Best Season as a Knick: 1969-70, 24-years-old. NBA Champion, All-Star starter, All-NBA first team, All-Defense first team, 4th place in MVP vote, 20.9 points (57.5 TS%, good for fifth in the league), 8.2 assists (second in total assists league wide), 0.236 win shares per 48 minutes (first in the league), steals per game went unrecorded but Frazier finished the year second in the league in defensive win shares.  

At the risk of gross hyperbole, is it now safe to declare Walt “Clyde” Frazier a living legend? The language, the wardrobe, the flair, the style, the defensive dominance, the championships, the altogether cool. The inspired camaraderie. The reason Walt Frazier is number one over Patrick Ewing, despite Ewing being the player people most associate with the franchise, is the fact that he embodies the New York Knicks. He is the franchise. (His 36 point, 19 assist Game 7 performance in the 1970 NBA Finals notwithstanding.) Today, he still cares; he bleeds Orange and Blue. He lives to be apart of the team and he’ll surely be here until the day he’s buried in a white fur coat. 

Courtesy of Yahoo! Sports:

Turiaf will join San Antonio Spurs guard and fellow Frenchman Tony Parker(notes), who is a part owner of Asvel and also has agreed to play for the club during the lockout.

Bon voyage, Ronny!

Recently, Anthony sat down with SI.com’s Zach Lowe to speak on a number of issues, the lockout among them. But the most interesting sequence came when the two began to banter about defense:

SI.com: You know that Nuggets coach George Karl called you out about your commitment to defense.

Anthony: Once I left.

SI.com: Yeah. But he’s not the only one. Other people have questioned whether you have really bought in on defense. Is that fair?

Anthony: I was in Denver playing for George Karl for six-and-a-half years, and anything he asked of me, I did. If it was “go out and average two more rebounds per game,” I did it. It was “play harder on defense,” I did it. If it was “go out and score 40 points,” I did it. For him to come back after I left and say something like that, considering how sensitive everything was at the time, it was very strategic.

SI.com: But do you think the criticisms of your defense have merit? Is there one thing on that end you worked to improve on in the offseason?

Anthony: Look, defense is about energy and focus at the end of the day. I can’t see any team or any coach just coming out and saying, “Oh, we’re just gonna come out and run every play at Melo.” I never saw that before. I think [Karl] was being strategic in what he did and what he said. In Denver, we weren’t always known for being a defensive team, but that’s because we were running up and down the court. Like I said, I take it for what it’s worth. I store it in the back of my mind.

The whole piece should be digested by every Knicks fan, but that snippet really stands out. I don’t know what to make of it: Is he being ignorant, not “man” enough to stand up and acknowledge his obvious deficiencies? Or is what he’s saying correct, and have the nation’s perceptions taken on a life of their own? Either way, I appreciate the honesty. Give it a read.

Best Season as a Knick: age 23, 19.1 points per game, 49% from the field, 4.4 assists (career high), 25.2 usage rate

Better known as Nique’s little brother—and to a much lesser extent, Damien’s father—Gerald Wilkins’ career was mostly an uphill battle. No matter how well he played—in a city where picking your nose gets you a fleshed out feature in one of the four dozen local publications, nonetheless—Gerald Wilkins couldn’t get his due recognition. In his first five years with the Knicks, he was a dedicated employee, missing just five games and never averaging fewer than double digit points.

He played during one of the franchise’s most hopeful eras, coming in alongside Patrick Ewing in the 1985 draft and firmly entrenching himself as a solid secondary offensive option.  He wasn’t quite a pillar in the team’s reconstruction, more a truckload of sand bags to help solidify the foundation. Wilkins started out on a pretty terrible team and factored into the staunch improvement as the years went on and on. He worked hard, he got better, he cared, and even after he left, Wilkins’ imprint was felt as his work on those late 80s teams helped New York turn the corner into its mid-90s more prosperous period. Guys like Wilkins weren’t all that heralded, but they labored through tough times, and they made fans proud to be from New York. Still, it would’ve been great to have his older brother, too.

“I’m not going to lie, I really didn’t understand how big New York was until I played there,” Williams told HOOPSWORLD. “Even in my hometown, I can’t walk around anywhere anymore. The Knicks are like America’s team, just like the Cowboys. I love the Knicks’ fans. They’re the greatest fans in America. They support the team so much and I’m on Twitter interacting with all of the fans. I just love it. I can’t wait to be back.”

 

Twitter: @BucketsOverBway

Most of the clothes looked understated, comfortable and sporty. Stoudemire stuck with the message about the clothing.

“You want to go to any sporting event, any basketball game, any courtside seating, you need this apparel,” he said.

Of the logo — a heart and a basketball intertwined— designed by a graffiti artist but chosen by Stoudemire, Roy said, “The basketball is him and the heart is me, but actually his name means love.”

Here’s the New York Times piece.

Twitter: @BucketsOverBway

The Knicks were dissected on ESPN.com’s 5 for 5 recently. The questions touched on several recurring issues: The possibility of CP3/Dwight Howard helping form another Big 3, Mike D’antoni’s footing, and the Carmelo trade. But one of the questions stood out, “Fact or Fiction: Landry Fields is a legitimate starter for a contender.” It was the only question to have a unanimous response, with all five answering participants saying “fact”.

The way this question was worded is a bit tricky. Landry Fields might be a legitimate starter for a contender, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he fits with the New York Knicks. After Carmelo Anthony came on board, Fields wasn’t the same player—he was a turtle sulking back into his shell whenever Anthony held the ball, which was a lot.

Devin Kharpertian, Nets Are Scorching: Fact. He’s not a top starter, but Fields is exactly the kind of player you’d want next to a Big Three — a guy who knocks down 3s, picks up hustle points, grabs rebounds and doesn’t shy from big moments.

Fields can knock down 3′s, but he only made one per game last year. Forget about the 39% he shot for the season, one a game is one a game. This isn’t entirely his fault, but in order for Fields to gain the trust of new teammates like Carmelo and Chauncey, he’ll need to attack whenever the opportunity presents itself. He didn’t do that.

As for not shying from big moments, Landy Fields was a hologram for the last month of the season, and a ghost in the playoffs. So, yea…I’d say he shied away from the biggest moment.

Can Fields start for a contender? Sure. Would the Knicks be in a better place if they included Fields in the Carmelo trade instead of Gallo or Wilson Chandler? Looking at it today, most likely.

Twitter: @BucketsOverBway

Best Season as a Knick: 1973-74, age 28. 82 games, 11.1 points, 47% FG, 25 minutes per game, 2.2 offensive rebounds per 36 minutes. 

It’s funny: When the name “Phil Jackson” is uttered, other players come to mind. All-time magicians like Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kobe Bryant are more associated with Jackson than Jackson is with himself. When 11 championships are won and the majority of basketball fans believe you to be the greatest head coach in the sport’s history, it’s more than understandable for your playing days, which occurred more than 30 years ago, to be swept behind a couch in the population’s collective memory, but there would be no 11 rings if it weren’t for those valuable contributions to New York in the early 70′s. With those long, myth provoking arms, Jackson snatched rebounds off the glass; his open, all-encompassing mind regularly directing his lanky frame to the right defensive position. He wasn’t dominant, no, but Phil Jackson was gritty—he averaged exactly six fouls per 36 minutes in his 12 year career—and an invaluable member of the 1973 world champions.

Phil Jackson will forever be remembered more for what he did for fans in Chicago and Los Angeles than fans in New York, but peering beyond the large shadows he cast in his later stages of life, Jackson was a pretty good player who fought serious injuries along with rival giants in the paint. It was in New York that his “Zen” like persona was born, and in New York where he learned how to accommodate various personalities, and in New York that Red Holzman, the coach’s coach, intrinsically taught Jackson what it means to lead a professional basketball team to the promise land. Admittedly, Jackson’s tenure with the Knicks shaped him far more than he did the team’s, but he’s as much apart of the franchise’s history as any other member of those timeless championship caliber squads, and ironically the most famous. Whether his name was Phil Jackson or Jackson Phil, the man literally sacrificed his back serving the New York Knicks. Forgetting all he accomplished after his playing days expired, that still makes him one of the 35 most important players in New York Knicks history.

Twitter: @BucketsOverBway

Admit it, you’ve never seen Iman Shumpert play organized basketball. Since coming out of nowhere on draft night, he’s been everywhere, and to be honest it’s a little exciting. A few days ago, Shumpert gave an interview with HoopsHype and among the many interesting things he says, this is the most delightful.

Iman Shumpert: I really admire Jason Kidd. He’s the first player I’ve ever seen dominate a game without having to score as much as everybody else. Seeing him finally get the championship just confirms that I just need to make sure I work my game to get better every day.

It’s more likely I get struck by two separate bolts of lightning, one in each eyeball, as I write this, than Shumpert to have even 60% the career Jason Kidd has had, but his mentality here is wonderful. Kidd is the perfect role model for any human being who hopes to play a capable point guard, and for Shumpert to say he’d rather be like the defending champ than, say, John Wall or Derrick Rose—two fantastic scorers—is beyond great news.

Twitter: @BucketsOverBway

Best Season as a Knick: 2008-09, age 24. 17.2 points, 84% from the line, winner of Slam Dunk Contest (his second). 

A jester during the franchise’s darkest era, Nate Robinson lit up Madison Square Garden while kings of the court like Isiah Thomas and James Dolan relentlessly tried snuffing it out. New York finished last, second to last, last, and last in the Atlantic Division during Robinson’s tenure with the Knicks. It seemed like frustration was boiling over onto the city’s streets on a nightly basis, and the dark path the beloved team was traveling on had no end in sight; it wasn’t a pretty time. But Nate made everything a little better. He was a bag of skittles trying to feed a starving city.

Let’s get this out of the way right now: Nate Robinson didn’t cure any previously untreatable diseases or solve the country’s then (and now) aching economic troubles, but he did put a smile—or at the very least a smirk—on your face; he was as unpredictably entertaining a player as the league had, infamous for shooting on the wrong hoop or attempting an in-game self-alley-oop which resulted in a traveling violation.  Robinson was there for show, and that’s why we/some of us loved him.

Twitter: @BucketsOverBway

This from the New York Daily News:

Mike D’Antoni has already defied the odds by surviving three years as Knicks head coach, a position that previously had chewed up and spit out six coaches in eight years.

But for his first time in New York, D’Antoni’s job security has become an issue. Garden Chairman James Dolan decided against giving D’Antoni a contract extension and thus D’Antoni is working with a one-year deal.

Moreover, the club announced the hiring of Mike Woodson as an assistant coach. Woodson, a former Knicks first round pick who played for Red Holzman, is a one-time head coach with the Atlanta Hawks and provides the Knicks with a quick fix should the team elect to make an in-season coaching change.

Best Season as a Knick: 2006-07, age 29. 9.3 points, 6.1 assists, 39% on threes, 

Either Chris Childs was a bullish deviant with his fair share of temper problems, or a tough, no nonsense, proud man who demanded respect everywhere he went—depending on how you look at him.

Not to promote violence as a means to solve petty differences, in any way, shape, or form, but this clip does a great job in explaining why Chris Childs was so endearing in his time as New York Knickerbocker. Far from a top-1o player at his own position, and quite possibly a consistent basement dweller in his own division, Childs scraped by on a strong combination of hustle and fearlessness—both traits he exemplified off as well as on the court.

Using stats to define Chris Childs is futile—unless, of course, you’re choosing to correctly paint him as someone incapable of making an All-Star team—because despite being from California, what he embodied was pure New York. He began his professional career in the CBA, playing for five different teams in his first three seasons before being named the league’s MVP in 1994. He never gave up; never backed down.

The basketball obituary of Chris Childs boils down to the jabs he threw at the league’s then Golden Boy—and to a lesser extent, this confrontation with Michael Jordan—but he should more be remembered for his thankless role as an unflinching defensive instigator.

(In terms of disrupting the league’s natural player hierarchy, the ice Childs chose to teeter out on after punking Kobe Bryant shattered like a picture frame falling through slippery fingers; he simply couldn’t come to grips with why his punishment was levied as a two game suspension and $15,000 fine, while Kobe only received one game and $5,000.)

Chris Childs, a player who entered the league at the age of 27 (normally a time when players are five, six year veterans hitting their peak), couldn’t understand where he stood in the league alongside the game’s most dynamic player. It’s both foolish and admirable. So is placing him on this list.

Twitter: @BucketsOverBway

35. Danilo Gallinari-Small Forward. 

Best Season As A Knick: 2009-10, age 22. 15.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 38% on threes, 82% from FT line.

“He’s the best shooter I’ve ever seen.”

After starting just two games his rookie season and entering his second as a pro in the United States, Danilo Gallinari’s head coach cursed him with words that couldn’t possibly be proven right or wrong—praise that was uncalculated, unwrranted, and spontaneously useless. Not that the pressures of being a foreign born first round draft pick weren’t enough, or the mere fact that the team which selected him happens to reside in the world’s largest media market, but Gallinari now had this “title” weighing on his surgically repaired back heading into this sophomore season. Things were bleak. But looking back it may have worked out splendidly for the Knicks and their faithful.

Gallinari was a hard working fan favorite who evoked a certain stoicism unseen young, inexperienced players. He was humble, once pleading with the media after a big game to halt any comparisons floating in the air about his great potential (“I’m not a superstar, I’m not an All-Star, I’m not LeBron, I’m not those great players. I’m an important player of the Knicks.”) and to just let him play to the best of his 6’10″ abilities.

But none of these qualities is the reason why Danilo finds himself squeaking into the Top 35, at least not entirely. Last February Gallinari was the central figure in what could go down as the most significant trade in Knicks history: the acquisition of Carmelo Anthony. Several other players were included in the deal (including Wilson Chandler, who actually shot better from deep last season than Gallo) but given the Italian’s age and rapid transformation from dead-eye shooter to aggressive, versatile point scorer, there’s no question who Denver believes to be the most prized jewel on their end of the transaction.

It may sound silly but if there’s no Gallinari there’s no Carmelo. And that’s pretty significant.

Twitter: @BucketsOverBway

Right now, throughout the NBA’s growing junction with the internet, several well-respected and widely read sites have decided to undertake the unenviable task that is placing every active player in a line and re-ordering them by skill level. On the surface this is easy: LeBron James is better than Hedo Turkoglu. Kobe Bryant is better than Courtney Lee. But no, actually it’s very, very difficult—painfully so, because in the game of basketball, different positions have different roles, and different responsibilities create different values. Andrew Bynum’s interior length on both ends of the floor is a huge asset for the Los Angeles Lakers, but does it make him a better basketball player than a dynamic instant offense floor general like John Wall? It’s impossible to say.

In the interest of curing our long running offseason/lockout anger-boredom combination, we at B.O.B. have decided to create our own list: The 35 Most Important Knicks in Franchise History. Why 35? Well, to be honest, it was our estimation that if we made the list any longer, glorification would be created for certain players who simply don’t deserve it. Nobody wants to water this thing down.

Each day for the next month and a half we’ll be ranking a player with full understanding that a million options exist, ours existing far from the “correct” answer; this exercise is foreign to exact science. Adding to the unthinkable, our list’s criteria spreads wider than statistical measure and basketball ability. We plan on highlighting those who’ve meant the most to both New York City’s basketball team and its passionate fan base. It’s impossible to compute how we came up with the order we did, so let this introduction serve as a fairer than fair disclaimer. The countdown begins this week. Enjoy and beware.

Twitter: @BucketsOverBway

Today it was announced 10 of the WNBA’s 12 teams would be adding cell phone company Boost Mobile’s logo onto their jerseys. Not to be rude, but this could be the most significant move the WNBA has made in its 15 year history. The league wide advertising agreement is ground-breaking for American sports outside of soccer, and could pose as a beneficial model towards the NBA should they choose to seek alternative revenue boosting paths. This idea was suggested by Bill Simmons to Commissioner Stern on a recent podcast. It made sense then, and it’s making sense now for the WNBA.

via the New York Times

The company and league declined to provide specifics on the deal’s worth. But the W.N.B.A. said it was the richest in the league’s 15-year history. Though corporate branding on jerseys has been shunned by many major leagues in the United States and Canada, women’s leagues have tried to find new sources of income, especially in the past few years when sports marketing dollars have been harder to come by.

Twitter: @BucketsOverBway

Now that he’s in the news as a recent inductee into the Basketball Hall of Fame, quite a few rumors have been floating around regarding Chris Mullin and his next professional move. Last week, Donnie Walsh reportedly said his great regret while serving as general manager of the Knicks was not grooming Mullin as his natural successor. When you think that Walsh wasn’t in office for the better half of three years, this statement might be seen as silly. Successor? How on earth could a successor be prepped in three short years? Walsh was busy excavating a devastated salary cap situation, courting the greatest player alive, and figuring out how in the hell New York Knicks basketball could be made relevant once again. Hardly enough time to teach, right?

Now Mullin has reportedly said Walsh is on his way back into the league. The comments here sound a bit forced and taken out of context. But where the situation stands, it would have been nice to have Mullin leading the way, succeeding Donnie Walsh but with no grooming taking place. While serving as Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations in Golden State, he put together one of the most overlooked teams of the past 10 years—the Baron Davis led group which bested Dallas in an infamous first round upset. He knows basketball and how to put together pieces that fit. I suppose the point here is sure, it would’ve been great to have Chris Mullin serving as the successor to Donnie Walsh. But it didn’t turn out that way. So why are we still talking about it?

Twitter: @BucketsOverBroadway

Good things come to those who wait; an old adage relating to our faithful B.O.B. reader’s who’ve patiently waited for our number one regular season Knicks game to come. (more…)

Following the blueprint of such successful teams as the Boston Celtics, the Knicks are still seriously interested in bringing in a much needed defensively focused assistant; someone who can eat, sleep, and breath defensive strategy. It seems former Atlanta Hawks head coach Mike Woodson is interviewing for the position. Via Eye On Basketball:

 

Woodson would be an excellent fit at the position. He knows how to coach both stars and role players, he’s a former player, he was drafted by the Knicks and he can balance a line between discipline and support. The Knicks would do well to hire Woodson.

Since taking over as Atlanta’s head coach in 2004-05, the Hawks improved their win total every single season, going from a 13 win team that first year to a 53 win team in 2009-10, Woodson’s final season. More importantly, his team’s defensive rating saw drastic improvement, going from second worst in the league his first season to 12th best in 2008-09. Not coincidentally, the Hawks defeated Miami to win their first playoff series in 10 years after hitting the peak of their defensive abilities. It’s a relatively high profile name, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Woodson, eyebrows and all, is a pretty good coach who did a great job turning around one a young, sometimes lost, basketball team.

Twitter: @BucketsOverBway

For a good Sunday afternoon chuckle, here’s some delusional rambling from Stephon Marbury, via the Post and NBC’s Pro Basketball Talk.

Citing the tough travel and rigorous training methods, Marbury said he doesn’t see the stars going to China, where the Coney Islander has spent the past two seasons.

“I don’t think those guys will want to go through it,” said Marbury, who is training in Los Angeles. “China is not for everybody — a whole ‘nother world. I don’t think they’re going to go there, not the big-time guys. Maybe they’d come for a little bit, but if the season is cancelled for the year, I don’t think they’d want to stay. They’ll want to go home.

Fast forward to March, when teams are fighting hard for playoff berths and home-court advantage, and the best regular season NBA basketball is played. We’re post-All-Star break, when road trips to Minnesota are met with focus and determination instead of laughter and after hour visits to disappointing strip clubs. (more…)

[Jordan's Agent Todd] Ramasar said Jordan chose Slovenia over teams in Italy and Israel because of the out’ clause. ”That out clause – not just for Jordan – is very difficult to get,’’ Ramasar said.

I suppose this can’t hurt (unless Jordan hurts himself), and the upside of having the seven footer stay in shape and continue to improve is much more important than watching him sit around and get fat. So, thumbs up! As for the lockout, that continues to be an emphatic thumbs down.

Looking for help defense in still shots of the Knicks over the last few years has been a lot like a “Where’s Waldo” search through a book that’s lacking “Waldo”. In the above picture, I’ll assume that’s Amar’e Stoudemire standing behind Dirk, and I’ll also assume the other two Mavericks who aren’t in the picture are spread in each corner—wide open. (more…)

With the Lockout turning my summer into a three month hangover, all the normal offseason writing/talking issues like trade rumors and free agent spending have unhappily been replaced with sentences that begin, “soooo, basketball…” before slowly trickling into a steady stream of tears. It’s beyond depressing, so I’ve taken to the soothing medicine known as Netflix to replace my normal mid-summer form of entertainment with something less injurious: Movies! (more…)

As Will pointed out this morning, Amar’e Stoudemire going to China didn’t make a whole lot of sense. Usually when a decision involving millions of dollars is seen as questionable, people back out. Here’s Adam Zagoria.

“I doubt it happens,” the source said. “Much too complicated. We will see if it’s real and make sense. Hopefully, the owners and players’ association will come to an agreement sooner than later.”

Well, that rumor was fun while it lasted.

A few days ago, Chauncey Billups conducted an interview with Hoopshype.com’s Chris Tomasson at his basketball camp out in Denver.  Among several interesting things Billups touched upon, the highlighting topic was his thoughts on the new NBA champion Dallas Mavericks. Chauncey likened the team to his 2004 Pistons, the last team to win a title with just one All-Star on its roster. The way both teams played as a cohesive, unselfish unit to defeat an opponent loaded with big names and big talent is similar, but the question this all brings up is whether the Knicks can somehow emulate that formula to turn it into a championship of their own. (more…)

Remember when Carmelo Anthony first hurt his elbow? It was his second game as a Knick and they were facing off against the lowliest of the low Cleveland Cavaliers. Anthony fought through numbness, played terrible, and through his efforts, ultimately gave an entire city of basketball enthusiasts serious acid indigestion. (more…)

I never thought it’d be uttered, but THIS is more like it. Aaron Gray is officially up for grabs. This from his representative, Jason Zanik, “I think he really enjoyed being with New Orleans, (but) the opportunity to come free made it a good time to explore the market for him.”

Not positive yet as to what the market will be for a player like Gray, but he is a true seven footer, and he did play well in the Hornets Game 1 upset victory against the Lakers in these playoffs. He takes charges, rotates well, and is more than capable of holding his own against 98 percent of the league’s centers. In his first full season with New Orleans last year, Gray’s minutes increased to a career best 13 per game, his shooting percentage took a noticeable hike to 56 percent from his career average of 51, and he posted his best defensive rebounding rate yet, at 25.8 percent.

If the Knicks were to attain Gray, they could make him a full-time starter, but unfortunately there are health issues. He’s only played 190 games in his first four seasons. If nobody out there’s willing to take a flier on him and he falls into New York’s lap on a one year deal, Gray could become a 270 pound blessing in disguise. Once again, I can’t believe I’m writing this.

Twitter: @BucketsOverBway

It’s looking like the Knicks are planning to solve their gaping hole at the center position with a band-aid. And not even a really cool, multi-colored awesome one equipped with a totally sweet artistic image. A Kwame Brown type of band-aid. (more…)

Another year, another unconventional draft pick in New York. This time around the Knicks chose to go with Georgia Tech combo guard Iman Shumpert, a guy who until just a couple weeks ago wasn’t on anybody’s first round radar. Last night my immediate reaction was to compare Shumpert with Renaldo Balkman, but after cooling down for a couple hours, it’s conclusive that things look a little rosier now than they did back then. Hopefully. (more…)

With Chris Singleton sitting just a few feet from Commissioner Stern and Kenneth Faried waiting patiently on their board, the Knicks chose to select Iman Shumpert, a 6’6″ combo guard out of Georgia Tech, with their first round draft pick. He was the first player taken not sitting in the stadium’s Green Room, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it does bring terrible Renaldo Balkman flashbacks. I’ll need a few hours to wrap my mind around this one, but more on the Shumpert pick later on.

Withholding all national holidays and maybe my birthday, the NBA draft’s always been my favorite day of the year. The excitement it conjures—both in the climactic preceding weeks, filled with trade rumors and bold speculation, and the tense moments that crop up throughout the actual event—is unparalleled throughout professional sports. Unlike the NFL, MLB, and NHL, it all comes down to one neat, tightly packed evening, and the rewards (or consequences) of a high draft pick are noticed much sooner.  You pick a dud and your franchise can slip into a deep, dark hole. You select Derrick Rose or Kevin Durant and everything changes immediately.

Over the past two weeks we’ve given in-depth profiles on some prospects who could fall into the Knicks lap at 17; players who fit needs and seem to be of the team’s liking. This isn’t an especially gifted draft class, but what it should provide is a whole bunch of role players who’re capable of contributing a significant winning impact. (At least, that’s what I keep telling myself.) Here’s our take on what’s going down for the first 14 picks. It’s our first time doing this so please let us know what you think in the comments; whether we’re spot on or floundering in the middle of nowhere. Enjoy!

(more…)

The title of this post could’ve also been “Which Is Worse For You: Eating seven double whoppers a day for the next 10 years or 30 seconds of gasoline chugging.” But thankfully we’re discussing backup point guards instead of first or second scoring options. Things could be worse. (more…)

Busy, busy, busy. With the draft just a few days away, the serious rumors are beginning to swirl: Donnie Walsh told Klay Thompson he had some Reggie Miller intangibles, New York wants to move Toney Douglas or Landry Fields for a shot at moving up two spots to grab him, Congolese rebounding monster Bismack Biyombo has suddenly become attractive enough to warrant a jump to 11.

The rumors, they’re coming in droves! Biyombo’s an incredibly enigmatic player. Someone who could either instantly impact somebody’s frontline with aggressive board play and above average defense (think Ben Wallace circa 2003) or flounder through the league with nary a trace of offensive ability to speak of (think Reggie Evans circa his entire career). If he falls to 17 it’s probably for a reason, but who cares. Draft away!

Twitter: @BucketsOverBway

Here are three things we know about Klay Thompson: 1) He can shoot, 2) His dad, Mychal Thompson, played 12 years in the league, winning two championships with the Lakers, and 3) He likes marijuana. Sound good? Great. Welcome aboard, Klay. (more…)

Just a day after the announcement was made, the wheels are in motion. (more…)

No, unfortunately it isn’t to give Mr. MSG cauliflower ear; Patrick wants to coach. This from ESPN.

Right now, Ewing seems to have little connecting him to the Knicks’ owners. He still spends the offseason in the area, and his children still attend New Jersey schools. Despite considering this home, he is rarely at Madison Square Garden these days and doesn’t talk with Dolan.

“I really don’t know him very well,” said Ewing, drafted by the Knicks with the first pick of the 1985 draft. “I think it’d be great if I got to know him.”

Ewing says he doesn’t want to be typecast as a big man mentor, awkwardly sitting three or four chairs down from the real decision maker, but in all honesty maybe that’s what his post playing days are meant to be. He has no philosophical game plan, we have no clue what type of basketball he’d employ on a team if he were given complete control, and with New York in win now mode the Knicks can’t take a flyer on a guy with no experience, like, say, Golden State did with Mark Jackson (for the record I believe that move will work out fine, but only if Ellis is dealt for a taller scorer). The only interesting thing about this is his connection to Dwight. That’s really all that matters. If Dwight said he’d come to New York only if they made Ewing the coach? Well, that’d be a different story.

Twitter: @BucketsOverBway

Executive director of the NBA players' association Billy Hunter

You probably know him best as that guy who fans want to see enter home games when the Knicks are up 20 something points, but Roger Mason Jr. is also the Player’s Association vice president. After making some downbeat comments regarding the upcoming lockout, Mason’s now in the news for much more than anything basketball related.  (more…)

Here’s the lead paragraph on a nice and succinct, yet revealing, post on the type of man Donnie Walsh is. Click here for the rest.

Donnie Walsh joined the Knicks in the midst of ineptitude and scandal. He was handed the unenviable task of restoring respectability to one of the NBA’s original chartered franchises, a job he masterfully navigated until last week, when it was announced during the Finals that he would not return to his role as the team’s president of basketball operations.

 

Twitter: @BucketsOverBway

Mike D’Antoni has one year and $6 million left on his contract to serve as head coach of the New York Knicks.  Since he took over in 2008, the team’s record is 103-143. He’s won zero playoff games, made one playoff appearance, and chronologically finished fifth, third, and second in the Atlantic Division. There’s been improvement, but with the drastic modification in player personnel it’d be tough to say the win increase is thanks to D’Antoni’s competent leadership instead of a couple physical offensive geniuses. A team with Amar’e Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony, and Chauncey Billups—possibly a future coach himself—is going to win games, but while on New York for the last two months of the season their success played out as more a byproduct of their own astonishing talent than the coach’s system. If anything it stuck them in the mud as an average, predictable basketball team. (more…)

And regarding which player we can expect to join the Knicks next season?

Sounds like they’re focused on 5 guys: Klay Thompson, Jimmer Fredette, Josh Selby, Marshon Brooks & Kenneth Faried

My thoughts on this haven’t changed a bit. KENNETH FARIED please.

Twitter: @BucketsOverBway

Well, that just happened. Donnie Walsh is the Knicks general manager no more, and with this shocking news comes skepticism and uncertainty for New York basketball’s future. The next GM, the next coach, the next draft pick, the next free agent signing, the next trade; Walsh’s departure will have a snowball effect on the franchise. With the news, Jim Dolan has made the unthinkable his trademark, which is to say when unthinkable decisions are made they should henceforth be referred to as “A Dolan”, or in the verb form, “Dolaned” and “Dolaning”. As in, “Wow, I can’t believe Pittsburgh’s manager just intentionally walked Cincinnati’s pitcher with the bases loaded. He totally Dolaned that one.”  (more…)

Two nights ago, during Game 1 of the 2011 NBA Finals, the Dallas Mavericks—despite losing—came closer to accomplishing something against Miami than both the Bulls and Celtics. They kept Dwyane Wade and LeBron James on the perimeter, forcing the two to depend on the outside shooting of their teammates. (more…)

Why the delayed announcement?

Because the give and take was not completed until last week, I’m informed. Late changes were made by Walsh and approved by Dolan. Once Camp Cablevision’s required “six signatures” (I don’t think my source was being facetious) are on the dotted line, apparently sometime this week, the deal will be done, if not publicized.

Clearly, the new arrangement will give Walsh the control to finish the Knicks’ renovation the way he sees fit. If there was any uncertainty about that it would have demonstrated Dolan did not want him back. That would have shoved Walsh into retirement.

Twitter:@BucketsOverBway

Since the New York Knicks aren’t willing to offer us any team related news or notes, here’s a stab in the dark at creating some on my own. Off to the future we go. (more…)

There’s no shame in being the least talented player in the NBA. It’d be like poking fun at a co-worker because he had a one night stand with the “ugliest” model featured in last year’s SI Swimsuit issue. Becoming a professional basketball player is more than a dream come true for the few who’ve cracked the fraternity. It’s serious recognition for putting in enough hours of hard work to fill a mountain, displaying top notch discipline since middle school, and, to be honest, being blessed with the luck of a lottery winner.  (more…)