Phil's playing chess...

What freaking terrible basketball season.  I mean, if you are a Knick fan.

I know the playoffs were the highest rated since the Jordan era.  And little Reilly Curry was just so delightful.

But honestly it took everything in my power to stop myself from throwing up in a bucket watching J.R. Smith a Shump playing in a FINALS for the Cav's. 

AND THEN...

They choked it away.  Not really no one gave them a chance except delusional Cleveland fans and bitter Knick fans lamenting "what could have been".  But here's the TRUTH in all its glory.  J.R. will always be a screw up and Shump was severely limited.

There was no real future no super star in the making.  HECK Phil even move out Hardaway Jr. In the draft..  with the exception of Melo his house cleaning is now complete. 

But armed with the 4th overall pick and tons of cap space Phil really had to look to the horizon.  So he picked Porzingis ... poor Zingis... this guy can be the real deal but he's going to have to put up with the idiots that made JLin a STAR.  The same morons that cheered the Nene for McDyess trade.  I actually think Phil's move may pay off BECAUSE the fans don't like them.  Listen if you guys were so smart you'd be running a team BUT you're NOT!!!   So sit back relax and let it unfold. 

The Knicks have a much better chance of winning a title building now and being strong after the LeBron era and Melo can be the mentor the sharp shooting vet that will usher the next wave of super stars.

But it takes time and steady leadership too bad they'll run Phil out of town then instantly sign the next cap albatross super BUST!!  Or maybe not, maybe we can be patient and win something in decade or so...

Hmmm when have Knick fans ever been patient.

Sclub007

Burning down the house

All it's been is doom and gloom the NY media monster has already dubbed Phil a "false profit" and NOT the Zen master savior we were sold.

WAIT A MINUTE!   You guys thought this was just going to be reno,  a little paint and some new curtains... well FORGET THAT!!!  Phil took over and this house was rotten to the core and like any good contractor we have to tear this mother down.

Burn this place to the ground.   And Jackson is the only guy with the cred and the guts to do it.  

Seriously the fact that he was allowed to let it get this bad,  have the guts to tell the Emperor (Dolan) that his new clothes are just dirty old undies and he's been sold a bill of good for the past ten years.

Look... next year we'll have cap space flexibility and we can start building from the ground up, brick by brick and build a sturdy house on a solid foundation. 

Yeah that's what we need and hopefully we get it and the NY media will be kicking and screaming all the while,  like spoiled children who want everything now and have no understanding what it takes to get there...

Okay I'm with you Phil,  the lot has been cleared all that's left is a hole in the ground,  let's start building a dream house. 

-Sclub007

The Sub-basement

Knicks aren't in the basement of the NBA they're in the super secret zombie shelter sub-basement of the NBA and honestly.... I'm fine with that.

When the Knicks started the season there was cautious optimism.   We thought maybe we could over achieve and garnish a playoff birth.

But injuries and REALITY, set in quickly and the roster looked like a bunch of over paid MASH patients.   So what can you do... trade Shump NO WAY,  but wait you'll take JR, see ya Iman.

Shut down Melo fill the rest with expendable contracts... BOOM turn off the lights let's just go home.

So basically I'll see ya come Draft time and ill just watch Raptor games.

Later.
Sclub007

Shine On

Hey guys,  I know it's easy to just pile on the Knicks right now.   Just write negative things and make jokes.   But in reality if you look at this like a project you would appreciate Phil Jackson's genius.

This summer they did some gritty and controversial moves,  the biggest one was the Tyson trade.  Phil then went out and signed a bunch of mid-level guys and fringe players to round out the roster BUT the biggest signing was the Melo deal.

These moves in my opinion were designed to see what kind of Star power the Knicks have and how bright they'd shine and other than Melo who else can rise to the top like C.R.E A.M.

The candidates are Hardaway, Shumpert, Stoudamire, Smith, and I'll even throw in Bargnani for laughs.

1. Hardaway right now he's in the lead he shows poise and steady scoring,  scoring doesn't come to him easy like it did a younger Melo but he can be prolific and is young enough to become a 2-way player.  A LOT OF SHINE ON THIS STAR.

2. Shumpert,  he reminded me of a young Spreewell great speed a vicious intesity on offense and defense.  I wanted him to develop a mid game but I feel injuries and hard feelings has stumped his growth but still has all-star potential. 
NICE SHINE BUT NO STAR...YET.

3. Stoudamire he use to be a supernova a big beautiful star that controlled a solar system planets revolving around him, he was the nucleus.   BUT STAT's star has faded and like the red sun of Krypton it threatens to explode taking all life with it.  Mind you he's become a wonderful role player but the Knicks need defense, and rebounding,  shot blocking from their bigs.  I always liked him but THE SHINE HAS EXTINGUISHED.  LIGHTS ARE ON.

4. Smith,  JR JR you're killing it.  And what I mean by that is... your killing the team, your killing the chemistry,  your killing the triangle,  you're killing significant cap space.  There was a point 2 years ago when you thought JR turned a corner and may could lead a team offensively.   BUT  his below average basketball IQ and his troublesome attitude and his inability to grow has frustrated this fan to no ends.  JR you're not young anymore and you're not worth the risk.  NO SHINE NO SHINE JR IS DWARF STAR MATTER DEAD WEIGHT.

5.  NOW FOR Bargnani. .. pffft forget it I'm not wasting my time. Former no 1 pick biggest bust in NBA history.  This guy is a BLACK HOLE.  Just look at the Raptors after they dumped him,  It's not a coincidence.   NO SHINE NO STAR HE'S THE NEGATIVE ZONE.

Ok Phil I did you a favor do with it what you like.  I see some one in Dallas reads my blog cause the stole Rondo from us in a trade but it's OK next topic will be what I think Phils ideal starting line up should be and a do it from the point of what guys we have and who we can get next year and I'll call it the Jackson 5.

Peace

Sclub007.

The Real Deal

Let's be 100% real.  New coach, new offense, new management BUT same old talent.

Don't get me wrong. Re-upping Melo was a huge win in my books but if the Olympics mean anything it's that Melo needs help.   He'll never be a facilitator, he's a scorer.  And a damn good piece of a puzzle.  

Let's break down the triangle shall we... it works the best with scoring,  rebounding,  and passing.   And the 3 best Knick players are Melo (scoring),  Amare (scoring) and Hardaway Jr. (Even more scoring).  There's not enough ball to go around. KNICKS NEED DEDICATED DEFENDERS & REBOUNDERS.  They're not getting out shot,  they're getting out stopped.  And it's going to be this way until they can shed Amare's and Bargnani's contracts and hopefully Draft and sign the MASSIVE HOLES IN THE TRIANGLE. 

Right now it's not even the parallelogram they're using instead of a triangle it's the lack of elite talent thats killing them.  Hopefully Phil can use his Zen magic and grab a David Lee or Kenneth Fairied type in the Draft,  work out a multi team deal that lands us Rondo and see if Noah wants out of Chicago.

Until then it's just a lost season. .. keep stocking up on ping pong balls.

-Sclub007

Born Losers...

This is something that we do for the love of it. Not for fans or recognition or even money.  We stated our blog because we love Basketball and as a structural designer I felt I needed to write something, to keep my writing skills up with my math skills.  And what better subject to write about than, BASKETBALL and my beloved Knicks.

Last year was a great year we over achieved I had spare time and my brother and were pretty current with the blog just living life and loving Basketball.

But I’m sorry to say there’s been turmoil this year we haven’t kept up with the blog, and to make matters worse the Knicks are having the biggest “hangover” year in the HISTORY OF SPORT.  Most teams have Championship hangovers but the KNICKS are having a hangover from a 54 win season… WHAT A MESS!!

Life’s funny I remember, saying to myself “there are only 3 REAL cases where it’s OK to cry”

1.       Your wedding day

2.       The birth of your first child

3.       When the Knicks win a Championship.

Well I've been married for over a decade and I have 3 kids and the Knicks… well let’s just say, the only tears I've shed for them are tears of AGONY not joy

.

What can I say, I've busted by ass for everything I've gotten I've worked HARD, I've worked SMART, I've worked long hours and I have a lot of good stuff to show for it. And that’s why I feel the Knicks front office has let me down.  Seriously… they haven’t delivered their end of the bargain.  I want a TITLE I WANT THEM TO WIN!!

I guess the Dolan family feel like winners, their always in the black, they sell out every game, the Knicks are worth THE MOST in the NBA over 1.4 Billion (when I was younger I dreamt of owning them to the tune of 250 million so in my life so far they've increased over 500%).

But what about the fans yo.  We weren't born with silver spoons in our mouth we don’t go to bed on a pillow case full of money.  We bust our buts and we sit down in front of the TV and all we want is a winner, winner, WINNER!

There’s NO reason the Knicks should win, the city is great the fans are great we all bleed Orange and blue, they can afford to blow the budget, especially when hey have a top 10 / 20 player.  The last time the Knicks had a franchise player was Patrick Ewing and they never gave him enough but he still rewarded them with over a decade of winning seasons. 

Now we have Melo and if he’s going to stay WE HAVE to surround him with quality players.  Get somebody in here that has the basketball mind GIVE them control over player BREAK the bank for a 3 year period it’s OK ONE CHAMPIONSHIP will make it all better.

But I don’t think the fat cats in the front get it, too rich too privileged do understand what it takes to be a winner just because your born rich doesn't mean you already won, nope all it means is you don’t have it in your gut, you ain’t hungry, born too well off… BORN TO LOSE.

Pod Cast 6/16/2013: Road to the Finals

Part I

Part II

Part III

Part IV