SPIKE'S FORECAST: MO' BETTER
By MARC BERMAN

October 3, 2006 -- KNICK NOTES
Knick superfan Spike Lee sounds as delighted as the players that Larry Brown is gone.

Lee, who dropped by Knicks' media day at the club's practice facility, told The Post, "I was like the rest of the world - it would work out and Larry was going to lead us to the promised land. ... It didn't work out. Got to move forward. I'm not going to dog him, but you can't have a coach calling the play every single time down. You have to let guys create in the framework."

Lee won't miss as many games as last season.

"I know [coach] Isiah [Thomas] has doubters, but I'm a believer it's going to be a different season at the Garden. I think there's a nucleus to build on. ... People are going to hold on to their tickets now."

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Asked how much he weighs, Eddy Curry said, "I'm like a woman, I don't talk about my weight." ... Stephon Marbury contends he will play the whole season in his $15 Starbury Ones. "It's the same [quality] shoe," said Marbury, referring to $150 Nikes.

Center Jerome James said he's much fitter for camp because he began training in June, as opposed to August last year. Responding to Mo Taylor's assertion the Knicks have "a bad team," James said, "Mo Taylor is entitled to his opinion. My experience is we didn't get a chance to jell as a unit. Look at the individuals - we have at least five, six All-Stars."

Quentin Richardson, who looks like odd man out, says he won't seek a Taylor-like buyout. "If we're going to be competing for job, I'm confident I can win."

Steve Francis amended his demand from last season about "starting or departing" this year. "I'm looking forward to being a leader on this team," he said. "I'll be a team player if I start or not."

[Edited by - nyknicksfan87 on 03-10-2006 09:35 AM]

Quentin Richardson, who looks like odd man out, says he won't seek a Taylor-like buyout. "If we're going to be competing for job, I'm confident I can win."

Leadership

Steve Francis amended his demand from last season about "starting or departing" this year. "I'm looking forward to being a leader on this team," he said. "I'll be a team player if I start or not."

So why did he make the "starting or departing" comment last year. Accident? Freudian Slip? If this guy is riding the pine there is no way he is keeping his mouth shut. We just have to hope he wins the job so the problem doesn't exist.

Same quality as Nikes, best pg in the NBA, I have to believe anything that comes out of Stephs mouth.

If anyone comes in out of shape to training camp and isn't in shape by the regular season, they should get a $20,000 fine for every game they hurt the organization.....

And as for Francis, how many Knicks have said the right things in the past few years......

I give Isiah no credit for a 12 game improvement, this team is much better than they showed last year and wins six extra with our centers being in shape, they commit terrible fouls because they can't move laterally and we become weak inside......

And as terrible a combination as Steph and Steve are they should be much improved with a little time in training camp thats good for at least 3-5 more games

With a maturing second year unit of lee and frye (heathly the whole year) you can add two games there....

And Q has to win us at least 1-2 more if doesn't have a career worst year....and i give us two more games for a set rotation

So thats at the very least 13-15 game improvement just by coaching the way your supposed to and having our players in shape.......

With players in shape the addition of Jefferies/Balkman that should be good for 1-2 more wins......

This team doesn't win 40 Isiah should be fired, last years team should have won at least 32 games