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martin
Posts: 76257 Alba Posts: 108 Joined: 7/24/2001 Member: #2 USA |
1/28/2011 12:42 PM
http://www.nj.com/knicks/index.ssf/2011/01/dalessandro_knicks_in_need_of.html
D'Alessandro: Knicks in need of an upgrade, but it's not who you're thinking of NEW YORK — “Here’s what everyone is missing,” Donnie Walsh was saying an hour before tipoff, as he pondered the vagaries of trades and Knicks and the unspoken agent (name: Carmelo Anthony) that weaved those two talking points together in the latest NBA cacophony. “In the end, it doesn’t make a damn bit of difference what everyone wants. It’s about what Denver wants to do. They’re in control of everything, whether people want to believe it or not. And I can’t tell you what they want, because I don’t know.” Still, the Knicks’ president can take an educated guess, as we all can by now. Essentially, the Nuggets have four boxes to fill if they are to part with their star: Denver wants at least one high draft pick, a really good player on his rookie contract, a second good player on a good contract, and major cap relief in the form of expiring contracts. And if they fill all those boxes and get under the luxury tax, GM Masai Ujiri — whose name we have typed so often we’ve added him to the Auto Correct function on this keyboard — will be satisfied. Maybe. But here’s the thing about Melo, vis-à-vis the Knicks’ own ambitions for this season and beyond: If we were Walsh, and we had the wherewithal to land this A-plus scorer by boxing up and shipping out four assets, we’d first take a few laps around Madison Square Garden before reaching a fairly easy conclusion. Pass. The Knicks don’t need Carmelo — not as much as they need other players, anyway — and even if he’s not willing to admit this, Walsh only had to consider three facts before his team survived a 93-88 pulse-beater against Miami: • They average 106 points per game, second in the NBA. • The last thing they need is another offensive-minded player. • The second-to-last thing they need is a wing upgrade. Sure, you cannot have enough stars. Miami’s appearance here (anywhere, really) was a celebration of that eternal truth, as the presence of LeBron James and Dwyane Wade brought an avalanche of media that hasn’t been seen around here since … uh, the Heat’s last visit to the Garden. But the Knicks can’t be what Miami is or will be. They are in the process of stockpiling their own assets and mapping their own route, and you can’t fast-track the process. They already know where they are competitive. Amar’e Stoudemire is still part of the MVP discussion. Raymond Felton is the third best point guard in the East. They have an enviable collection of wings. They have a style and they have an identity. What they lack, however, is the size they’ll need to take the next step. Walsh has come around to believing this is his priority now, and we agree. “I’d like another big guy to play with Amar’e,” Walsh said. “It’s nothing against the guys we have here — I love (Ronny) Turiaf — but you need a big, strong guy next to Amar’e. I don’t want Amar’e being the enforcer out there.” Another big man — one who can give them length, toughness, and flexibility in their power rotation — would give them the only facet that may (may) eject them from the sixth-place standing they seem destined to occupy. As much as we like Anthony, the Knicks would actually be more cohesive if they could land the beast who plays alongside him, Nene. No, you can’t get him — not even for Eddy Curry and a pick, not even after Denver starts the fire sale. Centers are disappearing again, and they may be endangered for some time. Still, this is how Walsh must think, as he ponders incremental steps, fortifies his bench, and saves his cap space as he lines up the moonshot (Dwight Howard) in 2012 — all the while knowing that you win with quality size in the NBA, period. Sure, Denver could give Donnie an offer he can’t refuse, or Melo forces the deal he wanted all along. LeBron himself wasn’t offering much insight, saying he just wants to see his friend happy. He also attempted some false modesty, stating that “we’re a good team, not a great team — I don’t know if teams (like the Knicks) want to get to our level.” That’s goofy — sure, they do. The Knicks barely exceeded Miami’s level last night, in a game LeBron shot 7-for-24, Wade missed eight foul shots, and Chris Bosh stayed home. Quality win, substandard performance. Call it as a sign that they won't get to Miami’s level trying to match them star-for-star. That would take a power surge and defensive mentality the Knicks don’t currently have. They’re a player away. And he’s not an offensive player. Official sponsor of the PURE KNICKS LOVE Program
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Rookie
Posts: 27028 Alba Posts: 28 Joined: 10/15/2008 Member: #2274 |
1/28/2011 1:36 PM
Mike...how big?
 seriously mike...really...how big? BTW...have you gotten to know any of the knicks city dancers? |
