Grading the First 30: Knicks
By: Tommy Beer Last Updated: 1/2/10 7:13 AM ET | 1478 times read
Adjust font size:What a long strange trip it has been for the Knicks… A decade full of embarrassing losses (both on the court and in the courtroom), bad trades, and even worse free-agent signings – has finally come to end. When the ball dropped in Times Square on Thursday night (one of the rare occasions in which a dropped ball in New York was not the result of Knick turnover), we had officially reached a new year, and new decade. And this year could potentially be a special one for the Knicks and their long-suffering fans, because July 1st, 2010 - a date that has rightfully received intense attention in the Big Apple - is a mere six months away.
However, with the Knicks currently playing their best basketball of the D'Antoni era, it is not just LeBron James and this summer's free agent bonanza that New Yorkers can get excited about; as the Knickerbockers actually have a legitimate shot at staying in the playoff hunt in the season's second half. For an organization that hasn't played a meaningful April game since Bill Clinton was in office, this sadly represents significant progress….
*****
Best Offensive Weapon - David Lee: D Lee is certainly not a got-to scorer, at least not in the traditional sense of the word. Al Harrington is a much better one-on-one offensive player and Danilo Gallinari is the team's best shooter. However, nobody has been more consistent or reliable on a nightly basis than David Lee, who is having an All-Star caliber season. Despite rarely ever having a play called for him, Lee is leading the Knicks in scoring (18.9 PPG – which is a career-high) and is their most efficient offensive player – shooting 58.2% from the floor, good enough for 5th best in the NBA. He is not only scoring in the paint, Lee is now more comfortable facing up and knocking down 15-to-17-footers. In addition, Lee is dishing out 3 assists a night and grabbing a team-high 11 rebounds per contest. After posting terrific numbers last year, which included leading the league in double-doubles, David is actually playing better this season. And while his gaudy numbers were once considered simply a by-product of Mike D'Antoni's run-and-gun offense, Lee is proving he is the real deal this season. If he can keep up this production for another month, D Lee may be headed to Big D on All-Star weekend…
Best Defensive Weapon – Jared Jeffries: No brainer on this one. This team, much like every Knick team this decade, has very few defensive-minded players. However, Jeffries is establishing himself as terrifically versatile defender. JJ is a Swiss Army knife on the defensive end, guarding everyone from point guards to centers. The Knicks have been a much better defensive team this season, especially this past month, and much of that has to do with Jefferies increase in playing time. Jared played just 17 minutes a night in November, but played over 30 minutes per game in December. No coincidence that the Knicks points allowed and opponents FG% both dipped dramatically last month. Individually, Jefferies leads the team in blocks (33) and leads the entire in League in charges drawn. He has a chance to garner a few Defensive Player of the Year votes this season.
Biggest Surprise – Mike D'Antoni Preaching Defense!?: There have been plenty of surprises in this roller-coaster season for the Knicks. The 1-9 start was alarming. As was Nate Robinson's benching. However, there have also been some pleasant developments. For instance, I challenge you to show me one person who predicted Jonathon Bender would ever return to the NBA, let alone factor into the Knicks rotation this season. And Danilo Gallinari's emergence as an elite long-range gunner has been encouraging. But the season's most shocking development has been Head Coach Mike D'Antoni's sudden and unexpected emphasis on defense.
When you think of D'Antoni, you immediately think of three-pointers, fast breaks, and the ubiquitous "Seven Seconds or Less" moniker applied to his offensive strategy. One word rarely ever associated with D'Antoni was 'defense,' which was typically considered an afterthought in D'Antoni's world. But this season, especially over the last month, the Knicks have shown a renewed desire to – imagine this – stay in front of the guy they are guarding. When was the last time a D'Antoni coached team was ranked higher defensively than offensively? For an 11-game stretch in December from 12/4 thru 12/30, New York held 11 straight opponents under 100 points. The Knicks hadn't run off a streak that long since 2001. The fact that it came with Mike D'Antoni as their coach was certainly shocking. Not surprisingly, this resulted in the organization's most successful month (nine wins) in recent history.
Biggest Disappointment – Eddy Curry: When a team finds itself seven games under .500, disappointments will usually be plentiful, and this Knicks team is no exception. Chris Duhon's horrendous November (shooting 28% from the floor) was major factor in their terrible start. Nate Robinson earning a demotion was disheartening. And many fans have been immensely frustrated by lottery pick Jordan Hill's lack of playing time/production (especially with Brandon Jennings lighting it up in Milwaukee).
But the biggest and most debilitating disappointment this season has been Eddy Curry. Curry has escaped excessive scrutiny because expectations were so significantly reduced; but his inability to get in shape and contribute on the floor could have potentially devastating ramifications. As I wrote back in July, "not only does Eddy Curry's career hang in the balance, but it is not hyperbole to suggest that the future of the franchise is tethered to his progress as well. It's sink or swim time. Curry can either help buoy and revitalize the franchise by bouncing back and playing up to his potential; or, if he fails to return to form, he becomes an $11.2 million albatross… if Eddy plays well - even if the Knicks can't find a taker - they would still have a decent center on the roster heading into 2010-2011. This could be particularly appealing to potential free-agents. Even if he is overpaid, having a solid starting center could certainly be viewed as a selling point. And if he put a solid 2009-2010 season in the books, Curry could also be more easily moved in a sign-and-trade next summer. The first, crucial step is showing up to training camp in shape."
Alas, it wasn't meant to be. Curry showed up at camp overweight and out of shape. Injuries inevitably followed. At that point, management and the coaching staff banished Curry and ordered him to get in shape before he could even start practicing again with his teammates. Curry ended up losing weight, but has yet to make an impact on the floor or help the team win ballgames. Shockingly, Eddy has had the gall to complain about his lack of playing time and even intimated he would prefer to be traded – as if Donnie Walsh hadn't been trying desperately to trade him going on two years now.
Areas to Address Before the Deadline - Cut Payroll and Create Cap Space: Donnie Walsh has had a clear vision since arriving in New York, and he hasn't once wavered from that mission. Thus, the Knicks will NOT chase fools gold, despite exciting wins such as Friday night's victory over the Hawks, and being in the playoff hunt as we start 2010. Walsh will correctly keep his eyes on the prize - that prize being the maximum amount of cap space possible come July 1st 2010. If that means moving a highly productive player such as David Lee in order to dump Curry's contract, so be it.
Grade: C+
The Knicks have done an admirable job digging themselves out of a disastrously deep 1-9 hole to start the season. December's defensive effort was certainly encouraging and worthy of applause. Nonetheless, I can't give a team with a 13-20 overall record anything higher than a C+
1/2/2010 7:56 PM