This idea that the Knicks are gonna fall behind the other teams is a hasty prediction. As i've said the other teams in the East are gonna have a lot to deal with from this Knicks team. We won't have as many dead weight players as we did last year. Kidd, Novak, White, Sheed, KT are all gone and we're replacing them with better and younger players. That's a good thing and on the whole will help the Knicks maintain a competitive level with the rest of the East. I'm not crazy or living in denial. How many 54 win teams get worse when they drop dead weight and add more talent?

knickstorrents wrote:Kidd was not dead weight until the end. Without Kidd last years team doesn't get close to 54 wins. We have no equivalent this year, no one even Close.

We are better because Kidd isn't stealing time form someone that worthy of the time.

Woody still has to play the right guys at the right time.

He was a huge part of our success, no discounting that. But part of that was because Shump was coming off injury and was hobbled... And Prigioni was still finding his way early.

With those two proving themselves, minutes would have been hard to come by this season even if he did return.

I'm excited with the potential of a bench mob approach, and the size (vs Copeland) and the offensive countermoves (vs Novak) that Bargnani can provide.

playa2 wrote:

knickstorrents wrote:Kidd was not dead weight until the end. Without Kidd last years team doesn't get close to 54 wins. We have no equivalent this year, no one even Close.

We are better because Kidd isn't stealing time form someone that worthy of the time.

Woody still has to play the right guys at the right time.

Pablo, Melo, JR Smith, Raymond, Chandler, Shump and Amare (fingers crossed) are back.

The artist known as Ron Artest plays savage defense.

This could be fun

And maybe, just maybe we get lucky again with some cheap signing like we've gotten lucky the last couple years with Lin, Pablo, Cope, etc. Keep up the search Grunny!

Panos wrote:

misterearl wrote:

IronWillGiroud wrote:for me the biggest reason this year's team is better is because now i have a reason to watch--- i have bargs to root for, so i am happy to be able to look forward to knicks games again

You have bargs to root for?

Please explain

It means the Knicks got a white guy. Haven't you noticed the pattern with Giroud orangeblobman?
Correct me if I'm wrong.

fixed

misterearl wrote:There could be five summer leaguers with new skill sets who make the squad.

Pablo, Melo, JR Smith, Raymond, Chandler, Shump and Amare (fingers crossed) are back.

The artist known as Ron Artest plays savage defense.

This could be fun

I'm also hopeful Grunnie will pull a few younger-than-last-year's rabbits out of his GM bag, and that Bargs will be the wash over for the loss of Cope and Novak. Other than that, we lost alot of semi-valuable geriatrics that were a bonus to have given what they provided anyway.

I fear no Nyetic and very few animals. I am a Knick fan.

misterearl wrote:Did you say yoots?

knicks1248 wrote:Adding more talent is not always better. The things that benefit ed us last season was the players were comfortable in there roles, unselfish play and consistently solid pg play

Woodson is good at getting guys to buy in, I thought we had great chemistry

Mike Woodson's publicized aversion to yoots could be tested by a crop of dudes who can actually play a lick.

“I can coach any player. I’ve coached guys from 18 years old and built a team in Atlanta. That’s tough for a first-time coach. I don’t think there’s a player who I can’t coach if he’s willing to be coached. - Mike Woodson

Could the assemblage of Jennings, Jordan, Hardaway, Tyler, Murry and Leslie provide more bounce per ounce than Camby, Novak, Copeland, Martin and White?

Paging Ron Artest, Ron Artesy.... please pick up the orange courtesy phone...

My preference -- given what I know right this second would be to give 4 of our spots to young guys and leave Woody with 11 spots for vets.

I would love for us to keep Tim Jr, CJ, Tyler and Murry on the roster -- yes I know that Tim Jr and CJ already have contracts - just showing them as part of young 4.

That leaves 11 vet spots for....with 8 already here and 3 spots OPEN.

Ray
Prig
Shump
JR
Melo
Bargs
Stat
Chandler
Open (MWP?)
Open (Dally, T-Thomas, KMART)
Open Telfair/DJ Aug (PG) or Dahntay Jones / Alan Anderson (SF)

Assuming we get MWP for the 1st open spot, either Dallenbert, T-Thomas or Kmart for the 2nd open spot & either another PG (Telfair, DJ Aug) or another SF (D. Jones, A. Anderson)