OK, pick your poison. You have Nate or Sessions, and I have a feeling we will end up with Lee for either the QO or whatever contract he signs.

My take. For this season, and this coming season only, I am a little optimistic. Why?

1) Harrington and Hughes: I think people are tending to overlook this. Harrington, really bad, apparently wants to stay in NY. That's what people say. He played very hard last season, no matter what the conditions were, and I liked what he showed, so I have no reason to believe he wont double the intensity on both ends. Heck, he may even put up all star like numbers. I don't think people should be overlooking that.

As for Hughes. He's obviously not THAT good, but he's still going to be playing for a contract so he's going to come into the season ready to play. And he knows he's not a given to be a starter, so I see no reason why he already can't be a good soldier no matter what his role is. I have no doubt he'll be trying to showcase what he can be, which hopefully helps us out for this season.

2) Gallinari: I am impressed with what I saw from the guy in the few moments he was on the court. CLEARLY he has talent and he clearly has a good attitude. The only issue, to me, is his back. If he can stay healthy, and I know it may be blind faith, then I feel he can be a major contributer. I guess we'll have to see.

3) Our defense: It's still going to stink. However, with the combination of those 2 expirings, and Wilson and Gallinari (Whom I think may be a good defender) and a really really motivated Curry, I think we can improve our defense a little bit. Obviously we still need pieces and it's nowhere near a complete product, but this is an area we're going to have to improve from within'.

4) David Lee: If he takes the QO and doesn't improve even more, I'd be shocked. His defense HAS to improve. No ifs and/or buts.

5) Duhon, Sessions, Nate: I think the Knicks must have been having nightmares with Nate in ways we couldn't see if he's not signed and their not willing to top the 10 million from Greece. He kept us in many games and is even pretty efficient, despite what people on here say. His talent and athleticism is off the charts, so if they are scared away from Nate, I think it says how uncoachable and ect... he may be.

As for Duhon, the team played great when he was playing great at the beginning of last season. If he can stay healthy, then I see no reason that he can't help us out a lot.

And if Nate goes, Sessions is obviously ideal. If we lose Nate and don't get Sessions, we're relying on a 29th pick which may spell disaster. Not to mention it's not particularly fair to Tony Douglas either. We'd probably be relying on him more than Jordan Hill! Not good.

Overall, I can see us improving a little bit and becoming a 38 to 42 win team, just sneaking in the playoffs, putting in a tough fight but losing in the first round to either the Magic, Celtics or Cavs.

Posted by crzymdups:

i think assuming we have sessions or nate is pretty dicey at this point.

I'm not assuming. More like hoping. I personally would rather have Nate but like I said, he must be really bad for team chemistry and a real coach killer if they haven't locked a talent like him up, yet.

Any improvement will come from Gallo, Chandler and/or Curry. Chandler needs to start nailing his shot. Gallo was playing hurt when he played. If he can come back close to 100%, I think we have a player. Curry still has a long way to go to get into basketball shape, but at least he's working at it. If he can get back to the way he was in his second year here, he will contribute.

As far as other players are concerned, I'm not expecting I don't see either of the rookies doing a whole lot. Douglas will contribute more than Hill, but neither looked ready for prime time in the SL. The others - Duhon, Harrington, Hughes etc. are who they are. Sessions is no more a Knick than Grant Hill was a week or so ago, so I'm not counting my chickens just yet.

Posted by Allanfan20:

OK, pick your poison. You have Nate or Sessions, and I have a feeling we will end up with Lee for either the QO or whatever contract he signs.

My take. For this season, and this coming season only, I am a little optimistic. Why?

1) Harrington and Hughes: I think people are tending to overlook this. Harrington, really bad, apparently wants to stay in NY. That's what people say. He played very hard last season, no matter what the conditions were, and I liked what he showed, so I have no reason to believe he wont double the intensity on both ends. Heck, he may even put up all star like numbers. I don't think people should be overlooking that.

As for Hughes. He's obviously not THAT good, but he's still going to be playing for a contract so he's going to come into the season ready to play. And he knows he's not a given to be a starter, so I see no reason why he already can't be a good soldier no matter what his role is. I have no doubt he'll be trying to showcase what he can be, which hopefully helps us out for this season.

2) Gallinari: I am impressed with what I saw from the guy in the few moments he was on the court. CLEARLY he has talent and he clearly has a good attitude. The only issue, to me, is his back. If he can stay healthy, and I know it may be blind faith, then I feel he can be a major contributer. I guess we'll have to see.

3) Our defense: It's still going to stink. However, with the combination of those 2 expirings, and Wilson and Gallinari (Whom I think may be a good defender) and a really really motivated Curry, I think we can improve our defense a little bit. Obviously we still need pieces and it's nowhere near a complete product, but this is an area we're going to have to improve from within'.

4) David Lee: If he takes the QO and doesn't improve even more, I'd be shocked. His defense HAS to improve. No ifs and/or buts.

5) Duhon, Sessions, Nate: I think the Knicks must have been having nightmares with Nate in ways we couldn't see if he's not signed and their not willing to top the 10 million from Greece. He kept us in many games and is even pretty efficient, despite what people on here say. His talent and athleticism is off the charts, so if they are scared away from Nate, I think it says how uncoachable and ect... he may be.

As for Duhon, the team played great when he was playing great at the beginning of last season. If he can stay healthy, then I see no reason that he can't help us out a lot.

And if Nate goes, Sessions is obviously ideal. If we lose Nate and don't get Sessions, we're relying on a 29th pick which may spell disaster. Not to mention it's not particularly fair to Tony Douglas either. We'd probably be relying on him more than Jordan Hill! Not good.

i agree on all accounts, & i do think Nate's clowning around has run thin on MDA's nerves a bit... maybe that's why the Knicks are apparently willing to let him walk for nothing like u mentioned... he was a productive player offensively but he played with a lack of discipline all too often, & i think MDA is looking for someone to take charge of this team & orchestrate, something Nate either simply did not know how to do or refused to do on most nights... he seemed mostly concerned w/getting off his points first & foremost, & that's not the type of PG that MDA is looking for.

AllanFan, are you AllanFanned? I mean, you can't just say everything is rosey with this team. We're suddenly going to be better on defense? I think Gallo and Chandler can elevate to become the Harris/Lopez for this side of the Hudson, but the rest of the stuff? I'm not counting on Curry for anything, I'll tell you that.

Boston
Cleveland
Atlanta
Orlando

These teams were and are solidly at another level from the Knicks correct?

Then you have;

Washington
Miami
Toronto
Philly

Anyone want to say we'll be better than that group?

No?

OK, moving along...

Charlotte
New Jersey
Detroit
Chicago

Are we better than them? Lovers say that we can be. Realists say keep going...

Indiana
Milwaukee

Who wants to bet money that we're better than Indiana or Milwaukee at the end of the year?

Looking at their rosters, I bet we'll beat out those two, so 12th in the East. Am I wrong? What exactly did we do to improve the roster? Looks like it got worse to me. 12th place is going to mean about the same amount of wins or less than last year.

Posted by JohnWallace44:


Boston
Cleveland
Atlanta
Orlando

These teams were and are solidly at another level from the Knicks correct?

Then you have;

Washington
Miami
Toronto
Philly

Anyone want to say we'll be better than that group?

No?

OK, moving along...

Charlotte
New Jersey
Detroit
Chicago

Are we better than them? Lovers say that we can be. Realists say keep going...

Indiana
Milwaukee

Who wants to bet money that we're better than Indiana or Milwaukee at the end of the year?

Teams on your list I expect to be better than:

Toronto (even with Hedo and JJack..., well, maybe not))
Washington (yes they get Arenas back, but I don't see them as playoff team this year)
Milwaukee (this team lost Villanueva and traded Jefferson. Yes, Redd will be healthy, but I don't see them as competitive this year)
Detroit-- Losing Iverson may have been a plus, but this team, even with Gordon and Villanueva will need time to mesh. I think they lost their bench in the trades, so, I am not sure they are competitive this year.
Bulls-- So, losing Ben Gordon made them more competitive?
Miami-- Again, this team is losing players, not adding them. I won't bet against DWade, but they have not improved.
Philly-- they are not that good. Add Holiday, lose Miller...
New Jersey-- we will be better than NJ this year. They lost VC and added nothing.
Indiana- They did not improve


My playoff outlook for 2009.

Orlando (66-16)
Boston (64-18)
Cleveland (60-22)
Charlotte (48-34)
Atlanta (46-36)
Toronto (43-39)
New York (42-40)
Detroit (41-41)

Drink my kool-aid

[Edited by - ewingsglass on 07-21-2009 5:59 PM]

Without Lee, who is the best player on the Knicks right now and who on that list of 5 above are they clearly better than?

If Lee is the best player on the NYK, then we may as well re-start our rebuilding from scratch. I love David's hustle, I love his attitude, I rejoice at his rebounding, and I appreciate the points he dunks in. But he is not a very solid player from the broader perspective: He plays little to no defense, particularly the help defense that we NEED desperately, and he can't stop the 4/5's who will eat our lunch in the playoffs. So David, bless his soul, is not the NYK's answer to FA who want to consider us.

Now Gallo and Chandler, those guys are our best players. Should be obvious to everyone in the first 20 games. Hopefully, Sessions will be in the mix to greatly improve the offensive side of our team.

[Edited by - Moonangie on 07-21-2009 6:41 PM]

Posted by JohnWallace44:

AllanFan, are you AllanFanned? I mean, you can't just say everything is rosey with this team. We're suddenly going to be better on defense? I think Gallo and Chandler can elevate to become the Harris/Lopez for this side of the Hudson, but the rest of the stuff? I'm not counting on Curry for anything, I'll tell you that.

Boston
Cleveland
Atlanta
Orlando

These teams were and are solidly at another level from the Knicks correct?

Then you have;

Washington
Miami
Toronto
Philly

Anyone want to say we'll be better than that group?

No?

OK, moving along...

Charlotte
New Jersey
Detroit
Chicago

Are we better than them? Lovers say that we can be. Realists say keep going...

Indiana
Milwaukee

Who wants to bet money that we're better than Indiana or Milwaukee at the end of the year?

Looking at their rosters, I bet we'll beat out those two, so 12th in the East. Am I wrong? What exactly did we do to improve the roster? Looks like it got worse to me. 12th place is going to mean about the same amount of wins or less than last year.

Why don't you put your glasses on and read my post more clearly before you throw out the insults and assume I'm being rosey. I've been just as critical of the team over the years as anyone and that post wasn't all rosey. It was a little optimistic though.

I said the defense is going to stink but should improve a little. I said we're going to win 38-42 games. I don't know what's rose colored about that, but I guess you think 42 games is above and beyond. I also said Nate was probably a jackass in the eyes of Waltoni.

Am I not allowed to be optimistic about Gallinari and Chandler? Am I not allowed to have common sense and realize that Harringughes are going to play double hard because of their contract year (Especially Harrington b/c he reportedly wants to stay in NY)? Am I not allowed to realize that David Lee probably knows he has to wise up and work on his defense especially if he's on the QO?

I guess not. Carry on.

How could you make any kinda evaluation in mid july..I don't think you can make a honest assessment or predict anything until late oct..I'm in no way confident that this roster will be the same. The center and pg have to fully be establish.

But the one thing you have to be encourage by is that there's a few key guys on this team playing for new contracts and curry is trying to rejuvenate his career. All and all he could develop into a lot of selfish (get my numbers up) play, or just the opposite..I think J hill is 10th on the debt chart.

And yes johnwallace, I do think we can compete with some of those teams that you mentioned. I honestly see no reason why we can't.