Staring at the box score
So did all of the shuffling and re-shuffling work?
Who knows?
The quick departure of Eddy Curry makes it all but impossible to evaluate the lineup changes, and all of those 3s in the first half masked some of the deficiencies. While the Knicks were more active, they still gave up 50 points before the break and Orlando wasn’t getting much help from Dwight Howard.
It’s not a good sign.
More than anything else, the Knicks need a true point guard. Does anybody remember a guy named Stephon Marbury? He’ll probably have to do.
Jamal Crawford is doing a good enough job, but he’s better off the ball.
With two days to prepare for Chicago, it makes sense that Marbury would show up for practice tomorrow and start getting back into game shape. It sounds like He is really struggling to deal with the death of his father during the holiday season, but the speculation about other issues factoring into the extended leave seems to increase every day.
And this team can’t go forward until everybody is accounted for.
December 27th, 2007 at 12:38 am
The new starting lineup was certainly more athletic with Curry or Randolph but not both at the same time. The Knicks need to be quicker and more athletic. First unit of Marbury,Crawford,Lee Jefferies and Curry, second unit Robinson,Randolph,Richardson,Jones and Balkman. Fresh bodies at all times and attack on defense just like Pitino did years ago. 8-20 is a disgrace with the talent they have I would have expected 16-12 with the players we have. Still time to turn the ship around. Stephon Marbury needs to move on his father would have wanted him to get back at it. It’s time to re-dedicate himself and prove to all want a diverse player Marbury can be.
December 27th, 2007 at 2:17 am
I wish Marbury all the best, but I don’t want him back.
Let Nate play point, then draft one with the lottery pick in June.
Mike,
What’s up with Balkman? He doesn’t seem to be the same hustling player that he was last season and during the summer. Is it physical or does he have some other issues?
December 27th, 2007 at 8:59 am
Isiah has to completely cut his emotional ties to Curry (which is probably impossible to do since his investment in Curry will likely be remembered as the defining move of his tenure).
That means, among other things, don’t even start him for the first two minutes of the game.
And did you notice that the Knicks were close at the beginning of the fourth quarter, down only four, and Isiah puts Curry in for the first time since the opening two minutes. Suddenly, in the next two minutes they’re down 10 and momentum has completely swung to Orlando.
Yes, he called a timeout and took out Curry and things got even worse—but the damage was done. Until that point Orlando’s largest lead was five. It was a see-saw game. But that one two-minute lapse totally changed the game. And it’s no coincidence that it happened with Curry in there.
Nothing personal against Eddie. He seems like a nice fellow. It’s just not a big slow-man’s game any longer. (Shaq’s Heat are one of the few teams with a worse record than the Knicks.)
Take Curry out of the rotation, Isiah, and go from there.
December 27th, 2007 at 9:04 am
Also, I agree with “whoa” that I don’t want Marbury back. If nothing else he is a defensive liability. Jameer Nelson almost always kills the Knicks—and, IMO, it’s because Marbury can’t guard him or any of the really quick young guards in the league. However, last night Nelson was barely noticed; even his below-par statistics were only what they were because of some late padding. The Knick orientation toward defense to start the game—including the absense of Marbury—was the deciding factor, IMO.
Nothing personal against Stephon but it’s time for Isiah to move on with him too.
Of course, it’s time for Dolan to move on without Isiah. But that’s another matter.
December 27th, 2007 at 11:54 am
Not to be cold, but can you imagine if another athlete (Jeter/Reyes/Eli/Arod) in this city missed as many games as Marbury has. There has to be more to this story then bereavement leave. Why isn’t he being called out in the papers? I guess the bottom-line is the Knicks are a joke with or without him so maybe no one cares. But if this was Jeter, there would be a ton of criticism – loss is terrible but this situation, like all Knick stories, is pathetic.
December 27th, 2007 at 9:21 pm
Curry doesn’t seem to have much passion or self confidence. People always talk about his lack of passion, but his lack of confidence is also an issue. When most top athletes get challenged by their coach and/or booed by fans, they rise up to prove that everyone is wrong. Curry backs off even more. It may be that he’s simply not cut out for NY because of his personality. I am not criticizing him. He actually seems like a very nice young man, but NY may just be the wrong town. It’s very disappointing because he had a break out year last year on offense. I think the addition of Zach really threw him off. Perhaps the Knicks should trade him for a shot blocking, defensive, rebounding big man to compliment Zach’s lack of defense and shot blocking. That way Zach will get his 20+ and 10+ every night without being much of a liability on defense and screwing up Curry. One thing is certain. One of them has to go. Neither belongs on the bench. They both just need the ball and to be playing along side someone that makes up for their deficiencies.