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bobs3304
Posts: 24827 Alba Posts: 3 Joined: 7/5/2005 Member: #948 |
http://www.fannation.com/blogs/post/74835
*tear* I couldn't have said it any better myself... KNICKS' OPTIMISM IS MISGUIDED The front page of the Knicks' Web site said it all: "Jamal Crawford and Stephon Marbury were two of six Knicks to score in double figures as New York edged feisty Minnesota 97-93 in their home opener at Madison Square Garden." I almost laughed out loud when I read that. Setting aside Marbury (for the moment), praising Crawford for Sunday night's performance is comical. Yes, Crawford is a terrific offensive player (he scored 24 points against the Timberwolves, including 10 in the fourth quarter), but defensively he is a human turnstile. Rashad McCants and the offensively challenged Greg Buckner each took turns abusing Crawford in scoring 13 points apiece. And the "feisty" Timberwolves? One league executive actually used Minnesota as a verb recently when he said more and more teams were going to "Minnesota" themselves, which I took to mean as rebooting the entire thing by throwing a bunch of young kids on the floor and seeing what happens. Translation: We're not expecting too many wins this season. But the Knicks, at least internally, are expecting a lot, and I just don't see how that's going to happen. Here are three things that should happen to the Knicks before Christmas. Fire Isiah Thomas It's over. Done. Finished. Thomas is not the coach for this team. Nor is he the president. Thomas would be a great fit as the Knicks' director of college scouting, but I don't think he would agree to that type of demotion. I know Knicks owner James Dolan has developed a bit of a man-crush on Thomas and the Knicks did reward Isiah with an extension last March, but it's time to cut the cord. Bring in former Knick Kiki Vandeweghe -- sources say the ex-Nuggets GM would want the job -- to run the team and let him hire an experienced coach (Paul Silas comes to mind). Buy out Marbury and Jerome James Watching the Knicks play last season, I couldn't help but think that they would be better off letting Mardy Collins run the offense instead of Marbury. Collins is neither a pure point guard nor much of a scorer, but he is a heady player who won't turn the ball over and is capable of maintaining control of the offense. And the Knicks certainly don't need another scorer. Marbury is owed the balance of his $19 million this season and another $20.8 million next season, but it's time to go. Point guards are supposed to be leaders and it is clear that in the Knicks' locker room, Marbury's allies are few and far between. Cut him loose. As for James, well, it's time the Knicks stop sponsoring his vacation. A salary of $5.8 million this season? Even if James won't take a buyout, waive him, eat his salary and move on. Commit to Eddy Curry, Zach Randolph, David Lee, Nate Robinson, Renaldo Balkman, Collins and Wilson Chandler In some ways, the Knicks already have. Curry is the cornerstone of the franchise, and Thomas has refused to include Lee in any trade discussions. But until the Knicks' rotation stops including Jared Jeffries, Crawford, Quentin Richardson and Marbury, the development of the rest of the roster will be stunted. [Edited by - bobs3304 on 05-11-2007 9:59 PM] DLee is the best thing to happen to NY in Isiah's 4 year tenure.
And that alone, though a positive on the radar, is sad as hell.
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4949
Posts: 29378 Alba Posts: 0 Joined: 4/25/2006 Member: #1126 USA |
Posted by bobs3304: How could a baston fan say so many great things in this thread? Just awsome. I just wished you weren't so damn green. I'll never trust this' team again.
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Papabear
Posts: 24389 Alba Posts: 2 Joined: 3/31/2007 Member: #1414 |
Posted by bobs3304: Papabear Says Wasn't this the same guy who had the Knicks finishing 6th in the east??? Maybe someone got to him. Papabear Papabear
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4949
Posts: 29378 Alba Posts: 0 Joined: 4/25/2006 Member: #1126 USA |
papa's keeping score.
I'll never trust this' team again.
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Papabear
Posts: 24389 Alba Posts: 2 Joined: 3/31/2007 Member: #1414 |
Posted by bobs3304: Papabear Says This was on SI and Papabear Loves it! Mr. Black says: Wow Chris, I think you need a hug. You say Isiah should be fired but you havent even given him a chance with this team. He hasnt even been the head coach for two full seasons. Any ofther coach that managed a 10 win improvement in his first year would not be attacked this way. We have every reason to think that the team will continue to improve. He took the same squad and basically squeezed ten more wins out of them. There is a good chance he would have done more if he had a healty squad. At the very least you should look at a sample of ten games this season before you cast judgmenet on this team. Say what you will about Minnesota but they have been in games, which is much more than i can say for the Bulls, Heat, and Wizards. Those three playoff teams from last year combined dont have as many wins as the Knicks. I think you just want Thomas gone by Christmas so he doesnt give the chance to prove you wrong. BTW Marbury has a 6/1 ast/to ratio. Tops in the NBA. Jumping on the "Fire Thomas" bandwagon is easy. It is always easy to kick a person while he is down. I dont think you could come up with anything original or interesting to write about so you dust of an old favorite. I'm suprised because I expect more from a writer of your ability. It is not just that I disagree with you, it is that you offer little support for your claims. I think calling for Thomas to be fired this early is not the responsible thing to do. Papabear Loves this. Now this is for real Papabear
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Panos
Posts: 30714 Alba Posts: 3 Joined: 1/6/2004 Member: #520 |
Question: could we not A-Rod Marbury?
I.e., can we not trade Marbury to another team and agree to pay half his salary? |
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Bippity10
Posts: 13999 Alba Posts: 0 Joined: 1/26/2004 Member: #574 |
This was a horrible article. I hope he isn't getting paid for this.
I just hope that people will like me
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subzero0
Posts: 21245 Alba Posts: 0 Joined: 5/24/2003 Member: #410 |
Chris Mannix? The same guy who said the TWolves were going to win the playoffs:
With the defection of Shaquille O'Neal to the Eastern Conference, many prognosticators (myself included) tabbed the Timberwolves win the NBA finals.(source: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/writers/chris_mannix/02/16/daily.blog/) Many more thought the would fizzle that year... go figure. Chris Mannix? The guy who didn't know the letter "o" is not in the word keeping (look at the web page heading)? Chris Mannix: Skills, not money keepiong Sprewell off court(source: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/writers/chris_mannix/11/18/sprewell/) Somebody get that man a Webster's Dictionary. Your a writer!!! Wow. Chris Mannix? The same guy who said the Bucks were "good" and had one of the most fearsome front courts in modern day basketball?? Then general manager Larry Harris gave former Clipper Bobby Simmons $47 million to move to the Midwest. Forty-seven million dollars? For a Clipper? Despite a solid '04-05 that resulted in Simmons being named the NBA's Most Improved Player, he had never played more than 56 games in a season and had never started more than eight.(source: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/writers/chris_mannix/11/03/bucks/) Yeah Bobby Simmons, Larry Harris eh? Wow, this Mannix guy likes to predict the course of the season after two games. Why even play the rest of the games. Going by this guys logic we should just hand San Antonio the rings now. Fearsome frontcourt for the Bucks, well Chris... nah too easy. Now Chris Mannix is saying we should break down and retool after 2 games!!!!! He also says Isiah has done a horrible job and oh by the way keep Eddy Curry, Zach Randolph, David Lee, Nate Robinson, Renaldo Balkman, Collins and Wilson Chandler, because he likes their development. Oh yea they are all the players Isiah Thomas brought in and helped develop. Chris Mannix seems to make a living on making horrible predictions and stupid choices. I could go on but apparently it is too easy to find this guys mistakes. Also, this should be just about enough for any smart person to stop reading Chris Mannix or anything else posted on the SI.com site. Ofcourse, Im making assumptions. |
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subzero0
Posts: 21245 Alba Posts: 0 Joined: 5/24/2003 Member: #410 |
Posted by Papabear:Posted by bobs3304: |