CURRY-UP OFFENSE
By MARC BERMAN

April 6, 2007 -- Isiah Thomas promised yesterday Knicks center Eddy Curry will return next season with a 15-foot jumper that will make him more dangerous.


AIMING HIGH:With the Knicks long shots
to make the playoffs, coach/president
Isiah Thomas promises Eddy Curry will
have a solid 15-foot jumper next season.

That Thomas delved deeply into Curry's summer preparation was an indication the Knicks coach/president has given up hope on making the playoffs because of his club's depleted state. The Knicks, who host Kevin Garnett and the Timberwolves tonight, trail eighth place in the Eastern Conference by 21/2 games, needing to win six of their last eight to have a chance.

Thomas also boasted yesterday his Knicks would have won all the close games they now lose if they had been at full strength. The Knicks (31-43), who have lost nine of 11, have been without three of their top five scorers (Jamal Crawford, Quentin Richardson and David Lee) and have three straight last-second defeats since Steve Francis also went out.

"We'd have 102 [points] every night," Thomas said. "A lot of the games wouldn't be close. We wouldn't even get there [close at the wire]. Our defense has really kicked in but on the opposite side of the ball, we're pretty challenged."

Thomas had his epiphany about Curry while driving home following the heartbreaking 92-90 loss to the Sixers late Wednesday night; he watched film before falling asleep at 4:30 a.m.

With Crawford and Richardson out, teams have stifled the Knicks' offense by collapsing more resolutely with double- and triple-teams on Curry, leaving non-shooters such as Jared Jeffries open at the perimeter.

"Now with Eddy, he's double-teamed, triple-teamed, the next development in his game will have to be the 15-foot jump shot," Thomas said, "where you can move him up to the elbow and make a shot, or take the ball and drive it. You can really move him around. Now we can only move him box to box. He's either going to be triple-teamed in that box or triple-teamed at that box."

Battered Stephon Marbury, now playing with a sore back, has been the Knicks' lone perimeter threat and can't do it all on his own. Curry has been erratic and turnover-prone, not getting the easy buckets from Crawford's lobs. Curry's shooting percentage has gone from 59.3 percent with Crawford to 50 percent in the games without.

Next season, Thomas envisions calling more pick-and-pops for Curry if he develops a mid-range jumper.

"Being able to play 15 feet from the basket and not being so stationary, it's our job to do that and we'll do that," Thomas said.

"We'd have 102 [points] every night," Thomas said. "A lot of the games wouldn't be close. We wouldn't even get there [close at the wire]. Our defense has really kicked in but on the opposite side of the ball, we're pretty challenged."

the defense "kicked in" b/c you're playing more defensive players. but in turn, those defensive players aren't scorers like the guys they're playing for. problem is that you're not going to get the defense AND the scoring. that's why you're challenged. but it seems, at least, like the scoring will get you to .500 next season.

Posted by TheGame:

IT must be reading my mind because I said the same thing a few weeks ago. Curry needs to develop a jumper if he is going to be a consistent 20+ scorer. The only superstar bigman that cannot hit a jumper is O'Neal and he is one of a kind. If Curry is going to be our offensive focal point, he needs to be able to play at multiple places. He also, as many of us have stated, needs to learn to pass out of a doubleteam better.

I am really starting to get excited about the team. I know many people point to the team's weaknesses, but if IT can get Curry to make another leap like the one he did last summer and also get Balkman and Collins to develop jumpshots, this team is going to be deep and tough to be beat next year.

just once, i'd like to hear isiah talk about eddy and defense. nothing major, just a personal wish but i know he doesn't want to break the kid's spirit.

what a stroke of insight isiah had. and it only took him till like yesterday tom have it. i can just imagine him waking up so excited to tell aguirre the news.

isiah: "mark, listen to this idea, you're not gonna believe it. imagine if eddy had a 15' jumpshot!"

marK: "wow, i never even thought about that... you know, this gives me an idea... what if we gave one to mardy, lee, jj and balkman?"

isiah: "oh my god, you're a genius. well be champs. i can't wait to tell dolan, he's gonna piss his pants."

Posted by nixluva:

Posted by BlueSeats:

what a stroke of insight isiah had. and it only took him till like yesterday tom have it. i can just imagine him waking up so excited to tell aguirre the news.

isiah: "mark, listen to this idea, you're not gonna believe it. imagine if eddy had a 15' jumpshot!"

marK: "wow, i never even thought about that... you know, this gives me an idea... what if we gave one to mardy, lee, jj and balkman?"

isiah: "oh my god, you're a genius. well be champs. i can't wait to tell dolan, he's gonna piss his pants."

I think that the way the article is written gives the impression that this is the 1st time he's thought about it, but I don't believe that for a second. I think this isn't even the 1st time i've heard that he's said that. It's just that for the 1st time in a while he allowed himself to see the positives of the future for these guys. Curry still has things that he can improve on and he allowed himself to go there, which he wasn't doing, while the team has been fighting for a playoff spot. Don't take this stuff so literally.

As for what you said DJ, I think that we will see a bit more confidence on the offensive end by Balkman and Collins, so that there is less of a trade off of O for D when they play. The key for this team is to find more balance throughout the game. Hopefully we can add a couple of players who can give us a bit of both as well. Somehow we've got to get a SF and maybe a shotblocker who can fill in those needs. This may require a trade of Frye and Nate. Also get rid of Francis and I believe we can see some improvement in how this team plays next year.

If there's an excuse you'll use it, if there isn't one you'll make one up. Do you have the team's record since Francis has been out recent injury and over the duration of the season?


You always talk about how Balk, Lee, Mardy play enough D to off-set the other key players defensive defeciencies and that all they need to do is develop an improvement in their offensive games in detail.


How come you don't ever talk about Curry, Jamal, Frye, and Nate improving their defensive games. It's either trade such players or condone the things they are terrible at.


Some of us have figured out you are very close to someone in the orgnaization, which inidividual I'm not quite sure, but if I had to take a guess you're a relative of ISAYUGH because everything you post on is set up to support what he's doing.


Alright you're on the clock make an excuse as to why you post in the manner that you do!

[Edited by - TrueBlue on 04-06-2007 10:05 AM]

Weather Curry can make the fifteen footer with consistansy is irrelevant right now, but the idea that they will have him face the basket more is a positive because it'll help him see the double-triple team comming. Right now Curry plays with his back to the basket. When he gets doubled, he never turns and faces-up to the double team which will allow him to see the weak side of the court. Also, I hope IT will instrcut these guys to cut to the basket when Curry is doubled as opposed to standing on the perimeter waving their hands. Balk and Lee are the only ones who cut.

Posted by nixluva:

Posted by TrueBlue:

Posted by nixluva:

Posted by BlueSeats:

what a stroke of insight isiah had. and it only took him till like yesterday tom have it. i can just imagine him waking up so excited to tell aguirre the news.

isiah: "mark, listen to this idea, you're not gonna believe it. imagine if eddy had a 15' jumpshot!"

marK: "wow, i never even thought about that... you know, this gives me an idea... what if we gave one to mardy, lee, jj and balkman?"

isiah: "oh my god, you're a genius. well be champs. i can't wait to tell dolan, he's gonna piss his pants."

I think that the way the article is written gives the impression that this is the 1st time he's thought about it, but I don't believe that for a second. I think this isn't even the 1st time i've heard that he's said that. It's just that for the 1st time in a while he allowed himself to see the positives of the future for these guys. Curry still has things that he can improve on and he allowed himself to go there, which he wasn't doing, while the team has been fighting for a playoff spot. Don't take this stuff so literally.

As for what you said DJ, I think that we will see a bit more confidence on the offensive end by Balkman and Collins, so that there is less of a trade off of O for D when they play. The key for this team is to find more balance throughout the game. Hopefully we can add a couple of players who can give us a bit of both as well. Somehow we've got to get a SF and maybe a shotblocker who can fill in those needs. This may require a trade of Frye and Nate. Also get rid of Francis and I believe we can see some improvement in how this team plays next year.

If there's an excuse you'll use it, if there isn't one you'll make one up. Do you have the team's record since Francis has been out recent injury and over the duration of the season?


You always talk about how Balk, Lee, Mardy play enough D to off-set the other key players defensive defeciencies and that all they need to do is develop an improvement in their offensive games in detail.


How come you don't ever talk about Curry, Jamal, Frye, and Nate improving their defensive games. It's either trade such players or condone the things they are terrible at.


Some of us have figured out you are very close to someone in the orgnaization, which inidividual I'm not quite sure, but if I had to take a guess you're a relative of ISAYUGH because everything you post on is set up to support what he's doing.


Alright you're on the clock make an excuse as to why you post in the manner that you do!

[Edited by - TrueBlue on 04-06-2007 10:05 AM]

I have no idea what you're talking about. For one thing I may not say everything that's on my mind in my posts here, but I can tell you that i'm not happy with the lack of Defense from many of the players on this team. I just haven't expressed ALL of my thoughts in every post that I make here. Perhaps because I spend so much time refuting the many overstated or baseless posts that pop up around here.

I do believe that Curry has to improve his defense and i've said so. I feel the same way about Nate and have said so. You just tend to ignore when I make those comments. I've not agreed with everything that Isiah has done and again I doubt that you even noticed that, cuz you're so convinced that i'm biased towards him and the players on this team.

The thing is that despite the failings of this team and the need for even more player development, there have been many positive things that came out of this season. So you tell US when YOU are going to acknowledge those things? I can't say that you ever really give a lot of recognition to those facts. One might think that you are a fan of some other team trolling here just to take a dig at this team whenever possible. See you're not the only one who can hurl accusations.

It's real simple Luva if injuries were the killer this season and last yr was abberation then why not bring every player back next yr and see what happens. Here's what you have said this season thus far


"We have a very deep Team"(Injuries crippled the team, can't beat sub .500 teams not at full strength , Steve needs to be traded)

"If everything goes just right this team will win 45, 46gms"(The team was on pace to win 38 when everyone was healthy)

"Marbury is one of the better point gaurds in this league"(You are currently saying he can't shoulder the burden and isn't capable of making Balkman and Jeffries better he needs stars around him)

"I like how our young talent is developing"(Curry needs a lot of improvement and you want Nate, Frye, and possibly Jeffries traded)


You don't make any sense

NIX...listen bro...Curry will be here, Jamal will be here, Lee will be here and your man-crush Marbury will be here (FOR TWO YEARS...cue "dance of joy" Balki-style...throwback to "Perfect Strangers"). BTW., Balki is DJ's cousin.

Forget about Mardy (he isn not gonna see too much time when the starters are healthy, Nate and Frye are likely goners. For whom I do not know. Balkman will see burn as an energy guy off the bench and Jeffries, well, he's just Jeffries.

The DJ once asked me how I can't like Isiah but like some of his acquisitions/draft picks...look I like some of the guys, but all of his guys, not really. So every player that has become a Knick under the Isiah-era does not mean you have to like them and consider tham part of the future just because Isiah got them.

Things must change next year. I believe the personnel that will be around is Eddy, Jamal, Lee and Steph and Balkman.

Forget about Curry's jumper...let's figure out a way to get a defensive PF to cover for Eddy's deficiencies that has a 15 ft jumper...KG, sure. We aint go no pieces for KG.

Jermaine O'Neal is more realistic, esp with his relationship with Zeke, which fits right in with Steph, JC and Eddy's relationship with Zeke. Honestly, Eddy needs to work on D and not a 15ft jumper and Mardy Collins getting a 15 ft jumper has ZERO to do with this (he is borderline NBDL).

However, to get JO...Lee, Frye, Malik and Francis could be traded to acquire JO and Tinsley (I would make them give us Shawne Williams too). TRADE CHECK it...it works. We get a back up PG in Tinsley, 15ft shot and D/shotblocking in JO and a skilled three in Williams.

DISCLAIMER: King1...NO I DO NOT WANT TO TRADE LEE...but unfortunately, if we were to acquire a JO-type, Lee would have to be included. I am going back to the kitchen to bake some toll house cookies from scratch now...lotsa house work to do after :)

Me-likey...

Marbs
JC
Q
JO
Curry

Bench: Tinsley, Balkman, Shawne Williams, MAR-DBL, Randy Morris, draft pick

Posted by Queeniepop:

NIX...listen bro...Curry will be here, Jamal will be here, Lee will be here and your man-crush Marbury will be here (FOR TWO YEARS...cue "dance of joy" Balki-style...throwback to "Perfect Strangers"). BTW., Balki is DJ's cousin.

don't bring up that douchebag's name...he still owes me money from high school.

Isiah, please, oh please please please just shut up and ride this out. Just please, my expectations are lowered enough where all I want is for you not to make this team look foolish by talking.

We would have won if we had all our players?!? I'd settle for being competitive. PLease, what do you need to hear to stop the dck measuring? What? You can piss further than I can. Your dad can beat up my dad. You can kick my dog(the big one with big teeth) if you want! Chicago is hell! We will never know how you made it out alive. You are the hardest M-Fer on the planet. OK? No more stomping? No more quotes! Please! Please? Pretty please?!?!