The season is over, a season where fans didn’t expect much other than a lower seeded playoff run. We got Amar’e Stoudamire, and while he was willing to be the leader and accept the challenge of winning in NY, we needed to see to believe, and he was all we could ask for in a player and more this season. We had our ups and downs, and nothing was more exciting than the acquisition of Carmelo Anthony. Although interference by the worst owner in sports Jim Dolan (featuring his BFF Isiah Thomas) caused us to trade more than we needed, we got the second star player we coveted and the future looks bright. We got swept out the playoffs by the battled tested Celtics, but squandered 2 great opportunities to steal games in Boston. injuries There’s a lot of work needed, and the right moves need to be made to get the Knicks to that next echelon of contending teams.
Pick up Donnie Walsh’s extension
This should have been done weeks ago, but our aforementioned horrible owner sees fit to drag these proceedings to the final hour. If he leaves, then all bets are off. I couldn’t blame him if he didn’t want to return to work for a guy like Dolan. No wonder Cablevision sucks as a provider!
D’Antoni must go in 2012
Because of this lockout, we will more than likely have to keep Mike for another year. I think he is a good coach, but I question if he is the RIGHT coach for this team. Those two games in Boston came down to coaching, and Doc Rivers schooled D’Antoni the entire series. It wasn’t even close! From the inbounds alley-oop play in game one, to the clock rundown play in game two, it was obvious that Doc made D’Antoni look like a rookie coach.
To be fair, he has dealt with major trades mid season his entire time here. next year, he’ll get a full season. Let’s see what he does, but I’m pretty sure there will be excellent coaches available after Mike D’Antoni’s contract expires. Coaches are just as important as players late-game.
A true Center/Big Man
We need someone who will do the dirty work. Who will rebound, defend, and score in the post. I cannot deal with the offensively challenged Jared Jeffries anymore! Someone in the mold of Marc Gasol/NeNe/DeanDre Jordan would be a great fit.
A Point Guard
Chauncey will be finished soon. You can already see that one injury can wrap him up for like 6-7 games. I think he’s good enough to pickup that extension, but we need another answer long term. Toney Douglas is more of a shooting guard anyway, and his decision making is suspect. CP3 and D Will are long shots, but with the 2012 free agency looming we will see.
Another scorer/shooting guard
Landry Fields had a great season, and yeah his game changed when Melo arrived, but he disappeared in the playoffs. We can’t allow that again. I’d rather have him coming off the bench, or platooning with another shooting guard.
In general, we need to regain the same defensive mentality that other Knicks teams have shown. We have a great core, but need to build correctly in order to attain that next step. The salary cap is killing us, but hopefully with Donnie Walsh we can find a way, as he did once before. The future is still looking good, and I hope we make the right decisions going forward.
Hit on every pt…Hard to say what can be done, being that the salary cap has a choke-hold on the team. Dolan is def. a terrible owner, but I don't think he can take that #1 spot as long as Donald Sterling controls the Clippers tho. Fields, Douglas and Billups are crucial in landing another PG. Fields disappeared, while TD upp'd his stock slightly. Still gonna be difficult to make a move for a guy like CP3, w/o quality players to move, or draft picks. But DeAndre Jordan next to Amare would be crazy!
Remember when i called him DeAndre Blair? lolol
Yeah I agree. Best bet is to see CP3 as a FA in 2012. Donnie has that knack to make moves with the cap, so we shall see.
Personally, I think Walsh is outta here… but by his own choice. The Dolan-Isiah interference blew up the rebuilding process he spent two-plus years working on. Now, just like in the old days, their cap flexibility is limited.
I think Coach D is gone by the end of next year. Everything you said is right, but I kinda feel sorry for him. Except for the first 50 games of this year, he never had the team he wanted to fit his system. But, at the same time, he knew what he was getting into.
The Knicks may need to strike it rich in this draft, but there's no oen out there that makes you drool. The next year or two will be interesting.
I agree on being sad for D'Antoni, but he definitely knew what he was getting into. Dah Well. Lets see what happens in the draft!
Few problems:
1) People are convinced that D'Antoni is the problem. Man, listen to me, Doc isn't that great of a coach. He surrounds himself with great coaches. Basically the Knicks could save a lot of money and transition, by just getting what Doc had in Thib. I think it's too much of a rebuilding effort to bring in a new coach. And dreams of Phil or Doc in NY are just not something to hang your hat on. You'll end up with Frank Vogel, and this look on your face o_O.
2) CP3 shouldn't be in NY. Think about that, CP3, Melo and Amare are three fierce competitors, yes, but can that locker room take that? No chance. You've got CP3 who will punch his mother in the face to get what he wants, Amare who is the i'm in your face, huffing and puffing to get what he wants, and Melo the "i've won a state championship and national championship, you guys should just give me the ball and move" mentality. You don't need CP3. What you need to do, is go out there and get some players who compliment your stars and fill in the gaps. You spoke about the SG position. What about a lockdown defender in that spot? You speak about PG, get a fast guy off the bench, but a mature leader/veteran in the starting lineup. Someone who has been to the promise land and is 3-4 years away from the end. Billups is fine. Just not at that price.
3) Lakers, Heat, Celtics find ways to get players to take less money to play with a better chance at getting to the Finals. The Knicks gotta find a way to do that. They can't always plan to find the money to pay a player max contract money, or high salaries. They got to go out there and acquire folks who will take less money to win. That's why actually it bother me with Amare sometimes because I think you can get that output for cheaper and Amare is actually the weaker link out of the CP3 and Melo plan.
4) Supporting cast players, just a brief note to piggyback off the last. You've got to acquire supporting cast players who maximize that role to the T. Think Mike Epps. Mike Epps can never carry a movie alone, but he makes that supporting role thing look great. You've got to find your Matt Barnes or James Poseys. Heck, as much as we all hate him, you gotta find a Eddie House. A guy that's not looking to star, but he is the god in terms of support. Almost like Andre Miller. These guys clean up the dirty work, and enjoy doing that.
Few good things:
1) They'll be fine in the long run. NYC, Philly and DC are cities that are perfectly happy with a serious championship run every 4-5 years. Those cities don't put out dynasties, that's not the emotion and personality of the city. I think the Knicks can put together a season where they go out there and make it to the Conf Finals or NBA Finals once in the next 6 years.
2) They have options. The gift and curse of the NYK is it scares fans that they have so many options, but it excites them too. Man, the Lakers hand is forced over the next few years. It's not like I sit around thinking, man if w ecan get Dwight or CP3. Nah, I think "ok who we gonna get to check that person". I think maybe we can get Roy for cheap, or Granger for a draft pick and Shannon Brown. But even still that's the biggest dream i've ever dreamt.
3) Knicks actually did better than a lot of people expected. Not only are the Celtics a better team. But they exposed something that Wade said earlier in the season about the Celtics and Lakers. Cats have been playing together for like 300 games, can't compete with that. The Knicks had that team for what 30-40 games? And they competed with the Celts. They could have won 3 of those games.
Set your performance goal here for next year: Win a playoff game.
Not here: Get to the conference finals.
You feel me?
The Knicks just need a point like CP3 and a solid bench…the era of the "big man" is dead.
Peace
-King