"We probably have the wrong guys starting and we’ll look to change our lineup 
and try to get some more energy and defensive guys in the lineup". 

– Isiah Thomas after today’s loss to the Los Angeles Lakers

 

Dear Mr. Thomas,

 

Turning Point? Today the Knicks came back from 25 points to almost upend the Lakers. Why? For one, in the second half, you had FINALLY changed the starting line-up. Knick fans have been screaming for this change since the second week! Bottom line: this roster, although structurally flawed, has the talent to compete. However, by our estimation (see 7 Reasons to Blame COACH Isiah) you have turned in the worst coaching performance this side of Larry Brown’s 42 line-ups. However, there no more time for continued analysis or extended discussion – just solutions. The media vultures are at the door and they are breathing fire. …Finally, the following suggestions do not come with condescension, just desparation. While you will forget more about basketball than I will ever know, we all know what 8-19 means. If you are serious about making changes before the Orlando game here are our…

 

 

10 Suggestions:

1) This team deserves to be coached properly. As you know, the current coaching performance has been unnacceptable. Barring a sudden turnaround in the next couple of weeks, we suggest that you give up your coaching duties and let a guy like Herb Williams or Jeff Van Gundy take over the reigns.

 

2) Today you started David Lee in the second half today. Please make this adjustment permanent while making Curry a "super-sub". As for Eddy’s ego, tell him that "if Manu Ginobli can come off the bench, then anyone can". Then tell him bedtime stories about hall-of-famer Kevin McHale coming off the pine to win championships. (Note: if Curry stays in line-up, then Zach goes to bench)

   

3) Admit that Zach and Eddy’s experiment has failed. We came. We watched. The results are in. The critics were right. I will eat my humble pie and so should you. Zach has stunted Eddy’s development. Each player is far more valuable to the team when they are the only low post player on the floor. When together the interior and perimeter defense are both atrocious while their offensive skills are duplicative. Any offensive possession where Eddy Curry is not the main low post option = a wasted defensive possession where he is a liability.  Period. We cannot afford that trade-off. Go with the hot hand that night. Limit their "together minutes" to under 10 a game, if not eliminating them altogether.

 

4) Start Jared Jeffries at the 3 for defense and give him a direct order not to shoot the ball unless it is a dunk – but only wide open dunks of course… with two hands… Such a move might prevent Mike Dunleavy and Gerald Wallace from playing like Hall-of-Famers when they play the Knicks… not to mention containing all-stars like KG, Bosh, and Lebron (who Jeffries played quite well with the Wizards). If Jeffries fails, give Renaldo a shot at this spot.

 
5) Sit Q down (related to #3). Quentin richardson is only shooting 32% and is not the same player as last year due to his back surgery and shoulder injury. If he gets his touch back consider more minutes from him. 

 

6) Forgive Renaldo Balkman for making a pass at your wife. I can’t substantiate this allegation, but there is no other explanation of how the ultimate energy guy cannot get on the floor for a team that has routinely lacked energy. When he plays more than 15 minutes the Knicks are 5-4.


7) Settle Point Guard Decision: There are only two possible players on the Knicks capable of running the point on any long-term basis, and seeing if Jamal or Nate can take their man off the dribble does not qualify.  If Marbury comes back solid from bereavement, then fine. If not, then a commitment must be made to develop Mardy Collins despite miscues that will follow. He showed promise at the end of last year when running the offense.

8) Jamal off the Bench: When Marbury returns, Jamal should probably come off the bench while Fred Jones moves to the 2 for defense. Marbury and Crawford together spell no perimeter D. Marbury and Zach get into offensive flow early, and Jamal becomes spark plug off the bench that also maximizes the Crawford-Curry chemistry. Should it turn out that defensive-minded Collins runs the point, then Crawford’s offense in the starting unit will then be needed. (Note: this is the suggestion that we are most skeptical about — maybe we feel it out a bit)

9) Turn Nate Loose:  Up until the last couple of games, Nate has played too controlled, tentative, and measured. Like Crawford or former Knick John Starks who only know one speed, sometimes it is all or nothing. Nate will never be a pure point guard, so just tell him to be agressive do that "microwave" thing that your boy Vinnie Johnson used to do. It is simply up to the coach to sit him down on those off nights. 

10) Make all these changes for the next game: By making wholesale line-up changes before Wednesday, less egos will be bruised as benchings will be softened by the company they keep.

In summary, the starting five:

Plan A:

– Stephon Marbury (develop Collins if Marbury is unavailable)
– Fred Jones
– Jared Jeffries
– David Lee
– Zach Randolph

Bench: Curry, Crawford, Balkman, Nate, Q

Pros: Jones and Jeffries offer major upgrade in perimeter D; Curry & Crawford connection in 2nd unit; Randolph/Lee have windshield wiping party

Cons: May be too little offense depending on what Jones brings. If so, then maybe Q at the 2.



Plan B:

– Marbury
– Crawford
– Jeffries
– Lee
– Curry

Bench: Randolph, Jones, Balkman, Nate, Q

Pros: Instant built in chemistry from last year as most of this line-up played together before injuries; Curry gets early touches; Marbury gets into early flow.

Cons: Marbury & Crawford provide poor perimeter D as a tandem; Will Randolph accept a back-up role?


With only a handful of others that can be found in the universe (see Knicks Defense), we do not believe that you and Mr. Dolan are the second coming of Enron. We clearly understand the implications of your inherited roster, inherited salary cap situation, and powder keg conditions in NYC. We have just as much disdain for vicious and spiteful New York tabloid media as you.  We have contempt for anyone who relentlessly mocks you, but has little to say about men named McHale or Mangini.  We do not support any other person who calls themselves a Knick fan who: 1) throws their Knicks jersey on the Boston Celtics floor; 2) holds up nasty signs so that they can get their 15 minutes of fame. or 3) holds protests outside of Madison Square Garden while people die in Iraq and Darfur.  And while we are just as disapointed as any other fan at the Knicks atrocious start, . WE ARE NOT THAT GUY!


If many of these proposed moves are given an honest chance and the Knicks still fail to show "evident progress" (by you or another coach), then much of the positive reviews that COSELLOUT has previously written about "Isiah-the-GM" will be renounced and we will join the legion of critics who believe that you were a failure in that post. But before that time, fans deserve to see the Knicks current talent-level maximized to its full potential. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Charles Modiano

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