One game. That might be all Knick fans get this year. One game. And quite fittingly, a loss at that. Despite miscues in the final minute, it was the best Knicks effort of the year. Period. Don’t let the loss fool you. It was better than any of their wins. The Knicks were playing the defending champion San Antonio Spurs. This Knicks did not catch the Spurs on an off night like they caught Cleveland a couple of weeks back, nor did their impressive offensive showing come against a defensively challenged team like the Denver Nuggets (see Game 3). On one hand Manu Ginobli was out of the line-up, but the Spurs still came to play. They shot 50% for 3 point range while draining 11 from downtown including a late Michael Finley back breaker with a hand right in his face. Not only that, the Spurs only turned over the ball 6 times all game — only one more time than Jamal Crawford. And the Knicks still had a chance to win with under a minute to go.
This game was the one I’ve been waiting for ALL year. Not a victory based on a sudden comeback, on two good quarters, a Jamal-got-hot-all-night night, or the-other-team-couldn’t shoot straight night. It was the first all around effort for 4 full quarters, with all members hustling (including Curry!) with Stephon Marbury running the point and with Eddy Curry a dominant low post force unencumbered by Zach Randolph’s presence. It was the first game that showed the hope of last year. You know that team that played its heart out for half a season after the Denver fight up until injuries took hold. The team that went 22-19 in those 41 games. The one that won thrillers against Utah, Detroit, and the Lakers, but lost buzzer-beater heartbreakers against the Nets and Wizards in back-to-back games. The team that improved each month from the previous month before the injuries piled up (Lee, then Jamal, then Q — when he could still shoot). It was a team that had some people discussing Eddy Curry as an all-star instead of "a bum". With 12 rebounds Curry had his 1st "20-10" game this season after posting 12 such games a year ago. The team that did a lot of things wrong like turnovers and bad perimeter defense, but never seemed to give low effort. This was THAT kind of game… the kind of game that gives you hope. Hope didn’t merely come from playing merely .500 ball during that half a season, it came from the team development that was being witnessed during that stretch.
But after a one-game suspension Zach will be back tomorrow. And the Randolph trade — which I originally enthusiastically supported as much as anyone – marks the beginning of the end of that hope. I would now take that trade back in a hearbeat. Channing Frye was no world beater but could do two things that Zach won’t: accept a lesser role and space the floor for Eddy. Nothing personal to Zach, but he just doesn’t fit the puzzle (exception: if Eddy goes). His points are not needed on this Knicks team and his extra rebounds aren’t worth the chemistry costs. Upon further review Zach’s game takes away from the productivity of three separate Knicks. Curry needs a certain amount of offensive touches to be effective, draw fouls, and put the other team in the penalty; Marbury is best when he is being an aggressive scorer, penetrating, and dishing; and good things happen when David Lee gets floor time — minus Randolph. And most of all when Curry-Zach are on the floor together the defense becomes atrocious.
The game marked an aggressive yet controlled Marbury –even if his shot wasn’t falling. All Marbury hating needs to stop after watching the last few weeks without him where the Knicks couldn’t even run a set play besides Jamal or Nate taking his man off the dribble. Marbury only had two assists (and would-be assists that were botched by teamates) but the ball does seem to move around the perimeter when he is in there. But more importantly, he only had two turnovers in 40 minutes.
Is there is any possible hope of building off of this San Antonio loss? Not likely. Not as long as Eddy or Zach play together in the same lineup; not as long as 5 scorers are in the starting lineup; and not as long as Thomas tries to justify his biggest GM mistakes instead of correcting them. So most likely this will be that one game… the one game that showed that the progress made last year may not have been an illusion after all. The one game that showed that the ingredients might not be nearly as bad as the chef that is cooking them. The one game that those of us who expected promise and playoffs this year might not have been insane after all. But that game is gone… and in the books… it was just another loss.
Modi,
Come on man! So the Knicks played like last year
with Zach out, OK, I’ll give you that…But last year
we were still a terrible team with only 33 wins! Should we return to that????
It’s on Zeke to make Zach/Curry co-exsist!
I believe Zach is a plus on this team!
If Curry hit the offensive boards and
picked up his defense, we would be amongst the top
of the east!
Peace, I was referring to the middle half a season before the injuries hit. It was not just that they were a .500 team, but a team that seemed to play hard every night AND IMPROVING. Most of those losses were quite winnable. With very rare exception, when we lost it was never a blowout. Now this year, whether we won or lost a game, have we really seen then GROW or DEVELOP anytime this year? Yesterday theory played BASKETBALL! This is my point.
“It’s on Zeke to make Zach/Curry co-exsist!”
Peace, that sounds good in theory, but it just won’t happen. They simply cannot be on the same floor together. It’s a puzzle thing. I’ve come to the conclusion that Isiah, Red Auerbach, or Houdini cannot make this pairing work. I’m just tired of giving up first quarters every night. We have more than enough statistical and visual evidence to stick a fork in the experiment. Do you know the Knicks outscored Sacramento by 9 points when those two weren’t together? I’m not trying to put it on Zach as he would be more effective with Curry gone too. I would actually be interested in seeing a stretch with Curry out and only Zach… but it MUST be with Marbury running the point.
MODI- Instead of Isiah trusting Marbury with the ball in the final 2 minutes of the game, he gives the rock to Jamal Crawford. What do we get? We get a turnover and the usual bullshit floater in the lane. Lets analyze that floater. Instead of going right at Duncan and drawing the foul, Crawford decides to avoid contact (what else is new with this pussy?) and tosses up something right out of the WNBA. The strip was so aggravating, but typical of Jamal Crawford and this Knick team since he has arrived. I’m sick and tired of seeing Crawford fuck up games for us. I really am. When is this madness ever going to end?
There is hope, because Marbury was Marbury, to a degree, in this MORONIC offensive scheme. THIS is what Isiah wants. He wants Marbury to be the 4th scoring option. Didn’t Isiah watch last season’s games when Stephon was scoring a ton? We were a better team with Stephon scoring. To further quantify my post, look at the possession Crawford got stripped on. One of the leagues best defenders in on Crawford, meanwhile our best offensive perimeter weapon is being defended by a fossil in Michael Finley. Where was the pick and roll for Stephon? Where was the isolation for Stephon? Instead of a double up on Marbury, which Crawford NEVER draws BTW, Thomas allows Crawford to screw up the game. As Clyde would say it, “Crawford stumbling and bumbling on the perimeter!” and no words could be further from the truth.
Good AM MODI!
Interesting expose this AM. I’m with you ALL THE WAY with the Starbury scenario. He is our best point guard. At times he may not be the right Point Guard, but currently he should be the point Guard of Choice.
I feel you Modi on the ECITY/ZBO equation, but here is where it gets fuzzy for me.
Following your line of thought, the one-dimesnional athlete is better than the athlete with a few more facets to his game (neither play D), and defintely displays more heart and a btterwork ethic. And, the premise of sacrifice and chemistry I understand, but ECITY has not expanded his game or worked hard, so where is his Sacrifice. It is understandable why ZBO would not want to defer to ECITY when he is the better player and exhibits better work habits and skill. No coach can baby and shield one player, and ask the others to work hard and sacrifice. How does that enhance TEAM CHEMISTRY. MODI, in the end, I could be DEAD WRONG(I am often), and your PROP be on the money. But, right now I just cannot wrap my head around the premise. There has to be some balance.
Mucho Respect and Admiration Resident Scholar. Your is work is Stupendous!
As Clyde would say it, “Crawford stumbling and bumbling on the perimeter!†and truer words have not been spoken!
Peaceman- If I was Isiah..
1.I would sit w/ Eddy Curry and show him last night’s game in its entirety!, While watching I would ask him to explain to me exactly what he doing during possesions where he had amazing position on Tim Duncan to Rebound the ball, Ask him how he felt not being an offensive option & not at least touch the ball in the painted area(or any area) with 2minutes to go in the 4th.
2. Lets talk percentages; In the closing minutes of most all Knick 3pt. wins and loses Jamal Crawford shoots some of the most questionable shots. During the 4th after Jamal let Bruce Bowen off the hook (by not continuing to slice or shoot HIS shot),He factor briely X’d himself out of the flow of the game….At which point Coach instructed him to get back into the game…JAMAL- get into the game does not always mean SHOOT. It annoys me to see force shot attempts and turnovers when in fact the hottest shooter on the floor is not you. The excessive dribbling of Jamal and Nate with Steph on the floor is premature-especially when your man Eddy is Hoaring the league’s premire All NBA Defender. To many times we’ve seen that either the players or the coach have a hard time figuring out WHERE they want to attack from and WHO they are suppose to attack with.
I see the strain that straky shooting puts on other players,That comes at the price of needing timely hoops with Jamal is greatest asset at this time. One game against San Antonio does nothing for me at all personally,because the Dr. Jeckel & Mr. Hyde of this team has become this teams persona. It doesnt surprise me anymore…I know they can play with any team in the NBA..provided they put forth the effort every game for 48min. Roy Jones Jr. show up for a Knick shoot around a few days ago…I wish it were Tom Coughlin! He is probably the only New York coach that can stop these GOD awful turnovers!
Modi-There has to be a middle ground in which Zach and Eddy can co/exist. Offensively neither will sacrifice anything. But if Eddy maintains his approach to yesterday’s game every game- Malik Rose becomes the odd man out?
Zach has two strikes by me
1. Agrue a call while your man is scoring
2. You are Zach Randolph of the struggling Knicks..Decide whether or not the headband stays off or on before the game..If you’re gonna wear it..4godsake KEEP It ON!!!
Closing Moments
Steph surprise me with that cross court pass off the glass…And so did David Lee wit that Left handed prayer off the side of the glass. Down 3pts Jamal tries a lay -up from the baseline over TimD that left me speechless… I thought you go for the 2 in this situation if its a gimme basket. He is trying to gimme a headache!! Impressive Lost, if there is any such thing!
Jimmy,
Steph had an exceptional ugly offensive play right before crawford that hit the back board so hard it almost shattered!
Marbury has never been “Clutch” has he?
Modi,
you failed to mention Curry’s lack of defense or rebounds that don’t fall into his hands! Maybe that was an oversight that no one wants to admit is a fact!
cooley, as far as the Zach or Eddy question, I can also be dead wrong, but all i can do is offer an assessment like anyone else. I would love for Eddy to be out 15 games and then Zach be out the next 15 games to really have an experiment. But since that won’t happen, here is why I tend to favor Curry despite the fact that Zach is clearly the better rebounder.
Both suck at defense, period. Both turn the ball over at an equal rate. But Curry seems to know his place in the offensive system and so do his teamates. His place is down low and he knows it. He is there to shoot hi % shots only. Last year he shot 58% and this year he is down instead of up. Curry’s value is also that he creates more fouls, physically wears down opposing big men, and puts the Knicks in the penalty quicker. …If I have one wish, it would be to see Curry paired up with a defensive, shotblocking, dirtywork power forward who doesn’t need the ball. Lee brings the boards. but not the D.
Now if Zach stayed down low in the post, then I would pick Zach in a heartbeat. End of story. But Zach likes to roam, likes to shoot 15 footers, likes to stop any semblance of ball movement the second it touches his hands EVEN IF NOT DOWN LOW, …he even takes 3 pointers. Because of this Zach shoots 46%. Now the Knicks don’t need any perimeter scoring from Zach — that is what Marbury, Craw, Nate and others are for. And when he shoots from the perimeter, we lose him as a rebounder on that shot — which is why you almost NEVER see a Zach perimeter miss become an offensive rebound. It is always one and done with Zach on the perimeter. However, how many times have we seen Curry draw a double team, miss the shot down low and Lee pick up the scraps because Lee’s man left him.
Finally, I have come to dislike Zach’s game — at least with the Knicks. He plays hard, but he plays selfishly. If he has not scored early in the game and he comes back in the 2nd quarter, he will shoot it the first second he touches it no matter where he is on the floor and no matter if there is a triple team. He is clearly stat conscious. Zach and Curry both rarely pass out of a double-team, but here is the difference: Curry has yet to learn how (last year was the first in which he was regularly double-teamed), but Zach DOESN’T WANT TO! Big difference.
Again, i was as wrong as anyone about Zach coming to the Knicks. I didn’t watch too many Portland games and was blinded by the artificial “20-10″.
Jimmy, while I agree in general on the merits of Marbury over Curry, we cannot discount that Crawford has a past history of hitting clutch shots with the game on the line.
Ehus, I just don’t see the middle ground in which Zach and Eddy can co/exist. The pieces just don’t fit — on D more than anything. The best alternative is to have them split the 48 minutes. But of course, this will make both players unhappy AND more selfish during their time on the floor. One of them has to go.
Peace, fair enough about Curry’s only rebounds falling into his hands, but I could have sworn that Curry ripped two of them right out of Tim Duncan’s hands last night! Was I dreaming? But otherwise I have no problem admitting that Curry is a one-trick pony.
MODI- Hitting “clutch shots” on a losing team isn’t exactly impressive. If the team were winning, I would be impressed. Crawford makes far too many poor plays throughout a game. He is John Starks minus the heart to go to the basket strong. Starks took terrible shots, but he went hard to the basket and drew tons of fouls. Crawford is DOWNRIGHT SOFT!
PEACEMAN- I would have Marbury shooting the ball before Crawford ANY DAY OF THE WEEK.
Jimmy,
U don’t know what ypu’re talking about. Crawford the best clutch player in the game. U must have forgotten last year when when Crawford was the most Clutch out there on the Knicks or any NBA team for that matter.
Crawford may be soft—ok. But a headcase like Starks during his Knicks career wasn’t all that. What about getting destroyed by Jordan all those playoffs games. All missing all those three pointers during in finals that sealed the Knicks fate and championship hope.
I think it would be very unlikely that given a chance Crawford would shoot misses like Starks did on that game; what was Starks stats that night?
Check this out, Jimmy:
Wikipedia—John Starks:
“One of the low points of Starks’ career came in the 1994 NBA Finals against the Houston Rockets. The Knicks had taken a 3-2 lead into Game 6, and in the last second, Starks had the chance to sink a three point shot that would have won the Series. He collided with Rockets center Hakeem Olajuwon on the shot, no foul was called and the shot was missed. In Game 7, Starks shot 2-for-18 from the field, contributing to the Knicks’ loss to the Rockets.”
Wikepedia-Jamal Crawford:
“Jamal is primarily used as a shooting guard, he is often matched up against larger, more physical players. As a result he often struggles on the defensive end of the floor. However, his quickness and his accurate three-point shooting make him a very dynamic offensive player.”
Just for you, Jimmy—some highlights from Jamal’s performances taken from last season—-since u have a short memory—I’m here to remind to stop hating on Jamal Crawford:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4V45qYbjOd4
NUFF SAID
ANTI-OUT!
Jimmy, WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT?
DO U KNOW ALL ABOUT THAT?
ASK JAMAL CRAWFORD—HE KNOWS!!!!
ANTI- Jamal ain’t shit. The SOFTY is one of the WORST starting 2 guards in the NBA. The next person he stops on defense will be his FIRST. I wonder if someone has a YOUTUBE video of all the times Jamal has bricked a shot in the 4th quarter of games that were close. That video “clip” would run for 5 hours just in his Knick career alone.
Do you guys think bringing in somebody like Kwame Brown would help the Knicks on D?
Jimmy,
As a fan of a player—-to each his own!
If you want to find flaws in a not perfect player—there will be plenty.
Name me one Perfect player and I name u a liar.
Anti let me ask you one question.
How many times has Jamal won games in the 4th qtr. after shooting his team out of the game in the previous 3?
Okori,
Not many.
Jamal Crawford is an INSULT to true legit 2 guards like Spree, H20, and Starks. I can’ wait for the day that kid gets traded.
Jimmy,
Count the rings of your beloved three mentioned above! How many is that??? How many 50 point games did they have against the defending World Champs??
All three haven’t won SHIT! Crawford is 27 and still has time to get the shinny stuff!
I’ll take Crawford on my team over any of your favorite three! In a heartbeat!
JIM- How long have you felt this way about Crawford?
Last couple of years,He has proven he can hold his own in this league,you would rather see him go?>-before assigning him the 6th man job?..Or even before a REAL COACH has the opportunity to help him take care of the basketball(1.2TPG)and get to the free throw line more; perhaps b/c there is no way that Jamal cant get any shot he wants!-against anyone he wants!-
JC “COOKED”Bruce Bowen..!On repeated possesions.
“Bruce, Baby.. I saw that!!…” But you redeemed yourself with a great defensive play on the ball against JC @ the top of the key, when it mattered most.(Championship D right there! more or less.)
Jim all i’m saying is he has got something special about his game.Flaws and All. “I have always believed that he has needed an offensive system, or set of plays that are set for him to catch and shoot or give and go. Make it simple ya know… Like he did versus Wade, 52pts or whatever. Im sorry,but when you see a HUMAN shoot that many shots in a row versus another HUMAN and he doesn’t have a gun in his hand!..Mannn from that day forward that HITMAN is MY Shooter!,I talking over 100 kills.”
OfCourse I would like to see his *defense and **shot selections at critical portions of the game improve, but all and all he needs a solid more structurally built team from top to bottom all together. When he finally gets it.., it will make him a rock solid guard in this league.
Until then, he’s like most TALENT on the wrong franchise in this league.
And it couldn’t hurt to inject him with some Spree Juice (attitude),or the Swagger of one H20. But they had each other. Steph is not quite the same,and one should hope that he may one day earn his salary, Im not so sure that’s possible with his mins dwindling at the same rate as his coachs career.
Jamal makes almost 3x less than what Stephon makes and JC is hitting all the money shots.
Modi- This has been going on for far to long..This New Breed of NBA Athlete who’s not werth his weight in gold. Call the Story “Fool’s Gold” and your next one could be called “Artificial Stats”
I like Jamal the shooter, but there is no ball movement with him unless he throws an entry pass. Ball movement is crucial to keeping defenses working and Marbury is the only guy that promotes this. To me, Jamal is the perfect 6th man. Jamal should follow the path of Manu Ginobli and Ben Gordon…
Jimmy, aren’t you being a tad hard on Crawford… just a tad
Anti, now do’t mess with my man Starks! And don’t forget that before that last shot in Game 6, Starks was on fire and completely brought the Knick back in that game…
Peace, you know I respect your opinion, but Crawford over Spree? Over the sweet stroke of Alan Houston? Do you know how much we can use a perimeter shooter like H20 right now?
Panzeh, I really don’t know how good Kwame is on defense right now… please do shed light…
Ehus, I just posted a version of “Artifical Stats”. His name is Zach Randolph and it comes at the end portion of “The Eddy-Zach 1st quarter analysis”
PEACEMAN- lol. I am not even going there with you. Crawford is awful. You can’t be older than 21 for you to diss my man John Starks. All three of those players played All-Star games and went to the finals for the Knicks as MAIN PLAYERS. Fucking Crawford has not played on a .500 team since Michigan. Save the bullshit for someone else, man. Crawford’s next “shine” will come from a trip to the jewelry store and that’s it.
EHUS- Most NBA guards “can get their own shot” if they wanted to or if their coach let them. Remind me when Crawford shot over 44% in a season. For all this “ability” Crawford is supposed to have, his shooting %’s are pretty pathetic. I could understand if he were a long range bomber, but he isn’t. The guy STRUGGLES to stay over 40%! And on bad teams! The kid is a CAREER 40% shooter…CAREER! I can’t even begin to go over how incredibly awful he is. You add up all his bricks and all his TURNOVERS, along with his FAILED defensive assignments and you have the recipee for a scrub. The kid is a flashy balla with below average fundamentals. I have NEVER liked 2 guards who can’t make open jumpers consistently. Crawford fits that bill perfectly.
MODI- I don’t like guys who are scared to go strong to the hoop. Crawford is EXACTLY that type of player. Always going into the paint looking to throw some feather shot up. I can’t tell you how SICK AND TIRED I am of seeing Crawford ruin games with his suspect game. Curry and Crawford are the main reasons we aren’t a .500 team. These are NOT winning ballas.
Jimmy, you seem to hate Craw’s game the way that I hate Zach’s game. oh well.
But what about the half season stretch last year after the Denver fight and befiore the injuries where the Knicks went 22-19 (over .500). And more importantly, wasn’t the team husting? playing close games? Fighting to the end? Improving each month? Weren’t Curry and Crawford on that team?
Question: can Crawford’s talents be used properly as a sparkplug 6th man?
MODI- We can find a 6th man anywhere. The problem is Isiah wants Crawford as the team’s shooting guard. Crawford is another guy who doesn’t hammer anyone as they go to the basket. Very soft player.
I kind of get offended when I hear Crawford compared to a “schoolyard” balla. I’m sorry, but in the schoolyards we played without refs. If you went to the hoop, you were going to get the shit beat out of you. There were no And 1′s either. If you called a foul and hit the hoop, it didn’t count. THAT’S the schoolyards. It made you a tougher player. That’s why NYC point guards are tough. Crawford just imitated all those ESPN street guys and used it as his game. And it’s typical. He is from Seattle. Nate is a tough guy because he is a football player first.
MODI- Kwame’s one game is his solid D. Phil Jackson likes to match him up on starting centers and he is good at shutting down inside players. His low post 1-on-1 defense is almost unmatched. Unfortunately he can’t really catch the ball, can back down anyone but will brick just about anything afterward. If he had a decent shot his above average speed for a player his size would be enough to get him a starting job.
Kwame is poor in help/outside D, however. He would have to start only against teams with dominant offensive big men. He’ll probably be asking for a lot of cash and the Knicks could provide.
Panzeh, i’m well aware that Kwame sucks on O and that his shots take the world’s ugliest bounces off the rim. However, a 7-foot defender might be what the Knicks need. However, his rebounding and shotblocking #’s seem pretty low…
The ONLY thing Kwame would be good for is his expiring contract. This guy serves no other purpose. He is a bum.
MODI- Yeah, with Kwame’s rebounding he would certainly have to play beside Zach Randolph or David Lee, which might hurt the offensive production. He did put up okay stats last year as a starter, and a lot of complaints about him are mostly based on the expectations given a 1st overall pick. I just think an interior defender is precisely what the Knicks need.