"Goliath" Celebrates and Cashes in on "Evident Progress?"
I love themes. I see it all the time with the Knicks organization. Prematurity is one of them. You know what I'm talking about?
Extending Isaiah Thomas early in March of the 2006-07 season shortly after the Knicks held the 8th spot in the Eastern Conference Playoffs for a nano second. Extending Thomas when the mere showing of the Knicks as a blip on the playoff radar was apparently enough "evident progress" to satisfy James Dolan's mandate to his former Executive and then designated head coach.
You know that Prematurity?
Like when Amar'e Stoudemire declared "The Knicks are back" shortly after his signing of a multiyear free agent contract with the Knicks last summer.
The sort of prematurity that had many a hopeful and covetous Knicks fan in shear Euphoria when the Carmelo Anthony trade was culminated despite the gutting of an admirably rebuilt and youthful roster.
Sure the Knicks prematurity doesn't have anything on the faux Multiple Championship Celebration carried out by Lebron James of the Miami Heat down in South Beach after James had stomped on the heart of small town America. You remember that one? "Not one, not two, not three, . . .etc, etc."
The Knicks couldn't top that sort of prematurity but they've sure come close with the hike in ticket prices announced by Madison Square Garden. The hike in pricing is in part due to Dolan's refusal to raise prices in non playoff years. Apparently James is certain the Knicks are a shoe in for the playoffs this year. What with "Two Superstars" in the Garden, that is no doubt "evident progress" towards the playoffs and certainly a championship. Right?
I know Madison Square Garden also raised pricing to finance the renovation of the Garden. But I like how certain Dolan is in the eminent playoff birth of his very own Goliath Super Team.
Sure the Garden's Goliath is long in the tooth at the point, weak in the knees at the four and lackadaisical on defense at the three and underwhelming schematically on quality defense but it's the Garden's Goliath gosh darnit.
Sure it's a bastardized Frankenstein monster caught in an ugly neutral between half court players by style of play and age and speedball components at the reserves.
Sure the Garden's Goliath can be scored over and has an easy pass to the lane all too often.
But there's no way the Garden's Goliath could blow the remaing 8 of 16 games it will encounter against sub .500 teams basically out of the playoff hunt?
They wouldn't repeat the meltdowns against the likes of the Cavaliers and Pacers? Right? That would indeed make Dolan look awfully premature!
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"We're all frustrated," D'Antoni said. "We have to get better defensively. We're going to be a good offensive team. It's the hurdle we have to get over. It's going to be the mark if we're going to be a good team or not. Our major concern is can we be good defensively, and we'll see. We're going to work at it." Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/knicks/bawl_of_confusion_0lmKPZTdmcqT50j6p03xvK#ixzz1Gsj1GaMR
But wait - i thought D'Antoni NEVER talked about defense, or wanted to work on defense? Are these the End Times that Christians have been claiming are upon us for the past couple of thousand years???? Is @Sniggah really African in disguise???? Should i really be drinking Guinness at lunchtime????
@PaulNoize@sniggah I love me some Guinnes anytime anywhere. It's ideal for Irish independence to drink day... St. Paddy's day. Yeah!
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http://www.theknicksblog.com/2011/03/17/video-team-talks-defense/
Yeah, it's all bullshit & posturing. There's actually several problems at play:
1) STAT & Melo don't want a Thibodeau screaming at them, they feel entitled as superstars to do their thing as they see fit...if they turn it up in the playoffs, all is forgiven, right?
2) D'Antoni is seriously NOT very versed in coaching more than basic defensive concepts, which is why he speaks in more code than Steady
3) Even if Red Holtzmann rose from the grave & commanded Phil and JVG to join as assistants, this squad would still suck defensively due to talent and physical shortcomings at that end of the floor
4) Finally, if this team were to fully commit - coaches and players - to being the best defensive team RIGHT NOW that they could be, they'd still be nowhere near the Knicks of the mid-90s (partially due to rule changes), and there are some fans who refuse to accept that reality and will never ever shift out of gripe mode
Just Bloguin!
You complaining (except about the ticket prices) is a little premature don't you think. This team is made for next year and beyond. This is a great time for them to learn each other and to know what they need and must expect from one another including coaches. Unfortunately, the mid-season change may buy D'Antoni a reprieve. More likely, in the exit inerviews both Melo and Stoudemire will say "get rid of dude." Not a horrible result, I say.
As for the Heat? You are bound to suffer and be burned in Heated hell if you continue to hold a grudge against a trio that will eventually, if not this year, be in the NBA finals and win a Chip or two. Script or no script, it is inevitable. The Celtics did not hurt the Heat by trading Perkins. (A Statesman endorsed move of course). And you are talking about a soon to be 50+ team.
On Dolan and those ticket prices: has any sports team owner ever given a refund before the season started. There;s a first for everything, I guess.
@Lives No way Stat OR Melo divorce from D'Antoni - he's their kind of stooge. Always positive, never too demanding or critical, and will always shield them and deflect any persistent criticism towards less empowered players
@Lives Sure. Buy the company line over at KFB. I stand corrected. It's all roses and sunshine. I'm a jerk. I shouldn't even dare have a thought out side of ho hum and yes seriee I AGREE!
Nope. Nothing in my bit said anything about the Heat not eventually winning a Chip or Several. Nothing there said anything about the problems not very much being the result of the wrong coach for the current team. Nothing there failed to point to the faults with the Knicks themselves. But someone how I again failed to tow the company line.
But you seem to want to play some straw man argument against me that I'm saying something about the Heat not winning championships. About more star power at the Garden not somehow eventually being better etc etc.
Truth is the move is only good if the lame trust at the "Worlds Most Famous Arena" can do several things going forward.
1) obtain the correct head coach for the personnel currently the core of the team. Make sure that coach is one knowledgeable, capable and passionate enough to instill the schematic aspects of winning ball on both ends of the court and has the clout to have his players respect.
2) rebuild a decent semblance of the supporting cast the organization threw away at Denver in typical Knicks KNEE JERK desperation.
Tell me this Lebron worshiper, if the Heat are so destined to fulfill James bravado then what was the point of Anthony at all cost when Anthony with a semblance of the supporting cast around STAT pre trade might have been capable of rivaling the Heat.
Again I dare not question, or think differently. I can only do so if the company approves right? It's not quiet censorship but . . . .
@Orange_and_Blue @Lives C'mon - Moz is not built for 2011-2012 success, his hands make Roberto Duran look like a surgeon. We HAD to lose Wilson anyway at the end of this season to afford to sign Melo (or another FA) outright, so HE's not a consideration. Felton & Billups have differing strengths & weaknesses but similar contract lengths, and i consider THAT a wash.
Now if you wanna say that longterm, Gallo at an $8M/per level is more strategically sound than Melo at the MAX for our ability to compete for a chip, there's an argument to be had that might sway me. Just Bloguin.
