After a terrible season last year, the New York Knicks look to change the way they are perceived around the NBA. The newly hired President of Basketball Operations, Donnie Walsh, has brought a completely different mentality to the way the Knicks are run.
Walsh's first big decision as President of Basketball Operations was who was going to carry out the same mentality on the court. After interviewing many coaches, Walsh decided that the best pick would be the Phoenix Suns' head coach, Mike D'Antoni.
Mike D'Antoni is considered to be one of the most prominent head coaches in the NBA today. He piloted the Suns to four straight 50+ wins and won their division three times. D'Antoni, who played professionally overseas, brings a completely different playing style to the decrepit Knicks' style of play.
But since signing Mike D'Antoni, Walsh has become somewhat quiet. He has made one trade, freeing up their salary cap, signed Chris Duhon, and drafted a questionable unproven European forward.
Are these moves all the Knicks need to become a successful ball club? I don't think so.
The main problem that the Knicks have had these past couple of years has been defensive presence from big men. Players like Eddy Curry and Zach Randolph are not exactly known for their overpowering defense. If the Knicks could get a good defensive center such as Darko Milicic or even Ben Wallace, they could get many more stops in transition.
One positive for the Knicks this year is the production of their 2007 first round pick, Wilson Chandler. Chandler started off the 2007-2008 Knicks season riding the bench. From November to February the Knicks' first round pick never averaged over 10 minutes of playing time a game. It was not until March that Isiah Thomas started to give the rookie a chance.
Chandler is a great basketball player. Standing at 6"8, he is a big matchup for the standard small forward and can still contend against guards and power forwards. He has shown a tremendous ability to shoot the ball and also plays great defense.
Even though Chandler seems like the most promising young player on the team, it doesn't look like he will get a chance to start this year. He is still a very young player with loads of untapped raw potential.
If Donnie Walsh decides to stay with the current roster to start the season in November, the Knicks are in for a mediocre year. Even though they are lacking many key components, Donnie Walsh is headed in the right direction. The Knicks' future is extremely promising, but only with good leadership and enough money for 2010.
36 comments Last one added 8 months ago — Leave a Comment
Ari Kramer 10 months ago
Hopefully the Knicks will run under D'antoni. I would love to see that, as it makes the game more entertaining. I think if they can dump Curry or Randolph for a mobile big man, the team would be perfect for running and gunning. Duhon will run a solid point, with Nate as his backup. Crawford will be good in that kind of system. Even Q-Rich will be better than he has in his past seasons as a Knick -- he was one of D'antoni's favorites in Phoenix and thrived off the running system there.
Edit Comment Cancel
Gabe Podair 10 months ago
but there arent that many people that fit the run and gun style on the knicks roster so far...who could they get?
Edit Comment Cancel
Ben Soffer 8 months ago
Josh, first awal, why would the knicks, a team so desperate for a great first rounfd pick to better themselves for the future, want to trade that away a first round pick for anyone? Two, LeBron James is an amazing player but there is no way the knicks can get him because he is best friends with Jay-Z the owner of the nets, and he is going there, and even if there was a shot at getting him the knicks are trying to build a run and gun team not centered around one ball hog like lebron. Yes one can make the argument that he gets some assists, but if you watch cavs game those assists are on bs passes because he is double or tripple teamed. The knicks dont need to free up cap space to make some big all-star signing at the end of the season, they mierly need to trade the out of shape Curry and get an in shape run the floor rebounding center. David Lee is a bit undersized for the center position but i think he is a good fit for dantonies style of play and he can play the role stadomire played which (besides his scoring) he would rebound and make an amazing outlet pass to start the break which Lee can do. I am hoping that new management will turn this team around and i am prediting a mediocer year that results in a 38 and 46 record making the 8th seed in the east. In addition, nate robinson will have an great year getting 15 points a game, and Jamal will be an all-star.
Edit Comment Cancel
Ben soffer 8 months ago
Josh, first aval, why would the knicks, a team so desperate for a great first rounfd pick to better themselves for the future, want to trade that away a first round pick for anyone? Two, LeBron James is an amazing player but there is no way the knicks can get him because he is best friends with Jay-Z the owner of the nets, and he is going there, and even if there was a shot at getting him the knicks are trying to build a run and gun team not centered around one ball hog like lebron. Yes one can make the argument that he gets some assists, but if you watch cavs game those assists are on bs passes because he is double or tripple teamed. The knicks dont need to free up cap space to make some big all-star signing at the end of the season, they mierly need to trade the out of shape Curry and get an in shape run the floor rebounding center. David Lee is a bit undersized for the center position but i think he is a good fit for dantonies style of play and he can play the role stadomire played which (besides his scoring) he would rebound and make an amazing outlet pass to start the break which Lee can do. I am hoping that new management will turn this team around and i am prediting a mediocer year that results in a 38 and 46 record making the 8th seed in the east. In addition, nate robinson will have an great year getting 15 points a game, and Jamal will be an all-star.
Edit Comment Cancel
josh b 10 months ago
the knicks are in the process of trading randolph for milicek, but talks have stalled due to the knicks refusal to give up a first round draft choice as part of the deal. and ben wallace? a deal for him would just hurt our chances of getting under that cap for the summer of 2010
Edit Comment Cancel
Gabe Podair 10 months ago
i dont like this idea of just signing lebron james in 2010. He's an amaznig player but with the amount of money we would be spending on him we could get several good players and build a championship team. A good team doesnt necessarily surround one person, a team could typically be better if there is talent spread out. about the milicic trade, i dont think they have stalled i just think that walsh is taking his time with this trade.
Edit Comment Cancel
Gabe Podair 8 months ago
couldnt of said it better myself
Edit Comment Cancel
PJ Edelman 10 months ago
Hey homes. My best memories of the Knicks are the late 90's. Their D, as weird as this is, made me want to watch them. It doesn't' look like they will return to those days anytime soon, but maybe their O will turn me into a basketball fan once again
Edit Comment Cancel
yungCaucasoid ... 10 months ago
...hmmmm...I wonder why:
-Coaches who *sucked terribly* while guiding the Knicks, like Larry Brown/Hubie Brown/Bob Hill----------juuuuuuust didn't ever seem to get the treatment Isiah gets for having such an unsuccessful stint? I wonder if there were so so so many articles/mindsets attacking them...hmmmmm
-Mike D'Antoni had an underachieving team, for 3-4 seasons in a row, while totally disregard the Knicks' franchise history of *Defense, Defense, Defense* yet, still got hired as Knicks coach
-Donnie Walsh has had months to man the Knicks roster, according to D'Antoni's run-n-gun-n-NO DEFENSE style, but has refused to do so. Therefore, if the plan is to increase the current players up-tempo capability, then...will D'Antoni get the 'Isiah Treatment' if this crop of Knicks' players are terrible under his style?
Edit Comment Cancel
Gabe Podair 10 months ago
i dont think that he would be at fault. it would be donnie walsh for not manning the roster with the players needed for the run and gun. Right now i think duhon can really become a good point guard in that type of offense and q-rich is a good dump off guy for the three but besides that i dont think that there is too much that D'antoni can work with. Ever since Walsh came to new york from Indiana, walsh, reporters and fans have all had the same idea about dumping salary money for lebron james in 2010. If you want him in 2010 i dont think Walsh is thinking about winning just yet. He has a list of things he needs to do before 2010 and once he gets that done i think we'll start winning
Edit Comment Cancel
Jim Truesdale 10 months ago
Seriously? the Knicks are horrible and won't be a winning team until they undergo a serious face-lift. Marbury, Randolph, Richardson, Jerome James and Eddie Curry all need to be moved and they need to start playing players that WANT to play. Not guys that just want to make a comfortable living.
If I were Dantoni I wouldn't even play those guys and just give the young guys burn to get them more experienced. Sooner or later those cancers contracts will expire off the roster and you can start fresh. Adding free agents and high draft picks would turn that franchise around within 2 or 3 years or so.
Edit Comment Cancel
Josh B 10 months ago
Wallace and Darko wouldn't fit their team needs. If they got Ben Wallace, they'd just have another player who stopped trying as hard once he got the money. Darko and Curry in a frontcourt wouldn't give them the rebounding they desperately need, even with Darko coming off the bench. But if it gets Randolph off their hands, they should probably go for it.
Edit Comment Cancel
Gabe Podair 10 months ago
First off, who says curry will start? Curry has not had one good year since he arrived with the Knicks. Even though he has the potential to be an all-star it doesnt mean that he actually is one. Darko can put up decent offensive numbers ( 10 ppg. ) and great defensive numbers like the 6 rebounds and 1.6 bloacks a game he averaged last year. Although the only way it seems the Knicks are going to get Darko is if they trade Randolph , i dont think it is worth giving up a future first round pick. I agree with Jim about the draft picks. and as i said in the article the key to the Knicks future would be those draft picks. Big men such as Hasheem Thabeet or Blake Griffin could be ideal big men. Second, in response to Jims comment, marbury will probably not start this season as a Knick or will ride the bench the rest of the year. Randolph is most likely to be traded. Jerome James has played a total of about 10 games with the Knicks in 3 years. Eddy Curry is the only player you have named that has contributed a little bit to the Knicks. Although it would be great to move him, it would be easier to move Randolph seeing as he has more value
Edit Comment Cancel
Steven Resnick 10 months ago
Keep dreaming the Knicks will be just as bad as they were under Thomas with Mike D'Antoni. I don't foresee D'Antoni lasting long with the Knicks either. It was a horrible choice to replace Thomas. It's actually a headscratcher more then a shrewd move by Donnie Walsh to get him. There was a reason why one of the most succesfull coaches in Phoenix history was let go. The reason is because he refused to have his superstars play an ounce of defense. So, if defense was the problem before with the Knicks it's definitely not going to improve under D'Antoni. Sure the Knicks may score a few more points if they catch teams napping on defense, but other then that as long as D'Antoni is coaching don't expect to make the playoffs with him as coach. Luckily Walsh will get tired of the 120 plus points the Knicks give up that D'Antoni will be fired after his first season there if not he'll be gone after the second.
Edit Comment Cancel
yungCaucasoid ... 9 months ago
If the Knicks trade a legit 20 & 10 guy (Zach Randolph) for sorryA$$ Darko Milicic, then...Donnie Walsh needs his teeth kicked in.
Edit Comment Cancel
Gabe Podair 9 months ago
Why? the whole point of these next couple years is to get enough money for 2010. In 2010 there are many options, not only lebron. Chris Bosh who is an all-star is definitley a better option than Randolph. Milicic has an expiring contract while Randolph has more money on him and more years. In a couple years the knicks wont need a 20-10 guy. Anyway, Randolph is averaging 20-10 while the Knicks had one of their worst seasons, so he could score 100 points a game for all i care the Knicks still arent winning. Kobe Bryant averages those numbers but he makes the Finals.
Edit Comment Cancel
yungCaucasoid ... 9 months ago
Gabe,
Your mindset is reminiscent of what makes sports, terrible. Your mindset is reminiscent of teams who *throw in the towel* with 25 games left in the season, just to get in on the draft lottery pick. Don't forget, Darko is a direct result of what happens when that backfires! hahahahaha
Your mindset is putrid, in forgetting that there's only a 3-4 age difference between Darko and Zach. Your mindset is putrid, to think that a player *who doesn't even deserve to be off of a team's IR-list* should be traded for Zach Randolph.
Even if the Knicks get LeBron, which I won't be dumb enough as *some others* to act like its a done-deal already;
the Knicks will still need a player of Randolph's caliber who knows how to box-out, doesn't waste time hanging around on the perimeter/handcuffing LeBron's creativity space. And Zach knows how to finish, very well, when LeBron goes to the basket/dumps passes down-low like he does so well.
Edit Comment Cancel
Gabe Podair 9 months ago
yung COCKasoid,
This is a strategic way to build a franchise. Rather than continue to suck every year and just buy their players, why not for once dont the Knicks draft a star? Your mindset is putrid and negligent. The trade for darko would not be becuase Darko is better. It is to trade away Zach's huge contract. Your just being ignorant by saying that Darko wouldnt even be off the IR-list. People tend to forget that darko was drafted number 2 in one of the most talented drafts in NBA history. He was picked before Dwayne Wade and Carmelo Anthony. People also forget that despite being drafted number 2, he was not given a chance until a couple years ago. Darko obviously is not a better player than Randolph, but he is a defensive stopper that the Knicks need for the future.
Edit Comment Cancel
Gabe Podair 9 months ago
also, your mindset of just signing players is what makes sports a terrible game. Why should a team be able to go out and get as many good players as they want just because they have more money than the other teams? If you ask me, drafting players to build a good team is a better way to build a team than buying players cause your owners daddy was rich
Edit Comment Cancel
Paul Nuzzi 9 months ago
Gabe. Is getting players that fit together, do diverse things, and make a team whole important. Most people who are being honest would say that Isaiah's biggest problem was getting pieces that fit together. The Knicks have had talent these past years, unlike the final years of Scott Layden when we were counting on Keith VanHorn or Tim Thomas to supply the talent. Problem under zeek was there were too many people on the floor fighting to do the same thing. No pure distributers, no defenders, no shoot blockers.
The shoot blocking is the biggest reason to loose Zach.. B/c curry can't block a shot, the Knicks need better defense from the 4, of from his back up. Lee starting at the 4 brings quickness and good defense, compared to Zach, who as he does rebound, doesn't stop other 4's at all. Darko backing up Curry at the 5 also helps a bit in that department. I don't think the trade is perfect, but it helps them now, and it helps them in 2 years money wise.
Going into this season, I suspect that Zach and Lee would start with Curry having to wait it out while Zach is auditioned. Making the trade now gets Curry in for the entire season(maybe one building upon 06-07's 19.5 and 7 a game.)
If I'm wrong, and the plan is to play Randolph and Curry together again, well.. this season will be like last year, and Randolphs audition will not get us better value for him this Feb or next summer.
Edit Comment Cancel
yungCaucasoid ... 9 months ago
Gabrielle,
"yung COCKasoid, "
-leave your moms out of this conversation pal.
"...Your just being ignorant by saying that Darko wouldnt even be off the IR-list..."
-check the stats of the avg. player thats on any NBA Team's IR list. Then compare them to Darko's stats; feel free to post my apology, at any time.
"...People tend to forget that darko was drafted number 2 in one of the most talented drafts in NBA history. He was picked before Dwayne Wade and Carmelo Anthony...'
-However, people don't forget that, for every chance he's been given to show what he can do? Then he makes *the great Joe Dumars* look like a bumbling-idiot, for drafting him ---at all!--- let alone, with the 2nd-pick in the draft. He sucks. Face this. I would say he's rivaling Sam Bowie & Ryan Leaf as the highest draft-pick busts, in sports history, but he really is worse them both of them.
"...Darko obviously is not a better player than Randolph, but he is a defensive stopper that the Knicks need for the future..."
-Defensive stopper? Dude. please. stop embarassing your basketball knowledge this way.
Edit Comment Cancel
yungCaucasoid ... 9 months ago
Your attempt to rationalize David Lee, being put before Zach Randolph...did really exploit you!
Now, I'm wondering if you even watch the NBA at all, or...are you just Erick or Gaz or steve, in disguise? ...and I need not say why I ask that, I'm sure!
The Knicks want to win some regular season games, for a few years, so thats why they hired Mike D'Antoni...DUH??
Meaning they don't need weakA$$, slow, unathletic, one-dimensional players who play a lil' defense every now and again, as they do nothing else on the court, whatsoever. They need offensive-minded players! With speed or offensive prowess, who can rebound. Face this. Which means that the David Lee's and Darko's of the World-------------are the odd men out!!
Edit Comment Cancel
Gaz V 9 months ago
Hey YC,
Are you paranoid? You seem to think that anyone who challenges you must be either me or Erick or steve "in disguise". Face it, a lot of people disagree with your idiotic views. The sooner you realize that fact of life, the less paranoid you will be.
Edit Comment Cancel
yungCaucasoid ... 9 months ago
Sorry Gaz,
no paranoia here. If that was the case, I wouldn't had come onto this website, a few months back, and began to initiate the mission that has gotten me so hated here....anyway;
didn't mean for the *poking fun at pro-Racist mindsets* to go over your head.
But, you'll get over it.
Edit Comment Cancel
Gaz V 9 months ago
yungCaucasoid wrote: "didn't mean for the *poking fun at pro-Racist mindsets* to go over your head"
That's okay. It actually went "below my feet" rather than over my head. In fact, just about everything you write falls beneath me.
But, you'll get over it.
Edit Comment Cancel
Gabe Podair 9 months ago
i guess i'm not the only writer that thinks your a dick
Edit Comment Cancel
Harris Beringer 9 months ago
Is Eddie dating yungCaucasoid, or are they twins?
Edit Comment Cancel
Harris Beringer 9 months ago
David Lee is a more efficient player than Randolph, which is evident by any statistical analysis, as well as winning percentage, +/- numbers, and watching a game. Randolph has more skills, but his style of play does not work for the Knicks. In a typical possession, he dribbles too much, does not pass to the open man, takes a low percentage shot, and then fails to run back on defense. If he only used his range when open, and otherwise passed it out, and hustled more often, he could be a star. I hope the coach can get through to him.
People do talk about how bad Larry Brown was, but Thomas gets more hate because:
1) He was coach and president
2) He had a few years and the team only declined
3) He lost millions in the sexual harassment case
Edit Comment Cancel
Harris Beringer 9 months ago
Okay, you are not substantiating any of your comments. He has played well at every level. In the Rookies vs. Sophomores game, he won MVP. Chris Paul and Monta Ellis were on that team. There is no way anyone can seriously call him dead weight or a bench warmer.
Edit Comment Cancel
yungCaucasoid ... 9 months ago
Harris,
I'm not going fall for you playing *The Caucasoid Card* that you play here re: Isiah and David Lee. Isiah was a coach just like Brown. The Knicks sucked under the white-man Brown's coaching, buts it cool. The Knicks sucked under the Black-man Isiah's coaching, but he's the worst man on Earth.
You're just like the pro-Racist, of NY, by trying to rationalize the racist-doublestandard. Isiah was being treated piss-poor by NY'ers, long before some *galactically ugly-A$$ woman* came along being cognizant enough to realize that all a woman has to do, is enter a U.S. Courtroom and accuse a Black male, of anything, and...HE'S GUILTY!!!
~David Lee's career avg. is 6 shots per game, where he makes 4...because he doesn't shoot from further than 6 feet away from the basket. Why? Because he can't. Period. He is far far too unathletic and slow, to rightfully trying doing anything else.
~Zach's career avg. is about 13.6 shots per game, where he makes about 6 of them...because he does a variety of things near the basket. It's just, like that, when you have that ability and skill. No matter how much you pro-Racists try and diminish it.
I give Lee his rebounding credit. But hey, Zach avg. nearly 2 rebounds MORE than Lee, while playing about the same amount of time ---AND!--- including being far far more scrutinized, marginalized, and attacked than the lilli-White Lee will ever ever absorb.
So, face it Harris, you're pro-racist *putrid-pink-panties* have been snatched off, for the entire world to see you as the liar that you are, when...you love giving 'a pass' to Caucasoid player's minimal contributions.
Edit Comment Cancel
Harris Beringer 9 months ago
I said that Randolph is a more skilled shooter, so your argument there is pointless. He just should not take so many low percentage shots; they do not help the team.
Also, check your numbers. David Lee gets a higher percentage of rebounds for his career. Last season the numbers were very close between the two.
Randolph also turns the ball over nearly three times as often.
People scrutinize him because it looks like he doesn't care about the team, and does not try. Fans loved Balkman, and they're excited about Patrick Ewing Jr. They have great intensity, which fans enjoy. Race plays no part.
Once again, people hate the coaching jobs performed by both Thomas and Brown, but Thomas was also a terrible President of Basketball Operations.
He actually was found guilty, and people also hate Dolan. Dolan is white. Race plays absolutely no part here.
Also, you misuse the words "further" and "you're."
Edit Comment Cancel
Gabe Podair 9 months ago
why are you soo in love with randolph? he's a great player, i'm sure everyone will admit it, but he's not what the knicks need right now, just like half the players on the current knicks roster. David Lee is a good player too, not as good as randolph or we would be able to get a lot more out of him. I just dont understand why you think randolph will help the knicks so much this year, if last year they were one of the worst teams in the NBA.
Edit Comment Cancel
yungCaucasoid ... 9 months ago
Gabe,
heed your own words. Last year they were one of the worst teams------with David Lee! So, you apply the same rationale to him, as you apply to Zach. Fair is Fair.
Edit Comment Cancel
Harris Beringer 9 months ago
Actually, when David Lee was on the court they played much better than when he was off the court. It has been that way every year.
Edit Comment Cancel
Gabe Podair 9 months ago
I believe i did apply the same rationale to david lee, i even admitted he wasnt as good as Randolph. Also, Zach Randolph played more and had more control over the knicks game play than lee did, maybe if lee was in things would be different, or maybe not. Fair is Fair
Edit Comment Cancel
yungCaucasoid ... 9 months ago
Harris,
"...I said that Randolph is a more skilled shooter, so your argument there is pointless..."
-So what, if you said that, you still DID NOT say a host of other things that prove Zach's Game, just...far exceeds David Lee's.
"...He just should not take so many low percentage shots; they do not help the team..."
-Thats a matter of opinion, really, regarding him taking low percentage shots. I think his shots are those he's had a proven-career, of making.
"...David Lee gets a higher percentage of rebounds for his career. Last season the numbers were very close between the two..."
-You misused the words *higher percentage* because there is no way to tally how/if a person can get a higher percentage of the rebounds. Unless you've gone and taken a count of the total number of shots teams took, against the Knicks, while Randolph was in the game and David Lee was on the bench, then...you took the same count, in a vice-versa situation.
"...Randolph also turns the ball over nearly three times as often..."
-You exposed your aimlessness here. Randolph handles the ball, far far far more than Lee. Lee only touches the ball when getting rebounds/put-backs from garbage points. For instance, Steve Nash lead the league in turnovers. However, I know there is no way possible that you will try and downplay his abilities, within that reality. So, nice try.
"...People scrutinize him because it looks like he doesn't care about the team..."
-A pro-Racist's biggest setback and achilles-heel is the ability to Understand *perception over reality* in other words...do learn how to let your psyche & emotions, intertwine.
"...Once again, people hate the coaching jobs performed by both Thomas and Brown, but Thomas was also a terrible President of Basketball Operations..."
-Once again, you exposed your own deceit. Folk beat Isiah's coaching down, long before they began to attack him, as President.
"...He actually was found guilty, and people also hate Dolan. Dolan is white. Race plays absolutely no part here..."
-man. please. stop with the lies. There is no beating down, of Dolan, like that of Isiah. Don't forget, you're talking to someone who lives in the same world as you do. With acess to the same news outlets, as you.
"...you misuse the words..."
-You misused the tense of the word, "misuse", as it should've been 'misused' because my comments were past tense.
Edit Comment Cancel
Leave a Comment
You must register to post a comment.