In response to: GIVE D-DUBYA A HIGH FIVE!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z

I think it's a little late to wonder if the team would be better off without Steph.

Before this year, I thought there was a chance for an older, presumably wiser Steph to learn his style of leadership and have some level of success. But after this year, even if he turns it around (which I doubt he can), the public opinion will never let him live it down. He'll never come out from the shadow of this year. Sorry if that sounds bleak...but if it was going to be tough to change people's minds on his legacy in the NBA before this yr, he made it 1,000 times harder for himself for the way he approached his team and his season. A solid "contract year", with all the doubt and skepticism that goes along with playing for a bigger contract will douse any positives you take away from next season. That's assuming he has a strong showing. The players in the league think he's a punk, a whiner, a quitter and betrayer. There's no medicine for that. And if he does well...he'll be blamed for this year's failure EVEN MORE! Rightfully so.

Zach?

I think its true that Zach is better than Curry and Steph. So, yeah, Zach and Steph aren't the ideal players to build around (I dont think there's an argument there) but superstars aren't exactly abundant and team's aren't just giving them away. And if I had to choose one, I'd roll with Zach. Even with his past and the debacle that this season has become. Through it all, for as big of a bitch and moaner as I think he is, Zach brings it on the floor. I'd rather pay Zach his $13mil a yr than Steph's $20mil or Curry's $9mil. If I were to be "stuck" with a player, I'd choose Zach over the other two.

And that's the reality...they can't move all three. They might only be able to move ONE. Maybe two, and the one of those will undoubtedly be a fleecing of the Knicks. This yr's performance killed all of the value for this roster on the open market.

I, for one, must thank Zeke for not waiting until the end of 2007 to do something about the roster. He had few picks, a mediocre roster and an injured Allan Houston to headline. I believe Steph was the most available skilled player that could be had for the least in return. That, to me, is a good trade. Chemistry aside. Up until this yr, it didn't seem all that bad. Stpeh seemed to be along for the ride...bad statistical performance and all.

Zach, for what we gave up, was a good trade. Chemistry aside. At worst, they are both placeholders. At best, the risk you take is rewarded with their inspired play. Zach gives you inspired play. The key is/was to surround him with people of the same ilk. If there is a crew for the BARF's, the AF's and th Statesman's...then there is a crew for the Artests, Zachs and Steph's. All obvious comparisons considered. LOL

They just haven't found right complementary pieces. I hope Artest is acquired because I don't think there are many other types of players that will fit into this roster with Zach on it. Sometimes all you need is a player to emulate. I think Artest can be that player that does what he does alongside anyone you put next to him. Artest doesn't need a roster full of nice guys to get his job done. He rocked in Indiana with Stephen Jackson. He works in Sac with good guys Garcia and Martin. But I think if he had a choice, he'd choose to rock with bullies like Stephen Jackson and Zach. I hope the Knicks can put together an offer before Golden State snatches him up. I think its possible they will.

But with that said, I do agree...I wouldn't "build around" Zach. I wouldn't want to use him as a foundation. I wouldn't want to give him that much power or influence. He's not unselfish enough. His contested three pointers and head-down-to-the-basket moves proves that much.

Still, for me, Steph's rebellion from Zeke stripped what little authority he had as coach/GM/face of the franchise. That reaction was so far out that it surprises me how little blame is placed on Steph...or how reporters have the balls to call him a scapegoat. That's bullshit...Steph phukked up big time. IMO, he phukked up the most.

If you HAD TO MAKE ONE CHOICE between Zach and Steph? Who's more to blame for the performance on the court this season?

Interview with John Canzano

Q: There was a stretch there when the Blazers were the biggest joke in the league. We�ll get to the Oden era in a moment but first, we�d like your three best (told or untold) JailBlazer stories. And somewhat related - living in a relatively small city, were you ever mildly worried about your safety, especially since the cops said Zach Randolph rolled with gangbangers?

Jason Quick, The Oregonian beat reporter who covers the team, has seen far more than me. He deserves some kind of honorary beat-reporter medal for enduring what was the worst locker room in all of professional sports. There�s wide speculation among some Blazers employees that Sebastian Telfair was not accidentally carrying that gun on the plane in Boston that day he was busted for a concealed weapon, but that he was carrying the gun all the time because Telfair might have feared the entourage of a couple of teammates who didn�t like him. Maybe he had reason. Just before he was traded to the Knicks, someone on the gang enforcement team at Portland Police Department told me to pick up the MTV Cribs episode that featured Zach Randolph because the police had a copy, and noticed some disturbing details about the unsavory people who hung around Randolph.

Nevermind�

Here�s three random ones, off the top of my head�

Whenever the Blazers sign a player to a 10-day contract the equipment manager provides the player with a free set of team-issue luggage. Sort of a welcome gift. Nothing incredibly fancy, but it�s way better than the stuff I have. So Omar Cook is signed a couple of years ago, and the luggage is placed in front of his locker. Cook was flying in from out of town, so he�s not there yet. Ruben Patterson, the team�s registered sex offender, sees the luggage, knows Cook isn�t around yet, and Patterson basically just decides he�s going to abscond the luggage. He just rips the name tags off and takes it. Nobody says a word, either. It�s not anything violent, but it demonstrates the lack of decency and respect that permeated.

Another time, in the visiting locker room in Dallas, I had Rasheed Wallace threaten to punch me after a playoff-game loss. Deadline was approaching, I�m the only writer in the locker room and I�m asking Rasheed questions, and he whips around, and tells me to get out of his space or he�s going to punch me out. At that point, his teammates are all looking to see how I react, and in no way am I going to back down. I�m looking at Rasheed, and thinking if he takes a swing I�m going to try and stuff him into the locker behind him if only because journalists everywhere need me to man up in that situation. Either that, or I�m going to get knocked out and blow my deadline. So I tell him I�m not moving. I just stand there, holding my notepad and recorder, and we�re staring at each other. He eventually storms past me to the shower, and while he�s gone Zach Randolph, a rookie then, leans in to me and says, �When �sheed comes back, make sure you don�t have your back to him. He�ll sucker punch you.� The great irony is that a month later Randolph sucker-punched Ruben Patterson during a practice breaking his eye socket. Someone was holding Patterson�s arms when Randolph threw the haymaker. There was a period of a few days after that incident where Randolph hid out at Dale Davis� house because he feared that Patterson was going to try and shoot him.

Here�s my favorite story, though. Blazers back-up centers Ha Seung Jin and Nedzad Sinanovic were locked in the Blazers practice facility together for the summer, playing against each other because they needed the work. Ha, who is 7-foot-3, had come back from South Korea out of shape, then was hampered by tendinitis in his knee, and so he�s getting schooled by the 7-foot-4 Sinanovic, from Bosnia.

The two were tussling and tangling on the court. It�s getting pretty heated, and they�re yapping and cussing at each other, most of which neither can understand because of the language differences. And as the players usually do at the end of a workout, the two players were shooting free throws together in silence. Sinanovic went first, then it was Ha�s turn.

Peaceful enough.

That is, until Sinanovic made his final free throw, then retrieved the basketball and held it. I mean, it was like watching kids bicker and fight. Ha walked over and snatched the ball back. Then, Sinanovic said something unkind and two men ended up on the ground in a pile of swinging elbows and fists.

The fight was broken up by Blazers trainers and team managers, who are all about two feet shorter than the two players. Ha, who took a good punch in the face from Ned, was screaming, �I�ll sue! I�ll sue!�

The two were escorted to different areas of the practice facility to cool off. Normally the story would end here. Except Ha�s neutral corner happened to be the team weight room. He picks up one of those long wooden poles that players use to stretch. Ha just comes running out of the weight room swinging the pole and screaming expletives in Korean. He really went after Sinanovic, who blocked one swing with his forearm but took another shot in the ribs before someone ripped the pole (think: closet dowel) from Ha�s hands and threw it across the courts.

If you didn�t have the fight in you before you came to Portland, you soon found it.

In response to: GIVE D-DUBYA A HIGH FIVE!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Barf:

Fair enough. I agree with most of what you're saying, but the difference is that I'm not blaming Zach. Zach is what he is. I'm putting this one squarely on Zeke.

All I'm saying, is that Zach is the type of player I would not want on my team.

As skillful as the best of them, but in my mind, not the guy to build around in my not-so-humble opinion.

I'm not sure the team would be worse without Zach and Steph though. As a matter of fact I think they would be better. There's no to tell, but chemistry is a funny thing. It jumps up at you once you have the right mix of players, not necessarily the best players.

Francis' body may have broken down here also, but he was a good mentor for the younger players, and could give a few solid minutes per game.

But like States rightfully said, we cannot undo trades. That's done.

We still do need that defensive big to balance the roster after the Zach trade, a trade that has derailed Zeke's legacy in my opinion.

In response to: GIVE D-DUBYA A HIGH FIVE!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
AF,

I completely agree as to what we were trading away in Channing and Francis. The good soldier mentality in Frye and the cap flexibility are definitely assets we traded away. And still, I would make that trade.

Why?

I don't think Frye's good soldier mentality would have helped anything this year when Steph went AWOL and pitched a fit. It wouldn't have helped when his pops passed either. Steph went missing in yrs past and the team suffered in his absence. They would show flashes of the team that could be but they needed Steph's skills on the court. No doubt about it. This team, as presently constructed, relies on Steph. Without him, you might as well re-construct around someone else.

Having traded for Zach, gives you the opportunity to. Without Zach, imagine how much worse the team would have been once Steph bounced on the team. Do you think Francis would have made a difference? How many minutes have Stevie Franchise played in Houston? And don't say its because Rafer is having a good yr either cuz even Mike James has his ass traded. Stevie's not his old self. His body didn't stand up to his style of play. His career is finished unless he's traded to Phoenix and their medical staff work the magic they seemed to have worked on one-and-done Shaq.

The difference in cap flexibility with Francis as opposed to Zach is an extra, what?, $10 million (maybe less). The amount of yrs Zach is locked in for is pretty awful, but its not like Zach doesn't generate his numbers. He does. If anything, Zach "gets his" a lot more consistently than Steph and Francis combined for the last two yrs.

I can't regret an acquisition where the player you acquire is doing what he does. Zach came here to get 20 - 10...and he's given you damn close to 20 - 10. At the expense of two of your other big man's numbers? Sure. But what's it say when a newbie like Zach can jump in and "take away" stats from the other bigs? Our bigs aren't aggressive enough. Zach is. DLee is "persistent" and shows "determination" but he lacks "aggression" unless he's got a clear lane to the hoop or under the rim for one of his patented scoop dunks. Outside of those two instances, he's busy getting blocked by players going over his back.

Duplicate production? Sure, that's Zeke's fault. But is Curry's regression Zeke's fault too? Is his lack of toughness?

His numbers across the board went down. Even points. You blame that on Zach and Zeke?

This is a man's world.

Eventually, the players should shoulder the weight from their lack of production. If the players produce their usual numbers or numbers "close to last year's" and the wins didn't follow, then undoubtedly, the blame falls squarely on the coach. But if players like QRich, Curry, Steph...fail to produce...it's their own fault. Blame it on a system that worked last yr? Blame on a system that added another tool in Zach on the perimeter and the post?

Should Coach have subbed them out for the bench counterparts? I thought so early on in the season. But I could understand why he didn't. After Steph's episode...how much more controversy could he take?

Mardy didn't WOW anyone when Steph was out.

Morris didn't WOW anyone when he finally got some minutes in the second half of the season.

Wilson Chandler, outside of this latest game, hasn't put up huge numbers.

I am of the philosophy that if it ain't working then I have to keep tinkering until something works. Then you isolate that portion that works and rebuild around it. I thought Isiah never found a portion of his lineup that worked. And, somewhere between Steph bailing on the team, QRich's overall lack of production and Curry's disappearance act from the stat sheet, Isiah lost interest in looking for an answer on the bench. That's not my style but I can understand the coach's problem.

How much different would the season have turned out if the younger bench players were given starting spots (or just played more minutes) ?

I can't say for sure, but it doesn't seem like a whole hell of a lot of difference to me.

For me, QRich doesn't start next year. Its a spot he will have to win with production and no amount of crying, bitching or moaning will help his cause. Curry's spot is up in the air. I'd trade his ass for Artest, J. O'Neal or a high draft pick in this yr's draft to be used on B. Lopez. In my mind, Steph is out. Gone. Never to be heard from again. Forget trading him for anything less than draft picks and an expiring this YEAR (which won't happen cuz there are no contracts to rival his). His redemption on the Knicks roster would come with a prerequisite public apology and promise to the team, the franchise and the city.

The time for private concessions and silent promise making are over.

Next yr is a time to change. The core has been re-adjusted and Zach is a piece of it.

I don't want to go back to last yr's team. The league has moved on and the East is getting better. If we go back to last yr's team, we're moving backward and our young'ns contracts are only getting shorter. Now is the time to see who will be resigned in the coming yrs and leaning on Curry - who doesn't seem to WANT TO STEP UP - is doing a disservice to the fans, the team that is left waiting for him to produce and the franchise that is left flapping in the win until Curry decides its time to grow up and take what it has already been given to him.

Curry's had tough love in Skiles...he's gotten borken down by Brown...he's been entrusted to lead the franchise by Thomas...

what else does Curry need?

When will he realize that it's not only Steph and JCraw's numbers that the team needs...its his too.

That's not Zach's fault.

In response to: GIVE D-DUBYA A HIGH FIVE!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
African,

In the Real World you can't undue trades. Once the trades are made, it is up to the coach and players to make it work. The Zach trade is in the past. I am more concerned with what happens in the future. How does the team get better in the future. What trades need to be made, what free-agent signing.

Will this guy below be the prize catch? I do not believe that he will leave his present-team.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=323YvqYd8_4

Peace & Blessings

In response to: GIVE D-DUBYA A HIGH FIVE!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Good AM Fanatics!

Kansas did their THANG last night and sent the Mighty Memphis Tigers reeling in the final two minutes...A great display of Grit and Mental Toughness...they also help \"Lots of Dough\" my Indian Name gents, to rack in quite a bit of cheddar...SO I DAMN SURE AIN\"T COMPLAINING THIS MORNING!

In the post that got lost on Sunday, I dropped a name for coach of the NY Knicks just to start the debate of truly viable coaches outside of Zeke. The name I dropped was DANNY MANNING! I always thought he would make a great coach! His skill sets were off the charts for his size and he had a stellar college career and would have had a stellar Pro carrer if not for the injuries... He also had great coaches during his playing days...

@Taz

the KID ROSE had 18 points & 8 assists I believe 4 or 5 turnovers; There is no 9 point lead with out his ability to take over last night game during that fabulous 9 minute stretch where he was clearly the best player on the court. Also, his defense was OUTSTANDING last night...He has the POTENTIAL to be the Next Great Point Guard....He has all of the physical tools and leadership tools...How bad does he want is the only question....IHMO

Your fellas the BOTOX is working on the site and the cosmetic procedures being performed by BARF & LIVES & TAZ are to be commended...

Great Job Homies!

In regards to whom we should draft, Like I told BRONX the other day, when all of the names are in the hat then it is time to have that discussion. At least for me any way.

ONE LOVE!

Keep it CRACKIN!

In response to: GIVE D-DUBYA A HIGH FIVE!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Barf:

I would take that trade back, and I'll tell you why.

I had the privilige to look at Portland with Zach, and was very impressed with his skill, but the team was playing uninspired ball. You could see the emotionless complimentary players. Zach always got his numbers, but the team sucked big time. There was no chemistry.

Good leaders inspire others to want to play for them. Coaches, floor leaders, whatever field. I saw players going through the motions.

When Zach was traded here, I too got caught up in the excitement, forgetting what I saw in Portland.

It all hit me square in the face after the first few games. I saw the same Knick players become the Portland players. That's when I mentioned on KD that Zach was the problem. Early in the seasaon.

One player can change the whole make-up of a team, and that's what happened.

When Zach beefed with Zeke, It was apparent that Zeke spoke to him about the long jump shots, and the forced shots. Zach rebelled, and my take was; Zach saying to Zeke, "You knew what you would get from me. So why did you trade for me?" So true.

Frye is soft, but Frye is young and a good soldier. Not the guy to start, but someone that can come in and give you some solid minutes. A big guy that can make that mid-range shot to keep defenses honest. The kind of chatacter guy you can build a good locker room with.

In Francis, you have cap flexibility after a couple years, and an insurance policy for the volatile Steph. Steph wouldn't act a fool if he was challenged for that point spot.

I'd take back that trade in a heartbeat.

In response to: GIVE D-DUBYA A HIGH FIVE!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Draft talk today???

Who do we want Guys?

In response to: GIVE D-DUBYA A HIGH FIVE!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Rose had the World's stage last night, which he

did not look like the "TRUTH."

Maybe it was just a bad game?

I'm not sure if he's better off returning to Memphis

next year? That 9 point collapse by the Tigers reminded

me of my favorite team!!!!!!! The last thing the Knicks need

is a Marbury 2!!!! Perhaps that is an overreaction as

I was picking Memphis to win..and they gave the game away!

Maybe if the knicks get the 1rst or second pick, should we go for a Big man,

then try to get "Chalmers" in the second round ( if we make a deal to

get a second round pick.....or even late 1rst?)

I'm not sure....I'm just not sure that Rose is equal the hype!

TAZ

In response to: GIVE D-DUBYA A HIGH FIVE!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
@Fanatics

Lost another post from earlier this afternoon in response to my man African. No worries! I'll just copy everything for a minute.

NCAA Final Game is quite intriguing. Helluva a match up! Despite his turnovers Rose still impacts a game and that is impresive for a Freshman PG.

Gotta bounce and get back to the game. I'll check in sometime in the AM!

One Love!

Keep it CRACKIN!

In response to: GIVE D-DUBYA A HIGH FIVE!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
DaVonn Clinton Jefferson,

Do facts matter? Or have you fallen so far down the MSM-Sewer that you make comments w/o seeking the facts. (LOL)

Knicks Facts:

Year Record (W/L)

1984-85 24/58

1985-86 23/59

1986-87 24/58

Note--Isiah was a player and not the coach during this period.

Clinton Jefferson, if you listen to the media, you would think this is the first-time the Knicks have experienced failure. They write/talk because they know

some people will believe whatever they say. C'mon Clinton Jefferson you know better.

Stand-up guys were able to see through the Veil. Judas is it baritone or falsetto today.

Peace & Blessings

In response to: GIVE D-DUBYA A HIGH FIVE!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
You can't be serious......Isiah Thomas is the worst coach the Knicks

have ever had. The #'s don't lie buddy.

In response to: GIVE D-DUBYA A HIGH FIVE!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
I wouldn't. Bad season and all, I would still make that trade. The value in Channing and Stevie, IN MY OPINION, going forward, is less than Zach. I could be wrong if Zach is traded for two pieces of shit on a stick and a 2nd round player...of if he has career ending surgery, or if Curry plays uninspired ball alongside him for the next 4 losing seasons...

but if I'm thinking replacing Frye with Zach straight up...I'm thinking the chemistry, over time, will work itself out. Its not like Curry and Zach don't like each other.

Its not like the beginning of the year was so awful. They were all barely losing games. The Cleveland loss to start the year was a great game. The infamous Miami game (Shaq, Zo and Wade still there) was a great game. Both losses.

Considering that Isiah was distracted by the trial...and the team as well...The year started off strong. They were losses but the team didn't start out-right quitting til AFTER Stephon's AWOL episode. Then Steph's pops passed and the season was gone in the blink of an eye. The subsequent media frenzy surrounding this "FRAGILE" team (I wouldn't have called them fragile after the Denver BRAWL) really fractured the locker room and the team.

Blame it on the coach and/or the player...50-50 blame, maybe...but I can't sit here and act like I wasn't convinced they were a tweak here and a tweak there away from stringing together some wins.

They were. But the faith in the TEAM was stripped away by everyone busy destroying them. Yes, they BECAME fragile...pound and pound a slab of steel enough and the dents compromise the soundness of its structure...and we all know the Knicks were never a slab "of steel" so all the destruction really took its toll.

I'm not offering these reasons as excuses...just as tools for understanding. Do with them what you may!

In response to: GIVE D-DUBYA A HIGH FIVE!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Fellas,

I never understood the Zach held Curry back mentality. Zach played up-top, while Curry was down low. Even if you think Zach hogged the ball (he did at times), did

this cause Curry not to rebound, not to block shots, or not to play defense? If Curry

is so weak mentally that when he doesn't get the ball, that he can't contribute anyway else, than he is not the guy for your team. Look at what Shaq is doing at Phoenix. He's not getting the touches he's accustom to, , he's not the first option on offense, but he is rebounding and blocking shots. Remember that the Knicks needed more than a defensive player at the 4. Last year w/ Curry & Lee in together they were getting manhandled. I recall one Piston game that McDyess, Wallace, Dale Davis, & someone else just took turns beating on Curry w/ Lee & Frye offering little physical assistance. The Knicks needed a physical presence and Zach supplied the presence. Also Zach continued to rebound w/ or w/o Curry. Curry at this point does not have the mental make-up to be a featured player. What held Curry back this year was his conditioning. Blame Eddy's poor work-habits for his terrible season. As DaVonn "Clinton" Jefferson would say, "terrible, just terrible".

JChuck is not a starter. If N8 is on the team than JChuck has to go. Both guys are scorers off the bench that offer little in the way of defense. N8 can't because of his size and JChuck refuses to play on the defensive side of the ball. I believe that JChuck can bring a moderate contributor to the team. Look for JChuck to be traded,

for a backcourt player that plays on both sides of the ball.

Peace & Blessings

In response to: GIVE D-DUBYA A HIGH FIVE!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Cooley:

I'm not ready to continue that Zach/Curry debate, but if I was trying to hand out blame, there's a whole lot to spread around.

My post was related(in case you didn't comprehend) to Zeke and what I blame him for. It wasn't about the players and placing blame. That's a whole different blog header.

But since mentioned Curry....Ahhhhh... I can't resist.

Cooley, I made a case at Modi's(and I hate to repeat my post on different blogs).

The scenario goes like this: If your boss asks you to head up a department, and after the first year you did well, maybe the best productivity in your career.

You sit down with him after the year and he agreed that there need to be some improvement on some levels, and promises to bring in some new hires to help in the defecient areas.

You walk in in the new year to start your job, only to find that your duties have already been done by a more experienced new hire. Now, where does that leave you? Right away you start thinking they want you out. Redundancy is good, but not in a starting line-up. That's not a good feeling. Not a good situation. That's why I blame the architect.

There is no question Curry deserves some blame for some uninspired ball, for being so out of shape coming into the season, but try putting yourself in his shoes.

That's a bad trade by Zeke, that disrupted the chemistry on a fragile team.

Compounding the issue is the fact that a player like Curry need a point that knows how to feed the post. Who did he have? Crawford and Nate?

That was the sole reason I felt that Steph would be benched this season. He wasn't playing the script of feding the post with the two post players on the starting team.

Quite a recipe for disaster.

Trust me. I don't think Curry is perfect. That's news for most of you isn't it? But i just think that the bigger blunder was Zeke's for making that trade. I'd take back Frye and Stevie in a heartbeat.

O&B:

I hear you. No beef. I'm all veggies.

In response to: GIVE D-DUBYA A HIGH FIVE!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
AF, u know I agreed with you on the Zach scenario.

But Curry REALLY dropped the ball when it was clear Stephon was blowing this yr for himself and the team. Curry was out of shape for a long time. Curry let Zach shine on both ends of the court when compared to his effort. He let Zach win over fans with his hustle (even if 3 rebounds a game was at the expense of DLee).

I may be a softie for JCra but I dont blame him for the way he carried this team. He did what he is known to do. He put his numbers up and his numbers were some of the highest of his career. They weren't at the expense of his team cuz by the time he took over, Stephon and Curry were out of the productive portion of the roster.

QRich's season was a huge disappointment.

There's plenty of blame to be had for everyone on the roster, top to bottom.

Everyone except for DLee, of course. He was great. A perfumed breeze while trapped in a hall of a thousand farts. A ripened apple at a banquet of feces. UGH!

Reading the DLEE BLOW ME CLUB really sucks...Especially when you really are a fan of his and realize that he has a lot of developing to do too.

In response to: GIVE D-DUBYA A HIGH FIVE!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Here here BARF

thats why I'm here, and still fighting that good fight.

What did you think of my attempt to contextualize Thomas' descent?

I did forget the media's role but I guesse I assumed most would include there role.

Again I need to redraft that article.

In response to: GIVE D-DUBYA A HIGH FIVE!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
What shouldn't be lost in this summary is the media's role. They took a weak headed Stephon and put on display for all to see. This includes the newbie, Zach, who I'm convinced snitched on the team's secretive turmoil more than once in an attempt to separate himself from the riff raff...and exonerate himself of any blame. I'm sure the Scholar wasn't too far behind him either.

THE WORST TEAM EVER?

Straight horse shit...SLAM's running with this Knicks "shit in piles" story.

I always love to see reporters feign an understanding of the magnitude of Isiah's job by saying something like "the roster he inherited was bad"...no motherfudgepacker...the roster he inherited...and the payroll situation...WAS WORSE. Not to mention, the media. Dolan was the one with the bull's eye square between his focals. Now, Donnie has the luxury of not only having Dolan but Isiah to share the burden of this NYC NBA media crunch. I swear, everyday, watching the beatwriters work is like watching a pack of 1 yr old pups humping the same leg.

They are notoriously left out of the loop here yet, pump out more material than any other city in the US.

Does anyone else see this? Its ridiculous.

It gives the quote "NY won't tolerate rebuilding" a whole new slant. It's not just the fans that won't accept rebuilding...its the media too. They can't accept that their "storied franchise" is just not at a good place...and hasn't been for many years...not just 4...more like 6, 7, 8 yrs. Yes, its time to turn it around..and its overdue...but this stuff takes time.

And with the media "destroying them everyday"...it just makes the job that much harder. It makes being a Knick that much harder.

Ya'll need to read this article: Absolutely, Positively the Worst Team in the History of Professional Sports

It shines a light on the relentless selective misinformation the league and its fans are under when it comes to Isiah an the Knicks. Worst team ever? How about the Clips? the Wolves? the C's up until last yr?

Ever? Blogga Please.

Which reminds me...I just can't be a part of a predominantly Knick hating blog. There are just too many out there and when it comes to Knick-hating, I'm not very good at it. The Sperminator and Ice-colda have that market cornered. What's worse is they get paid to do what they do...am I supposedto hate on my own home town for free? As a product of my free time? Nah, man...I got a life to build and I won't be one that builds on top of a hating heart. No, thanks. I'll leave that to you who have that fervor and will to destroy those you do not know. Those who entertain you.

We could be the worst team in the league for a decade and I will still stand here trying to figure out how to make things better. I will still point out the positives on which to build and leave the endless criticism and pretentiousness of all those fans who feel they "deserve better" to their blogs and negativity. I'd rather spend my time arguing the merits of another fan's rebuilding efforts than gleefully flooding my mind with (and the mind's/time of others) with AIMLESS negativity.

In response to: GIVE D-DUBYA A HIGH FIVE!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Now there you go again 'Pink Eye' blaming Zach and yet you failed to mention Curry showing up out shape, not working on or improving on other aspects of his game, and acting like a Big Baby...I'm quite sure Gasol gets fewer touches but he plays to win, he still boards and hands out assists, blocks a shot here and there; I'm quite sure Yao Ming got more fewer touches when Tmac was on the court verses when he's not, but he too plays to win, reboundsan blocks shots; Dwight Howard's touches have flucuated this year too, but he still plays to win and you can see improvement with his game...

Now I can relate with you on two and three (and I that's not required African), and there is some merit to bits of the Zach scenario, but not to mention any culpability on Curry's part and totally absolve him of playing any role in this seson's demise is slippery at best.

In response to: GIVE D-DUBYA A HIGH FIVE!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
African

I should have been more specific. I agree Zeke is not the monster or complete pariah many have made him out to be (MSM and thir pide piper lacky readers) and he has done well in the draft and increasing the talent base of the franchise. What I meant is that how he was set to fall by so many different factors, and how it is happening to a person of his calibur and reputation as a player and person is tragic.

I was trying to paint a sympathetic view of Zeke based on the context of the challenge he faced and what pressure it must have put on him to wear different hats and have conflicting interest while attempting to carry out he mandate James Dolan hired him to carry out. That was really my point. I think I will need to re state my argument.

I will clarigy more pointedly later.

No beef just veggies.

In response to: GIVE D-DUBYA A HIGH FIVE!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
O&B:

I couldn't disagree with you any more with that comment. "His story is tragic"

Call me whatever you like, but Zeke have not received enough credit for what he's done in his tenure here.

Remember, this was a job that no one would take because of what you had to work with. Take a good look at the pre Zeke roster. Zeke has transformed the roster to a young and promising nucleus. This team was predicted to be in the top four in the Eastern confrence. How soon we forget.

What went wrong? I blame Zeke for:

1) The Zach trade.

All Zach did was duplicate the job of Curry and Lee.

He took Curry's touches and shots, and took lee's rebounds(literally fighting him off to get it). The team from the previous year needed a defensive presence, not what Zach brought.

Add that to Zach's dominant personality, and you have a completely new team, one that's not a continuation from the one from the previous year that had chemistry and a decent foundation. You now have two guys in Zach and Craw that are on the court at crunch time taking ill advised shots.

2)The Steph incident.

I don't blame Zeke for waning to sit Marbury. I blame him for the way he managed the situation.

Early in the game, I believe in the preseason I mentioned on KD that I noticed Marbury breaking off plays, and that he would be benched. Marbury wasn't playing to the strengths of the team. If I'm seeing it in the stands, what do you think have been going on on the bench? You can't tell me he didn't speak to Marbury before.

The way Zeke handled that situation, playing Marbury thirty plus minutes after he came back to the team was a recipe for disaster. I also mentioned that on KD. That move created a wedge between him and the other players. That was poor management.

3)Coaching.

In that same post in the preseason, I mentioned that Zeke shouldn't coach that team. The parts were there, but the team needed I thought at that time, a different voice/leader on the bench. Zeke became too much of a father figure to lead these troops. Parents tend to be too loyal to their offsprings. A different coach would sit Q way back, and allowed Chandler to get his feet wet.

The substitution patterns were terrible.

If you not listen to the media and look a the talent on this team, with a little leadership and someone to do some dirty work down low, you have a very competitive team.

That tragic word I just don't get, in my not so humble opinion.

In response to: GIVE D-DUBYA A HIGH FIVE!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
I think Thomas' roster redundancy was a way to hedge his bets given that he was picking usual mid to late first rounders. With that type of pick there is the possibility they won't flourish and bust. Hence, Thomas the GM covering for Thomas the GM. Pick a player in the draft with upside. Sign via the MLE a player very much like the one drafted to cover your basis. If in doubt and facing a legacy season where it's playoffs or bust, hedge in favor of the MLE players to the detriment of the pups whose careers would be better served with gametime burn. Thomas is always fighting himself b/c he it appears he was trying to reclaim his image, after it being tarnished with the accusations that he blew it in Toronto and the CBA. That plus the mandate when he stepped on about how NY can't rebuild sort of boxed him in. He was always trying to make his moves as a coach GM, draft picker, free agent acquisitioner look good beyond on paper. He was destined for a fall with all that redundancy.

His story is tragic. That's if you can step back from the vitroil and have 20 20 vision of what sort of internal and external pressures he was under. To that end he failed under pressure, and marketing ("Starbury," "can't rebuild," and "big money MLE signings and trades") trump sound management decisions.

Next part will speculate at his chances of redemption- should the James and the Don keep him on board, and he maximize his organizational strengths.

In response to: GIVE D-DUBYA A HIGH FIVE!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Hey Fanatics, I've got Good News and Glad Tidings of JOY!

SAN ANTONIO (AP) - Hakeem Olajuwon, Patrick Ewing, coach Pat Riley and four others have been elected to basketball's Hall of Fame.

Never doubted it for one second....Dickie V made it too...

Let's Go Memphis, so ROSE can do his ONE AND DONE... Knicks Draft Rose (if all goes well, he'll bring back that winning feeling to the MECCA) and sign his mate JDorsey as our off the bench rebounder and Hatchet Man....With the proper pruning he could possibly be a low grade Ben Wallace Clone...I'm just saying!

ONE LOVE!

Keep it CRACKIN!!!!

In response to: GIVE D-DUBYA A HIGH FIVE!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Good PM Fanatics!

It looks like the youngings under the watchful EYE have elvated their and their respect for the game. That's what happens when the Travel Agent sets up shop right outside the Lockerroom.

We've defintely got some keepers and some carrots we may well have to dangle. JD'S deal is the clincher...We will see what kind of business man he really is on the day the Lottery Balls are jumping...Than, on Draft Day! Is it real or is it Memorex!!!!!!

The sight is starting to pick up steam and good momentum....Like the Ole Folks say, "Home is where the Heart is, or where A FLY PR MAMI is waiting in the wings to give you a Blow Me Club Special."

I'm just saying! ONE LOVE!

Keep it CRACKIN!

In response to: GIVE D-DUBYA A HIGH FIVE!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Barf:

I'll settle for the "Whenever I feel like" post. You guys have it going. We don't need a new post every day, we just need good convo, togetherness and disagreements. Without differing opinions, he conversation gets stale.

I know the recently departed Lives will chime in with some flava soon.

I'm loving it already.

Who did this lead? My guess is States. I'd like to suggest the head blogger put his name to his work. Good piece.

If you remember, I had that idea from KK. I asked Isola to have someone do the lead. He objected. I asked Hahn to do the same thing, now Hahn has allowed a blogger to do the lead over there.

We gotta think outside the box.

In response to: GIVE D-DUBYA A HIGH FIVE!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Fellas,

Jay Bee & Barf,

That was some good stuff you guys put down on the new sheriff in town.

Jay Bee, I thought your post on the Carolina guys was overlooked. Those guys do stick together. Karl's #1 assistant is Doug Moe another Carolina guy. Isiah had to feel awkward having Ford (last year) & Hanners (both years), on the sidelines. I believe Jimmy Dolan did not want to buy out their contracts so thaey stayed on staff. Two of LB's guys had to create some tension, but I believe Jimmy Dolan prefers a little tension. It is his way of keeping control and having a little policing w/o policemen, if you know what I mean.

Barf---please shoot me an e-mail.

O&B,

I could never be humiliated on a blog. My back-bone would never allow this to happen. Now If I write some dumb-shyt, and someone has data (or nuances) to prove me wrong,...that's another story. There's an old saying "A FOOL and his MONEY will soon part". A little modification says "A FOOL and his BLOGGERS will soon part".

'Lives', you puttin my bizness in the streets!! Abrasive, annoying, snarky, devilish...

why didn't you include my faults?(LOL). As I read the death of 'Lives', two things came to mind, 1) This should be the Death of Drossman, now that Isiah is on the way

out, he's done,.... his 1-track-show is over 2) 'Lives' who gets your DELEGATES?

The youngins showed something last night, against a team that was trying to win.

Youthful Exuberance can trump talent when given a chance. There is a difference between Youthful Exuberance & Irrational Exuberance (Greenspan). Depending on Curry & JChuck to get you over the hump, is Irrational.

Peace & Blessings

In response to: GIVE D-DUBYA A HIGH FIVE!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
AF,

you wanna make it official and make it a headline for this new joint? I got a slot open for Tuesday. States, is pegged for Wednesday (Hump Day is critical)...or you can have Monday even though now it would have to be a night time post. Even if you don't want a regularly assigned time slot, you could still work out a plan for a "whenever you feel like" post. Kind of a sweet deal!

Let me know dude.

When the season ends, I got a series planned to carry us through what will be a depressing (from a Knick fan POV) playoffs. It'll give us a chance to pull out the whipping stick and take out our frustrations...in a constructive way I hope.

In response to: GIVE D-DUBYA A HIGH FIVE!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Careful O&B.

You could be booted by the over sensitive KD.

Lives:

Wherever the hell you are. I'd like to kick your ass out of retirement/six feet under.

Calling me an antagonist! Well......i'm kinda.

That was a hell of a kick ass post over there. Where and when idid I become a racist? The last time I did racial/social issues was at KK. I don't remember approaching that topic at KD. Whatever man.

Don't let the name fool you. You'd be suprised when you see what I actually look like. Ha!

Didn't chime in on that Walsh move as yet, but will do real soon.

In response to: GIVE D-DUBYA A HIGH FIVE!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
REPOST FROM the from a comment I made on the other bog.

Sorry to let this spill over but I had to do it.

I wasn�t talking about me or any fan being proud of the franchise�s woeful state of late. I was talking about the players perhaps regaining some pride. But perhaps the better word was some sense of self respect.

Pride is a fools concept really. A win in an otherwise terrible season is nothing to be proud about. With that I have no qualm.

What is more important in the end for the team and city of NY is that the team play with a sense a dignity and respect for the game. That the coach coaches the team with that concept in mind and that the person�s running the organization run the organization in a manner consistent with the standards of a first rate organization.

If your whole pride tirade was a slight at me. Then you misunderstood what I was alluding to with the win or lose commentary I put out above.

You should be the last blogger to get all high and mighty about pride, you humiliated Statesman by uncloacking him on this blog w/o his permission. You shut out otherwise great voices who will be sorely missed. Now, I am hoping I am misunderstanding you, you make a veiled slight at my commentary which alluded to the concept of pride - team pride mind you- and demand respect from other bloggers here.

This is your house. Duly noted. Much success to you. But check yourself and how you phrase your commentary, unless you intend your words to carry a certain meaning good foul or otherwise.

In the end I�m a Knick Fan and Lover for Life

and I perfectly understand why I won�t feed into the media negativity b/c it could flow over into me personally.

I won�t wear rosed covered glasses but I won�t become a pariah and sess pool of negativity just b/c the other sheep are screaming that shyt in my ear.

I�m above that fray like Lives, and other quality people on this blog and elsewhere.

In response to: GIVE D-DUBYA A HIGH FIVE!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
jaybee, here's another few

"Talk to the hand cuz Donnie's not listening"

"You are getting sleeeepy!"

"Poof! Be gone"

"You're dismissed!"

LIVES, you'd better have a plan for post-funeral cuz it ain't the same w/o you...or more accurately, its not as much fun. You shouldn't feel between it, you should feel above it and that's okay with me. Great posts on KD. Real thorough and very true on every angle. There ain't no hard feelings, its been a hard season for everyone. And I can't even say that I didnt see it coming.

Its all to the good. We're an evolving bunch. And last time i checked, evolution is natural.

In response to: GIVE D-DUBYA A HIGH FIVE!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
This is my fingerprint.

My hand will soon follow.

Great post BARF.

Let's clean this bad boy up.

LIVES

In response to: GIVE D-DUBYA A HIGH FIVE!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
I'm cosigning statesman's statements on Walsh and the last one hear. When the next coach understands chemistry mark down a MINIMUM of 12 extra wins just on line-ups changes alone. We obviously need a point and if we can't get Rose and Isiah is no longer the coach then it might be better to roll with Marbury situation rather than roll another season with no real point. The thing about Marbury is that he should never be in a lineup that has 5 scorers on the floor which is what he was trapped in. Two other scorers and two guys who don't need the ball. that's the formula.

In response to: GIVE D-DUBYA A HIGH FIVE!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
You must look at the picture to get the full effect, so scroll up then scroll back down then back up again and back down again.

In response to: GIVE D-DUBYA A HIGH FIVE!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
More...as if I couldn't hear your groans.

Your eyelids are getting verrrrry heavy. You are asleep. Your essence is floating outside of your body. Remove your blouse.

Oh hell no! Is Donnie Walsh gonna hafta smack a bitch?

Yes I have been dead for five years. I'm just decomposing gracefully. That Hatian shea butter soap is good stuff.

Pull my fanger.

Hey Rocky! Watch me pull a rabbit outta my hat. (Rocky: "Aww Bullwinkle you can't do that.") Nuttin' up ma sleeeve...

Now waaaaave ya hands in the aaaaair, and waaaaaave 'em like you just don't caaaaaaare...

Wait, wait I know this one. There's Ghostface Killah, Meth, U-God, Inspectah Deck, the RZA and the GZA, ODB, Raekwon and Masta Killa...

Thank you, God bless, Good night.

In response to: GIVE D-DUBYA A HIGH FIVE!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Re: The post picture

Insert comment:

And now, by the power vested to me by the great state of New York, I now pronounce you...

I did not have sex with that woman, Anucha Brown Sanders!

Be gone Satan!!

Yo dog!! Throw me the rock!

Stop playin' N8! Gimme my teeth back. You play too damn much.

Expecto Patronum!! (Ya almost hafta have kids for that one.)

In response to: GIVE D-DUBYA A HIGH FIVE!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Notes from the stat line:

D. Lee F 29:25 5-11 FG, 3-4 FT, +22 lenovo, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 13 points

J. Jeffries F 27:33 2-5 FG, +17 lenovo, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 points

Z. Randolph C 27:03 8-19 FG, 0-2 3ptrs, 4-4 FT, +13 lenovo, 11 rebounds, 20 points

J. Chuck G 26:35 3-16 FG, 2-6 3ptr, 3-3 FT,+16 lenovo,3 rebounds,3 assists,11 points

Wilson G 44:20 7-16 FG, 1-4 3ptr,8-10 FT,+11 lenovo,8 rebounds,1 assist,23 points

N8 30:28 3-10 FG,1-5 3ptr, 5-6 FT, -3 lenovo, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 12 points

Fred 19:39 5-9 FG, 3-5 3ptr, 0-0 FT, -11 lenovo, 2 rebounds, 0 assists, 13 points

Mardy 15:34 0-4 0-1 2-4 +6 lenovo, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 points

Balkman 13:35 0-0 FG, -10 lenovo, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 0 points

R. Morris 05:48 0-2 FG, 2-4 -11 lenovo, 2 rebounds, 0 assists, 2 points

M. Rose DNP 00:00

Q. Richardson DNP 00:00

Total 240 33-92 fg (35.9%), 7-23 3ptr (30.4%), 27-35 FT (77.1%)

Team Rebs: 55 Orlando Rebs: 52

Total TO: 9 Orlando TO:14

Points in the Paint: 36 Orlando 42 Knicks

In response to: GIVE D-DUBYA A HIGH FIVE!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Nate was the Heart of this win tonight......even with less than a minute left in the fourth.............................................

Howard, Nelson and Turgolu were still on the court, trying to pull out a Miracle win!

I still love this team!

TAZ

In response to: GIVE D-DUBYA A HIGH FIVE!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Jay Bee,

The Knicks as a whole played hungry. I was surprised by the energy level. Isiah played the young guys more, and often together. In the 4th quarter he had a weird lineup--Balk, Chandler, N8, Mardy & Morris. Chandler is getting his confidence, which is why I don't understand why Isiah stayed w/ Q, for so long. In addition he is athletic which is what a front line of Curry and Zach needed. The team has more talent than just Lee. The key will be finding a coach that understands chemistry.

Peace & Blessings

In response to: GIVE D-DUBYA A HIGH FIVE!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
So far tonight the audition seems to be going well. League pass and NBA TV fucked me out of my game so I couldn't watch. I'm trying to wrap up some taxes for family so it was probably good I didn't see it. Somebody tell me what the hell happened tonight. It looks like a great game from Wilson Chandler.

In the meantime, I'm going to the stats for answers.

In response to: GIVE D-DUBYA A HIGH FIVE!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
My Bag Brudders! No need to search, but I appreciate the gesture TAZ & BARF...

Stick and Move is the play right now in Knicks Land. Let the Script play out and we will see what kind of deal JD cooked-up with the Lil General. Always follow the money.

We shall SEE!

Keep it CRACKIN!

In response to: GIVE D-DUBYA A HIGH FIVE!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/840493.html

Karl is saying he's glad to have passed on Artest!!!!

The Knicks are playing the Magic tight

but it's hard to watch.....

TAZ

In response to: GIVE D-DUBYA A HIGH FIVE!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Walsh will help, but he's not the savior! I believe its impossible to have a worse

year next year, even if we do a complete rebuild from the d-league!

Steph has to go reguardless of who's the coach. He may thrive elsewhere,

and I hope he does! I wonder what kind of program Curry will be under this summer for Conditioning? I personally think he should play in the Summer league, not to humiliate him but to keep him in shape! I have to admit that if we were lucky enough

to get the 1rst pick this draft.....I would hope it would be Rose!

We need a floor General and an obvious defense ( Artest) and we need REAL PURE SHOOTERS! You can't have Lee, Jeffries, and Mardy on the floor at the same time ever! Like I stated in a prior post...Why don't Jeffries go to a " Big Man Camp" and Clone Camby? I agree with DVJ this summer will be more exciting than ever!

Yo BARF..... Cooley's missing a post! See if you can find it, please!

In response to: GIVE D-DUBYA A HIGH FIVE!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
WHAT HAPPEN TO MY LAST POST....

In response to: GIVE D-DUBYA A HIGH FIVE!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
DVJ- I dont think Walsh will overhaul the franchise...and if he does it wont happen quickly. I just don't see a reason to let Isiah go for doing things the way Dolan wanted them done. He's recently received an extension for major money and he still has the attention of the players he's revolved the roster around.

See, he built the roster around Stephon and Curry but those two came up pretty lame this year. As the season wore on, the only people willing to do any of the heavy lifting (without an emotional meltdown at least) have been everyone but Curry and Stephon.

I can't put much on Zach as he is the newcomer. Yes, his presence has been disruptive to the chemistry of last year but when "last year" was still a losing one...does the responsibility of your pent up emotion and subsequent frustration fall on your teammate?

Steph played the coach's pet for very long and this year was the year he was supposed to step up and claim what was his. If he had to ride the bench to prove he deserved to be on the floor at the end then he should have done it. If I was coach and my season rode on the performance of my VETERAN PG...my "friend" and "neighbor"... then I have to find a way to motivate him. He chose the way of Ginobili and Jason Terry (before the Kidd trade) and Steph rebelled against him. Then life continued to unravel for Stephon and the season unraveled with it.

The Steph benching was long over due. Not for emotional reasons like ego and respect for authority but for pragmatic reasons like energy and wear and tear. Steph relies on his rare combination of strength, speed and savvy on the court. On bad wheels - so much so that he elected to have season ending surgery - he could not sustain the type of aggression that is required with Curry and Zach on the defensive side of the floor. As a PG, you have to go down low often and try to draw fouls by either creating a shot of your own or getting an easy one for your big men.

But by rebelling against the benching, we'll never know what a vet Steph from the bench would yield. Over the course of the year, he could have been a great alternative to JCraw. With less ball handling duties and more attacking responsibilities, Steph might have redefined himself as a versatile TEAM leader and been considered indispensable for next year.

No one on this roster has his skill level. No one else is in the position he held. No one else could have meant more this year even if the record suffered because of it.

Without Marbury next year, without a serious acquisition (O'Neal for Marbury) and without a talent like D. Rose...next year could be painful.

If Donnie overhauls the roster this offseason, I'd say a coaching switch wouldn't be a bad thing. If you get rid of all the players who support Isiah then what would be the reason to keep him right?

But if he Donnie manages to re-form the roster with the sort of moves that Isiah needs to make the roster fit..gets rid of Aguirre and Herb Williams for more defensive minded big men coaches...then, for me, Isiah should stay. Personally, I like the style of play the Knicks put on display when things are going well for them. When things are bad though...they're downright ugly to watch.

I can't stand to think of how the ball was dropped so early in the season. And how little the rest of the players stepped up to the challenge. The last two months of basketball are practically meaningless a the play has reflected it. And still, the first half of the season was worse. That really says something of how bad the emotional make up of this team was to start the season.

With all the media attention on Isiah's trial to start the season, it's not hard to understand why. With a team this young and a leader that hard headed, its not hard to understand at all.

In response to: GIVE D-DUBYA A HIGH FIVE!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Good Job, BARF!

Peaceman Will also be Known as TAZ!

COOLEY has won the NCCA POOL amongst us! If Jay Bee had picked a winner he would have won! Gotta go ...here comes a guy Who looks like Donnie Walsh...and he's complaining of chest pain!!!! lol

In response to: GIVE D-DUBYA A HIGH FIVE!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
DaVonn Clinton Jefferson,

It appears that you are making lot of EXCUSES for Mr. Walsh.

Who HIRED Bird? Bird's hiring had a drastic effect on the Pacers.

DVJ--Do not believe that Walsh calling the Shots means a Great Draft Pick--see below

Pacers Draft Since 96

96--Erik Dampier (Passed on Kobe, Steve Nash,Jermaine O'neal)

97--Austin Croshere

98--Al Harrington

99--Vonteego Cummings(Ginobili)

00--Primoz Brezec (Mike Redd)

01--traded for Tinsley

02--Fred Jones--(Tay Prince, Carlos Boozer)

03--No draft

04--David Harrison

05--Danny Granger

06--Shawne Williams

Does any of these guys jump off the page. Do not believe every person that is

"Anointed" has all of the answers. Also DVJ, people do lose their MOJO. Remember

Jerry Krause was a Genuis w/ Scotty, then the Bulls could not make the playoffs for

6-years and he was force to resign.

Change can be good.

Progress is ALWAYS good.

Not all Change is Progress.

In response to: GIVE D-DUBYA A HIGH FIVE!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Knicks Media Amnesia will become contagious!!!!!

In response to: GIVE D-DUBYA A HIGH FIVE!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
I'm going to answer that with a post I put on MODI's website.

People who think Walsh has fallen off in regards to the last few years of the Pacers timeline clearly are just talking and have no validity to back their thoughts up.

Please read and take note on the last few years in Pacerland.

My post from MODI's website.....

When did Bird go to the Pacers? He was signed in the offseason of 2003. Right before the start of the season they traded Al Harrington (per his request) to Atlanta for Stephen Jackson. They started as the best team in the East until the Brawl in Detroit. That season was supposed to go to waste but they actually went to the playoffs (13th time in 14 years). They year after that was the year Artest started the whole �trade me� stuff. He disrupted the team so Walsh granted his request. Jermaine missed 2 months that season due to a torn left groin. However, even with all that going on�they made the playoffs AGAIN for the 14th time in 15 years. The year after that was when Jackson was poppin shots in the parking lot and that led to him being traded. The public demanded he be traded (since he was also a major party in the Detroit brawl.) They probably didn�t want to deal him but they had to. Ever since then the team has gone downhill. How many games has Jermaine this year? All these things are out of the managements control my friend. Nobody could�ve done a better job with the set of events in Indiana for the last few years. Now we don�t know if Walsh or Bird was pulling those trades but we do know that before Bird got there when it was only Walsh�.they were always elite.

Think about what the team was before Bird was there. They were in the Finals and they were a fixture in the playoffs and most times Eastern Conference Finals. I�m sure you remember those battles with Jordan and Miller or Scottie and Jalen. Classic stuff indeed.

Great move by Dolan in stepping back and letting a basketball great handle everything. People keep mentioning his age like he�ll be bringing the ball up the court LOL. He�s 67 not 77�.BIG DIFFERENCE!!!

In response to: GIVE D-DUBYA A HIGH FIVE!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Fellas,

Donnie was brought in to sell ads and keep next year's season tickets renewals in place. Does Donnie have the answers? If you look at his record the last few years, you would conclude NO!! The MSM a la Hillary Clinton is cherry picking on Donnie's

success w/ the Pacers. Anything good he gets the credit, and someone else is responsible for the blame. My favorite is Donnie wanted to draft Tay Prince, but Isiah talked him into taking Fred Jones. What about the terrible picks since Isiah left?

Oh that was all Bird. Please give me a break. When drafting Reggie Miller( almost

20 years ago), is the best the MSM can do, then it says alot about your ability.

DVJ---Obama is change, Clinton is more of the same. Walsh is more of the same.

How about DeVonn Clinton Jefferson, it has a nice ring(LOL).

Provincial Thinking--"He is one of us"--Leads to Mediocrity.

The follwing hires would have never been made w/ this thinking.

Red Auerbach--From Washington DC, coached in Wash. before Boston

Pat Riley(Lakers)--New Yorker in LA LA -land

Phil Jackson(Chicago/LA)--Knicks roots

Chuck Daly (Detroit)--Philly roots coaching in Detroit

Pop--No Texas connection, brought to San Antonion by LB.

Cooley, good to see your post. Have always had big respect for you bruh. It is easy to see through those at a distance, but more difficult to see through those that are close. The Devil can be LOUD or he can be Quiet & Polished. However he is still the Devil!! If someone offline or behind the scenes is consistently putting out negativity, what's their objective?

Peace & Blessings

In response to: GIVE D-DUBYA A HIGH FIVE!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
"Will he inspire Curry to position, rebound and block shots? "

No..that's why he'll get traded.

"Will Zach pass the ball consistently and start drawing charges on D?"

Depends if Donnie puts consistent shooters around him. Why should Zach pass to Jamal, Mardy, Balkman, Lee when they can't shoot. The point of moving the ball is to get an open shot...none of the other players can shoot. Why pass? LMAO

"Will JJeff push his body into towards a PF physique and stop playing so small and light?

No he won't....that's why he'll get traded also.

"Will DLee get blocked on the block less?"

Lee will still get blocked but you need a player like Lee to rebound and make hustle plays. Those players are essential on championship teams. Ask Miami about Haslem...they'll tell you!!

"Will JCraw shoot less "good if it goes" type shots?"

Crawford will be relegated to a sixth man position which is what most people have been hoping for sometime now.

"Will Stephon now be a leader?"

Probably not....but if we land a top 2 pick and are able to get Rose....he won't have to be. He'll probably be brought out if we draft Rose.

"Will QRich sound less like a winner and start playing like one?"

QRich will also be moved. There are big changes coming fellas. This will be a more interesting summer than last summer.

"Will Chandler, Balk and Morris actually get off the pine when it counts?"

I can't answer that. You have to wait to see who our coach is before you can make a prediction regarding that question.

Donnie has this under control.

We're in good hands now.

Only thing left to do is be patient.

If we get Rose...our patience won't have to be so long.

Not saying we'll be great next year but this kid will be better than Paul.

There's a reason why people are saying he's the best to come out of college since Jason Kidd. Think about how many PG's came out since then. Rose is better than ALL OF THEM!!!!

Change in 08!!!!!!

Change is coming.

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
African

I hear you about the response I wrote.

I really didn't want to write a reply but he appeared to take plenty of my statements out of context. That of course appeared coupled with an agressive tone. I just wanted to set the record straight.

Like Peaceman is doing at he KnicksFix, I intend to do at our former blog home.

There are still good bloggers out there and I'd like to keep our ties with them strong. Should they decide to visit or frequent this blog that's icing on the cake. If not, there company is still good despite our falling out with the host.

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
O&B, Peaceman,

Following up on why Walsh will let Isiah go. It is true that Walsh worked w/ Isiah before, but in that situation Walsh had his people in place. The current Knick organization consist of Isiah's people. The assistant GM, the scouts,and others. At this point in his career I am sure that Walsh would want his own people. I do believe that Isiah has been aware of the decision for weeks, and that is why practice has been frequently cancelled. Read his body language and his quotes, he knows this gig is up. Isiah will rise again.

'Lives' my starting 5.

Miles, at the point.

Trane, at power forward w/ passion

James, in the middle bringing the funk

Jimi, w/ the crossover

Marley , on the wing

With Stevie , Sly & ParliamentFunkadelic first men off the bench.

'Lves', you have taken this to another level.

Peace & Blessings

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
new post

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
African,

This is home, but that fact that Alan gave this blog a "Shout out"( he posted a link to our site...I know that pissed off the nameless one)

and the fact that there a few cats from his blog that are real KNICK

FANS and may post here also ...is not a bad thing! I want to make freinds

not enemies! In the future he will make reference to this blog and feel it's ok, which only helps this blog grow!

TAZ

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Barf:

Zeke's just playing head games with these clowns.

They're saying he destroyed the franchise, his comeback is that you have nothing to show for any measured success you had in the recent past.

You had nothing to begin with, so I couldn't destroy it. Let's start talking about how to win one.

That was a quip. He knew that would piss them off.

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
"the phoniest cats are the loneliest" - black thought

Its cool. What are u gonna do?

I love what Isiah said. That's some great shit.

If Donnie fires him now, I won't feel so bad. At least he got that off his chest.

HAHA

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Peace:

Dross couldn't post there before. His ramblings now favor Dross.

Now the numbers don't matter.

BTW. Why are you guys blowing up Alan's blog?

I thought this was supposed to be home?

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
African,

Your right...but slow death? He's dead already!

He's now attacking my posts @ Hahn's joint.

I guess it gets lonely when dross has become your main blogger!

Alan has emailed me that he has asked his guys to put this blog

on his blog roll link! Who Da Thunk it?

TAZ

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
O&B:

Quit wasting your time with this guy.

It's not worth it.

Notice, he didn't reply to Cooley post?

All he's relegated to at this point, is deleting posts that appears critical.

Let him die a slow death.

I tried warning him about he history of blog hosts. He didn't listen.

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Please Note that the following LAP is merely to preserve the record of an attempted conversation, which I hope will not be erased or censured.

Should be Post Number two (2) if it hasn't been erased.

Here is my response to your post # 18 in the previous thread.

�O&B. your example of chicago failed to mention that scott skiles got fired in december despite having a better record than Isiah thomas� knicks. isiah is still the coach to this day, and he didn�t get to the second round of the playoffs in the preceding year.�

I pointed out in my comment the much better recent history of success that Chicago has had over the Knick franchise. Please don�t misconstrue my statements.

From my post # 13

Lastly you should note that the Knicks are not the only team that have been torn apart by internal division resulting from bruised egos, and a wholesale player abandoment of the coach by the players. Chicago despite a string of yearly success also experienced the effect of bruised egos (ala the Mebury episode in Phoenix) with the hurt egos suffered by Duhon, Gordon et al when Kobe�s name was bandied about in a manner that slighted those players as second class rethreads. Also the awoling of the team on Scott Skiles compounded that internal division and a former playoff team took several steps back.

��

O&B. Nobody is asking you to pick sides except your �fellowship.�

The following statement by you at post # 16 appears to imply that choosing one blog over another could invite a conflict of interest, and may direct the exiting or visiting blogger to emulate the decisions of exiled bloggers.

�Vic Corbit

barf and african chose to leave for good, and peaceman and statesman were both permanently banned from knicksdefense. As a result, they started their own site, you can look for the link on hahn�s blog if you wish to follow their lead, as some here have chosen to do. it is for the best, there is clearly a conflict of interest.�

My response at post # 17

Choosing to post at one site or another doesn�t necessarily result in a conflict of interest.

It�s not like one of those you�re with us or against us scenarios.

If you would like to keep in touch with the displaced bloggers do so.

If not that�s ok also. Just be true to yourself

��

O&B. �rush to change?� after four years as gm? after two full years as coach and less than a 30% winning record?

Again you are misconstruing the general thrust of that post @ #13.

It actually reads in the following manner:

�Isiah hasn�t been fired yet.

If he is. Oh well. I�ll continue being a Knick fan.

If he stays and his talents are constructively utilized. I�ll still be a Knicks� fan.

The point for me is that there not be a rush to judgment and wholesale changes for the sake of making wholesale changes.

There is a talent base in this organization. No doubt alot of redundancy also. But many of the players Isiah picked will either stay on and make a contribution to the team.

Sure there is a lack of a bonafide two way star but considering where the Knicks� have played in the draft, they have solid players generally.

Too blow it up just to give the impression of change isn�t a good move either. To that end you�ll notice how the broadcasters point to Walsh�s measured patient approach. And that he is going to cross his Ps and Qs before making any move.�

Now no doubt there is a vast difference of opinion between our two points of view as to Isiah�s future. While your positions is a staunch he must go at all cost and not be placed in any position of influence in the organization, (If I am reading your post correctly), while my point is that while there is no doubt that the Knicks record over the course of the Isiah regime, and especially the supbar performance of this year should not warrant an Isiah redux at the helm of the organization and neither as coach, Thomas still possesses talents which can be constructively utilized in the organization and that as a result he may still find a place in the organization where his talents can be utilized and his short comings can be better neutralized.

That is of course my opinion but a good talent evaluator and solid drafter can be very helpful, especially in a transitional phase in which the Knicks will look to let bigger contracts expire and retain players at a budget price. That scenario flows with getting younger talented players with upside in the draft who will be motivated to increase their stock for contract negotiations, and who will come at a bargain initially b/c draft picks earnings are capped.

That is my point and I believe it is logical. No doubt it�s not flawless but there is reason to my opinion.

��

O&B. clearing payroll could have been accomplished by any CPA that doesn�t know jack schitt about basketball, as gm your responsibility is you have to clear payroll and attempt to be competitive, the knicks have not been competitive in a long time, and the cap space problem is only marginally better than it was at layden�s time of departure.

KnicksD

There is a topic which I could have better elaborated on during post # 13

But here is that paragraph in its entirety and I hope you will notice with objective eyes that I was even acknowledging the reason why many a fan, including I, would have and do have misgivings over the Isiah Thomas regime.

�I sort of understand some of your frustration because the beginning of the Isiah regime was marked by alot fo flash and sweeping changes. People were let go w/o having the opportunity to plead their case or at least get the news from the horses mouth, and a series of player shuffles which has invited long and expensive conracts was also par for the course. But do remember that the Knicks have cleared some of their excessive pay roll and if they stand pat they will clear more. �

You stated the following @ post # 18

�[C]learing payroll could have been accomplished by any CPA that doesn�t know jack schitt about basketball,as gm your responsibility is you have to clear payroll and attempt to be competitive.�

I believe that argument is understating the value for dollar assessment a GM must undertake in deciding whether to let contracts expire, acquire contracts via trade, or fail to resign players.

The greater context is that New York for quite long long duration of time which encompassed the Scott Layden era and the Isiah Thomas era was sold on the concept tht �ONE CANNOT REBUILD IN NY AND THAT THE KNICKS HAD TO RETOOL.� So over a course of time during the two aforementioned regimes Knicksfans were encouraged to think that a retooling of the team was possible but that such retooling would/and could compromise cap flexibiltiy. Heck even MODI wrote an article about how the Organization�s deep pockets could offset the salary cap liabilities that would have to be paid out for acquiring players over the cap.

That formula has at this juncture not succeeded, and now the current Exec of Basketball operations, and the Garden are acknowledging that the team will have to rebuild. But although the Knicks are a losing franchise, they are at this juncture not a team with older rethreads, as in the Scott Layden regime, there is currently a corp of talented young players who could compliment a championship calibur team in the years to come. And while the Knicks are still in salary cap hell many of the cotracts on the books will be coming off within the next one to three years.

Even Isiah recognized that retooling wasn�t possible, I�ll have to find the qoute and cite it, but at this juncture having a person sell you water when your thirsty who you previously bought a flat tire from is not goign to sit well with any fan base. Ala the emergence of Donnie Walsh, whom I hope all Knick fans can call Donny W one day.

��

Please don�t anyone come on here trying to recruit people away from this site. If you want to blog with the Nazis, that�s fine. but try to show some class. don�t come on here with the smugness talking about �good luck to you,� �good night to you,� and then turn around and do otherwise on here, and say otherwise on other blogs.

Again if DLT, Vicbit, Steady, the remaining Force MD�s, Paulnoize, JohnQ, FollyMach, MinnKnickFan, SaipanKnickster, and all whom I�ve failed to mention choose another forum. They are free to do so. They are also free to call KnicksDefense their blog home. I have no opinion one way or another and I will not make a value judgment on people for choosing to blog at your house or at any other locale.

�Smugness�

You are misunderstand me. I thank you for the time you�ve allowed me to blog, and for the obviously strong commitment to building your bloghome, and making it accessible to former blog fugees such as myself.

I am not a vindictive individual, and there is no purposed served in whishing for another person to fail, and even worse to celebrate anothers decline (mind you that I am not declaring your decline). I sincerely whish you well b/c of the aformentioned reasons stated in the above paragraph. We have different views on the Knicks at this juncture that is all. But I won�t impose mine on you and figure that you will not do that either.

However, the term Nazis is quite excessive. There is facism, which encapsulates and either or approach to differences, and designates as an enemy those with different views. Nazism was at the extreme b/c it took on a racial component which many historians and social scientist will say was the illogically logical conclusion of western imperialism.

Let�s not overstate our differences going foward.

��

The people that can think for themselves are the only people I care to associate with, O&B.

Then the question is the following. Do I fail to think for myself b/c I disagree with your point of view? I think not. Knicksdefense is still a forum where differences can be debated rationally and persuasively? Yes? If so then where I am stood corrected I will acknowledge it. Where my argument�s validity is recognized� well that�s ok also.

��

I�ll leave you with this final thought for the night O&B, and you can appreciate it or ignore it or go talk shit about me on hahn�s blog again, whatever.

much has been written here since October on not accepting the mainstream media�s presentation of the new york knicks under isiah thomas, right?

so then the general question becomes, if you�re in a room full of people who are in total agreement in their opinion, does it necessarily make that opinion true?

Perhaps you already know the answer to that question. You�ll find for some, it depends on how much they wish to fit in with that group, yet others will think for themselves and come to their own conclusions despite what said room full of people considers to be true.

The answer is that no opinion is true, especially when an opinion is based on speculations over facts which the opinionator is not correctly aprised of or about.

So to that end you have your ops I have mine, the point shouldn�t be about whose right or wrong, b/c the points are about opinions after all, its about your and mine ability to put forth our opinions pursuasively and respect and acknowledge the logic of the other party�s opinion when put forth pursuasively.

Again I whish you God Speed.

Comment by Orange and Blue � April 10, 2008 @ 11:34 am

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
WTF!

I'm blogging with Miles in the background!

What an experience!

Good looking Lives!

It's best to let that nameless blog host to fall on his own sword.

The guy is a liar, a hypocrite, and a sensitive brat.

Don't know about Barf, but he blocked my IP address from his site for whatever reason. So when he says we left on our own is a blatant lie. Not the first time he has been caught.

This guy suffers from multiple character issues. He'll die on his own.

He now sounds like Hillary. Now the volume of posts doesn't matter. What matters is that he has Drossman. Like minds.

Just needed to point that out.

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Seems like citizen X is aware of where this site is situated. Since he pointed out to Vicbit how he could go about and access this blog.

But he appears to be taking a your either with me or against me approach by implying that if one chooses to blog here, then there in a conflict of interest.

That does not make logical sense to me. I respect some of the voices over at blog X but it's there choice if they want to reconnect with the fellowship that we have cultivated over the course of time that is maxing it up at this joint.

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
O&B

I saw you try to rescue poor DLT! LOL

Good move! Also Cooley is on point as usual!

One of you unblocked Guys should tell the Nameless former Dictator host

that if he wants to tell BARF something....Give him the This Blog address

and he can tell him himself! Or just tell him to shut it down ....he's

embarrasing himself!

Any win is a good win! We can finish this season upbeat and be excited

about next year!

TAZ

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Statesman

Your reservations about Zeke's future with the organization are duly noted.

You often provide much needed levity.

I believe I put forth a minnie article on why Zeke will likely stick with the organization.

Has anyone read it?

Lol!

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
@ Statesman,

Look at who Dolan bought in! The first guy to give Zeke a coaching job!!!

Talk about \"Deep Cover\" Walsh can run interferance while ZEKE does

his job....of Coaching! Looks good on paper...nice old White guy in charge

and takes the heat off Zeke! Story book move by Dolan!

TAZ

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Over! Playing for pride!

This team took there lumps this year!

On to 2008-2009...and make some Noize!!!!!!

TAZ

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
O&B,

I hope that you are right. However, when someone is brought in and given your title and responsibilities, that is a statement that ownership does not want you around. When that person that is brought in is close friends w/ the previous coach that you help oust,....it does not look good. Hopefully this is

just a cosmetic move, but my cynical side does not allow me to think that way.

@Modi,

Some people might not believe that Majic and Sugar could play together. They should remember that Norm Nixon was a good point guard before Majic arrived and they started together on theLakers' first(not sure about second) championship team in the 80s. Would have been a great combo.

If unable to draft Rose, will need a point that can drive and dish. This makes Lee, Balk, Chandler, all the guys better. Knicks have a buch of finishers, not guys that can generate their own shots. Except Craw, he can get a shot off from half-court, which is part of his game.

Peace & Blessings

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Cooley High,

I saw that! Your the \"TRUTH.\"

TAZ

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
The Bobcats have made a game of it

2 point difference with about 2 1/2 left to go in the game.

We'll have this if we get that (Stop that is)!

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
We got this!!!!!!!

TAZ!

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Statesman and fanatics

I also don't believe Zeke will resign himself to lackey status.

He has servicable talents, and has rebuilt the talent base.

What is needed is allstar calibur two way players.

The Knicks appear to be positioning themselves to obtain such players in the foreseeable future either through the draft or free agency, should they stay the course on a fiscally conservative route.

That's why I emphasized that a good talent evaluator in the draft will allow the Knick Organization to refill the cupoard of talent across the board but at bargain basement prices-i.e., w/o having to turn to trades that compromise the team long term or signings that inhibit cap flexibility.

Walsh's presence if anything perhaps insure that there will be some oversight to keep in check some of THomas's questionable tendency to turn to the MLE to cover his bets which has up till now created a roster glut and some uneccesary redundancy.

Also the prospect of having a Knick affiliated NBADL could also provide Isiah and the organization an opportunity to test the Organizatio's ability to craft a genuine farm system capable of keeping the Knicks cupboard stocked over the long term. It is what Thomas was trying to accomplish before he was lowballed by the other lil general Stern.

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Here here Stateman...

Hate is at times but a desguised form of envy.

It will be interesting to see how many will react when Zeke is not axed in the gory and senseless way that his detractors would like to see.

Knicks are playing well tonight a double digit lead up by 14.

Chandler is playing well again, and Balkman is playing solid D, and providing energy.

I tend to think that Lives is right about Balkman, he relies on his athleticism and hustle on all aspects of his game.

Its a good aproach to rebounding and running the floor.

But with regards to defense one must defend being conscious of one's opponents tendencies and style of play and how that fits within the opposing teams offense. That requires more that just hustle. It requires awareness which can be a little difficult for a high energy free spirti like Balkman.

He's playing his game tonight but he appears to be playing smartly and relaxed.

Let's go Balkman!

Let's go Knicks!

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
14 points lead.....lets blow them back to NC!!!!!

TAZ

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
O&B,

That was a great story. I do believe that Zeke will be ok. I do not believe that his pride would allow him to stay around as a lackey. The MSM would love to see him demoted and broken. Zeke will rise again. Most of

those guys are losers and they want company in the bottom of the well.

What Zeke has that they don't, twenty fuck'n million dollars coming.

Peace & Blessings

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
12 point lead! lets give the nameless host CPR and break some ribs!

Lets go Knicks!

�� TAZ

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
I'm logged out again...so lets roll Knicks!

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Lives ,

I logged out Again but the site will only let me in as a visitor

and shoots back to what you see now!!!!!

The knicks are on so....we will deal with this later!

TAZ!

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Well I got home late and it's game time.

Knicks are up.

Let's see if we can give other supposed fans a coronary!

LOL!

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
nice post states, I like the historical backdrop as my live Knick memory begins in 1982 and Michael Ray.... everything before that is videotape and books... hey don't forget that in the 1979 draft Laimbeer was drafted in the 3rd round, James Donaldson in the 4th, and Mark Eaton in the 5th!

...damn, two picks away from Magic... before he faded fast Moncrief was the truth!

anyway, perhaps with Chandlers emergence MSM could stop repeating that the Knicks gave up two first rounders for Curry and reducing him to an afterthought...

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
What up!

We be floating.

The ship be sailing beautifully.

It's so green in here, I feel like I'm in the Garden of Eden.

In the mother land.

Lush vegetation!

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
What up Fanatics???

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
That was right hand corner, not left.

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
TAZ,

Logout of admin (far upper left hand corner) to post without the admin.

Jay Bee that was fab. You guys need to slow down. I'll be up all night just reading.

Great stuff.

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Check it: Draft news!

The Daryl Morey Rule: The NBA also decided to close one �loophole� in the rules that last year allowed the Houston Rockets to organize a �workout marathon� spanning two days in Orlando immediately after the conclusion of the NBA pre-draft camp. The Rockets brought together 36 players to be evaluated in one gym by 12 NBA teams, in 9 different sessions, over multiple days, with the costs being split equally by all teams. This innovative idea gave teams involved a chance to watch a huge batch of players (some underclassmen who were able to save a significant amount of money on travel expenses, and others who did not participate in the pre-draft camp) simultaneously in a very cost effective way. The problem was that this was seen as being somewhat of a rogue event that may have hurt the credibility of the NBA pre-draft camp conducted just days prior in the same city. Ever conscious of anything that might cause players not to participate in the pre-draft camp (a huge concern and the reason for most of the workout restrictions today), the NBA has decided to disallow any team besides the Magic from holding workouts in the city of Orlando in the three day span following the pre-draft camp. Thus, they�ve effectively closed the window of opportunity to bring a great deal of teams and players together while everyone was in the same city immediately at the conclusion of the camp.

Early-Entry Rumor Mill

-Ryan Anderson will be officially announcing that he's entering the NBA draft in the next day or so, and will do so in a press release through his college. Anderson is just testing the waters at this point, and will not hire an agent until he feels comfortable that he's assured of a spot in the first round.

-Multiple sources informed DraftExpress this week that the LSU freshman Anthony Randolph has decided to enter his name in the draft, and will be closing the door on returning to school shortly by hiring an agent. B.J. Armstrong of Wasserman Media Group (Arn Tellem�s agency) is expected to be his choice. A representative of WMG had no comment on the report.

-If you�re an Indiana fan hoping for some unexpected good news from Eric Gordon�s press conference later this week, we�d advise you not to hold your breath�Gordon has been shopping for an NBA agent these days, and was even seen sitting court-side at a Lakers game last week with Kobe Bryant�s agent Rob Pelinka.

-Gerald Henderson had wrist surgery this week, shelving him for 3 to 4 months and ending any possibility of him declaring for the NBA draft. Henderson will be back at Duke next season, according to sources with knowledge of the situation.

-The Blake Griffin saga continues�after Jeff Capel got the extension he so coveted, it now looks likely that he�ll be able to keep Griffin at Oklahoma for at least another season. We�ve moved him to our 2009 mock draft after receiving multiple reports that he is very likely to stay in school now.

-Tom Crean leaving Marquette might cause Dominic James to think about declaring for the NBA draft now. The problem is he already used his �draft card� last season, and would be in for good should he decide to do so. James would be wise to return to Marquette for his senior season regardless of the coaching situation�as he is not a lock to get drafted even in the second round at this point.

-Bill Walker will be testing the waters 100% from what we were told, but will hold off on signing with an agent until his draft status clears up a bit more.

-Who�s in and who�s out? Check out our updated Early-Entry List.

-I'll be hitting the road for the next 10 days, traveling to the Final Four in San Antonio at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament in Virginia.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Early-Entry List Breakdown:

JaVale McGee

Vitals:

Size: 7-0

Weight: 237

Age: 20 years old

Class: Sophomore

Team: Nevada (21-12)

NBA Position: Center

Stats: 14.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.8 blocks, .6 assist, 2.4 turnovers, 53% FG, 52.5% FT, 33% 3P, 27 minutes[/lfont]

In Short: Rare physical specimen�has an almost unprecedented combination of size, length (7-6), athleticism and fluidity, packed on a frame that should easily be able to fill out nicely. Has excellent hands, runs the floor exceptionally well, and is extremely reactive off his feet. Has an intriguing variety of skills too�the ability to knock down 3-pointers, put the ball on the floor, and execute some incredibly smooth pivot moves in the paint, finishing elegantly off the glass with excellent extension and touch. Gets off the ground impressively and can really be a factor as a shot-blocker or on the offensive glass. A late bloomer who barely played in high school and averaged just 10 minutes a game as a freshman�the sky is clearly the limit on his upside.

The problem is he�s extremely far from reaching his full potential�so far that you have to wonder if he�ll ever make it considering the way he looks at times on the court. Struggles to establish position and finish in the paint, settles for some incredibly awkward off-balance shots, and is virtually a black hole with his passing skills�averaging 4 turnovers for every 1 assist. Looks very disinterested at times, doesn�t hustle, gives up on plays, late getting back down the floor, and might be the worst man to man defender we�ve ever evaluated in the post. Gets pushed around, gambles excessively for steals, has no stance or fundamentals, doesn�t move his feet, and is a complete non-factor even against the mediocre competition he faces. According to Synergy�s �PlayType QuickTable stats,� McGee was scored on 66% of the time when being posted up in the paint (against the likes of Fresno State, Utah State, Houston, etc). Is light years away from being able to compete on an NBA level defensively, if ever.

Chances of returning to school: 0%. Surprisingly already decided to hire an agent, from the NFL ranks. Many scouts are very high on McGee, due to his incredibly high ceiling, which gives him �home run potential� once you get outside the top 10-12 players in this draft. McGee is the type of player that GMs love, but coaches hate, since he could make someone look great down the road, but will take years and years of hard work before he has any chance to do so. If he does, watch out.

Early Projection: 12-25

Source: (DraftExpress:) JaVale McGee Enters Draft, Hires Agent Roosevelt Barnes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Brook Lopez

Vitals:

Size: 7-0

Weight: 260

Age: 20 years old (yesterday)

Class: Sophomore

Team: Stanford (28-8)

NBA Position: Center

Stats: 19.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.1 blocks, 1.4 assist, 2.1 turnovers, 47% FG, 79% FT, 31 minutes[/lfont]

In Short: One of the best post scorers in college basketball. Possesses rare physical tools--Tall, long, coordinated, with a good frame, nice hands, and the skill-set and smarts to be effective on both ends of the floor. Somewhat predictable since he seemingly goes to the same exact move every time on the right block, but it�s hard to question his productivity, especially considering how little help he had offensively from Stanford�s backcourt. Establishes deep position in the paint and gets to the free throw line at a very good rate, where he converts at a near-80% clip. Settles at times for bad shots, is not much of a passer out of the post, and is not the most fluid big man you�ll find around. A very solid defender, especially when it comes to hedging screens on the perimeter. Likely a very solid role player, not a star, but has the makings of an excellent long-time pro, at a position of need. Very intelligent off the court.

Chances of returning to school: 0%. No surprises here, considering how high he is projected to be drafted, and how little he has left to prove. Has stated that he will be hiring an agent, likely Bob Myers/Arn Tellem of Wasserman Media Group.

Early Projection: 3-7

Source: Statement Released to the Associated Press.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Robin Lopez

Vitals:

Size: 7-0

Weight: 255

Age: 20 years old (yesterday)

Class: Sophomore

Team: Stanford (28-8)

NBA Position: Center

Stats: 10.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.3 blocks, .6 assists, 1.8 turnovers, 53.4% FG, 65% FT, 24.5 minutes[/lfont]

In Short: Tall, long, agile 7-footer with excellent hands and a very high activity level. Raw offensive prospect who drops glimpses of potential from time to time in the post�makes good, quick moves and has a decent framework of skills to build upon. Runs the floor well and is a solid offensive rebounder�not afraid to throw his skinny frame around in the paint. Plays hard and can be an excellent defender when he�s fully focused�blocking shots and being extremely physical contesting his matchup. Lacks great footwork inside and has very little scoring ability facing the basket. Intensity wavers at times and body is still far from being NBA ready. Strong intangibles.

Chances of returning to school: 0%. Has said to be in the process of hiring an agent. A likely first round pick barring poor workouts or unexpected red flags, but might be sweating on draft night if more players than expected enter their name.

Early Projection: 15-35

Feedback for this article may be sent to TAZ!!!!! LOL

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Expect a post from Bokonon......(who I love and respect,no homo)

With the grass is greener state of the Union.....same old shyt!

You know what...the freaken grass is GREENER!

A LOT GREENER! GREEN AS HELL, GREEN AS MITCH LAWRENCE'S TEETH! LMAO

TAZ

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
@ African,

He's lost his freaken mind!!!!! Dude I'm serious!

This is all from his favorite ....Marbury being "shitbury."

TAZ

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
O&B:

That was a LAP, but relevant.

I went over to that site that remains nameless, and all I saw was tumbleweed blowing across the screen. lol

That guy really hates Zeke. I'm sure he had to grin and bear it for quite some time in order to get his site together. Now, he just don't care!

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
New Rules for the Draft...Check it:

Rule Changes, Early-Entry Speculation, JaVale McGee/Lopez Twins

by: Jonathan Givony - President

April 3, 2008

There are a number of rule changes that NBA agents and prospects need to be aware of as they figure out their strategy of attack for the coming months. Will the NCAA allow NBA teams to cover expenses for underclassmen workouts? Six players will now be allowed on the court in workouts, instead of just four. Introducing the Daryl Morey rule--teams are no longer allowed to conduct mass workouts in Orlando following the pre-draft camp. That, and plenty more scuttlebutt regarding early-entry prospects, including thorough breakdowns of the decisions of JaVale McGee, Brook Lopez and Robin Lopez to enter the draft.

TAZ

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
BARF

Yeah when I thought about how such a highly respected figure is basically being besmirched in a manner that rivals the excess of any form of mob frenzy, I immediately thought of that story. I too hope he finds the redemption in time, hopefully here and for the Knicks benefit, which he could not initially find due to the excess vitriol of the NYMSM.

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
O&B

Good stuff!

BARF....Will you be doing Barf Johnson tonight?

I love that the knicks are winning these games and piss off

nameless blog hosts that root for them to lose! ( not refering to statesman, I respect your view)

but you guys know who I'm refering to! The venom spit out by this host

is unbelieveable...in such.... I want to win as bad as ever tonight!

One for the "CAUSE"

TAZ

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
O&B, Thomas is responsible and praised i Detroit for bringing a prize Pat Ewing could not. A first ballot HOF himself...the doubt and lopsided criticism bother me to no end.

Great story. Great find. I can't wait for the day they will be forced to lick off all the shit they heaped onto him...hahaha

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Check it:

Breaking News: Donte Greene Entering Draft

by: Jonathan Givony - President

April 8, 2008

Syracuse freshman Donte Greene will be entering this year's draft, a source with intimate knowledge of the situation told DraftExpress exclusively Tuesday. Greene, a smooth and extremely talented 6-11 wing player, was one of the most highly touted members of this year's freshman class, and finished second in the Big East in scoring. He struggled with poor shot-selection at times this season and failed to make the NCAA tournament, but will still be viewed as one of the more unique players in this year's pool due to his terrific combination of size, athleticism, perimeter skills and upside.

He's viewed by many as a late lottery pick at this point, but will have a chance to move up once he is able to showcase himself in private workouts. A formal announcement is expected in the next 24 hours. Greene will not be testing the waters and should hire an agent shortly.

TAZ

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
JayBee, this is better than i thought. Keep going. For as made up and speculative as this dialogue sounds...it actually serves to demonstrate how the AWOL situation could have played out. There are so many things that could have been said. Imagine being Steph, sitting on the airplane, and the big cookie monster Curry comes gossiping about Zeke's possible benching...I can't even blame Steph for being upset...but he took it to levels unfathomable. Did he think he was unblameable?

3 hours to gametime and counting.

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
The NY MSM pretend they are the Masters of all! Know it all and can cast judgment on everyone and all.

Thomas talking about the glory and sweet honey reception in Detroit was a form of making the beat writers eat shyt for the lack of respect and basic human decency they have treated him with during this sordid year.

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
The Bitter taste of acrid feces in the mouths of those who besmirch without once ever having to spend time in the shoes of another will ring true at the end of this episode and Isiah will emerge as did the protagonist of the below referenced story of injustice and redemption.

THE PONGO'S DREAM

Jos� Maria Arguedas

A little man headed to his master's mansion. As one of the serfs on the lord's estate, he had to perform the duty of a pongo, a lowly house servant. He had a small and feeble body, a meek spirit. His clothes were old and tattered. Everything about him was pitiful.

The great lord, owner of the mansion and lands surrounding it, could not help laughing when the little man greeted him in the mansion's corridors.

"What are you? A person or something else?" the lord asked the little man in front of all the other serfs.

The pongo bowed his head and did not answer. He stood frightened, eyes frozen. "Let's see!" the lord said. "With those worthles hands, you must at least know how to scrub pots or use a broom. Take this garbage away!" he ordered.

The pongo knelt to kiss his master's hand and followed him to the kitchen hanging his head.

The little man had a small body but an average man's strength. Whatever he was told to do he did well, but he always wore a slight look of horror on his face. Some of the serfs laughed at him, while others pitied him. "The most orphaned of all orphans," a cook of mixed blood once said upon seeing him. "His frozen eyes must be children of the moon wind, his heart must be all sadness."

The little man rarely talked to anyone. He worked and ate quietly. Whatever they ordered him to do was done obediently. "Yes, papacito, yes, mamacita," were the only words he uttered.

Perhaps because of the little man's frightened look and his threadbare, filthy clothes, or perhaps because of his unwillingness to talk, the lord regarded the pongo with special contempt. He enjoyed humiliating him most at dusk, when all the serfs gathered to say the Hail Mary in the mansion's great hall. He would shake him vehemently in front of the serfs like a piece of animal skin. He would push his head down and force him to kneel, and then, when the little man was on his knees, slap him lightly on the face.

"I believe you are a dog. Bark!" he would tell the pongo.

The little man could not bark.

"Stand on all fours," the lord would order him next.

The pongo would obey and start crawling on all fours.

"Walk sideways like a dog," the lord would demand.

The little man had learned to run like the small dogs inhabiting the high moors.

The lord would laugh heartily. His whole body shook with exhilaration.

"Come back here!" he would yell, when the servant reached the end of the great hall.

The pongo would return, running sideways, arriving out of breath.

Meanwhile, some of the other serfs would quietly say their Hail Marys, as if their voices were a wind hidden in their hearts.

"Perk up your ears, hare! You are just an ugly hare!" the lord would command the exhausted little man. "Sit on your two paws. Put your hands together."

The pongo could sit in the exact same prayerful pose that these animals take when they stand still on the rocks, looking as if he had learned this habit while in his mother's womb. But the one thing he could not do was perk up his ears. Some of the serfs laughed at him.

With his boot, the lord would then knock him to the brick floor.

"Let us say the Our Father," he would then say to his Indians as they waited in line.

The pongo would get up slowly, but he could not pray because he was not in his place, nor did any place belong to him.

In the darkness, the serfs would leave the great hall for the courtyard and head to their living quarters.

"Get out of here, offal!" the master would often order the pongo.

And so, every day, in front of the other serfs, the master would make his new pongo jump to his demands. He would force him to laugh, to fake tears. He would hand him over to the other workers so that they would ridicule him too.

But . . . one afternoon, during the Hail Mary, when the hall was filled with everyone who worked and lived on the lord's estate and the master himself began to stare at the pongo with loathing and contempt, that same little man spoke very clearly. His face remained a bit frightened.

"Great lord, please grant me permission. Dear lord, I wish to speak to you."

The lord could not believe his ears. "What? Was that you who spoke or someone else?"

"Your permission, dear master, to speak to you. It is you I want to talk to," the pongo replied.

"Talk . . . if you can."

"My father, my lord, my heart," the little man began. "Last night, I dreamt that the two of us had died. Together, we had died."

"You with me? You? Tell all, Indian," the master said to him.

"Since we were dead men, my lord, the two of us were standing naked before our dear father Saint Francis, both of us, next to each other."

"And then? Talk!" ordered the master, partly out of anger and partly anxious with curiosity.

"When he saw us dead, naked, both standing together, our dear father Saint Francis looked at us closely with those eyes that reach and measure who knows what lengths. He examined you and me, judging,

I believe, each of our hearts, the kind of person we were, the kind of person we are. You confronted that gaze as the rich and powerful man that you are, my father."

"And you?"

"I cannot know how I was, great lord. I cannot know my worth."

"Well, keep talking."

"Then, our father spoke: 'May the most beautiful of all the angels come forth. May a lesser angel of equal beauty accompany the supreme one. May the lesser angel bring a golden cup filled with the most delicate and translucent honey.'"

"And then?" the master asked.

The Indian serfs listened, listened to the pongo with a limitless attention, yet also afraid.

"My owner, as soon as our great father Saint Francis gave his order, an angel appeared, shimmering, as tall as the sun. He walked very slowly until he stood before our father. A smaller angel, beautiful, glowing like a gentle flower, marched behind the supreme angel. He was holding in his hands a golden cup."

"And then?" the master asked once again.

"'Supreme angel, cover this gentleman with the honey that is in the golden cup. Let your hands be feathers upon touching this man's body,' ordered our great father. And so, the lofty angel lifted the honey with his hands and glossed your whole body with it, from your head down to your toenails. And you swelled with pride. In the splendor of the heavens, your body shone as if made of transparent gold."

"That is the way it must be," said the lord. "And what happened to you?"

"When you were shining in the sky, our great father Saint Francis gave another order. 'From all the angels in heaven, may the very least, the most ordinary come forth. May that angel bring along a gasoline can filled with human excrement.'"

"And then?"

"A worthless, old angel with scaly feet, too weak to keep his wings in place, appeared before our father. He came very tired, his wings drooping at his sides, carrying a large can. 'Listen,' our great father ordered the angel. 'Smear the body of this little man with the excrement from that can you brought. Smear his whole body any way you want and cover it all the best you can. Hurry up!' So the old angel took the excrement with his coarse hands and smeared my body unevenly, sloppily, just like you would smear mud on the walls of an ordinary adobe house. And in the midst of the heavenly light, I stank and was filled with shame."

"Just as it should be!" crowed the master. "Keep going! Or is that the end?"

"No, my little father, my lord. When we were once again together, yet changed, before our father Saint Francis, he took another look at us, first at you, then at me, a long time. With those eyes that reach across the heavens, I don't know to what depths, joining night and day, memory and oblivion. Then he said: 'Whatever the angels had to do with you is done. Now, lick each other's bodies slowly, for all eternity.' At that moment, the old angel became young again. His wings regained their blackness and great strength. Our father entrusted him with making sure that his will was carried out."

[If you care to know why it was written]

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

JJose Maria Arguedas learned Quechua as a boy from servants in the household of his stepmother and his father, an itinerant lawyer. Until his suicide in 1967, the novelist and anthropologist was perhaps more responsible than any other Peruvian for the impassioned defense of the Incan tongue and cultural autonomy for millions of Quechua speakers, challenging the powerful ideologies of "modernization" and "national integration" predicated on the erasure of Peru's indigenous past. Although there was a strong utopian strain in Arguedas, he was not just interested in indigenous traditions. He also wrote about the challenges of migration and modernity, and proclaimed himself an "hombre Quechua moderno," a modern Quechua man, reflecting his desire for a cultural pluralism for Peru that would go beyond a retreat into a narrow traditionalism. An adaptation of a story Arguedas heard from a Cusco peasant, "The Pongo's Dream" captures the rigidity of the feudal order that still prevailed in many parts of the Andes in the midtwentieth century. But the denouement, where the world turns upside down as in the Inkarri myth, suggests the existence of a spirit of independence and opposition, which was to fuel the peasant movements of the 1950's and the break-up of the landlords' rule.

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
LOL O&B,

I'm waiting ....watching MSG for the results of the meeting that Walsh

is to have with Zeke today!

Check out Dx Express's sleeper draft picks!

Until I know how to hyperlink on this format.....I'm stuck at one!

TAZ

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Rose is not going to happen for us unless we get our frosty balls. I liked what I've seen of Arthur from Kansas all season. He's got it and he seems to have the bball IQ that we're craving. He hasn't declared yet, but after a great game in the biggest game, I'd have a hard time believing he won't.

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
The phrase of the day at the blog which shall remain nameless is...

TWEET TWEET!

CHIRP CHIRP!

Blog Suicide

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

(Latin suicidium, from sui caedere, to kill oneself) is the act of intentionally terminating one's own life; many dictionaries also note the metaphorical sense of "willful destruction of one's self-interest".[1] Suicide may occur for a number of reasons, often related to depression, shame, pain, financial difficulties or other undesirable situations.[citation needed] see STARBURYFAN;

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Peace;

You're a funny dude! LMAO!!!

In my final post that was blocked, (I know he read it) the question to him was; "How long do you expect to stay warm if you pee your own pants in the winter?"

The guy kept pissin' on himself. LMAO!!!

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
States:

I agree. Blame that loss on coaching. He also had the option to foul on the final play that sent it to OT, but even before that, I felt Memphis need a time-out to get the players settled. Roberts is a pretty good free throw shooter, but these guys, (him and Rose) played every minute of the game.

Exhaustion played a big part in the key misses at the line in the crunch.

Jay Bee:

That apology from Steph was way too long. I think it went something like \"My bad yo! lol

Good stuff!!

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
African,

I thought you'd like this:

Blog Suicide

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

(Latin suicidium, from sui caedere, to kill oneself) is the act of intentionally terminating one's own life; many dictionaries also note the metaphorical sense of "willful destruction of one's self-interest".[1] Suicide may occur for a number of reasons, often related to depression, shame, pain, financial difficulties or other undesirable situations.[citation needed] see STARBURYFAN;

TAZ

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Jay Bee,

That is some good material that you put out. If only someone could have gotten to Steph, but when you have been pampered all your life and you have people telling you that you are Starbury, you think your shyt does not stink.

Hey 'Lives' was not fair or balance in his description of me. He listed only my attributes,(LOL).

@'Lives & Barf,

You guys have done a kick-azz job. I want to publicly acknowledge my gratitude and appreciation for your work. I can only image the sacrifice that you guys have made to get this up and running. Congratulations

Peace & Blessings

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Snarky!!

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
African,

I do not understand those that could not see Rose's talent in the Final.

His stats were good & would have been better, if his team had better coaching.

The reason that he did not score more or have more assist, is that when

he ran the pick & roll, Kansas big guy would aggressively jump out at Rose.

Memphis big man that set the pick, would not roll to the basket, he would just

stand there and observe the game. Additionally, Memphis big guys would set the picks too high ,and not roll to the hoop, because if Rose gave them the ball they would have to put it on the floor to get to the basket. Calipari is one hell of a recruiter, but his coaching leaves a lot to be desired. He did

not call a time-out because he did not know what to say in the huddle,(LOL).

'Lives'

Admit it. You were one of those guys that said Majic's game would not translate very well to the pros, and Cartwright was the next Wilt.

Let me guess, you believe Kevin Love is the second coming of McHale.

Peace & Blessings

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Disappearing Acts Scene 4

Marbury sulks out, towel on his head and heads to get dressed. The locker room is empty. (Cut to the locker room the next day before practice.)

Isiah: Listen up guys, there�s a new starting lineup. (Isiah posts a sheet on the bulletin board)

Curry: Hey Isiah I think you made a mistake, this sheet is blank.

Isiah: No mistake big fella. The starting lineup will be determined by who is effective in practice, can show toughness and shows a knowledge of the offense and defensive schemes. We are defining Knicks basketball right now gentlemen. This is a man�s game and we�re going to play it like men. The Knicks are going to be a tough, smart, defensive team who can score. If that is who you prove yourselves to be then you will be on the court. Anyone who does not fit that description might play but they won�t see any real time. Now who wants to practice?

Cut to the locker room after practice and Marbury walks in first, with yet another bloody towel on his head and a fattened lip. He is slowly followed by other Knicks with ice packs and bloody towels of their own.

Marbury to Jamal: Hey man, I was out of line the other day. You was just lookin� out.

Jamal: It�s cool man. You gonna hafta keep your head up though. We need ya baby. (slaps it up complete with back pound.) You need to talk to the team man. There�s a lot of hurt feelings over here, not just mine.

Marbury: You�re right man, I fucked up.

Excuse me! Guys?! Excuse me!! (Nobody�s listening, still getting dressed, etc.)

Jamal: Cmon guys hear him out.

Marbury: I ain�t good at speakin� or apologizin� so please bear wit� me �cause all I can do is speak from the heart. Yall�s my brothers yo. It was hard losing my old coach and friend, but I can�t put nothing on that. I was wrong to take the benching the way I did. I was mad. I ain�t never been benched in my whole life. I ain�t know what to do. It was stupid to leave, but I didn�t know what else to do. I just want to say if yall can forgive me, I won�t do nothing like that again.

N8: I�m still gonna take them minutes yo.

Marbury: You can try, but if you don�t stop biting on those crossovers you ain�t takin shit.

N8: Aight nigga, we�ll see.

(Cue rap music. NAS - The World Is Yours)

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Does anyone know how to link an Article or youtube video?

I tried the copy and paste but only the link shows up in black and white and when you click on it...it won't take you there unless you enter each letter

in your browser! What am I doing wrong? For example:

http://collegebasketball.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?Sport=2&pr_key=40233

Normally this would be a blue link .....but it's not! Help!!!!

TAZ

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
This site kicks ass!

Just figured out a feature. You can send a personal e-mail to bloggers by clicking their names. Therefore you can take a convo offline if you wish.

Wow!

This IS the shit!

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
O&B:

You're so right. Zeke's new name is teflon. There's gonna be a lot of upset people when he lands on his feet.

What Zeke brings, not many can. If you remember at the start of the season, I think it was Broussard on ESPN did a piece and he stated flat out, if he's starting a franchise, the first person he's calling is Zeke.

States:

Rose is defenitely the class of the draft. I heard someone(maybe Clyde) say last night during the Knick telecast that he was on the national stage and didn't show. That's a load of bull.

The guy was playing within the game. He had eight assists. That's a whole lot for a college game, and when he needed to score, he took over. At one point he scored something like ten in a row to get that nine point lead. Plus the defense was focused on him. They doubled him in every pick and roll.

Hello Rose, Bye bye Steph if we get that opportunity.

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z

Scene 3: Isiah's office (all of the coaches are present, Hanners and the PR rep are taking notes.)

Marbury: Man! Look what they did to my face!

Isiah: Very nice. Have a seat Mr. Marbury.

You have abdicated your position as Captain of this team and absconded your responsibilities for whatever reason.

Marbury: Look man, I ain�t no bench player�

Isiah: Don�t interrupt me again. Further interruptions will be seen as insubordination and you will be fined for them.

Marbury: Mannnn I ain�t�

Isiah: $20,000

Marbury: You cain�t�

Isiah: $50,000

Marbury: My agent�s gonna�

Isiah: $100,000 (silence, golden expensive silence)

You�ll get your chance to talk when I�m through. The paperwork has already been sent into the league office to fine you a game check for the game that you missed. As I was saying, your position as Captain has been revoked. A captain would not do what you did to his teammates. A captain would be working extra with the young guys to make sure they knew the offense and would reign in Jamal or any of the guys if they were not running the plays the way they were supposed to. You chose a different route.

The route of selfishness.

You�re a great player. I wouldn�t have brought you in here if I didn�t think so. Bottom line is you�re killing me and all I�ve done is try to give you vets a chance to show the young guys what this league is about. Actually, I owe you an apology. I didn�t make you earn anything you�ve been given and for that I really am sorry. I did you a disservice, one which I intend to rectify.

Marbury: Huh??

Isiah: I�ll let that one slide. Scratch that one Hanners.

Hanners: O.K. boss. $500,000 scratched.

Isiah: I�ve told you this before but I�ll tell you again since we�re starting off fresh here. And when I say fresh, I mean fresh as if it is your first day walking through this door. We will not disrespect you by calling you Rookie, but you are no longer Steph, Stephon, Marbury or Starbury. You are number #3 and it is up to you whether the other teammates will respect that name or laugh at it. It is up to you to make the league respect that number. Your game jersey has been altered to reflect the new change.

So that you know, this is not forever. You have an opportunity to earn your way back onto this team and into the rotation maybe even as a starter. However, you will not be given anything else from this team but some Gatorade and a hot shower.

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
LIVES,

This music is Dope! I'm listening to J5's "never can say goodbye"

as I'm bloggin! You DA MAN!

TAZ

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
FYI,

I have logged out of ADMIN several times and came back

even using my daughters email address and it still comes up ADMIN,

Perhaps it may be my IP address? I can loggin as a plain old TAZ

on another computer...like the one at work!

Just wanted to let you guys know!

TAZ(Peaceman)

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
LOL jay bee,

I would love to see a cartoon with your exact story

played out! Good stuff!

TAZ

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
I don't believe this shit. This damn thing wanted a spell check. I went through each underlined word and added it to the dictionary. LOL It worked though.

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
African

"Once again you've got to be careful what you digest. If you're not careful, you will become our past blog host that would remain nameless."

I agree wholeheartedly. But I am not as easily swayed as the former host who shall from here foward remain nameless.

Actually the argument, IMHO, for Zeke staying would factor in the following items.

A) Dolan appointed Thomas to the role of head coach after LB was fired, and several of Brown's assistants stayed on.

IF A) is taken into account along with the rash of additional expenses expended by ownership, to fight the ABS claim, to pay out the ABS claim when it was ruled against them, to maintain, (and Peaceman suggests buy out certain non-performing contracts [Q and James]), then it is plausible that the Organization is going to want Isiah to earn his keep.

B) As you, (African), and others here have pointed out, Isiah has a solid eye for talent.

That redeeming quality, is an item which the Knicks will need in the years to come. If one assumes that the stated goal of Walsh, (Make the Knicks competitve while still being fiscally disciplined enough to bid for Wade, or LBJ), is the Knicks actual goal indeed, then a solid talent evaluator in the draft who can help the organization pick solid performers, and talent in the draft will surely be needed. Why? B/c the salaries of players drafted is set, and is comparatively at a budget that would suit the organizations desired goals. Also if the picks Zeke helps draft become stars or contributors of some merit, then their performance, will factor into the composition of the team, which will surely be a consideration for LBJ and Wade to consider when signing a free agent contract.

C) Dolan values Loyalty.

This last factor when taken into context is another determining factor as to why Thomas will likely not get the boot. In Thomas, Dolan obtained an Ee who followed Dolan's orders to a T with regards to his media policy, a soldier who fell on the sword when all went wrong.

I believe those factors will carry significant weight in Isiah's continued stay with the Knicks organization.

Where in the organization it will be is still to be determined.

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Disappearing Acts Scene Two: Marbury Returns

Scene 2: Marbury Returns - The Re-enactment

It's a cold dreary day and the press has been beating up on Isiah and the Knicks mercilessly. Players again are pensive as Stephon walks into the workout room with headphones blaring:

Jamal: Hey man, you o.k. I heard about your old coach...

Marbury: Shut yo little bitchazz up and get outta my face.

Jamal: I was just...

Marbury: You was trying to take my spot niqqa. I see you whispering in these punkaz niqqas ears.

Marbury to Balkman: What the fukk you looking at yo?

Balkman continues to whistle something in reggae while smiling devilishly but doesn't answer.

Isiah walks in.

Isiah: Yall should be sufficiently warmed up by now. Orange team on me! Curry, Lee, Balkman, Nate, Mardy

Herb: Blue team! Morris, Zach, Wilson, Number #3, Jamal

Scrimmage begins. Morris tips it to Jamal who passes to Stephon who breaks down Mardy and heads for the hole. He does not quite get there as he is met rather rudely by Eddy Curry who does not offer to help him up. No whistle is blown and the Orange team heads up the court. They set up in their offensive set and as Marbury catches up to his man he runs into a "sharp" elbow on a Balkman pick that catches him square in the nose.

Marbury yelling to Chandler: You gotta call those out Rook!

Chandler: You're not the boss of me.

Cut to the locker room where hi-fives, rap music and laughter is going on. A bloodied Stephon Marbury walks slowly into the locker room where his space has been X'd out with police tape as if it were a crime scene.

Hanners: Number #3! Coach wants to see you in his office right now!

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
I shall plan, persist and persevere.

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
States,

You know I disagree with some of that shit. . .but damn that was a nice post. You look good in the penthouse. We may have to keep your snarky azz up there.

I don't know what you're talking about regarding defending African as a racist. I think I missed it. I never called African a racist. We had this discussion far too long ago about what a racist is and I would never have to defend him as a racist. If he was I wouldn't defend his azz. I'd just talk about him.

African

BARF and I agree 100% on having just one page. I hate having to do all that extra clicking. I think that helped the downfall of Knicks (whatever that Isola spot was called). We are trying to figure it out and if sosblog does not support that feature, we may be changing addresses. But, we're working on it. Right BARF.

Jay Bee

There are currently two words on the banned list on this site. You seem to have used both of them and gotten through. Go figger.

The two words are funk and tigger. I thought Peace, ironically, put those words in. BARF, did you? I have no opinion about banning those words except that I will not. Let the marketplace rule is my rule.

I could not find your comment. Be creative and repost. (Now I sound like KD).

I hope the new problems at Knicks Defense are cosmetic changes. The more blogs the better, plus I can't have anyone fucking up my funeral plans.

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
As far as Thomas being a "Deadman walking" the following

was copied from the Real Isola, not the nameless former blog host

that is trying to be just like him, ( well he has stolen� Frank's #1 blogger

three peat ed) Check it:

Asked about the meaning of this night against the backdrop of his disastrous Knick reign, Thomas said, "It gives me more confidence in the beliefs I have in what we're doing in New York. It definitely recharges my battery and makes me want to push even harder to accomplish the things we did here, to leave something that will stand the test of time in New York."

Don't sound like a Deadman walking to me!

TAZ

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
My last post was directed to States.

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Jay Bee:

Lol. Rev Wright and I are cut from the same cloth, but we're a different grain.

There's a lots of truths that when said, comes our really repulsive. Truths nonetheless. Nuff said.

Racist! We've got to examine that definition in order to label anyone accurately. Conscious. That's a whole different story.

Don't get me started.

A blogger on that nameless site said that all I blog on is race. That was news to me. Go figure!

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
O&B:

If you listen to the media, you'd think Zeke has no idea what he's doing.

The fact remains that this team has lots of talent, and opposing GMs would rob us blind if we do a fire sale .

Zeke made some poor management moves this season that made him look bad, but his talents are still an asset to any organization.

The difference in the play is that the players realize they have a new boss, and are trying to impress in order to survive. That's my reason I advocate for a new voice on the court.

If you look around, all the GM's folks are talking about to be the next, can't hold Zeke's jock. Once again you've got to be careful what you digest. If you're not careful, you will become our past blog host that would remain nameless.

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
I forgot Mardy

Mardy- whatever he says will fall on deaf ears

he wont be a knick next year via trade.

TAZ

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Jsy Bee,

The content must be tooo hot!!

African,

Beasly ,Rose and Hansbrough are the only players that have not declared. You can bet that Beasly & Rose are coming. Hansbrough, it doen't matter. His prospect will remain the same.

BTW, I knew we had an Obama on the blog, but I did not know that Rev. Wright had joined us. When I read 'Lives' defending you as a racist, I assumed the "behind the scene guys" were asking 'Lives' to Reject and

Renounce African. John Lewis was forced to see the light, but Rev. Butts & Tavis Smiley are STILL tryin to derail brothers

Peace & Blessing

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
O&B

I believe that Dolan will eat Jerome James and Q Rich's contracts

rather than the 24 million that Zeke is owed!

I believe Zeke will get the first 15 games of next season to do

a 180 or Dolan will be forced to fire him before Christmas!

The exit interview with the players will be huge!

How many and who will insist on keeping Zeke?

This is my guess:

Nate- yes please Keep Zeke

Crawford-yes, please keep Zeke followed by an long

heart felt plea!

Balkman- yes, keep Zeke

Chandler- yes keep Zeke

Lee- yes keep zeke

Rose- no, followed by a Scholarly speech about his Spur's Ring

Curry- yes only if we trade Zach

Zach- yes only if we trade Curry

Jeffries-yes

Q Rich- his vote don't matter

Marbury- his vote don't matter

Jones- yes...because we may resign him very cheap!

James- he won't be asked! lol

TAZ

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
jay bee,

ask barf or lives!!!

I'm not computer savy! But I too await the rest

of that post!

TAZ

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Seems like the other site, which shall remain nameless, is a hollow shell of its former self.

Oh well!

On another note, I'm also loving Chandler and Jefferies is no longer playing like an awkward Giraffe but more like an elk in rythm.

A question comes to mind...

What is to happen to Ronaldo Balkman?

I'm still a big fan of the Taz, and would like for him to realize his potential as a defensive stopper but I wonder if Chandler's emergence and Jefferies re-emergence might have secure a spot for Taz on the trading blocks?

The inverse might be that now b/c Jefferies is playing more fluidly, he could be traded and his MLE salary could be taken off our books. But is this a route the Knicks are considering? Taz could stay on and attempt to fill Jefferies role and do so at a budget price for the upcoming season. However, he, (Taz), seems reluctant and trepidatious?

What are the thoughts of the fanatics family on this topic?

I also think that Zeke will stay on but b/c the MSM and fickle fanship appear to crave the appearance of a clean up, he will probably not be the Head Coach next season. The GM spot also might be too public. So my guesse is an undefined role in between an assistant GM, and consultant. Who knows with his penchant for picking solidly in the late rounds of the draft and his penchant for working with younger players, he might head up the Knicks NBADL franchise or at least oversee what talent we can get into that franchise.

Again what are your thoughts? Is there a place for Isiah with the Knicks if so where? Sounds like a good topic for a lead post. Yes?

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Nope, Nigga sailed through like a dream. Nigga is cruisin. Not sure why my post won't go through. Admin! Save me!

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Or nigga.

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
No.

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Maybe it was the use of the word fuck?

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
O.K. so no filter.

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Is there a filter on here? I was cussin' my ass off. (test)

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Re: Scene 2 - Error message I'm getting is: Supplied comment is invalid

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Barf:

I love Jefferies' versatility. Bulking up does not work for free flowing players like Jefferies. It would kill his mobility and flexibility. I was loving his game last night and the past few games. Bring up the ball and taking it to the hoop instead of taking that foul looking jump shot.

He's playing freely and that's what you want from him. He now looks like the Jefferies that played in Washington. Gone is the tentitive fragile Jefferies. He's also a keeper in my book. Just the way he is.

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
JB

I'm still looking forward to the sequel on the previous thread..."Disappearing Acts - The Re-enactment"

I kinda wanted to see where you were going with that piece.

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Good piece States. This Knick franchise is far from perfect and its been that way for a long time. This is shaping up to be a very important draft. I would love Rose, but with a trade down (get rid of Marbury, QRich, JJames, MRose and/or a big)...I wouldn't mind it if we picked up a few other draft picks and just replaced some of the vets on this team with more youth. We'd suffer in the short term but I'd rather suffer with youth than the bunch that has under-performed this yr.

I took a glance at the NCAA championship game and got a glimpse of Dorsey. That kid has got NBA written all over him. Maybe not a star, but Milsaap/Gomes/CraigSmith type quality to him. He looked like a beast.

I also like B. Lopez and would definitely take a shot at the freshman Kevin Love.

But it all kind of depends on who Walsh can get rid of this offseason and who actually comes out.

Chandler's got the size, he's got the stroke and he's got the strength. All he needs is the experience and the confidence and we have ourselves a bonafide two way sleeper at the SF spot for next season.

QRich has to earn his spot. JJeff should try bulking up some, 15-20 lbs if not 25 to 30 without killing himself. He would benefit from taking his sights off the PG's and SG's on defense and concentrate on being able to guard the SF, PF and C (obviously in specific circumstances and matchups).

The core has shifted.

Its nice to know the big fella was inducted in the Hall. Finally, he's won something. Too bad it wasn't with a ring.

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
@ African,

Your 100% right! This is the best Crow I have ever eaten!

Chandler is a keeper! I wanted to believe and now I'm on board

with him as a future Knick star!

@ Statesman Great Post!

I have a feeling there's a Diamond in this draft that is not

mentioned in your list or any MSM list of prospects for this years draft!

We will have plenty of time to research the players who did not get

the same coverage from the MSM as the Players you mentioned.

If we should happen to Luck out and get the 1rst pick.....I think we should

trade it for two mid 1rst rounders! We do not need Beasley as Chandler

and the former ST John's bad boy will be enough at that position!

Maybe the Knicks will have a pre draft agreement with another team that includes we pick Beasley trade him to the team with the second pick for Rose

and a second rounder or late first rounder (if they have it!)

Peaceman

In response to: Deja Vu: It's 1985 or is it 1979

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
What a breath of fresh air States!

I can surely breathe again. I don't have to hold my nose like I used to at the other site that would remain nameless.

It's hard for me to speculate on draft picks when you don't know who's coming out.

Peace, your boy Chandler is making you eat crow! The guy is a legit NBA player. Size, hops, athleticism, soft shot, shotblocking, rebounding. He's got the whole tool bag! He could probably save Zeke's job. Would you like some fries to go with that?

I know there's a lottery going on out there as to when Zeke will be fired, but if I'm Donnie, I'm keeping Zeke as the GM, and have him report to me. Work with him on trades, and hire a new voice for the players.

I do understand why Zeke didn't hire Patrick, but this is the time to get the Big Fella home. You know that's what he wants!

Lives, I remember way back I posted on that nameless site that I would like to see Zeke back in the tunnel. I speculated on having my boy from the Wizards to be the next coach. My second choice was Laimbeer. That was way before all this drama of this season started. Here we are again discussing possible coaches.

One improvement I'd like to see is, let's have one streaming page instead of the page breaks. It gets a bit too involved trying to get to the end to do a post.

Peace, you're one funny dude!

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Lets hope the Knicks can spoil the Pacers playoff hopes!

Artest and Co seem to love the "Spoiler role" as they beat the Hornets

with Artest leading the way, since we haven't figured out how to link

I've copyed this from the Bee:

This was how the Kings envisioned it.

Without postseason prayers, they pictured a new role � the spoilers � as their schedule provided the necessary matchups.

Western Conference-leading New Orleans was the first to meet the Sacramento roadblock as the Kings defeated the Hornets 94-91 Saturday night at Arco Arena.

The loss not only jeopardized the Hornets' hold on the West's top seed but likely jarred Chris Paul's MVP chances.

"Mucking it up, we can smile about it because that's been our goal," Kings coach Reggie Theus said. "We are going to be here working anyways, so let's have some fun and muck it up. Make the West take notice."

The Kings have a chance to further mess with the standings with games against San Antonio on Monday and the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday in their regular-season finale.

"We got exactly what we deserved, and that's a loss," Hornets coach Byron Scott said.

The Kings won despite the absence of leading scorer Kevin Martin, who suffered a strained right knee in Friday's win over Portland.

As in several games this season, Ron Artest's status was unknown leading up to tipoff. The Kings small forward had sat out three of the last four contests because of a sprained left thumb, but he decided to play and had a pivotal role in the upset, scoring a team-high 22 points on 9-for-19 shooting from the field. His two consecutive three-pointers early in the fourth quarter put the Kings ahead 76-75, and he hit two more from long range in the period.

Artest's final three-pointer gave the Kings a 91-85 lead with 51 seconds remaining. They needed that cushion when Morris Peterson sank three free throws with 23 seconds remaining after he was fouled by Francisco Garc�a on a three-point attempt.

New Orleans then forced the Kings into a five-second inbounding violation, and former King Peja Stojakovic hit a three-pointer to close the gap to 92-91 with 12.3 seconds left.

The Hornets fouled John Salmons with 11 seconds left, and his two free throws provided the final points, as Stojakovic's three-point attempt with 2.9 seconds left circled the rim and fell out.

"Phil Jackson said, 'Watch out for the Kings � they'll play a part in what's happening to the West down the stretch,' " Theus said. "From the beginning to the end, we outplayed them."

Salmons finished with 18 points and a career-high-tying 11 rebounds for his fifth double double of the season. Garc�a scored 16 points for the Kings, who used an eight-man rotation.

David West led the Hornets with 30 points and 15 rebounds, his ninth double double this season.

"It was a fun game, and we played well," Garc�a said. "We played well together again, and when we play together, it shows that we are hard to beat."

The Kings won the season series against New Orleans 2-1 and picked up their 16th victory in 18 attempts against the Hornets at Arco. They also have won six of their last eight games overall.

"I'm very impressed with our players who are taking pride in finishing the season strong," Theus said. "That's been our goal � we weren't talking about winning the games. We were talking about finishing strong, and as I say all the time, if you play harder than the other team, you're going to have a chance to win."

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
@ BARF

Looks like the GSW can make the playoffs! Denver plays @ Houston

tonight after a loss to the Jazz! If Houston wins and GSW can Beat the Suns,

the last games for each team will be Memphis vs Denver and Sonics vs GSW!

We'll see who wants it more!

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
@LIVES

Before the revolution there must be involution...You, Statesman, BARF, and Young Brudder Peaceman, have taken the proverbial step to commune in the SPHERE of LOVE, HONESTY, TRUTH...

And, though the revolution will not ne televised, the EVOLUTION will CAHNGE THE WORLD...It's somthin about my boy the Beatles...make me what to shout it is going to be allright....

Groove on my TOASTY BRUDDER...

ONE LOVE!

Keep it CRACKIN!

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Good evening Fanatics, Defenders and Fixers,

It is deep in the PM and I just finished dinner with my family. As usual we had interesting dinner table conversation about race and politics at the table, trying to explain the REASONS for�as much as I could�to a nine year old. I am so pleased at the advantages my daughter has that I did not have and I pray that her contribution to society and to her own life reflects that advantage. Change is happening over the dinner plate. WOW.

Man, I won't write much because I am toasty tonight, enjoying some nice chardannay and thinking about the work we are engaged in as we build the Fanatic Station. Good stuff, but no matter how many bells and whistles we add to the joint, the soul and heart is the members of the community.

I remain sad at the decline of KD, but the transformation continues regardless and you folks, Gentle Fanatics, are doing a great job at developing this home. Please believe me when I tell you we are the cutting edge -- dangerous, like stepping razors. DaVonn is right, the world is changing. MSM is becoming secondary and while the revolution will not be televised, it will still be broadcasted. Perhaps from your livingroom.

So I ask that we build this legacy on our love for community, honesty and truth. All else will fall into place. No rules. The marketplace (community) rules.

Peaceman, great comments.

I am just warming up. Feeling toasty and ready to burn a hole in the blogosphere. Be afraid. Be very afraid. You thought I was crazy before. Watch what happens next. It'S JUST A RIDE.

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
It may be noted that LA has some of the Best Orthopedic MD'S

on this planet! That is a FACT! Anyone find it a coinsidence

Bynum comes to NY for RX? With a Knick MD!!!!! Bynum slips in and out of NY while the Press is in waiting for a meeting that

may or may have not taken place Between Walsh and Zeke?

MONTY IS ALIVE AND KICKING! BTW....which card Bruh?

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Check it, I wish Steady were here to read between the lines!

Let me copy and post a few interesting Coinsidences.

Remember that Lives met the "Insider" at a Knicks game with me?

Well let me paste this from one article:

It's also possible -- the Post reports -- that the Knicks gave an optimistic report on when Camby is scheduled to return in order to not scare off other teams in trade negotiations. Camby was on the trading block until the deadline passed on Thursday.

"I expect him to come back and I think he wants to come back, I think he will come back," Knicks head coach Don Chaney told the Post. "In terms of when, I have no idea."

Also, Camby is seeking a second opinion. Camby will also see another orthopedist -- Dr. David Altchek -- on Tuesday, the Post reported.

Here's todays Hoophype report on Bynum...Note the MD'S NAME!

BYNUM LIMITED

The progress, or digress report from injured center Andrew Bynum did not sound good:

�I still have a little bit of pain but jumping, running, backpedaling and quick change of directions are still a problem,� Bynum said when he talked to the media before the game.

Bynum got back from New York this week after his knee specialist, Dr. David Altchek, did not clear him to practice. It was a serious setback in his rehabilitation from a bone bruise and briefly dislocated left knee suffered in January.

Guys, Dr. Altcheck works for the Knicks! He also works at my sister hospital,

The Hospital for special surgery @ 68TH & York! Google Him as I'm trying to Read between the lines for the truth!

1. Bynum saw a Knick MD this week?

2. Bynum is to sign a 75 million dollar contract this summer?

Would I be strecthing it to say the Insider may be on to something here?

Like Goodbye Steph and God knows who? Hello Bynum?????

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Peaceman

Very informative reads, especially that about the inner working about the NY Tabloid "Opinion" writers.

Here is a genuine question which arises...

Does the Tabloid slanted MSM generate such "news" for the purpose of selling copy, with the awareness that an ancillary benefit is to stir a pot so that news is made by those rattled by their "news stories?"

On another topic

Did anyone notice how Clyde was talking about how important it is for the organization to have stability in order to become stable and prosperous?

From that phrase, I'm wondering if the Knicks during the Thomas regime ever had the necessary stability to succeed. One may argue that all the constant misinformation, exagerattion, and scandal style reporting did as much to add to the lack of instability within the organization as did the constant line shufflings of the LB coaching experiment.

What are your thoughts on this fanatics?

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
@Peaceman

The scales of Justice have a way of balancing out...On that note,

I want to commend you and re-thinking your position and your thought process regarding KD and his the presence of his THREAD on this one...I mean this sincerely and beleive it totally...

You cannot create or build anything of Significant Value on a foundation of ill will, finding joy or solace in the demise of another Universal Child or Children, or allowing the Cancerous effects of anger and discord to dictate your actions or behavior without dire consequences, for the Universal Law of Cause and Effect will not alter its Universal Principle for you, me or anybody else...

I'm Proud of you PEACEMAN and I also mean that sincerely...

If the flow of truth and justice is evident in our effort here, and our Universal flow is pleasing to the Master of Mysteries, he will allow our flow to become a cemented block foundation, and the others trying to better our flow better look out below....If we do this in the right spirit, "In the heights of the Universe shall be our Habitation...CAN YOU DIG IT

ONE LOVE!

Keep it CRACKIN!

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
@ Cooley High

Thanks,

I emailed MODI that article in a copy and paste, he got back to

me and wanted the source which I gave him the link! I think he's pissed about the injustice of Brown putting up Pictures of traded Knicks in MSG ONE WEEK

after the trade! She claimed to have no Knowledge of that trade when everyone, even a sometime fan knew about that trade minutes after it happened, let alone a Knick VP of marketing.....and you Know Modi.....

and how he hates injustice! There will be a revival of the ABS trial even though people have moved on.......People have to Know the truth!

Modi was unaware of that article, so was I until today!

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
It would be nice if can we beat-up the C's Monday.

Game #81 and Zeke still doesn't a consistant starting line.

When this season ends we will have progress.

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
@Peaceman

Thanks for allowing to refresh my memory via the articles and email expose by LOU....Interesting stuff...

One Love!

Keep it CRACKIN!

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
I knew bokonon would show up with some

post that would coinside with this migration. He's now Posted

on Hahn's site as well as KD'S!

bokonon was always one of my favorite Read's @ KN!

I would enjoy his fellowship here!

bokonon, if your reading this you are always welcome!

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Even worse hate..... @ Ewing

NY Knick Fans and Patrick:

Losers Together and Losers Apart

Yeah you can believe that the jack off Garden Knick fans, who pay the equivalent of 4 tank-fulls of gas to watch 2 hours of meaningless NBA mid-season basketball, you can believe that these �sports fan� morons would stand and cheer the return of the biggest franchise disappointment � if not the biggest disappointment in the entire history of sports. �St. Patrick� Ewing was back in town, and golly-gee, let�s show the world how �knowledgeable� and �classy� us New York and New York Knick fans really are.

The stupid ass-brain idiots. Cheering a player, Patrick Ewing, who was supposed to bring them not a single choke-filled appearance in the NBA Finals, but an entire dynasty of all-the-way-to-the-Canyon-of-Heroes championships. Har har har har har har har. You wish you owned the Garden, laughing all the way to the bank with an arena full of suckers like these.

The biggest laughs are reserved for the biggest dickheads of all, those �knowledgeable� and �classy� and tapped-out horse�s asses who stood and cheered for that big stupid fu#k Ewing.

Here�s a player who never thought of the good of the team, who made it a point to stay aloof and maintain his �Hoya Paranoia� inherited from that other Me-the-Victim guru John Thompson. Ewing was paid more money than any non-winning sports figure in history,�

Ewing has been romantically linked to Knick City Dancer Ashley, now in her 5th year.

and when his final contract ran out, he told the Knicks and their fans in effect, �Big shit, I played here for 16 years. Fuck you, pay my 38-year-old legs $16 million a year or I�m hobbling out of here. I got a bigger asshole named Paul Allen in Seattle who will give me what I want. Been good knowing you -you loser shithead assholes, wish I coulda saw past my own statistics or made a clutch shot once in a while, but hey, fucking I got mine. Thanks and so long. Oh, one more thing: Don�t forget to stand up and applaud like the �knowledgeable� and �classy� New York and New York Knick fans you are next time I stop by. Assholes!� And Knick fans, just like their counterpart Giant fans who worshipped the even more selfish crybaby Mark Bavaro, are licking Ewing boot.

God how easy it is to sneer, �Knick fans!� - comprised predominantly of jerk-offs in the cheap ($60) seats and courtside super-celeb real �nitty-gritty� basketball fans, they howl with fu#king adulation when the Biggest Loser in Sports History struts onto the court.

Enough, enough, the point is made and it isn�t lost on Knick or Garden management: �Boys, we are milking the biggest brainless cash cow in the history of live sporting events.

Look at these assholes! They are so caught up in being �fans� in being �seen� and in acting like jack-offs that we can pretty much put any five yo-yo�s on the court and watch the dough roll in. Every once in a while, we can make them feel good, and feel proud, by drafting or signing or trading for some big name loser, say for example like that basketball fraud Patrick Ewing, we can whet them every once in a while and milk their shitbrains dry.�

Thanks, Patrick. For being such a big, selfish �victim� but more important, for demonstrating that it ain�t how you win the game, or how you play the game; but rather how you lose the game. Again, and again, and again.

Ewing has not been romantically linked to Knick City Dancer Kris.

And to watch those basketball �genius� New York and New York Knick fans, watch them wallow in their own stupid losing spending ways, they�re so smart!

I had to EDIT this just to get it posted, but this Hate is constant here in NY! Now, we that remember what the writers were writing back then but we

had no blog formats to respond to that hate! I guess MODI'S term " Knick Media Amnesia" is soooo true! And they attack Zeke for

saying we have not won the Chip since 1973???

Peaceman

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
More haters from the Ewing Era.....Some people have short memories:

July 28, 2000

Patrick Ewing

No one can begrudge Patrick Ewing his desire to convince the Knicks to part with $30 million for the privilege of having Patrick lead them into the first and perhaps even second round of the NBA playoffs. What we can begrudge the big, non-NBA champion doofus is his continued insistence that he has any relevance at all to the Knicks chances of winning a title: the only relevance is that Knick management might recognize they aren't winning a title with Ewing, and cast aside their sentimental blindfold and show "Saint" Patrick the door. We all know the real St. Patrick led the snakes off the Emerald Isle. The only place the Knicks St. Patrick has led them is off the road which leads to an NBA title.

And if Patrick wants to make noises that he is going to play for another three years (the one still remaining under his current Knick contract plus two more) even if it means leaving the Knicks after this upcoming season, then set the brother free. Ideally, no matter where Patrick goes, he never tastes the sweet euphoria of a championship season. Ironically, he may well achieve the goal if he accepts a limited role on a solid contender - maybe playing pee-potty holder for a genuine NBA center product - Shaq O'Neal or perhaps even 'Zo Mourning.

Let's face it. the Knicks have wasted 15 years waiting for Ewing to lead them to the promised land. Every year it's the same mantra coming out of the Garden: This year we win with Patrick. They're saying it again this year, they might even believe it (but can you?).

And now Patrick says pay me or goodbye. Let him leave, let him go scrape gum off the court-sweeper's shoes somewhere. Overrated, arrogant, and almost certainly never-to-be an NBA champion, Patrick Ewing can take solace in counting his enormous paychecks. Nothing personal, it's just that relying on Patrick for an NBA title has been the worst NBA bet anyone could've made over the past decade and a half. Let the big man go, get him the hell out of here. Bring in a winner, someone who doesn't think an entire team revolves around him, and them fails to bring that team a win.

Bye, bye loser. Go get your $30 mil elsewhere, if you can.

--Dick Acorn

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Check it ...more proof that the ABS trial was pure bullshit!

An E-Mail Exchange

Anucha Browne Sanders = Hero of the Stupid

Andrea Peyser and Kati Cornell of the NY Post

Bias their Coverage Against the Black Man -- Isiah Thomas

The following is an email exchange between LouV and Andrea Peyser/Kati Cornell of the NY Post during their daily roasting of Isiah Thomas during the Isiah Thomas-Anucha Browne Sanders trial.

Thu 9/20/2007 5:06 PM

Dear Andrea Peyser,

I have been reading your blog in the NY Post concerning the trial case of Anucha Brown Sanders versus Madison Square Garden. Also today, I picked up a copy of the NY Times that someone had left on the Staten Island Ferry.

What I read in the NY Times was startling. The news article provided many facts that neither you or the person on the Post doing the 'straight news' article on the case have even mentioned -- that Anucha Brown Sanders did numerous things on the job that were severely incompetent. Like having a mural put up at MSG that showed the faces of players who had been traded away!! That by itself is cause for dismissal for most $250k a year marketing people. And that seems the tip of the iceberg with her. And then also to be accused of coercing other employees to drum up charges against the Knicks for her sexual harrasement case so she could protect her job!

In reading the NY Post sports pages for years, it's become evident to me that James Dolan makes mistakes in running the team, but he also seems like a very moral fellow. This has shown through to me by his support of former alcoholics, and other employees who go through tough times. Trust me, I've cursed the guy out many times; almost called him a bitch once for signing Alan Houston for three more years, but I've also seen a very strong sense of morality in him.

My suspicion, and gut feeling, is he could have easily settled out of court in this case, as you suggested the other day, but I think his moral fiber made him fight it, because Anita Brown was incompetent and in the wrong, and was probably a 'nightmare' at work.

James Dolan, who reportedly spent many heart-to-heart talks with troubled alcoholic Vin Baker, whom the Knicks traded for after his career and life seemed to reach a nadir.

Stephon Marbury, on the other hand, seems to be a very juvenile fellow. But to be denigrated because he used the word "bitch" when referring to someone in a private email to someone else, is absurd.

Andrea, you typically have things right but I think you're seeing this case the wrong way. I think you're giving right to the bad guy.

Lou

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 17:56:33 -0400

From: Andrea.Peyser

they've drummed up a case against her, after the fact. we'll see what happens.

Writer's Note: The NY Post requires their writers to respond to reader emails. From the sparse, ungrammatical response from Andrea, it's clear she either can't type, rushed this answer out, or isn't much of a writer.

Notice also how I inadvertantly called Anucha Browne Sanders "Anita Brown" above. Yikes!

Thu 9/20/2007 9:10 PM

To: Andrea.Peyser; Kati.Cornell

Andrea,

It's getting worse. I came home tonight and read Dave D'Alessandro's report on the case in the Staten Island Advance. Like your columns, I highly respect D'Alessandro's reporting and view on things. His is the best report so far as to actually what is happening in the case, allowing us readers to draw our own conclusions from the facts.

Information that was in D'Alessandro's article but not in the Post:

Browne Saunders received annual bonuses because "they're built on two factors -- profitability of MSG on the whole -- about 50 percent of it -- and how your individual business unit peforms." Mills added that in 2006, he had fired her Ranger counterpart, Mike Golub, "while handing him a bonus check."

".. as for Browne Sanders' glowing performance reviews, Mills said they were deceiving. in no fewer than three cases, he noted that she needed work on her business relationships.."

Andrea, I'm not sure if you've ever worked in the real world, but having been part of corporate America for 25 years, and involved with lots of marketing people, I'll tell you this -- people get performance reviews that 'seem' good all the time. The devil is in the details. The devil was apparently in Browne Sanders' details.

More:

According to Mills, "her style tended to be somewhat abrasive. Not the type of manager who can get the most out of people."

In other words, Andrea, she was a nightmare. The kind of person you look to get rid of. The fact that she was a woman and she was black, means you have to tread delicate ground in dismissing her.

MORE:

It was Hank Ratner, the vice chairman of Cablevision and MSG, who originally sounded the alarm and told Dolan and Mills that "we should fire her right now" after a NUMBER OF FINANCIAL PLANNING MISTATEMENTS BY BROWNE SANDERS AT A FINANCIAL PLANNING MEETING IN AUGUST 2005.

Andrea, why was this information never disclosed in your coverage in the NY Post??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

I'm starting to worry about your coverage in the NY Post. It looks extremely unbalanced and biased.

I'm starting to wonder about your reports in general.

Lou

Fri, 21 Sep 2007 08:40:31 -0400

"Andrea.Peyser" wrote:

I'm an opinion columnist. I give my opinion, and it is that the Garden apparatus after the fact found stuff to make her look bad. They never said she was fired for poor performance. and the Rangers guy worked there one year and was rated a "3'' - lower than Anucha ever got. As I said, he was out in a year.

But I write an opinion column. You can find the news in the straight news pieces.

Writer's Note: Looks like Andrea is pointing the finger of blame at Kati Cornell at this point, for lack of facts reported in the straight news story.

Fri, 21 Sep 2007 08:38:29 -0700 (PDT)

To: Andrea.Peyser ; Kati.Cornell

Well then my blaming finger points at you Kati...

Andrea, thanks for replying. I understand you are an opinion columnist, and you're a good one. I regularly enjoy your columns, and typically agree with you.

But in this case I was really confused after reading the Post's overall coverage of the trial, that MSG hadn't put up more of a fight. It wouldn't make logical sense for them -- to not pay her off if her charges were true; as D'Alessandro said last week -- 6 million would be well worth it and pocket change for them to make sure the Garden wasn't besmirched, and the general public to get a bad feeling about them. They're in the business of selling tickets. The only logical reason that I could think of why they allowed this to come to trial would be if the charges were trumped up and Browne Sanders was a nightmare, and Dolan's morality was challenged.

But then to find out while reading the Times and the Staten Island Advance that, in fact, this case had been made, it was just that the NY Post failed to mention it in their news pieces. That's scary stuff.

As Deroy Murdoch once told me, you can change the news based on what you leave out of a story.

The face of prejudice against black men? Andrea Peyser looks like a woman who has spent her life riding the F train to Queens fearing getting mugged.

You guys influence a lot of people. Give us you opinions, but also get us the facts; let us make up our own minds.

Lou

PS: I'm not a fan of Dolan, who is the king of boneheaded moves; I'm not a fan of Isiah, who effuses arrogance; I'm not a fan of Marbury, who is juvenile. But I'm also not a fan of incompetent marketing people; I've worked with my share of good ones and bad ones. The bad ones will kill you, in the workplace. I hope that whatever the truth is, truth is served in this trial.

Fri, 21 Sep 2007 13:50:12 -0400

From: "Kati.Cornell"

Thanks for your interest. We are one day into the defense case, so I'm sure there will be more information to come.

Best,

Kati Cornell

Writer's Note: Notice how Kati's response is more refined and coherent than Andrea's response above. One can only infer who the 'writer' is .

Notice also how Andrea Peyser has formed such a strong opinion BEFORE any of the defense was even begun. These emails follow continued articles by Peyser, started the first day of trial, that ring Isiah Thomas and James Dolan up as the worst animals on earth.

Wed, 26 Sep 2007 19:39:12 -0700 (PDT)

To: Kati.Cornell" , Andrea.Peyser@nypost.com

Thanks Kati. Better coverage by you today; your reports are starting to look like the information being dealt out by USA Today, NY Times, SI Advance, and Florida Times-Union.

First day of defense you say.. now day three.

Looks like Andrea Peyser's opinion was formed before the trial even began?

Andrea, here are some pointers on the information you are letting fly past you in this trial, in your apparent attempt to paint Isiah Thomas as the culprit here, and assassinate the character of employees of Madison Square Garden, no matter what facts are presented to you.

First -- Andrea -- if the Marketing Manager approves the posting of a large mural/poster that features the faces of players that HAVE JUST BEEN TRADED AWAY, that is a HUGE blunder if what you are talking about is marketing of an NBA team. They might as well have hung a huge poster in front of MSG that announced to the city "We're really stupid people here, and want you to root for the players we just traded away!!". Andrea, for that Marketing Manager, who is the VP of Marketing and should be pouring his/her heart and soul into the team in the way of 70 hour work weeks and knowing everything that is going on -- when that manager turns around and says it's not her fault because NO ONE TOLD HER about the trade!!!! -- Andrea, every Knick fan in NYC knew about the trade minutes after it was made, let alone days to a week later. Andrea, this was the EDDIE CURRY trade that everyone in basketball knew about. This Marketing Manager says she didn't know about it??? Does she ever read the back page of the NY POST? She IS, after all, THE VP OF MARKETING of the Knicks! Then to say that she can't keep up with the players that Thomas trades, he trades so many.. THIS WAS THE EDDIE CURRY TRADE ANDREA. Thomas DOESN'T TRADE A LOT of players; and even if he did, the VP of Marketing should be able to keep up with it wouldn't you think?!!!

Then to say, even if she had known, she would have put up the poster anyway. HUH? That statement means that she is acknowledging that she's an arrogant moron who doesn't give a shit about the team or its image.

THIS ONE INCIDENT is all I need to know, from a far, to see that she was an arrogant, incompetent marketing manager looking to put the blame on someone else for her own laziness. At 250k a year.

In today's column, you glossed over the fact that she told Isiah Thomas that SHE WAS IN CONTROL OF THE BUDGET AND HE HAD TO RUN ALL TRADES THROUGH HER. HUH??? According to Kati Cornell's 'straight news' article, "Thomas said Sanders came into his office and handed him a "cheat sheet" describing her duties and told him, "I want to let you know that I'm responsible for the Knicks budget". 'I said, I thought I'm in control of my budget', said Thomas."

The face of incompetence? Sanders, the VP of Marketing, didn't know the top players on the team had been traded, a week after they were traded.

Andrea, in your column, you wrote "The next time, she asked him to inform her about player trades so she could put the information into the team budget."

That doesn't jive. Andrea, you are misrepresenting the facts in your "opinion column". I know you're an "opinion columnist" in your own words, but you're not supposed to be changing the facts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In her straight news article, Kati said that "Thomas said that as soon as their embrace ended, Sanders wanted to "put in a good word" for a pal, the assistant general manager of the team, and asked Thomas if he would attend weekly meetings with her. "I said, I'm not sure. I just got here," Thomas said. "I told her I was still looking for the water cooler." Adding to his frustration, Thomas learned that Sanders had secretly spoken to his assistant as she left his office and instructed the woman to go ahead and put the meetings in his calendar."

Andrea, in your column, you dismissed this in writing "What she did was ask Thomas' assistant to schedule some meetings with her. He hated that. It was war."

This shows me Andrea, that you've never worked in the real world, and know nothing about sports, or marketing. You are revealing more about your own hangups than anything that's coming out on Isiah Thomas, and his "unhealthy relationship with his mother" accusation that you fire away at him.

Andrea: It's becoming apparent that you have:

Never worked in the real world

Don't know much about sports, or the importance of having a GM control the player payroll budget!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have been sexually harrassed in the workplace yourself. Have you?

Have something against black men. Do you?

Writer's Note: You can see that what Andrea wrote in her column today really pissed me off. She not only glossed over facts that the defense brought up, and misrepresented them, she continued to belittle Thomas and made a statement about him having an "unhealthy relationship with his mother." In this, she mocked the African-American culture, after Thomas had described how his mother had taught him how to treat a lady.

Andrea Peyser didn't respond to my email.

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 18:59:01 -0700 (PDT)

"Kati.Cornell" , Andrea Peyser

Andrea,

Can I take your failure to answer my two questions as a "No Comment"?

Lou

Fri, 28 Sep 2007 07:31:45 -0700 (PDT)

"Kati.Cornell" , Andrea.Peyser@nypost.com

Andrea, one more thing to think about:

In this world of emails, where folks who get into trouble for sexual misconduct almost always get caught redhanded with some salacious emails that they've sent to the other party, how come there has been no evidence brought up that Isiah Thomas ever sent Anucha Browne Sanders ANY emails with any kind of sexual innuendo?

Don't you think that there would be some such emails if he had indeed sexually propositioned her? And if there were the defense would have brought them up and then I'd be on your side Andrea -- then I'd say yes, the guy is guilty. Hang him.

But there were no emails of a non-business nature, and he apparently never called her during off-work hours. I'm surprised the defense didn't make a big deal about this (or perhaps, horribly, they did and the newspapers didn't report it? -- I can't trust the news at all anymore so I don't know.)

All she is claiming is he used some vulgarities in her vicinity because of the fucked up job she was doing, and her demands to control his player budget. And then a verbal sexual invite without any emails in this world of email fervor.

Andrea, this is a case of really bad worker getting fired and then drumming up a charge. Anucha Browne Sanders is making it more difficult for women everywhere who actually HAVE BEEN sexually harrassed and then fired. And you're giving that really bad worker the right. And making things worse for women everywhere.

Throughout the trial, and after the trial, all reports indicated that all of the players and other workers in the MSG organization, all the way up to James Dolan, stood firmly behind Isiah Thomas. Sanders, contrastedly, seemed universally disliked in the organization.

-- LouV

Postscript:

December 11, 2007, 5:29 PM ET

Madison Square Garden and New York Knicks coach Isiah Thomas reached an $11.5 million settlement of the sexual harassment case brought by Anucha Browne Sanders.

"As I have said before, I am completely innocent," Isiah Thomas said. "This decision doesn't change that. However, this is the best course for Madison Square Garden, and I fully support it."

"We don't feel any less strongly than we did throughout the entire episode," MSG said in a statement. "The outcome was a travesty of justice, and we vehemently disagree with the jury's decision, however, at the strong request of [the NBA commissioner] and in the interest of focusing on basketball, we can all agree that it is time for us to move on and put this issue behind us."

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
A more recent article !

Why the Knicks Don't Suck .. Anymore

But the NY Post and NY Daily News Do (Suck)

by Lou V

As the Knicks start the 2007-08 NBA season at 2-9, it would seem all of NYC is apoplectic and calling for the firing of Isiah Thomas. A media frenzy drives the casual fan to think basketball hell is taking place at Madison Square Garden. The NY Post -- closer everyday to the National Enquirer -- in its on-going effort to dumb-down the citizens of Gotham, has used the front page of its Thanksgiving edition to call for the firing of Isiah Thomas, putting his head on a turkey. As if there were no other news in this world to cover.

The Knicks Are Doing Fine

But the only thing in demise here is the journalistic integrity of the NY Post, Daily News and similar media outlets who treat the readers the way media has traditionally dealt with people in third-world countries; getting their attentions off real economic and political issues by parading sports and the lottery in front of them. Basketball isn't that important, and the Knicks are fine. They remain as they were to start the season -- a young, athletic team with guys who can score; they have great chemistry, believe in their coach, and are progressively playing better defense.

Mort Zuckerman and Rupert Murdoch dumb down NY with National Enquirer journalism while James Dolan and Isiah Thomas provide moral substance.

They're not a championship team yet, but they're a good team; a playoff-caliber team. They've had two early season issues -- turnovers and bad free throw shooting -- causing them to lose a number of tight games. A tough early-season schedule for the 3rd year in a row has started them off in arrears. And it will get worse -- their late November/early December schedule is extremely tough. The schedule eases up in January, and then gets downright pleasurable in March and April. But that's a long way away; dozens of NY Post and Daily News front and back-page assassinations to endure. It will be interesting to see if the Knicks can win enough in December to keep the wolves at bay; if James Dolan, owner, who has proven to be a stand-up, moral guy despite numerous assassinations on his own character by the same media, will stick to his word and the game plan until the casual fan is spoon fed the idea that this team isn't so bad. History favors Dolan standing by his word.

Why Isiah Thomas Is Castigated by NY Media

Exemplified by the Renaldo Balkman Affair

Isiah's overly optimistic, used-car-salesman-handshake approach and street-fighter, chip-on-his-shoulder personality doesn't wash well with the NY beat reporters, and they attack him regularly with vengeance. Previous coach Larry Brown, in contrast, ingratiated himself with the mostly white NYC beat reporters. Mike Lupica of the Daily News seemed to fall into that Brown family of friends; and it was Lupica who savagely attacked Isiah in the middle of the 2006-2007 season, when the Daily News ran a back-page Sunday edition featuring Isiah Thomas drawn as a clown. Lupica attacked Thomas for daring to say that he knew more about basketball than the typical NY fan. Thomas's sin came after months of being ridiculed by the NY beat reporters for the 2006 June draft, echoed by fans on Sports Talk Radio, when he picked Renaldo Balkman with the 20th pick in the draft. That day, basketball-expert NY fans in attendance at Madison Square Garden booed; they wanted Isiah to pick local college hero point-guard Marcus Williams. Because they'd all seen Williams on TV, and he was good. In college. And the local newsmedia prepped them before the draft by telling them that the Knicks could possibly get to draft Williams with their first round pick, which was a late first rounder. Nobody -- not the Knick beat reporters or the fans -- had ever heard of Renaldo Balkman.

Isiah Thomas had. He'd seen Balkman play in college. He'd seen Balkman play at the pre-draft drills and private tryout invites. Isiah Thomas as a GM previously with Toronto and Indiana, had established himself as a terrific evaluator of NBA talent, and draft picker. Isiah Thomas was one of the greatest point guards in the history of the NBA; led his team to two championships; and you'd figure if Thomas saw a player he'd want to play with, that would be enough for anybody. Point guards especially, know the game like noone else, since they're distributing the ball to everyone.

You'd figure that the typical NY fan would be thumbs up with whoever Thomas picked; and if he picked a 6'7" sleeper that noone had heard of, so much the better. Thomas had been hired as GM in part for his fantastic resume at making great picks in previous NBA drafts. But none of this was good enough for the NY media and the casual fan, who felt that by watching the game on TV and playing it in the schoolyard, they no doubt knew more about basketball than Thomas.

Marc Berman of NY Post and the rest of NY media and expert NY basketball fans ridiculed Isiah Thomas's pick of Renaldo Balkman with the 20th pick in the 2006 draft, and they were all dead wrong. Balkman has become a top player.

Marc Berman of the NY Post took it to another level. In the days following the drafting of Balkman, Berman wrote that he asked the other GM's picking after Thomas in that first round if they were poised to pick Balkman, and all of them said no, they didn't have Balkman on their radar. Thus, Berman reasoned, not only had Isiah made a horrendous pick in picking Balkman, but if he played his cards right, he could have picked Marcus Williams with the 20th pick, and then used his second first round pick at #29 for Balkman, thus getting both the player Berman felt the Knicks should get, and then Thomas's favorite too, instead of Mardy Collins, another player no one had heard of, whom Thomas picked at #29.

There were a number of issues with Berman's logic:

He didn't know what he was talking about. Berman had no idea who Balkman was; Isiah Thomas knew exactly who he was and done all his homework to scout him.

Berman was blessed with perfect hindsight -- he was the Monday morning quarterback with information on what went down after it went down. Isiah Thomas had no idea what the other GM's were thinking on draft day, and so it would've been crazy for him not to pick the player he wanted (Balkman) with the 20th pick to get a player he didn't want or need (the Knicks already had 3 point guards headed by all-star Stephon Marbury, and didn't need another point guard in Williams).

Word before the draft was that Marcus Williams had a tendency to get out of shape, the same way that Pearl Washington, a great college point guard from a previous era, used to get out of shape (and thus didn't quite make it in the NBA). Isiah Thomas, one of the greatest point guards of all time, would be in best position to judge whether or not he liked the play of Marcus Williams at the point.

If other GM's that Berman had interviewed had known Thomas had his eye on Balkman, at least one of them most certainly would have changed their mind and picked Balkman. Isiah has a reputation amongst other GM's as being a good evaluator of talent; and even if the other GM's picking #22 through #28 didnt' think that, they might have still picked him to force a trade with Thomas. How could Thomas have taken that chance?

All of this was much ado about the 20th pick in the draft -- a pick that generally results in a player who historically doesn't stick in the NBA. The media treated it as if Thomas had used a lottery pick to draft Balkman.

What was never reported in any outlet was that the New Jersey Nets, who picked Marcus Williams, didn't pick directly after the Knicks -- the Boston Celtics did. Unlike the Knicks, the Boston Celtics were in desperate need of a point guard, having only not-ever-ready-for-prime-time Sebastian Telfair. The Celtics didn't pick Marcus Williams. They picked Rajon Rondo, a point guard. Over Williams.

Reading his column on a regular basis, Berman is judged by this reader to be one of the dumbest writers in NYC. He regularly gets the fine points wrong in his coverage of the game -- blaming loses on the wrong player, even after the coach tells him what went wrong in interviews after the game. He also stubbornly beats on unfounded issues for months; he spent the year after Patrick Ewing was traded reminding readers at every opportunity that that the Knicks had won a game without the help of Patrick Ewing. But that's a story for another column.

Berman continued his Isiah-should've-picked-Williams attack not for just that week following the draft, but for the next 6 months, taking any opportunity he could to remind people of this 'fact' in his regular column in the Post. Even after it soon became apparent in summer league and then the start of the 2006-07 season that Balkman was a great NBA player and the steal of the draft.

Marc Berman looks like he's never played a game of basketball in his whole life, and writes the same way, but unfortunately influences thousands of casual NY basketball fans with his illogical coverage and stubborn attacks.

Still, Berman reasoned, Isiah could've had Balkman and Williams if he did it Berman's way, versus Balkman and Collins. As the season wore on and Collins too began to establish himself as a pretty good NBA player -- a 6'5" shooting guard and excellent defender, Berman's idiocy died down. There were no apologies, and the damage had been done -- all casual NY basketball fans condemned Thomas on sports talk radio and elsewhere for months. Causing Thomas to finally utter his brash words -- that the booing didn't bother him because he felt he knew more about NBA basketball players than the typical fan and the picks he made were based on that knowledge -- BAM -- Mike Lupica and the Daily News and all the other media outlets had another field day on Thomas. How dare he say that. The arrogance!

Why Isiah Thomas Doesn't Suck

Through great draft picks like the one for Balkman, and great trades, Isiah has turned the Knicks around in 3 years at the helm as GM.

The Knicks offense is geared around their big men -- Eddy Curry, who scores at an over .600 clip inside, relentless 6'9 power forward Zach Randolph, and super-leaper David Lee, at 6'9 one of the best young power forwards in the game whose post-up game has even shown improvement this season. And that is where you want an NBA team to be centered -- not around shooting guards like the Stu-Laden-Alan-Houston-Latrell-Sprewell Knicks. Most GM's in the NBA would exchange their best three big men for those three Knicks in a heartbeat.

Tough defenders Renaldo Balkman, Quentin Richardson, and Jarred Jeffries form the rest of the front court, and at the guard is star scoring-point-guard Stephon Marbury and the enigmatic, athletic, super-nice-guy but often-boneheaded Jamaal Crawford. Tough defender Fred Jones and the super-energetic but not-great-ball-distributor Nate Robinson round out the backcourt.

Not a perfect team; not a championship team, but a pretty good team; a playoff team, and the most hope Knicks fans have had for a fun, energetic, competitive team to watch since 1995 (and that includes the 1999 finals team that sucked throughout the regular season but turned it on for the playoffs).

The word is still out on Isiah as a coach; he has a mediocre resume there, and was never hired to be a coach of the Knicks; he was hired as a GM. He assumed coaching responsibilities as a kind of penance for his poor choices of coach hirings -- Lenny Wilkins to be his puppet coach when he first arrived. Wilkins was in retirement mode, and was replaced with Herb Williams. An honorable choice for Isiah, but another bad decision, as Williams was a rookie and NYC was not the place to experiment. Then came the Larry Brown fiasco, which was James Dolan's doing -- Brown was the last person Isiah wanted to hire but had his arm twisted to do so. As penance, Isiah coaches this team himself.

Isiah Thomas's Knicks' Resume

Great Trades:

June 28, 2007: Acquired Zach Randolph, Fred Jones, Dan Dickau, and draft rights to Demetris Nichols (2nd round, #53 overall) from Portland in a draft day deal for Steve Francis, Channing Frye, and the Knicks' 2008 2nd round draft pick. Synopsis: Zach Randolph and Fred Jones for Channing Frye? This may go down as one of the great Knick trades ever.

June 29, 2005: Acquired Quentin Richardson (25 yrs old) and Nate Robinson (the 21st overall 1st-round pick) from the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Kurt Thomas (32.5 yrs old) and Dijon Thompson (the 54th overall 2nd-round pick). Synopsis: Kurt Thomas was getting old. Richardson is a terrific all-around ballplayer (especially after the back surgery) and almost 6 years younger. Plus the Knicks got Nate Robinson. Great trade.

February 3, 2006: Acquired Jalen Rose from Toronto, a 1st round pick in 2006 (#20 overall, used by Knicks to select Renaldo Balkman -- this was originally Denver's pick, acquired by Toronto), and cash in exchange for Antonio Davis (and essentially $10 million in cap relief). Synopsis: Fantastic trade for NY, especially since Isiah used that pick to select Balkman. Rose played some ball in NY before being eventually waived, opening up some salary savings for NY.

February 16, 2004: Acquired Tim Thomas from Milwaukee and center Nazr Mohammed from Atlanta in a three-team trade. In exchange, Knicks sent Keith Van Horn to Milwaukee and Michael Doleac and a 2005 conditional 2nd round pick to Atlanta. (In addition, center Joel Przybilla was traded from Milwaukee to Atlanta.) Synopsis: Mohammed played some good ball in NY, but then helped Isiah rebuild with the trade listed below this one. Tim Thomas played some ball in NY, but then helped Isiah get Eddy Curry from Chicago. This Feb 2004 trade was a fantastic setup trade for the Knicks.

February 24, 2005: Acquired Malik Rose, Maurice Taylor, conditional first-round draft picks in 2005 (ended up being David Lee at #30) and 2006 (ended up being Mardy Collins at #29) from San Antonio in exchange for Nazr Mohammed, Moochie Norris, Vin Baker, and Jamison Brewer. Synopsis: Nazr Mohammed for Malik Rose, David Lee, and Mardy Collins? Great trade.

October 3, 2005: Acquired Eddy Curry and Antonio Davis from Chicago for Tim Thomas, Michael Sweetney, Jermaine Jackson, NY's 2006 1st round draft pick (eventually became Tyrus Thomas at #2 overall), a 2nd round draft choice in 2007 and 2009, and ability to switch 1st round picks in 2007 -- which they did; Chicago got NY's 2007 1st round draft pick (eventually became Joakim Noah at #9) and NY got Chicago's 1st round pick (became Wilson Chandler at #23). Synopsis: This should have been a great trade for NY, but Larry Brown took a 36 win team and made it a 23 win team, making that #1 pick in 2006 go from a mid-first-rounder to the #2 pick. Still not a bad trade for NY, whom I think would trade Curry and Wilson Chandler for Ty Thomas and Jaokim Noah even now, dependent on how Chandler and Noah develop.

August 6, 2004: Acquired Jamaal Crawford and Jerome Williams from Chicago for Frank Williams, Dikembe Mutombo, Othella Harrington, and center Cezary Trybanski. Synopsis: Great trade -- Jamaal Crawford for nothing much. Mutumbo was ancient.

January 6, 2004: Acquired Stephon Marbury, Penny Hardaway, and Cezary Trybanski from Phoenix for Antonio McDyess, Howard Eisley, Charlie Ward, Maciej Lampe, Milos Vujanic, Knicks 1st-round pick in 2004 (#16 overall, ended up being Kirk Snyder, a career reserve guard), and future conditional Knicks 1st round pick (looks like it will be the 2009 or 2010 pick) and cash. Synopsis: Despite the criticisms, Marbury has played a lot of all-star basketball in NY. The final word is still out on this trade as there is still that conditional 1st-round pick hanging out there in 2009 or 2010 that Phoenix gets from NY, but so far, NY got Stephon Marbury for a bunch of crap -- including Knick-franchise-of-the-future-according-to-Stu-Laden, Michel Lampe. Penny Hardaway was used by Knicks to help get Stevie Francis, who was used to help get Zach Randolph. Phoenix used this trade to get $7-million under the cap, enabling them to sign free agent Steve Nash, and catapulting them to an elite team. This trade looks good for both teams right now, for different reasons.

Why James Dolan Doesn't Suck

As much as Isiah Thomas has been ripped apart in the NY media, James Dolan has been almost as much so. Dolan, the son of cable magnate Charles Dolan Sr, who built the billion-dollar Cablevision empire, has been assessed by the NY media to be a stupid, rich, spoiled, arrogant never-do-good who plays with the Knicks as if it were his rich-kid's toy. Fans have taken to building websites that call for him to sell the Knicks. Open protests in front of Madison Square Garden have broken out, protesting his decisions on owning the Knicks. His Wikipedia entry currently says "It is widely agreed upon, amongst fans the media and the NBA, that his tenure has been a complete failure and his inability to manage the Knicks would be comical if it were not so pathetic."

Some of this may be true, but for all things bad there are things good, and with James Dolan what is often not said is that he is a man of moral fiber. Here's proof:

A reported former alcoholic, he has gone out of his way to give other former alcoholics a chance. After the Knicks acquired talented but troubled Vin Baker in 2001, Dolan personally spent many hours talking to Baker, according to published reports, trying to help him understand and deal with his troubling disease.

He has stood up for, and valued, players who displayed fine moral character on the Knicks -- thus one of the reasons he foolishly laid so much money down to keep Alan Houston when his initial contract expired. Houston was the epitome of fine moral character -- a truly nice and giving fellow; the anti-Joe DiMaggio.

When Larry Brown was attacking Knick players in the press in 2005-06, calling them stupid, Dolan cracked down on Brown, according to published reports. When Brown continued to lash at players publicly, Brown was fired -- even if it took 40 million dollars to do it.

Dolan has since then publicly acknowledged that the hiring of Larry Brown was his mistake, not Isiah Thomas's, and he should take the blame. Another stand-up move not noticed by the NY media or fans.

Thomas's Resume Continued

Great Draft Picks:

Renaldo Balkman #20 in 2006. This was the draft wherein MSG fans booed and NY media ripped Thomas for months for not picking Marcus Williams. No one had ever heard of Renaldo Balkman, and thus Thomas was judged to be stupid. Balkman was a steal.

Mardy Collins #29 in 2006. Good pick, that late.

David Lee #30 in 2005. One of best young power forwards in game. Fantastic pick.

Nate Robinson #21 by Phoenix as part of trade. Robinson exudes energy and has helped win a number of games in his career so far. Needs to learn how to be a better point guard. Still a good pick that late.

Trevor Ariza #44 pick in 2004 draft. Great pick that late. Thomas was forced to trade him away by Larry Brown.

Randolph Morris -- from reports it seemed that most GM's in the NBA didn't even know this star center for Kentucky was available as a free agent as soon as his college career ended -- he had already made himself available for a previous NBA draft and went undrafted. But Isiah Thomas knew, and pounced on him before anyone else in March 2007, resulting in essentially a steal of a mid-first-round draft pick.

Wilson Chandler #23 in 2007. Too early to tell.

Demitrius Nichols #53 by Portland traded to NY. A late 2nd round pick that Thomas got Portland to deal him, Nichols alas was lost in a numbers game in NY (15 players ahead of him in talent or guaranteed contracts), and had to be released before the 2007-08 season. He was quickly picked up by defending Eastern Conference Champs Cleveland. Still, his sterling play with the Knicks in 2007 summer camp and NBA future is another testament to Thomas's ability to see NBA talent.

Channing Frye #8 in 2005. Frye ended up not being so good, but he was the best legitimate player available when Thomas was picking #8 (notwithstanding gambles who may have turned out better). After two years of Frye not living up to expectations, Thomas astutely traded him to Portland for Zach Randolph.

Dolan's handling of the Anucka Browne Sanders case is prototypical of his high moral fiber. It was a case that he could have made go away without any negative publicity by just paying her five or six million (chump change for MSG) before the case ever went to trial. But his righteousness in a case where he undoubtedly felt on high moral ground would not let that happen. According to defense allegations unveiled in court trial coverage, Anucka Browne Sanders had established that she was incompetent at handling Knicks marketing and was an abrasive person to work with, who, according to Steve Mills, MSG CEO, came into his office and "told me she's lost the confidence of the people she worked with, and she can't do this anymore." Again according to defense allegations, it was only after Dolan learned that Sanders was pressuring her underlings to back her up in a sexual harassment suit that he fired her on the spot.

Dolan's backing of Isiah Thomas and giving him his word that he has the 2007-08 season to put the Knicks on track is yet another example of a fellow with high moral fiber who gives his word, and stands by it.

Finally, Knick fans should rejoice that James Dolan is clearly someone who will spend lots of money on the Knicks in an effort to make them good. It hasn't always worked out, but Knick fans could have a worse owner.

Thomas's Resume Continued

So-So Minor Free-Agent Signings:

Jerome James: A minor free agent signing -- Knicks used their $4 million exception to sign him. He's been wrecked by injury in his first 3 years in NY. He was a dominant inside defender and rebounder in Seattle and in brief healthy appearances in NY. Still 2 years left on the 5 year contract to see if he'll ever be healthy in NY.

Jared Jeffries: Another minor free agent signing with the $4 million exception. Jeffries had a poor first season in NY due to injuries and overzealous play (he was guilty of trying too hard). He remains potentially a key player for NY, their 8th man in their rotation; a 6'11" defender who can shut down another team's top-scoring big man. Has yet to be proved in NY though.

For that and all the reasons stated above, here's hoping that James Dolan stays in charge of the Knicks long into the future, with Isiah Thomas at the helm as GM, if not coach. So that the good guys can win the day.

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Found an old Article, seems we've never recoverd from what this article states:

Why the Knicks Suck

The worst Knick season in history -- 23 wins, 59 loses. Lots of finger pointing going around in New York as the 2006 season wound down, with those fingers mostly pointed at Isiah Thomas and Stephon Marbury, and even a few at Larry Brown.

Late Breaking Dec, 2007 News:

Why the Knicks Don't Suck .. Anymore (click to read)

But the NY Post and NY Daily News Do

Like most difficult mathematical problems where you need to isolate all of the variables to figure out the answer, there is no single issue causing these Knicks to suck. But they are dwarfed by one central issue. The Knicks own X factor.

It's Not Isiah Thomas

Isiah Thomas is not X. I've never liked Thomas from what I've seen of him in the newspapers. He has that shit-eating grin, he froze-out Michael Jordan in the All-Star game when Jordan was a rookie, and he's made some seemingly veiled racist statements in the press (for example, saying Larry Bird was overrated because he was white, or that he (Isiah) doesn't like 'European' ballplayers).

But this lost Knick season isn't his fault.

In fact, Isiah has done a heck of a job turning around the talent level of the Knick team in just two seasons. Isiah has done the impossible -- take an old, un-athletic, injured, overpaid roster full of contracts that the Knicks were stuck with for years into the future, with players that had little or no market value (ie, nobody wanted anyone on the Knick roster except Kurt Thomas two years ago), and did what everyone said couldn't be done -- turn the roster completely over to produce a young, athletic team full of guys who can score. The Knicks now have a load of guys sought after by other teams in the league.

Isiah's Strategy

Not only do the Knicks look better talent wise than they did just two short years ago, Isiah seems to have turned the roster over with a solid strategy in place -- contrary to what you've read in the NY Post, the pieces of Isiah's puzzle fit together.

In Eddie Curry, the Knicks have one of the legitimate, premier young post-up centers in the NBA. The perfect tandem to Curry is to have a point guard who can penetrate to the basket to draw defenses, and dish off to Curry for easy baskets -- and there is no better point guard in the NBA at penetrating through half court defenses like a knife through butter like Stephon Marbury. If Marbury can't score on his own drive or dish off to Curry on the low block, then there's Channing Frye waiting in the paint -- the perfect scoring power forward, getting most of his points facing the basket and dead eye from 10--20 feet. The final pieces to this offensive puzzle is to have some players who can shoot lights-out from three-point range, so that if a team clogs the middle to defend Marbury-Curry-Frye, you beat them from the outside. There Isiah hasn't been as exacting, bringing in Jamaal Crawford and three-point-record-holder Quentin Richardson -- both streaky shooters.

On the defensive side, Isiah's players are weak. Jamaal Crawford, Stephon Marbury, Quentin Richardson, and Eddie Curry have reputations as bad defensive players. To solidify the defense, Isiah -- arguably because Knick upper management twisted his arm to do so -- brought in a coach highly regarded for coaching teams that play great team defense -- Larry Brown.

Not Stephon Marbury's Fault

Stephon Marbury was having a terrific year when he was brought down in a mid January game that killed the Knick season. The Knicks had just reeled off six wins in a row before a loss to Toronto, when Marbury was injured in a game at the Garden against Minnesota. Despite being yanked around by Brown, and crapped on in the press by Brown, Marbury was scoring, passing, and leading the team, and beyond all else, was fun to watch. This disaster of a Knick season was not Stephon Marbury's fault. He is not X.

So then Why Do the Knicks Suck?

1) The number one reason why the Knicks suck -- is in two words, Larry Brown. Larry Brown = X. Forget the 'track record'; Larry Brown took a team that should have won 40-45 games this year and won 22. The defense was atrocious, and the team absolutely stopped playing for him the final third of the season.

Brown's past coaching technique has been to spend the first 6 to 9 months discombobulating whatever team he coaches, playing different starting lineups every night in an effort to emasculate all the egos on the team and make every player his puppet, hanging on his string, knowing that if they lapse just a little bit on the court, they won't play the next night. If any player grumbles about playing time, Larry Brown goes after them in the press, calling them names or disparaging their talent level. If the player fights back, he's soon traded. If he doesn't fight back, Brown has won the will of egos, and the player is put back in the playing rotation.

Now Versus Then

In two short years, Isiah Thomas has turned the Knick roster over -- from old, unathletic, injured, overpriced geyser lineup, to young, athletic, high-scoring players. The Knicks two years ago featured:

C: Dikembe Mutombo. Old (38?)and immobile and couldn't score.

PF: Kurt Thomas and Antonio McDyess (with Othella Harrington, Clarence Weatherspoon, and Michael Sweetney in reserve). Kurt Thomas was the only player on the team that anybody else wanted. Sweetney had talent but wasn't playing at all. Weatherspoon was the only power forward in NBA history who had to quadruple fake to put his shot up, and would still get it slammed down his throat.

SF: Keith Van Horn. Unatheletic and piss-poor defensively. Van Horn was a scorer who would disappear late in games when other teams put defensive stoppers on him.

SG: Alan Houston. His career was over, although we weren't sure at the time. Piss poor defensively even in his prime, before the knee operations.

PG: Charlie Ward and Frank Williams.

In comparison, the Knicks 2006 roster contained the following players:

C: Eddie Curry (with Jerome James in reserve). Curry is 23 and one of the best young post-up centers in the NBA. Deficiencies are his inability to rebound nor block shots or clog the middle defensively.

PF: Channing Frye, Antonio Davis (with Malik Rose in reserve). Channing Frye is 23, has dead-eye accuracy from 10-20 feet, moves well without the ball, and has the kind of court sense reminiscent of Tim Duncan. He's 6'11".

SG: Jamaal Crawford (with Quentin Richardson in reserve). Only 25 years old, Crawford can score and score and this year, he's scoring within the confines of the team offense, which is the best news for the Knicks. Richardson is also only 25.

PG: Stephon Marbury. You can piss on Marbury all you want, but he remains one of the premier point guards in the NBA. One of the few players in the game who can penetrate defenses and get to the basket like a knife through butter. Doesn't 'see the court' while running a full-court offense like Steve Nash or Jason Kidd, but I'd still rather have Marbury in a slow-down half-court offense of the playoffs. Hey, remember, Nash was one-and-done in last year's playoffs.

The result of Brown's tactics is a team that plays hard, even kamikazee defense, for a while. His spell typically lasts a year and a half to two years. After that, Brown's constant head games with his players eventually backfire and the players stop playing for him, at which point Brown has already set path to 'jump to the next stone'. He wears out his welcome, amongst the players and the management, and has a history of leaving teams high and dry.

Brown left New Jersey high and dry in the late eighties, and the year after he left both Kansas and UCLA, those college programs were placed on probation. In Detroit, he rode a conference champion (that then added Rasheed Wallace) to a championship, and some of those players have made it clear in the newspapers they resent Brown for the way he coached and taking all the credit for their championship. And let's not forget that Larry Brown is responsible for the worst coaching job in the history of basketball -- coaching the 2004 US Olympic Basketball team to a bronze metal, despite the fact that they had one of the greatest rosters of all time, featuring Lebron James, Tim Duncan, Carmello Anthony, Alan Iverson, and others. That team couldn't beat Puerto Rico. That team complained to a man about being 'discombobulated' by the coach.

With the Knicks this year, Brown's constant lineup changes subterfuged Isiah Thomas's lineup. The team never gained any kind of continuity or teamwork, as Brown jostled the lineup without rhyme or reason, playing guys 35 minutes one night, and zero the next. Beyond that came the whines to the press about the roster Isiah Thomas had put together, about his players, about lack of effort -- always someone else's fault. At one point in the season Isiah Thomas capitulated and privately asked Brown to write down the players he wanted; he'd go get them. Brown's response -- he immediately went to the press with this private piece of information, making Isiah Thomas look like an idiot.

Ancillary Reasons Why the Knicks Suck

Besides Larry Brown, Isiah Thomas's team is still not perfectly formed. There are other reasons why this season went down in flames for the Knicks, and they are:

2) Eddy Curry can't rebound. The Knicks have lost several games this year because Curry couldn't rebound the ball in late game situations after the Knicks as a team had played great defense on a possession.

3) The Knicks entire frontcourt can't rebound. If Eddie Curry is getting 5 or 6 rebounds a game, and his sidekick power forward is Channing Frye who gets 7 or 8, the Knicks C-PF positions are getting 12-15 rebounds a game and you're not going to win too many basketball games if that's the case. And that's why Knick coaching is impressing on both of them to rebound, rebound, rebound. Don't be surprised if the Knicks eventually have to trade one of them (Frye?) for a big time rebounder. Remember the Knicks had Ewing (who was a pretty good rebounder) and Cartwright. Trading Cartwright to Chicago for Charles Oakley gave Ewing the rebounding power forward he needed, and gave Chicago the center they needed (alongside PF Horace Grant) to win championships.

4) Eddy Curry is not a big-time offense force. I think by this time Isiah Thomas was hoping Curry would be averaging 20 points a game. He's not near that. He's inconsistent, and disappears in games when the other team makes defensive adjustments to him. Late in games, he never gets good position inside -- he's often moved so far off the blocks he's 20 feet from the basket. He often becomes a non-entity for the Knicks offensively, late in games.

5) The Knicks are still a young team. It takes two years for NBA teams to play together and become good -- to know how to win. From the start this Knick team was a collection of players who were just getting to know each other. For a good part of the early season the Knicks were playing rookies Channing Frye and Nate Robinson, and 20 year old Trevor Ariza. Rookies tend to make mistakes (leave their man on defense or throw the ball away in key situations) and not know how to finish games. And on top of that they had Brown discombobulating the team.

6) Deficiences in the roster. Isiah has only been working on this roster for only two years. So far he's done the unimaginable, turning the roster around. But there are still holes at backup point guard, at small forward, and the rebounding situation at center-power forward mentioned above.

The Solution

The Knicks need to get rid of Larry Brown and his big ego as soon as they possibly can; bring in a coach who can win with the players he is given. They need to address the rebounding situation. And they need to get a coach who gets his team to play defense; a coach that the team doesn't stop playing for midway through the season. If they can do those things, they'll be a fun team to watch; a playoff team; a contending team.

They've got the talent. X has to go.

-- LouV

Tell Us What You Think: If you'd like

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Marbury can't be serious.Check it:

Marbury Tables Euro Talk, Eyes Return

April 12, 2008 - 8:00 am

The New York Post -

Stephon Marbury has tabled his plans to play in Italy for a few years and said that he hopes to play in the NBA until then, according to a report in the New York Post.

Marbury hopes to play out the final year of his contract with the Knicks, with the removal of Isiah Thomas in the front office increasing those chances.

"That's my goal is to retire a Knick," Marbury said. "I got a lot of basketball left in me to play. I definitely want to explore overseas, but that's later on, when I'm on the downside of my career. I know I can play another five years at a high level." [READ]

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRvVzaQ6i8A

Barf how do we make this \"Blue\" and just hit it

to go there! BTW, I think you will like that link!

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
What up Fanatics!

Statesman thanks for the 411 on the IT article, which I assume was with writtem by Mitch Albom. BARF, thank for putting it on the THREAD. It was a great read and quite informative.

GO CAPITALS!

Still Left Coasting and about to get into all kinds of mischief, but a little dirt never hurt anybody, and like Peaceman with the Bicycle, I'll ask forgiveness later, cause I damn sure don't need permission.

The site is banging and the music is slamming....

ONE LOVE!

Keep it CRACKIN!

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
PING PONG.....Lets at least spoil the Pacers playoffs!

Stick it tp Bird!

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Peace, I see the html did not work. Nor did cut and paste. I'll ask what can be done to make it work.

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3341664

Available General Managers

Peace, I am experimenting with the hyperlinks here.

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
DLT,

Knick City dancer....your pick!

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Yea,Peaceman

With the right players and a true leader on the floor. He can make his mark.

And if you are not giving up the lung,at least get me a KCD and don't tell the wife. :-) lmao

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
LOL DLT!

Imagine Crawford with a real PG next to him?

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Peace,

I agree,winning makes me happy.

Oh,and get ready to give up that lung.

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Q is hurting any chances of a trade for him!

He couldn't start in the D-league!

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Good pass Bibby!

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
DlT,

I can't root for my team to lose!

It don't matter either way....it will take a Miracle to get

1 or 2 in the draft! No matter we win or lose we are stuck at 5-6!

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Welcome again DLT,

Get Q out!!!!!!

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Fanatics

I like the music.....great idea.

Are we hoping for a lost and more ping-pong balls tonite?

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
LOL I can't even do that right!

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Ok Barf, That worked! But where do I put that info on hyperlinking in the Html?????

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
We have to forgive and move on!

Lives will link KD @ our blog roll! We are taking the High Road!

Here's a little "Kissy, Kissy"

When you hold resentment toward another, you are bound to that person or condition by an emotional link that is stronger than steel. Forgiveness is the only way to dissolve that link and get free.�

john7 Catherine Ponder quotes

�To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.�

Lewis B. Smedes quote

And finally My favorite of favorites:

When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realised that the Lord doesn't work that way so I stole one and asked Him to forgive me.

TAZ

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Oden is a bigger nut than our own PEACEMAN!!!

Read this article to get an idea of Oden's comedic side.

Also, the Blazers could be looking to unload this yr's pick and LaFrentz's contract (expiring?)...

Next year the Blazers will add Oden and their lottery pick. They also are expected to welcome Spanish guard Rudy Fernandez, the No. 24 pick in last year's draft who would be a top 10 pick this year, according to Pritchard. In 2009, they could have $26 million to $33 million in cap space; or this summer they could offer the pick and Raef Lafrentz's expiring contract if a rebuilding team is interested in making the kind of deal that sent Kevin Garnett to the Celtics or Pau Gasol to the Lakers. They have Roy, an All-Star this year, and LaMarcus Aldridge, who will be an All-Star soon. But their championship aspirations are built around the 20-year-old who has yet to play a minute.

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Good find Statesman,

This is off that trail, But I wish Noah was a Knick, the guy

has balls the size of Texas, Check this statement from RealGM:

Energetic Bulls' forward Joakim Noah may be a rookie, but he is not afraid to speak his mind.

According to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune, Noah spoke about about the poisonous effect that losing can have on a ballclub.

"It's a disease, and it spreads throughout the whole team," Noah said calmly. "It's just really, really hard right now because regardless what we do, there's no light at the end of the tunnel, especially for this season."

"We're not really playing with a lot of pride and respect for the jersey. It's just hard because you can't point at anybody individually. It's just our togetherness as a team is just bad. You can talk about Florida. But if you're a Bulls fan, I'm not a champion anymore. We're losers. We lose. That's all we do. That's all there is to say."

The kid has winning in his Blood, he won't be a Bull for Long!

I'd welcome him on the Knicks

TAZ

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
All thanks are to be re-directed to Statesman who emailed me the article. After reading it myself, I was compelled to post with a bit of formatting.

I understand why people think Isiah is arrogant...but if a person achieves certain pinnacles in life...accomplishes dreams...he will have a different vocabulary then ur average Joe.

Joe shouldn't take it personal. Isiah's from the hood...came up from nothing...he should be an inspiration to folks but these ankle-biting crabs in the bucket stay trying to heap extra blame on dude. Hey, the records of the last few yrs are far less than stellar and he deserves the criticism for taking shots at certain players and making certain decisions (Marbury, Curry, Zach trade) but despite some mistakes, HE STILL HAS DONE MORE AS A GM THAN SCOTT LAYDEN.

He's managed to start re-building. I understand criticism...I just can't flow with all the venom. Its pointless...and if you know anything about the recent Knicks, you'd know that Isiah actually accomplished a lot in a little amount of time.

If those 3 previously mentioned players adjusted to the circus atmosphere in NY...then we'd have a whole different opinion of Isiah the GM's reign. We're not even the highest payroll in the league anymore. Number 2 is still bad but...ah...you know what I mean. LOL

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Dayum! Dadgum! Great post BARF. Those sound like some honest answers to dispel some of the urban legend that's been out there as if it were fact. All plausible and even believable.

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
BARF

That was a priceless article.

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
As per our blogger brother States, here's an article on Isiah Thomas from a Detroit perspective:

Editor's note: Story originally published on June 22, 1994.

Isiah Thomas' quick departure from Detroit -- a city he once ruled in popularity -- remains the most mysterious local sports story of the year.

Which only fits the character.

Although Thomas was highly celebrated, he was rarely understood, and, in his later years here, quietly criticized. Not so quiet were his critics around the league (Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, half the Utah Jazz).

Part of this unpopularity came, no doubt, from his competitive drive, his desire to win at everything, to find the best angle, to attack an opponent's weakness, to be as coldhearted as necessary to win. This is what got Isiah out of the nowhere streets of Chicago as a child, what pushed him to a national championship with Indiana, and what made him a great professional player. He didn't like the nickname "The Smiling Assassin," but when it came to his basketball performance, it was appropriate.

In the nearly two hours I interviewed him, he showed his combative side more than once. He confronted me on several issues (how the media treated him), challenged me on others (denying that the Dream Team didn't want him) and agreed with me on others still (that he should have shaken Jordan's hand after losing the Eastern Conference finals in 1991).

He also surprised me a few times -- like the explanation he gave when asked why the Pistons finally surrendered their crown to the Chicago Bulls. He said the problem began with a Piston.

* Why did Chicago finally beat Detroit?

"They won the mental game. Jordan beat us mentally because he got to know certain people on our team. He got to really understand what drove us as people. He was able to use that to divide us."

* How did he divide you?

"Well, he got to know certain people on our team."

* You mean Joe Dumars?

"Yeah. They got to be friends, so Jordan got to get inside our inner workings and find out who was who and what made this guy tick. When you look back on it, you see the games that he played in the media, and how he moved that guy and moved that guy. . . . It was masterful."

* You're saying his friendship with Dumars was a strategy?

"In my opinion, yes."

* And that's why Chicago was successful against you in the end?

"Well, Bird and Magic were never friends, and the Lakers and Celtics were never friends. You just can't let people know you."

* Did you tell Joe not to get friendly with Jordan?

"Yeah, but I think Joe is smart enough as a person that he makes his own friends. I don't want to say that's the reason why they beat us, but all of a sudden, we weren't the big bad bear anymore. And when you're not the big bad bear, they say, 'OK, I'll go in and take this lay-up.' "

* But Jordan wasn't really friendly with the rest of you.

"You only need to be friends with the guy who's guarding you."

* Come on. There didn't seem to be any letup when Joe played Jordan.

"There was no letup in effort. However, if you go back and look, there's a difference in attitude when Jordan drove to the basket and Laimbeer would hit him. OK. A year before, two years before, it was like, 'Ohhh, Laimbeer hit me.' Now it's like, 'I know Laimbeer's not that tough a guy, so hey, get off me.' "

* And Jordan learned that through Joe?

"Well . . . in competition . . . you just can't let the guy know you as a person, because the thing that really drives you or scares him is the fear that he has of you."

The handshake incident

* Speaking of Jordan, in retrospect, don't you wish you had just shaken his hand after they beat you in the Eastern Conference finals -- given the fuss not shaking his hand caused?

"Yeah, I do. If I had the chance to do it all over again, looking back, yeah, if I had known it was gonna cause that much of a stir. And then, for the sportsmanship aspect of it. I would because he was greater in defeat than I was. . . . When we beat them, he was very honorable about it, he shook hands and everything. . . . I've always been . . . well, losing doesn't sit well with me."

* What about your personal relationship with Jordan?

"I never knew him. He never knew me. I didn't really want to go to dinner with him, and I don't think he wanted to go with me. Not that we didn't like each other. But I played for Detroit, and he played for the Bulls, and I went home and was with my family and he did the same. Now, had we been two single guys who didn't have responsibilities, and if he wasn't as high profile and you didn't have endorsements and people looking at your every move, OK . . . maybe you can have a relationship."

* Did you ever want to just sit down and straighten things out between you?

"In my mind, there wasn't really anything to straighten out, because he and I weren't friends. We've never been friends."

* What about the oldest rumor concerning you two, that you conspired to keep the ball away from him during the 1985 All- Star Game?

(Laughs.) "I don't know how something like that gets started. Let me paint the scenario. Terry Cummings led us in shot attempts that game. I think he had 16. Larry Bird was second, I think, with 15. Jordan was third with 13. I had 12, and then it kind of fanned out."

(Cummings actually took 17, Bird 16, Thomas 14 and Jordan nine.) "Now what you're telling me is that I came in the locker room that had Larry Bird, Julius Erving, Moses Malone, Micheal Ray Richardson and whoever else was on that team, and I said, 'Hey, Bird, hey, Doc' -- and I'm a young guy myself -- 'hey, let's not give Jordan the ball.' Do you know how stupid that sounds? Do you know how ludicrous that sounds?

"It's like the perception of Isiah is that, hey, he can get anybody to do anything that his little head dreams of."

The Dream Team snub

Those who believe Thomas was a culprit in that All-Star Game also thought he got his comeuppance by being left off the Dream Team, which captured the gold medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. In retrospect, many people think Thomas should have been on that team. But he was clearly snubbed at the time.

* Should you have been on that team?

"I definitely feel I should have been on it. The way that team was picked -- clearly I had accomplished more in basketball than nine of the guys on that team."

* Why were you left off?

"I don't know. Private phone conversations? Private selection committee? Does anybody really know? I had a long talk with Chuck (Daly) about it, and he said he didn't know.

"But you know what, Mitch? Most people think I was on the Dream Team. When I travel around the world, people thought I was on it. And when I played against the guys the following season, all of 'em, to a man, said, 'Hey, you should have been there. Wish you had been there. Sorry about what happened.'

"Even Jordan -- and he was supposedly the guy who stopped me from being on the team."

* Do you think that's true?

"I don't know. The man said he didn't. I can only take him at his word."

The fallout with Magic

The relationship between Magic Johnson and Isiah was hailed as a friendship that transcended the basketball court. They kissed each other before games. They spoke about each other by bursting into smiles and jokes. But then things changed. They seemed to distance themselves, and the fond comments disappeared. Naturally, all kinds of rumors began about the nature of their fallout.

* What was that all about?

"The falling out Magic and I had is that I got to the finals with the Pistons and he got to the finals with the Lakers, and in order to win the ultimate prize, you gotta do some things out on the basketball court that you wouldn't necessarily do to your friend." (Laughs.)

* Such as?

"The series we lost to them in seven? You remember Game 4 at the Silverdome? I'm driving down the lane and he decks me. Do you remember that? I bruised my tailbone. That, in my mind, was what crossed the line. He was saying, 'I can't be friends with you anymore. The Lakers gotta win.'

"My son was born the next day, June 15. And he couldn't even come to the hospital or my house to visit my son. Do you remember that?"

* He would have come under other circumstances?

"Well, yeah, if I wasn't playing for the Pistons."

* Were you stunned by that?

"I was stunned. I was hurt. However, they beat us in seven.

"I came out to LA later that summer, and usually I would stay at his house. This time he said, 'You gotta stay in a hotel,' because next year he knew we were gonna play in the finals again. So in my mind, I said, OK, this is how the game is played."

* The ugliest rumor about your falling out suggests that you spread stories about Magic being gay -- before and after he announced he had the AIDS virus. You read that, no doubt.

"I read it. I heard it. And I'm not gonna sit here and dignify it with a response.

"That's just like me saying Mitch, why'd you rape that woman? Fifty percent of the people are gonna say, Mitch raped a woman, and 50 percent are gonna say Mitch never raped a woman. But still, once the question is asked, you gotta defend yourself. "How can I defend that?"

Isiah vs. the media

During the years, Thomas went from being a media favorite to a media pariah. Once delightfully spontaneous in interviews, he became more guarded, more manipulative, and he got into confrontations with reporters -- one of them a physical confrontation, when he grabbed Channel 2's Virg Jacques by the throat. The sinking of his relationship with reporters was felt in his last two Piston press conferences, when many of the questions were combative and suspicious.

Not surprisingly, when we talked about this, he had some very definite opinions.

* Do you think you've been treated fairly by the media in your career?

"I think what happened in the media is that you never saw an athlete as diverse as myself. You had a hard time understanding and judging that."

* Why would being diverse throw the media off?

"Because I was a guy who was able to be a chairman of a company that had $150 million worth of revenue flowing through it -- and also be able to play basketball."

* Yeah, so?

"You never acknowledged that side of it. The only side you spoke of was what you saw on the court. The other side you ignored. It didn't make sense in your stories. But when you talk about a person you're trying to define and you concentrate on basketball, you're only talking about maybe two percent of what Isiah Thomas is all about. "The next time a guy comes along like me, you'll look at him differently."

* You really think that's it?

"If my personality was intimidating to some people, that wasn't my fault." (Laughs.)

* Maybe you intended to be intimidating.

"No, I never turned down requests from anybody. Even you and I had our battles, but whenever you would come and ask a question, I would answer it."

* A lot of reporters in this town didn't know what they were getting from you in the later years. They didn't trust you.

"That's not my fault. There were so many rumors. I read your story recently when you said the most common question is: 'Is Isiah Thomas who he pretends to be?' It's like, what I am and what I stand for and what I'm all about -- you guys didn't want to believe it. That wasn't my fault."

* Nobody made up the incidents in your life -- like that time you grabbed Virg Jacques.

"Do you know what prompted that? That whole allegation thing?"

* It was about gambling.

"Yeah. I was mad. I had a right to be. You know what I'm saying? (Laughs.) I've come to find out that there are two different audiences. There's the media, and there's regular people. And regular people have always stood up and fought for Isiah Thomas."

* And of those two groups, which would you say gets to see you up close more often? Which gets to see your real behavior the most?

"I would say the average guy on the street."

* What have you learned about life in the public eye?

"That your critics in life always bark the loudest. And the people who support you -- they support you after your critics have made their remarks."

* If you could sum up your career in a single word . . .

"I'd just say, 'Winner.' "

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Listening to Miles got me to post the last post!

TAZ

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
There's a great site to check out some of our friends we've lost

along the way. It's Afroamericansyndicate.com........Check out the

" In Memory" link! There's a lot of people I didn't know passed on!

For example:

Singer/songwriter Syreeta Wright,best known for her duet with Billy Preston on

'With You I�m Born Again' and as the former wife of Stevie Wonder, died

Monday July 5, 2004 At 58

LOS ANGELES - Singer/songwriter Syreeta Wright,

best known for her duet with Billy Preston on �With You

I�m Born Again� and as the former wife of Stevie

Wonder, died Monday after a long struggle with

cancer. She was 58.

Check out that spot and even though we all know most are no longer with us

there are a lot that surprised me! Like Rerun & Shirley?????

TAZ

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
For the Jazz lovers,

GERALD VEASLEY

Makes Mellow &

Smoothe Guitar Jazz

On \"Your Move\" For

Heads Up

International

Worldwide Release

March 11, 2008

Pick One Up

NEW YORK

March 1, 2008 -

Contemporary jazz

bassist Gerald

Veasley makes no

claim to be a

master chess

player, but there are certain

unmistakable parallels between his

line of work and the small-scale war

game that has challenged great

minds for centuries.

Like chess, Veasley sees music as a

pursuit that involves a combination of

strategy, quick thinking and even a bit

of blind faith.

�There�s a multiplicity of decision

making in the game of chess, and

there are consequences to every

action,� says Veasley.

�In a lot of ways, making music is like

that too. There are so many choices,

especially in jazz, where the situation

is never the same twice. That�s

always exciting to me. You�re creating

new scenarios at every turn, every

time you step in front of an audience,

or every time you step into the studio.

That�s what drew me to this kind of

music in the first place. The idea that

it was always fresh, there was always

an opportunity and a new challenge.

Unlike chess, though, winning in jazz

doesn�t mean someone else has to

lose.�

Gerald Veasley�s newest Heads Up

release, �Your Move,� is the

contemporary jazz bassist�s first

studio album in four years. �Your

Move� is his most innovative and

audacious recording to date.

Guitarist Chuck Loeb steps in as a

formidable session player/producer/

author/co-author of several tracks,

while saxophonist and longtime

Veasley band member Chris Farr

also shares a few song credits.

Highlights include a unique take on

the Sly & The Family Stone classic

from 1970, �Thank You (Falettinme

Be Mice Elf Agin)�; �Three Tears,� a

tribute to Veasley�s longtime friend

Kip Boyer, who passed away earlier

this year; and the title track.

TAZ

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Fanactics,

This article gives a NBAs' coach view on the draft.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-cliprep11apr11,1,3721706.story.

Let's root for the Frozen Envelope.

Peace & Blessings

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Yo Peaceman

That bit on the whole process behind acquiring Walsh is hysterical. Time will tell if you are spot on.

But in a way I tend to believe that is the way it went down.

Walsh isn't selling instant turnaround, his statements are a form of deep cover to the possibility that the Knicks while becoming competitive next year won't be a top 4-8 team so quickly. That statement takes the pressure off of him and Zeke, should he remain the coach. And gives the organization liscense under the tirumverate the opportunity to complete the rebuilding of the Knicks.

Check you boyz out later at game time.

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Peace:

You're one funny dude. But accurate!

A whole lotta folks would pissed off and you know Dolan would be loving it.

Lives:

I'm diggin the vibes. You make me not wanna leave. This is good shit. That Marvin joint is DA Bomb! Keep it coming.

The welfare line is jumpin' to the beat.

Cooley:

This is the ultimate Blow Me Club. You don't even need a card.

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Good AM Fanatics!

@Peaceman/TAZ those digits are impressive. Voyuerism is MOFO! You guys got me so psyched up STEADY, HARLEM, and I might start a Blow Me Club Site...There maybe some discussion, but mainly looking, and a whole lot of huffing and puffing...LOL LOL LOL

I'd take Rush before Mayo...You want players with skill and a winning pedigree...Habitual Winners/Players are key for this team...When you look at our roster...None bring that winning pedigree to formula...

ONE LOVE!

Keep it CRACKIN!

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
This is my Speculation of what really happened with Walsh.

This fictional meeting may be closer to the truth than you think!

Zeke: Jim, I've done everything you asked, EVERTHING!

Dolan: I know Zeke, How can I help!

Zeke: I need someone I can trust to help me out!

Someone who can talk to other teams on my behalf.

With the NY media it's impossible to do ONE JOB!

Dolan: Who do you have in mind?

Zeke: Donnie Walsh, he gave me my first job as head coach!

The NY Media will eat it up, He will be president

I will coach this team, that way I can do my job

and make the changes I see that will make next years team

a Contender! We have been together 3 years now, Zach

being the exception. Walsh can run interferance with the Media!

Dolan: I like that idea! No, I love that Idea!

Do you really trust Walsh?

Zeke: I do, but then again He will answer to you!

It's your Call! But considering everything that

happened this year, the trial, You wanting Marbury benched

I need deep cover.

Dolan: Ha, You got it! Watch the media build this guy up

and when you return as coach, it will be hard for them to

retract their position! Zeke your a Genious!

I'll talk to Walsh, and if he agrees, consider it done!

It will be a nice Cushy job for someone his age!

TAZ

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Just to let the Fanatics Know, There are a lot of "Watchers"

We've had 5 intros and this is the Number of hits respectively!

From first to current

1. 429 hits

2. 181 hits

3. 946 hits

4. 878 hits

5. 294 hits and counting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good stuff guys, Keep it coming!

TAZ

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Will return in the PM

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Welcome DLT,

Shout out to O&B to get Him HERE!

Thanks Cooley, Lives and Barf deserve all the credit

as they put their time and heart in this!

O&B

Mayo is Dx Express's guess, not mine! I want to

see the pre draft camp reports before I make a wish!

Lives, O&B has agreed to share posting intros!

Jay Bee is welcome too!

I love Statesman's Quote "One Love."

TAZ aka Peaceman

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Still learning my way around the site......need time.

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Here is where everybody when. I must admitt,that with this present job assignment,I missed what happened at the other site. Someone will have to give me the 411.But, I'm here thanks to O & B.

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Here is where everyone when. I must admitt I missed some time with this job to keep up on what happened. But, I'm here thanks to O & B.

Someone will have to give me the 411 someday.

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Knicks Fanatic (and lover) for Life.

Taz aka Peacman...

Why are we picking OJ Mayo?

You have to believe we can get someone else at that spot who would benefit us down the road later on. Don't you agree?

Who would you pick at that spot?

Anyway pretty busy day so I'll check back in later.

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Morning Gents.

It's all good. I got a little time to catch up on some of the comments. Good stuff. Jay Bee and O&B were good before, but I dare say they are steppin up their game and both should be seen from the Penthouse every once in awhile. Administrator make that happen.

I need a couple more good reads and characters. Somebody go and get me Folly Maker. Now that's snarky, Snarky (thanks JB).

The site is o'k. I need a couple of things that I like at KD. One Page, One Love. And I really like the numbered comments. The numbers are great for reference purposes. BARF, I am trying to get some answers from sosblog.com. Can you think about how to make that happen.

I intend to Post by Monday in preparation for a HOUSE PARTY which we should have on Wednesday the 16th from 6:00 pm til.

EVERYONE THANK PEACE FOR MAKING THE SPOT REAL WITH HIS LOVE FOR THE COMMUNITY.

NOTE: TO BECOME A FANATIC FOR LIFE ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS IDENTIFY YOURSELF AS A "KNICKS FANATIC FOR LIFE." NO JUDGMENT JUST YOU PRONOUNCEMENT.

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
I am LOVIN this SHYTE...

GOOD PM FANATICS! Great Lead, great music, and Great Posters. This Brudder has been Left Coasting and tuckered out. I enjoyed reading all the post but have no gas to respond, but I'm digging the vibe...

@OB

Partner your are posting some STRONG material on various THREADS and I am truly feeling your meaning...Continue to FLEX OB it suits you....

ONE LOVE!

Keep it Crackin!(and I'm loving this Gil Scott-Heron and Bopping to my boy Miles Davis Shyte)

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
This is Dx Expresses First Round Mock!

1 Heat Michael Beasley PF 19 years old; 6'9"; 220 lbs. Kansas State, Freshman

2 SuperSonics Derrick Rose PG 19 years old; 6'4"; 180 lbs. Memphis, Freshman

3 Grizzlies Jerryd Bayless PG/SG 19 years old; 6'3"; 199 lbs. Arizona, Freshman

4 Timberwolves Brook Lopez C 20 years old; 7'0"; 260 lbs. Stanford, Sophomore

5 Knicks O.J. Mayo PG/SG 20 years old; 6'5"; 195 lbs. USC, Freshman

6 Clippers Danilo Gallinari SF 19 years old; 6'9"; 209 lbs. Armani Jeans Milano, International

7 Bucks Eric Gordon SG 19 years old; 6'3"; 215 lbs. Indiana, Freshman

8 Bobcats Kevin Love PF/C 19 years old; 6'9"; 255 lbs. UCLA, Freshman

9 Pacers Anthony Randolph SF/PF 18 years old; 6'11"; 220 lbs. LSU, Freshman

10 Bulls DeAndre Jordan C 19 years old; 7'0"; 260 lbs. Texas A&M, Freshman

11 Suns D.J. Augustin PG 20 years old; 5'11"; 175 lbs. Texas, Sophomore (From Hawks)

12 Kings Donte Greene SF/PF 20 years old; 6'10"; 220 lbs. Syracuse, Freshman

13 Trailblazers Darren Collison PG 20 years old; 6'1"; 165 lbs. UCLA, Junior

14 Nuggets Chase Budinger SG/SF 20 years old; 6'7"; 190 lbs. Arizona, Sophomore

15 Nets Marreese Speights PF/C� 20 years old; 6'10"; 245 lbs. Florida, Sophomore

16 76ers Chris Douglas-Roberts SG/SF 21 years old; 6'7"; 200 lbs. Memphis, Junior

17 Wizards Roy Hibbert C 21 years old; 7'2"; 272 lbs. Georgetown, Senior

18 Raptors Nicolas Batum SF 19 years old; 6'8"; 214 lbs. Le Mans Sarthe Basket, International

19 Cavaliers Earl Clark SF/PF 20 years old; 6'9"; 200 lbs. Louisville, Sophomore

20 Warriors JaVale McGee C 20 years old; 7'0"; 237 lbs. Nevada, Sophomore

21 Magic Darrell Arthur PF 20 years old; 6'9"; 215 lbs. Kansas, Sophomore

22 Nets Joe Alexander SF/PF 21 years old; 6'8"; 200 lbs. West Virginia, Junior (From Mavericks)

23 Jazz Hasheem Thabeet C 21 years old; 7'3"; 260 lbs. Connecticut, Sophomore

24 Spurs Brandon Rush SG/SF 22 years old; 6'7"; 211 lbs. Kansas, Junior

25 SuperSonics Robin Lopez PF/C� 20 years old; 7'0"; 255 lbs. Stanford, Sophomore (From Suns)

26 Rockets Ty Lawson PG 20 years old; 5'11"; 175 lbs. North Carolina, Sophomore

27 Grizzlies Tyler Hansbrough PF 22 years old; 6'9"; 230 lbs. North Carolina, Junior (From Lakers)

28 Hornets Jason Thompson PF/C� 21 years old; 6'10"; 235 lbs. Rider, Senior

29 Pistons Courtney Lee SG/SF 22 years old; 6'5"; 200 lbs. Western Kentucky, Senior

30 Celtics Richard Hendrix PF 21 years old; 6'8"; 250 lbs. Alabama, Junior

Second Round

1 Timberwolves

From

Heat Tyler Smith SF/PF

21 years old; 6'7"; 210 lbs.

Tennessee, Sophomore

2 SuperSonics Sam Young SF/PF

23 years old; 6'6"; 210 lbs.

Pittsburgh, Junior

3 Trailblazers

From

Grizzlies J.J. Hickson PF

19 years old; 6'9"; 242 lbs.

N.C. State, Freshman

4 Timberwolves DeVon Hardin C

21 years old; 6'11"; 250 lbs.

California, Senior

5 Trailblazers

From

Knicks Ryan Anderson PF

19 years old; 6'10"; 240 lbs.

California, Sophomore

6 Clippers Shan Foster SG

21 years old; 6'6"; 205 lbs.

Vanderbilt, Senior

7 Bucks J.R. Giddens SG

23 years old; 6'5"; 200 lbs.

New Mexico, Senior

8 Bobcats Bill Walker SF

20 years old; 6'6"; 225 lbs.

Kansas State, Freshman

9 Pacers Kyle Weaver SG/SF

22 years old; 6'6"; 201 lbs.

Washington State, Senior

10 Bulls D.J. White PF

21 years old; 6'9"; 230 lbs.

Indiana, Senior

11 Kings

From

Hawks Nathan Jawai C

21 years old; 6'10"; 282 lbs.

Cairns Taipans, International

12 Kings Nikola Pekovic C

22 years old; 6'11"; 243 lbs.

KK Partizan Belgrade, International

13 SuperSonics

From

Trailblazers Omer Asik C

21 years old; 6'11"; 230 lbs.

Fenerbahce Ulker, International

14 SuperSonics

From

Nuggets Lester Hudson PG/SG

23 years old; 6'3"; 190 lbs.

Tenn. Martin, Junior

15 Nets Joey Dorsey PF

24 years old; 6'9"; 260 lbs.

Memphis, Senior

16 Jazz

From

76ers John Riek C

18 years old; 7'2"; 240 lbs.

Winchendon, HS Senior

17 Wizards Jamont Gordon PG/SG/SF

21 years old; 6'3"; 225 lbs.

Mississippi St., Junior

18 Spurs

From

Raptors Goran Dragic PG

21 years old; 6'4"; 200 lbs.

Union Olimpija Ljubljana, International

19 Suns

From

Cavaliers Derrick Caracter PF/C

19 years old; 6'9"; 265 lbs.

Louisville, Sophomore

20 Warriors Semih Erden C

21 years old; 7'1"; 240 lbs.

Fenerbahce Ulker, International

21 Heat

From

Magic Anton Ponkrashov PG/SG/SF

21 years old; 6'7"; 205 lbs.

Khimki, International

22 Mavericks Sonny Weems SG/SF

21 years old; 6'6"; 201 lbs.

Arkansas, Senior

23 Jazz Pat Calathes SF/PF

22 years old; 6'10"; 210 lbs.

Saint Joseph's, Senior

24 Spurs James Gist PF/C

21 years old; 6'8"; 223 lbs.

Maryland, Senior

25 Trailblazers

From

Suns Richard Roby SG

22 years old; 6'5"; 190 lbs.

Colorado, Senior

26 Rockets Maarty Leunen PF/C

22 years old; 6'9"; 215 lbs.

Oregon, Senior

27 Lakers DeMarcus Nelson SG

22 years old; 6'4"; 200 lbs.

Duke, Senior

28 SuperSonics

From

Hornets Peja Samardziski C

21 years old; 7'0"; 245 lbs.

KK FMP Zeleznik, International

29 Pistons David Padgett PF/C

23 years old; 6'11"; 240 lbs.

Louisville, Senior

30 Celtics Mantas Kalnietis PG

21 years old; 6'5"; 185 lbs.

Zalgiris Kaunas, International

TAZ

� 2007 DraftExpress LLC All rights reserved.

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
New: Link to NBA Draft.net.

New: Marvin Gaye sounds. Uptempo Jazz enthusiast check out \"I Want You.\"

ENJOY!!!!

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Guys,

From now on please refer to the nameless former

blog host as " The Third Reich. "

It's very befitting! lol

TAZ

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
GSW

Tough loss! Thats Ok its all fundamental!

This is the year of the SUNS!

TAZ

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Yo Jay Bee

I got the contact infor over to DLT and he should be joining Knicks fanatics shortly.

Are you watching the Nuggets v. Goldenstate game tonight.

Fast paced and a virtual layup drill for both teams!

Very entertaining very high scoring!

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z

Walsh, Zeke and Dolan were recently talking about life in general, when

Zeke says " Damn it sucks getting Old, Every morning I have to piss and I'm standing over the toilet far too long."

Dolan then says " Thats nothing Zeke, every morning I have to take a

big shit and man, I'm on the toilet an hour, I'm old and constapated."

Walsh then says " you young ones have nothing to complain about,

every morning at 7:30AM I piss like a Race Horse, then every morning

at 8:30AM I shit like a pig."

Whats wrong with that asked Zeke and Dolan?

Walsh says " The problem is I don't wake up until 9:00 AM."

TAZ

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
I don't know about the Tanker theory,

I do know that Dolan stated " We will be like the Celtics"

What that means is very rhetorical!

TAZ

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Last questions for a while:

Were there tankers and non-tankers?

Who was on either side of that equation?

What were the interactions like between those camps if they existed?

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Scene from the Ballad of Ricky Bobby played by the Knicks

The part of Chip will be played by: Donnie Walsh

Ricky Bobby: Isiah Thomas

Cal: Jimmy Dolan

Walker: Stephon Marbury

Texas Ranger (TR): Nate Robinson

Ricky Bobby: How was school today, boys?

Walker: I threw a bunch of Grandpa Chip's war medals off the bridge.

[Chip is startled]

Ricky Bobby: Sounds like a good day. How 'bout you, TR?

Texas Ranger: The teacher asked me what was the capital of North Carolina. I said Washington, D.C.

Cal Naughton, Jr.: Bingo.

Ricky Bobby: Nice.

Texas Ranger: She said "No, you're wrong." I said "You got a lumpy butt." She got mad at me and yelled at me and I pissed in my pants and I never did change my pee-pants all day. I'm still sittin' in my dirty pee-pants.

Cal Naughton, Jr.: I wet my bed until I was nineteen. There's no shame in that.

Chip: I can't hold my tongue. These kids are my grandchildren and you are raising them wrong. They are *terrible* boys!

Walker: Shut up, Chip, or I'll go ape-shit on your ass!

Texas Ranger: I'm gonna scissor-kick you in the back of the head!

Cal Naughton, Jr.: Yeah!

Ricky Bobby: Yeah! Now turn up the heat!

Cal Naughton, Jr.: Go on and get some, boys!

Ricky Bobby: Come on!

Walker: I'm ten years old, but I'll beat your ass!

Texas Ranger: Chip, I'm gonna come at you like a spider monkey!

Cal Naughton, Jr.: Like a spider monkey! Go on!

Ricky Bobby: Chip, you brought this on, man.

Walker: Greatest Generation my ass. Tom Brokaw's a punk!

Chip: What is wrong with you?

Texas Ranger: Chip, I'm all jacked up on Mountain Dew!

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
I thought Zach was trying in the first month. I thought he was over passing from the high position in the perimeter and come crunch time...yes, he'd nut and start trying to take over the game. I refuse to heap blame at him cuz he came here and did what he did in Portland. For being his first yr as a Knick, I dont think you can't blame him for being the player he is.

It really fell on the returning Knicks to have a gameplan and a strategy to incorporate Zach into the scheme.

That's why I really hate on Steph for doing what he did...especially so early in the season. If you wanna gripe after 2 losing months spent on the bench...yes, bitch and moan to Berman til ur hearts content. But to refuse to go to the bench? Then break out on the team and try to contact Spermin to use him as a personal assistant?

Is Steph that stupid?

Coming off the summer that he went through? Are u serious?

I have mixed feeling about JCraw this yr. I think he stepped up and tried to deilver more than he's capable of delivering. And for that, I'm appreciative. But then again, I like his style of play. I wouldnt want a whole roster of street ballers but I like his style and his moves on a professional court. Not too many players can get away with his dribble and drop step in front of an NBA ref's whistle. I find it funny how the refs killed many Knick runs early in the yr by calling his carry and stopped somewhere during the season.

I think Zeke gave him a green light but who else was going to play guard with Steph gone.

Steph's number went down as a Knick cuz his idea of a "team-oriented" PG is to play passive and he stopped attacking defenses. His soldier mentality made him think that he had to sacrifice his aggression on the court and that approach obviously built resentment. When Zeke told him that the bench was his next destination, he felt embarrassed and betrayed. But the truth is that Steph doesn't have a "team-oriented" PG in his repertoire. He can't maintain that mentality and not feel like he's being done wrong. He's got too much ego to lead a team of men.

He'll go down, in my book, as Zeke's biggest gamble and ultimately...his biggest mistake.

I just can't blame Zach that much because it was his first year on a losing squad. It was the responsibility of the team to be a stable and fostering environment. Zach wasn't brought on as a savior. He was just another high-priced piece.

It was on the existing roster to gel and continue the progress they showed in the previous yr. Steph blew it...and so went the team as it tried to adjust.

That's how I'll tell the story.

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Doing the little Marbury piece made me do a lot of thinking about somebody I really haven't wanted to think about because much of this season has been about him. Yet I wonder:

When he was talking outta his ass about having the goods on Isiah, was it that he knew about Isiah's intention to tank?

Were Q, Curry, Crawful and Steph on the Tank Team?

Will Donnie be willing to tank a season from the GM Box to procure another blue chipper?

Is Jimmy D. really "The Boss" ala Steinbrenner or just giving the okeydoke to whatever plans are presented?

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Barf:

"How ZBo gradually got worse at the team game as the season wore on."

By that statement you're saying he was better at the team game at the start of the season. Not really!

Zach was Zach. Period. That was the same Zach in Portland.

Zeke also gave Craw too much of a green light, and too much playing time. It was as though he felt that the team couldn't play without Craw.

I know everyone thinks Mardy is D-League material, but given time Mardy is a player. That was one of my dissapointments of the season.

A player that has been sitting for the entire season needs time on the court to get that rhythm to compete on a high level. That's the same Mardy that Clyde was so impressed with last year when we had injuries and he got playing time.

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
@ Barf,

Shaq looked great! When he was doubled Amare made them pay for it!

I believe he scored 16 points had 9 bounds and 2 blocks with a lot of Altered shots ( I wish that was a stat they keep track of) and he shut down the paint!

The Spurs couldn't get inside. The suns toyed with the Spurs the entire 2nd half! BTW....I didn't see hill play the entire game! I believe they will win the Chip this year! I will root for GSW...but the Suns have too much fire power

for any team now that Shaq is Back!

TAZ

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
"I really believe we have been competitive in spite of."

That's a cool little jump off spot for me.

When I consider how long Steph was out.

How his episode undermined a season that was introducing Zach Randolph to NY.

How Curry failed as ZBo's teammate.

How ZBo gradually got worse at the team game as the season wore on.

How many times DLee got blocked in cruch time and not.

How JCraw continues to take (and sometimes make) unjustifiable shots

How invisible JJeff was.

How useless QRich was.

They weren't all bad. At least, they weren't all bad, all the time.

Truth is, NY ain't easy. You have to either be hard-headed or a complete soulless asshole to succeed here. All me, all the time.

To his credit, Zeke managed to leave a better product than was left for him. He still managed to put talent on the roster and fill every position with a legit player. In the end, it was too much to overcome and that's the story that is never told. He failed...sure...but he failed fighting. And he continues to take the presses best shots...and to me, and evidently to Chuck Daly too, he's managed to handle himself well.

He has never gone Bob Knight on them.

He hasn't cursed or threatened anyone.

Lord knows I would if I knew everyone in the room was trying to set me up to look like a fool in tomorrow's papers.

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Loved Pat and the 90s teams but to quote Reese Bobby - "Remember, son - If you're not first, you're last!" What we all loved about those 90s teams was that they were competitive and had a chance to win every game regardless of the opponent. I agree that they ran into a buzz saw with Jordan and Co. I wish it was different but it's not. 1973 is a long azz time ago and saying that may be IT's way of saying FU.

I think that comment was not thought out but an impromptu statement that he probably wishes he had a do over to rephrase. But the damage is done. I believe that Dolan would and will spend what it takes to get a championship. We'll see if that happens with all the changes that will probably be made. But I was a Knick fan before and will be after any change made and will continue to root for my team and to try to figure what would improve my team. But for the fairweathers, I wonder now what they will be satisfied with.

What IT just did, intentional or not, was to move the goalpost. To say that you shouldn't be satisfied with anything less than a championship will cause irritation in many. Because of the record, it is hard for many to believe that we have even a chance to be competitive. I really believe we have been competitive in spite of. Despite the occasional blowout, I could see we were just a few pieces away. While I think this comment may have been his swansong, I agreed with the logic he used in building the franchise for the mostpart. It really is nearly impossible to rebuild in the classic tradition in NY. You have to not only have thick skin, you shouldn't have any relatives or friends.

I don't know what'll happen, but personally I would rather see IT stay if he's going to coach for real. If he's going to dog it the way he has with the sub patterns this year, then he can get to steppin'. I've had as much as I can stand of tanking. But it does show that the game ain't exactly straight; rogue refs, frosty balls and all.

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Peace:

The mere fact that Zeke has most of the players loyalty would mean he's coming back in some capacity.

The fact that Zeke fucked up on many levels this year, I wouldn't bring him back as coach. These players need a new voice, and we need to get rid of the malcontents to get this thing going in the right direction.

Zeke's talents are needed by this organization, and it would be a shame if he's let go totally.

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Ha, and I told Lives that I wouldn't use the playlist feature as I post at work and from my phone most often. Nice to see the rest of the fellas prove how off my opinion can be. HAHA.

I'm gonna have to plug in from home and check some of these tunes out. My favs are Marley and Gaye...I know you got some Bob...have any Gaye?

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
How did Shaq do? Did he look strong?

I can't believe the magic they worked on him. I thought he was better than what he was showing at Miami this yr but I didnt know he'd be back...albeit...a much older Shaq. But, hey, at 35 yrs old (?)...he's still a force on both ends and you know old folks got enough noodle to compensate for the loss of athleticism and pop. Good to see he and Grant Hill doing their thing.

Phoenix is the Fountain of Youth (tm). HAHA

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Peace,

Anyone who reads the transcripts knows that Donnie and Isiah have said very similar things lately.

What happens when next season rolls around and Isiah is still coaching?

I, for one, am tired of Herb Williams. At least with Eddy, I can see what Aguirre has taught him. DLee showed moves around the basket this yr that he lacked last yr. But what is Herb's specialty? If it defense...I haven't seen any improvement in the big's defense. Herb was never the best big on the Knicks' squad anyway so why all the loyalty?

Our big's need help. If it's Pat or Laimbeer, I really don't care. But the defensive side of the ball needs some serious attention and coaching.

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Shit, if I knew my boy was interviewing me I would've fallen back on the MSG media policy. (LOL)

Thanks for the positive feedback on the site States, Af and others. There is more to come.

Later.

Peace, try the standalone playlist (click the button under the blog playlist) and the standalone list will not refresh every time you change pages. The blog playlist will refresh, but just press pause.

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Thanks for that Game info Barf!

The GSW are my 2nd favorite team!

I love to watch them as they may be the most entertaining team

in the league. I will be watching!

Anyone see the Spurs and Suns last Night?

Last night the Suns bitched slapped the Spurs in San Antonio!

Shaq played like he was 20 years old! Bowan and Amare

almost had a brawel as Bowan took a cheap shot @ Amare's ribs

and had to be restrained to keep from whooping Bowan's ass!

Ducan tried to Block an Amare dunk...but Amare was so strong he dunked it and almost put Ducan in the hoop too! Bottom line the Suns destroyed the Spurs.....and will do so again if they meet in the playoffs!

I knew Shaq had a lot more hoop in him at 35 than what he showed in Miami

this year!

TAZ

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
@ Statesman,

I just got off the phone with Lives. We agree on these facts!

1. Walsh makes a lot Less money than ZEKE 24 Million to 15 Million

2. Walsh gave Zeke his first coaching Job!

3. Walsh even stated we hadn't won a Chip in a long time!

(note the NY Media did't attack him?)

4. Zeke will most likely stay on as Coach but his staff may go

and a defensive coach brought in!

5. Walsh is no spring chicken. A quick assessment looking at

him is that his health and age is not up to par to

take on the Roll in NY that requires more than he can give

Physically or Mentally.

6. If Zeke were to be fired it would of happened the day Walsh took

over as President

7. Dolan is still running this ship despite what he TOLD

walsh to say!

This is speculation....but money is also a factor!

I believe Jame's contract will be the first priority

to get rid of! Zeke will start the season as Coach

as his last chance to turn the ship around!

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
GS and Denver TONIGHT!!! BIG GAME!

"We are still in the lead, we still have the tiebreaker," Nuggets coach George Karl said. "I don't think we need to go crazy and panic because we have to go win a game on the road."

The Warriors would seem to have an advantage for having gone through this situation before. During last year's 9-1 finishing kick, and even the 7-4 stretch before that, Golden State played knowing that almost any loss would knock it out of the playoff race.

"This year is more of a grind, but at the same time, we're in it, and we have an opportunity to get hot right now," Warriors point guard Baron Davis said. "Night in and night out, you know that your life is on the line. We're used to that, and we just have to come out (Thursday) with the resolve to win this game."

To Jackson, the recipe for victory requires a little bit of everything.

"Transition defense, make Carmelo (Anthony) take tough shots all night, and make our shots, and we'll win," Jackson said. "It's really simple."

In response to: Isiah's Parting Shots

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
I love those Knicks from the 90's even from the Bernard King days, but

they did not win the CHIP! They broke hearts along the way!

Zeke spoke the truth! Not winning the CHIP is like buying a Lottery ticket

that has 3 out of 6 numbers! You may win $10 but not the 130 million Jackpot!

The truth hurts! So be it! Great post Barf!

TAZ

In response to: THE RIVAL REVIVAL: TOMORROW NIGHT MIGHT BE THE NIGHT (LOL)!!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
BARF - I know what I want for my Penthouse debut, but I know it's going to take a few days to do the research and number crunching. I should be ready after we have the trial. Pencil me in for Saturday morning. I'll let you know in advance if I need more time.

In response to: THE RIVAL REVIVAL: TOMORROW NIGHT MIGHT BE THE NIGHT (LOL)!!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
He'll be rehabbing this summer. That leg went back. It's his fault though, he was jumping on his tippy toes so he could go back up quickly. He got bumped and the rest is effed up history. N8 was having a solid game until the end. Zach was super selfish and going for his. Pearl and Clyde were dissecting the shit outta his azz. N8 was the only one with the guts to take his azz on. Somewhere in the third quarter, Nate had the ball and Zach was posting up. Even though Zach had his man posted up, Nate swung the ball around to the other side and I think it was Jamal that swished a long jumper. About a minute later when things slowed down N8 talked to Zach about holding the ball too long and taking bad shots. Zach seemed to respond to it and was doing a better job of passing in the fourth quarter. N8's no point guard, but he is a leader.

In response to: THE RIVAL REVIVAL: TOMORROW NIGHT MIGHT BE THE NIGHT (LOL)!!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
O&B I think f*ck is the only word that seems to set of the sensor. Sometimes it goes through and sometimes it doesn't.

In response to: THE RIVAL REVIVAL: TOMORROW NIGHT MIGHT BE THE NIGHT (LOL)!!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Post Game Just stated Chandler will get an MRI on tuesday!

You bet your Azz I'll be close to that!

In response to: THE RIVAL REVIVAL: TOMORROW NIGHT MIGHT BE THE NIGHT (LOL)!!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Davonn,

You will be an Excellent wittness for Modi on Thursday night!

In response to: THE RIVAL REVIVAL: TOMORROW NIGHT MIGHT BE THE NIGHT (LOL)!!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Another thing....look at WALSH wearing his name tag????

Alzheimer's Disease is Not a Normal Part of Aging

Misplacing car keys. Not remembering a familiar name. Some people do become more forgetful as they get older. That's a normal part of aging. Alzheimer's disease is not. Like Walsh wearing his Fucking Name tag

to remember where the hell he's at!

Interview 2 with Zeke

Walsh: Whats your name again?

Zeke: It don't matter Mr. Walsh!

Walsh: Are you Hank Aarron?

Zeke: Yes I am Mr. Walsh

Walsh: Try not to Break whats his names Record..OK?

Zeke: yes Mr. Walsh I promise I won't!

In response to: THE RIVAL REVIVAL: TOMORROW NIGHT MIGHT BE THE NIGHT (LOL)!!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
The sooner we fire this clown the better.

He deserved way more Fire Isiah chants than what he

got tonight. Lucky bastard!!!!

In response to: THE RIVAL REVIVAL: TOMORROW NIGHT MIGHT BE THE NIGHT (LOL)!!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Peaceman

The worst thing is that Chandler was looking very promising, and that he might contribute to the solution at the Small Foward position.

Let me know what scoop your insider has on the Chandler situation.

Code it of course, I'm smart enough to catch on... I think!

In response to: THE RIVAL REVIVAL: TOMORROW NIGHT MIGHT BE THE NIGHT (LOL)!!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
I Hear you O&B.....

The Knicks saying that was a SPRAIN is pure Bullshit!

Watch MSG Gloss that Shit over...I know what I saw!

In response to: THE RIVAL REVIVAL: TOMORROW NIGHT MIGHT BE THE NIGHT (LOL)!!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Peaceman

I saw how the rooks leg went backward. And while I am not a medical Dr. like you I can usually tell when I see an injury in sports that it is of a serious nature or not. That roll back of the knee didn't look good at all.

Why do these things happen to the Knicks.

Why couldn't some one just punch that fookin bytch Rondo in the the fookin face.

Shyt! Why! Why! Fookin why!

What did this franchise do to deserve such misfortune?

Dude if I were in a Knick uni I would have retaliated.

Sorry I'm tired of the team going in the fetal position when adversity strikes.

In response to: THE RIVAL REVIVAL: TOMORROW NIGHT MIGHT BE THE NIGHT (LOL)!!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Just the Knicks luck the LepraC's take out our promising rookies, and then the Celtics go on a run. Instead of getting fired up to do a lynching the team curled up in the fetal position for some bit of time.

Foock.

I hope the Hawks roll over on garnets knees foock him the Celtics and their careers foock them seriously foock them.

And foock the Knicks for not fighting back after that shyt went down!

Yo whaddup with the kiddie control on the swearing!

In response to: THE RIVAL REVIVAL: TOMORROW NIGHT MIGHT BE THE NIGHT (LOL)!!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Problem with the Knicks AKA Mardy last year!

they won't tell the truth till after the Fact!

In response to: THE RIVAL REVIVAL: TOMORROW NIGHT MIGHT BE THE NIGHT (LOL)!!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
NO WAY LIVES! But I hope you are right!

In response to: THE RIVAL REVIVAL: TOMORROW NIGHT MIGHT BE THE NIGHT (LOL)!!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Lives,

try to watch the replay....his knee clearly moved \"Backward\"

unnaturally...IN THE SAMEWAY...SAME SPOT IN THE GARDEN AS

BK!...It was like watching it again!

In response to: THE RIVAL REVIVAL: TOMORROW NIGHT MIGHT BE THE NIGHT (LOL)!!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Cool. Sprained knee. We'll see him this summer.

In response to: THE RIVAL REVIVAL: TOMORROW NIGHT MIGHT BE THE NIGHT (LOL)!!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Damn.

What is an ACL injury?

One of the most common problems involving the knee joint is an anterior cruciate ligament tear. The anterior cruciate ligament (also called the ACL) is one of four ligaments that are critical to the stability of the knee joint. A ligament is made of tough fibrous material and functions to control excessive motion by limiting joint mobility. Of the four major ligaments of the knee, the ACL injury is the most common knee ligament injury.

What should I do if I think I have an ACL tear?

Patients who think they have an ACL tear should be evaluated by their doctor. An ACL tear may be difficult to diagnose immediately after the injury because of associated pain and swelling. There may also be muscle spasm that contributes to making the knee difficult to examine. Therefore, it may not be possible to conclusively determine the presence of an ACL tear soon after the injury. If an ACL tear is suspected, you will return for follow-up evaluation with your orthopedic surgeon.

How does my doctor make the diagnosis of an ACL tear?

The presence of an ACL tear is suspected whenever a patient has an injury to their knee. In the orthopedists office, knee instability can be assessed by specific maneuvers performed by your physician. These maneuvers test the function of the ligament to determine if an ACL tear is present. The most commonly used tests to determine the presence of an ACL tear include:

Lachman Test

The Lachman test is performed to evaluate abnormal forward movement of the tibia (shin bone). By pulling the shin bone forward, your surgeon can feel for an ACL tear. If there is an ACL tear, the shin bone will move too far forward.

Pivot Shift Maneuver

The pivot shift is difficult to perform in the office, it is usually more helpful in the operating room with a patient under anesthesia. The pivot shift maneuver detects abnormal motion of the knee joint when there is an ACL tear present.

What other tests are needed to diagnose an ACL tear?

A complete examination of the knee is also necessary to determine if other injuries may have occurred that could be causing your symptoms.

Your physician will also evaluate x-rays of the knee to assess for any possible fractures, and a MRI may be ordered to evaluate for ligament or cartilage damage. However, MRI studies may not be needed to diagnose an ACL tear. In fact, the physical examination and history are just as good as a MRI in diagnosing an ACL tear! Many patients are concerned when their doctor does not order a MRI. While the MRI may be necessary in some cases, it is not necessary to diagnose most ACL tears.

Will I need an operation for an ACL tear?

The decision as to whether or not to operate on an ACL tear is dependent on several factors. Some patients who experience ACL tears are able to resume normal daily activities without surgical reconstruction of this ligament. There are some important factors to consider in making the decision as to whether or not operative treatment of an ACL tear is needed. These factors include the age of the patient, the activity level of the patient (both recreational and occupational), the expectations of the patient, the ability and willingness of the patient to participate in post-operative rehabilitation, the degree of instability of the joint, and any other associated injuries to the knee (e.g. other ligamentous or meniscal problems).

If you are unsure as to whether or not you need surgery for an ACL tear, read through the information on making a decision about ACL reconstruction.

What is the surgical treatment for ACL reconstruction?

ACL reconstruction is usually not performed until several weeks after the injury. Studies have shown improved results when ACL reconstruction surgery is delayed several weeks from the time of injury. This time allows the inflamed and irritated knee to cool down. Swelling decreases, inflammation subsides, and range of motion improves. Resolution of swelling and stiffness prior to ACL reconstruction surgery improves the post-operative function of the joint.

Can the ACL be repaired?

ACL reconstruction surgery is commonly, and improperly, referred to as an ACL repair. Unfortunately, a torn ACL cannot be \\\"repaired.\\\" Rather, the torn ligament must be entirely removed, and a new ACL must be reconstructed using other, healthy tissue. It is not possible to repair the torn ACL by simply reconnecting the torn ends.

How is the ACL reconstruction done?

The surgical procedure for an ACL reconstruction is variable, but commonly involves using a segment of another larger ligament or tendon to replace the damaged ACL. The ligament most commonly used is the patellar ligament which connects the kneecap (patella) to the tibia. About one-third of this ligament is removed and subsequently secured to the femur and tibia to replace the torn ACL

In response to: THE RIVAL REVIVAL: TOMORROW NIGHT MIGHT BE THE NIGHT (LOL)!!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Carried off! X-Rays are Primative...he'll need an MRI!

In response to: THE RIVAL REVIVAL: TOMORROW NIGHT MIGHT BE THE NIGHT (LOL)!!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
They're not talking about it. Did he walk off? Was he carried off?

In response to: THE RIVAL REVIVAL: TOMORROW NIGHT MIGHT BE THE NIGHT (LOL)!!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Yeah lives...that's ACL when your Knee goes backward!

Thats so commen in this game...did it my self..same way!

In response to: THE RIVAL REVIVAL: TOMORROW NIGHT MIGHT BE THE NIGHT (LOL)!!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Are you kidding? I missed it. Say it isn't so.

In response to: THE RIVAL REVIVAL: TOMORROW NIGHT MIGHT BE THE NIGHT (LOL)!!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Chandlers Knee went BACKWARD! Freaken ACL!!!!!!!!!

That's terrible!

In response to: THE RIVAL REVIVAL: TOMORROW NIGHT MIGHT BE THE NIGHT (LOL)!!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Peace, I told you that Walsh was a marketing move. You know what's good.

In response to: THE RIVAL REVIVAL: TOMORROW NIGHT MIGHT BE THE NIGHT (LOL)!!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
LETS GO KNICKS....Last half of this miserable season!

lets go out swinging!!!!!

In response to: THE RIVAL REVIVAL: TOMORROW NIGHT MIGHT BE THE NIGHT (LOL)!!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
In time Walsh will be Hitler to the NY MSM! LOL

In response to: THE RIVAL REVIVAL: TOMORROW NIGHT MIGHT BE THE NIGHT (LOL)!!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Here's Isola's whining today fro his Article..Check it:

Walsh has a massive rebuilding project ahead of him and the job may be tougher than what he envisioned. Walsh claims that he has been given complete autonomy to run the organization, which would also include revamping the Knicks' media policy.

However, little has changed since Walsh arrived. Yesterday, his interview with reporters was being monitored by a media relations employee, who was typing Walsh's comments into a BlackBerry. Walsh had said that such practices would stop once he took over.

It may seem like a minor issue, but if Walsh doesn't have the freedom to conduct an interview without being observed by a media relations employee, does he have the power to remove Thomas from the organization and release Marbury?

In response to: THE RIVAL REVIVAL: TOMORROW NIGHT MIGHT BE THE NIGHT (LOL)!!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
54-49 at the half. Knicks leading. Big three = Big no shows. Smart move to rest 'em. They might've caught an "accidental" bow to the eyesocket.

In response to: THE RIVAL REVIVAL: TOMORROW NIGHT MIGHT BE THE NIGHT (LOL)!!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Monty is alive and Kicking!

We will beat the Celtic scrubs.PJ Brown and Cassell included!

Isola is whining like a baby because Lord Walsh was to change the Knick Media policy....but last interview..a MSG PR rep was sticking to Walsh like Flys on Shit! LOL

Which card Bruh? Which of the three?

In response to: THE RIVAL REVIVAL: TOMORROW NIGHT MIGHT BE THE NIGHT (LOL)!!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
N8 4-6 overall, 3-4 from three, for 14 points in 12 minutes.

In response to: THE RIVAL REVIVAL: TOMORROW NIGHT MIGHT BE THE NIGHT (LOL)!!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
N8's lighting em up from the outside tonight. Boston seems to be protecting them boys tonight. Show me somethin' tonight guys; I need something to give me hope for what will be. Walsh all by himself just doesn't give me that warm and fuzzy feeling.

In response to: THE RIVAL REVIVAL: TOMORROW NIGHT MIGHT BE THE NIGHT (LOL)!!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Good evening Fantastic Fanatics,

I trust you all began the week on the positive and that this evening allows you some time to relax and commune with loved ones.

Of course, you guys crack me up. You know I love the responses to my wacky post. I think the colors are purty.

Seriously, Modi and Jay Bee, you guys type like there is no credence in considering my Man KG. I do admit a smidgen on bias for the Chicago baller but if you can credit Marbury's attitude with decimating a team, surely you can give Garnett credit for the intangibles that turn your "superstars" into almost Champions.

We seem to be having problems with allowing hyperlinks in the comment section or I would hook you up to the great piece on the ESPN writers MVP vote. Forget that they have Kobe edging out Chris Paul. Their total vote has KG at third. So some other folks do see the merit of KG without me telling them that KG has had a great year.

But, I forgot that KG won the award before. So give it to Kobe despite the fact that the team's best player was bitchin' and moanin' all summer about those players he was dogging out. Because of Kobe, I would make Phil Jackson coach of the year. (And hell no, I would not make Doc Rivers coach of the year, although he is a Chi-town boy too.)

Honestly, I am not much of a person for awards and all-star games because there are usually so many deserving of the recognition and affirmation of these awards.

*****************************

A couple of quickies:

Shout out to Alan Hahn who has graciously included Knicks Fanatic and Knicks Defense on his blog roll. They need to get the link right though. I'm sure they will. I will write a piece of New York media before I pass, God willing, where I will reiterate my belief that Hahn will end up top dog in the NY MSM. This economy and the internet are pummeling print media and Hahn has a head start on making the adjustment to new media.

Speaking of media, you have got to check out Modi's joint and Statesman's comments. En Fuego.

I think I'm around tonight but I better go get those Chicken thighs out the crock pot and feed my daughter for now.

Peace

In response to: THE RIVAL REVIVAL: TOMORROW NIGHT MIGHT BE THE NIGHT (LOL)!!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
last try

In response to: THE RIVAL REVIVAL: TOMORROW NIGHT MIGHT BE THE NIGHT (LOL)!!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
trying again

In response to: THE RIVAL REVIVAL: TOMORROW NIGHT MIGHT BE THE NIGHT (LOL)!!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Could be last call for Zeke.

In response to: THE RIVAL REVIVAL: TOMORROW NIGHT MIGHT BE THE NIGHT (LOL)!!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Peaceman

I should be available that night for THE TRIAL.

Sounds like a good idea.

Just hope that I'm not the deciding vote.

In response to: THE RIVAL REVIVAL: TOMORROW NIGHT MIGHT BE THE NIGHT (LOL)!!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Fanatics

Melo's in trouble .GOOD,still upset about that fight last year.Can forgive, just can't forget.

In response to: THE RIVAL REVIVAL: TOMORROW NIGHT MIGHT BE THE NIGHT (LOL)!!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
they not the \"when they feel real pressure\"

In response to: THE RIVAL REVIVAL: TOMORROW NIGHT MIGHT BE THE NIGHT (LOL)!!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
That would be one way of rekindling the rivalry. We gotta put some hands on dem fools as they say in the dirty. On defense - box out, close out hard on three point shooters, no layups. Let's see how well they shoot the ball when the feel real pressure. On offense - set strong picks, share the ball, take smart shots and value your possessions.

In response to: THE RIVAL REVIVAL: TOMORROW NIGHT MIGHT BE THE NIGHT (LOL)!!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Tom Brokaw Chimes in on why he will not renew his Knicks' season tickets.

http://njmg.typepad.com/knickknacks/2008/04/talking-lebron.html

In response to: THE RIVAL REVIVAL: TOMORROW NIGHT MIGHT BE THE NIGHT (LOL)!!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Jay Bee,

I'm with you about luring the Celtics into a brawl. Hey if we can take out one of their big three for the remainder of the season- post season included- why not!

Also depending on what validity you give mark sperman, there is an article that suggest that Walsh may look to shop Curry b/c he prefers a defensive oriented big man.

Check the link below.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/04142008/sports/knicks/garden_sets_table_for_isiahs_last_call_106400.htm

Check you out latez!

In response to: THE RIVAL REVIVAL: TOMORROW NIGHT MIGHT BE THE NIGHT (LOL)!!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Peaceman - Make sure that you put out a new post announcing the new date and time of the trial of the year.

Good stuff Lives. Now we get to see if there is Lives after death. I don't give the MVP to a guy playing on an all star team. Kobe took a team of stiffs and retreads to the top of the most competitive conference. Vujacic, Luke Walton, the always looks high Lamar Odom, the emergence of Baby Huey...I rest my case. (Fisher is solid though) CP3 is in the discussion for almost the same reason, but KG is getting over for being on a team full of 100s. Does your support of KG mean that Doc Rivers should be coach of the year in corrollation to the points you put forward?

On another note, it is good to see Doc Rivers, Byron Scott, Sam Mitchell, Mr. Cheeks (insert music) all pretty much feelin' the love after being fired or listed as being on the hot seat in their careers for CWB.

In response to: THE RIVAL REVIVAL: TOMORROW NIGHT MIGHT BE THE NIGHT (LOL)!!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Great piece Lives! Of course, as is my nature, I will pick on the point of disagreement.

KG over Kobe/CP3/Lebron? Personal stats-wise there is no comparison, so let's get to the team stuff. I believe that KG has received a disproportionate amount of credit for the Celtic turnaround when considering:

-- The Celtics went 7-2 during KG's absence

-- The Celtics also added a guy named Ray Allen during the off-season

-- The C's were 2-24 during the games that Paul Pierce was out of the line-up last year and played injured during other stretches.

-- Posey and Big Baby were also decent additions

-- Considering Allen and Pierce, the C's actually added THREE all-stars for many games, yet only one is getting the turnaround love.

--------------------------------------------------------

Thanks Peace, I'll have guns blazing on Thursday at 8:30pm

In response to: THE RIVAL REVIVAL: TOMORROW NIGHT MIGHT BE THE NIGHT (LOL)!!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Alright then, since you guys are all doing the honorable thing and playing nice I'll wear the black hat and say what needs to be said. I hope Boston starts their starting 5 and Zeke just says eff-it and goes with the Goon Squad in dishonor of Coach Chaney. Hack a Garnett and Hack an Allen should be employed. They tried to soil us earlier in the season and in our weakened condition I say we get physical with these pansies. We have nothing to lose except maybe somebody will grab us by the chin which won't matter if we've got them by the nuts. Then we start the brawl and take it to the streets. Get a few of them guys suspended for 5 or 6 games.

Shameless, yes. Classic, yes. Boston bounced out of playoffs for errors in judgement, oh hell yeah. Nobody in NY would be ashamed of that except David Stern. Cmon Isiah, if you are going out, go out a bad boy.

In response to: THE RIVAL REVIVAL: TOMORROW NIGHT MIGHT BE THE NIGHT (LOL)!!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Make that Thursday Night @ 8:30 because the Prosecutor

will only be availabe then!

In response to: THE RIVAL REVIVAL: TOMORROW NIGHT MIGHT BE THE NIGHT (LOL)!!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Attention Roll call for�THURSDAY night! @ 8:30 PM

African, BARF, Cooleyhigh, DaVonn J, DLT Knicks, Jay Bee, LIVES, Modi, Orange & Blue, Peaceman, Statesman, Steady, TAZ

We will be putting ZEKE ON TRIAL To remain as Head Coach or be fired!

MODI will be Prosecutor

Statesman will be defense Counselor

This will be one day AFTER the Knicks last game, so we have our own say before Walsh! LOL

All Fanatics can be called as wittnesses for either side or ask at

that time to be called as a wittness!

At the end WE ALL will vote on (Guilty FIRED) or (Not GUILTY-Stays as Coach).........Just a little fun!!!!!

O&B will be the ADMINISTRATOR

In response to: THE RIVAL REVIVAL: TOMORROW NIGHT MIGHT BE THE NIGHT (LOL)!!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Lives

Seems like the Pistons have had more post season experience than all the teams they met in the Eastern Conference Finals. But obviously that didn't stop those teams- Heat, Cavaliers- from beating the Pistons.

Pistons might have that sorry history of Eastern Conference choke jobs happen to them again.

Also OBTW, doesn't anyone think that David Stern has set the Script for this year's N.B.A. Finals to be a Lakers v. Celtics Redux.

Think about the marketability of such a finals.

Detroit gets screwed again.

Oh well.

Here's to the whitest big city in the Northeast Boston as they will be putting up another championship banner.

Love that New England Clam Chowder.

In response to: THE RIVAL REVIVAL: TOMORROW NIGHT MIGHT BE THE NIGHT (LOL)!!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
DLT,

Thats what I love about the Celtics again, love to watch and root against them! LOL

In response to: THE RIVAL REVIVAL: TOMORROW NIGHT MIGHT BE THE NIGHT (LOL)!!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Peaceman

A heatlhy Hawks team, young guns,ran and gun style. Who knows the Hawks can be last years GSW.The Hawks have weapons!Anything is possible if the C's overlook them.

In response to: THE RIVAL REVIVAL: TOMORROW NIGHT MIGHT BE THE NIGHT (LOL)!!!!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
LOL LIVES!

Good stuff! I hate the Celtics and hope they do

a last year's Dallas act! Though the Celtics may beat Detroit

if they go that far.......the Suns will be too bright for the Green!

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Donnie Walsh was at the Knicks doctors for a checkup and the doctor said, \"Sir today I will need a sperm sample, urine sample and a stool sample\".

Walsh looks at his wife and says, \" What did he say\"?

His wife replies, \"He needs a pair of your underwear

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Hey Statesman....we'll see what happens when the Hornets

get blown out in the first round against Dallas. I don't want to

take out my broom but that series has sweep written all over it.

Funny though....will anybody consider it an upset if Dallas wins?

I don't think so LMAO!!!!

I know this is not KD....stop trying to make me feel like an outsider

who is asking for permission to post here lol. I'm like roaches.....I'm everywhere.

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
I think we may get #1.

We haven't won shit for so long we are due!

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Sorry guys...but Walsh looks like he better not buy any green bananna's,

For fear he won't live long enough to eat them!

I'm glad it OVER! It's been tough! Zeke on Trial Tomorrow @8:30!

I hope all you guys are a part of it!

MODI vs STATESMAN! That's going to be one Hell of a "Great Debate."

I hope Judge O&B is Ready!

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Well another loss gives us more ping-pong balls.

@Peaceman,

I agree with picking Rose, I just don't think Rose or Beasley will be available in the 5 spot.We may need to trade-up,if we can.

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
I would take Rose! If he's not available use our pick in trade!

Brook Lopez is Eric Montross 2! I wouldn't touch him!

Mayo and Gorden's stock has fallen!

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
.......maybe a big man shoot blocker?

98 points to the Pacers and it's still the 3rd qtr.

What's the D?

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Fanatics

Who would you guys select with our top 5 pick if available?

Derrick Rose?

Beasley?

Or that PG from USC?

I think we need a point,but should take the best available player and trade him.

91-79 Pacers 5:05 in 3rd.

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Fanatics

Who would you guys select with our top 5 pick if available?

Derrick Rose?

Beasley?

Or that PG from USC?

I think we need a point,but should take the best available player and trade him.

91-79 Pacers 5:05 in 3rd.

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Fellas,

Sorry about the multiple post. The button was stuck

Peace & Blessings

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
DaVonn Clinton Jefferson,

More of the same. When you come to the hole, come strong. Devin West is the undersized power forward. Petra is the small forward, and MoPete is the shooting guard. West can dribble 2-3 times against big guys, that's it. Clinton-Jefferson, this is not KD, the WEAK STUFF, won't make it through the filter.

Young fella, do not make assumptions that do not apply, because things are not always true. Could you imagine a guard that could not dribble making the all-star game? Probably not. Well Clyde Drexler made several all-star games, dribbling with his head down.

Peace & Blessings

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
DaVonn Clinton Jefferson,

More of the same. When you come to the hole, come strong. Devin West is the undersized power forward. Petra is the small forward, and MoPete is the shooting guard. West can dribble 2-3 times against big guys, that's it. Clinton-Jefferson, this is not KD, the WEAK STUFF, won't make it through the filter.

Young fella, do not make assumptions that do not apply, because things are not always true. Could you imagine a guard that could not dribble making the all-star game? Probably not. Well Clyde Drexler made several all-star games, dribbling with his head down.

Peace & Blessings

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
DaVonn Clinton Jefferson,

More of the same. When you come to the hole, come strong. Devin West is the undersized power forward. Petra is the small forward, and MoPete is the shooting guard. West can dribble 2-3 times against big guys, that's it. Clinton-Jefferson, this is not KD, the WEAK STUFF, won't make it through the filter.

Young fella, do not make assumptions that do not apply, because things are not always true. Could you imagine a guard that could not dribble making the all-star game? Probably not. Well Clyde Drexler made several all-star games, dribbling with his head down.

Peace & Blessings

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Welcome \"we got this Vic.\"

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
African said

"Odum is probably the most versatile player in the game."

African, please tell me you were joking with that statement. I'll give you

a few players more versatile than Lamar.

Can't be serious bro.....

Paul will not win it....if he does I'll be happy but Kobe has had the best year.

Statesman...you should watch more Hornets games if you think West can't create his own shot. You dont get to be an all star as a small forward without being able to create your own shot.

Come on guys....your smarter than that......I think.

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Vic Corbit,

Welcome my man. Grab your chair and hang out a bit.

Let me know if we can add you to the Roll Call to the left in the Orange section. It has nothing to do with picking sides. You can always have as many homes as you want. We would like you to call Knicks Fanatics one of them.

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
C'mom bro man. Specious?

I do happen to like that word. If I haven't used it already, you beat me to the punch.

You're accusing me of comparing apples and tangerines and you're doing the same thing. If my comparison of Gasol to Kidd is incorrect what makes yours correct. To distinguish just because of position makes little sense. As was pointed out earlier, Gasol had to learn the triangle defense which historically has not been the easiest system for players to grasp or be integrated into. Obviously Kobe made that easier. Plus Kidd is an All-Star -- to join a solid team and go 0-10 reflects poorly on the star, the coach and his new teammates. Kobe did not have that problem.

And while Kareem has helped, Bynum, his agent, his family and Kobe are already on record as to the influence Kobe has had on his game and his work ethic. That piece was revealed early in the year.

And I notice how you and Af conveniently ignore that half the game is defense and in that regard Paul is not half the man of Kobe. And your efforts to diminish the young core of the Hornets are Karazy. BARF has already aptly handled those points. Chandler v. Kwame Brown? The Hornets have some players. You want us to believe that Paul is playing by himself. Quit it. Just quit it.

You and Af are creating standards to suit something other than reality. Paul is great, but the MVP of the league is Kobe.

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
'Live',

My mistake, and I apologize. I thought the discussion was on which player deserved the MVP-trophy, and not which player the voters would select. Often these are different individuals. It appears that you made a case for why the voters will select Kobe this year due to past oversights, as opposed to why he deserves the award in 2007-2008.

Regarding Kobe's role in blending Gasol versus the Mavs blending Kidd. You and I know this comparison is specious at best.. The Lakers were playing w/o their starting center and Gasol only needed to step in and play. Kidd as the point guard, has the ball in his hands and he had to learn the strengths and weaknesses of four players on the floor. This requires a greater adjustment. This differs from an individual (Gasol), that does not play w/ the ball, or look to create for others. Very bad comparison. In addition the Mavs traded their best defensive big man (Diop), so their defense suffered. and losses grew. Getting over the slumber requires time.

Finally Bynum improvement is a direct reflection on his desire and Kareem's work with the kid. His minutes were never great, but the kid grabbed rebounds at a high rate/minute. He also scored generally from put-backs, not plays run for him.

I would never use the MSM to attempt to intimidate anyone.

@African, don't fall for the other guy's bait. Left alone he will harm himself.

@Barf, you continue to refer to atrocities, even when they were minor bumps along the way for the Lakers

Peace & Blessings

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
AF,

If Scottie Pippen can manage to become an All Star next to Michael Jordan then it shouldn't be hard for Odom to come out from Kobe's shadow...granted, Odom has had his share of traumatic experience outside of the bball realm...but his career is far from over and the Lakers seem to have the next 4-5 yrs pretty much setup.

Just because they are projected to be a solid team with a core of Bynum, Kobe, Odom and Gasol...with solid complementary players like DFish and Turiaf...doesn't take away from the fact that Kobe's dominance in positions 2 and 3 (SG & SF) makes the team's engine purr...or how they managed to add Ariza and Gasol, midseason, and come back to take the lead in the conference.

NOH started off strong...cruise controlled their way to the All Star but have managed to slow down...albeit second place in the West this year is more than respectable. They have added Bonzi Wells and Mike James to the mix...so...their team isn't as talent deprived as some of your posts suggest.

Chris Paul is 20-10. Leading the team in scoring and the league in assists. But his team is second to Kobe's. Aside from Chris Paul's breakout season, the NOH team's turnaround can also be attributable to Byron Scott's coaching, David West's continued improvement, Peja's comeback, the Mo Peterson signing, Ty Chandler on the boards and the fortifying of the bench with Wells and James...

To single out Paul as the only reason is misleading. There's a lot of new stuff happening in NO.

Kobe's managed to scale back on his stats and integrate a brand new Gasol and a more comfortable Odom into a successful unit. He's managed to gain on the West's leading teams without a very surprising Bynum (injured and not) and a brand new PF in Gasol (injured and not). He's taken over in some games and played the role of facilitator in others.

This is the type of team-oriented season everyone wanted out of Kobe and he's made it happen and its still not MVP worthy?

I get the feeling that when the time comes...and the NBA Finals are winding down...everyone is gonna be talking about Kobe for MVP...of the Finals.

LA looks good for the chip this yr.

VicCorbit, nice to have you!

We got this!

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
KnicksD needs to man up and just tell his boyz to keep detente.

If he doesn't then it may suggest that he doesn't mind agression, so long as it is against his nemsi.

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Yow!

I hate hypocrites!

KD said the Fanatics are made up of African, Statesman, Barf and Peaceman.

John Q said he cameover here, and all we're doing is jerking each other off talking about how good it is to be free.

KD is such a fuc*ing girl. It's unreal.

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
I suppose if we can neither obtain Rose or Beasley with the good fortune of obtaining the 1 or 2 slot in the lottery then a shot blocker, defender, enforcer in the lane with some toughness is an acquisition worth considering.

VicBit

Welcome to the fanatics.

Hope to read ya in the time to come.

The idea of trading our 4-6 pick for a mid 1st rounder and early 2nd rounder may be plausible. Some speculate that the pick may also induce a trade for any of the players currently on the Knicks chopping block.

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
What up Vic!

We covet you here also as a high draft pick. Lottery baby!

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
The case I've made for Paul is exhausting!

So Barf, You still don't buy it?

Lives, you still don't see it?

The most compelling is not being in the playoffs one year and being at the top the next. How do you explain this?

CP3 baby! The MVP. The real deal.

Kobe was less selfish this season, but he has way more help than Paul.

And Lives, Odum is tentative because of Kobe.

Odum is probably the most versatile player in the game. Kobe just hogs the ball.

Look at Caron Butler in LA and after he left Kobe. Two completely different players. Do you think Butler would have been an All Star with kobe? Hells no!

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
What's up strangers???????? I finally found where everyone bounced to. Brook Lopez should be our choice, holla!!!!!!

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Yo guys I complete disagree.

This years MVP is...

Stephon MeBury

MVP = Most Volatile Player

ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Who makes everyone around them better?

Ask yourself that? MJ did and he wasn't a point guard!

I believe that Chris Paul is this years MVP along with Having COY

in Scott!

Q: Why Does John Q wear a mustash?

A: So he looks more like his Mother!

That's one greasey dude I don't miss! lol

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
BTW, Ya'll haven't convinced me that Paul should win over Kobe.

The time is now for Kobe to win his regular season MVP.

I dont have the time or inclination to do the necessary research but LA, with Kobe's trade demand...the Ariza trade, the Gasol trade, the Bynum injury, the Gasol injury, the injury to Kobe's finger...and the Lakers surprisingly leading the Western conference to finish the season...

and Kobe being the best player in the NBA right now...

I don't see how he's robbed again without Nash or Nowitzki or some other pigmentally challenged player for the MSM press to root for...no, no, I'm not saying its the only reason they've won...but damn, it sure feels like it sometimes.

The MVP goes to most valuable player of the regular season and while this is not Kobe's best statistical season...its one of his top 5 most efficient. All while the Lakers have had roster fluctuation and injuries, and STILL possibly finishing atop the conference...I don't see how he's denied AGAIN.

Before King James takes his crown, Kobe's got to step aside. But Kobe is still going strong and I don't see how he continues to be taken for granted with the numbers he puts up...especially when his team is tops in a tough Western Conference.

Let the bullshit stop already. Give the man his award. He's deserved it for the last three yrs. Throw the guy a bone.

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
States,

I agree with you so it must mean we're both stupid. You dummy you.

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Fellas,

The Walsh WORSHIPPING has thrown a curve to my sense of logic. The Pacers will close their second-straight year out of the playoffs. Donnie's reward for this achievement is the PRESIDENT OF THE KNICKS!!!

Some of you, and the MSM will say that Bird was the reason that the Pacers have taken steps back. This is where my logic slips. The MSM has been calling for Steve Mills job, saying that "he's the one that introduced Isiah to Dolan". Get rid of Isiah and Mills. Well, Donnie Walsh as President of the Pacers hired/introduced Bird to the owners of the Pacers. The team has trended downward over the last few years, yet Walsh is hailed as a guru. Are the fans and MSM being consistent, or Am I missing something?

Peace & Blessings

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
WTF?

David Lee is worth what?

Reshaping the Knicks Will Be a Major Test

As first-round picks in 2005, Lee and Robinson are each eligible for lucrative contract extensions this summer. Without the extensions, each would become a restricted free agent in 2009 and, potentially, an unrestricted free agent in 2010.

So one of Walsh�s first critical decisions is whether to lock up the Knicks� best young prospects at the expense of cap space in 2010. The players and their agents are watching intently.

�Donnie�s got to do what he thinks is best for the Knicks,� said Lee�s agent, Mark Bartelstein.

But, Bartelstein noted: �The reason why you try to create cap space is to try to get really good young players. I don�t know how much better you�re going to get than David Lee.�

Lee, who is averaging 10.8 points and 8.9 rebounds, has improved every year and is probably the Knicks� most coveted player around the league. One rival agent, citing Lee�s talent, upside and popularity, suggested he could seek a maximum contract � in the range of $13 million a season. The agent did not want to be identified talking about a player who was not his client.

To keep Lee and Robinson and still get under the cap in two years, the Knicks would have to trade Randolph or Curry, possibly both.

I don't see how any of these reporters theories are vast improvements to what has already been happening in Knicksland.

Giving DLee $13 mil a yr...would be hilarious. Let's see if he can avoid being blocked in the paint...either bulk up or work on his quickness...and stay in front of his man before throwing ZBo money at him. ZBo isn't worth that much and DLee isn't better than ZBo. Not yet, at least.

I'm looking forward to a strong yr outta Lee next yr. I wonder what new skill he'll bring to the table. This yr he didn't show much improvement, although as the season wore on, his jumper fell more frequently. First it was his free throws, now his jumper. If he can work on core strength and lateral quickness...so that he's blocked less and has more of a chance to stay in front of his man (no matter who it is)...I think it could be a full season of starts at the PF.

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Ah, States, thanks for awakening me from my slumber.

First, I feel like I need to remind you that I am neither Follymocked or KD and I wouldn’t dare quiver or feel intimidated by an argument diminishing my view as comparable to the MSM view. Blogga Please. If you don’t think that Kobe deserved an MVP earlier then you must be slurping that MSM soup that says Nash actually was a runaway winner for all those MVPs. And considering that a good portion of the MSM is biting on Paul, one might wonder about the originality of your 2007-08 MVP position too. Please give that lame argument a rest and use it more effectively on a more sensitive soul. It just makes me laugh.

Second, I’ll agree with the obvious: yes this is the 2007-2008 MVP award. I’ll even agree that it should be awarded based on one’s play during the season the award is given for. But both you and I know the reality. The award is not always given to the most deserving in each year. There are over 470 players in the NBA and one MVP award, but sometimes several MVP’s, which is why it is debatable. Sometimes in that debate we are forced to compare apples and oranges and make hyperbolic statements based on assumptions and extrapolations that have little basis in truth and reality. And sometimes there is a player that is arguably the MVP of one year, who was also arguably MVP of several other years but he did not win. And when that player is the best player in the game and voters are looking for something to separate the best from the best, they will want to honor that player for not only being arguably the MVP of the appointed year, but also consistently the best player in the game. Wrong? Maybe. But it happens in many of the prestigious awards.

So, we know what the award reads, but we also know how voters read it in an arguably close race. It’s subjective so I ain’t mad at you for pretending that you are absolutely right and everyone else is wrong. You go boy.

But I will repeat that even without considering his performance in other seasons, Kobe is the MVP this year. The stats don’t tell the entire story. Kobe is one of the best defensive players in the game and Paul can barely play defense despite his 2+ steals per game. Kobe is consistently guarded by and guards the opposition’s best player night in and night out.

Yes, Paul directs the traffic for his team and distributes the ball. He is the point guard. That’s his job. Based on that argument only point guards would win the MVP. Still, Kobe directs the traffic just as well with and without the ball in his hands.

Yes, Gasol is a better baller than Bynum, but Kidd is better than Devin Harris and when he joined Dallas, they went 0-10. It is a tribute to Bryant that Gasol was integrated into “his” team without an extensive adjustment period. Together Bynum and Gasol played a total of only 60 games and they still had a better record than Paul’s team. Bynum played in 35 games, but Bynum also hit the weight room and began to work his ass off with Kobe in the off-season after Kobe dogged him out. Bynum’s improvement is directly attributable to Kobe.

Odum? Please, he had been underperforming much of the season. His coach consistently complained about his lack of aggressiveness. And, you want to deny the person who wins with Kwame Brown at center the MVP. Please.

I’ll stop here because I have work to do, but I will give you gentlemen the respect of having an opinion that is at least credible – but please get a grip if you think it is any more credible than those who support Bynum. Your MVP choice is certainly not better than mine. (LOL)

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Sup Fellas

Nowitzki up to his old tricks again

Amid all of the stories developing over the last two months, the least noticed -- and arguably most dangerous -- is the reincarnation of Nowitzki as the league's toughest matchup. His ability to exploit mismatches had been eroding since Nash's 2004 departure, which forced Nowitzki to create his own offense while also making plays for others. The Mavs turned into a predictable half-court team that could be nullified by double-teaming Nowitzki and forcing the ball away from him.

Which is not to say that the previous style was disastrous: The Mavs had a 2-0 lead in the 2006 NBA Finals, and they won a league-best 67 games last season as Nowitzki became MVP. Dallas and San Antonio are the only teams to have won 50 or more games each of the past eight seasons.

But the burdens on Nowitzki are apparent now that he has reverted to his old ways. Kidd is pushing the ball in transition and circulating it throughout the half court to keep defenses off-balance. The result is that Nowitzki is back to firing up those off-balance turnarounds and outrageous three-pointers in his natural rhythm, as opposed to trying to emulate Tim Duncan as a passer out of the high or low post. Nowitzki will benefit from developing those skills over the past two years, but it's his perimeter finishing that ultimately defines him while giving Dallas a chance to beat anyone in the playoffs.

"I haven't been myself?'' he asked with mock incredulity before conceding the issue. "I know that record-wise the numbers are not better [the Mavs were 35-18 before Kidd and 15-13 with him entering Wednesday's season finale], but I'm having fun. Sharing the ball with Kidd, and him pushing it up and having more of an open-court game again -- it's everything I could ask for.''

These positive vibes are hard to reconcile with the initial six weeks after the Kidd trade when the Mavs went 0-10 against teams with winning records. Kidd looks back on that stretch as a transition period that couldn't be avoided. He was brought in to overhaul the style of play, but he had to do so carefully in concert with coach Avery Johnson, Nowitzki, Howard and sixth man Jerry Stackhouse.

"You're trying to learn a new scheme and tendencies, and everything is new,'' Kidd said. "I didn't want to mess up anything. So you're trying to fit in, and when you try to do that you kind of become half the player because you're not reacting; you're thinking, and that's when trouble starts.''

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
On a piece that was more BSPN garbage, I saw this little thing dangling in the wind:

ROSIE PEREZ, ACTRESS (White Men Can't Jump) "The major change is in the coaching staff. I do like Isiah�even though other people don't�but I don't think he's the best fit for the Knicks. One other thing I would do: it's hard to be a sports celebrity in New York City. I would crack down on the players. You see them out a lot, and you're like, 'dude, what are you doing? You got a game tomorrow!' Know what I'm sayin'? You can blame the coaches, but just like the Broadway stage, when the curtains go up, it's just the players."

I'm not up there so I don't know if this is true. So my question is this, are the players hanging out in NYC "big timing" it? Or is Rosie just talkin' outta her sweet ass? Let me know.

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
I was thinking the same thing African re: Chris Paul = Home court advantage.

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Statesman:

That was a very short and deep post.

Direct and to the point. Solid points.

The Lakers got an upgrade from Bynum to Gasol. And how can we forget Odum. He's probably the most versatile player in the league. Kobe is taking some of the luster from this guy, no question. Look at Odum when kobe is out.

If Paul was a Knick, we'd have home court advantage in the playoffs.

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Lives:

My main man. I suffer from something, but Pink eye? Naaw.

I must admit I eat a whole lot of curry. It's the foundation of my Indian heritage. Curry and spice. That's why I'm so hot and spicy.

My position still stands. Curry all day everyday and twice on Sundays.

Another point about Paul to all you Kobe pushers is that the Hornets DID NOT MAKE THE PLAYOFFS last year!

When did you ever see a team not make the playoffs and come back at the top of that conference the next? And we're not talking the East.

Stats to me is a non issue. It's the value that the player brings to his team. Paul could average 30 every night I'm sure, with the way he can get to any place on the floor, but he wouldn't. He scores when he sees there is the need to get a score, and does it effortlessly. I've watched this guy play, and it's pure poetry in motion. No effort no fuss.

If you ask players around the league who they would rather play with, the results would be unanimous. I'm not sure who they would choose, but I've got a sneaky suspicion who they would.

Lives, I think it's only fair for me to sit in the penthouse at least once. I'll come up with something once the season is over and I've got the time.

They changed the forms for all welfare recipients, so I've got to do all my paperwork again. That would take some time.

Later!

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
'Lives',

When did Kobe deserve the MVP? Are you being influenced by the MSM? The award will read '2007-2008, MVP'. It is for this year only.

Remember, Kobe is ALWAYS about stats. You and Obama both are using the pink eye. "Huge injuries", adversity", the Lakers did not obtain the the best record, despite the injury. The Lakers obtained Gasol, who is a better scorer,

a decent rebounder, and a perfect center in today's NBA. You guys act as if Kobe & the Lakers overcame the injury and won w/ Kwame Brown in the middle. 'Lives', you missed a nuance,(LOL).

Kobe has rehabilitated himself: Just 8 months ago, Kobe came across as the west coast version of Steph. Remeber the tape, the bytchin & moanin, and wanting to be GM...."Trade Bynum",... another nuance.

@Obama, West nor Chandler can create their shot. Paul knows WHEN to get these guys the ball, and WHERE to give them the ball. One of the Knicks biggest problems this year is that there was not a point guard to get the ball to guys when they were most effective. You had guys that are finishers trying to creat their own shot, and it was disastrous. A true point guard would have waved Zach off from 3-pt territory, given Curry the ball WHERE he could score, hit Lee & Balk as they slashed the lane, and KEPT the ball away from Jamal.

Peace & Blessings

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Af,

It appears that you and I have congenital pink eye. But we know what's ailing you: you been eating too much Curry. Me? We're not so sure what I'm dying from: Gang-Green or pick-the-wrong-team-again-itis.

Seriously though, African you probably took in more games at the Garden than most of the Fanatics, so you should grace us with a few paragraphs (as a post) about your experience this year in the Garden. Let me know if you're up to it.

Since, I am being serious, for a moment anyway, I am not much into MVP awards and all-star game selections because they're so subjective. Kobe should have had an MVP by now. He has not only been MVP of the Lakers, but he has also been MVP of the league for some time now. You cannot rest everything on stats. Kobe should be the one. His team overcame a lot of adversity to become number 1 in the toughest conference.

The other thing I like about Kobe (nothing to do with his play) is how he has rehabilitated himself from his unfortunate rape allegations. The NBA is a marketing machine. That makes me believe that Isiah will not be tossed aside.

We'll see really soon.

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
All Fixers and Knicksdefense brothers are invited and can have their

say as long as they follow the Courts format!

Guilty= we fire Thomas.....Not Guilty= he stays on as Coach!

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Baron Davis will test the Free agent market along with Brand,

and notable few others!

I'm praying the kid makes a full recovery stated one MD

close to the Chandler situation....and He's an Atheist!

Tommorow night @ 8:30 ZEKE will be put on Trial Live right here!

It will begin with the Supreme Judge O&B, Followed By Modi

and Statesman opening statements for the Prosecution and defense!

All fanatics may be called as wittnesses for Modi or Statesman!

The Charges are....should he remain Knick coach?

This will be the first Live real time blogging since the early season by Barf

Johnson! All Fanatic are asked to attend and as the Jury we may also ask questions to the Prosecutor and Defense! Lets have Fun!

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
I'm sitting here reading the MVP debate and you guys voting for Paul are all

correct in your assertions about Paul winning. What he's done this year has been incredible. I do think you guys are shittin on the rest of the team because Paul doesn't make Chandler block those shots and get all those rebounds....David West won most improved player last year....grant it, Paul had something to do with that but West really improved A LOT!!! Paul doesn't dribble for West...Paul doesn't shoot for West!!!

You cannot sit here and say Paul had a better year than Kobe. The fact that Kobe's team swept Paul's team this year or the fact that Kobe averaged more than 30 against the Hornets this year or the fact that Kobe's team will finish ahead of Paul's team in the standings or the fact that not only are the Lakers the #1 team, but they've had to deal with HUGE injuries. When you lose your starting center for more than half the season, while dealing with a key addition of a big man, trying to get him used to the triangle.....then dealing wiith him getting injured for almost a month AND STILL BE IN FIRST PLACE!!!!

I'm also waiting for somebody to bring up the torn ligament in his finger he's been playing with before the all star break.

If anything....you can make a better argument for Lebron vs. Kobe. LBJ's #'s dwarf Paul's and Kobe's. There's a reason why other players are saying Kobe deserves it.

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
@BARF

I'm having trouble posting links.Sometimes they work,sometimes they don't.

What's up?

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Chandler update

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Fanatics

I'm just happy the kid got some burn before the season ended. Now we know what he is capable of.

I'm ready to redo this team,trades/draft picks something.

I think Curry could be on the move.

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Anyone know what Chandler "hurt" before working out for many teams

including the Knicks?

[edit] Pre-Draft

In April 2007, Wilson Chandler decided to enter his name in the 2007 NBA Draft after careful consideration.[7] He, his coach Jerry Wainwright, and his family all talked about his future and decided it was the best decision for Chandler.

He had not worked out for many teams prior to the draft, including the New York Knicks.[8] He got injured in Atlanta before he could workout for any other teams. But the Knicks talked to Chandler's agent and told him they were interested in him. Isiah Thomas, the team's general manager, had very good contacts at DePaul University and knew about Chandler from watching him play in college.

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
I sent you the email back.

I sent it exactly the way you are supposed to do it for the blog. You should print that out and keep it as a reference until it becomes second nature. Its a helluva useful tool, especially on all the blogs you frequent.

By the way, as per our favorite punching bag, Wilson is OK. No tear to the ACL. Just a sprain.

I'll believe it until Summer League rolls around and he's no where to be seen. Or worse, he returns a shell of his former self. Hope not though. The kid has a Knick future if he stays healthy.

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Barf you find what I'm doing wrong?

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
@peace

send me what you are trying to post exactly and i will send it back to you.

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
You're opening and closing the statement correctly...which is good.

But something is missing from the address. You must be doing something wrong.

By hovering over the link I can tell you're redirecting me to a youtube search called "Marvin Gaye National Anthem"...so you're doing something right too.

Make sure you have your spaces, equal signs and quotation marks where they are supposed to be.

first open the statement with < (a lesser sign) then...

a href is the first thing then...

= goes before the first quotation mark then...

" (quotation mark) goes right before the address then...

http://www.nba.com (the address) then...

" (second quotation mark) then...

you close the statement with >(a greater sign) then...

type NBA's MAIN SITE (the text that will be the link) then...

open the final statement with another < (lesser sign) then...

/ (divide sign) then...

a href then...

> to close off the final statement.

NBA's MAIN SITE

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
I'll send you an email JayBee explaining the process. Just get all your ducks in a row until then.

@peace

HAHA. You gotta take it slow dude. It's HTML programming so every keystroke counts. Spaces, < ' s, quotation marks, = ' s, etc.

That REALLY IS the best page to learn. O&B picked up on it quick...

O&B, you got any pointers on how you learned it so quick? Maybe all you need is a teacher with a fresher pair of eyes.

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Will do. @ Saturday's thread. How do I submit?

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Man I need idiot training on that link,,,I'm still clueless!

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
West was good, but not All Star good.

If you look at the rosters, Kobe has the advantage talent wise.

Peja is a shooter, but a shooter needs a point that can free him up. That's Paul's value. Put Peja on the Knicks, and you'd say his career is done.

The idea that Kobe has been the best player for so long without the award is bogus.

That happened a few years ago with who? I don't remember, but it was a case where the voters said it's time he won one. That's would never be a good enough reason for me.

I think it was the first Nash's MVP when Shack was the other top candidate.

You judge the award on that player's value for the season and that season only.

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
I just find it a travesty that Kobe...with 2 championships...and having been the best player in the league for the past...what...3-5 yrs...hasn't won one MVP.

If Nash wins 2 straight and Paul is having a better yr at 6'0"...then yeah, I wouldn't be mad at Paul winning MVP.

Still, the Lakers had been having a good yr before Gasol.

West was always good. I think Chandler, Peja, Mo Peterson and Paul are perfect complements to what West does. Byron has em coached to perfection. Paul is the engine but he is not on a team of stiffs.

Paul vs Kobe...

I can live with that. To me, no one else has a chance.

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
@Jay Bee,

Will you write the thread this Saturday. I've committed to canvass this weekend in PA. I will be able to write Monday's thread.

@African,

I agree with you on Paul for MVP. Take Paul off that team and they are in the lottery. People somehow forget that Kobe had/has Bynum/Gasol, and that Lamar Odom is 7th in rebounding in the league, and plays a great overall game as the 2nd or 3rd option. Could you imagine Odom as 3rd option on the Hornets?

The MVP voters would be inconsistent to vote for Kobe based on his career as opposed to voting for this current year. When Steve Nash received his first MVP, a case could have been made for Shaq, however the talk was Nash is having an unbelievable year. If we use the current year as the criteria, then Paul, based on what he has done w/ that team deserves the MVP.

Peace & Blessings

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Barf:

Kobe may be the best player in the league, but the most valuable.... I don't think so. That lakers roster is solid, top to bottom. The hornets have players that have flourished with Paul at the lead.

Tell me you saw West being an all star. If West was a Knick, he'd be considered a D-leaguer. With Paul in N.Y., Chandler would probably be the ROY, and I'm not kiddin! Curry would avarage 25. Jamal would shoot 50%, Zach...... well, he'd kill the vibe. He'd have fights with Paul and Zeke and he'd ride the pine.

You get my drift. That's the MVP.

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
As promised, here is the best link (I can find) explaining how to link to other pages:

Basic HTML: Creating Links to Other Pages

Hope it helps.

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Monday is even better, I'll plan for that. Thanks.

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
I like Scott for COY more than Paul for MVP...but I cant argue with that reasoning AF. If we had Paul in place of Marbury, we'd be in the playoffs...No doubt.

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
What up Fanatics.

Didn't get a chance to chile in on Lives' LAP.

LIves, c'mon. You know what happens when you become a prognosticator.

Please stick to the delivery. (lol) Great post though.

No doubt, the MVP should be Chris Paul.

No one on that level has had less talent to work with. When the Hornets were moved to the west, everyone felt that they would be bottom feeders in the big bad west. Think again. This guy has guided this team with little talent to the top. David West is an ALL STAR! DAVID WEST!

This guy is the smoothest operator since..... Zeke?

He has the players playing for him, and keeps everyone happy with his ball distribution. Sign Steph up for a crash course this summer.

Paul is the MVP! Just look at the rosters of the top candidates.

Also take a good look at Scott for Coach of the year.

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
JayBee,

Saturdays are States'. You'd have to ask him but yeah, I understand about research and all that. Take what you need. I'm sure we'd all like to see your flavor grace the penthouse. If States' wants his day, you can have Monday. Do your work on the weekend and save it until post day, Monday.

Have a great day fellas. Playoffs soon.

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
I put Kobe to lead my list in MVP.

He's been fronted on so much the past few yrs that its about time someone recognize how dominating his skill level and approach has become since Shaq left him. He's an assassin whenever he steps on the court, injured or not. The fact that he's taken a sub par Laker team to the playoffs for yrs should weigh in on the voting. The fact that his team has been injured and still successfull should weigh in. His numbers should weigh in.

If Nash can get it two yrs in a row, Kobe should get this one.

I can't believe Will got injured man. Hey Peace, I hope you're wrong about this one man. Will shouldn't be taking months off NOW. Look at what happened to Balkman and Mardy. The young men needs their wheels.

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
MARKETING BEFORE PERSONNEL MOVES. (LOL)

I'll try it again BARF. Thanks a lot.

Check out the ESPN MVP DEBATE or put the following in your browser, whatever works faster or better.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?page=MVP08&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab1pos1

HAVE A GREAT DAY. I'M AUDI.

In response to: CHANDLER HURT!!!! THE TRUTH PROBABLY HURTS MORE!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Celtic Handle NYK with Big 3 Benched

Thomas was booed during pregame introductions and fans chanted for him to be fired in the final minute. But while firing Thomas may be the popular decision with fans, Jamal Crawford cautioned that it may not be the right one.

"You can't always do what's popular and what isn't popular,'' he said. "You just have to be patient. Last year keeping Doc Rivers wasn't a popular decision, either.''

In response to: EXIT, THIS WAY OUT

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
O&B, Modi,

Let's get started.

Peace & Blessings

In response to: EXIT, THIS WAY OUT

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
It's about time that lil bitch got fired lol.

He doesn't know the first thing about NY pride.

Get a real NY'er in here and let's start to rebuild our ship.

Good stuff African and BARF...on the whole MVP thing.

I just cannot say Paul deserves it more than Kobe.

Kobe's team finished #1....ahead of Paul's team.

I would never say that Kobe is a better player than Mike....

but I will say Kobe is a better scorer than Mike.

In response to: EXIT, THIS WAY OUT

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Good PM Fanatics!

I see the gang is holding it down and trying to decide who is this year's NBA MVP. I'll get into this scrum...IMHO Chris Paul was was the choice if his TEAM had gained the #1 spot in the West. He would have won hands down... With that said, I believe sentiment (whether we like it or not, it plays a role) an outstanding season on his part, and the greatest role reversal ever (he actually played with Lakers and challenged his teammates in the media like none other) will catapult the ONE AND ONLY KOBE` as the MVP...LBJ & KG deserve consideration, but in the end Kobe` should be the MVP...

@LIVES, your posts were slick and sick, especially today's...It had me crackin up...

@Fanatics

Me and the Posse we will by the Courthouse tonight, but I was wondering if me and the crew would have to go through security, cause we'll be packing just in case the Defense Attorney doesn't REP ZEKE correctly, cause we will put that MOFO to sleep if he doesn't come correct....Just shyting you Statesman,. but you from the Capital Area, so you better REPRESENT.....LOL LOL Cause trust me MODI is going to REP HIS HOOD...LOL LOL

Gotta bounce! Oh Pink Eye I saw you slip in that Zach slur a few THREADS back....But I was feeling your Chris Paul Vibe so I'll let it slide . cause you told me you weren't READY to have that convo...LOL...Good to read your SHYTE African...Always an entertaining read. BTW, I"m having a New Welfare Forms Traning at the Dive in the HOOD, so no excuses for not sharing a sliver of you FAN experience at he MECCA as a future HEADER...I'll be watching out Pink Eye...LOL

ONE LOVE FAMILY!

Keep it CRACKIN!

In response to: EXIT, THIS WAY OUT

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
If O'Neal is picked up before Artest decides to opt out of his contract...a reunion of JO and Artest could sweeten the pot for Ron Ron to come back to his hometown.

Speaking with Jermaine O�Neal and Danny Granger

MT: I spoke to Ron Artest and I could genuinely tell that he misses playing with you, Jeff Foster Stephen Jackson and Jamaal Tinsley. He told me he messed up there by walking away from the team because he wanted to finish his career playing with you. What�s your response to that?

JO: First and foremost, Ron�s a tough cover. He can post it up, shoot the three and put the ball on the floor. He�s like a 4 playing the wing position.

The decision he made was a decision he made. He�s just like anyone else in life in that we all make mistakes.

I�ve never held it against him. We had great teams (stares off). Honest to God I wish we won a championship together. I respect him as a man because no matter what I saw him away from the basketball court. You see it Mike, but most haven�t and don�t. I saw him with his kids. I know what type of father he is. I respect it because I have kids.

I thought we had a core that could have won for many many years, but things happen. I wish him the best of luck. I know he�s having a tough time out in Sac right now. Just reading some of his comments as of late I think he�s�sometimes we have to have things happen in our lives to understand what we need to do to approach life. The key thing is learning from our mistakes, make adjustments and keep it moving forward.

Deal Tinsley and O'Neal

Can a brother make a suggestion? How about sending O'Neal to the Knicks for Stephon Marbury. Yes, Marbury is a waste, but he has only one year left on his deal. If the Pacers are willing to bite the bullet for one season, more than $20 million will come off the books in 2009-10.

During a Wednesday afternoon news conference to announce the team's front-office changes, Bird fell short of saying he would trade O'Neal, but he made it abundantly clear that he's going to try. And that would be best for both of them. Face it: O'Neal doesn't fit with coach Jim O'Brien's style, and both parties know it. Add to that the fact that O'Neal and Bird have had a contentious relationship since Bird fired Isiah Thomas, and you have a bad marriage that's headed for a divorce.

When a deal gets done, it's not important whether Bird gets full or even partial value for O'Neal, whose injury problems make him a tough sell. What Bird and this franchise need is cap flexibility. They need to take on an expiring contract or two, giving them freedom to make some moves in the next few years.

"I'm sure he (O'Neal) will look at all his options, and we'll look at ours,'' Bird said. "Throughout the summer, we'll probably be talking to some teams and seeing what kind of interest they have in him. He hasn't told us if he wants to stay here or if he wants to go somewhere else, but there comes a time in any player's basketball career that you want to try to do what's best for yourself and for your team.''

In response to: EXIT, THIS WAY OUT

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
"Kobe is a great player, but not the type to elevate the game of his sidekicks. "

Yeah but comparing him to a PG and saying he doesn't elevate their game makes me wonder why you don't think his teammates aren't elevated?

Look at Lamar's stats. He's having his best season (outside of lower assist totals). Sure, you may point to the lower point per game average but, in that case, I would point you to the FG%, which is a lot better than any other yr he's had. He's becoming more efficient next to Kobe.

Last yr wasn't so bad either statistically. Now, maybe people have higher expectations from him scoring wise...but of the other teams Odom was on (LAC, MIA)...would you say that the Lakers have a lot more talent. I mean with Kobe alone...this is by far the most talented roster Odom has been on. And he's holding his own and putting together an all around performance.

If you expect more out of him, thats one thing. But I have to ask why? Because he was beasting on a scrubby MIA and LAC team? Thats not a good enough reason.

Example #2 Derek Fisher is having a great year circa 2003 DFish WITH LESS MINUTES. Check the stats. Its up their with his best offensive yrs. His #'s (except for ASSTS) are up across the board. Considering the minutes he averages, he's having a great yr. I would say, his game has been elevated.

Look, a PG gets stats when he passes. A player like Kobe attracts just as much attention if not more than Paul on the court and his passes...even if they aren't recorded as assists, still lead to scores.

And Gasol has been putting up the same numbers in a new system on a winning team...and his FG% jumped 8 points on the Lakers. He's averaging the same numbers with 2 less minutes a game.

RU KIDDING ME?

The stats don't back u up.

"Don't tell me about Butler in LA. I saw the games, and he was a shell of himself with Kobe. Why do you think he was moved? "

He was like a moth that got too close to the light? I dont know. I look at the stats and they tell me that he had an okay yr "next to Kobe". Maybe they had higher expectations he couldn't fulfill. Maybe the pressure got to him. But up until that point, he was having a good statistical season. Maybe the fact that it was his first yr next to a player of the caliber of Kobe...maybe he had stage fright? I dont know. But the numbers don't scream "Kobe Killed His Game".

I mean, I'm not gonna put John Starks on the Chicago Bulls next to Jordan and expect him to score 20 when he's averaged 15...2 yrs into the league. Because, to me, that's what the Caron situation in LA looks like. Caron is good...but he was young then. Maybe he just needed time to get accustomed. One yr isn't enough to make any analysis. Especially when the stats stayed pretty consistent with his level of production up until that point. Plus, didn't the Lakers lack a PG for a few yrs?

"And by the way, Pargo does play and sometimes start with Paul. Check it out. If not start, he plays extended minutes with Paul. "

Yeah, I saw the game logs and they both SOMETIMES log over 30 minutes. SO they have to play together. But then sometimes Pargo plays only 5 -10 - 15 minutes. But, by looking at the game logs, when he's given minutes, Pargo produces well. That would explain Chris Paul averaging 20 pts...cuz I found it strange that he would score that much from the PG position. Lo and behold, Pargo has had some big assist games. And he scored over 20 a couple times too.

"The argument that Kobe waited long enough is really weak. "

So what? It's just another reason to vote for him not my only reason. How about his continued dominance? His stats staying solid across the board despite adding star quality players. How about that those star players still average their numbers and then some? His West leading team record. His leadership. His team play.

His numbers for this yr don't jump out at you...you know why? Cuz his whole career has been amazing. Maybe you've accepted his game...taken him for granted.

First it was that Kobe was too much of a ball hog. Now its that his team is too good. When are you gonna take the f--king carrot off the stick and let him have a bite?

He's been a beast. He's still a beast. The Western Conference was a tight race and the leading team's leader should get the MVP.

How you gonna give it to a guy who just got on the scene?

In response to: EXIT, THIS WAY OUT

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Isola's getting some shine from the press...

New York Knicks coach Isiah Thomas was notified last week he would not return for a third season, according to the New York Daily News.

The Knicks lost to the Pacers 132-123 on Wednesday to finish the season at 23-59. The 59 losses tied the most in Knicks history. Thomas had a record of 56-108 in two seasons.

Thomas' problems were not confined to the court in New York. Thomas and Madison Square Garden were sued for sexual harassment by former team marketing executive Anucha Browne Sanders. MSG was ordered to pay $11.6 million to Browne Sanders.

The Daily News reported that Thomas remains optimistic he will be reassigned with a lesser role within the organization.

Who's Next?

Marc Jackson? Dang.

Good luck Marc. You'll need it.

Does Steph stay or go?

In response to: EXIT, THIS WAY OUT

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
ARTEST for RANDOLPH?

Theus Wants Artest Back

Kings coach Reggie Theus deemed the future of Artest and how he fits into the organization's long-term plans the most pressing offseason issue. In a lengthy post-mortem media session Wednesday, Theus repeatedly stressed the importance of the Kings picking a direction regarding their core players. And that core, if it were up to Theus, should be anchored by the two-way talent he repeatedly called the team's "best player."

"When you look at the good teams in the league, every good team has somebody they can throw the ball to," Theus said. "Down the stretch of games, what people don't really understand is that teams are throwing the ball to (Houston's) Tracy McGrady and letting him decide and figure out what's going on. They're throwing the ball to (the Los Angeles Lakers') Kobe (Bryant). They're throwing the ball to (Dallas') Dirk Nowitzki. They're throwing the ball to their best player and letting that guy get the double team and (play) out of it.

"Outside of Ron Artest, we don't have anyone you can throw the ball to ... . Without that guy, we're going to have to start figuring out where we're going to throw the ball."

Though Artest has said he likely will not exercise the early termination option in his contract this summer, it won't be for certain until the late June deadline. And although Kings co-owner Joe Maloof has said that his family would consider re-signing Artest next summer, it remains unknown what the organization will do if Artest becomes a free agent a year earlier.

Theus cited toughness and rebounding as his major areas of emphasis for next season. Entering Wednesday's close of the regular season, the Kings ranked 29th in rebounds (40.1 per game) and 23rd in rebounding differential (minus-1.8) and were tied for 24th in opponents' offensive rebounds (11.8 per game).

"This team, with a couple of more pieces, I think is a very viable team," Theus said. "We have all the elements, except for that one area. Rebounding, to me, is the biggest thing we have to look at."

In response to: EXIT, THIS WAY OUT

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Barf:

Good come-back, but you had me laughing along the way.

The players I mentioned playing with Jordan were and never will be considered stars. The point was that Jordan elevated their game. That was the shining light on their careers.

Can you name some of the scrubs that Kobe elevated?

The second part was really funny, because your logic just didn't pan out whatsoever.

"Actually, I compared Pippen's ability to shine in the shadow of Jordan to Odom's ability to do the same with Kobe. Assuming we agree that Kobe is a lesser player than Jordan and Odom is lesser than Pippen ... how is that not a fair comparison?"

You're actually making my point for me. My pont is that Jordan is by far the superior team player, so that ability allowed Pippen to shine as opposed to Kobe the lesser team player not allowing Odom to shine.

That's what makes the comparison criminal. Kobe is a great player, but not the type to elevate the game of his sidekicks.

You then went on mentioning Kobe's championship rings as a reason to have an MVP award.(Lives would agree with you on this one) But I'm not Lives.

The MVP award is for the most valuable player in the regular season. Not a wait and see what happens in the playoffs and how many championship rings you have with Shack being the dominant player. That doesn't count.

The same dumb argument was made for Nash the first year he won it. "Shack won it before, and he would probably win it again. Nash had a great year and he never won one." That in my opinion is the bullshit argument.

Paul deserves the award and it's not at the expense of anyone. He flat out played and deserves to win it bro.

Don't tell me about Butler in LA. I saw the games, and he was a shell of himself with Kobe. Why do you think he was moved? He was one of the cornerstones of that Shack trade. He couldn't get the ball with Kobe. Period.

You need to look at Odom when Kobe is out, and see the difference. Odom is also one of the more under rated players around.

Again, I never said Paul had a set of stiffs. You can't get to the top of the West with stiffs, but Kobe has much more to work with than Paul. And by the way, Pargo does play and sometimes start with Paul. Check it out. If not start, he plays extended minutes with Paul.

It probably won't be the worst robbery in league history, but in my opinion it would be a shame if Paul doesn't win the award.

The argument that Kobe waited long enough is really weak.

In response to: EXIT, THIS WAY OUT

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
"Kerr, Wellington, Paxon were all career roster-fillers until they played with Jordan. Can you say the same about Kobe?"

Kerr, Wennington and Paxson were never stars. They all had their moments playing with Jordan and probably had their best statistical performances playing alongside him. How does that differ from any of the scrubs surrounding Kobe?

"So with that comparison, you're comparing Jordan's ability to play team ball with Kobe's?"

Actually, I compared Pippen's ability to shine in the shadow of Jordan to Odom's ability to do the same with Kobe. Assuming we agree that Kobe is a lesser player than Jordan and Odom is lesser than Pippen ... how is that not a fair comparison?

I'm not comparing Kobe to Jordan directly. I'm comparing the duo...and the ability of the complementary player to shine despite playing alongside a player who fills up the stat sheet and dominates the ball in a Phil Jackson triangle offense.

Anyway, by the time Jordan was 29 (Kobe's current age) he had just finished defeating Drex and the Blazers for his second chip. Kobe already has three chips and no MVP award despite being as consistent a superstar as anyone after Jordan.

That's wrong.

Paul's having a great season. He should win an award but it shouldn't be at the expense of Kobe's MVP. Plus, this is Paul's first big yr. Lets see what he does in the playoffs before we crown him MVP and give him an award that Kobe has never received. This yr was supposed to be a throwaway yr for the Lakers with Kobe's trade demands but the Lakers are leading their conference.

You talk about how Paul and NOH are surprise contenders but no one had the Lakers this high...especially not winning the West. Get real man.

That, to me, is bullshit. I hate the Lakers as much as the next dude but the Kobe snubbing needs to stop. His team leads the pack..he's the leader...he's the MVP.

Nuff said.

"Butler was a star before going to LA, but Kobe dominated the ball, and he regressed, only to become an All Star in Washington"

JUST NOT TRUE. Caron Butler didn't regress in his one season with LA. Check the stats. He played well. The season was as good if not a bit better (higher FG%, lower TO's, higher REBS, lower STLs & ASSTs) than his first season with Miami(his second with MIA he was injured). Why else would Washington wanna trade for him?

"but are you saying Bonzi and James propelled them from out of the playoffs to at the top of the West? "

I didnt say anything about propelling anything. I said you make it sound like Paul is leading a bunch of stiffs to NBA elitism. But thats only the truth if you haven't been paying attention to NOH. They added Mo Peterson too. Plus Bonzi and James for nothing. Granted, Bonzi and James came late and their acquisition was prolly the reason NOH slowed down but the point remains...NOH is filled with players who have been under the radar for a long time. Yes, Paul is the guy shining brightest and making the thing work on the floor but he is not alone. And if you are basing your opinion on how shitty the rest of the team is and how he is elevating them to greatness...I think that's wrong.

For a casual fan...I can let it go. Not everyone knows NOH. But you know better than that.

"I would guarantee Odum would be an All Star next to Jordan."

GTFOH. Dude has had a rough time figuring out how to play next to Kobe and you think he'd be good next to Jordan? Odom's too big to guard Jordan in practice, much less Kobe. How do you think Pippen got to be so good? And I love Odom so its not like I dont respect his game. He is one of the most versatile players out there next to:

Tayshaun Prince

Gerald Wallace

Boris Diaw

Ron Artest

Josh Smith

Antawn Jamison

Andrei Kirilenko

Shawn Marion

Stephen Jackson

Josh Howard

There's 10 off the top of my head...and ur guy Caron Butler...for good luck. But to be clear, yes, Odom is one of the better versatile players in the L.

"West was an All Star because of Paul."

Yeah sure...of course. And also because KG was traded and Elton Brand hasn't played all yr.

"Peja regained his form because of Paul."

Yeah I'm sure playing alongside his first real PG since Bibby helps. Peterson helps. David West in the post helps. Chandler cleaning up on the boards and passing out to the perimeter helps too.

"That Laker Cast off Pargo is making a name for himself there because of Paul."

He was a Chicago Bull. He's nicer than Duhon, quicker and stronger with his finish. The Bulls kept the wrong guy. Maybe he's a bit better practicing with Paul but do they share the floor much? Pargo's a PG.

I suppose NOH's janitorial staff is better because of Paul too. And their concession stands have been top notch ever since Paul showed them how to harness the power of the sun to keep the hotdogs hotter, longer.

"Are these all coincidences? "

No, its called "good management". The progression comes everyone pitching in. Paul's done more than his fair share and he is to be commended. M.I.P. perhaps? I supposed that wouldn't be enough to satisfy most folks.

Still, Kobe is the MVP.

Paul is my front runner if he repeats his production next yr.

Let the young'n earn his keep. Kobe's waited long enough.

In response to: EXIT, THIS WAY OUT

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
DVJ:

Maybe YOU should watch some Hornets games so you don't stick your foot in your mouth that often.

Please help me and name some players in the league that are as versatile as Odum. I'm patiently waiting. Think hard and keep your foot far away from your mouth.

The decaf would also help.

Barf:

So with that comparison, you're comparing Jordan's ability to play team ball with Kobe's? C'mon Barf, you're better than that.

Jordan made stars out of everyone around him. Kerr, Wellington, Paxon were all career roster-fillers until they played with Jordan. Can you say the same about Kobe? Poor comparison.

Butler was a star before going to LA, but Kobe dominated the ball, and he regressed, only to become an All Star in Washington.

The list goes on and on. That's nothing new with Kobe. I'll give him credit this year for scaling back his shot attempts and trying to play more team ball, but comparing Kobe to Jordan is suicide.

I would guarantee Odum would be an All Star next to Jordan. He's got all the tools Scotty did. Their games are quite similar.

No one claims Paul is alone, but are you saying Bonzi and James propelled them from out of the playoffs to at the top of the West?

West was an All Star because of Paul. Peja regained his form because of Paul. Chandler became a threat on offense because of Paul and his alley oops. That Laker Cast off Pargo is making a name for himself there because of Paul.

Are these all coincidences?

Usually teams that don't make the playoffs one year would fight for the final spot at the end of the next season as a sign of progression.

We're talking about fighting for the best record in the west! WTF!

That's not progression, that's a leap! The leader of that team is my MVP. Period!

Don't tell me Scott 's coaching improved that much from one year to the other.

If you do, then that would be a better joke than Peaceman's on the last thread.

Peace, that was a really good one. You had me almost choking.

In response to: EXIT, THIS WAY OUT

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
ZEKE ON TRIAL TONIGHT........DON'T MISS IT!

TONIGHT WE WILL HAVE OUR EXIT INTERVIEW!

TONIGHT FREE HOTDOGS & POPCORN ( BYO)

TONIGHT WE WILL SEEK THE TRUTH!

DON'T MISS IT............ 8:30 SHARP!

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
You can't give someone an extension and then expect that you don't have to pay for the length of the contract. That's why we had to pay Larry Brown all that money and that's why we'll have to pay Thomas all the money owed to him. Both Larry Brown and Thomas failed here, but since they had contracts all term contracts, they Knicks had to pay them.

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
@Dross,

Ed as usual, you and I are on different sides of the table. I do not believe that Isiah has a FAKE position with the Knicks. Actually, I do not believe that he has ANY position with the Knicks. Isiah and Dolan are negotiating a buy-out of his contract with Jimmy D, probably wanting to pay 40-50 cents on a dollar, and Isiah wanting the full dollar. I am sure that Dolan is using the "Verdict" as leverage, while Isiah has some information that Dolan would not want public. Dolan has to know that it is not appealing to prospective coaches that he has taken the last to coaches to court over their contract.

Look for the New Assignment Charade to end before the draft, and certaintly before training camp.

Ed, why are you blogging as a vistor? I am sure that to most of the bloggers you are family. You are the uncle Ed, cousin Ed, or in-law Ed, that when family sees you they say "fu%k, here comes Ed", (lol).

"They say that cat Chris Paul is a bad muther------, (shut your mouth),

"But I'm talking about MVP", (well we can dig it).

Peace & Blessings

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
try again

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Another poll

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Fanatics

Agree or disagree?

Should he stay or should he go?

With a new president in place and a new coach on the way for the Knicks, The Post's Marc Berman assesses the chances of each current Knick being sent packing this offseason.

Quentin Richardson: He's shot. Could be buyout case since you can't trade him because of uninsurable contract. 60 percent gone.

Eddy Curry: Shocking to see his low-post game evaporate. Donnie Walsh could clear major cap space with a trade, as Walsh wants his centers defense-oriented. 60 percent gone.

Zach Randolph: Spent the whole season hoisting contested perimeter jumpers and not getting back on defense. Walsh would give his left lung to deal him, but his contract is a killer. 30 percent gone.

Stephon Marbury: Walsh will explore signing a younger point guard for a two-year mid-level exception (Chris Duhon?) before he can talk buyout. Trade will be tough under parameters. Marbury is lone PG on roster, so could go either way. 55 percent gone.

Jamal Crawford: Isiah Thomas handed him the keys to the offense after Marbury went down and he crashed the car. Not a floor general and hasn't improved perimeter defense. But with a real PG to play off of, he's a keeper. 10 percent gone.

Nate Robinson: Not a starter in this league because he's too small to defend. Not a bad guy to come off the bench for 15 minutes next season. 40 percent gone.

David Lee: A building block. He got more confidence in his face-up jumper as season went along. Great rebounder and Sixth Man. 8 percent gone.

Renaldo Balkman: Sophomore jinx smacked him down, but too young and athletic to give up on. Lost all confidence in offensive game. 35 percent gone.

Jared Jeffries: Who's going to want this stiff with that contract? 7 percent gone.

Malik Rose: Doesn't want to be here and overrated as locker-room leader. Walsh will shop his expiring contract. 70 percent gone.

Jerome James: For a team that finished last in the league in shotblocking, Isiah should be ashamed for not using him when he got healthy. Walsh likes his shotblocking, but health could prompt buyout or medical retirement. 65 percent gone.

Fred Jones: A free agent who didn't distinguish himself as a so-called solid defender and won't be re-signed. Chances of leaving: 99 percent gone.

Wilson Chandler: Could start at small forward next season with his big finish that impressed Walsh. 4 percent gone.

Mardy Collins: Slow to begin with, offseason knee surgery made him slower. Nobody wants him. 35 percent gone.

Randolph Morris: A free agent who won't be re-signed, since decision is Walsh's, not Isiah's. Morris got worse instead of better during his late-season audition. 98 percent gone.

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
African, peace and states, you guys must need Prozac now. Your lover is gone.

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
I guess the case here is over. Next order of business will be hiring a new coach.

The candidates are Bill Laimbeer, Rick Carlisie, Mark Jackson. I'd think Laimbeer has been the most successful as a coach and I like Mark Jackson as coach also.

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
No peace,

I do know the Knicks fired your boy lover thomas, but keeping him in a fake job will make him happy and stop him from suing.If the bone head Dolan didn't expend Thomas contact, we'd be don with Thomas. Now we have to keep him in a fake job.

Have you gotten over Thomas yet?

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Peaceman, you can't be serious with that statement.

Please tell me you were only joking.

Super Tuesday!!!

Change in 08

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Ed Drossman,

Even you don't believe that Thomas is fired!

Walsh is just his Cover, he still runs the Knicks!

The day Zeke takes another job outside of the Knicks

is the day I'll believe he's not empowered any more!

Once the Knicks are Successful he will leave, maybe to Coach

the NCAA team that he won the Chip with, and then the Knicks will annouce

his real role behind the scenes! Watch the hate start on Walsh, as even Isola

believes that Zeke is still running the Knicks and still is Dolan's main man!

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
If the Knicks just fired Thomas, he'd sue for breaking his contract. Thomas knows that Larry Brown was given lost of money when he was fired and sued the Knicks. If Thomas was smart he'd do the same. But since the Knicks kept him in a reduced role and continued to pay him, he'll be less apt to sue. Now they'll keep him at a reduced role until his contract expires. They'll also let him interview for jobs if he wants to.

This just shows what a bone head Dolan was for extending Thomas' contract when he did. If Dolan didn't expend Thomas contact, we'd be don with Thomas.

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
@ AFRICAN,

Anyone who watched Chris Paul destroy

Dallas tonight.....would be blind or plain out

stupid to not� realise that PAUL IS THE MVP

this year beyond any Doubt!

CHRIS PAUL MVP 2007-2008. Any other outcome would be CRIMINAL!

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
O&B

It should be Jackson...........why?

We don't need a "big name coach trying to prove himself" -Stephan A. Smith

and I agree. This will need time.Some player moves,waiting for some contracts to expire to have flex under the cap.

The only problem is...this group of players have talent,if Curry,Zach and Jamal CAN play defense.And if,Steph can run and lead the team, they can win.It seems we have no chemistry on the team.No one wants it badly.I can't believe EC can't block shots IF HE WANTED TO.

Bring in Jax,let's wait it out a few years for progress in the right direction.

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Last post for the day.

Does anyone think we can do a poll here to gauge the opinions of the fanatics and all guest as to who they'd prefer be the Knicks next head coach?

It would be nice if the poll could include an opinion section, that all can include, and that would be available for our consumption. Would help spark lively discussion on the topic of who and why such and such a person should be the head coach.

Just a thought.

Good day everyone!

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Article by Old Man Adameck from the Bergen News listing the possible coaching candidates now that Isiah is done as head coach

If that doesn't work try this hyper link.

http://www.northjersey.com/sports/knicks/17936834.html

Candidates for Knicks' job Saturday, April 19, 2008

With Isiah Thomas' Knicks coaching career now over, Donnie Walsh will compile a list of potential replacements, which is expected to include the following names:

The 'A' list

Mark Jackson: The former Knick and Pacer would bring major positive PR and may be a long shot in terms of experience, but Walsh's Pacers reached three straight East finals and an NBA Finals with a coaching novice, Larry Bird.

Scott Skiles: His hiring could mean goodbye Eddy Curry (with whom he clashed in Chicago), but he could be the hard voice the Knicks need after Thomas' Mr. Softee-like reign � if Milwaukee or someone else doesn't hire him first.

Tom Thibodeau: The former Jeff Van Gundy assistant would bring the same much-needed defensive mentality he has to the Celtics, but would avowed JVG-hater James L. Dolan accept him?

The 'B' list

Rick Carlisle: He might belong on the "A" list, having won 61 games in Indiana after Bird (exerting the clout that once was Walsh's) fired Thomas to hire him. But the Niles Crane look-alike has a history of being tough to work with.

Herb Williams: Some in the organization believe he deserves a true shot at the job after two interim stints, even if it's as caretaker until Walsh's salary-cap script reaches the 2010 free agent market.

Long shots

Patrick Ewing: Although he could get a courtesy interview, any return to New York likely would come to work with Curry (if he stays) as an assistant under Jackson, Thibodeau or Williams.

Jeff Van Gundy: May be best qualified candidate, but told the Houston Chronicle he won't coach next season and Dolan (who said that JVG "quit" on the team in 2002) could exert veto power.

� Steve Adamek

With Isiah Thomas' Knicks coaching career now over, Donnie Walsh will compile a list of potential replacements, which is expected to include the following names:

The 'A' list

Mark Jackson: The former Knick and Pacer would bring major positive PR and may be a long shot in terms of experience, but Walsh's Pacers reached three straight East finals and an NBA Finals with a coaching novice, Larry Bird.

Scott Skiles: His hiring could mean goodbye Eddy Curry (with whom he clashed in Chicago), but he could be the hard voice the Knicks need after Thomas' Mr. Softee-like reign � if Milwaukee or someone else doesn't hire him first.

Tom Thibodeau: The former Jeff Van Gundy assistant would bring the same much-needed defensive mentality he has to the Celtics, but would avowed JVG-hater James L. Dolan accept him?

The 'B' list

Rick Carlisle: He might belong on the "A" list, having won 61 games in Indiana after Bird (exerting the clout that once was Walsh's) fired Thomas to hire him. But the Niles Crane look-alike has a history of being tough to work with.

Herb Williams: Some in the organization believe he deserves a true shot at the job after two interim stints, even if it's as caretaker until Walsh's salary-cap script reaches the 2010 free agent market.

Long shots

Patrick Ewing: Although he could get a courtesy interview, any return to New York likely would come to work with Curry (if he stays) as an assistant under Jackson, Thibodeau or Williams.

Jeff Van Gundy: May be best qualified candidate, but told the Houston Chronicle he won't coach next season and Dolan (who said that JVG "quit" on the team in 2002) could exert veto power.

� Steve Adamek

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Vic Bit

Did I not elaborate on why Thomas would stay on.

Now there seems to be some speculation as to whether Thomas ouster from the HC and GM/President of Basketball Operations titles is either

a) some form of keeping Thomas in the loop and with some degree of reemerging in the future with the franchise, once Walsh retires;

or

b) a dignified why to effect Thomas's constructive discharge from the organization-think the movie office space, where that clerk kept getting reassigned to smaller offices, cubicles, then the basement, and they stopped effectively paying him.

Which one I don't know. I think the answer may be more towards a) b/c while he tried to approach his duties under the no rebuilding mantra, set out by Dolan, when it became painfully apparant that that route was faulty, the organization needed someone to take the bulls eye of Thomas, and sell rebuilding towards a 2010 free agent class. Hence enter Walsh. Why b/c the fans were not going to buy a change in tune from a head of organization who tried to sell them no rebuilding but failed in that objective.

What are the thoughts of the Fanatics?

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
MSM is mixed. Most got it right. The Daily News out of control. God help them.

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Mike

Welcome to Knicks fanatics.

Put forth your theory on why Thomas should have no part in the organization.

I put forth a week or so ago why I thought Isiah would stick around.

Namely that given in the next several years, the Knicks might be in position to draft high round talent, and that Thomas has a bonafide record of solid drafting and talent evaluation, which would seem to fit with the mandate of rebuilding but building towards competitiveness while freeing cap space for 2010. My theory goes this way, basically that in order to become talent the Knicks will have to do well in the draft. Thomas has done so with late to mid round picks, and that while in Toronto he drafted all star calibur talent with those high draft picks. young inexpensive talent fits perfectly into Donnie Walsh's mandate of rebuilding while clearing cap space.

Other factors I stressed in Isiah staying on was his obedience to his Bosses' mandates, (media policy) and resignation to take blame for the ordeal. Those factors speak to loyalty, which is a factor very important to Dolan.

Lastly, I pointed out that while the team will look to clear cap space by 2010- for the free agent spree- he will likely look to save cost within the organization. A precursor is suggested in the example of the Larry Brown firing, wherein Thomas was designated with the Head Coaching duties, whilie still having to work with some of Browns assistants- whom Dolan did not fire. Put this fiscal conservatism in a greater context of player personnel buyouts ot players, Isiah brought in (Rose, Taylor) and others bought out from the Layden regime, and there is a strong inference that Isiah would not be entirely removed from the organization.

Good luck mike, enjoy this forum, where looking for bloggers who can flesh out their arguments. We have a great debaters tradition on this blog.

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
On second thought MIKE,

you would drop down in a prone position and say

" Fuck...you won't believe who you meet on this interent!!!"

LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL!

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
LOL Mike,

You'd be surprised! LOL

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
A theory only you could love, Peaceman.

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Let's break this whole Illusion down! Basically the logic a friend of mine stated!

Isiah is not coach because Isiah never wanted to be the coach. He wanted to help shape the team. Dolan is keeping him on and paying him $18 million to work with the old man who said "I will talk to Isiah a lot." All marketing moves. He's being stripped of titles to appease the fans, but he is still an integral part of the organization because he has the ear and respect of the boss.

" I should have done this years ago " ( Taken a hands on postion years ago)

stated Simon, the Pacers CEO and now Hands on Owner!

The quote from Simon refers to him believing he should have taken the reins from Walsh a long time ago. Walsh has had three straight failing seasons. He had his authoirty whittled away to an incompetent Bird. It's a ruse. Isiah knows he won. Isiah is not gone because he did what Dolan asked him to do all season long. He sat Marbury. He lost games. He was a good soldier. Bravo to Dolan.

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Thank you Jesus.....

\"There is a God....somewhere\"

Arsenio Hall

Coming to America

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
I believe Walsh is nothing but a cover for Zeke!

Imagine I make 3 million more than you as executives..and I report to you? You would have to be an idiot to believe that!

I hope we swing a deal for Oneal and Give Ron Ron more incentive to come home! All we need now is Derrick Rose! This may be the Best Summer ever!

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Walsh fires Thomas, keeps him with the franchise for 'input'

ESPN.com news services

Updated: April 18, 2008, 5:29 PM ET

* Comment

* Email

* Print

NEW YORK -- At long last, Isiah Thomas is out as head coach of the New York Knicks.

But he's not totally gone.

In one of the most anticlimactic firings in NBA history, incoming Knicks president Donnie Walsh announced late Friday afternoon he was relieving Thomas of his coaching duties. But Thomas, still owed $18 million after receiving a long-term contract extension 13 months ago, will remain in the organization with no official title.

"I think Isiah remaining part of the franchise is good for the organization," Walsh said on a conference call with reporters. "I value Isiah's knowledge of the game and his opinions, so I will use him as a resource. Isiah will be reporting to me. There will be nobody reporting to Isiah."

Thomas was 56-108 in his two years as head coach, taking over following the firing of Larry Brown in the summer of 2006.

Walsh replaced Thomas as team president April 2 but wanted to wait until the season was over before making a decision on the coach. The Knicks finished their 23-59 season Wednesday, matching the franchise record for losses.

"I can't tell you really where we failed," Walsh said. "The bottom line is we haven't won, and the team didn't look like it was motivated to try to win."

Walsh, who has stated that his long-term goal for the Knicks was to get significantly under the salary cap by the summer of 2010, said he would begin the search for a new coach immediately. Former Knick Mark Jackson is among the candidates.

"I think there are a lot of good candidates out there, and I'm going to start compiling a list trying to find out who's the perfect guy," Walsh said. "I know Mark, I had a lot of respect for him as a player, he was one of the smartest guys that ever played for us in Indiana. He's always been a guy I thought would make a fine head coach, and I'll certainly interview him. He'll be one of the guys on my list, along with others."

Thomas' tenure with the Knicks has been marked by a number of embarrassments.

This season alone, Thomas was found to have sexually harassed a former team employee, feuded with point guard Stephon Marbury and benched center Eddy Curry -- the players Thomas acquired in the two biggest of a number of moves that never panned out.

Still, Walsh said he believed Thomas could contribute to making the Knicks a better franchise.

"I feel like some of the bigger events that happened on the way with Isiah overshadowed some of the good things" that he accomplished, Walsh said.

"I will be in touch with Isiah a lot," he said.

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Hey Lives!

You just can't whet folks appitite and then just abandon ship.

C'mon man you gotta do better than that.

We'll have to take back that Fanatic card from you.

Some nerve!

Priorities man! What could be more important?

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Peace/Barf:

I think this dude is saying this job aint that hard to do, plus he's the same age as Walsh.

He figured Walsh wasn't doing Jack for the past few years anyway, so he could do the same.

That's not good for our Knicks.

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
@peace

i dont know what to make of it.

maybe bird is on a short leash...or maybe it just means that donnie walsh was simon's main man. maybe outside of donnie walsh he wouldnt want to entrust the ceo-ship to anyone else. i think it means walsh is a great guy and worthy of trust.

but if he doesnt fire isiah soon, some fans will hate him forever...or at least until he does. some fans just want someone else to hate while the knicks lose.

i like isiah's style. blame the fans. hahahaha

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Good PM Fanatics!

You guys are simply hilarious! Modi and Statesman, great job last night! For some reason my system at home was acting up and I left the laptop in the office so I could not participate....Shame on me...LOL

@Peaeman, your posts on page 10 are funny as hell...Also quite interesting!

ONE LOVE !

Keep it CRACKIN!

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
States:

I know you would have a few tricks up that sleeve of yours.

This is gonna be interesting.

Hope I'm able to be around for round two.

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Hey Guys,

Check this out! Tell me what does this really mean!

BARF, whats your opinion?

Pacers co-owner taking 'hands-on' approach, appoints himself CEO

April 16, 2008

CBSSports.com wire reports

INDIANAPOLIS -- Indiana Pacers co-owner Herb Simon believes he's found the perfect person to take over after Donnie Walsh's departure -- himself.

Simon announced Wednesday that he is moving into day-to-day operations as chairman and CEO of Pacers Sports and Entertainment after years of mostly hands-off ownership. Walsh resigned last month after leading the Pacers for more than two decades, then accepted a job as president of the New York Knicks.

"When Donnie left, there was some reason for me to get more involved than I ever have been involved, and it's a time in my life ... where I have more time to devote to it," the 73-year-old Simon said.

Walsh had been both CEO and president of the Simon-owned company that runs the Pacers, the WNBA's Indiana Fever and Conseco Fieldhouse. Simon said the new president would be Jim Morris, a former president of the Lilly Endowment who has been an executive with the Pacers for the past year.

Larry Bird will remain as the team's president of basketball operations. Bird and Morris will report directly to Simon.

The Pacers reached the Eastern Conference finals six times and won the Central Division four times under Walsh. They made the NBA Finals in 2000, when they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers, and had the league's best record in 2004.

But the past three seasons have been a troublesome mix of losing and off-the-court problems. The Pacers have had back-to-back losing seasons for the first time since 1987-88 and 1988-89 and missed the playoffs for the second straight year.

Simon sees potential in the team, which enters Wednesday's game against New York having won 10 of 15.

"I'm getting energized myself over this, and I'm getting excited," he said. "I should have done this a long time ago. It seems like it's going to be hard work, but it's going to be rewarding, I believe, for everybody."

Brothers Herb and Mel Simon have owned the Pacers since 1983, but have allowed others to oversee things. Now, Herb Simon plans to look at the franchise from top to bottom and make it more responsive to fans and sponsors.

"Before, I was a 'hands on, hands-off' owner. Now, I'm going to be a 'hands-on, hands-on' owner," he said.

AP NEWS

The Associated Press News Service

Copyright 2007-2008, The Associated Press, All Rights Reserved

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
statesman, I got all hope in you.

bring it home!!!

I thought you were going to flip the argument about benching JCraw and QRich on him. What sense does it make to bench (or discipline in an other way) 2 more players when your leader, your supposed ace-boon-coon went AWOL PUBLICLY.

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
African,

Remember the prosecutor is able to present his case first. I have a few

surprises.

Peace & Blessings

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
That was some good shit last night.

Sorry I wasn't able to peek in.

So far, in my not so humble opinion, Modi won the first day.

You gotta step it up Statesman.

You gotta point out the talent level upgrade. (I shouldn't be coaching, but the case is in recess)

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
@Barf,

Whats next on the agenda is your call!

What is interesting is Theus has caused some friction

among the Kings calling Artest the best player!

Martin has commented on it already!

Salmon's must feel dissed, which means that

a J Oneal/Ron Artest reunion in NY will be welcome from not only us...

but by the Kings also! Two of Walsh's and Zeke's former boys!

The writing is on the walls!

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Peaceman

LMAO!

That's some funny shyt man!

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Isola is such an asshole! Here is his latest article today!

Note he use's "sources" = made up bullshit. Also note that his writing style

is caution about Walsh, in case Isola and his mythical "sources" prove to be the same bull he has been spewing the last 4 years!

There were two

NBA

head coaches fired Thursday and not one of them was named

Isiah Thomas

Yes, Thomas continues to defy the odds in his game of ultimate survivor, although his removal as

Knicks

coach is merely a formality. New Knicks president

Donnie Walsh

was holding exit interviews with players Thursday and a club spokesman sent word late in the afternoon that no announcement regarding Thomas' status was forthcoming.

So much for his bullshit! Is Isola stupid enough to think that Walsh did not

go through Dolan's anti NY Media 101 class?

Berman is still on Marbury's nutsack! This Neanderthal is still pimping Marbury!

Smart move by Zeke/Walsh/Dolan to build up his confidence until we see what the draft brings! If we get Rose, Marbury's ass will be on a rocket out of town so fast the offers in Italy will start for steph the minute the Knicks open their draft envelope!

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Awesome job fellas.

I can't believe how fast it all went. Sorry for not being in the mix.

MODI made some good pts. Statesman came through with that former San Antonio beatwriter info. And didn't I read it somewhere that the "straw poll" wasn't even Isiah's idea? That according to someone unidentified, the players came to him with their opinions. I got the impression that it wasn't a formal vote.

I always thought...that by Stephon being allowed to play, Isiah made it clear that he didn't want to demote Stephon but just hold him accountable. It backfired not because I.T. over-reacted (it was the first time he put Steph out there like that) but because of Steph's PUBLIC over-reaction (sending Berman emails).

After the PUBLIC Stephon fiasco, how would you expect Isiah to bench QRich or Jamal?

He was already short handed on guards so why would you bench JCraw? His best scorer and ball handler. If anything, JCraw deserves a lot of credit for holding it down as best he could. He's a sixth man on a good team and filled in as a starting PG/scoring SG in Steph's absence.

QRich is a battler. He's got more grit and fight than Balk or Jared. Isiah probably likes him too much personally to take him out of the starting lineup. That's his fault. QRich's bad performance should have been seen as an opportunity to develop both Jared and Balk at the SF...With Jared being so unpopular here, I can understand why he didn't take QRich out for him. But I think Balk would have been welcomed by the fans into the starting lineup.

But then again, if you start Balk at 3, fans will cry foul for not starting DLee instead. Really, coaching here, is all politics when ur losing. Isiah lost that game.

Good stuff guys.

What's next on the agenda?

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
LOL @ "Also your Honner, is there anyone is this court that finds ABS

remotely attractive enough to be sexually harrassed?"

The answer is no she is not. I'm surprised she's married. No blacks on jury = no perspective on slang or nuances in African American interaction with each other.

"No love today?" does not mean, "I want you to love me." Nor does it mean, "Why don't you love me anymore?" It's closer to, "Are you o.k., you seem to be acting differently toward me than you normally would. Is there something we need to discuss? Love actually has nothing to do with it. So the trial was in all actuality a successful shakedown. Let's see her get another job in the NBA. I would laugh and laugh.

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Interesting point someone brought up earlier about Phil Jackson and democracy on a team. After Pippen refused to re-enter a game in the final seconds, Jackson didn't punish him. After the game, he told his team to deal with Pippen in any way they saw fit, and left matters in the hands of his players. My point is, sometimes to earn your team's trust, you have to abide by what they want. Some guys like Brown, Karl, Carlisle and Skiles (and it seems, Avery Johnson) dictate pretty much everything to their team. And that's probably why they don't last very long in any one place.

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Good Job by everyone. To end this on a true story about Donnie Walsh's first day as Knick president.

How you doing today?", said Dolan to Walsh, "First day I see". Walsh replied with a nod.

In no time the two began talking up a storm. As the conversation began to drag on, the Dolan was eyeing the room filled with fresh flowers, cards and balloons from friends and relatives. He noticed a bowl full of peanuts sitting on top of the table next to Walsh's ID badge, and helped himself to a handful.

As the two continued to converse with each other, the Dolan kept eating more helpings of the peanuts. He looked at his watch and noticed that nearly 2 hours had passed and said, "My goodness, the time has gone by quickly. I have to tend to other people here too." "That's okay.", said Walsh, "I feel so much better being able to talk to someone." Looking into the bowl Dolan said, "I feel awful! I ate almost all of your peanuts!" Walsh responded, "That's okay. Ever since I got these false teeth, all I could do was suck the chocolate off of them anyhow

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
MODI

Your point regarding Isiah as a potentially valued person in the organization has merits. I will reserve a discussion on that topic for another day.

The court will recess,

Please contact the court clerk to schedule a follow hearing date.

I want to commend the counselors tonight for their diligence to the subject matter of the debate.

Peaceman,

Notify me of the follow up hearing date.

Good night everyone.

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
The prosecution will not bring up the ABS trial because the case is based on whether Mr. Thomas will be a good Knick coach in the future. The ABS trial is not relevant to this question. Not being able to run a last minute play besides a Jamal isolation at the top of the key is...

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Peaceman

LMFAO!

I will allow an argument on the basis of off the court distraction if Statesman will present such an argument.

As to your second question there is magic to items such as Bear Goggles, long term prison sentences, whcih deprive the incarcerated of contact with the opposite sex, and unabated homelyness.

That is the only commetary I will submit on that matter.

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Recess is fine.

The prosecution is only trying for the dismissal of the defendant as coach. The prosecution believes there is a valuable role to be played by Thomas. Thomas is already on the payroll and and has a long history of being one of the most astute drafters in the NBA. As the Knicks approach its most pivotal pick this summer since Mr. Ewing, it would be a waste not to utilize that kind of talent that has been already paid for.

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
( From the court Clerk)

Judge, did either the Plantiff or defense mention the

ABS depridation that preceeded the season.

Also your Honner, is there anyone is this court that finds ABS

remotley attractive enough to be sexually harrassed?

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Statesman

Do you acede to the prosecutions submission of the following items as P-1 for the record?

Will both counselors stipulate to a recess for another evening?

Seems Statesman may have to attend to other matters.

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
http://www.basketball-reference.com/fc/pgl.cgi?player=marbust01&year=2007

Sure your honor, the above link is the game logs of Stephon Marbury last season. If you take the half season from game 22 (post-Francis) through Game 62 (pre-francis return/injuries) you will find a significant statistical improvement. While the prosecution has not crunched the numbers, he estimates about a 5 point increase in scoring, and an icrease in shooting % as well. When this is coupled with the 21-20 records, the prosecution will rest on these personal AND team stats.

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Can we stipulate that a better name for David Lee should be

\" \" Lee, to account for his lack of \"D!\"

MODI will you acede to a recess.

I will allow the visitors of this blog to access the record of these proceedings and provide their vote and reason for either preserving Thomas or dismissing.

As the Judge I will also ask whether Thomas should be retained by the Knicks in any capacity? And if so. Why?

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
we agree that D-Lee can't play D, but the prosecution believe he is a much better starting fit on offense because he does not need the ball like Zach, but can mop up Zach's rebounds while Curry gets Zachs points while shooting a much higher %. The Knicks absorb Zach's flaws while his talents are unnecessary on the Knicks.

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
MODI

Please submit additional evidence, stats, records etc to advance your theory that Marbury was not properly accesorized with a lineup which best complimented his skillset, and maximized team scoring and defensive efficiency.

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Recess please

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Statesman

Your rebuttle regarding the authority of the coach in the league- Popovich, Jackson etc- is also noted for the record.

MODI please respond to the defenses above mentioned theories.

The \"missing engine\" theory.

The sole authority of the coach over \"democratic participation of the team\" theory.

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
The prosecution agrees that marbury is the best Knick point guard, but NOT in a 5-scorer line-up -- which nullifies both his strengths. The only full month Marbury played he averaged 5.3 assists.

The prosecution also agrees that Curry and Steph played better last year, but disagree why. Let the record show that it was the REMOVAL of a ill-fitting piece (Starting Francis) that precipitated marbury's rise. After Francis was removed from the starting line-up, the Knicks proceed to go 21-20 for the next HALF-A-Season until major injuries hit, and you guessed it -- Francis was back starting again.

This years was deja vu, except the Francis problem became the Zach randolph problem. Different year and new scorer who hogs the ball, ignores his teamates, and renders Marbury's talents meaningless. The stats and records show that the line-up matters for Marbury to perform.

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Modi,

I believe that Q made attempts on the defensive side. The most under-reported story in New York is the terrible D, that DLee plays. At the end of the year when the Knicks won 3 in a row, what stood out was that during the last 7-9 minutes of each game Lee & Randolph were on the bench.

Steph tried playing D.

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Statesman

Your theory of the missing engine is noted for the record, and it is on MODI to rebut this theory, and or at least question it's dispositiveness to the ultimate question of whether it was Thomas and not just a missing engine spoiled the Knicks' season.

MODI

Please present your rebuttle.

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
( Courtroom Applause(

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Judge,

The straw poll was taken to gauge were the team stood regarding the issue.

You can't have a democracy and win in the NBA. Do you believe that Phil Jackson looks to his team for decisions? Pop?, D'Antonio. You guys are putting to much into a straw poll.

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
MODI

So your saying that b/c all the above referenced startin 5 needed touches, it hindered their full effectiveness on the Offensive side?

Did any of the above referenced 5 have skill sets or a disposition to play the defensive side of the ball that would have offset their diminished production on offense that resulted from Thomas's scorer saturated lineup?

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Modi,

The Knicks were low on assist because their point guard missed most of the season. Steph was the engine. Without Steph, Dlee,Balk games regressed because when they slashed to the basket the guards did not give them the ball. Curry played better w/ Steph last year. He and Jamal have the lob pass down, but nothing else. Without Steph, or any pure point the assist total declined because the finishers tried to create their shots. Selfishness was not the reason the Knicks were low i assist.

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
The evidence from the Sporting News writer is admitted into evidence as D-1

Statesman please furnish an answer to MODI's question as why the straw poll wasn't honored?

A consensus was eventually reached either by manipulation or what not but it wasn't honored.

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
yes, all of the 5 players starting need touches to be effective. David lee does not, Balkman does not, Jeffries does not. At least one or two of these people should have been starting to satisfy \"the scorer within\" the other players. This is coaching 101!

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Stateman

Where the above mentioned-Curry, Q, etc- more productive with the ball?

Did they have other talents, or skill sets or did they direct their efforts to play both sides of the ball?

MODI

Are you trying to say that the above mentioned players needed more touches to be effective?

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
I will be happy to the knicks assists totals on record and the decide if the following individuals \\\"need the ball\\\" to be effective:

Marbury

Craw

Q

Zach

Curry

Too many line-up issue to be stuck on one: How can you justify continuing to start Eddy and Zach together despite getting crushed statistically during every first quarter?

The prosecution will accept the Rose testimony despite its holes. And the question remains: why even have a straw poll if you were not prepared to honor it?

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Well I can tell you that the reporter that broke the story on the straw poll and

all 14 guys voting to bench Steph is a reporter for the sporting news, who used to be the beat writer for the Spurs. Rose is the only ex-Spur on the team. Pop traded Rose because he was very political in San Antone. He started to influence Tim Duncan, and Pop shipped his azz out. I do not believe that he changed onced he arrived in New York.

Local papers were always quoting Rose as a leader. How could the 12-13 man be a leader. Rose

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Juror# 5 needs to go to the bathroom,he is out for the night.

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Statesman

What corrobarating evidence can you present or do you have to support your theory of a rigged/spiked poll tally?

Also please respond to MODI's question regarding the 5 man scoring lineup?

What is your rebuttle?

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Modi,

Facts are what we will discuss. As I stated previosly Q could not creat his own shot, so that is one guy there that does not need the ball, he's more of a finisher. Curry cannot create his own shot, so that is another guy that is a finisher. Zach provided the PHYSICAL presence that was needed. The other guys are nice guys, but Zach plays physical and hits the boards. Jamal was to relieve the ball-handling from Steph and allow him to play off the ball at times.

It is incorrect to state that Isiah started 5 guys that needed the ball.

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Does the defense have any evidence of his vetaran Malik Rose theory or is he merely speculating?

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
( Courtroom breaks out in laughter at defense's last responds)

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
The 5 scorer lineup:

Most good teams have three legitimate scorers in their starting line-up and two others happy to defer while they focus on other aspects of basketball (4-1 ratio at most). The Knicks essentially cancel each other�s strengths out by starting five players who all need the ball to be effective. Even worse, having too many scorers breeds more selfishness and less passing. Of course, the Knicks are last in the league in assists. Last year the nice storyline was that �The Denver fight brought the Knicks together� so the Knicks started winning. The truth is that the demotion of Steve Francis couple with the suspensions depleting the bench, forced line-up changes, and allowed guys like Marbury and Curry to find a rhythm and Lee and Balkman to shine after getting additional minutes. There was balance. Isiah must explain why he went to a lineup that has virtually no historical precedence of success...

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Also veterans can manipulate straw polls for political reasons. In Chicago Ben Wallace led the team to ask that Noah be sent down an additional game. Did anyone think that maybe Ben felt pressure from Noah and wanted to embarass him.

In the case of the Knicks, I felt Rose pressured the guys to vote in an attempt to gain leadership. Do you believe that you can get 15 guys to agree on something? Heck they could not even agree on which gentleman's club to attend in Atlanta.

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
MODI

You may proceed with your argument regarding the 5 scorer lineup.

Statesman

please respond to MODI's question about the inconsistency of the straw poll followed by the starting of Marbury.

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Is it not true that at times to correct the individual the team has to suffer?

Why say you Counselor Statesman.

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
About steph: If you felt that you owed it to Steph to play him, then why did you take the straw poll in the first place?

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Yes, your honor: I would like to address "the 5 scorer line-up". I have never seen a line-up be successful with 5 players who need the ball. Why wouldn't coach Isiah mix in two players in the starting lineup who don't need the ball?

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
I felt I owed it to the team to play Steph. If you remember Steph came back because N8, hurt himself and we were short on guards. If I did not play Steph, and we had only Mardy (who wasn't fully recovered from the injury), it would have been a disservice to the team. Please recall Steph played a lot of minutes because we were short-handed. Also remeber that Zach had to leave, due to his grandmother's illness.

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
The defense would accept such logic for maybe the first 10 games or even 20 games, but after off-season back surgery and a hyper extended elbow, it was clear that Q was no longer the best "pure shooter' on any team. Clear to anyone, but you. No further questions on Q. Moving on: If you had the team take a straw poll about Marbury, then why did you ignore it?

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
MODI

What is your response?

Is there another theory you wish to advance regarding the poor shooting of the team, and or the overall decline in team and individual play?

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
The jury is blinded by Isiah's smile.

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Good question,

The old school basketball in me says "there's only one way out of a slump",

"keep shooting".

What you failed to realize counselor is that w/ a 3pt shooter in the game, it becomes easier for everyone. Eddy & Zach would have more room to operate.

W/ Q I was attempting to spread the floor, to allow Eddy & Zach single coverage. Q started because he was considered our best pure shooter. With a shooter you have to believe that they are one game away from breaking out of their slump.

Q was not our only issue w/ shooting. If you look our 2 & 3 positions did not shoot weel all year.

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
What is your response to that question Counselor Statesman?

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
( Whispers from the back of the courtroom....He called Q a suck ass? lol)

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
In the interest of time, I'll let the Q not shooting over 50 for 50 games rest on its own merits and accept whatever pathetic response the defense may offer. Let's move on. If you had the team take a straw poll about Marbury, then why did you ignore it?

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
You may respond Statesman.

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Has the prosecutors rested their case.

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Isiah states: "Q, can't create his own shot, but he is a good shooter when he catches in rhythm. One of the reason for his disappointing year was w/ Steph ou,t there was not anyone driving, drawing the defense, and Q spotting

up for the jump-shot. He tried to create his shot and always had a hand in his face."

Q Richardson started over FIFTY games without once shooting over 50%. Exactly how many hands were in his face? Q was still starting months after Marbury was out for season. If Q still couldn't shoot, wouldn't it be incumbent on the coach to remove him? So the direct question for the defense is: Exactly how many games must go by without being able to make more shots than miss before you conclude as a coach that a player sucks ass?

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
That is contempt DVOJ

Such a style is beneath your candidacy. How will you carry all those swing states with such commentary?

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Negro please!!!!

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Marbury was the engine. If Marbury was on his game then everyone else's game is better. Q, can't create his own shot, but he is a good shooter when he catches in rhythm. One of the reason for his disappointing year was w/ Steph ou,t there was not anyone driving, drawing the defense, and Q spotting

up for the jump-shot. He tried to create his shot and always had a hand in his face. There is a reason why last year w/ Steph, before the injury Q was on.

Jamal was the only (quasi) point-guarde after Steph. I had to keep him out there.

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Counselor Statesman

The prosecution makes a strong point regarding the inconsistency of Coach Thomas's efforts at enforicing team accountability.

What say you in rebuttal?

You may also submit the taped testimony, but please explain its relevance to this matter.

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Citizen DVOJ

Please understand that your tampering with these proceedings does little to enhance your candidacy for Lead Flopper of the blogosphere... er president.

So that end please desist from interrupting these proceedings.

You will have your opportunity to participate, in due course.

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Tech difficulties 3 times, sorry your honor: will retype:

Can Isiah please explain how Marbury was bench for accountability, but jamal and Q never were?

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Counselor Statesman.

I will direct MODI to respond to your interpretation of events, and to respond to my inquiry.

My question to you is that if Thomas undertook actions to hold the team accountable by specifically targeting Marbury, then why did he not follow through, and act on the results of the supposed poll he took of the rest of the team?

That failure to carry out an objective, may be construed as weaking your theory that Thomas's actions with regard to MeBury were at all forceful or sufficient enough to achieve the coaches objective of acquiring team accountability.

What say you Counselors?

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Judge please Warn Mr. Obama that he will be hels in contemp!

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
The defense is ready w/ taped testimony.

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Has Isiah been offered a chance to plea guilty?

I think he would rather do that than drag this thing

out in court.

Get him the fu&k out of NYC!!!!!!!!!!!!

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Counselor MODI

Please proceed and explain the casual connection to the above noted coaching actions, and how they impacted the teams performance.

Flesh out the argument if you will.

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Prosecutor,

Please respond to answer

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
LMAO....Billy King is taking shots are Isola !!!!

LMAO!!!!!

This is great.

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Your honor, I believe the question has merit all by itself considering Isiah would not bench Q no matter what and would not give Jamal a breather no matter how atrocious his defense. It displays an inexplicable inconsistency that needs some explainin'

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Mr. Marbury was benched in an attempt to light a fire under the team. The team played lackadaisical in the previous game against Miami. Steph made some crucial errors. This was to show that the leader was being held accountable, and so would everyone else.

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Counselor MODI

Is that a rhetorical question?

Or are you suggesting that his benching of Marbury was the wicker that lit the fuse in the room filled with cooking gas?

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Prosecutor,

I agre. It is hard to prosecute Isiah.

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Mr. Obama,

Although there is certainly a meritorious and colorable case for the dismissal of the defendant, Isiah Lord Thomas.

This forum seeks to provide an extrapolation of the record, and provide the defendant the due process of this forum.

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Okay, let's start with the big one on the night of Nov. 12?

1) an incensed Thomas overreacts and tells Marbury that he will not start the next game; 2) An incensed Marbury overreacts and goes AWOL after allegedly issuing threats to Isiah; 3) Marbury comes back to team after missing a game; 4) team allegedly takes straw poll to see if Marbury should play; Allegedly, the poll answer is �no�; 5) Isiah plays Marbury anyway; 6) Because of benching fiasco, Isiah�s influence over Marbury may be permanently lost; 7) Because Thomas ignores straw poll, his influence over entire team may be permanently lost.

Question: Why did you bench Marbury?

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
It appears that the prosecutor was borrowed from the Liberty 7 case.

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
DLT

Gentlemen of the Jury. There will be a time for deliberation, and I will allow all jurors to present a question and or be direct, and or cross examined. But first I which to hear Counselor Modi's deliberations on his abovereferenced charges.

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Kind of funny seeing Billy King and Isola on the same show.

They are previewing the playoffs on NBA TV together.

Asking if Isiah should be fired is like asking if a monkey likes bananas.

Yes and Yes fellas.....

Change in 08.....

The revolution will not be televised....neither will the firing!

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
MODI please proceed on with one of the above mentioned counts.

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
No playsoffs again...........he has gotta go!

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
I select 2 & 3.

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Counselor MODI

Your Charges are noted.

You may proceed on any of the above counts.

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
off wif hiz head!

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
........................??????

What's up?

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Gentlemen, it appears that MODI has been assasinated by Jamal Crawford. I suggest that the whoever was second chair for Modi begin to present the case or that the judge call a witness.

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Ladies and gentleman of the jury, please excuse the delay due to tech difficulties. Besides the prosecutor has a problem: he just doesn't know where to start.

1) The night of November 12, 2007? The night that Marbury and then the season was lost?

2) Isiah's ridiculous 5-Scorer Line-up?

3) His refusal to separate Eddy Curry and Zach Randolph?

4) Quentin Richardson?,

5) Substitution Patterns?

6) Inability to Developing Talent?

7) Having no play at the end of games except for a Jamal isolation?

8) Some other stuff I forgot?

The defense may pick any topic...

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Statesman

It seems like you have intimidated the Prosecutor into dropping his argument.

Counselor MODI

Understand that the court is awaiting your argument.

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
I will sign in as Admin to see what is going on.

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Does this mean the case is thrown out, and I win?

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Perhaps the prosecutor is at a loss for words.

LOL!

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
LIVES, hovering in and out of the room but unable to comment.

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Peaceman Present!

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
DLT in the house!

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Ok then lets get started.

MODI Proceed with your prosecution of Isiah.

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Welcome Counselor.

Please hold for a blog Roll.

then you may present your case.

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Statesman,

On board.

Peace & Blessings

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
The prosecutor had reported in, got a bit delayed at the MSG security desk...

In response to: The Trial of Isiah

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Welcome to the trial of the Year People v. Isiah I

I call for a blog roll.

Afterwhich MODI may begin with his prosecution of the case.

In response to: WARNERBROTHER " OK, I WILL" IT'S MARK JACKSON!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Thanks a lot for a bunch of good tips. I look forward to reading more on the topic in the future. Keep up the good work! This blog is going to be great resource. Love reading it.

................................

good term paper-essay writing help

In response to: WARNERBROTHER " OK, I WILL" IT'S MARK JACKSON!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Clippers to deal with draft lottery anxiety twice

Because the Clippers ended the season 23-59, tied with the New York Knicks for the league's fifth-worst record, today NBA executive Stu Jackson is scheduled to pull a ping-pong ball that will determine which club has a higher percentage chance of landing the top draft pick.

If he pulls a ball with a Clippers logo, the Clippers will receive an 8.8% chance of landing the top pick. If it is a Knicks logo, the Clippers will have 6.3% odds for the first pick.

The draft's lottery is May 20, and the NBA draft is on June 26.

In response to: WARNERBROTHER " OK, I WILL" IT'S MARK JACKSON!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
LOL BARF

Vicbit, Peacman, Statesman, all brothers

It's like going up against a wall

but we keep on keeping on with the innovative angle

and for that we've known the journey of becoming true blogfugees!

In response to: WARNERBROTHER " OK, I WILL" IT'S MARK JACKSON!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
HAHAHA

Phuck JVG. Phuck Asshola. Phuck a fake pen.

MSG is business as usual. Phuck these lame ass reporters. Report the news, not the gossip.

Next year will be another yr of media hell.

Stop firing coaches already. Start firing some of these reporters.

They had their time to shine in the Ewing era. They chose to squander that away by alienating our local bball heroes to the point where the casual fans would boo our most hard working leaders. Now, with lesser talent and at a more vulnerable period of the franchise, these reporters (and their snobby fans) stick to their own self created "high standards" for the franchise.

Go back a winner and let the loser Knicks alone while they rebuild already. Let us lowly fans have our Knick team back, warts and all. Ya'll can get back on the bandwagon when they are winning again. We'll let ya'll back on after paying your service fee.

Good to see Walsh has a sense of humor. Good to see he doesn't take Bermans suggestion (he reported that he was the one who asked about JVG) any more serious than we take Bermy. Phuck Berman. He got herbed by a 67 yr old man. hahaha

"yeah sure bermy. I got my air pen out right now jotting that name down...jeff van gun...dy...got it! thanks. I hadn't even thought of him before you jackass!"

I would hate it too if these nerdy ass writers kept trying to tell me how to do my phucking job. Walsh has been doing his executive work longer than most of these fools have been doing their writing "work". they cry and moan about how dishonest isiah treats them but they lack respect in general. they are turning on walsh and he's been in office...for what...1 month?

Phucking fools. We know more about "unnamed sources" and the MSG hierarchy than we do about the individual players. When's the last time you read a good/in-depth bio on any of the players? Has their even been any?

Why would MSG give any of these fools any kind of access? They'd find a way to make a feel good piece scandalous. Its like feeding a pig filet mignon.

In response to: WARNERBROTHER " OK, I WILL" IT'S MARK JACKSON!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
I agree OB and Peaceout, the haters from the Daily Planet have turned on Walsh already. But that's what they do. I wish things would turnaround fast just like it did for the Giants. The Planet forgets that they all but ran both Eli and Coughlin out of town before the playoff run. All Planet writers and hypocrites now are kissings their respective asses.

In response to: WARNERBROTHER " OK, I WILL" IT'S MARK JACKSON!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
I predicted that it's just a matter of time before the NY MSM

start their hate campain against Walsh!

They will continue as long as Zeke is an empolyee.

They don't want to give any credit to Walsh ....

only to find out Zeke was behind the moves!

In response to: WARNERBROTHER " OK, I WILL" IT'S MARK JACKSON!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Yo Vicbit

My impression of the daily sleuth is of a tabloid akin in tone to the voicepieces and idealogues of the republican party. I say that in that these tabloid hacks find an angle beat it to a pulp use their pulpit, the print media to insist that that position is not only valid but correct and irefutable.

Since when has an "un-named source" ever held up under any real test of authenticity, especially when such sources are not subject to scrutiny.

It's basically like the Reps insisting on the validity, morally and geopolitically, of the Iraq war, with the smoke and mirrors show and sleight of hand. But in the end who ends up fitting the bill? The people!

The Knicks are like a piece of doe that these tabloid pundits play with!

No wonder the team has no stability and clear overiding object b/c the organization sees more changes at positions of authority than that of a Banana Republic!

I'm done for the day.

In response to: WARNERBROTHER " OK, I WILL" IT'S MARK JACKSON!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
The Daily Inema is sanitation. That tabloid is out of control. We need to start a revolution against that madness. Your thoughts?

In response to: WARNERBROTHER " OK, I WILL" IT'S MARK JACKSON!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
I am now legit. Thanks States for your help, holla!!!!!!!!

In response to: WARNERBROTHER " OK, I WILL" IT'S MARK JACKSON!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Another reason you should change your name to Davonn Hillary Jefferson.

You keep changing the rules to fit your purpose!

Now, it's which team wins the head to head match-ups?

You're reaching Hillary.

Take that Obama from your name. That's the change we need.

Paul is the man.

In response to: WARNERBROTHER " OK, I WILL" IT'S MARK JACKSON!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Asswhola is at it again!

Now he's citing unamed sources, and appears to be ending his honeymoon with Donnie Walsh.

Check out this blurb from his article, the full piece of shyt can be read at the following hyperlink.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/knicks/2008/04/21/2008-04-21_isiah_thomas_is_not_fired_just_banned.html

"One report, citing an unnamed source who was with Walsh during Friday's conference call in which Walsh officially removed Thomas as coach, suggested that the new team president mocked a reporter's question as to whether Van Gundy would be a candidate. According to the source, Walsh made a gesture with a fake pen and pretended to write Van Gundy's name as if he were adding the former Knick coach to a make-believe list.

If the source is suggesting that Walsh was never going to consider Van Gundy for the job, it makes Walsh look bad on many levels. Why would Walsh ridicule the third- winningest coach in franchise history, who also happens to be the people's choice for the job, and yet go out of his way to publicly praise Thomas, who was arguably the worst coach in team history and despised by fans?

Also, if Walsh was just paying lip service to the suggestion that Van Gundy is a candidate, was he also not being forthcoming when he said that Dolan "absolutely had no input" with the decision to reassign Thomas?

Either way, Walsh learned a lesson about trusting this organization as he tries to familiarize himself with employees. Walsh seems sincere about wanting to revamp the club's notorious media policy, yet less than a month into the job he already has been embarrassed twice by his own staff.

Ten days ago, his interview with reporters was documented by a media relations official without Walsh's knowledge. This week, a private moment was leaked as a way to humiliate Van Gundy, but it instead made Walsh look petty and vindictive.

Moreover, Van Gundy has been effusive in his praise of Walsh and even eliminated a potentially awkward situation by essentially saying on Saturday that he had no interest in returning to coaching and that Jackson was the right - and only - man for the Knicks' job."

Is Asswhola not the homo version of that chick from the show Dirt?

In response to: WARNERBROTHER " OK, I WILL" IT'S MARK JACKSON!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Paul had another good game.

To bad he can't lead his team to victory over the

other MVP candidates (Kobe) team.

If I recall...the Lakers swept them this year.

Kobe averaged over 30 for that series.

Just a reminder for my brethren so you won't

be surprised when the award is announced.

I'm not taking anything away from Paul.

In response to: WARNERBROTHER " OK, I WILL" IT'S MARK JACKSON!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
O&B

I'm not sure if Modi and Statesman want to continue

after the fact? I'm down if they do!

BTW Hoopshype have picked there NBA awards,

with Kobe edgeing out Paul for MVP, Byron Scott COY.

KG DPOY, Ginobilli 6thMOY, Durant ROY,

Where's Cooley been?

In response to: WARNERBROTHER " OK, I WILL" IT'S MARK JACKSON!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Hey dudes

My league MVP is none other than...

Stephon MeBury (MVP = Most Volatile Palyer)

Lead the league in number of bi-polar episodes, schizophrenic breakdowns, and multiple personality disorders.

On the real, my vote goes to Chris Paul.

African and Statesman, arguments suffice for my reasoning.

So Peace are we doing a redux on the trial or are we scratching that experiment for now?

Lives has some great ideas should we go foward. If so I intend on consulting with the brother.

In response to: WARNERBROTHER " OK, I WILL" IT'S MARK JACKSON!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Ha,Ha, Ha,

This just in from Bermey's new post!

Though Van Gundy dreams of one day returning to coaching, he acknowledged Saturday Jackson is best for the job now, calling it "a one-horse race." Van Gundy might have inside knowledge, considering he worked on some playoff telecasts in San Antonio this weekend.

Walsh said he would put Van Gundy on the list. But a source said when a reporter asked if Van Gundy would be interviewed, Walsh made a gesture with a fake pen and pretended to write a name as he said, "Well, you just brought his name up. I'll put him on the list. I'm compiling that list right now."

"Man, he must be desperate," Van Gundy said Saturday.

What Bermey and Van Gundy missed is that Walsh don't have that kind of "sense of Humor."

The Old man is freaken showing sign's of Dementia.......

Writing with a fake pen???? LOL ..Whatever Walsh says from now on

can be blamed on his "Condition." LOL, This year is going to be fun!

In response to: WARNERBROTHER " OK, I WILL" IT'S MARK JACKSON!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Neither is a Knick so in the end it doesn't really matter which one gets picked.

In response to: WARNERBROTHER " OK, I WILL" IT'S MARK JACKSON!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Paul is the real deal. However, I'm still going with Kobe for MVP. This is the first time I can say he has learned when to turn it on. His team play and strong defense this year has catapulted him over Paul IMO. Chris Paul's 21.1 ppg 11.6 apg, 4.0 rpg 2.7 spg shooting 48% from the field, 85% from the line, and 37% from three is comparable to Kobe's 28.3 ppg, 5.4 apg, 6.3 rpg, 1.8 spg shooting 46% from the field, 84% from the line and 36% from three. So in this coin flip I'm going with Kobe.

In response to: WARNERBROTHER " OK, I WILL" IT'S MARK JACKSON!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Couldn't have said it any better Statesman.

During the telecast. Breen had the lie of the night.(To me)

He said. "Odom is one of the most versatile players in the entire league."

Kinda been reading my post here at the Fanatics.

In response to: WARNERBROTHER " OK, I WILL" IT'S MARK JACKSON!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Barf,

You just reinforced why Paul is the MVP. The LAkers have surrounded Kobe w/ a super versatile small forward in Odom, and a super versatile forward in Gasol. The point is that Kobe has a better team, that won only a few more games than Paul's team that has less talent. Kobe is a great player, but

Paul is THIS YEAR'S MVP.

Peace & Blessings

In response to: WARNERBROTHER " OK, I WILL" IT'S MARK JACKSON!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
VicbBit,

I had that same problem. What I realized was that I registered as a member without completing the process, (your e-mail verification). Your registration is not complete so your Vic Corbit registration is on hold until you address the message sent to your e-mail address.

Peace & Blessings

In response to: WARNERBROTHER " OK, I WILL" IT'S MARK JACKSON!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Peace..good write up dude. You need to continue with that...you done did good.

Vic...I would help if I could but I have never experienced login problems.

Maybe you registered a typo'ed name? If anything, re-register with the correct name and I will delete the wrong one.

We got this!

In response to: WARNERBROTHER " OK, I WILL" IT'S MARK JACKSON!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Kobe still had a good game. My goodness. He went to the line 14 times and made 13. They paid an awful lot of attention to him throughout and I think that accounts for how the number of easy bucket Gasol came up with. What's more impressive is how Gasol grabbed 16 boards and 8 assists too. They've managed to surround Kobe with a super versatile SF in OdOm and a super versatile PF in Gasol. They are both long and tall at every position except PG. Lakers are going to be hard to beat especially when Bynum comes back off the bench.

I really don't think Denver has much of a shot to make it out of the first round unless Melo mans up. That kid doesn't have enough of a killer's streak to take over a game on the defensive end and in the playoffs that's really the only end that counts.

When Melo and Ivy combine for 50 shots and only 22 makes...and Kenyon gets only 5 on 1-7 shooting...they are doomed. And, for me, thats a typical Denver game.

Funny, what a little typo reveals.

Denver? D-Never! That's about right.

LA in 5. (First round is a seven game series right?)

In response to: WARNERBROTHER " OK, I WILL" IT'S MARK JACKSON!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
I'm having problems logging on. Can someone help? I have to misspell my name to post. African is right. Paul abused Kidd verbally and physically. I loved it.

In response to: WARNERBROTHER " OK, I WILL" IT'S MARK JACKSON!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
States, thats my point. King built that team. Most ballers know that. Some blinded individuals will credit Stefanski but we know better

In response to: WARNERBROTHER " OK, I WILL" IT'S MARK JACKSON!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Fanatics,

Don't expect to hear from Davonn Clinton Jefferson until Kobe has a good game. The Lakers win that game without Kobe. That was not Kwame Brown with 35 points and 16 rebounds., that was Gasol an allstar. Also let's not forget Odum.

Paul controlled the game, the flow. If he played in a bigger media market he would be the run-away MVP.

Billy King deserves credit for Phiily resurgence. He put that team together and now they are winning. He and Cheeks deserve the credit, but somehow

Stefanski will get credit. Explain ?

Peace & Blessings

In response to: WARNERBROTHER " OK, I WILL" IT'S MARK JACKSON!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Barf:

I told you before, Scott plays Pargo and Paul for long stretches. Pargo is a very good shooter,(Not Saturday) so he lives off the attention paid to Paul.

Kidd would get his numbers, but in all they mean nothing. He leads the league in meaningless tripple doubles.

How about West giving some dimples to Dirk?

Dirk had to do something about that. C'mon, this dude had his hands in your face, and no reaction! Dirk acted like a little bitch. This is the playoffs.

West won that psychology game. That's not good for Dallas for the rest of the series.

In response to: WARNERBROTHER " OK, I WILL" IT'S MARK JACKSON!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Peace:

My boy was talking to Kidd all night.

"You can't guard me"

"How old are you now? 45?"

"Do you call that guarding me?"

"Aren't you supposed to be a big defensive player?"

This guy is going to win that award for the next three years.

The problem is that most people don't see them play.

Look out NBA. Pay attention.

In response to: WARNERBROTHER " OK, I WILL" IT'S MARK JACKSON!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Chris Paul played big no doubt. We'll see how the Playoffs shape up before I take back or regret my vote.

Hornets vs Dallas is by far my most favorite matchup of the playoffs.

For NOH...Dallas, to me, isn't much of a test.

Dampier was shit. Chandler owned him. 15 rebounds to Damp's 4 smells foul.

Dirk against David West? Very much like Dirk vs Stephen Jackson. West had 4 blocks or something. Very active on D. Dirk played big though so I give him credit for keeping his head in the game.

Josh Howard vs Peja? Howard had a solid game. Peja filled in ok.

Stack vs Mo Peterson? Mo didn't do much. Bonzi Wells came in and filled in pretty well. Jannero Pargo came in at the point and move Chris Paul to the SG. They ran that lineup pretty well. Chris Paul was a beast adding 4 steals to his 35 pts, 10 assists, 1 block and 1 turnover. Pretty f--king amazing statline.

JKidd, my main man, almost tallied a triple double. Missing it by an assist and a rebound. He had 4 turnovers though. That doesn't bode well if he can't keep young Paul from swiping his cookies.

Dallas may fall off the face of the Earth if they lose in the first round again. First GS, now NOH. Ouch!

But, as for Paul, he's the real deal. There's no doubt about it.

In response to: WARNERBROTHER " OK, I WILL" IT'S MARK JACKSON!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
LOL African,

Chris Paul is the MVP no matter how the MSM vote!

DLT, O&B , Barf, Lives, Statesman, Jaybee, Modi,

Force MD'S.....who's your MVP??????

In response to: WARNERBROTHER " OK, I WILL" IT'S MARK JACKSON!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
With Mark Jackson as coach, the message would be lets tank for a few years.

That doesn't get me excited about Knicks basketball.

Did anyone see my MVP this weekend?

I'm not talking Kobe.Kenyon Martin had him shooting bricks all night long. 9-26

I'm talking Chris Paul! Mr Paul to you Barf and Lives. I call him "Poetry in Motion"

DVJ

How's that sweep prediction working? Empty barrels make the most noise.

In response to: WARNERBROTHER " OK, I WILL" IT'S MARK JACKSON!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Yow!

I tried posting on the weekend, but for some reason it wouldn't go through.

In response to: WARNERBROTHER " OK, I WILL" IT'S MARK JACKSON!

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Fanantics....

Just wanted to get one step ahead of the MSM!

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Hey does anyone think that either Garnett or Perkins get suspended for game 5 of Celtics v. Hawks?

Garnett for that elbow he threw at the Georgian player, and Perkins for leaving the bench.

I doubt it b/c the script is written to favor the Celtics. The Hawks winning the last two is just to throw off those who figure their is a script for the Celtics this year.

They ought to win the next two games, every NBA analyst figures that the two games Atlanta got will be the only games they'll get in this series.

Watch Stern not suspend Garnett, the highly lauded superstar, and Perkins, while Williams of the Hawks will be suspended.

You all know about David Stern's style of N.B.A. justice. just recall how Pierce choked Crawford, and the league never took any action.

N.B.A.

We all know what that means!

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
On the Max Kellerman Show, there was a report that Mike Fratello would like to be considered- ergo interviewed- for the Knicks's coaching vacancy.

However, in that same report, it was noted that the Knicks's organization is not interested in securing the services of Fratello.

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Kenny Smith enters Knicks' radar

Frankie Ice writes! You never know with anything Frankie writes but

I like the "JET" ...he has 2 chips!

According to Bermey

Rick Pitino, who ran the New York Knicks from 1987 to 1989, said he's done with coaching in the NBA and would not be interested if Donnie Walsh came calling.

Too bad, this team is built for a Pitino type coach!

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
LOL JayBee,

DVJ, I'm with you there!

Let me be the first to say that it would not surprise me

if the first team to ever come back from 0-3 in the playoffs

has the names NASH, AMARE and SHAQ on the same team!

If they win today ....the Spurs will find it HARD to close them out!

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Sam Vincent fired and Doo Doo Brown quits in the same week...methinks me smells something brewing in Charlotte. A North Carolina reunion tweenst His Airness and His Oldassness. Stay tuned kiddies. The answer will be coming soon.

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Did anybody see when Kenyon Martin got mad while trying to guard Kobe?

He tried to physically pull him down while he was shooting LMAO!!

That's what happens when you try to defend greatness.

You get upset.....and you start to do things you don't normally do.

I'm already looking forward to a Spurs - Lakers Western Conference Finals!!!!!

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Amen to that Peaceman.

If Atlanta was to beat Boston....that would make up

for all the losing we had this year as Knicks fans.

All they have to do is keep gaining confidence.

Confidence is the name of the game.

Tomorrow is a big game for Chris Paul and the Hornets.

They don't want to go back to their building with the series

tied because then all the pressure will be back on them to win.

Plus all the momentum will be on Dallas side.

I'll give Paul a pass for the last game since it was his FIRST PLAYOFF

GAME ON THE ROAD!!

Let's see if he can pull it out with a win in game 4.

It'll be very, very tough.

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
ATL just beat BOSTON!!!!!!!!

One more� win in ATL and we may see GSW 2007-2?????

That would make my season and relieve the J in Knick

Jokes!!!!!!!!!!!

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
YES,(to the last poster)

You are the only one!

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
God forgive me,

****"Am I The Only One?" who wonders what happened to all those great bloggers who used to write on the wonderful website of Knicks______.com? Where's BARF, Lives,Peaceman,African and Statesman? Darn, I miss those guys, and the emails that flew out of my computer with the speed of light. Not to knock you new guys, but I never thought I'd miss Edward Drossman, and all those great pathetic columns he used to write. I'd love to rip him an a**hole just one more time, for old time's sake. Edward, phone home, all is forgiven!!!!

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
I forgot. FIRE FRANK.

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Ha Ha Ha,

ed is pissed, Ha ha ....racist piece of shit...

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Drossman,

Slow your role! Your "Version" of "Mark" is laughable..as this is a

Knick Blog....not a legal or binding contractual forum!

Don't like it? Don't read it!

Since you don't like any speculation and you've played college Ball,

Please describe your Game! Were you a 1 or 2?

Were you a slasher or pure shooter? How did you play defense,

were you hounding your man full court or did you pick them up

at half court and pester them! I have an Idea but want your take!

Please let us Know! In your own words!

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Showtime starts at 5:30.....

Make sure your there to witness the Black Mamba.....

Let's see if he can keep his scoring average over 40 and

if he can....for how long?

Countdown has begun......

The Sun has set in the valley of Phoenix.

They should've kept Marion. Shaq was one of the worse

trades in a looooooooong time for PHX.

Change in 08!!!!

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z

Defense: State your name

Fan: Edward Drossman, but call me Dross

Defense: What were your expectations this year?

Dross: Isiah Thomas said he could do a better job than Larry Brown, and

Brown always win in his second year�..

Defense: What disappointed you the most?

Dross: Isiah Thomas said he could do a better job than Larry Brown, and

Brown always win in his second year��

Defense: Please answer my Questions. Why are you fixated with Isiah?

Dross: Larry Brown is a Hall of Fame coach (HOF).

Defense: Lenny Wilkins is a HOF-coach, and was 41-40 as a Knick coach, compared

to Brown�s 23-59, yet you never defend or mention Wilkins.

Dross: Well, Larry Brown is royalty and Isiah fired Larry Brown. See Larry Brown is

not only in the NBA�s Hall of Fame, but he is also a member of the Jewish Sports Hall of

Fame. I will not quit until Isiah is FIRED!!

Defense: Does being pro-Larry Brown, or pro Jewish make You Dross Anti-something

else?

Dross: Hell No!!.

Defense: Then why do you call Thomas supporters racist.

Dross: That�s an old tried and true game. Make them feel embarrass about

Supporting one of their own. Appeal to their insecurities. Put them on the

defense about being a racist, and their support for Thomas would not be so

visible, or passionate. In some cases they may even turn against him. Look what was

done to Jerimiah Wright. There wer people that ran away from him.

Defense: Isn�t that playing the Race Card?

Dross: Yeah, but we have turned the whole race-card game around. Beat them to the

punch. Keep them on the defense. If they are defensive they can�t be

offensive. The Race card game isn�t based on who�s right or who�s

wrong. Generally the first one that throws the card wins, or at least put the

others on defense. Besides, Isiah needs to pay for FIRING my Brethren.

"We shall never forget�.

hey asshole, if you want to interview me, why not email me and I'll talk to you or email you. Don't put wods in my mouth as you've done here. I didn't make any racist comments on knicksnation, knicks defense or this site or anywhere else in my life. KKKandi and peace do that on a regular basis. Why not go after them? Why put words into my mouth? It destroys your credbility. I wanted Thomas held accountable just like Brown was. So lets stop defending Thomas okay, African, KKK, States and peace? If you continue posting comments on other people's behalf, the site will lose credbility and it mught be fored to shut down. You can't post comments on behalf of other people that is illeagle and could get you in hot water.

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Let's watch the other MVP candidate tomorrow night on the road.

We all saw Lebron and Paul have bad games.

Now let's see what you know who can do tomorrow night.

Will he struggle like Bron and Paul?

Tune in tomorrow to find out.......

Good Night!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
This game is over guys.........

Put the next game on....turn this game off.

YO!!!!!!!!!

The commentator with Hubie couldn't have said it better after

Howard hit that shot.............

"Good Night"

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Big Big shot by Peja...

All this terrible playing and their only down by 9.

Now is the time for Paul to try to will his team to a win.

3 minutes left....timeout on the floor.

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
3 for 16

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Sorry, I meant 3 for 15

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
3 for 14

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
This game is getting out of control now.

Where the hell are all the alley oops to Tyson?

This looks like a completely different team.

If it wasn't for Pargo...the Hornets would be down 30.

Hubie Brown as a commentator (spell check) is hilarious.

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Make that 3 for 14.

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Paul has got to try to put the team on his back now in the 4th.

It seems like he just doesn't want the ball.

He needs to step up and develop a killer instinct like you know who.

Why let the Mavs back in the series?

You got them on the ropes.....get them down 3-0 and go for the kill

next game.

Jesus!!!!

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Pargo looks like the MVP on this team tonight!!!!

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Paul's first career playoff game on the road seems to be a bit

of a challenge. He still has time to get it together. If he can put together

a GREAT 4th quarter like superstars do (not being sarcastic) then we'll see.

This performance won't help him in this "tight" MVP race.

3 for 13

12 points, 7 assists, 0 rebounds and 1 TO

Oh yeah......I see a big difference in his game on the road.

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Thanks Bambaataa. Edward is probrably rehabbing from next town brownitis. Anal of course. He is in the rear view mirror.

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
He will not get credit for fiscal responsibility and his eye for talent.. And he shouldn't because the players he "found" he refused to play. Looking forward with the right coach and the right starting line up (one that doesn't include Q or Curry) and the right roster (one that doesn't include Jared, Jerome James and Q this team can win 40 games. The question is, is there a team dumb enough to take Jared, Jerome, Curry or Q?

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Edward. for the last time, I am not a Thomas apologist. It is what it is. It takes a small and egotistical buffoon to say that people wanted Thomas to stay forever. What has transpired over the last 4 years speak for themselves. Hence, Thomas has not left the cabinets empty unlike his predecessor. He will not get credit for fiscal responsibility and his eye for talent. He will be remembered for the Browne-Sanders Trial and a losing record during his tenure. The New York and many national MSM are livid that he still has a say in the organization. They had better get over it. Just like you Edward.

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Vic corbit

If you were on Knicksnation you'd see that until the trial I supported Thomas and I've said many Times, that Thomas did get Lee, Balkman, Zach (yes I like Zach's game, just not with Curry on the court) and Chandler here who I like. The problem is that Thomas the coach didn't play those players. And played old or overrated players like Q, Curry and Jared. If Thomas is so good a finding players, why were they on the bech all season. And Balkman who I regard as a find, rarely got off the bench.

I didn't say Thomas was the worst GM or that Layden didn't destroy the Knicks. layden holds the title of the worst gm. But David Albert DeBusschere and Thomas aren't much better then Layden.

Vick, if it were up to you, KkK and African, Thomas would be here forever and never be helf accountable. Brown was held accountable why shouldn't Thomas be?

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Yo Vic:

One thing, Kurt still has value. He's playing a big role for San Antonio in the playoffs.

Kurt and Mutombo were the only players Zeke banished that had some value.

With that said, I highly advise you to not feed into that abyss called Dross.

That's not a wise move for anyone of value like yourself.

Please refrain.

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Edward, your constant babbling is sickening. Your lack of insight and knowledge of the game is poorous. Your venomous feelings toward Thomas are legendary. I understand this is a win business and that being said, if you truly believe that Scott Layden didn't ruin the Knicks, I have some farmland in the Florida Everglades you can invest in. Yes, Jerome James was and is still a disaster. Where is Kurt Thomas these days and what is his role with his current team? 13th man? Q still has value contractually. As does Rose. Jared Jefferies barring injury, can help any team defensively. So value is there. Who would you go after, Slick Watts? Holla!!!!!

One!

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Barf:

This fucking dude is gravel in your rice. I say pull the plug pronto!

We just can't allow this cancer to infest this holy place.

This dude is the plague. Whenever it appears, everything around dies.

How can you expect change after you know the history? We've been there, done that.

KK, KD, now here with the same shit from two years ago?

C'mon man, enough is enough.

Besides, KD and John Q could use the company. They'd love you for that.

They're loooonely and cooooold over there.

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
I wonder what jason Kidd thinks about Byron Scott's new team having the top seed. After all Kidd had Scott fired from the Nets and then left the Nets.

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Josh Howard's Been Put On Blast

A playoff culture primer: A team's best player must play like it. If he doesn't, and the team loses, he shoulders the blame.

But what can you carp about when Dirk Nowitzki averages 29 points and shoots 50 percent from the field, and Dallas still loses by an average of 18 points?

Even the reigning MVP can't carry a team by himself. He needs help, and the higher off the food chain it comes, the better.

And that brings us back to Josh Howard, No. 2 in the Mavs' pecking order.

Jason Kidd, you say? Sorry. He's not what he once was, but that's no knock on him, either. He was brought here to infuse the Mavs with mental toughness and to make the players around him better.

In some cases, the plan even worked. Nowitzki got better. Erick Dampier got better.

Howard? He got lost.

++++++++++++++++++++

It seems like JKidd is very much the same kind of player that Josh Howard is. He'll get you the loose balls, the errand rebounds, the timely passes, the tough shots, guard the toughest scorer...in other words, he does the dirty work, just from a different position than Kidd. now, with Kidd on the squad, they need Josh Howard to be more of a go to scorer too.

I wonder if Avery knows that and has communicated it too.

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Drossman, you know you will be deleted off the face of this site if you don't change ur tune soon.

I don't care if you want to make enemies with every person in this site, but you won't spam this spot like you've done the others.

You killed Knick Knation...spared us on the Fix (thank you)...grew like a fungus as KD met it's demise.

We must be doing something right if all you wanna do is follow us around...but damn...supplement your tired act with something of virtue.

Share something about your kids, music, ur bahama shorts collection, charity work, triathlon training, kung fu, karate, ultimate fighting, the rash on your bum parts, juggling, walks in Central Park, hot dogs for lunch...damn dude...anything!!! Anything new.

It will be my personal labor of love to delete your posts if you make no attempt to vary ur approach.

Again, I dont care if you want to be African and Kandiman's nemesis...but you're not gonna continue to spam our sites with your repetitive jibberish. Everywhere its the same game.

We need signs of change.

Try or die.

You've been warned.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Pistons smacked Philly up they way they oughta.

Dallas is gone.

The Wiz showed a pulse.

Phoenix needs to show up tonight or they might be headed home via sweep.

These playoffs are very interesting. No disappointment here.

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Thomas was "sabatoged" like he "sabatoged" Larry Brown, Thomas got his.

If you say that Brown failed, you mustr also see that Thomas failed. But Thomas failed in two jobs.

What was Thomas' famous saying "I can with with Brown's Knicks. Oh yeah, then why couldn't he win with HIS Knicks?

I still think KKKandi and African are the same person I think African has two personalities. When African is totally beaten, KKKandi shows and and starts spewing racist things

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Davonn Clinton Jefferson:

Your logic is so weak. It reminds me of a certain senator that had to duck from sniper fire in Bosnia.

So if Paul's team finished plus 17 and Kobe's team finished plus 15, which is the better improvement? If Paul's team is one game better than the 6th place team, how much better is Kobe's team?

I guess shooting 9 for 26 qualifies as a great game in your book. Figures.

You'd better drop out Clinton. You can't win.

Mike:

Now that I've got your attention, What the f**k was that derogatory statement you made towards me on KD about?

When KD mentioned he blocked me, you said you wouldn't miss me because all i blogged on was racial stuff. Where and when was that? Check yourself dude!

Guess you had to placate the master.

Kandi:

Good to have you. Welcome. Good to have the original brothers joined together in inity.

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Another NY MD helping out Ron Ron,

Ron Artest had a vision for the offseason that didn't include much offseason at all.

In the closing weeks of the regular season, Kings small forward Ron Artest said he would get off the bus from the finale in Los Angeles and head for the team's practice facility to begin work for 2008-09.

That plan was foiled Thursday when Artest underwent surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb. Artest, who missed five games because of the injury in the final two weeks of the season, had the procedure done by Dr. Michelle Carlson at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. He will wear a removable splint for six weeks and is expected to return to full strength in eight to 10 weeks.

Artest has until late June to exercise the early-termination option in his contract and become a free agent July 1.

Person pursued by Knicks? - According to Newsday, Kings assistant Chuck Person is on the list of potential New York Knicks head-coaching candidates.

Person, who could not be reached for comment, has close ties with new Knicks basketball president Donnie Walsh, with whom he worked in Indiana from 2002 to 2007. Person, who played with the Pacers for six of his 13 NBA seasons, was hired as a special assistant to Walsh and Indiana team president Larry Bird and finished as an assistant coach.

He has a two-year contract with the Kings, who must grant permission for Person to interview for the Knicks' head-coaching job or any other position.

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
I agree with Drossman about Isiah messing up the franchise even more than Layden. Zeke really did a number on this franchise and city. He had no idea

what he was doing. To think that I actually supported him makes me sick sometimes.

I believe he has no role in this current Knicks organization and he is just waiting by the phone for a job offer. The other 23 hours of the day he spends in Church praying for that phone call to come in.

Oakley really came out and voiced his opinion on who he thinks should be the coach huh?

I wonder if that will hurt his chances of being an assistant under Jax.

We shall see!!!!

Change in 08!!!!!!!!!

Yes We Can!!!!!!!!!!

Well Done Is Always Better Than Well Said!!!!!!!

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Oh by the way African...you said

"That team didn't even make the playoffs the previous year, then one game out of first place in the west the next!"

Just so you know...the Hornets won 17 more games this year than last year (39-43).....

The Lakers won 15 more games this year than last year (42-40).

The difference is not wide enough to favor Paul.

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
I think Vic Corbit took care of Mike for me. Mike, your missing the point. Let me ask you a question.

Who hired Sather?

"DVJ:

Good to see you after Kobe had a good game. So predictable"

You to African LOL...When does Kobe not have a good game? Need I remind you what he averaged against your Hornets?

"LA won the west, but only one game ahead of a team that was not supposed to make the playoffs in the west.

That team is led by THE MVP. That team didn't even make the playoffs the previous year, then one game out of first place in the west the next!"

African, your acting like they finished 10 games over the other playoff teams. 9 teams in the West won 50 games or better. How many games ahead of the 6th place team were they? Let me help you answer that.....1.

What they did this year was great and Paul has played exceptional.....but Kobe just had a better year than Paul and he has led his team to a better record than Pauls team.

Change in 08 my brothers!!!!

I'm watching I Am Legend. One of the best flicks of all time.

I got the PIP (Picture in Picture) going with the Jazz Rockets game on it.

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
You guys did a nice job with this.. love the sound.

ed, I bet these are your favorite tunes..

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
ed,

Here you are with the guys! How's my Tingle Woman?

You are clueless again! Thomas was sabatoged a lot

like what your people did to Jesus!

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
@ Mike,

Your posts are fine! African is not refering to you!

Everone knows who it is! We've been posting with the person

African is refering to for years! As Barf has said before...

the guy may sometimes be a clown....but he's our clown!

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Mike

I read your argument regarding the Celtic's reemergence. You make valid points. I will also note that in addition to the players acquired, early on and later during the year, that the celtics defensive reemergence is not only the result of a player like Garnett, or a viable defensive role player like Posey but that the schematical basis for their success must also be credited in good part to Tom Thibodeau.

While Garnett, may be the spiritual sole of that defense, Thibodeau is its architect both deserve their due respect.

My position on Thomas is that he had an inherent conflict of interest, as he was pushed against the clock, the proverbial career guillotine, all the while having to be Head Coach, GM and President of Basketball Operations. I've read somewhere before that Thomas did not want to coach the group he assembled, and that would go to any argument that he might have even anticipated the challenges that would emerge out of being the coach of players he developed an unprofesional rapport with. Utimately when his career and legacy as an executive was on the line he made stupider decision, and while as a coach insisted in part on making his trades look goo by overplaying his acquisitions, all in the hopes that they would eventually redeem his choice in them. He put aside his greatest strenght as a draftsman, and relied on the head cases, and underperformers all with the hope that they would eventually prove his acquisition of them to be the correct choice. The underlying theory is that if his players acquired via trades and the MLE responded, he would be redeemed as both an executive and coach. Sadly the few young players who should have played lingered on the bench or recieved even fewer minutes or even more inconsistent playing time, to the detriment of their self confidence, Thomas's legacy, and the Knicks slim playoff hopes for 2007-2008.

Thomas has at the very least made the team younger. That cannot be disputed. Some of his picks may still develop, with better and more consistent coaching and organizational approach, into significant role players on a cotending team here or elsewhere.

I will also repeat my point about why I want a defensive oriented coach. Namely that the team and organization, if it truely seeks to be competitive while cuttig payroll to contend for the 2010 free agent pool, need a defensively oriented approach to be instilled upon them. Such an approach will surely make them more competitive on the scoreboard, and reinvigorate a confidence and approach that can be carried over should the Knicks shift towards an offensively oriented style of play in the future.

I will also add that the comments are directed at the Dross effect this blog is experiencing. Though I have no clue what a Dross is?

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Hey, Peace & African & whoever else is concerned...if you don't like guys like me coming on & posting, you can close the forum to everyone but the members you choose, like they did at firejoemorgan.com . No big deal...it's your site, you can set the rules. Honest to goodness, I'm not trying to tick any of you guys off. I just like talking sports. If you don't like what's happening to the site...you have the power to change it.

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Bryant�s 49 Points Lead Lakers Over Nuggets

"The 3-ball he made was the big play,'' Nuggets coach George Karl said. "I thought that kind of ended the game from the standpoint of our spirit. In a lot of ways, a great player ran us out of gas. The majority of his jump shots that he made tonight are somewhat undefendable.''

Bryant kept it going before his hot spell ended with 2:22 left when he made a three-point play, giving the Lakers a 120-101 lead. He came out for good 20 seconds later to a loud ovation and chants of "MVP, MVP'' from the capacity crowd of 18,997 at Staples Center.

Bryant was replaced by Coby Karl, the son of the Denver coach. It was the first time in NBA playoff history that a father has coached against his son.

There was some trash talking between Bryant and Kenyon Martin, Denver's 6-foot-9 forward who had the assignment of guarding the Lakers' star in the first two games.

"He's one of those players that you don't really want to make mad,'' teammate Lamar Odom said. "He can make shots from anywhere with people on him. I was surprised (Martin was talking at him). You never want to wake a sleeping giant. He can hit shots on anybody, on a number of defenders anywhere on the floor.

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Peace! Peace! Peace! Peaceman!

What the F**k!

I told you man! I told you.

Look what's happening!

We need a preemtive attack.

We've got to be the agressor.

We can't wait, it will be too late.

ACT NOW!!!

This is serious!

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
And Vic, the Celts did a lot more than just add Garnett. (I'm not denying McHale was a little to eager to help his former team, but Boston had a genuine blue-chipper in Jefferson. Nobody like that on the Knicks. And Isiah's such a sharp drafter?) They landed Ray Allen first, and even with both him and Pierce, it took a lot of doing to convince KG to go there. Then Ainge filled out the roster with role-players, like some 3-point specialists (one of them a defensive whiz). Later on PJ Brown and Cassell dropped into their laps, but the team had already been built. KG's the centerpiece--no doubt--but he's far from the whole story.

I just don't see how a team that rolled over and died like this one did this year, could be a contender by adding a player or two. Sure, maybe if those players were LeBron and Dwight Howard, maybe.

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Oh, I remember, African. It took Sather what, four years like you said, to get the Rangers back into the playoffs? It seemed like he was overspending for washed-up vets. Once he broke himself of that habit, he started putting together decent teams again. I do recall the press' treatment of him, and it wasn't pretty. My only point was, Sather'd already been extremely successful--the Oilers had one of the greatest runs in NHL history--before taking the reins in New York.

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Layden messed things up and Thomas did what he could. Come on. What planet are you on? What he could? He he traded Kurt Thomas for Q. Q is a bum. He sign Jerome James, another bum. He signed Jared Jefferies, another bum. He signed Malik Rose. Need I go one. Have some credibility. Yes Layden messed things up, but Thomas messed them up even further. And I guess the Sanders situation wasn't his fault either. If Layden should accept blame for the Knicks then Thomas should also. If you don't see that then you totally lack credibility and you're wasting my time. I accept that Layden screwed up beyond belief and that Brown failed to get a team (that Thomas built) into the playoffs, but Thomas failed to get the team into the playoffs also and he turned the team into a laughingstock with the Sanders and Marbury situations. I might add that Thomas signed Marbury who he later blamed for the lack of success of the Knicks.

I love how Thomas said he could have won with the team he built for Brown, but he couldn't win with the team after he fired Brown.

If Layden was " the worse executive in Knicks history" then Thomas was a very close second. Might I reming you that Thomas didn't do all that well with the Pacers and destroyed the CBA.

If it was up to people like you would have given thomas a lifetime contact even if he didn't produce.

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Such fowl language Edward is not becoming of you. Dolan has not messed the Knickerbockers up. It's been the executives he has hired. Layden messed things up and Thomas did what he could. What I feel really hurt Thomas overall was the Brown-Sanders issue. The Knicks are 2 very good players away from being a playoff contender and one bonafided superstar away from being a beast. Just look at how Garnett has transformed the Celtics. Layden was the worse executive in Knicks history. Enough time wasted on that.

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
I'll give Dolan credit for the Rangers, but say he completely fucked the Knicks up. But I might add that Dolan wasn't the owner when the Rangers won the Stanley Cup now was he around the two times the Knicks went to the finals in the 1990's.

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
DVJ:

Good to see you after Kobe had a good game. So predictable.

LA won the west, but only one game ahead of a team that was not supposed to make the playoffs in the west.

That team is led by THE MVP. That team didn't even make the playoffs the previous year, then one game out of first place in the west the next!

That team has less talent, but it's being run by the consumate playmaker, not a hired gun. That's what MVPs do.

Peace:

Great stats. Who would have thunk it?

You still didn't do the do. What up with that?

Waiting. With patience.

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Mike, you too left out the fact that the MSM was after Sather's head until two years ago. Remember Mike, Sather's first 4 years at MSG the Blueshirts didn't sniff the playoffs, thus the Daily Planet called Madison Square Garden the worst run professional entity in sports. Last I checked, both the Thomas and Sather run teams played there. I hope this jars your memory.

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Nice DVJ. I mention that point to Isola last year and you could hear a rat pissing on cotton. But back to the MVP, I love the Mamba but CP3 is the clear choice here. Peaceout's last shout says it all. Kobe was denied because of the Denver incident 2 years ago. Now everyone has forgiven him and make up for the travesty. Who picked the Hornets to make the playoffs? Enough said.

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Except, DaVonn, that Glen Sather has a track record as an NHL exec: he built those championship Edmonton teams around Gretzky (and if you think Gretzky was the whole show, I'll give you a basketball analogy: Kobe Bryant and the LA Lakers). Contrast that with the previous Knicks chief...besides, I think Dolan hit a new low, in just about everybody's eyes, during the trial. He confirmed, painfully, in a very public way, everybody's impression of him as a petulant bozo.

You could almost say, the Rangers have benefited from the NHL being off almost everybody's radar screen: they haven't been as badly affected by what's happened with the Knicks as they might have, considering that Dolan also owns them.

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Real quick guys.....

I noticed how the Rangers are doing really well now IN THE PLAYOFFS!!! and nobody is giving Dolan any credit. Funny how when his teams do bad they automatically blame him but when one happens to make some noise in the playoffs they never bring his name up LMAO.....

The MSM is something else aren't they?

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Great season for Chris Paul.....if he keeps up the hard work he may get the award in the next few years.

Ain't no politics involved in this shit here lol.

This is all about the best player in the league leading his team to finish

first in a loaded western conference while being injured since before the all star break. Everybody said nobody expected the Hornets to be this good which is true......but nobody expected the Lakers to finish the best team in the west at the beginning of the season. If Kobe hasn't led this team to the promised land....who has?

They are predicted to win the Chip this year!!!!!!!!!!

This shit ain't rocket science baby.

If Paul is that good....he will eventually win it......just not this year.

Black Mamba Out!!!

Change in 08!!!!!!!!!!

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Kobe Bryant on JR Smith talking trash right before Kobe's outburst in the

4th quarter where he scored 19 points in 4 1/2 minutes.

"Better learn not to talk to me," Bryant said of Smith's jabbering. "You shake the tree, a leopard's gonna fall out."

I don't have to complain and whine about how Kobe should win it. He's going to win it because he deserves it. His team finished first....I keep saying that. Paul's team finished second. BEHIND KOBES!!

If Paul would've beat Kobe just once this year out of the 3 or 4 times they played and the Hornets finished 1st....then maybe it would be different. I doubt it though.

Let's not forget who picks the MVP so we may be shocked.

Here's an excerpt from the DD (daily dime) this morning on ESPN.

That's when he took over the game in a manner reminiscent of a guy sitting in the baseline seats at Staples Center: Magic Johnson.

Playoff Schedule

WEST FIRST ROUND

Los Angeles 2, Denver 0

Game 3: Sat., 5:30 ET, at DEN

New Orleans 2, Dallas 0

Game 3: Fri., 8 ET, at DAL

San Antonio 2, Phoenix 0

Game 3: Fri., 10:30 ET, at PHO

Utah 2, Houston 0

Game 3: Thu., 10:30 ET, at UTA

EAST FIRST ROUND

Boston 2, Atlanta 0

Game 3: Sat., 8 ET, at ATL

Philadelphia 1, Detroit 1

Game 3: Fri., 7 ET, at PHI

Cleveland 2, Washington 0

Game 3: Thu, 8 ET, at WAS

Orlando 2, Toronto 0

Game 3: Thu., 7:30 ET, at TOR

� The full playoff schedule

The score was tied when Bryant found Luke Walton for a layup and a foul. The next time down the court, Bryant fed Vladimir Radmanovic for a dunk. Three possessions later he threw the ball to Walton for a 3-pointer. All that giving brought him a gift in return, when Pau Gasol tossed an alley-oop that Bryant appeared to stop in mid-air before throwing it down. And Bryant closed out the quarter with a pass to Sasha Vujacic for another 3-pointer. Four of Bryant's 10 assists in that little stretch.

A 10-point advantage for the Lakers heading into the fourth quarter. Kobe's quarter.

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
NBA OR NFL?

36

have been accused of spousal abuse

7

have been arrested for fraud

19

have been accused of writing bad checks

117

have directly or indirectly bankrupted at least 2 businesses

3

have done time for assault

71,

repeat

71 cannot

get a credit card due to bad credit

14

have been arrested on drug-related charges

8

have been arrested for shoplifting

21

currently

are defendants in lawsuits, and

84

have been arrested for drunk driving

in

the last year

Can

you guess which organization this is?

Give up yet? . . . Scroll down,

Neither,

it's the 535 members of the United

States Congress.

The

same group of Idiots that crank out hundreds of new laws each year

designed to keep the rest of us in line.

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
African,

Nothing goes through Steph's mind. He lost his mind!

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Where the players at?

Looks like the Jax era is alrighty in place.

It's ashame the team didn't give Isiah more effort.

Isiah bought them ALL here to help him fail.

We have to move on..........Go Knicks!!!!!!

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
And like Bambaataa said, this playlist is one for the money playas. There has been a Ed Drossman sighting. Sike!!!!!

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Listen, I hear Miles blowin' in the wind. Chris Paul or Lebron in 2010? CP3 is my 1st choice since LBJ wants to be Jigga's valet in Crooklyn. Advise!!!!!

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
@African,

Thanks. Chris Paul is playing so well, that we may not hear from DaVonn

for a minute. I did notice in his last post that that he was beginning to waffle,

and was close to calling Chris Paul the MVP.

Speaking of point guards don't sleep on Deron Williams or Andre Miller. The game has changed so much that a point-guard can lead you deep in the playoffs. I wonder what goes through Steph's mind, as he watches these

guards lead their team to the next level.

Peace & Blessings

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
You can ask for permission to interview Tom Thibodeau. Tom Thibodeau and Mark Jackson would be my second and third choices. Tom Thibodeau might have an edge because of coaching experience, but you won't have to give up a lottery pick if you hire Laimbeer, Tom Thibodeau, or Mark Jackson.

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
And peace if you want Avery, you're going to have to give up a lottery pick. He's under contract. You can't just hire other teams head coaches. If you do they can file tampering charges against you and you'll have to give up a lottery pick. Come on Peace, you should know that.

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
I've really got to give much props to my main man Lives.

The musical selection on here is wild.

Great cross section. Many genres. Slammin'

That's a Slam Dunk Lives!

Very much appreciated, and a great idea for the blog.

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
peace! Why do you use! after every word?! What has Avery Johnson done in the playoffs? He's got this great team in Dallas and he can't get out of the first round. If I'm going to recommend a coach, he's got to be a winner.

Bill Laimbeer remains my first choice.

I still want to know from you why Thomas deserves to be spared but Larry Brown didn't? I think they both deserved to be fired. Brown lost with Thomas' team. Thomas lost with the team HE Built. Now its time to get rid of Jared, Q, Jerome and Malik.

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Vic:

I got that name from the jump.

But like you said, the only way Kobe wins this is by politics.

"It's about time he win one." Bullshit argument made by my main man Lives.

That was the same argument made for Nash's first one if you remember.

I don't even care about the stats. If you see this team play, you'll see the way this guy runs the team. Unselfish, plays with a flow, gets everyone involved, and he puts his team mates in positions to be successful.

Don't be suprised when Chandler becomes the next All Star on the team.

He'll be shooting 80%, with the way he sets him up.

He's the biggest star on the NBA stage right now. It's a pity that most don't get to see him.

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Hey Bambaataa, look at Paul's stats compared to Nash's when he won back to back MVP's. How can they deny him? Politics of course. Paul averages 2 turnovers and 2 steals a game. Awesome! By the way if you didn't catch it, that's Africa Bambaataa. King of the Zulu Nation, holla!

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Vic:

I call him "Poetry in Motion."

What a pretty sight. He has Isiah's skill, his craftiness, his shooting ability, his game awareness, in my opinion a better ball handler, but not Isiah's fire and desire, at least not just yet.

He's my favorite player to watch.

Kobe is a great individual player, but Paul is the untimate orchestrator.

Did you see him turn his back to the defender to set up the alley to Chandler?

Priceless!

Peace:

My head is splitting!

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
1) circumstances out of Isiah�s control, 2) Unrealistic Fans Expectations 3) Media Frenzy 4) Conspiracy between Knicks Ownership & David Stern, the Chairman of the NBA. So Thomas shouldn't be held accountable when the team he built fails, but Larry Brown should be? Sounds a bit hypocritical, don't you think? In my opinion both should be held accountable.

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Young Mr.. Paul is the second coming of Isiah on the court. Not only is he destroying J-Kidd, he is making David West a Superstar. Awesome, just plain domination by a true baller. I love the Mamba but Paul should be this years MVP. Unfortunately, the pundits will play makeup with the Mamba and give him his 1st MVP. Who's on first? 3rd Bass!!!!

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Statesman:

Bravo! Great piece. You had me choking a bit from laughter.

Don't leave us hanging as Lives did, we're awaiting the conclusion. Genius!

This place is the real deal.

Peace:

I'm having a migrane! What did we talk about?

C'mon man.

Anyone saw the MVP last night? WOW!!! That was special.

I think I hear some screeching tires, is someone doing a 180?

Are there folks out there changing their minds on the MVP race?

There's no question, it would be a travesty if Paul isn't the MVP.

My boy was playing Kidd and Co like a yo yo.

32 and 17! Are you listening Barf and Lives?

Thirty freaking two and seventeen!

Put that in your pipe and smoke it.

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
here's the link from above

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Put me down for Thibodeau.

Thanks DOC! for lending your permission to interview Tom Thibodeau.

That guy was here for the 90's Knicks and would be a step in the direction towards respectable defense.

I'd like to see that coaching search finished up quickly. Knowing his expertise is defense, if Tom is hired, who from the players will survive?

I'd lean towards the offensive guys who can't be easily replaced. I'd love to see some of the players traded for top notch defenders. Should make for an interesting offseason.

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
ISOLA has to eat his words!

Donnie Walsh denied that Isiah Thomas is not permitted to have any contact with his former players while admitting that he doesn't envision a scenario where the exiled Knicks coach would have a reason to communicate with the team.

"The only thing that we agreed to is that Isiah is dealing with me, and nobody is reporting to him," Walsh said Tuesday. "That is the description of what he will be doing. It was never discussed about players and all that. He is not coming in every day like he used to, but he is there as a resource to me."

The News reported Monday that Thomas, as part of his reassignment agreement with the Knicks, is not allowed to have contact with the team or attend practices at the team's training headquarters in Westchester.

Walsh, the new Knicks president, remains vague on exactly what role Thomas will have with the club, although during an interview with ESPN Radio, he did hint that Thomas may do some scouting. Thomas was fired as coach last Friday and reassigned to an unnamed position. When asked specifically if he would have a problem with Thomas communicating with the players, Walsh replied: "I don't think he'll do that, I think he's going to try to deal with me. That's the way we set it up."

That's a long way from "BANNED"

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Avery would be a good choice! He has one of the best records

in the NBA as Coach! The Dallas players are now "head cases"

from coming that close to the chip and walking away empty.

Just like the Knicks are "head cases" from Larry's Brown! No Typo!

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Avery Johnson has done a bad job in Dallas, why should the Knicks take him?Tom Thibodeau is an interesting candidate, one that I didn't think about before.

Top Candidates

1)Bill Laimbeer

2)Tom Thibodeau

3)Mark Jackson

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Again why all the hoopla for a defensive liability and showboat former point gaurd who had motivation issues of his own when he would often slip out of playing shape.

We need a defensive oriented coach, some one who will command respect and who will challenge the loafers from the laissez faire Thomas coaching era/error.

I give my vote to Tom Thibodeau, and Avery Johnson.

The problem with the Knicks has been organizational instability over the past few years, especially at positions that require that stabiliyt. Ergo the coaching position.

The idea should be to get a stern defensive oriented task master in to forge the team in a competitive defense first image. Then years down the road when such a work ethic and approach to the game is instilled the team can gear towards a more offensive oriented coach.

You can't forge a team on one year of hard ass Larry Brown and one year soft as Isiah Thomas.

It will never work!

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
LOL @ Dross and Lives.

LOL @ "Statesman !!! That Snarky Sonofabytch."

Thinking about the Lenny Wilkins comment and subsequent analysis.

Wonderin' why Sal (Dean Smith) don't have no brothers on the wall.

Well thought out. Bravo. Davonn's probably gonna cuss you out later on tonight though.

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Good lookin' Peaceout! I will be back later but until then, the Funk Mix is on BLAST!!!!!!!

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Vic "we got this"

The playlist is "Lives favorites" He's the man!

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! Great post. Hilarious. whoever came up with the playlist above is genius. I'm flowing with Fagan's Deacon Blues. That Lakeside mix is jammin' as well.

In response to: ISIAH'S APPEAL

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
LOL,

Dross would not lie on the stand! You nailed Dross! LOL

In response to: Quick NBA Lay of the Land

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
@Fanatics!

I see you gents have visited your stations and tickled some keys since I last checked In...Good to see the flow is still on Higher Ground and the BBALL IQ keeps rolling forth...

@ LIVES HOMIE, I knew you were on the case cause You Know What's Good.

But you've got to plug in 'Rock Creek Park' Slice cause the Ten Spots be Trucking in both Venues...Got some stories for you Bruh...LOL Vegas wasn't to bad either, but that's a whole another Flash Drive...LOL

It is beautiful that God continues to bless US all unconditionally...

My pleasure and privilege to Peek through the Back Door Fanatics...

Fanantics, ONE LOVE!

Keep it CRACKIN!

In response to: Quick NBA Lay of the Land

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
So it seems like Kobe will win the MVP.

I'm not suprised. It all politics.

Like Statesman said, he may be the best player in the league, but he's definitely not the MVP in my book.

I heard Michael Wilbon from PTI make the same foolish argument for Kobe, saying Paul is young, so he has many more opportunities to win the award.

Statesments like these should be penalized with a revokation of his voting previleges. Leave that type of argument for Lives, who's not in the profession or DVJ who'd sneak one in if he meets him.

In response to: Quick NBA Lay of the Land

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
15 days left to see our position in the draft!

If we don't get 1-2 maybe we should trade our 4-5 pick

for 2 lower picks? Pick up Dorsey and the best available PG

or swing a deal for TJ Ford? Lots of options!

In response to: Quick NBA Lay of the Land

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
There really is just one tangible reason why the Celtics will likely win game seven and probrably make it all the way the NBA Finals.

That is that

1. Boston is a charter member of the league,

2. They have a huge national fan base,

3. They are in a large media market,

4. They are a compelling story which the league would like to push on consumers of N.B.A. basketball.

5. No way David Stern the master script writer, nor his crooked director/officials allow the Celtics to lose game 7.

Well will have to hear about the Celtics all the way untill game 7 of the NBA finals.

So I agree with you Foock of the Whiteish but I do so for totally different reasons.

Now go fook off!

In response to: Quick NBA Lay of the Land

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Very nice of the rank and file to attack a proud Bostonian.

How "will you like them apples" Orangatang Boob, when the Celtics eliminate the Hawks today at 1PM.

Administrator

Very witty of inserting lines about what you think is my sexuality. Perhaps you were revealing something about yourself.

No New York writer or columnist can match the sophistication of the Boston area sports news coverage.

OBTW here are my top 5 reasons the Celtics will win today, and advance towards their next leg of the finals and NBA Championship Gravy Train.

1. Kevin Garnett's desire.

2. Paul Pierce's uncanny scoring.

3. Ray Allen's clutch late game shooting.

4. Rondo will shut down that old man Bibby.

5. The Celtics will clamp down on defense.

6. No team has won a road game in this series.

7. The Celtics have blown out the Hawks in every home game at TD Bank North Garden.

8. The Celtics have never lost a series when leading 3-2 against the opposing team.

9. The 6th man the crowd will throw those young punk Hawks off their rythm.

10. The Celtics are a better team than the Hawks, and playoff experience, and veteran savvy will carry the day against the Chicken Hawks.

In response to: Quick NBA Lay of the Land

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
DaVonn Clinton Jefferson.

You pulled a Billary. You took what I said out of context. I never said that Young Legs will win, just that Young Legs will cause older teams to exert more energy then what they are accustom. An veteran team with talent should win, but the cost to the veteran team will be felt in the later rounds. I never said that The MOST ATHLETIC TEAMS ALWAYS WIN!! As I recall that was a quote from you.

The last last 5 champions were teams that that were efficient on offense,(good shots, low turnovers), not teams that were great or good defensively. If you recall young fella, Detroit beat the lakers not because they were a great defensive team ,but Kobe was operating on his own plan and waving Shaq, off. Detroit did not stop the Lakers, Kobe stopped the Lakers. The Pistons were more efficient on offense. The next year Detroit lost because your boy Larry Brown in the middle of the series was negotiating with Cleveland for their GM. The Spurs did not stop Detroit, The Spurs were efficient on offense. The Heat did not stop offense. The Mavs could not stop Wade or Shaq. The Heat were more efficient offensively.

I do not have any hate for Kobe. At this time I believe that he is the BEST player in the NBA. However being the BEST player and the MOST VALUABLE player are different. Chris Paul is the most valuable.

I predict that Detroit will represent the East, and the Lakers in the West. The Lakers' run to the final is easier, having played Denver and now Utah. The Hornets will win a grueling series over the Spurs that will cost them against the Lakers. I need to see how much energy (# of games), each team plays before I decide.

Note: To those of you that believe Larry Brown has taken the high road regarding the Knicks. Think again. I am sure that part of Larry's severance package($18 mill), included a provision that he would repay some CASH if he made negative comments regarding the Knicks. Don't drink the MSM-Soup.

Peace & Blessings

In response to: Quick NBA Lay of the Land

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Today at 1PM......The Hawks Just have to be better for

48 minutes! 48 minutes! The Greenies House will come tumbleing down!

If this happens...it will be the biggest upset in NBA History!

Much bigger than GSW last year! The Team will be blown up

as their old as hell.....Ainge will be sent packing, Doc will be sent packing!

Pierce and Allen will be finished. KG will once again stand alone!

Rondo...to the D-league! Cassel retired. F Boston!

The Piston's are on a mission! Destroyed the Magic last night!

Stick a Spur in the Spurs! NOH or LA vs Detroit in the finals!

In response to: Quick NBA Lay of the Land

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Isola's biggest lie comes out again,

Walsh is not expected to make any major front-office changes until after the NBA draft. Incumbent GM Glen Grunwald, director of player personnel Brendan Suhr and the team's existing scouts will assist Walsh at least through June. Grunwald will have a chance to retain his title while Suhr, who was responsible for advising Isiah Thomas to draft David Lee, also could be a valuable resource in the front office

2 years ago he denied making the statement that he said "SUHR" was responsble for drafting LEE.......Kandiman embarrassed him about that,

but here it is again in his article today above! What a piece of Shyt!

In response to: Quick NBA Lay of the Land

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
DVJ,

Parker or Paul last night?

Starters Min FG 3Pt FT +/- Off Reb Ast TO Stl BS BA PF Pts

T. Parker G 40:17 9-17 1-1 4-6 -17 1 5 5 5 1 0 2 0 23

Starters Min FG 3Pt FT +/- Off Reb Ast TO Stl BS BA PF Pts

C. Paul G 41:00 7-16 0-1 3-6 +13 2 4 13 2 4 0 1 3 17

The Spurs are TOAST!!!!!!!

In response to: Quick NBA Lay of the Land

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
"DaVonn the writers were wrong about Nash and the MVP, so they will be wrong with Kobe as MVP.

Peace & Blessings"

That just sounds like so much hate. How will they be wrong about Kobe winning the MVP? Are you suggesting that the NOH will go deeper in the playoffs than the LAL? If you are please be clear about it so we can all look back when this thing is over.

"If the Celts are one of the teams that play defense in the NBA, andd Tom Thibodeaux is such a great defensive coach. Why have the ATLANTA HAWKS broken 100 twice on the Celts and scored 97 in another game."

Are you bragging about a team being able to barely score 100 points on another team IN 6 GAMES!!! LMAO....you are too funny Statesman.

Not to mention they scored 102 and 103 in those games your talking about. I love the fact your looking at stats as everybody here knows I'm a statsman....all you have to do now is learn how and when to use those stats.

"Do you now know what I mean about Young Legs. Boston won almost 30 more games than the Hawks. The series should have been 4 and out, but the Young Legs are fresh and their 2nd jump is quicker than the Celts."

I'm sorry but why are you acting like this is the first time you've seen an 8th seed really challenge a 1 seed? Did this not happen last year with GSW and the DM? Didn't we (Knicks) go to the Finals as an 8th seed? Like I've said before Statesman....the last 5 Championship winners were defensive teams with more veteran leadership than young, freakishly athletic players.

Big game for Paul tonight.....

Let's see what Ginobli can do in the Big Easy.

I also want to predict that Tony Parker out plays Paul in this series.

Change in 08!!!!!!!!!

Big night Tuesday!!!!!!!!!!!

In response to: Quick NBA Lay of the Land

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
DaVonn Clinton Jefferson.

Do you now know what I mean about Young Legs. Boston won almost 30 more games than the Hawks. The series should have been 4 and out, but the Young Legs are fresh and their 2nd jump is quicker than the Celts. Young Legs, may not win a series for you, but it is the equivalent of throwing body punches in the early rounds of a fight. The fighter receiving the punches begins to wear down over time. For the Celts watch in the next round or two, the legs will be weary from having to play seven games against the Hawks.

Question for a Rookie-Clinton Jefferson, or Barf. If the Celts are one of the teams that play defense in the NBA, andd Tom Thibodeaux is such a great defensive coach. Why have the ATLANTA HAWKS broken 100 twice on the Celts and scored 97 in another game. My answer is the NBA does not allow

individuals and/or teams to play defense. In the playoffs it comes down to offense efficeincy, and turnovers. If you take good shots and make them, while mininimizing your turnovers, you will score a lot of points regardless of the team.

DaVonn the writers were wrong about Nash and the MVP, so they will be wrong with Kobe as MVP.

Peace & Blessings

In response to: Quick NBA Lay of the Land

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
DVJ,

While Kobe may have won the MVP and may deserve it...

CP now has a chip on his shoulder and NOH vs Lakers

will be a must watch series!

THE SPURS ARE TOAST!

In response to: Quick NBA Lay of the Land

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
It may be noted that a 1PM game favors the Hawks

younger legs! It looks like \"LIVES\" ghost may return

to haunt the Celtics with his preseason predictions!

In response to: Quick NBA Lay of the Land

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Lets all hope the Celtics have a "bad" game tomorrow!

It's been 20 years since the Hawks got "screwed" in game 7,the whole 4th!

where Nique and Bird went at it. Doc Rivers was on the Hawks then

and Boston got "Phatom" calls the whole 4TH! Lets hope History

corrects itself! LETS GO HAWKS!

BTW.....Rivers whined like a baby in the post game interview,

IE...foul trouble...every excuse in the book! Boston just plain out

got their Azz handed to them!

In response to: Quick NBA Lay of the Land

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Hey Statesman....do I get credit for predicting this?

LOS ANGELES -- Kobe Bryant has won the NBA's MVP award for the first time, the Los Angeles Times reported on its Web site Friday night, citing anonymous sources familiar with the outcome of voting by media members.

Bryant

The newspaper reported that commissioner David Stern will be in Los Angeles next week to present the trophy to Bryant.

"We have not been told anything by the league," Lakers spokesman John Black told The Associated Press.

Bryant, who entered the season as the league's two-time defending scoring champion, was third in the MVP voting twice -- after the 2002-03 campaign, when he averaged 30 points for the first time, and again last season, when Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki won the award.

In response to: Quick NBA Lay of the Land

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Talking to Mike James

I'll tell you, one thing I notice about him, which seems to be a little bit like an underreported part of his game, but in a good way, he's just a little bit nasty. He's going for the jugular all the time.

You know what, it's funny because I remember one time we were playing against Los Angeles, and he made a move to the basket and got fouled or whatever, and Kobe gave him like the little tap on the head, like, good move, good kid.

And CP looked at him and gave him a tap back on the head, like, watch out, I'm not inferior to you.

And I respect that about him, man.

And he's got God, also. He's a soldier. He's a soldier for real. He's a warrior. You've got to respect that about him.

In response to: Quick NBA Lay of the Land

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z

Excellent break down of the top 15-30 in each postion

in this years NBA Draft

Check It

In response to: Quick NBA Lay of the Land

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
@ The LUCK OF THE IRISH,

that add on is better than being ZAPPED!

Stay in Boston!

In response to: Quick NBA Lay of the Land

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
John Q Greaseball made a post using my handle @ Hahn's yesterday

@1300.......when in fact I'd love to play Mike D'Antoni style hoop

in NY! Add Derrick Rose Artest and a big who can Run the court and play Defense...and his formula would work anywhere! Had Shaq been 8 years younger.....that team would of been immpossible to beat in the playoffs!

In response to: Quick NBA Lay of the Land

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Hey fook U three leaf clover!

Your boyz are getting by with a little help from the master script writer and his merry batch of directors.

Why wasn't Garnett suspend for that intentional physical contact with the referee? There is a rule that a player is not suppose to make such overt contact with the refs. Why wasn't your player Perkins suspended.

See that's why I'm so suspect of the NBA. Rules that apply to brand X teams, the Suns etc who have no history or legacy or a transcendant star in his prime, will have the calls enforced one way while teams with pedigree's and large base commercial appeal will get calls or no calls in their favor.

David Stern, and his ilk are hypocrites! HYPOCRITES! HYPOCRITES!

They didn't say anything about the non-suspensions. They say one thing one year, and then next year if the rule is to be interpreted differently they should at least notify all players and personnel early on in the year, not all of a sudden in an ARBITRARY MANNER.

Fuckin MICK!

In response to: Quick NBA Lay of the Land

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Ha!

Up 3-2 on that second rate team and city of Atlanta. Beg ya Padon, weren't certain fools here getting all giddy about Atlanta's chances of pulling a Dallas Mavericks on us.

Say no more.

The Celtic gravy train to the finals is on its way to the smooth ride it should have been. There is no team in the East, nor in the West Sorry Mr Obama clone, that can compete with my Celtics.

OBTW Thibodeau won't leave Boston for your rat infested city. Why would he want to go to a dysfunctional loser of an organization. Why would he want to commit career suicide. If he goes anywhere it will be to a team on the cusp of winning it all.

He's a winner that's why he is with the Celtics, and that's why he will not go to your pathetic ass team and fan base!

May I add that I'm just a gay loser! A true Hater! I'm just real lonely!!!!!!!!! I'm in Love with Mitch Lawrence!

I wish he would write for Boston! I love you Mitch!!!!!!

In response to: Quick NBA Lay of the Land

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
I almost forgot....Paul had a great game last night.

Here's another prediction for you.....

The Spurs will beat the Hornets....

If you want one more.....

The Lakers will beat either the Jazz or the Rockets.

Let's see how those predictions work.

In response to: Quick NBA Lay of the Land

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
LMAO!!!!!!!!!!

Statesman says:

"Clinton Jefferson, first the Knicks would win 57 games. Next, the Mavs would beat the Hornets. Give us one more prediction."

Sure....I predict Kobe will win the MVP award. Let's see if that one comes true....LOL

Then he says:

"The game has changed. In the twenty first century, you have to score pointsto win."

Let's see....the last few teams to win a Chip were The Spurs, Heat, Spurs and Pistons.....do I need to say anymore? That up and down shit may work in the regular season....but it won't get you to the place we're all trying to get to.....and that includes you Statesman. I don't think you would be satisfied just making the playoffs or the Eastern Finals.....Hopefully you want to win a Chip. Oh and to add to the list above. It looks like the Lakers will win this year so that's another half court team (triangle).

If this is a young mans game then the Hawks should be beating the Celtics right now....not getting blown out.

In response to: Quick NBA Lay of the Land

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Jay Bee,

I agree with your analysis of hiring the coach w/ experience or the assistant that has paid his dues. However, in New York the big name or ties to the Knicks sells. This whole he is one of us, is total shi..., oops style.

Peace & Blessings

In response to: Quick NBA Lay of the Land

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Barf,

Manu & Parker are terrible defenders on or off the ball. Other than Bowman their front court lacks vertical quickness to stay, contain, or direct people into others. The Spurs win because they get good shots and don't make turnovers. D'Antonio's brain lock at the end of regulation and overtime is the reason the Suns are not playing. We will agree to disagree, but as the Playoffs continue you will see more of a half-court game leading to lower scores. The remaining teams are not that good defensively. Prince plays D at Detroit, and Rasheed, but Billups, and Rip are nonexistent.

Dross, your boy Larry Brown is back and he came back w/ the same old LIE.

"I hope to be here for a long time". He has used that line at every stop, and the press and you believe that crap. I hope MJ covers his back.

Peace & Blessings

In response to: Quick NBA Lay of the Land

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
"Speaking of "the script" does anyone here consider all hoopla around Walsh's courtship of Mark Jackson to be more style than substance?"

The answer to your question O&B re: Mark Jackson (the other MJ) is no, no, no. I understand the logic of using guards to mentor/guide teams. However, they should have to pay some dues via becoming an assistant and learn what coaching today's player is all about. Learning on the job should not be what the next Knicks coach does. I'm saying Thibodeau or D'Antoni right now (if he's really out of Phoenix) with whatever assistants they would put together to hopefully include Pat, Clyde or Oak Tree. I wouldn't let Jackson coach Charlotte let alone the Knicks. If he's going to hire Mark and go with an inexperienced coach, I'd rather he hire Pat who's actually been in the ranks, has experience with positive results and recommendations.

In response to: Quick NBA Lay of the Land

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
States, African and peace with their never ending support of the failure Thomas, shouldn't be bringing up credibility.

I said Tom Thib, and Bill Laimbeer are my first choices. And Mark Jackson, who I also like, and would take as a third choice lacks coaching experience. Mark's lack of coaching experience is why he's y third choice.

In response to: Quick NBA Lay of the Land

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Bill Laimbeer would be better then all the other coaches out there with either no coaching experience Mark Jackson, no head coaching experience Thibodeau or did a poor job as coach, avery Johnson.

All Laimbeer has done is win. As a player he won. As a coach he won. He's better then these coaches who either never won or never was a head coach.

In response to: Quick NBA Lay of the Land

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
The Spurs are more than Bowen on defense. Yes, their best man to man defender is Bowen. Yes, Duncan can block shots. But there's more to it than that. Manu gets his share of steals and so does Parker. They are active on the defensive end even if they are not going to keep their man in front of them. While I will agree that there are not many one on one defenders on the squad...its more than Bowen and Duncan's blocked shots.

How about Kurt Thomas? Ime Udoka? Elson on the weak side help? Horry in and around the rim?

I'm not saying they are lock down defenders but they all have different strengths on defense...and that's what team defense is about. Just like its important to know your role on offense and do what you do well...its just as important on defense not to step on your teammates toes and try to do too much...

Don't struggle to stay in front of your man if you have a big man readying to block a shot when you can stay to your man's side and funnel him to the shot blocker. The Spurs do a lot of funneling even if its just to another man waiting to take a charge (Oberto HELLO!!) and not just to a shot blocker.

It's all about defense dude. Its the only reason the Spurs are great. On offense, they're more boring than the Jazz. They put you to sleep running the clock out and spot Finley, Udoka, Manu, Bowen for 3 ptrs or have Parker and Manu drive. That's if they don't find Duncan for an easy 10 footer first. They keep shit fundamental.

Detroit's the same way. Tayshaun and Rasheed on defense are so under rated its ridiculous. They are my favorite 3-4 punch in the L on D.

In response to: Quick NBA Lay of the Land

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Barf,

Don't confuse milking the clock and low scores with good defense. The Spurs

have Bruce Bowan who plays defense and that's it. Tony Parker doesn't play D, neither does Manu, Finley, Duncan will block some shots but he doesn't play good D. If you look at the teams left in the playoffs, they have 1 of 2 things going. 1) They have a Super Star,(ex. Cavs) or 2) They are low turnover teams, (Detroit). The NBA does not allow teams to play good D.

African can you let Drossman hold some CREDIBILITY. Dross needs some credibility, so it can be yanked. Recommending a coach from the WNBA,

would cost someone credibility. Drossman does not have any available to take.

Peace & Blessings

In response to: Quick NBA Lay of the Land

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
I can't believe Phoenix can trade away Joe Johnson and Marion and the coach still gets the blame. ESPN is saying that Phoenix is denying the reports of D'Antoni being out but the Phoenix papers are saying otherwise...what's the truth?

This is supposed to lead to a video where Steve Kerr denies that D'Antoni is out.

Cuban should have fired himself before he fired Avery Trading Devin Harris and Diop for a 35 yr old JKidd was arrogant and short sighted. But thanks Cuban...cuz now at least the Knicks aren't the highest payrolled loser in the NBA.Thanks Cuban. For real. Thanks!!

LOL

PHOENIX: OUT OF TIME - haha...had they resigned Marion and Joe Johnson...and built around them as well as Nash...we wouldn't be having this discussion. I can't believe Phoenix keeps letting their young talent go for shit and the coach gets the blame. Stupids.

HAWKS-CELTS, tonight! Don't miss it.

Wiz's Haywood says LeBron should stop complaining

"Awww," Haywood said in a whiny, high-pitched voice to mock James. "They are trying to hurt me."

Haywood, who was called for a flagrant-two foul and ejected from Game 2 after shoving James, believes it's time for Cleveland's superstar to stop complaining.

"I mean, come on man, this is the playoffs," Haywood said following Monday's practice. "He wears 23, he wants to be Michael Jordan, I can respect that, he's a great player. You saw what Mike went through. Mike got fouled way worse than this. No one is trying to hurt him, everybody is trying to play basketball, trying to play tough. Play basketball and leave it alone."

In response to: Quick NBA Lay of the Land

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
AF,

I'd take Dalembert for ZBo or Curry at this point...so I'm not saying Dalembert has to be dominant to be valuable. I'm just putting out there why I think Philly and ATL actually have a chance to not only be competitive...but sneak in and win one. Still a long shot I admit...but doable.

When it comes to controversial announcers, Barkley's got competition. Check this out:

The Pistons were down 10 points at the half of Sunday's Game 4.

When asked about the the feeling in the locker room during halftime: �No disrespect to Flip (Saunders), but it doesn�t matter what Flip says," Webber said.

The Pistons "take on the personality of Joe Dumars. Rip (Hamilton), Chauncey (Billups), Tayshaun Prince, Rasheed (Wallace) and (Antonio) McDyess are very mad right now, they probably aren�t even talking and they are probably just saying, �OK we�re going to go win this game.�

Webber also attacked the intensity of the Pistons.

The Pistons "are really nonchalant and that�s why I felt we lost last year (in the Eastern Conference Finals)," Webber said.

"It sounds crazy, but they could care less. That locker room is crazy, disciplined and unruly. Disciplined because they police themselves, they are all veterans, they know they�ve got to be in bed, they know they�ve got to work hard, I�m not talking about on the court. They come from a coach like Larry Brown, they look at him like the epitome of basketball, and they feel they can wait until the last game or the championship and they won�t lose. I�m not saying it�s right, but that�s how it is.�

In response to: Quick NBA Lay of the Land

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Barf:

I agree with your take on Philly and Atlanta, but what I also see is that in Philly, players have definitive roles. Dalembert doesn't have to be dominant. He's a rim guard. He protects the rim with the best of them. Shots he doesn't block, he alters.

Evans cant shoot a lick, but he does the dirty work. He scraps, rebounds and provide the muscle. AI is the supossed star, and Miller the orchestrator. No superstars, but players playing within their respective roles.

In ATL. these players are long and athletic, and against any team they could create mismatches. They too have players that guard the rim, so getting inside is no picnic.

Josh's size and handle would make hima star. The jump shot is pure gravy. You're looking at a team on the rise with another year intact.

Joe Johnson is a star. He was tearing Boston apart. they had no answer to him.

Phoenix traded both Johnson and Marion. Can you believe it? Crazy!

In response to: Quick NBA Lay of the Land

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
The Dallas Mavericks fired coach Avery Johnson on Wednesday following the team's first-round loss to New Orleans in the NBA playoffs. Please Knicks, we don't need him. If he can't get a talented team (Dallas) to win in the playoffs, what will he do here?

In response to: Quick NBA Lay of the Land

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
I think Detroit and Boston are having problems with the fact that they do not have any OBVIOUS matchup advantages. Much like Don Nelson's rosters, ATL and Philly lack a dominant Center. Dalembert is close but he's too skinny and too limited on the offensive end to be considered as "dominant". The fact that Philly and ATL won't quit is what will give them a shot to upset their respective opponents. The "fresh legs" have something to do with it, yes, but it's also that they have veteran leadership in the key positions/vital matchups:

Josh Smith - KG

Joe Johnson - Ray Allen

Marvin Williams/Childress - Pierce

and

Andre Miller - Chauncey

Evans - Sheed

Dalembert - McDyess

And these series are far from over. I still think the veteran savvy and better team defense will prevail. But, yes, of course they have to score to win.

As for the Knicks and their turnover problem: Of course, Stephon playing for less than half the season didn't help our turnover problem. Plus, I think high turnovers is a sign of playing against good defense, no? I don't remember the 90's Knicks doing particularly well keeping their turnovers in check. It was their ability to get stops that separated them from the pack. That Knick identity is the thing I miss most and the thing I want back in MSG.

No Layups!

Get a tough minded, X & O praising, defensively obsessed coach who's motivated to show and prove his value in the NBA as a Head Coach. Someone a little under the radar and supply him with assistants who will bring any new young players up to speed on the offense. Our offense was fine when we ran it. But too many times the ball got stuck in the paint with Curry or ZBo or on the perimeter by JCraw or in Nate's hands as he tried to mentally move his bigs into better position rather than dribbling to a better spot to deliver the ball. This team wasn't going to lead the league in any offensive categories without Steph. So its no surprise to me that turnovers were an issue after he was out of the lineup when they were not a particularly good low-turnover squad with him.

All in all, if everyone is playing defense on every possession...and everyone is tired after playing a good possession on the defensive end...the team will be more inclined to treat their own possessions with care. You think JCraw will chuck up an ill advised three ptr with 15 seconds left on the clock -which he still does too often- if he just spent 24 seconds D'ing his man up???

No. He'll walk the ball up looking for a breather and actually run a play out of the playbook. That's what I want.

In response to: Quick NBA Lay of the Land

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
States:

You hit the nail on the head.

This is a young man's sport. The idea is to get younger every year, but keep the disciplined veterans to build a core.

Zeke had it right until he reluctantly took on that coaching job. That relationship he built with the players couldn't transcend as a coach.

I mentioned early even before the season began that he shouldn't coach these players. The bond was too deep. Players and coaches need to be on different levels.

I agree that you have to score, but I think the defensive end is more magnified in the playoffs. Look at Denver, thay have decent defensive players, but they didn't play team defense, and look where it got them. On the other hand, they really can score with the best of them.

Camby, one of the better weakside defenders out there looked bored. For some reason, he just looked disinterested. A change of scene would do him good.

In response to: Quick NBA Lay of the Land

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Barf,

Interesting take on who gets the blame if the teams fail. D'Antonio and the Suns appear on the outs, which means he will go to Toronto, and maybe Mitchell to the Knicks. I think that the Suns got old over night. Adding Grant Hill and Shaq, were panic moves by Kerr. Hill was not needed, the Suns needed younger legs.

Regarding the Knicks and a defensive coach. Team defense is always needed, but in the playoffs,(todays NBA), YOU HAVE TO SCORE. The Knicks biggest problem this year was turnovers and poor shooting attempts/percentages. Teams were beating the Knicks down court because they would make bad passes, combined with shots taken while they lacked floor balance.

Detroit is relevant because they have quality players, that pass the ball and they average a low turnover rate. Detroit is having a hard time w/ 76ers because they do not have young legs. Also Detroits biggest weakness is they do not have anyone that can beat you off the dribble, so in close games they are at a disadvantage. Billups generally can power over smaller guards, but he cannot beat most guards off the dribble.

Boston is being exposed during the Atlanta series. I think the big 3s' rep intimidated teams during the season and in the first two games of the year. Atlanta has become comfortable after playing Boston 2-games. I believe that Atlanta has a chance, because they can score.

Peace & Blessings

In response to: Quick NBA Lay of the Land

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Byron Scott has been voted NBA coach of the year for taking The Hornets to the playoff. Now he's advanced two the second round beating Dallas, featuring Jason Kidd, the point guard who got him fired from NJ. I wonder what Jason Kidd thinks about that. Oh yeah, he's too busy being a poor sport and throwing players on the court when he's beaten.

In response to: Quick NBA Lay of the Land

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
What are the fanatics thoughts on that topic?

Are the Knicks or the MSM sellling us style over substance again?

In response to: Quick NBA Lay of the Land

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Speaking of "the script" does anyone here consider all hoopla around Walsh's courtship of Mark Jackson to be more style than substance? Ergo a Public Relations/Marketing move instead of a choice based on addressing real or percieved need within the team's makeup?

Barf I'm on the same page with you about getting Thibodeau, and your premise that a focus on defense and coaching up the players here with that mindset would likely do wonders for them next years.

That is what gets me about the choice to pursue Jackson, no coaching experience, more of a show boat guard with legit conditioning and motivation questions while with the Knicks, and not a defensive specialist.

Walsh may have talked about becoming competitive next year and having the team in position to fight for a playoff spot. But I think the Knicks focus on Jackson- if the media is to be believed, and absent their own nonsensical lobbying- cuts against any real intention to make the team competitive.

Anyone think Jackson will get what it takes to coach, make the team more defensive oriented, and have the team in position to compete for a playoff spot with no coaching experience in his resume.

Something smells fishy.

Thibodeau is substance Jackson is media pimped style!

In response to: Quick NBA Lay of the Land

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Now, u know Ice Cube can't just "mess around" and get a triple double. He prolly had a bunch of no shot making dudes on his team. Paul's triple double on the other hand is the truth.

I had no idea D'Antoni was out as coach for phoenix.

Should the Knicks be interested in D'Antoni? Has the script already been written while we're all waiting for the production to be released? Who knows?

In response to: Quick NBA Lay of the Land

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Was that the first tripple double of this year's playoffs?

I think so. Had to be done by the MVP.

Anyone seen "Poetry in motion" last night?

He messed around and got a tripple double.

Watch out San Antonio!

In response to: Quick NBA Lay of the Land

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
States,

If its a choice between scoring and defense, I'll always take defense. The only reason Detroit is still relevant is because of their team defense. The only reason Boston is being talked about as elite is because of the team defense. The only reason the Spurs are a dynasty is because of their team defense.

The Knicks can put up points by the boatloads in short periods of time. They can put the ball in the basket with the best of them. So can Denver. But good team defense can stifle all but the best penetrators, best shooters and best motion offenses. If you dont have "the best" of something...u gotta find another way to win.

That part of the game hasn't changed.

So the choice for me becomes: Do I wanna scrap this team of scorers or do I wanna keep some in place and coach them up? I always wanna coach them up. What they need is a defensive coach and the supplemental personnel to execute the new gameplan. If we can get a game changer, that's even better.

But if you thought all Isiah had to do was implement a better offensive gameplan...then its you who's been watching the game wrong. The Knicks never got a stop when the game was on the line this year. They relied too much on their offense and sometimes they would make the shot, but more often the other team just buckled down and played good defense.

That's the difference in my eyes. Ain't no pink eye either. HAHA

In response to: Quick NBA Lay of the Land

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Paul at the point for the Knicks, we'd be talking about a breakout year for Curry, JCraw and QRich. Jared would have emerged as a crafty defensive pest who'd guard the middle three positions (cuz that's all he would be expected to do with Paul dominating the ball) and Zach would have appeared to be an unselfish scorer/rebounder because Paul would not allow him to chuck up ill advised threes.

Paul was nuts last night. I enjoyed the game thoroughly. I'm seriously jealous of the Hornets. Steph makes Paul look like MJordan by comparison. Or better yet, Isiah Thomas the player. Ugh.

Oh well, we definitely need a new PG next year.

In response to: Quick NBA Lay of the Land

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Watched both games last night and I have to say Phoenix looked like no match for San An...and Dallas was terrible until Stack was bounced from the game. Who knew?

Does this mean Avery Johnson is out? I think Cuban should get the heat for trading two players (Diop, Harris) who would have made that series look competitive (at least).

Paul did his thing. His team isn't as bad as some think. Yes, he's a great talent. His team is filled with role players and specialists and led by a coach that has been putting competitive teams on the floor (when not rebuilding) for, at least, the last 5 yrs. We'll see how Paul does in the next round.

Steve Kerr needs to take the heat for the Suns troubling performance. Phoenix has a real problem down there taking care of their own. First, they won't pay Joe Johnson and lose him to Atlanta - who have taken advantage and built a team of super athletic, super hungry whippersnappers. And now Phoenix wouldn't retain Marion who did so many different things on the floor from the 3 or 4 positions that they might as well have dismantled the team if they were willing to trade him. That's just my opinion of course. I would have traded Diaw before Marion. As a matter of fact, I wouldn't have traded Marion at all. The Suns were doing well with him.

They might not have won the chip this year but they would have had a better record and avoided meeting the Spurs in the first round. If they got out of the first round, who knows which teams they would have faced. They could have gotten lucky and met NOH, who I think, they could have beaten with Marion and Co. Oh well...that's history now.

Will Steve Kerr be blamed? Will Cuban? No.

Was Isiah for taking the same risks? (Chasing big names to take the talent on the roster to the next level?) Yes.

They'll blame it on the coach in the case of Dallas. Cuban shouldn't have taken the gamble. When Stack opened his mouth and Devean George refused and thereby ruined the first deal Dallas had in place, Cuban should have scrapped the deal. If they thought Dirk and Devin Harris couldn't do it together, they should have looked into moving Dirk. Sad, yes, but true.

Before you fire Avery...they should at least give the group next year to see if they can get it together.

Will D'Antoni be fired? Will Kerr? Doubt it. They'll be at it again next year waiting/hoping for Stoudemire to explode.

In response to: Quick NBA Lay of the Land

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
DaVonn Clinton Jefferson

Be a Real Fan

'Lives',

Did you guys see the show the Real MVP put on last night. Chris Paul, triple double, controlling the flow of the game. Could you imagine the Knicks record with Paul running the point.

Clinton Jefferson, first the Knicks would win 57 games. Next, the Mavs would beat the Hornets. Give us one more prediction.

Those focusing on hiring a defensive coach , are stuck in the 90s. The game has changed. In the twenty first century, you have to score pointsto win. The game is called differently. Please wake up.

Those of you calling for a WNBA coach. I can't say you are asleep. I will say that you never knew the game.

Peace & Blessings

In response to: Quick NBA Lay of the Land

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
The SUN'S are History! Terrible Script!

Nash played like he was a KNICK!

Nothing but Actors!

In response to: Quick NBA Lay of the Land

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
As I said, I'd take Bill Laimbeer first choice or Tom Thibodeau second choice over Mark Jackson, but I don't think Mark Jackson is a bad choice.

In response to: Quick NBA Lay of the Land

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
For all those who want Avery Johnson as coach, they might have their man because if Dallas goes down in the first round, Johnson might be looking for a new job.

I just don't see why you'd want a coach who can't get a talented team like Dallas out of the first round.

In response to: Quick NBA Lay of the Land

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
REPOST!!!!!

The SUN'S Will make History! They will Sweep the next 3!

Make sure you watch tonight...be a part of it!

In response to: Quick NBA Lay of the Land

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
REPOST REPOST REPOST

Yeah baby, that�s what I�m talking about. Love the responses. Now that�s fun.

Brother TMAN, great to read you as usual. I will be adding those selections to the reading list above. Good stuff. Make yourself at home.

Cooley baby, you crack me up. How did you know that I was searching high and low for �Harlem River Drive.� Couldn�t find it, so I settled for Humphrie�s edition/rendition of the �New York Times.� But a little �Harlem River Drive� would have fit in anywhere like after Ellington or before Cynda Williams. Now, I love me some Blackbyrds but in order to make this playlist they would need to rename that song �Doin� it in Central Park.� Now if you tell me that tappin� azz in Rock Creek (DC for those who don�t know) is of or better than Central Park caliber activity, I may need to reconsider. And I�m guessing Mr. Cooley Suave can give me an analysis of both venues. (LOL).

African, you kissy kissy my cheeks while rubbing salt in my wounds. Ouch. But you know I am waiting for the Celtics to get their azzes bounced so I can republish major parts of my analysis and regain some of my dignity. There was very little wrong with my analysis: it was my prediction that was funked up. But hey, they made it to 84 games before falling apart � I am definitely rooting for the lowly Hawks. If they make me look better, I�m gonna join an ATL blog with the rest of my food stamps. (lal). (Hey, now you know when I get into something there �Ain�t No Half Steppin�.�

I look forward to watching �Next Town Brown,� but I feel for MJ who you know did not want Larry last year. I guess the fraternity got to him. I say Larry needs two-three years to create a team significantly over .500.

How in the funk does Scott Skiles keep getting jobs? How in the hell does the NY press try to promote him for a job. He will never retain the respect of modern day players. First of all his arrogance does not match his level of accomplishment. Secondly, he can�t coach.

Kudos to Pat Riley for a great coaching career and for giving a youngun who�s been working in the trenches a chance.

In response to: Quick NBA Lay of the Land

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Good stuff!

Yes I fell out my Chair when Pachulia played the Volcan

\"mind meld\" with KG!

Tonight watch history as the Suns will shine!

The Spurs are going to lose the next three!

Good Games on tonight!

In response to: Free Your Mind And Your Ass Will Follow

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
I'm turning myself in to the authorities. I would like to plead to a lesser charge of Blog Neglect 1 with probation as I am a first time offender.

Thank you your highness for your consideration.

In response to: Free Your Mind And Your Ass Will Follow

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Parker was the Finals MVP last year.

Just in case anybody forgot already LMAO!!!

Kobe tomorrow night fellas!!!

Tune in to witness the best to do it.

Watch how he goes ON THE ROAD and puts it on The Jazz!!!

In response to: Free Your Mind And Your Ass Will Follow

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Looks like Paul folded when it mattered most....in the 4th quarter.

Parker played with him all night and the numbers prove it as well.

He was only almost 300 votes behind the Mamba for the MVP award LMAO!!!

So what is he now......1 and 2 on the road in the playoffs for his career?

He's still young so he has that going for him.

I almost want to see him against "The Greatest" just to see if he would step his game up.

My predictions of the Lakers sweeping through the playoffs is looking good so far.

Change in 08!!!!!!

Somebody tell Hillary to drop out....it's over!!!!

In response to: Free Your Mind And Your Ass Will Follow

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Yo Fanatics

heard the reports that the Knicks are cooking up a big offer to Mike D'antoni worth about 6 million a year.

Word is that he, D'antoni, would still prefer to take the coaching of the Bulls but if the Bulls can't match the proported offer of 6 million annually, then D'antoni may be coaching the Knicks.

This is a topic for a post if there is any truth to the story.

In response to: Free Your Mind And Your Ass Will Follow

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Something to think about ....from agent Zero!!!!!!!!

The Future

The future is the future. I want to be back in Washington, but weird things happen in free agency. If Antawn is not back, then there�s no point in me coming back because he�s part of my success, too. When you�re doing pick and roll with a player like him, they can�t double you, they can�t trap you because you have a pick and pop guy who can shoot the three at your four position. My success is because of him too. If he doesn�t come back, I�m not coming back.

I know everybody is focusing on whether I�m coming back, but I�m focusing on what he�s doing. If he doesn�t come back, then I�m not coming back.

I'd like to see them both in the O&B!!!!!!!!!!!! Healthy!!!!!

In response to: Free Your Mind And Your Ass Will Follow

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
LOL .....That was Don't Blog Gay Day! LOL

In response to: Free Your Mind And Your Ass Will Follow

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Thank GOD Statesman is not part of National

Don't Blog day! BARF.....you in the closet Bruh? LOL LOL

In response to: Free Your Mind And Your Ass Will Follow

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Peaceman & African,

My 2 cents:

Some of those guys are recharging their batteries after a painful disappointing season. However on others your radars are misleading you. There was a misdirection play, and you guys are still chasing the guy without the ball. Note, a couple of those guys have never visited. One guy, not even a token visit, but he did make a few calls. "Gyrate as it stops".

When the break occurred, I read the attempts to talk directly to 'Lives' by some as an attempt to convince him to remain at the old place and sever ties with those removed. In my opinion they miscalculated 'Lives' objectivity. Whoa...Objectivity regarding conflict among individuals, not his opinions. Let's not get it twisted,(LOL). I guess in spite of his bullshyte, 'Lives' is considered the SUPER-DELEGATE (LOL).

I could go on , but the more that I think about it, it comes across as Girlie-Shyte. Let's focus on Basketball.

Peace & Blessings

.

In response to: Free Your Mind And Your Ass Will Follow

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Peace:

I doubt it, we're hanging with a bunch of pillow biters!

In response to: Free Your Mind And Your Ass Will Follow

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
African,

Your right! Where's The GANG?

APB FOR STEADY!

APB FOR JAYBEE

APB FOR " WE GOT THIS"

APB FOR ORANGE AND BLUE

APB FOR KANDIMAN

APB FOR BRONX & HARLEM Md's!

Cooley has posted!

UH OH....It's National "Don't post if your GAY DAY"

I'm Sure we'll see more of the gang in a few...... LOL

In response to: Free Your Mind And Your Ass Will Follow

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
From Agent Zero's blog.....Funny as hell! He talks about going into a

Cleveland Mall during the WIZ/Cav's series! LOL

It was amazing though, the whole city of Cleveland was into it. A couple of us were in the mall in Cleveland and a guy came up to us and was like, �I know somewhere you guys haven�t been before �� And it caught us off guard. We were thinking he was going to be like, �The Gap!� So we just were like, �Where?� And he goes, �The Second Round!� And he just took off running. We were like, what is this? This is crazy.

In response to: Free Your Mind And Your Ass Will Follow

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Hey!

What happened to the joint today?

This is begining to look like the place that no one speaks of.

Wake up everybody. Time for thinking ahead.

In response to: Free Your Mind And Your Ass Will Follow

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Guy's

12 days before Ping Pong Balls! I believe if we don't get Rose

we should trade down for LOWER picks! Those being

DeAndre Jordan C

19 years old; 7'0"; 260 lbs.

Texas A&M, Freshman.......Who is a legit 7 footer and is a

High Risk/Reward pick! He is believed to picked @ 12 in the First round.

As far as Raw talent, strength and running the floor....there's

NO big man in the draft that comes close to his potenial

Best case-KG......worst case- Jerome James...High Risk/Reward!

From the trade down I'd take the projected 2nd rounder;

From

76ers Joey Dorsey PF

24 years old; 6'9"; 260 lbs.

Memphis, Senior .....NY will have it's enforcer again!

Because of his age and Game...he will make an impact

right away as he does all the dirty work...that's his Game!

This is my Personal Draft plan B. I hope we get Plan A....and

get "Kissed by a ROSE"

In response to: Free Your Mind And Your Ass Will Follow

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
I will take either D'Antoni or Avery!

I think with the Knicks that will remain when the smoke clears,

Nate, Balkman, Lee, Chandler ( will most likley miss 2008),

Jeffries ( yeah I said his name) along with who we pick up in the draft

( A prayer for Rose) and an Artest signing.....that team will be able to Run

Aka Pre-Matrix trade Sun's and is fun as hell to watch! So, I'd Give D'Antoni

the Nod before Avery! Just Bloggin!

In response to: Free Your Mind And Your Ass Will Follow

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Knicks Could Offer Job To D'Antoni Shortly?

May 7, 2008 - 5:49 am

Arizona Republic -

Neither the Bulls or the Knicks have made Suns coach Mike D'Antoni a contract offer, and despite reports to the contrary, D'Antoni has not ruled out the Knicks, Ken Berger from Newsday is reporting.

While Mark Jackson still remains a strong candidate for the Knick post, Donnie Walsh met with D'Antoni in Phoenix and then stayed out West to meet with Avery Johnson, who was recently fired by Dallas

In response to: Free Your Mind And Your Ass Will Follow

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
My main man Lives.

Good to see you're more on our side of the pendulum. That smell was killing me!

I humbly apologize for the perceived insults. It wasn't meant that way, but the shit was just getting so deep,...... Don't take it personal. One love.

But Lives, by now you should know I don't buy into the MSN's demonization of Kobe. I don't read these guys. I base my decision on the games.

I'm fortunate enough to have access to every game played, and I see what I see, and call it like I see it.

Nowhere in my post did I say Kobe is not deserving. You're acting like Hillary."You didn't denounce." OK I reject and denounce. Kobe is a deserving candidate. But he's not MY choice. I don't care what the Pope says.

You, of all people know that I dont side with the popular opinion nor do I just oppose for argument sake. I form my own opinion with reasons to support my argument.

Kobe doesnt act like a brat and a spoiled baby, he IS a brat and a spoiled baby. But that doesn't take away from his skill and ability. That doesn't affect my decision. What I'm looking at is the person that is most valuable to his team. It doesn't matter to me if he smoked some weed or raped the cheerleader. The most valuable player to their respective team is Paul in my not-so-humble opinion.

Another observation picked up by Cooley. Zach.

I remember when I made the argument that Zach was the one factor killing the team game, I was jumped like the naked, drunk, cheerleader wandering into the men's locker room full of jocks.

Slowly and surely it's seeping into the collective consciences of the group. One man can change the entire make-up of a team, given a certain amount of touches. Zach has destroyed a fragile team and Zeke's legacy. That's the single most volatile move that Zeke made, which turned out to be his last.

Congratulations to Kobe and his backers. The judge's verdict is final. I accept it, but the cops are liable for the young man's death.

In response to: Free Your Mind And Your Ass Will Follow

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
I must return to my coma for most of the day. Everyone have a great day. Peace.

In response to: Free Your Mind And Your Ass Will Follow

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
O&B

Avery would be a good coach for the Knicks. I don't know whether he would be the best. I think he would do a better job than Mark Jackson but that's not saying much because the Knicks have some hard decisions to make. They need to decide what type of team they want to be and what their goals are for the upcoming season.

The Knicks have some nice pieces, but they don't have thepiece that will dictate direction. Perhaps that piece is Derek Rose or Andrew Bynum or Ron Artest.

I think Avery Johnson could handle Ron Artest. Can Mark Jackson?

Thank God Rick Carlisle is gone. Mark Cuban is sick Peaceman. He's making change for change's sake. He needs an inside presence, not a disruptive presence on the bench.

In response to: Free Your Mind And Your Ass Will Follow

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
States, I am committed to helping you solve and resolve that �nuance and balanced analysis problem.� It amazes me how one minute you can make the most brilliant statement and then pull some doozy of a snoozy out your behind. You definitely could be one of my younger blood brothers. . . .

You say �[d]efending the MSM is your right, but putting on their armor in one paragraph, and then pointing out their hypocrisy a few paragraphs later (Wilbon) is disingenuous. Defintely Drossitic!! Disingenuous and Drossitic, please. First of all, such fucking vile language on this blog deserves a bar of Dove and a cup of Palmolive. Second, what you call defending the MSM on one hand and criticizing a member of the MSM on another, is what I call �balanced analysis.� Considering any thing or person all bad in itself lacks candor and is dishonest; that is an MSM trick and fault. Unlike you, I do not subscribe to the notion that simply stating that the MSM is all evil. There are not only nuances, but different aspects of the media which require different analysis.

Similarly, I can criticize you for the dumb shit and still see the brilliance in some of your analysis. If that fits your definition of disingenuous and then so be it. I�ll just file that definition in the �dumb shit� category.

Af, absolutely no beef, veggies. You know I be hungry for a fight and that hunger must be satiated even if I gotta chew on one of my own limbs. Ha Ha. And yes, you got my jokes, but you�re still wrong about Kobe being �Undeserving.� KOBE FOREVER. Ha Ha Ha.

Cooley. Brotherman, the Zach comment was a point of reference not a dig. . . . O'k, it was a dig and a point of reference. He did have problems with the double- and triple team most of the season.

I enjoyed last nights' game between the Cavs and Celtics. Previously, I said I was sleeping on the Cavs, but that was because I had no idea what the Cavs had become. The Cavs are a better "Team" than Boston. They also do not have an unstoppable player. The Cavs do. LeBron stopped himself last night with the help of whistle-swallowing refs (a/k/a the Swallows. Used in a sentence: The swallows were on the court last night. The Celts looked horrible on offense. The Cavs have great length and are definitely dominant on the defensive glass which means that the Celts are not getting second shots as often.

I see so many good things happening and I think this is a great chance for Boston to go the way of the Patriots. Great season; unhappy ending to the post-season. Hurray to the possibilities.

In response to: Free Your Mind And Your Ass Will Follow

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
In the description of my LAP, I should have written �Mood: Snarky.�

Gentlemen, your responses were quite enjoyable. It is interesting how a little dialogue with contentiously snarky friends can add to one�s day. Peaceman, anyone who refuses to laugh at that piece is deader than a door. . .naw. . . deader than a LIVES. Priceless.

As you may know, I have no reason to waste my time typing about Kobe, who is not even one of my favorite players, other than to engage you in some conversation and take absolute joy in reading your defensive positions. I see that both my dawgs, Statesman and African have been paying attention these past two years and have reached into their utility belts for the deepest insults they believe one could hurl at LIVES. They don�t just tell me I�m stupid like they tell everyone else. No. No. They call me disingenuous (Oh, Follymockie, how I miss you) and compare me to Isola and Dross. Just some of the meanest, most vile comments one can make to LIVES on the internet. Just mean . . . .

But fortunately, Peaceman has me so drugged up that when I am not comatose, their insults make me feel like �Tickle me Elmo.�

While I appreciate that tickly feeling, I gotta remind you that Kobe Bryant has finally won the MVP and he deserves it, no matter how much you both dost protest. Perhaps the MSM vote on anything should be seen with a jaundiced eye; but that eye would also do well to be clear, not pink, as the MSM is not always wrong and you are not always right when you oppose the �prevailing� MSM view. This is one of those times you both are dead wrong. (I welcome both you corpses to the twilight zone. As Curtis Mayfield said, if there is a hell down below we are all gonna go. And to quote (or paraphrase) a line from a Jean Paul Sartre joint: �Hell is other people.� Welcome).

I would not dare suggest that you are totally wrong because you support Paul over Kobe. Although, I, the MVP voters, and many pro-ballers disagree with you, I understand why one would vote for Paul. Where you are wrong is in your insistence that Kobe is undeserving.

It is a sick, biased and unstudied position. It is sick because it leads me to believe that both of you are inflicted with the disease you claim so many others have. Sucked-in-by-the-media-itis. You both have bought, hook, line and stinker, into the media�s last couple of years of demonization of Kobe. Of course Kobe has given ample material to be portrayed as a spoiled, self-centered, disrespectful brat. I get that. But I also get that the media can dig its keypad into a characterization of a man that is overblown like a FATHEAD poster. I also get that fans buy into those characterizations and get stuck there even while the media in it�s temporal temperament changes with the seasons � usually after their target win�s a championship or dies.

In favoring your man-love position for a lovable Paul, you both fail to give Kobe any credit for the player that he is. The vast majority of your position is anti-Kobe which just absolutely destroys any credibility that your usually sharp basketball acumen may hold. In your position, you rarely acknowledge the truth about Kobe�s skill and play during the season as though you are fearful that a concession of the truth will undermine your effort to be intransigents. (If so, you are correct). Consequently your arguments have absolutely no balance and less credibility from the wheelless gurney I lie on.

If you actually participated in the voting of the MVP, you would be asked to rank the players which would put you in the tough position of ranking each candidate who �deserves� the award. If you actually voted, you would be forced into a position that would require you, if you were being honest, to consider that Kobe does deserve the award, perhaps not as much as Paul as far as you are concerned, but enough to be considered along with LeBron and Paul. You would be forced off your simplistic insistence that Paul should get the award. You would be asked to add your opinion to the body of MSM �opinion,�

And this year, your opinion would clearly be the minority view. Bryant received 82 first-place votes and 1,100 points in the media vote. He was followed by New Orleans� Chris Paul (28 and 894), Boston�s Kevin Garnett (15 and 670) and Cleveland�s LeBron James (1 and 438).

Interestingly, as you may be aware, the MSM prevailing view is also the view of many NBA athletes and former athletes who know the game as well and/or better than all of us. While their opinions can be wrong at times, there is no escaping the fact that many, if not most, (and I don�t have a head count) former and current ballers agree that Kobe deserves the award for his play this year. If Chris Webber, Charles Barkley, < a href=�http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/dailydime?page=dailydime-070328\"> Jamal Mashburn, LeBron James and Kenny Smith said Kobe deserves the award and Statesman and African said Kobe does not. . . And I could see and analyze with my own eyes that Kobe deserves the award. . . who should I believe? Who would anybody with an ounce of brain believe?

Now I know you both well enough that you�ll come up with some lame argument and generalization about how all of the athletes who disagree with you want Kobe to win because Stern wants them to promote Kobe or they all believe he should win because he deserved it years ago. Garbage, because you can�t prove that they ALL have that view when they all say that Kobe deserves the award because of his play this year.

I dare admit, again, that at times I can be a purveyor of shyte � some good, some not so good (like good bacteria and bad bacteria). In fact, I dare say, I consider myself a connoisseur, but not a conspicuous consumer, of shyte which allows me to recognize quality, or lack thereof, in shyte. I enjoy trading shyte with you, but me think you both are hoarding your good shyte and just giving us the stanky stuff on this media driven Kobe-hate. Even the press overcame it�s hatred of Kobe to recognize the truth, while you both remain Kobe-hate carriers.

FREE YOUR MIND, FIGHT SUCKED-IN-BY-THE-MEDIA-ITIS

In response to: Free Your Mind And Your Ass Will Follow

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
I'm with you O&B,

Avery is a better coach than anyone available!

Cuban has lost his mind to fire him!

We would be lucky to land him! He has a Chip as

a player and no ego like Zeke! The real question is...

is the next coach going to be "micro-managed" by the

the upper brass?

In response to: Free Your Mind And Your Ass Will Follow

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
King James had the worst game of his NBA career

and the CAV'S lost by 4???? This will be another 7 game series!

In response to: Free Your Mind And Your Ass Will Follow

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Nice back and forth between Lives and Statesman.

I still would have picked Chris Paul over Kobe for the MVP but Kobe is a worthy candidate.

Don't know if anyone here has heard but, supposedly Mike D'antoni, was given permission to interview with John Paxson of the Bulls, and Donny Walsh of the Knicks.

A report indicates that D'antoni has the inside track on the Bulls coaching vacancy and that Paxson interviewed with D'antoni twice. However, the issue of negotiating a contract that would satisfy both the Bulls and D'antoni, is the monkey wrench which leaves D'antoni still available as a potential candidate for the Knicks' coaching vacancy.

According to the same report from, Andrew Marchand from 1050 ESPN, should D'antoni seal the deal with the Bulls, Mark Jackson would come closer to securing his candidacy with the Knicks as their next Head Coach. The following is the reasoning stated in the report, with D'antoni locked up by the Bulls, the Raptors would likely stand pat and not make a coaching change, Avery Johnson is "too sensitive" to handle the media scrutiny/pressure, which would place Jackson on the fast track to becoming the Knicks' head coach.

I'm still annoyed by how dismissive the reporters around here are about Avery Johnson, I don't know if he is "too sensitive" but he is a fiery type which the Knicks surely could use, and who surely should be considered heavily for the Knicks' HC vacancy.

Anybody wanna comment?

In response to: Free Your Mind And Your Ass Will Follow

1970-01-01T01:00:00Z
Peaceman, Statesman, Cooley and African that was some of the funniest shyte I have read in awhile. Thank you for making my day. . . . .

I'll be revived for a minute back later tonight, I think.

That was so freakin' funny I nearly died laughing.