This offseason has been a true disapointment. The Knick management has once again failed to live up to the expectations of the fans. And who knows how the Knicks will compete this season. All is not lost though. If the Knicks are as comitted to winning as they say they are, then there are some small moves they can make that will give the Knicks a liitle more fuel. It all starts with Van Gundy. Van Gundy did an outstanding job coaching this team defensively. It was offense that they were lacking. Yet the make-up of this team would lead you to believe the strengths were on offense. They exhausted so much energy on defense that when it came to simply making a couple of shots down the stretch they couldn't. I say Van Gundy needs to coach this team for what it is, a running team. Another area where Van Gundy needs to change is who he is favoring to start. I fear that on opening day the Garden PA will announce Johnson as the starting PF. He needs to start coaching for the team and not his pride. Thomas deserves the starting job over L.J. Johnson has been a warrior for this team, but his time has passed. There are days when Johnson gives 15 points and then there are the days he gives 5. Thomas gives a consistent 10 points. And that is what this team needs. He also has the size. There are many of you that say L.J. has a better post game. This is true, but if Van Gundy lets this team run then Thomas would be more effective. And lastly as far as Van Gundy goes, it is time he appoint a captain/co-captains who are deserving! Houston is a model player/citizen. But thats it, he is no leader. His religious beliefs are admirable. However if he won't start acting like a capt. than give it to someone else. He needs to get up in people's face's. He needs to start lighting fires under them. Motivating them, this is what Spree can do. He brings energy with him. And I do not know how they expect Johnson to lead when he is out nursing his back. I say make Spree and Camby the captains. They both apree to care about the team. Both have made the sacrifice's that a captain is expected to. Most notablly Spree playing out of position and Camby bulking up. This is what a leader does! If the Knicks were to all follow that same path then I think this team can make some noise.

Though i agree with you in most areas, i cannot say this offseason has been a true disappointment like you can. Trade wise, yes it has, but you must consider that Camby has bulked up into an alll-star calibre center. Also, Mark Jackson has done what he needed to do to improve and so has Sprewell. Glen Rice is bringing himself back to top shape, something he wasn't at all this season, and could return to his LA form. Houston who stated "new york hasn't seen the best of me yet" put a lot of pressure on himself with that statement and it may be enough pressure to lead him to the best season of his career. Last, even though new york hasn't made any trades, you must remember that sometimes trade isn't good for an organization. Keeping the team the same means allowing them to work better together and improve their chemistry. Even if a big trade isn't around the corner, this team is one year wiser as a team and individually. I still have high hopes for our squad.

could always mix it up like the lakers. when shaq is on the floor and dominating the offense they slow down, and when kobe is the only one on the floor and dominates the offense, they speed up. we coudl do the same, when we wanna run and gun we go

5- Camby
4- Thomas
3- Sprewell
2- Houston
1- Ward (Rod would be great here if we could get him)

and when we need to slow down

5- Camby
4- LJ/Weatherspoon/Thomas even
3- Sprewell/Weatherspoon
2- Houston
1- Jackson