fishmike - the won-loss column is a comfortable security blanket, but not the only indicator of change. The Answer Man would submit the NYK early-season culture change (for the better) was demonstrated in two well-played early season losses in Boston and to Portland.

Stoudemire stood up during the losing streak and played a leadership role. It is one thing to stand up, quite another to deliver. Stoudemire has asserted himself on the glass and stepped up his rebounding output. The insane shot blocking makes one NOT miss Lebron so much.

David Lee cleared to practice?

I don't miss him either.

fishmike wrote:cause its premature. 5 games ago Knicks were back all right... right where they left off. I think w/ Duhon and Amare's leadership this is certainly a different culture but we are a .500 team. I'm happy with the direction of the team, the roster, even the coaching has been OK if not great. Some good some bad there.

Duhon still leading us?

Then there are .500 clubs on their way up with a young foundation that's growing game to game. Happy that for the first time in a long time we're the latter. Lord knows we are all too familiar with the former scenario.

Happy Thanksgiving y'all!

The answer to the problem is to somehow find more consistency and I think they'll eventually find it. This team tends to lose it's way on offense and defense from time to time. The lull in offense seems to be the biggest issue, since teams seem to get out on the break and attack our D before it gets set. When a team executes on offense and isn't turning it over or taking bad shots, it allows your D to get back and get set. Our Set D is actually pretty good.

The one thing that is helping us win games is FT's. We're #4 in the league in FTA's and FTM's. We still aren't an efficient scoring team tho when it comes to FG% and 3pt%. This team actually would do better to keep taking fewer 3's and keep attacking the basket, cuz statistically we can't shoot!!! Gallo has been really bad this year and if not for his driving more, it would be killing us. This is why getting AZ back and hopefully shooting like he used to, would be a huge help. We need to improve our efficiency or we won't be able to stay above .500 once we play the better teams.

fishmike wrote:You dont think Lee could fit here? One of the best passing bigs in the league, shoots 55%, great mid range and rebounds? The D is weak but as I mentioned in another thread its tough to guard 5 guys. Pretty sure Lee could do a lot of good things.

I dont focus on the past though... Lee did everything you can ask. Drafted last his hard work got him all the way into the all star game and before he got hurt he was part of the Warriors resurrgance

Agree on Amare, but the losing streak still hit 6 and was close to killing our coach in November.

Hey.. I said Knicks would win 45 games. Thats like a 5th seed in the East and I stick by that. I figured if we could work out enough kinks through the first 40-50 games we could start winning at a higher clip later in the year.

Im very happy the team right now all things considered. ATL is a big test. They are a big deep proven team

fish, I miss lee as much as the next guy, but where would he fit here and we still be .500? I said this before, turiaf impacts the game much bigger than his numbers.. He gives hard fouls, he hits the boards, he blocks shots, and changes a lot more...HE protects the paint.. something lee never did... protect the lane.. at some point it goes beyond stats.. lee would get 20/10 while the other team had a party in the paint, I mean a real house party.. at what point does that 20/10 really impacts the game? especially when the other team is having their way on the other end..

tkf wrote:

fishmike wrote:You dont think Lee could fit here? One of the best passing bigs in the league, shoots 55%, great mid range and rebounds? The D is weak but as I mentioned in another thread its tough to guard 5 guys. Pretty sure Lee could do a lot of good things.

I dont focus on the past though... Lee did everything you can ask. Drafted last his hard work got him all the way into the all star game and before he got hurt he was part of the Warriors resurrgance

Agree on Amare, but the losing streak still hit 6 and was close to killing our coach in November.

Hey.. I said Knicks would win 45 games. Thats like a 5th seed in the East and I stick by that. I figured if we could work out enough kinks through the first 40-50 games we could start winning at a higher clip later in the year.

Im very happy the team right now all things considered. ATL is a big test. They are a big deep proven team

fish, I miss lee as much as the next guy, but where would he fit here and we still be .500? I said this before, turiaf impacts the game much bigger than his numbers.. He gives hard fouls, he hits the boards, he blocks shots, and changes a lot more...HE protects the paint.. something lee never did... protect the lane.. at some point it goes beyond stats.. lee would get 20/10 while the other team had a party in the paint, I mean a real house party.. at what point does that 20/10 really impacts the game? especially when the other team is having their way on the other end..

Turiaf did EXACTLY the same things for GS that he's doing for the Knicks, and those GS teams were TERRIBLE. Turiaf looks great because he's playing with a higher caliber talent. Who is the best player Lee played with? Marbury? Harrington?

You get high % scoring with Lee, you get rebounding and you get superior ball movement, all things the Knicks have struggled with when losing this year.

I do not regret the Lee trade. I wanted him back for 6 years $70mm (starting at $9) at the most. He got lots more from GS so happy trails. He earned that contract, and GS was off to a GREAT start. I'm happy for the guy. He was a class Knick and worked his way from a hustle garbage pick 30 guy to an all star.

And moving forward I could certainly see an elite title caliber team with Lee in the rotation as the first PF/C off the bench getting 30 mpg getting his 15ppg 10rebs 4assists and shooting 55%. I could see that for sure.

Its water under the bridge, I just dont see the reason people feel the need to trash the guy. He was probably the only bright spot in the last 5 years. It would have been nice if he could have been part of turning this franchise around but it was bad timing, thus is life

Silverfuel wrote:misterearl, I am very happy about the Knicks playing ball but can you really say they are back just yet? Come on man, give them a few months. This thread belongs in March 2011.

This is the part where he'll ask you if your wife beats you, simply cuz he's mad.

Silverfuel wrote:misterearl, I am very happy about the Knicks playing ball but can you really say they are back just yet? Come on man, give them a few months. This thread belongs in March 2011.

40-50 games of success and consistent ball against all levels of competition, and dealing positively with slumps might make me conclude that "we're back," but a 5 game streak against inferior teams which gets us back to .500 this early in the season might give me hope, but it does not make me think that our success is permanent.