This week in the NBA

[Precious Roy 0]

I'm really surprised by the Isiah support on this board. I'm not a Knicks hater... in fact I think its good for the league when the Knicks have a good team. I'm just not optimistics at all for this team.

 

Lee, Frye, Ariza, Robinson - they are nice players with good upside, but I don't think there is a franchise level player there. It's not really a strong core group that can be built around for years to come.

 

As far as the cap goes, they will never even sniff it, but most teams won't anyways. The problem is they have long-term money tied up in Marbury, Crawford, James, Curry, Richardson, all of whom have completely unmovable contracts.

 

Throw in the fact that they are giving up their next two lottery picks to the Bulls and it seems like a recipe for disaster. Where is the upside long-term? They can't sign free-agents, they don't have any desirable contracts, they don't have draft picks and they have average quality young guys that they aren't willing to part with.

 

I see that as failure, but maybe I just have a different outlook on the team than most.

 

My outlook is, "ANYTHING IS BETTER THAN A SCOTT LAYDEN TEAM!!"

 

If you're not a Knicks fan you won't really relate to this attitude, but it was like Night of the Living Dead when he was running things. The team had no life, no personality. Jeff Van Gundy, who was our baggy eyed Jesus, saw the writing on the wall with Layden and got the fuck out. At the time I was mad at him, but looking back on it I can't blame him one bit.

 

Seriously, that guy set us back a decade with his lamebrained moves. Isiah Thomas is Jerry West compared to him. I'll gladly take this young team that sucks but has potential over the middling, average, barely sneak into the playoffs, no upside whatsoever group that Layden put together. You think Isiah Thomas would have passed up Ron Artest for FRED WEISS?!? You think he would have traded Camby AND Nene for a guy playing on one good leg? It's just nice to have a guy who can actually spot talent. He's made a few bad moves, and yeah, the Knicks are way over cap and he's got some massive contracts on the books, but if you look at the situation he inherited, and keep in mind that the Knicks can't just take 3-4 years off to clear contracts and rebuild like some teams might do, I just can't hate on what he's done

 

I'm probably over-optimistic, but Rome wasn't built in a day, and it's nice to have something to be optimistic about. The potential of this young team is exciting, it's something I've never really experienced as a Knicks fan. My whole life it was Ewing's team, and then the hangover from being Ewing's team. I just don't have it in me to be a pessimist at this point, and the gloom and doom Knicks fans are really starting to get on my nerves.

 

And the Knicks only gave up their 2006 first rd. pick. Two second rounders as well, and a weird option where the Bulls can swap picks in 2007, which only really comes into play if the Bulls have a much better year than NY. Isiah was thinking Playoffs when he signed off on that. The 2006 pick is unfortunate as it's looking to be the highest NY pick since 85, but this years draft class does nothing for me, and I too would rather have Curry. Put it this way, Curry is about the age of a 4 year college player, and he'd be a no doubt #1 pick in this years draft.

 

As far as Larry Brown goes, I'm still taking a wait and see approach, giving him a pass on this season. The constant changes in rotation are maddening, but I'm hoping there's a method to the madness

[mike546 0]

Isn't Houston already off the blocks due to him retiring?

[naiwf 0]

The Knicks, if they let their contracts expire in the next year will shed off Taylor, Houston, Penny, and Davis, shedding off like 50 million. So they aren't as deep in cap hell as you would think, and that would put them in the middle of the NBA in terms of salary.

 

Would it really surprise you to see the Knicks take back a fat contract for a wounded duck of a player for no apparent reason?

[Precious Roy 0]

 

The Knicks, if they let their contracts expire in the next year will shed off Taylor, Houston, Penny, and Davis, shedding off like 50 million. So they aren't as deep in cap hell as you would think, and that would put them in the middle of the NBA in terms of salary.

 

Would it really surprise you to see the Knicks take back a fat contract for a wounded duck of a player for no apparent reason?

 

Well, when they can't sign free agents due to the cap situation that's about the only way they can add players. Isiah has been justifying his additions of expiring contracts with this logic since day 1, I remember Mike Francesa ripping him on this approach last year, but Thomas is right. They can't rebuild proper, this is the next best thing.

[naiwf 0]

 

The Knicks, if they let their contracts expire in the next year will shed off Taylor, Houston, Penny, and Davis, shedding off like 50 million. So they aren't as deep in cap hell as you would think, and that would put them in the middle of the NBA in terms of salary.

 

Would it really surprise you to see the Knicks take back a fat contract for a wounded duck of a player for no apparent reason?

 

Well, when they can't sign free agents due to the cap situation that's about the only way they can add players. Isiah has been justifying his additions of expiring contracts with this logic since day 1, I remember Mike Francesa ripping him on this approach last year, but Thomas is right. They can't rebuild proper, this is the next best thing.

 

Well, I wouldn't object if they made trades for people who can add something to the team's future. Taking contracts solely to move players you don't like just doesn't work for me. I mean, why in the hell is Q on the team. A 3 point gunner who plays no 'D' and has no other skills shouldn't be on a "Larry Brown" team. The fact he was due $37.7 million over 5 years pretty much makes this one of the worst trades of the year.

[Precious Roy 0]

I've got a fantasy question that's been stumping me, could use some advice:

 

I've got a team where my only center eligible guy is Emeka Okafor, he hasn't played in forever and isn't looking to come back any time soon, but I kept him on the active roster (It's a straight 820 games total limit) just to fill the spot because there were no centers on waivers I wanted. Now I've got Bonzi Wells coming off the IR, and I want to move him back onto the active roster, but that means putting Okafor on the IR and opening up my center spot.

 

My choices are:

Kurt Thomas (I don't like his production this year from a fantasy standpoint, would rather not pick him up)

Zaur Pachulia (started out hot but has slowed down bigtime, has a lot of off nights)

Joel Pryzbilla (this is who I'm leaning towards, good source of blocks and boards when he gets the minutes, starting to pick up his numbers, was dominant in 2nd half last year. I also tend to think Ratliff may be traded, which opens up more time for Pryz)

Brendan Haywood (Has some big games but really inconsistent)

Robert Swift (playing well since becoming a starter, but only 20 years old with a very small sample size to judge him on)

 

Kristic and Brezec are also available, but I'm not a fan of either and need boards/blocks while they are strictly scorers.

 

Of the 5 guys I listed, who do you think is the best option? I could possibly make a trade for a center, but I've tried a few times and nobody seems to want to part with one in this league. I'd be offering up Baron Davis, Joe Johnson or Sam Cassell. Personally I think that should get me a top of the line center, Sam Dalembert would be perfect for me, but the dude already shot down Baron for Dalembert.

[alfdogg 0]

After last night's showing against the Wizards, I wouldn't have been surprised to see us in contention for the #1 pick by the end of the season, but tonight, 105-79 over the Lakers. Peja goes for 26 & 13, but as if we didn't have enough injuries, Stephen Jackson was taken to the hospital after a nasty fall just before halftime.

[Guest]

I guess that's what happens when you score 130 points the night before. I didn't think they would win anyway, but I thought they'd score more than 79.

[alfdogg 0]

Rookie challenge rosters

 

Rookies

Andrew Bogut

Luther Head

Channing Frye

Danny Granger

Sarunas Jasikevicius

Chris Paul

Nate Robinson

Charlie Villanueva

Deron Williams

 

Sophomores

Luol Deng

T.J. Ford

Ben Gordon

Devin Harris

Dwight Howard

Andre Iguodala

Nenad Krstic

Jameer Nelson

Andres Nocioni

 

Okafor was selected but won't play because of injury.

[Precious Roy 0]

I think we might see the Rookies take it this year....

 

And I'm loving the rookie Knicks being all over All-Star weekened, too bad they won't have anyone in the actual game

[Guest]

I'm glad that there aren't any Lakers in this game, no reason to risk injury in a stupid exhibition.

[naiwf 0]

I'm glad that there aren't any Lakers in this game, no reason to risk injury in a stupid exhibition.

 

Unless Kobe's going for 40 when the team is up 30

[Guest]

I think that's dumb too, when did I say it wasn't? I'd rather have him not play in the All-Star Game either.

[naiwf 0]

I'm still bitter that Phil Jackson didn't call off the dogs against his old team in the "Mecca", though it was nice seeing Kobe get cheered on the road for once just because it reminded me of the WWE in Montreal.

[NoCalMike 0]

Peja with 13 Rebounds.......seriously WTF?

[The Czech Republic 0]

btw, Hornets are doing a split schedule for next year, 35 in OKC, 6 in NO, and they're trying to get the 2008 ASG in New Orleans. I don't think that's a very good idea, but okay.

[Ripper 0]

Rookie challenge rosters

 

Rookies

Andrew Bogut

Luther Head

Channing Frye

Danny Granger

Sarunas Jasikevicius

Chris Paul

Nate Robinson

Charlie Villanueva

Deron Williams

 

Sophomores

Luol Deng

T.J. Ford

Ben Gordon

Devin Harris

Dwight Howard

Andre Iguodala

Nenad Krstic

Jameer Nelson

Andres Nocioni

 

Okafor was selected but won't play because of injury.

 

No way Luther Head or Nate Robinson should be ahead of Salim Stoudimire. Thats bullshit.

 

But really, this is a pretty strong rookie class.

 

For the Sophmore team, I would have LOVED to see Josh Smith there just to add some more excitement to the game but I can't really argue with anyone on that team.

[Damaramu 0]

btw, Hornets are doing a split schedule for next year, 35 in OKC, 6 in NO, and they're trying to get the 2008 ASG in New Orleans. I don't think that's a very good idea, but okay.

 

Apparently the fans of New Orleans are now claimin that the Hornets are "tainted" and they don't want them anyway. The sports talk radio down there is doing nothing but bash on Oklahoma and talk about how we're thieves and we have no respect for the crisis or the city.

[The Czech Republic 0]

30th in attendance. Who doesn't care?

[Precious Roy 0]

No way Luther Head or Nate Robinson should be ahead of Salim Stoudimire. Thats bullshit.

 

no

[Damaramu 0]

Another problem is that the people of New Orleans are still living by this stereotype that Oklahoma is nothing but Cowboys and Indians riding around shooting each other.

I don't know how we got this reputation since it hasn't been that way in this state for over 100 years.

[Guest]

Wouldn't it be cool if there was a state where those things still took place? I can only wish. I've been to Oklahoma, it's a pretty nice state, I don't see the issue with having a team there. I didn't see a real bad neighborhood in Oklahoma City.

[Brett Favre 0]

Nate Robinson has been a starter at times this year. Then again, who hasn't for the Knicks.

 

Lee could have gone too if Brown wasn't acting weird all year.

[razazteca 0]

Another problem is that the people of New Orleans are still living by this stereotype that Oklahoma is nothing but Cowboys and Indians riding around shooting each other.

I don't know how we got this reputation since it hasn't been that way in this state for over 100 years.

But there are Indian casinos everywhere...

[Damaramu 0]

Another problem is that the people of New Orleans are still living by this stereotype that Oklahoma is nothing but Cowboys and Indians riding around shooting each other.

I don't know how we got this reputation since it hasn't been that way in this state for over 100 years.

But there are Indian casinos everywhere...

 

Exactly. They aren't chased down and shot anymore. Instead they rip us off at black jack.

[The Electrifyer 0]

All Star starters have been announced:

 

West:

Yao Ming

Tim Duncan

Tracy McGrady

Kobe Bryant

Steve Nash

 

East:

Shaquille O'Neal

Jermaine O'Neal

Lebron James

Dwayne Wade

Allen Iverson

 

Yao was leading vote getter over Kobe and Rasheed Wallace will probably be replacing Jermaine O'Neal whose injured.

 

Speaking of All-Stars though, I feel a little bad for Chris Duhon not making the rookie team. Three Bulls players on the team is plenty, but Duhon works pretty damn hard and it's a shame that he couldn't make the team.

[Guest]

I'd be willing to bet that Yao won't play.

[Lt. Al Giardello 0]

I'd be willing to bet that Yao won't play.

 

Honestly, I'd perfer Camby over Yao if I was a GM.

[naiwf 0]

I'd be willing to bet that Yao won't play.

 

Honestly, I'd perfer Camby over Yao if I was a GM.

 

The only thing Yao is good for is global marketing, but I don't really see how that matters for at least 24 of the teams in the league since most teams aren't in huge markets anyway. Of course, if Camby was still on the Knicks he'd probably be behind Malik Rose in the rotation, so you never know.

[Guest]

I said that Camby should start over Yao way back at the beginning of the season when Camby was absolutely tearing apart the league. I still think that should be the case, but I can't count on Asian fans to vote for Marcus.