The Knicks Thread....

[Andrew]

To be fair, he means quality NBA players, as opposed to players who - in his words and estimation - should be playing in the D-League or elsewhere. He does clarify that meaning when he says "NBA player". Of course, it's not necessarily a fair assessment on his part. Last year's Knicks did have players outside of Melo who belong in the NBA, albeit in roles they're not ready for yet (if ever).

[mp3]

Very well put Andrew and that is how I read it too, last year's knicks team was a dleague team ,this year we have a lot more players that belong in the nba

[NovU]

Last year's Knicks were truly of D-League quality. A lot of it, thx to the injuries on Calderon and Melo who were 2 most important players. Look at the guys that got most minutes. You don't win with Larkin, Jason Smith, Hardaway jr core, as simple as that.

Lopez, healthy Calderon/Melo, and Afflalo are obviously going to be better.

[Jeffx]

^Yeah, they might win 30-35 games

[Axel]

Last year's Knicks were truly of D-League quality. A lot of it, thx to the injuries on Calderon and Melo who were 2 most important players. Look at the guys that got most minutes. You don't win with Larkin, Jason Smith, Hardaway jr core, as simple as that.

Lopez, healthy Calderon/Melo, and Afflalo are obviously going to be better.

Calderon is washed up, and arguably the worst defender at PG in the NBA. He is a net negative when on the court. Afflalo is a second string SG at best. They won't be much better this year. 30 wins is a stretch.

[NovU]

Fair points. Calderon is 35. Afflalo isn't really that good. And Lopez isn't better than Chandler they had.

Perhaps another 30ish wins season on the way and possibly Melo trade talks arise. But I guess at least Knicks fans got Porzingis and Jerian Grant to look forward to.

[mp3]

Jose at this point in his career is a back up at best.

Affalo is still an upgrade over JR Smith as he takes better shots and isn't a sideshow.

Lopez is an upgrade over Chandler, better offence better passer higher iq, defence is on par.

Melo has already stated he won't ask for a trade.

We do I agree have the rookies to look forward too.

If the knicks do will 30-35 games then that's a solid improvement from year one to year two and I'd be happy with that, this year is all about development and improvement

[mp3]

The knicks are looking pretty solid so far in the 2 preseason games.

Very impressed by the team chemistry and nice all around game of Kyle O'Quinn

[NovU]

It wasn't always like that, just ask old timers like Andrew from NLSC"s black & blue days. I was so pumped up about the Riley/Van Gundy Knicks. Yeah, they failed in the Finals, but they were a tough, gritty perennial contender for 11 years. Anything less than the conference was considered a disappointment. Nowadays Knick fans throw confetti over an opening round win. Shows you how low expectations are. And yes, the past 14 years of Dolan turning this franchise into a joke have worn me down. But I feel bad for the younger Knick fans here - at least I saw the first two championships. They've had nothing but heartbreak.

*clap*clap*

Also makes me cringe how spoiled, insolent, bratty Sauru is beyond reasons as a Celtics fan girl.

[Andrew]

MSG's James Dolan says 'I've always understood' Isiah Thomas

Madison Square Garden Chairman James Dolan says he has ''a tremendous amount of respect'' for Isiah Thomas' ''skill and his talent.''

In his first interview about rehiring Thomas, Dolan tells HBO's ''Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel'' in a segment scheduled to air Tuesday night that ''I think I've always understood him.''

''I don't know if I can explain it other than that there's something inside of both of us that's really quite similar: the tenacity, the stubbornness,'' Dolan adds. ''Isiah's a guy who doesn't believe in his limitations, and I'm a guy who doesn't believe in his limitations.''

Of picking Thomas to run the Liberty, Dolan says: ''I didn't think I would get a better person to do that job than him. He would draw attention to the team.''

Dolan, whose father founded HBO, adds that ''I think we're going to be friends for a long time.''

Wow. I mean, says it all, really.

[Jeffx]

If Phil Jackson fails, the Knick franchise is dead forever, because you-know-who will be back.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baske ... -1.2403560

[mp3]

Ohhh yes we know who is back in the front office!!

[Andrew]

I know simply scraping into the Playoffs is well below your standards for the franchise Jeffx, and I completely understand and agree. Still, if they can do that this season and keep Thomas out of the front office, then it'll be a more successful year than it would appear to be on paper. At this point, any amount of success/improvement that keeps Thomas away has to be a positive step forward.

[Jeffx]

Unlike some fans, I don't want Phil to fail. He HAS to turn this around, because you know Isiah will be in Dolan's ear saying he can bring Durant to NY.

[Andrew]

How do you feel about the job he's done so far, and how optimistic are you that he can succeed? I think he can do better and needs to be given a chance, but at the same time, Red Auerbach might've had a point.

[Jeffx]

How do you feel about the job he's done so far, and how optimistic are you that he can succeed? I think he can do better and needs to be given a chance, but at the same time, Red Auerbach might've had a point.

So far I give him a C (I'm not convinced about Porzingis). I honestly don't know if he can succeed. NBA players aren't stupid...they see how dysfunctional the Knicks have been the past decade and a half, with a bad owner and a superstar who's a black hole on offense. If you want to win NOW, why come here?

Phil's biggest screw-up was giving Carmelo a max contract - why do that when you're in rebuilding mode? But we don't know if that was his call or the brain-dead owner.

[Andrew]

He's certainly finding out that it's not so easy when you don't inherit a roster with a couple of superstars. I'm guessing it's a bit of a rude awakening for the Zen Master.

On the other hand, Jackson is no stranger to dysfunction, yet he's managed to find success. He doesn't have an MJ and Pip in New York, nor a Shaq and Kobe, but perhaps he can sell players on the idea that "Yes, sometimes things are turbulent and front office politics crop up to distract us, but a talented roster that's motivated and on the same page can do great things." We've seen him unite teams through chaos before, and with the current generation of players being far more buddy-buddy than previous ones, in theory it should be easier to get them to see eye-to-eye, and band together amidst the dysfunction. Easier, mind you, not easy.

[NovU]

I didn't say this because I wanted O'quinn to go under the radar in our fantasy league(so I can pick him up dirt cheap), but I think it's evident O'quinn is a better player than Porzingus vastly at this stage. And it seems it is just better for O'quinn to be a starter or just play more significant minutes as the Knicks aren't really in rebuilding mode but to compete for the playoffs. But I hear Porzingus is still favorite to start over O'quinn.

What do you Knicks fans think as you guys watched Knicks preseason more closely?

[air gordon]

Not a knick fan but what is he in the big picture compared to KP?

Being better than KP at this point of his career isn't saying much either

I'd probably want to see some wins and do not think it come down to KP getting some minutes being the main cause of a loss (or win for that matter)

And how about the much maligned Calderon? No defense playing and can't stay healthy. Should the veteran start over the promising rookie, Grant?

[NovU]

it come down to KP getting some minutes being the main cause of a loss (or win for that matter)

It depends how large that "some" minutes will be.

I think if the Knicks' big picture for this year is the playoffs then they probably have to restrict KP's role and minutes. When everything falls apart they then can go Jordan Clarkson of the Lakers with KP.

[mp3]

I think it is important for KP to play in the starting lineup but more so to play more minutes against other teams starters and "stars" for him to get better but I also think he needs to play a long side Robin Lopez more for the help side defence RoLo can offer.

In regards to Calderón I agree his defence sucks and he is injured more than he plays but I also think it's important for him to play in the starting lineup for 2 reasons.

1) Playing along guys like Lopez and KP in the starting line up offers much needed rim protection as we all know Jose will be beaten off the dribble but having that help there while playing along side Affalo who is a pretty good team defender.

2) knicks run a lot more pick and roll (pop) this year while still using the triangle as a primary offence it's just not our bread and butter unlike last year and p&r is where Jose is at his best which I think he has done a great job in the preseason of getting everyone involved in the offence.

Plus Grant has really really good chemistry going with the 2nd unit (Williams/O'Quinn/Early) and he keeps the ball moving so we don't lose to much when our bench comes in so I think at this point works out well.

My question is who will earn that final roster spot??

[air gordon]

I agree starting out it should be the veteran Calderon for the reasons stated. Maybe as Grant learns the offense he can unseat him

play the kid. I don't think O'quinn has reached Whiteside levels

[mp3]

Not even close lol (O'Quinnside)

My only knock on Grant so far is that his shooting in the preseason hadn't being there and he seemed to struggle in the summer league too with his jumpshooting but my biggest gripe is that he is getting to the basket but blowing layups but his playmaking has being amazing he really sees the whole floor on offence and his D is solid too.

[NovU]

O'quinn's no Whiteside but he's the best rebounder on Knicks team. I think he'll get around at least 20-25 mpg which is more than what he was seeing behind Vucevic. Derrick Williams will be interesting in the mix too. Lopez, Porzingus, O'quinn, and Derrick at frontcourt, makes me wonder if this is good enough of a rotation for relatively weak Eastern conference.

As for the backcourt, as long as Calderon could stay healthy, I think the Knicks will be fine. Grant is an older rookie so bit of maturity probably comes with him so there's that going on at the PG position.

Probably a fringe playoffs team. 35 wins with health issues otherwise I think there's a chance for the Knicks this year. What you guys think?

[air gordon]

lol O'Quinnside

i would like to see Derrick Williams resurrect his career in NYK

is it really a weak Eastern conference frontcourt or just weak in general frontcourt players? just quickly glancing at the teams, there a few top heavy ones and then the rest.