"Can’t the Knicks just spot teams 10 points and play 3 quarter of basketball with line-ups that actually mesh instead of subjecting us to failed experiment that is Curry Randolph" — Jones (COSELLOUT Commenter)
If COSELLOUT’s reports on the Eddy-Zach Blues are getting redundant, we don’t care. We will keep on updating the same information until a perment line-up change and substitution pattern occurs. The chronicles of the Eddy-Zach Blues are only inspired by being a fan who has never once seen the Knicks best and most complementary players start a game this season. The Knick broken record continues: Eddy-Zach start another game. Knicks down 15-4 before Eddy and Zach are split. The Knicks outscore Toronto by two points the rest of the way. The only twist in this game is that the Knicks were down 11 points before HALF of the 1st quarter elapsed. In the last three losses:
- Zach-Eddy pairing spot opponents at least 10 points before they are split up in 1st quarter.
- Knicks outscore opponents 249 – 247 the rest of the way
- Post split Knicks remains competitive despite the opponent’s star player having a career night (see Yao twice and Chris Bosh).
Season Long Conclusion: The Knicks are a competitive team — maybe even a .500 team — if coached properly, if starting the best combinations, and if those correct combinations are given more than 5 minutes to develop chemistry with each other. The only way to know is to see it happen. And that is why we are still keeping the daily and season box scores on the Eddy-Zach Blues:
18 Times: Eddy-Zach have started and the first quarter ending with a deficit of 5 or higher.
0 times: Eddy-Zach starting line-up produced a 5+ first quarter.
But yesterday, Isiah Thomas was asked if he’d change the way he uses his rotation if the Knicks don’t turn things around soon, he said: "We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it and that’d be a fair question maybe a couple of weeks from now." …That bridge came a couple of weeks into the season, but Coach Isiah has been spotting opponents big leads all year long. If anyone wants to rename this the Eddy-Zach-Quentin Blues, that works too, and maybe even more accurate.
Unreal Statistic of the Season: There is only one thing more inexplicable than the continued Eddy-Zach pairing. It is how Quentin Richardson remains in the starting line-up or even on the floor at all. How bad has his shooting been? While forward-guards like John Salmons and Mike Miller shoot over 50% on the season, Q has never shot over 50% in 35 games. Not in ONE SINGLE GAME! If you were to remove his two best shooting nights where he made exactly half of his shots, Q is shooting 28.7% on the season. This is madness. Is there a statistician on the Knicks coaching staff? Now Q shot 42% last year. Even outside shooters do not experience this level of a slump. Q had off-season back surgery and a hyper-extended elbow which has obviously effected his shot. He is not the same shooter. Period. If he is lucky enough to ever regain his old form, it will have to happen during practice and 2000 jumpers a day in the off-season. SIT HIM DOWN!
Renaldo Let out of Jail? On a positive note Renaldo was freed last night and played well. Considering that Q has been given a full 35 games to lay brick after brick without any consequence, perhaps it might be fair to give Renaldo a chance to find a groove and not pull him after his first errant shot. Also, Nate has become the Knicks most reliable outside shooter, so let’s keep him in the starting line-up. Split Eddy-Zach; start Lee, bench Q, free Renaldo – STOP THE MADNESS!
Related:
- Eddy-Zach Blues Part I: An Analysis of All Knicks 1st Quarters
- Eddy-Zach Blues Part II: Houston and Season Deja Vu
- Eddy-Zach Blues Part III: Knicks Spot 10 Points Again
More:
Modi,
The cross the bridge answer from Zeke can only mean one
of two things!
1. Zeke won’t be here in two weeks.
2. Zach or Curry won’t be here in two weeks.
Your guess is as good as any, but common sense
equal 1 or 2.
MODI- I don’t want to rain on your parade here, although you do make a good point regarding Zach and Eddy. Allow me to break this down to you in a little bit more of a game scenario instead of a stat sheet. First things first. Eddy Curry is one of the most incomplete starting centers, if not the most incomplete, in the NBA. Centers do 5 things on offense- score in the post, set picks, offensive rebound, hit spot up jumpers, hit cutters from the post. These are the 5 BASIC things a successful NBA center does. How many of these basic skills does Curry possess? If we were to rate each individual skill on a 1-5, Curry doesn’t score over a 3 in any. As a matter of fact, Curry scores beneath a three in 4 of the categories. In other words, Curry is atrocious. It doesn’t matter who you pair Curry up with, the team is going to suffer offensively, because Curry fails to do things on offense that doesn’t include him scoring.
Z-BO is infinitely more talented than Curry on both sides of the court, but Curry is as one dimensional in the middle as they come. Curry delays the offense with Zach around because Curry has a crappy attitude. That’s the bottom line. He refuses to help his teammates out. Does Curry hit the offensive glass? Does Curry spot up for little jumpers? Does Curry hit cutters? Does Curry set good picks? Ask yourself if he does these things when you watch the Knicks suffer on offense. Too much time is spent on Z-BO and his inefficiencies. The core of the problem on offense belongs to Eddy Curry.
The second problem is the delegation of offensive duties given to the perimeter players. Crawford fanatics don’t realize how many poor plays he makes when he isn’t scoring. His fancy players notwithstanding, he fails to make proper passes and decisions on offense. Nate Robinson has played magnificently lately, because he has simplified his offense. He makes the simple plays and QUICKLY. Jamal consumes way too much time with the ball. You aren’t winning with this type of player at 2 guard. He doesn’t help Curry and Z-BO because of his poor passing skills in halfcourt set offenses. It’s almost criminal how Isiah gives Crawford and Nate green lights on offense, but difuses Marbury. Obviously this isn’t working.
In the end, the offense isn’t working and neither is the D. Isiah has counted on Curry to provide defense and he never has. Good defense creates offense. Defense starts on the baseline and that’s where our WEAK link in Curry resides. Everything else is window dressing.
Oh, and one more thing. How many times in those delinquent 1st quarters have opposing offenses THROTTLED our defense for 30 points or more? Curry shares enormous blame.
Jimmy,
Crawford is one of the best shooting guards in the NBA—so u best to chill—and find a hobby—because obviously—it’s NOT PLAYING & WRITING ABOUT BASKETBALL!!!!!
Jimmy there are two separate issues here. 1) Eddy-Zach playing together. 2) who is more valuable Eddy or Zach. I have been concentrating on the first issue first and foremost until it gets resolved. Despite tonight the team is infinitely better when only one of the guys are in the line-up. It is a STRUCTURAL FLAW just as much as it is persoanl to Eddy and Zach. 6 of the 8 games where they were split up, the team was competitive.
As for the 2nd issue, I am in the minority in that I prefer Eddy to Zach. Not an incredibly strong opinion, something like 60-40%. But I don’t want to make my extended argument right now because it is less important than the simple fact that they must be split. Either one is far more valuable by themself.
As for Jamal, I agree that he shouldn’t be running the point half time.
Anti, at the end of the day Jamal is a 40% shooter and turns it over 3 times a game. His razzle dazzle often hides that fact. If he drove to the basket more often, then it might be different. I’ve always said that his game is ideal as the perfect 6th man.
ANTI- Sorry you feel that way. Call me when they nominate Crawford to any All-Star squad or when he learns to play defense or when he averages 20 a game or when he averages 8 assists a game or when he plays physical ball or when he is in the top 10 in steals and rebounds for a guard. When he makes ONE of the aforementioned list you give me a call.
Modi
Thanks for the shout-out. I’ve never been cited anywhere before. I printed out the post and sent it to my Mama.
MODI,
What do you make of Zeke’s slip up last night saying
” We’ll cross that bridge if he(Steph) decides to play
again????” DECIDES TO PLAY AGAIN?????? RIP Steph!
MODI,
I wonder if you would like to play a Tom Hanks like role in the Movie I’m about to cast??? It’s called “SAVING PRIVATE MARBURY!”
Q’s not getting any lift or rotation on that jumper. A picture is worth a thousand words.
MODI- MIKE of Mike and the Mad Dog says he ran into Dolan the other day…He says I straight up asked him When are you gonna FIRE Isiah?….Dolan says to Mike that he’s not Firing Him.
As we all know Dolans loyality is his greatest weakness. O’ with Steph pretty much gone for the season (surgery), this should cause some concern for the second half of the season.
I am hopeful that he retains Steph’as contract ,as it will become very valuable shortly
Peace, I’m in!!! No audition necessary!
Ehus, if the Marbury surgery is confirmed, any hope of a resurgence might be down the drain. Barring a very unlikely occurence that Nate can play as poised as he has the last few games (he had 10 assists once!), the Knicks best hope is to develop Mardy Collins and live through the cringeworthy mistakes. …But of course, Isiah will probably waste develoipmental minutes by playing Jamal at the point…
Temple, you should see the full picture! Q’s toes are scraping the ground.
Modi- I enjoy NATE to the fullest…Marty must practice is JIMMY!
What happened to FRED J.?…
and RENALDO is creeping in there, with the three guard tendom dead-I would give Balk those mins to ‘GET RIGHT’. There is no doubt that a piece like Artest or a Marcus Camby Clone does not fit THIS PUZZLE.
Ehus, I am really enjoying Nate as well!
5 Reasons we won tonight that say absolutely nothing about future success:
1) the other team came in tired after a series of games including back-to-backs
2) Eddy and Zach did not give the game away in the first quarter.
3) Q didn’t shoot 2-9 again
4) Jamal went off. When Jamal goes off, we tend to win. Soak it in because he could go 3 – 15 tomorrow.
5) The Knicks shot 65% from 3-point range… mostly because Jamal went off.
However, two reasons that should translate to more wins:
1) Renaldo has finally received his prison release.
2) Back to Nate the Great!: Are we seeing a mirage or a new developing Nate Robinson in January? Sure, he is shooting an incredible 54% this month (which can’t possibly continuing longterm), BUT what’s up with the assists (8 tonight and 10 last week)! For the first time Nate’s poise of late is making me consider something that just one month ago I thought completely impossible… Nate as a viable point guard possibility! I’m not there yet, but just the possibility is a very exciting proposition
MAN! A light has gone off inside Nate Robinson. He has completely changed the way he is playing. He has complete control of his dribble and isn’t trying to go full speed off the dribble any longer. One of Nate’s problem was there wasn’t any deviation when it came to his moves. He would not set his defender up with his speed. He has emerged with his handle without having a great one. His speed is enough most of the time. He did have a funny hiccup when his speed got him into trouble and he ended up lobbing a shot over the backboard..lol. All in all, Nate’s game has improved greatly.
Modi- NATE is showing flashes of his summer league play!..8assists to one Turnover. And he got those in 25mins. Nate’s production per min is far greater than I could have ever imagined.
I dont know if you recall…one game last season vs. the CAVS at the Garden, He and Lebron put on a show for the ages. I mean back and forth…Cavs came out with the win…But when the game was done LJ had a few words of encouragement for Nate as they met at the half court. That lil pow-wow between the two always plays back in my mind whenever I see Nate do anything note worthy. Lebron went out of his way to give Nate his props….Nate the GREAT’ is one hell of an athlete and baller…Iverson and Larry Brown also went out of their way to compliment him as well….So its not a mirage we are seeing, it is the reality of the situation setting in.
From what I see, He is still playing with the same fire and desire he is known for….But he has taken his attitude/emotions out of the game, which enables him to make better decisions with the ball. How many times have we seen Nate get all worked up over a bad play or call.. He over reacts!..and it robs him of his focus.
He seems more relaxed and even MORE confident!!
*We should look at the NYK record w/ less then double digit TO’s!
3 in a row…
Jimmy and Ehus, Nates play this month is ridiculous! I never expected this!
Modi:
You already know which side I’m on with this debate, but just a few things.
If you pair Zach with a defensive minded five, one that doesn’t score, all the opposing coach would have to do is put the bigger defender on zach.
Zach has problems with the bigger defender, and resorts to drifting away from the basket for long jumpshots. We also know that Zach must get his shots to get to his averages. That means 8 to 10 forced shots from just inside the three point line. There would be no post game. the easy buchet would be hard to come by.
Comtrast that to playing Eddy with a defensive minded four. You still would need a double on Curry. That would open the court for the shooters to have uncontested shots and not have to work hard to create shots.
I’d take Curry every day of the week even with his shortcomings.
African, you do know that I prefer Eddy with a defensive-minded four. Curry and Tyson Chandler would own Chicago if neither were traded.
and you know that Zach’s 18 footers drive me crazy. However, i do believe that if Zach decided to make his living down low, he could do so even with some taller defenders. If he ever stopped caring about just getting his numbers, he could be a force.
African, very African…come and step in Brother’s Temple, see what’s happenin’.
I couldn’t resist.
X-Clan ya dig??