I agree on Johnson but I'm not heartbroken because I dont really see him in the same class as Bosh, melo, wade, Paul, Lebron, Amare. He would be by far the worst of those players. Here is my thinking though....regardless of what three the Knicks (or anyone else) could ever roll out there unless it included Kobe you wont have a better three then Miami does. I think a trio of Lebron-wade-Bosh is still slightly better then a star trio of Paul-Amare-Melo. So you need a 4th stud. I think the x-factor is Gallinari. He and Amare would be my only two untouchables. Gallinari is a pup but hes got better stats then Dirk over his first two years in the league. IF, and I know its a big if, he becomes anything close to what Dirk has become thats the difference maker between the Knicks getting past the Heat in my opinion. And with Gallinari hes 6'10/230...another inch or so and 10 LB's and he is a legitimate PF next to Amare at C.
at what point do we fire D'antoni and install a defensive minded coach? Or do we go toe to toe and try to outscore miami?
Thats actually a good thing because the way the Magic are constructed they need a better offensive option then haslem. Eh I dont know. Nelson really wasnt your problem. Melo would be an ideal compliment next to Nelson and Howard but I think you still need one more rugged PF. Like if Boston broke up their core after this year and went young I think garnett would be an amazing fit next to Dwight. Thats the type of player Orlando really needs. If Ibaka pans out and they get a legit secondary option (i.e. someone more consistent then Jeff Green) that team is going to be a serious problem. A core of Westbrook-Ibaka-Durant is studly.
Depends who you have in mind? Dolan will never bring back JVG cause they didnt part on good terms..dont really see too many coaches I'd call great defensive coaches out there otherwise. Maybe you could see what it took to pry loose Doc Rivers after this year as Dolan loved Doc when he was on the Knicks...
Probably, but at this point they have no one as good defensively as Haslem, and as far as im aware there arent any options out there that they can use to improve that spot. as it is they have to go with finnesse to the max rashard lewis, who provides little in the way of hustle plays.
I'm with Sec. As entertaining as the Heat talk is, guys, we really need to get some support for Heat Freak.
That is who I like. Doc Rivers. somebody from the Riley tree. Rick Carlisle after he gets canned this season....
Quite honestly its just easier if I have everything in one place. Plus, I dont join boards of teams I am not a fan of. I may read them occasionally but I wont join. Its just a matter of principle and it would just feel dirty.
plus i heard NETSFREAK.com offers free vodka and caviar if you join now. KNICKSFREAK.COM just offers pictures of the homeless
I never said they weren't trying, I said they weren't concerned with the Heat last year, IMO they didn't get Olrando's best effort. There is a difference......
Totally agree but in this league you dont take on long term contracts just to fill out a roster. You have to get the best players. Its chemistry, then talent, then height, then everything else is a very distant 4th. You have to have be able to recognize your roster and get the piece you need not just what is close to what you need. Rivers I can see the argument for. he has the resume and the smarts to back it up. Im not sold on Carlisle. Sorry, Im just not. Hes done even less then D'Antoni. I could have seen the argument for Byron Scott. MAYBE a Brian Shaw.
Brian Shaw sucks. Phil Jackson disciples don;t go anywhere. That is all Tex Winter and Phil. They don;t develop any coaches. Riley tree is where it is at.
If Isiah, Dolan, Scott Layden and Marbury were all sitting there homeless...I would sooooo join that. Just to point and laugh at them. They so deserve it for the decade of hell they put Knicks fans through. But its still a heat board. It'd be like joining a Pats board for me...sure I still hate the jets far more (like I hate the Bulls far more then the heat) but really I have no love for Miami. I like wade...always have, probably always will. Hes a winner, he understands the concept of "team"...he just gets it. Thats as nice a thing as I can say about Miami without puking.
I dont get the kicks from trolling like some people. Just never really did anything for me. Im more concerned with my team winning games then I am about anyone else's team. Handle your business then everything else takes care of its self.
anyway, i cant spend too much time on basketball at this pointof the year. normally its about five minutes but this offseason has been one of the more interesting ones in recent times. still, once the pads come on, i will basically forget about this sport until february,
Oh sure Mr. Fancy pants champagne VIP B-Day guy, no need to mix it up with the Hoi Peloi... In my gut, CP lands in NYC..soon..Shinn is a cheapy bastard (you'd mock Marbury..Shinn to me is gum on my shoe) and WILL deal CP3, it is up to D Walsh to make it happen. I'm thinking a 3 or 4 way trade, NY trades for CP3 and Okafor, who is split off to another team for a player from a 3rd or 4th team that fits the Cap. Or NY just mans up, pays the luxury tax and says "what? u talkin to me? We wipe our crack with the 1 for 1 Tax..this is NYC babeee".
trades in the NBA have to have players traded for equal salary value as far as im aware, the only way you can trade cash is if you have cap space under the luxury, other wise you cant. i could be wrong though
Especially when an important NBA game is not played until May 2011. I've been watching the CFL as a hawk, two of the last 3 seasons Irish has raided that league so why not specialize in talent evals? The Gurus only watch College Ball, stuck into Kipers "there are no draft do overs" Oh..really? I would like to see the Knicks improve, and I'm really watching Riles fill out the rest of the heat roster..however 1/11...Irish will sign some more CFLers...I plan on being able to say something about the signees based on observation.
The Knicks have never had a problem paying the luxury tax. hell, they have spent more on player salaries over the last 15 years then anyone and its not even bloody close. I mean they are the Yankees of the NBA but without the wins lol. As far as Walsh..there's a reason we call Donnie "The Godfather". Besides the facial resemblance and the matching wheelchair now he just gets stuff done. Didnt think it was a great hire at the time but man, he really is one of the best and now he finally has the resources Indiana never really gave him. The key is for the Knicks being able to get Melo AND Paul. Not having to choose and that will not be easy. I think you have to go get Melo first because as long as we have the curry (expiring) and azubuike (non guaranteed) contracts we will basically have enough for a max at the seasons end so we could always sign Melo outright and then trade for CP3. But however Walsh can get it done..by all means. Just hang on to Gallo and Amare.
yeah i agree that carmelo is the key. with just paul and stoudamire, thats enough to get you bounced from the playoffs every year. on a side note. if this superstar team trend continues, I think the NBA might have to consider letting some franchises go. I dont see the point of having consistent triple AAA quality franchises in the league. I think every sport would benefit greatly by rid of the bottom 20%. Just think how much better each sport would be if they got rid of the 20% of the worst players in the league
I think that in many years a trio of CP3/STAT/Gallo is enough to win a conference. Because of what Miami has done if you want to beat them you better have AT LEAST 4 if not 5 all star/superstar type players. Anything less and you aren't winning. Thats just a fact that I hate to admit but its true. With regard to your second point, I agree. Certain sports expansion is less of a factor because even though it dilutes the talent pool, talent isnt necessarily the same factor in other sports then it is in the NBA. The NHL and MLB are great examples of this. You can spend big money on stars but you really dont see repeat champions/dynasties very often. As I have said before, the NBA is driven entirely by stars. You have to have them to win. While its great for fans in different cities it waters down the product.
Hmm...disagree...Amare' and CP are enough to put the Knicks back on the map, the real key is, imho, who does the dirty work? In that way D'Antoni makes sense, every player can be a star in his system, the problem is, the roster is bleached, Walsh should pull the trigger on CP and suffer the consequences, however..sooner or later D'Antoni has to make do..enough of the *gosh* in 2019 so and so will be available via Free Agency... Heck surely..I Thomas will make a better GM....
Its not about getting back on the map, its about championships. We havent had one since 1973. I dont want to hear about anything else. And to beat Miami to even have a chance at that championship CP3-Stat-Gallo just isnt going to be enough to get you there. Even if you add Okafor thats probably still not enough. You have to try and add Carmelo or another legitimate star in the mix somehow. So you have to get Carmelo first. I would sooner suffer this year to get Melo in free agency and set this up right. Enough messing around with stopgaps and nonsense.