How long before Isiah realizes that our starting unit doesn't work together? Or does he already realize it, but because of big money contracts, and the mistake of getting way too close to certain players (Marb, Craw), not to mention publicly endoresing these players, he has backed himself into a corner.

I find it hard to believe that a hall of fame PG with two championships on his resume, can't see what most of us seem to see. These odd parts just dont mesh. Too many one-on-one players who need the ball to be affective. We complain about no ball movement, but in all honesty, there is no player movement either.

Marbury: Yes, he scaled his game back some, and took less shots to allow Curry to become the focal point of the offense. But what Marb doesn't understand, is that a good pg not only takes less shots, but they create better shot for teammates. Get the ball to players when they need it, and where they can be most affective. There is no imagination in Marbs game. No improvising. When was the last time Marb penetrated the lane, drew defenders, and dished for an easy dunk or pay up for Curry. With Marb at the point, everyone, for the most part is on their own.

Craw: He is the quentissential combo guard off the bench. He can back up the 1 and the 2. And can play with the 1 and the 2. When he's hot you ride him, when he's not you sit him. It should be that simple. But because Isiah backed Craw earlier in the pre-season when Craw said 'he should be starting'. Isiah said 'he was 99% correct' or something along those lines. Isiah backed himself into a corner with that statement because if he goes back on his word now, he may lose Craw for the season.

Q: Like Craw starting at the 2, Q is too small to be starting at the 3. He gives great effort, thats not enough. SF's shoot right over him. Pierce abused last yr and last week. If his shot aint falling, he doesn't do much else. He'll rebound a little, but someone that strong needs to be doing more dmage around the rim. Q and Craw camp out at the three point line (again no player movement. No cutting to the basket). Craw and Q create no passing lanes for Curry when he's doubled. Personally, Q shold take a seat on the bench besides Craw as the 7th man.

Randolph: Haven't seen enough of him and Curry together, but so far it doesn't seem like its going to work. Zach is too talented to stand around while Curry goes to work in the post. I hope he doesn't turn into Channng Frye in this unimaginitive offense.

Curry: Offensively, he's great in the post. Still needs to recognize the doubles (teammates need to help out by cutting and creating passing lanes), and of course he needs to up the intensity level and awareness on the defensive end.

Isiah: Where is the imagination on offense. I read that Donnie Walsh said that Isiah had a very good offensive imagination. So far, I dont see it. Curry and Zach are athletic enough to catch the ball on the move some. We dont have to always walk up the court and pound it in to Curry or Zach, get out of the way and watch them work. Where are the cross-screens on the post? Where is the high-low action? Where's the Bobby Knight influneced screen and cut? It would also help to have an imaginative Pg to help out.

At some point this season, I hope Isiah bites the bullet and finds a way to incorporate Chandler, Mardy, Balk and Nichols (if he's still here) into the regular rotation.



[Edited by - bigbeast on 21-10-2007 11:48 AM]

[Edited by - bigbeast on 21-10-2007 3:06 PM]

is that for sure our starting 5?

Posted by bigbeast:

How long before Isiah realizes that our starting unit doesn't work together? Or does he already realize it, but because of big money contracts, and the mistake of getting way too close to certain players (Marb, Craw), not to mention publicly endoresing these players, he has backed himself into a corner.

I find it hard to believe that a hall of fame PG with two championships on his resume, can't see what most of us seem to see. Thes odd parts just done mesh. Too many one-on-one players who need the ball to be affective. We complain about no ball movement, but in all honesty, there is no player movement either.

Marbury: Yes, he scaled his game back some, and took less shots to allow Curry to become the focal point of the offense. But what Marb doesn't understand, is that a good pg not only takes less shots, but they create better shot for teammates. Get the ball to players when they need it, and where they can be most affective. There is no imagination in Marbs game. No improvising. When was the last time Marb penetrated the lane, drew defenders, and dished for an easy dunk or pay up for Curry. With Marb at the point, everyone, for the most part is on their own.

Craw: He is the quentissential combo guard off the bench. He can back up the 1 and the 2. And can play with the 1 and the 2. When he's hot you ride him, when he's not you sit him. It should be that simple. But because Isiah backed Craw earlier in the pre-season when Craw said 'he should be starting'. Isiah said he was 99% correct or somehting along those lines. Isiah backed himself into a corner with that statement because if he goes back on his word now, he may lose Craw for the season.

Q: Like Craw starting at the 2, Q is too small to be starting at the 3. He gives great effort, thats not enough. SF's shoot right over him. Pierce abused last yr and last week. If his shot aint falling, he doesn't do much else. He'll rebound a little, but someon that strong needs to be doing more dmage around the rim. Q and Craw camp out at the three point line (again no player movement. No cutting to the basket). Craw and Q create no passing lanes for Curry when he's doubled. Personally, Q shold take a seat on the bench besides Craw as the 7th man.

Randolph: Haven't seen enough of him and Curry together, but so far it doesn't seem like its going to work. Zach is too talented to stand around while Curry goes to work in the post. I hope he doesn't turn into Channng Frye in this unimaginitive offense.

Curry: Offensively, he's great in the post. Still needs to recognize the doubles (teammates need to help out by cutting and creating passing lanes), and of course he needs to up the intensity level and awareness on the defensive end.

Isiah: Where is the imagination on offense. I read that Donnie Walsh said that Isiah had a very good offensive imagination. So far, I dont see it. Curry and Zach are athletic enough to catch the ball on the move some. We dont have to always walk up the court and pound it in to Curry or Zach, get out of the way and watch them work. Where are the cross-screens on the post? Where is the high-low action? Where's the Bobby Knight influneced screen and cut? It would also help to have an imaginative Pg to help out.

At some point this season, I hope Isiah bited the bullet and finds a way to incorporate Chandler, Mardy, Balk and Nichols (if he's still here) into the regular rotation.

"it's so crazy...it just might work..."

[Edited by - djsunyc on 10-21-2007 12:16 PM]

Posted by holfresh:


Our biggest problem is defense and ball movement...we don't have players who instinctively want to pass the ball...Our guards needs to be able to down an open jumper..The first two preseason games Craw pick up where Francis left off..Pounding the ball and going one on one..It's still preseason but we have seen this the last three years now...Something has to change or some people has to be changed....

You make a very good point. Passing is contagious but somebody has to start that philosophy. There are only a few guys on the team who consider passing to another player to be as good a scoring option as shooting it: Collins, Lee, and Balkman.

Since Collins is the only PG in that mix I think it is imperative that Collins get some real minutes at PG. I would much prefer to see him getting more time than Crawford.

If you watched the Knicks game against the Nets, you see the same trouble with Crawford, he has always had: he can't "think" about running an offense consistently. The Knicks fight back to within one at the half but after the half nobody IT played at PG could setup or run an offense.

Collins can run an offense and he damn sure plays D. Collins needs to play.

oohah

Posted by bigbeast:

How long before Isiah realizes that our starting unit doesn't work together? Or does he already realize it, but because of big money contracts, and the mistake of getting way too close to certain players (Marb, Craw), not to mention publicly endoresing these players, he has backed himself into a corner.

I find it hard to believe that a hall of fame PG with two championships on his resume, can't see what most of us seem to see. These odd parts just dont mesh. Too many one-on-one players who need the ball to be affective. We complain about no ball movement, but in all honesty, there is no player movement either.

Marbury: Yes, he scaled his game back some, and took less shots to allow Curry to become the focal point of the offense. But what Marb doesn't understand, is that a good pg not only takes less shots, but they create better shot for teammates. Get the ball to players when they need it, and where they can be most affective. There is no imagination in Marbs game. No improvising. When was the last time Marb penetrated the lane, drew defenders, and dished for an easy dunk or pay up for Curry. With Marb at the point, everyone, for the most part is on their own.

Craw: He is the quentissential combo guard off the bench. He can back up the 1 and the 2. And can play with the 1 and the 2. When he's hot you ride him, when he's not you sit him. It should be that simple. But because Isiah backed Craw earlier in the pre-season when Craw said 'he should be starting'. Isiah said 'he was 99% correct' or something along those lines. Isiah backed himself into a corner with that statement because if he goes back on his word now, he may lose Craw for the season.

Q: Like Craw starting at the 2, Q is too small to be starting at the 3. He gives great effort, thats not enough. SF's shoot right over him. Pierce abused last yr and last week. If his shot aint falling, he doesn't do much else. He'll rebound a little, but someone that strong needs to be doing more dmage around the rim. Q and Craw camp out at the three point line (again no player movement. No cutting to the basket). Craw and Q create no passing lanes for Curry when he's doubled. Personally, Q shold take a seat on the bench besides Craw as the 7th man.

Randolph: Haven't seen enough of him and Curry together, but so far it doesn't seem like its going to work. Zach is too talented to stand around while Curry goes to work in the post. I hope he doesn't turn into Channng Frye in this unimaginitive offense.

Curry: Offensively, he's great in the post. Still needs to recognize the doubles (teammates need to help out by cutting and creating passing lanes), and of course he needs to up the intensity level and awareness on the defensive end.

Isiah: Where is the imagination on offense. I read that Donnie Walsh said that Isiah had a very good offensive imagination. So far, I dont see it. Curry and Zach are athletic enough to catch the ball on the move some. We dont have to always walk up the court and pound it in to Curry or Zach, get out of the way and watch them work. Where are the cross-screens on the post? Where is the high-low action? Where's the Bobby Knight influneced screen and cut? It would also help to have an imaginative Pg to help out.

At some point this season, I hope Isiah bites the bullet and finds a way to incorporate Chandler, Mardy, Balk and Nichols (if he's still here) into the regular rotation.



[Edited by - bigbeast on 21-10-2007 11:48 AM]

[Edited by - bigbeast on 21-10-2007 3:06 PM]

I couldn't disagree any more. Steph had quite possibly his best season of his career last yr defensively and taking the back seat to the emerging Curry. Have people forgotten this already? Sure he is a nutcase but that has nothing to do with what he does on the hardwood. With Jamal on the court you have a second point guard on the court. There is NO ONE on the Knicks that can throw the ball inside better than Crawford (even though Mardy was doing a great job last yr). Being that our offense is based on inside scoring would it not be wise to have a player of such skills in the game? Q rich is too short? He is one of our best players defensively. I watched him drive McGrady crazy with his defense. If you can play and make an effect on the court then why not play? Only knock I have on Q Rich is his shot selection and his back, other than that he is good. Zach Randolph is the most versatile player on our team offensively. You need players like him on your starting line-up. Him playing defense would be great but I think we can still win with him not being DPOY. Eddy Curry is the only player I might agree with you on. He does only one thing and that is score on the low post. I think we go as far as he takes us. If he can develop some defensive skills (Please God) we would be up there with the BIG 16.

The starting 5 MUST play great next 3 games to make people buy the tickets.
Then they can do whatever they want... These 3 games may be the most important games for them and IT from all season. Hopefully this games are irrelevant for the opponents. But who knows - they all hate Knicks so much...


[Edited by - arkrud on 10-21-2007 5:33 PM]

Posted by nixluva:

Now since we've had 2 bad games they want to make these games a defacto statement on the teams prospects for the year.

Yeah, that and the last four years all combind. Where you been all this time?

q and craw both cannot start. it would be very stupid of isiah to even attempt that experiment for 5 games. if it means some players are unhappy, so be it.....balky or chandler have to start at SF.

I was trying to skim a little off.

We had 6 losing seasons in a row, and before that was the year we got knocked out in the first round.

Posted by djsunyc:

i don't think it's that simple. i think what you are seeing is this team clearly struggling to play together on both ends of the court. there's ALOT of time to get it right but only 3 preseason games before the w/l start to count. so either they "get it" quick before the outcomes become official or we will have to withstand another "gelling" period that at this point in time, doesn't look like it might happen.

the concerns about this team are legitimate after 2 preseason games vs. 2 division teams - and the legitimacy in the court of public opinion is coming from all the guys that usually "hate" the "haters."

the celtics are trying to incorporate 3 players that usually are the "man" on their teams...yet they are clicking right away.
the nets played without jkidd - the guy that makes that team go - yet they whooped us up also.
but for us - it doesn't matter about preseason and we're always trying to work out the "kinks."

that's ok - but after 2 games together, zach is becoming snickerdoodled. we still have no head out there. our SF spot may be the worst in the east. and our defense is right back to where it was 2 years ago. it's 2 games, but the team ain't helping their fanbase stay optimistic...

And we still haven't had a legitimate homegame yet. We know how delicate they are, how they gonna handle the "Fire Isiah" that can't be far off.

This is gonna be another weird year, the crowd will vacillate between boos and the wave, and the team will play hot and cold, and somehow we'll end up going through another season that raises more questions than answers.



[Edited by - blueseats on 10-21-2007 8:10 PM]