"D’Antoni Still Smiling as the Losses Add Up"

Some people see the glass as half empty, others see it as half full. But there is following thought. If the glass is half full, are you drinking from it or putting something back in?

I refuse to get caught up in the negative, "woe is us again" slope shouldered posture of defeatism. "Knicks fall to Jazz singing same old song in Utah". This franchise is on the right path. The players have their individual moments of failure but they, for the most part, gave an honest effort, despite two major changes to the roster. The floor leader, Chris Duhon logged more consecutive minutes in the first half of the season than his entire career combined - and adjusted to the new faces the beast he knew how. The experience will make him a better (and better conditioned) player next season.

“It’s not easy,” D’Antoni said Monday morning. “It’s hard on everybody. If you’re a Knick fan, you hate it. You want to get it over as quick as you can and get better.”

(There are at least a half-dozen games the Knicks gave away, which could be the difference between making the playoffs or going to the draft lottery. The Knicks have lost 15 games by 5 points or fewer. The Knicks added another heartbreaker Monday. After fighting from 24 points down, they took their first and only lead of the second half, 93-92, with 7 minutes 5 seconds left. But the Jazz immediately retook the lead and the Knicks fell apart.

Still team officials are pleased with the development of David Lee, Nate Robinson and Wilson Chandler and — though his season was cut short — by the promise of Danilo Gallinari. And there is that cap space in 2010, and the dream of luring a superstar, to keep them warm at night. - Howard Beck NYT)

David Lee can stay. Wilson Chander has shown consistency, variety and that he will dunk an anyone. He stays. Nate is Nate and that isn't always a bad thing. An enforcer like DeJuan Blair might be fun to take the weight off his 5-7 shoulders.

“I have no regrets about what we did,” D’Antoni said. “I think we’re moving in the right direction. The only regret I have, we haven’t made the playoffs yet. And that’s something that we’ve got to rectify real quick.”

The Knicks are just one 6'11 frontcourt man, and one successful back surgery, away from making us proud again. Gallo will return and hopefully fulfill the need for a long range bomber in the mold of Jerry Lucas by 2010.

By that time, the playoff tickets will be in high demand.

There was nothing to be expected of this season and little to be expected of next season.

It really seems as if too many people fail to understand that the Knicks are in a continuing process of tearing down the roster Isiah left us and that it will continue to take time. This could be completed by the end of the 2009-2010 season. That would mean the first season you should have any expectations of success for the Knicks is the 2010-2011 season.

All this talk about how bad they are and that something must be done is absurd because it shows that those saying these things know nothing of Walsh's plan and cannot see a foot in front of their face. They talk as if this team was expected to go deep into the playoffs. They talk as if Walsh's recent trades were done with intent to propel us deep into the playoffs. That is all far from the truth and reality of the situation.

How can this many people be so blind to what is going on here?

nixluva - certainly fans and the Dolan's would have enjoyed a playoff cameo but if 2010 is the target year, we have another year of patience ahed.

In addition, let's not overlook the unfortunate health issues that surrounded Cuttino Mobley Once the two guard was left virtually unmanned, the offense struggled to find a rhythm. Larry Hughes was a cute move, but too late.

No doubt, all teams have injury issues, but the Knicks faced injury issues while in transition. It was interesting to note Duhon's comments regarding consistency. If he feels the roster is close to becomiing consistent - who am I to argue with him?

Nw, go get me a 6'11 rebounder/ shot changer with one dependable offensive move.

Posted by Bippity10:

Earl: I have no problem with what went down this year. D'Antoni and Walsh made mistakes, but every GM/Coach would have done the same. But they did do a couple thinks I was hoping for. They gave us cap flexibility. They got rid of most of the malcontents and unmotivated. They are beginning to change the culture by getting the team to compete despite the fact that half the roster knows they aren't going to be here long(In most places that would be a recipe for disaster 2 months ago).

I really think that a portion of the fans did not, and still do not beleive how low we were as an organization. The roster was a disaster. The organization was a disaster. We were an embarrassment. It takes a long time to change what we had become. Walsh and D'Antoni may still fail in the long-term goal of winning a title. But by getting us out of the doldrums we are now back in the game and have a shot. And the next GM/Coach will not have to rebuild a shattered and embarrassed franchise.

Yup, I agree. Even this year, the roster itself is embarrassing, but have shown slight signs. They've had bad stretches, but at least it wasn't quitting. Last year and the years since LB, it's been nothing but quitting.

There really wasn't much to be expected of this roster though. When you have a center so dysfunctional, like Curry, who is supposed to be your best player, and David Lee, who really is your best player and the leader of your frontcourt, you are going to have major problems. When you're relying on Nate Robinson and Al Harrington to be your go to scorers and even your leaders, you're going to have problems. When you feel Chris Duhon was your MVP of the entire first half of the season, you're going to have problems.

the point is is that we need to start looking ahead to the Summer now. This team never was going to compete in the playoffs so just forget about it.
The roster still needs to be gutted and it looks like Djsunyc was correct about one thing, and so was LeBron James. If you want to fall asleep until the Summer of 2010, then feel free, because that's when it really starts b/c this season and next season hardly matter at all.

Oh by the way, chew on this. We may have a completely different team next season, yet again, based on the decisions we have to make. Lets pray that for the first time in forever, we can get lucky with those ping pong balls. Keep dreaming.

Posted by misterearl:

You Heard It Here First

G a better conditioned and more prepared for the grind Chris Duhon with a free agent to be named later at the lead

G the settled in Larry Hughes backed by Summer League standout Joe Crawford

F a more confident Wilson Chandler holding it down as The Mayor with a bouncy Danilo Gallinari

F a resigned and relaxed David Lee backed by Chris Wilcox and a free agent banger

C a yoot in the middle with some offensive chops named Cole Aldrich with a surprise DW 6'11 acquisition

What? No Curry?