Since I’m probably the only human who watches every second of the Knicks pregame show, I figured I’d share this with everyone! Well done Al, well done.

We’re back baby!

I know we didn’t pick up CP3, but to be completely 100% honest, we might be better off with a legitimate center than an all-star point guard. The FACT is, you don’t NEED an all-star point guard to win a championship. Just look at the Lakers all those years with Derek Fisher. Look at Dallas last year with the seasoned veteran Jason Kidd and speedy JJ Barea. What has virtually EVERY championship team had – a legitimate center (at least one).  With a more mature Tony Douglas and a backup seasoned veteran like Mike Bibby, the Knicks have an extremely competitive team that in all honesty matches up with Miami very well. Moving Stoudemire to the power forward position, his natural position, will allow him to dominate and get some help on the boards. It will also keep him healthier so he doesn’t get as banged up playing against the Dwight Howards of the league. Hey Miami, good luck trying to match up Joel Anthony to Tyson Chandler (again), and watch STAT walk all over Bosh time and time again.

Let’s go Knicks!

]]> http://whatsaknickerbocker.com/the-new-big-three-in-ny/feed/ 0 http://whatsaknickerbocker.com/the-7-prospects-of-christmas/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-7-prospects-of-christmas http://whatsaknickerbocker.com/the-7-prospects-of-christmas/#comments Thu, 08 Dec 2011 04:30:42 +0000 Justin http://whatsaknickerbocker.com/?p=162

Chris Paul For Christmas 2011

It’s the holiday season! I don’t know about all of you, but I was pretty devastated when I thought I was going to have to suck it up and not have any NBA to watch for the next 5 months… don’t think I was gonna make it. HOWEVER, the players and and owners saw the light, and we now have a three-quarter season – I’ll take it! Just like in the NFL this year when their lockout ended, there is going to be a rush of free agency acquisitions, with less than 3 weeks until the season starts. Let’s look at the Knicks’ “7 Prospects of Christmas” to see who their most sought after players are:

1. Chris Paul – This is the obvious prospect. We all know he made that toast at Melo’s wedding that he wanted to create his “own big 3″ in NY, yadda yadda yadda, but now is the time where it COULD become a reality. A lot of the sportswriter’s and the media keep saying how CP3 would have to take a huge pay cut to join the Knicks, and I CAN’T BELIEVE they actually think that. Sure, his contract will be about $16 million shy of what he could be making somewhere else, but how about the sponsors they’re lining up for him? It’s shortsighted to think that the money is the problem; it’s more about if we can keep other teams hands off him until next year’s free agency or come up with some miracle of a trade for New Orleans to accept.
2. Dwight Howard – I haven’t heard much progress in this area. To me, this would be an even more significant acquisition than CP3. You really can’t substitute size in the NBA… there’s no way around it. You can get away with a “poor man’s Steve Nash” or big time veteran like Jason Kidd at the point guard. What you can’t do is put a center like Brook Lopez up against Dwight Howard (because he’ll cry again). There’s been a lot of hustle and bustle in Orlando, with the recent stepping down of the Magic’s CEO Bob Vander Weide after drunk dialing Howard at 1am, begging him to stay in Orlando. More to come on this.
3. Grant Hill – Again? Okay, this guy must be drinking a different kind of water than everybody else. He literally could be the starting 2 guard for the Knicks. Steve Nash has been endorsing him publicly, telling the Suns to resign Hill, but something tells me the front office of the Knicks may make Hill a low-ball offer to him. Let’s just please avoid a Cuttino Mobley situation…
4. Richard Jefferson – This has been heating up a little bit today. Jefferson was amnestied by the Spurs, and he still has 3 years $30 million on his contract… WOOF. It looks like this could be a good opportunity for the Knicks to give another low-ball offer to a seasoned veteran. Jefferson at age 31 is still athletic and is effective on the perimeter, but he can also explode to the basket
5. Jared Jeffries – I’m sure you’ve all heard the Knicks signed Jeffries to a 1 year deal again (Merry Christmas…). I just hope he learned how to make a lay up so he doesn’t blow it in the final seconds of the game against Boston again.
6. Jason Kapono – Another veteran who could be a great asset to the Knicks for a cheap price. He brings perimeter shooting (one of the best in the game) and some size to the guards. I have heard through the grapevine that he’s talking closely with the Lakers who will probably offer him the veteran minimum.
7. Samuel Dalembert – This has cooled down a bit, which is why I have him at number 7. Dalembert is not a bad center, but you cannot win a championship with him as your starting center. It just will not happen. He takes too many outside shots and is not as active in the paint. The Knicks need a “banger”. A Charles Oakley type who will crash the boards and bring toughness, who can also defend the 5.
8. Kurt Thomas – Okay I lied, but I just had to. KURT THOMAS FOR PRESIDENT! I would take Kurt Thomas back in a heart beat. The guy is NEVER injured, can drain the 18 footer in his sleep and is as tough as nails. Give him the veteran minimum and sign him to a 1-year contract. I’m sure he’d love to end his career in New York. IN KURT WE TRUST!

Okay. So everything you read about the NBA lockout is throwing around this term BRI which the players union and team owners cannot agree upon. What does BRI stand for and what does it mean? I wanted to go into some detail for those of you who are not familiar about what exactly is being disagreed upon, and what is really causing the fans to suffer.

BRI stands for “Basketball Related Income”. Honestly, how much more general could that term get? Obviously the NBA lockout wouldn’t be debating over Football Related Income…

Okay. Enough sarcasm. What does Basketball Related Income actually encompass?

1. Ticket sales (pre-season, season, playoffs)
2.  Contracts with major television networks (TNT, TBS, ABC, NBC)
3. Arena advertising (signage and such)
4. Concession Profits
5. Parking Fees
6. Stadium Naming Rights Deals

The league takes all the money generated from these sources and splits them between the owners and the players (reflected in their salaries) in percentages. For example, the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) that expired before the lockout started split the BRI in way that favored the players: 57% to the players, 43% to the owners. The BRI is based on the gross profits, which is one complaint of the owners. For example, the owners can increase attendance in their arenas by doing a lot of marketing and advertising (which costs money), and the expenses are incurred by the owners and not by the players.

Currently the NBA ’11-’12 season is being held up mainly by a disagreement on the percentage dispersion of the BRI. As of now, the owners proposed a 50/50 split (one would think that’s fair), and the players are willing to only drop to a 53% [players] and 47% [owners] split. This division of 3% is ultimately resulting in the fans suffering. I’m also not sure if the players union and owners fully understand the ramifications of their actions. If there’s no season, do they really think they’ll be selling as many basketball jerseys, athletic wear, basketball cards, and memorabilia?
image credited to RMTIP21 on creative commons

Jared Jordan highlights video

In the 2007 NBA Draft, there was a point guard by the name of Jared Jordan that was being tossed around, but maybe not as much as it should have been. He was a senior at Marist College, a small D1 college in the MAAC conference, and was a Red Fox for all four of his collegiate years. Jordan, for his second year in a row, led the NCAA nationwide in assists. This feat was only achieved  by one other player in the history of the NCAA, Avery Johnson (ever hear of him?). Jordan’s smooth ball handling, no look passes, and court vision were no joke. At the conclusion of a great regular season for the Red Foxes (but failing to make the NCAA tournament), it wasn’t a question of “if” he would get drafted to the NBA, but “where” he would get drafted. As a Marist alumni myself and New York Knicks die hard fan, I of course wanted to see Jordan stay in New York.

Jordan was drafted 45th in the 2007 NBA Draft by the LA Clippers, and was shortly traded to the Knicks (score!). Jordan however was never given the time of day and never made the roster. He has been playing in Europe ever since, now playing for the German squad Telekom Baskets.

So why am I bringing up The “Almost” Knickerbocker? Let’s be realistic, the ’07-’08 Knicks were terrible, and not even a Steve Nash or Chris Paul could make that team work. However, what about now? The Knicks have two of the best scorers in the league and are in dire need of a pass first, shoot second point guard who can also score. They need a veteran basketball mind who still has his prime years left in the tank. Although I believe Jordan was ready for the NBA right out of college, he’s now a 4 year veteran.

So now, I’m calling YOU out Donnie Walsh & Mike D’Antoni. I’m putting you both in the hot seat. Why not resign this kid, have Billups mentor him and show him the ropes of the NBA, and have a scalable long term point guard who can propel this Knicks team to the success they deserve. How about it D & M?

Here’s a recent interview RealGM had with Jordan:

RealGM: Do you think that all expectations and comparisons with players like John Stockton affect your career? Did you feel pressure at the time when you played in college?

Jordan: I do not think that the comparisons affected my career at all. I never put that upon myself to be like someone else and let alone one of the best point guards to ever play the game. I just focused on trying to get better and making a living out of basketball.

RealGM: Do you think that you were ready to go to the NBA directly from the college?

Jordan: Yes, I felt I was ready for the NBA out of college. But there were certain things that happened that did not allow me to make it in the NBA. Obviously looking back, I wish I had known what I know now about the game that I did now but that comes with experience.

RealGM: After you were selected with 45th pick by Clippers in 2007, did you feel that you would stay in the NBA for your rookie season after talking with Clippers management? 

Jordan: I did not get any indications from the Clippers that they were going to sign me 100 percent. I just knew that I would need to earn a spot in training camp, but I got traded before then and had another opportunity with the Knicks that did not work out.

RealGM: In your opinion, why were you unable to make it in the NBA?Was it just a bad situation not getting a chance, orwas there something more?

Jordan: I am not sure why I didn’t stay in the NBA, but I gave it my best shot and that’s all I can ask for. It was a great experience for me and I loved trying to compete for a spot, which was a dream of mine since I was young.

RealGM: Have NBA teams ever told you what do you need to improve to become the type of player to play on that level?

Jordan: When I was going through the process, NBA teams were always questioning my defense and shooting ability. I think those were two of the main things that I needed to improve on to make it in the NBA.

RealGM: You have played in three completely different countries: Lithuania of Eastern Europe, Germany of Middle Europe and Greece of South Europe. Could you name the main differences of living and playing in those countries? Which one did you like the most?

Jordan: I have played in Lithuania, Greece and Germany and all the places have something different about them. I would say that living in Lithuania was an adjustment for me because it was my first year out of college and being all by myself. I was very lucky though to have great teammates who helped me adjust. Living in Lithuania was nice but very cold! Germany to me felt the most like home in the United States. I always felt right at home having lived in Germany so it was something I always enjoyed. Greece was very nice and living on the island of Rhodes was great. Not many people get to live in a tourist destination for an entire year. All of the places I lived had great things about it so I can’t say which one I liked best, but I would say I felt the most comfortable in Germany.

RealGM: It is said that point guard is like a coach on the court. However, coaches in Europe and the USA are different. Was it difficult to adapt to the European style of basketball and work with European coaches?

Jordan: It was very difficult for me to adjust to the European game when I first came to Lithuania. Not knowing much about the European game before I came to Europe I was quickly reminded how different it was. In Lithuania I was playing with great players who had European experience so they helped me adjust but I felt that it took me the entire year to fully understand the European game.

RealGM: Did anything surprise you in Europe if we talk about both, living and basketball?

Jordan: The way the game is played here in Europe is very different from in the States. That’s why I laugh when a lot of people think they can come to Europe and it will be easy. They do not understand that it is a lot different and it won’t be as easy as they think. Living in Europe has been great! I love the European way of life and have enjoyed being here and hope to for many of years.

RealGM: This summer you decided to come back to Germany and play for Telekom Baskets Bonn. What were the main reasonsforthis choice?

Jordan: As I said earlier, I always felt very much at home in Germany and that played a huge role in my decision to come back. Obviously having played in Bonn before, I knew how much my girlfriend and I enjoyed living there and we wanted to experience that again. The coach and management there have always been great and the fans are a very important part of the club. To me it reminds me a lot of my college years, which I loved.

RealGM: Talking about NBA lockout, do you think we will see NBA stars moving overseas and possibly to Europe?

Jordan: I think some NBA guys will come to Europe because they want to keep playing and to stay in shape. I think they will be surprised and might find it difficult to play here because of the different styles. Also, in Europe off the court is different then the NBA mentality. In Europe you fly economy, you always eat together as a team on the road, long bus trips, sometimes two practices a day so it could be a big adjustment for some guys.

RealGM: Did you receive any calls from your friends who play in NBA currently and are thinking about playing overseas? If you were to receive it, what would you tell them?

Jordan: No, I have not really talked to anyone about them coming to play in Europe. If I did talk with someone, I would tell him to give it a shot and enjoy the experience. I know when looking back on my career when I am older I will be very happy that I was able to make a living playing basketball while traveling the world.

RealGM: People were comparing you with Steve Nash back at the time of your draft year. Do you still believe that you could reach that kind of level? Do you have any career goals at the moment?

Jordan: Steve Nash is a two-time MVP of the NBA, so those are very high standards. I do not compare myself to him, but I try and do similar things that he does. I want to keep playing the game as long as I can while always enjoying it.

RealGM: As you are still 26-year-old, is coming back to the NBA is among your plans as well?

Jordan: I do not know if the NBA is something that will happen but you never know what can take place. I am enjoying my time here in Europe so I am focused on that.

Read more: http://basketball.realgm.com/blog/215313#ixzz1aJnlXOvM

It’s been a while since my last post, partially due to my refusal to write about the success of the Miami Heat (series tied 2-2 at the moment). After the news this week concerning the departure of Donnie Walsh and some other developing stories, it was time for a post.

1. Donnie Walsh stepping down as Knicks President was not what I expected to happen. After making two of the biggest trades in Knicks history in the same season and getting the Knicks to the playoffs for the first time in years, it was SHOCKING to hear of his departure. I knew Walsh never really got along with Dolan (and Isiah), but I truly thought D’Antoni would be gone before Walsh. Now that D’Antoni’s only real ally in the organization is gone, it’s becoming more and more possible for D’Antoni to leave NY after his contract is up. He may go for the Toronto coaching position as was reported this week.
2. The draft is coming up, and there hasn’t been too much going on as of yet. I continue to hear reports of Kemba Walker and Jimmer Fredette working out with several teams, and supposedly the Knicks are very interested in Jimmer. Walker was also quoted after winning the 2011 NCAA Championship that he would love to be able to play with his idol Carmelo Anthony. Unfortunately, I wouldn’t bet that either of those players are around for the 17th pick. Walker is projected to be the 7th pick in the draft and Fredette is projected to go 12th. The Knicks with the 17th pick are projected to get Chris Singleton, another 6’9” SF/PF. Drafting a PG or a Center would be ideal to backup Billups and relieve the pressure from Tony Douglas who’s not a true point guard.
3. Samuel Dalembert is a player I would not be surprised to see the Knicks go after. He’s been healthy for the extent of his career, and with the loss of Mozgov, the Knicks could use some more length. Even the loss of Gallinari hurt the length of this team, but the addition of Jared Jeffries gave back a little. Dalembert is a defensive center and a good shot blocker, one that the Knicks could get affordably.

I really wanted to write a post after Game 2 between the Knicks and Celtics, but I was too irate and frustrated to write something of value. So instead, this post will go through the reasons why D’Antoni needs to go.

Lack of Communication– In all my years of watching the Knicks and NBA basketball, I’ve never seen so many instances where players don’t know how many timeouts they have, fouls to give, or what the play is out of a timeout (regardless if it’s a good play or not) as I have with this coaching staff. D’Antoni’s lack of coach-to-player communication shows through especially in the last few minutes of games, which costs them in the end.

End of Game Execution– Specifically in Game 2 I had a big problem with the last sequence of plays to end the game, on both the defensive and offensive ends. It proved 3 things to me: 1. D’Antoni does not know his roster, 2. D’Antoni does not have a superior basketball mind, and 3. D’Antoni is incapable of communicating strategy to his team. Someone please tell me why Jared Jeffries is the “go-to” guy for the last offensive play of the game? Carmelo wanted to get the ball on the right side, knew he was going to get double teamed, so why was Jared Jeffries lined up on the right side? Why was he even on the court and Shawne Williams on the bench? Jeffries doesn’t have a confident bone in his body, and he’s perhaps one of the worst offensive players in the league. Again, this is NOT Jared’s fault. D’Antoni should have subbed him out after Boston’s timeout was called.

Cannot run a Defense– The Knicks have played some pretty darn good defense this series thus far, but it’s because of the effort the players are giving, not the coaching. How does D’Antoni not make an adjustment when Rondo was first taking over the game in the first quarter? Instead, he left Tony Douglas in the game with 2 fouls who let Rondo waltz to the basket each and every play. Reader, I’m asking you this, would you rather have Garnett take a 3 ft jump shot over Jared Jeffries or Delonte West take a 20ft jumper with the game on the line? Why not one of the guards on the perimeter double Garnett and force him to pass off? I’d much rather have West take the final shot of the game than any of the big 3. Coaching mistake! Also, the last play of the game with Boston inbounding with 4.6 seconds left, why are we NOT defending the inbounds pass??? You always defend the inbounds pass to possibly force a turnover or a 5-second violation. There is nothing good coming from not defending the inbounded and double teaming the post instead. Finally, how do you not tell your team to foul immediately when the ball is inbounded? This is just plain stupidity, nothing more, nothing less.

With that said, the Knicks need to look for an alternative coach. With Rick Adelman on the market now, the Knicks should look into him as a possible candidate. Adelman is one of the best basketball minds in history, and his system a few years ago on Sacramento with Chris Webber and that team would be a fantastic fit for NY.

So it’s been a very tough day for Knicks fans today, being stuck in a limbo between recovering from a heartbreaking loss waiting for Game 2 and a growing anger with each release of new information from the media today. Depending on which broadcast you were watching, TNT or MSG, you may have missed some of which I’m about to tell you. The FACT of the matter is, this could be deemed the worst 2 minutes of Playoff refereeing in the history of the NBA, and here’s why…

1. The no-call on Billups drive– Chauncey drove to the basket with about 2 minutes to go in the 4th, and was knocked to the ground by Jermaine O’Neal, with Billups having to exit the game. There was a little body, but the foul came from the off-hand down low from O’Neal. A missed call, but one I could live with.
2. Foul on melo– This was perhaps the most questionable call of the game. It’s one thing to be the Away team on the road in the playoffs and you’re not going to get calls, but that is a totally different story than making outrageous calls on the visiting team. Melo was trying to get his arm free from the grasp of Pierce, who was playing extremely aggressive. Hey, this is the playoffs, aggressive play is encouraged, but you can’t start making calls like that with 45 seconds left in a playoff game. That’s just not kosher. Even Pierce was quoted today that it should have been a no-call. Easy to say after you won the game because of this call…
3. Trip by Garnett on Douglas– Ray Allen was without a doubt the most active player offensively for Boston. His movement around picks was a constant struggle for the Knick guards, and his quick release was at its peak. When Tony was coming off the pick in the last Celtic possession, Garnett clearly tripped TD and he went flying to the ground. We’re talking about Kevin Garnett, the player voted every year [by the players] as the biggest trash talker and deemed one of the most aggressive players in the league. The fact that Ray Allen hit the 3 made it that much worse. At this point, there were 2 missed calls and 1 bad call.
4. The chest bump by Delonte West– After Ray Allen hit the 3 with 20 seconds left, he ran down the court to meet Delonte West ON THE COURT for a chest bump jumping in the air. Not only is Delonte West not up for any type of 6th man award, but he certainly was not supposed to be on the court as the 6th man for Boston when play was going on LIVE. Whether West thought NY called a timeout or not is irrelevant, this is an automatic technical foul that the referees decided not to make. This is mind boggling. After perhaps a recordbreaking season of technical fouls due to a change in NBA policy, THIS is the technical they decide not to call? An easy call missed by the referees.
5. Lawrence Frank double teaming Carmelo– Not only was Delonte West on the court as the 6th man, but on the same play wen Melo was taking the ball up the court for NY’s final possession, Lawrence Frank substituted himself for West and decided to play some double-team defense on Melo for the final shot of the game. Frank was fully on the court screaming right next to Melo, and was actually closer to Carmelo than the closest Boston defender. Automatic technical foul?–Not in Boston.
6. The missed goaltend by Pierce– First off, this was NOT a bad shot by Melo. If he passed off, he would have been accused of delegating responsibility to someone else. He’s been so clutch with the final shot of the game, so I’m okay with him taking that shot. Now, onto another missed call. When Melo’s final shot was on the rim, Paul Pierce’s hand was CLEARLY grabbing the rim. I have to admit, I did not see this when I first watched the game, but I watched the last 2 minutes of the game today on replay and it was as clear as day. Now, I’m not saying Melo’s shot would have gone in if Pierce wasn’t grabbing the rim, but according to NBA rules this is an automatic goaltend!

It was said best by a friend of mine– perhaps the most physical game of the year in the NBA was decided by a touch foul on Carmelo Anthony. For being a superstar, Melo sure doesn’t get treated like one by the referees. Sure there were some bonehead plays by NY, combined with the genius of Doc Rivers, but the Knicks played well enough to win this game. The defensive gameplan was actually logical tonight (the fact that there even WAS a gameplan is a plus), and NY took Rondo offensively out of the game by Billups forcing him to shoot the outside jumper or dish it. There were a number of questionable calls in favor of Boston, including the absence the calls for the Knicks. The final foul on Melo was the icing on the cake for me, the fact that they could end a playoff game because of Carmelo trying to get his arm free from Pierce so he could catch the ball. Also upon review, it looks as though Melo got fouled on the final shot of the game. Billups was fouled by Jermaine O’Neal going to the hole in one of the final possessions and no call was made.

Walt Frazier said it best following the game after he expressed his disappointment with some of the lack of calls, “You’re not gonna get any of those calls on the road against Boston.” Frankly that doesn’t sound right. Boston will always make the big shot, especially against NY, and the Knicks need to be ready for a physical series. I really thought was D’Antoni’s best post-game press conference, and I agreed with just about everything he said (for once). Don’t worry Knicks fans… we’ll be back on Tuesday. If we can grab 1 in Boston that would be a big victory with momentum heading into New York on Friday for Game 3.

It’s official. The 3vs6 Playoff Matchup will be the Boston Celtics versus the New York Knicks. With Boston’s loss tonight to the Washington Wizards, the matchup has been solidified. With Boston being the obvious favorite in the matchup do to their more favorable seed and divisional record against the Knicks this season (3-0), some Knicks fans may be writing NY off already. The way I see it, if Boston was playing the way they were in the middle of the season, I wouldn’t think NY had a shot at a 7 game series win. The last 10 games Boston is 5-5, and they’re playing average basketball. Ever since the trade of Kendrick Perkins (personally I think it was a terrible trade), the Celtics have been playing out of character.

It’s also important to note that even though the Knicks are 0-3 against Boston this season, this was before Melo came back home to NY. It’s time for the NY Big 3 to butt heads with the Boston Three Party! Hopefully this result is better than the First Round sweep by the NETs in ’03…

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