I think we can all agree that Isiah loaded this team up with two things: talent and high salaries. Isiah haters/Brown lovers claim that Isiah screwed us over in the long term. However, Isiah lovers/Brown haters defend themselves by comparing the team under Layden to the team we have now. Obviously, there's more talent now.

These two arguments come hand in hand. The easiest way to get talent is just to buy it. This is NY where tickets would sell even if the Knicks had say.. a 23-59 record. Isiah didn't feel particularly thrifty and just kept shoveling in the talent and piling up the salaries.

Too bad the problem isn't talent. Three years ago not one person would have disagreed to have FranBury as a backcourt with Curry and a promising rookie (Frye) in the front court. Not many disagreed that Q1 + Nate for KT was a bad trade. Isiah kept making the trades and most fans seemed to love them. Not too many disagreed.

Now, however, it seems like it's all Isiah's fault. I don't buy it. Yes, he made mistakes: JJ, MoT, and JRose. A few others depending on who you talk to.

But who would ever predict that this wouldn't work?! Who knew that this would happen without 20/20 hindsight? I don't think ANY of you would have said that this TALENTED team would have a 23-59 record two years ago if you knew the players we had.

And who is the blame? Isiah and the "bad, poorly motivated" players. Suddenly, the Knicks SOMEHOW have traded for all the losers in the NBA. This argument is bullsh!t. Now, not only does the GM have to bring in great talent but he has to administer a psychology test to each to determine if he's gonna love the game, hustle, keep his head up, be a leader 24/7.

That's just stupid. That's not a team. That a pipe dream. Not all the players are going to do that. Bring in a couple of leaders/vets and just stay away from the unmotivated losers and garbage. That's how you make a team. The only legitimate loser Isiah brought in is JJ. The others are fine. They don't have to be the best of the best winners to be on a team. They just need a leader. TT is a prime example of this. EVERYONE thought he was the biggest loser on the Knicks. But he was good for the Suns. Q1 is another example. He sucks on the knicks, shines on the Suns. Francis, an allstar calibre player, somehow is deemed complete garbage before he even steps foot here! It's the attitude people. I bet if Francis went to the Suns or to the Mavs he would shine.

Which leads me to my point: a GM cannot predict the chemistry of a team. He cannot change the chemistry/atmosphere just by shifting players. All he can do is stay away from really bad apples (JJ) and get a leader or two. OTHERWISE, it's up to the coach or the team itself. Isiah cannot be the only one responsible for this mess. Chemistry is not something a GM should be directly responsible for. Isiah brings in all this top talent and somehow it's his fault that the atrocious attitude/atmosphere of the team? That's bs.

The only legitimate knock on Isiah is too many trades, too many movements. The team needs to develop chemistry. Well, Isiah finally understands that it's time to work with what we've got and develop the CHEMISTRY and POSTIVE ATMOSPHERE, but somehow that's not good enough for anyone.

I blame the chemistry from last season entirely on Larry Brown and Marbury. I hope Marbury can clean up his act under Zeke, but I suspect everyone will be much happier with Zeke running the show - he is one of the few that can make Marbury listen.

edit: the wildcard in all this is still Francis. he could ruin everything or he could make us better.

[Edited by - crzymdups on 14-07-2006 5:38 PM]

Dolan.

I don't think Taylor was a mistake. He is a very good post up player and can be dominant as a big man on offense. He is very underrated and his playing time was decreased by because he played for two task master coaches in Van Gundy and Brown. In the right situation I think Taylor could be a very valuable player. I am hoping Thomas can help him utilize his talent.

Make them listen to this non-stop together, holding hands, for 2 weeks.

I disagree panos. I believe the offense being implemented enables there to not be a "starter" but a team of contributors.

winning cures all ills, and the only time players became disgruntled last year was when the way they were used seemed out of synch with how they were playing.

but, keep your stance, it balances the board.

It's Isiah's fault that he wasn't able to make the roster balanced. But it isn't all his fault because the majority of the moves he made look good on paper. I think he was very happy with the roster coming into last season and so was everyone else, they just hired the wrong man for the job. Now we're back to that point, except we have the right coach, as well as a little more talent (francis). I really hope the marbury-francis backcourt can work out. Both could very well be all-stars next season.

As much as i think the team should stay pat, i still think the team needs to make one move. How do you find minutes for nate and crawford off the bench the at the guard spots with francis and marbury starting? Both are going to play at least 36 minutes per game. You also have rose at the 3 and trying to find minutes for balkman. I think another defensive minded player still needs to be brought in. I don't want to trade nate or crawford, but there isn't enough room off the bench for both of them.

If Isiah is still looking to trade francis, a realistic target should be for Larry Hughes. Clev has been rumored to want francis and he would give them more of a scoring punch to play alongside Lebron. Hughes would give us a legit shooting guard, who can play uptempo and plays very good defense. He would really balance out our roster. Something along the lines of francis and robinson for hughes, luke jackson, and ira newble could work. jackson would give us a shooter at the SF and newble would either be cut or be a nice defensive minded player to play in certain situations.

Unless a deal like this comes about, i'm happy just keeping francis because i want to see what him and marbury can do together in the backcourt. QRich is the key because as long as he is hitting outside shots, it will make things a lot easier on marbury and francis.

bad comparison

look at the end of Maimi's bench Doleac Shandon Anderson Wright Simien Kapono Barron.

Who can you say you would play over Haslem Shaq Posey Wade Williams Walker Zo Payton?

off top Riley's first 8 were head and shoulders better than his bottom 7 and add to that Miami is on a title chase.

finally what lockerroom regardless of coach or city are going to question Shaq and Wade - 2 legi stars of the game - dominating play?

NY's problem are unique.

after 9 years its obvious Starbury isn't a star but he and the man who brought him here continue to trumpet him as one. funny with a 120 mill payroll, NY has no stars. the last star that was here is collecting 40 mill on a bum knee in retirement.

strong leaders lead & the rest follow... we had no leaders here for the past few seasons... that's a big part of why there was no chmistry imho... doesn't help when you have the head coach & team's "best player" bickering like 2 little schoolgirls.