge.

>> didnt you say there isnt much difference in this draft and position wont matter?

No. I never said draft position did not matter. I SAID it is a deep draft with talent to be mined by a knowledgable GM with an eye for raw materials.

>>>pretty sure you said just that.

Pretty sure?

I'm pretty sure you rtead what you WANT to read.


>>MrEarl = the Scott Layden of posters. "We love our team."

I prefer MrEarl = one proponent of "it can be fixed"

"Fix the guards and you fix the Knicks"

and you can quote me on that