Okay, the words "Knicks-Bulls" aren’t what they once were, but we can still take away a few nuggets. The Knicks won yesterday against the Bulls. The bleeding has stopped… for at least two days. Check that, I’m wrong. NYC media vultures like Mike Lupica, Mitch Lawrence, and Mike Vacarro all wrote articles this morning that would make you think they lost by 40.
About the Bulls: My reaction is that the Bulls are an inverse mirror image of the Knicks: they have lots of young talent, but are structurally flawed. The Knicks have an imbalance of scorers who can’t play defense, and the Bulls have an imbalance of defensive minded guys who can’t shoot the basketball to save their life. Both rosters are talented, but both need at least one more trade. Oddly enough, it seems like a guy like Eddy Curry is EXACTLY what the Bulls are missing down low! (Note: Luol Deng, their ONLY interior scorer was out yesterday.) Also, why hasn’t Ben Gordon improved since his rookie season. Don’t get me wrong, "Madison Square Gordon" can be a cold-blooded asassin on any given night, but shouldn’t you improve each year? Is it me or is his trade stock plummeting? And has John Paxson held onto all his cards too long while they had the best young talent in the league to land a Kevin Garnett or a Pau Gasol.
About the Bulls Future: Although the Bulls have overcome slow starts in recent years to make the playoffs, I just don’t see that happening this year (unless there is a trade). Every year Ben Wallace is declining more than the previous year. So much for “getting under the salary cap”… John Paxson compromised the Bull’s future by letting a young Ben Wallace go for peanuts (see Tyson Chandler) in favor of signing an old one. Considering what was given up, it is a far worse decision than ANY Isiah Thomas has ever made. (When Isiah makes mistakes, he usually gives up little in the process). Watch Tyson Chandler on NBA league pass sometime. Oddly, enough he seems like the PERFECT complement for Curry’s defensive weaknesses! Hmmmm. Can the Knicks media and fans learn something from the Bulls impatience in developing young talent?
The Last Isiah Defender Left?: As explained in the multi-part series “The Book of Isiah”, I’m one of the few people left who believes that Isiah Thomas has done a good job as GM. Why? Historical context is the answer. The roster he took over in December 2003 is one of the worst in NBA history (with 4 years hindsight), and when compared to other similar historical NBA rosters there is very little precedent of anything less than a 5 year turnaround project. Fans can be disappointed at the slow start (as am I), media can call for Isiah’s and James Dolan’s head all it wants, but it doesn’t change the fact that there is almost nothing in NBA history to show a quicker turnaround with such a pitiful roster. The most recent roster comparison (the 1999 Bulls) averaged 19 wins for the next 6 years. Thomas has succeeded in his first stage: turning garbage into talent. Stage 2 is chemistry. But understand that you CANNOT accomplish stage 2 without first completing stage 1. That is why at least one more significant trade is needed.
Chemistry: Critics routinely question Isiah’s intelligence by citing “chemistry” issues. While chemistry is certainly a concern, it is an easier issue to fix than lack of talent. Building perfect chemistry is not a luxury one has when trying to upgrade for talent but lacking trade bait. If Thomas thought he could get Jermaine O’Neal for Channing Frye and Steve Francis, he would have done so. Randolph was available and you pull the trigger on that one every time if you have the Knicks roster. If the Zach-Eddy experiment fails, one can still be used as trade bait (Curry’s contract at 9M is more tradable). They are in a better position to build chemistry if one of them ends up traded.
Isiah the Coach: As far as coaching goes, I like Isiah as a “developer of young talent” – something he showed in his Indiana stint with Jermaine O’Neal, Ron Artest, Al Harrington, and Brad Miller. However, his substitution patterns are something that don’t seem to maximize the talent on the roster. It is my hope that we see the following in the future:
1) Start Renaldo Balkman: Last year David Lee was the Knicks most indispensible player because he was their only serious rebounder. Since Zach Randolph can also rebound quite well, this year that honor goes to Renaldo Balkman, the ultimate hustle and defense guy. The main advantage to start Quentin Richardson is that he might space the floor for Curry and Randolph since he is the Knicks best 3-point shooter. But Q has a hyper-extended elbow which is clearly affecting his long range shot which was 38% last year and a paltry 21% this year. Balkman doesn’t need the ball to be effective and the Knicks have four other starters who can score. He provides that defense that sparks fast breaks and easy transition buckets — something that is sorely missing in the starting unit.
2) Work around Limitations of Curry-Randolph Experiment: The best thing about having Curry and Randolph is always having a post-up presence on the floor at all times. However, they should not be on the floor TOGETHER for more than 12 minutes per game. It is not just that their interior defense is terrible, but the Knicks’ ability to guard the 3-point line (which is already atrocious) gets even worse. D-Lee won’t provide great interior D either, but will more likely get to the perimeter for those roaming big men. D-Lee needs more minutes anyway.
3) Dust off Jared Jeffries on Select Matchups: In limited time, he is showing sparks of the kind of defense seen as a Washington Wizard. In two games the Knicks play the Celtics. Stick him directly on Kevin Garnett. That’s what we got him for. Rinse and repeat for Chris Bosh and Lebron James. Give him orders not to shoot the basketball unless it is a dunk. Point blank dunks only of course.
4) Keep an eight or nine man rotation (Jeffries being the 9th man on select matchups). Knicks like Stephon Marbury, D-Lee, and N8 all seem to play better with a minimum threshold of minutes. Unless Q is rebounding like he was yesterday, sit him more minutes until his shoulder heals.
That’s all the suggestions for now.
Modi,
I support your formulation that Curry and Randolph should not play extensively together. I believe they are together now to solidify the team identity as an inside-outside post-up team. The defense must respond in kind. Then, as we approach the All-Star break, barring a trade, we should see more of what you described. A second unit with Jamal and N8 and Balkman, and another unit with Stephon, Randolph and Lee plus Q for rebounding and trey threat. The Coach has to manage minutes and egos in terms of who starts and finishes games. This is a daunting task and why they get the gazillions that they do.
This is only a guess…but I figure that Dolan despises the NY Sports Media so much that what ever they write in favor of (firing Isiah), he will do the opposite.
If this is true—the pit bull looking dogs like Lupica,Greenberg,Lawrence and the rest—are wasting their time writing what they do. Although they will continue, b/c obviously this is what their bosses desires or wants— they pay these dogs to write these lies and rumors.
Another thing, if there’s a person out there aspiring to replace Isiah if and when he’s fired, then this person like Chris Mullen or whoever, should not allow or let their intentions known to the MSM, NYMSM, and it gets to the ears or eyes of Dolan. Because Dolan will do the opposite.
And I congratulate and encourage James Dolan to keep up the good work, what he’s doing is giving the dogs no bark. They are in fact, as they write their garbageness, just like toothless dogs that have a lot of bark, but no bite. Discerning readers are no longer fooled and mislead by their inane inks. Bring it on; they’re doing nothing but wasting their time. It makes me happy to see them not getting what they want!!!
Dolan would not make these NY Press Dogs happy by satisfying their desires. Making them win! James Dolan stays in control by not relenting to the NY Media; so by doing that, Dolan remains in control. He knows the sports reporters don’t like him. So I guess it pleases him to do the opposite of their desires. And to me that’s a good thing.
What James Dolan is in effect doing is not giving these writers a credible voice to stand on. How long have they been bashing IT, Dolan, this Knicks team? Forever, right? And where have it gotten them?
So far no where, and to me, that’s good sports related news worth reading.
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To see how bias and hateful these dogs who cover the Knicks… we don’t have to look that far for factual knowledge in their garbageness reporting.
A quick comparison we can see the difference:
After the Nets beat Sonics, Nets beat writer Julian Garcia opened up her article, “On Road, Nets Hot Stuff†with this paragraph: SEATTLE — “Just days removed from a six-game losing streak, it doesn’t matter what kind of wins the Nets get, as long as they get them.â€
Wow!!! Did you read that? This NY Sports News writer is in fact not belittling the Nets win with a sarcastic or cynical remark—but instead mentioning any win is a good win.
Now take this lifetime resident dog in Anti’s Doghouse, Mike Lupica’s article on Sunday 11/25/07,â€If Isiah knows hoops, Knicks’ fans know betterâ€:“The Chicago Bulls did not have Luol Deng, a player good enough to be in trade talks about Kobe Bryant, at the Garden yesterday. Ben Gordon, somebody who usually kills the Knicks, at the Garden and everywhere else, combined with Kirk Hinrich to shoot 9-for-35 Saturday. Somehow the Bulls overcame all that and tied the Knicks at 75-75 in the fourth quarter before missing the last eight shots they looked at. You want to know who the Knicks can beat right now? That’s who.â€
Now why not write what Julian wrote about her team the Nets, that every win is a good win?
Answer: This dog Mike Lupica and Head Woofer in Anti’s Doghouse is incapable of saying anything positive regarding the Knicks. That’s why.
What this Mike “pit bull†Lupica is inking is inserting a negative (Knicks beating an awful team), instead of emphasizing the positive (Knicks beat an awful team). Any win is a good win, right? In Lupica eyes, any win the Knicks win, is not good in his eyes. And he thinks he has the audacity to speak for us true Knicks’ fans when he’s write in such a way that shows he doesn’t speak for us true Knicks’ fans.
This toothless dog has lost his bite, therefore he’s inane, and forever a member of the Dog Pack and rightfully belong in my Doghouse, that includes these other NY Sports Writers as well: Mitch “the grill†Lawrence, NY Post vulture looking, Jay Greenberg, Peter “the liar†Vecsey, Frank “not so credible†Isola.
Anti-NYSportsNews is my name, and you can find me at my home base here and at the world wide web Knicks’ blog headquarters:
http://www.knicksdefense.com/.
AntiNY, I’m right there with you on Dolan’s media policy. The media mob have given EVERY reason to have a closed door policy. There is really no other alternative.
And nice demonstration how Lupica spins storoes and ALWAYS claims to be “the voice of the fans”. Spinning stories and speaking for the “true fans” are common tactics for him. Why o why didn’t I name this website “stopmikelupica”? Oh yeah, it was taken! http://www.stopmikelupica.com
Thanks, stopmikelupica, I will add your site and cosellout in the near future on Anti’s blogspot.
WriteOn all.
It is getting a tad ridiculous as far as how the media treats the knicks. There are obviously worse teams in the League (Sactown, Sota, Philly, ??The Heat??), but not only are they framed as a door stop, but the very end of organized basketball. Ha, and I’m not even a Knicks fan, but they drag these boys through the Mud. I tell you what, let’s suit up this Lupica cat and follow him 24/7 and see how he handles himself.
Great post, Modi. Here’s a couple of my thoughts on the topics you touched on:
1) The Bulls really are the inverse of the Knicks in a lot of ways. Even coaching. Skiles is a taskmaster who works his players hard, and may have lost their loyalty because of his habit of airing dirty laundry in the media. He seems to be suffering from the prototypical burnout of a taskmaster coach who loses his team after working them too much for too long. In this case, the Bulls offense, which was effective the past two seasons, is slumping this year because they seem to have “zoned out” Skiles’ philosophy. The Knicks, on the other hand, are a team who coach had his players’ loyalty because he never aired dirty laundry in the press, but may have lost it recently with the Marbury debacle. That’s yet to be determined, though. Hopefully not.
2) I have no idea why Paxson hasn’t made a trade for a low post presence in the past year – Gasol, KG, even Jermaine O’Neal – could have put this team over the top. It makes even less sense when you consider that, after paying Gordon and Deng their extensions (if he re-signs them), the Bulls will be at the cap limit. Utterly wasteful. Isiah Thomas has done a far better job of managing what little assets he’s had. Draft picks for example… anyone still think the Knicks would be better off with TyThomas and Noah instead of Curry after watching this game?!?
3) I agree with your suggestion on Jared Jeffries, limiting the Curry-Randolph tandem (honestly, benching Curry, then teaming him up with Crawford on the second team, would help the Knicks defensively a lot), and on limiting the rotation (though there are a lot of role players – Fred Jones is a tremendous defensive asset, and Balkman, Lee, and Robinson all need to play, too).
Not sure if Balkman starting is the way to go, though. I love Renaldo, but he is foul heavy. His minutes need to be increased, though, and then we’ll get a better idea if he be a starter or not….
And we’re back to being OPTIMISTIC!!!!!
Remember that Thanksgiving Day headline: Stick a Fork in Isiah! He’s DONE!!!
SML,
1) Good analysis here. I had the same fear on Marbury. last night was a huge boost on the Marbury front.
2) Totally agree here. In fact, I just wrote an article on your Paxson point.
3) Although it is a bit radical, I could flow with Curry and crawford in the second team. They always need to be in the rotation together.
T3, you are damn right we are back to optimistic! Not because of the win so much as because it was led by Marbury. He was aggressive, yet poised. Looked for his shot, yet spread the ball around well. As goes Stephon, so goes the Knicks.
Why can’t that brother throw an entry pass?