Knicks Knacks

Blame the impending trade deadline.

It’s beginning to look like none of these guys want to be in New York after 3 p.m. tomorrow. That was a classic no show. It’s not a good reflection on Isiah Thomas, who continues to downplay the likelihood of a shakeup.

Something needs to be done.

Already, the Knicks are running all kinds of ticket specials. For a mere $99 you can get four tickets and four meals, which is a package rarely found north of Charlotte.

It’s a sure sign that fans are not sold on the product.

Thomas still won’t let go, despite the crumbling playoff hopes. He keeps talking about making decisions with the future in mind. So where are the youngsters?

Randolph Morris was on the inactive list. Mardy Collins only got three minutes and change. Wilson Chandler had to wait until the Knicks were down 30 before he got a chance.

I don’t know why Jamal Crawford was out there for 37 minutes.

Did everyone wish Stephon Marbury a happy birthday? He turned 31 today. Can anybody think of a better example of having your cake and eating it, too?

I’m pretty happy for Kurt Thomas right now. He’s always been a favorite, and now has a chance for a ring with San Antonio.

Did you hang around for the entire game or switch over to ESPN to watch Shaquille O’Neal slow down the Suns?

I was clicking around cyberspace this morning while shoveling a tasty bowl of Cocoa Krispies when a thought popped into my head.

Hey, it’s a grand ocassion!

Isiah Thomas claimed the other day he’s got the power to add payroll via trade if necessary. Fine. Then how come the Knicks haven’t made a move to buy out Jerome James?

Think about it.

With the league phasing out big men, it makes no sense hanging onto an over-sized  locker room comic who’s played five minutes this season. It’s a logical move that would free up a roster spot.

I’m still thinking James Dolan and Steve Mills have some veto power.

Now if Vince Carter is posing with Thomas some time after tomorrow’s 3 p.m. deadline, I’ll take it all back. That rumor is downright scary for any fan who’s hoping the Knicks will start purging the big contracts and eventually duck under the salary cap.

It’s too late for that move.

A couple of months ago, the addition of Carter might have saved the season. Right now, it probably isn’t enough to save Thomas’ job.

Thoughts?

Maybe the Knicks need to have Nate Robinson chew on a few more ankles.

It was nearly another unsightly moment.

Robinson had a few choice words for Zach Randolph during the final timeout of regulation while the coaches were mapping out strategy. They called it heat of the moment. Randolph threw a cup of water and Robinson volleyed with a towel.

Who needs the circus?

Again, the lack of leadership was all too apparent, so if there’s a chance to land a credible oncourt voice in the hours that remain before the league’s trade deadline, do the Knicks desperately need to make a move?

I’m not sure what the going rate is for a reliable voice.

Jamal Crawford seems to have a loyal following, but he’s not likely to publicly scold anybody. Malik Rose talks a better game than anybody in the locker room, but he doesn’t play enough. Quentin Richardson has the proper edge, but he sometimes rubs teammates the wrong way.

(AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Now that everyone’s settling back into the front office after the All-Star break, we should begin hearing some new trade rumors.

Every team in the league will be poking around today and tomorrow, looking for a bargain. There are so many teams still in the playoff hunt, it’s not going to be easy to land impact players before Thursday.

Isiah Thomas claims he’s got the authority to add or subtract to the bottom line, but he continues to downplay the likelihood of a deal. The discussion always contains several caveats, though. Thomas indicated yesterday nothing major was on the horizon.

We don’t know the definition of major, but I would guess Eddy Curry and Zach Randolph qualify. That leaves plenty of room to maneuver.

So here’s my question of the day, should the Knicks stop answering the phone and wait until the summer to rebuild from the top down? Or should the Knicks make whatever deals are necessary right now to rebuild from the bottom up?

I doubt it’s going to squelch the persistent trade rumors, but when the Knicks reconvened for practice this afternoon Isiah Thomas downplayed the likelihood of a major deal going down before Thursday’s deadline.

And then he ran them around pretty good for almost 90 minutes.

Since there’s no way to predict what’s going to happen over the next 48 hours, I suppose the question is, does anybody here believe Thomas?

“Coach said we’re sticking with what we got, but who knows what’s going to happen,” said Zach Randolph, who left for the All-Star break thinking something had to change.

The phones have not suddenly gone silent.

“I believe in my coach,” Eddy Curry said. “I believe if he tells you something, that’s what it’s going to be. I’m looking forward to playing hard and finishing out the season with the team we have.”

Thomas was visiting with his ailing mother in Chicago while Glen Grunwald was in New Orleans taking care of trade business over the weekend.

He did not guarantee the roster would remain unchanged on Friday against Toronto.

“It’s not that final because in the next 48 hours, none of us know what will happen,” Thomas said. “As we presently sit, I don’t foresee any major thing happening. That being said, who knows what some other team is thinking. Right now, I don’t see us making a lot of major moves or doing anything.”

And while he acknowledged pairing Randolph and Curry might ultimately be a mistake, he’s not convinced moving on is a smart move.

“That’s possible,” Thomas said. “However, we’re not willing to throw it away just yet. Again, they’re 25 and 26.”

As for big men being phased out, he is hoping the league will change the rules to allow talented middlemen to compete.

We asked about the possibility of heading back to Indiana University as head coach, should there be an opening. Thomas considers it among the best jobs in college basketball, but he doesn’t seem interested.

“No, I’m very anchored here,” he said. “I want the best for Indiana University. It’s a tough thing that coach (Kelvin) Sampson and the university are going through. But I still support ‘em, still support the university.”

Stephon Marbury apparently began the rehabilitation process following ankle surgery at the practice facility earlier in the day. We didn’t see him. Neither did Thomas.

(AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

The players will be trickling into the MSG Training Facility this morning, sharing tales from the All-Star break. It will be interesting to see how they handle the last 30 games of the season.

Isiah Thomas will undoubtedly be facing a tougher line of questioning.

We’ll be asking him about the possibility of moving back to Indiana University for sure this afternoon before the Knicks head for Washington.

In case anybody’s forgotten, here’s where this team is right now:

Record: 15-37
Home: 10-17
Road: 4-21
Games back: 27
Games back of playoff berth: 7.5

It might only take 36 wins to grab a postseason berth in the East this year, but the Knicks would have to finish 21-9 to get there. And they would probably need a couple of teams ahead of them in the standings to collapse. I’m guessing the extensive college scouting department has been instructed to scrutinize potential lottery picks.

To match Larry Brown’s win total of two seasons ago, the Knicks have to finish 8-22. To match Thomas’ win total of last season they have to finish 18-12.

Basically, this season doesn’t add up. Zach Randolph will second that emotion.

Still, the Knicks are on pace to land in the record books. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, they are on pace to wind up in the annals with the fewest blocks of any team over a full season since the league began keeping track in 1973-74. Currently, the Knicks are blocking 2.35 shots a game.

Eddy Curry has 22 blocks in 1,285 minutes. Renaldo Balkman has 20 blocks in 588 minutes.

Did anybody see Sam Smith running down trade rumors in the Chicago Tribune yesterday? He suggests Eddy Curry to Miami for the expiring contracts of Ricky Davis and Jason Williams. It’s an interesting proposal.

Can you imagine Davis and Williams on the court with Nate Robinson and Jamal Crawford? Can you imagine Eddy Curry going through practice with Pat Riley on a daily basis?

Back later with more.

(AP Photo by Morry Gash)

They’re off and running in New Orleans, and I’m hating those uniforms.

We need some shoe close ups. The sneaker companies get really creative when their guys step into this spotlight. A couple of years back, Ron Artest was in the locker room before tip off, struggling to decide what to wear. He couldn’t pick between two favorites and wound up wearing one from each pair.

How do you not love that guy?

I assume everyone’s seen the slam dunk contest. They will be talking about Dwight Howard years from now in the same breath as the legendary showmen who paved the way—Julius Erving, Dominique Wilkins, Michael Jordan and Vince Carter.

He pumped life into a tired contest.

The birthday cake dunk by Gerald Green was pretty creative, too.

Let’s hope for a tight fourth quarter. It’s pretty cool when these guys get a little fired up. And you know the East would love to win this game.

As for the Knicks, never mind. Why spoil the fun? They are supposed to reconvene tomorrow at noon for a practice before heading down to Washington.

Let’s hear a little applause for the guest bloggers, who gave us more than just a fresh perspective. We’ll do it again sometime.

I’ll chime in with some thoughts later, but right now AdamL has the floor. I think a lot of diehards are going to relate to his thoughts.

I love the Knicks. I live and breathe Knicks, and as hard as it is to do, I defend the Knicks. I can’t help it, I’m addicted. I watch every minute of every game of every season, a feat much easier now thanks to DVR.

Sure, I enjoy other sports. A couple weeks ago I was excited when my Mets landed Johan, and ecstatic when the Giants made history. But those are just sports teams that I root for. They are not tied to my identity the way the lone New York hoops team is.

I want nothing more than to one day be able to celebrate a Knick championship. To go to that parade, to revel with my fellow loyal fanatics. To don the hat, the shirt, the banner, that says: Champions. And for so long, we seemed so close.

I grew up in the 80’s so I missed the glory of the early 70’s, but I didn’t think I was going to have to wait long. A Charles Smith layup. Some bogus suspensions. A Ewing finger roll. 2-18. A guy named Mike. It was always supposed to happen, but some freak occurrence got in the way. Still, we’d come back even hungrier next year, and it would taste that much sweeter.

Even when things started to slip away, the optimistic faithful found reasons for hope. The right coach, the right trade, the right GM, we were still just one piece away. We had made the playoffs for so many years in a row, we were bound to fall short every now and then. But it wouldn’t take much. We’re still right there, just gotta get the right pieces.

And then we found it! Our prophet, Isiah, saw the future. A more religious friend of mine called it the holy trinity: The father, Brooklyn born Larry Brown, the son, Stephon, and the holy spirit that is Madison Square Garden. Divine intervention had saved the Knicks and promised to guide them to the holy land!

Gulp. Disaster. 23-59. What happened?! It was a fluke. It was sabotage. The devil had deceived us. But still, now we can only go up. We are probably closer than we have been in years. And for a little while, that actually seemed to be the case. A final catastrophe against Denver last year and all of a sudden we could sustain .500 ball! Well, no, yet another year without the post season, but that’s only because of injuries. We are back! The new Knicks have arrived!

And now this. The 2007-2008 New York Knicks embarrassment. There’s no time like All-Star weekend to step back and take stock of just how far we have fallen. When lived a day at a time, season by season, one step to the next, its easy to lose sight of the bigger picture. Even a year ago, when David Lee hoisted that Rookie-Sophomore Game trophy over his head, he talked about a team coming together. Guys who know how to work as a team. He talked about a playoff push, and an 8th seed no team would take lightly. And I believed. I couldn’t help it, I’m addicted.

Now the only conversations are ones I have no interest taking part in. We’ve gone from asking who is the one guy we’d be willing to move to get this team over the hump, to now asking, who is the one guy you’d even want to keep? The only thing left to debate is whether its better to lose even more games in the hopes of a lottery pick who can then be developed for another few years of mediocrity to maybe one day build a team around, or to try to win each game for the rights to lose 4 straight in the playoffs.

I want nothing to do with that. I remember when the ultimate prize seemed so close, and it wasn’t too long ago. There was always a bright side, always a way to right the ship. But not anymore. Still, I can’t stop watching. Maybe if that day ever comes it will taste even sweeter after having to live through this. In the mean time, for what its worth, of course I want to win every game. I can’t help it. I am a Knicks fan.

Name: Adam Liebowitz
Hometown: Manhattan (raised in Westchester)
Knicks fan since: Birth
Favorite Knick: Ewing
Occupation: Teen program director and community organizer

Time for another guest blog. This one comes from Not Hawthorne Wingo. Please, chime in and share your own All-Star ideas.

I predict the only time you’ll see a Knick uniform during the All-Star weekend is when TNT shows highlights of true All-Stars Weissing some hapless Knick. As a Knick fan the present is ugly and even the future ain’t what it used to be. Therefore, I’m looking back and assembling my personal All-time Knick team. First the ground rules:

1) Players are judged within their era, at 6’6� Jerry Lucas would not be a center today, but the fact is, he held his own against Wilt and Russell so I’ll judge him on that basis.

2) I started watching the Knicks in 1970 so I’m not going back farther than that (though I’d love to hear from someone who can give me the real scoop on Walt Bellamy).

3) This is a subjective list, I hope you disagree enough to post comments or your own list below.

4) The real answer to the All-time Knick team is to just throw out the 1973 team, not because the individuals were necessarily the best but because that team, perhaps more than any other team since, played the game as a TEAM GAME. The 1973 Championship Knicks team make the recent championship Spurs teams look like selfish cry-babies with a basketball IQ of 2. That’s not a knock of the Spurs it’s just that Knick team was that special.

5) Each player is judged based on what he did as a Knick, not on his whole career. Therefore, players like the real Nate the Great ain’t on this list.

Without further caveats, here’s my All-time Knick team:

Point Guard
Walt “Clyde� Frazier
Willis Reed had the dramatic entrance in the 1973 championship finals but it was Clyde who won the game with: 36pts, 19 assists, 7 boards and 4 steals. 19 Assists!? Combined this year’s team doesn’t average 19 assists.

Shooting Guard
Allan Houston
I probably should put the Pearl here but if Houston had been playing with the early Knicks teams he would have been amazing. I still should probably put Pearl here.

Small Forward
Bernard King
Dollar Bill won championships, Xman was legit and if LJ had been grandmamma with the Knicks, then maybe, but Bernard was King. Unstoppable on the block with an indomitable will to win. One of the first players to come back from a torn ACL, he compared the pain to giving birth. Bernard must be a believer in past lives.

Power Forward
Dave Debusschere
I really wanted to put Oak here but the Knicks traded future HOF Walt Bellamy for Dave and the result was two championships against the mighty Lakers with Debusschere doing most of the dirty work.

Center
Patrick Ewing
Truly the heart of a warrior. Points, Rebounds, Defense. If only Riley had subbed Blackman for Starks, Ewing would have had his ring. BTW, Ewing was also totally under rated as Union president. He was vilified for negotiating an innovative Union contract structure (the soft cap) that has held to this day and made the players very rich.

GM/Head Coach
Red Holzman
He hand-picked and molded the early 70’s Knicks teams. Had his victory total retired as his uniform number (613). That’s just so cool. I have trouble picturing him trading hair product tips with Riles.

Name: Josh Cowan
Hometown: Montreal (Born in New York)
Knicks fan since:1970
All-time favorite Knicks player: Gotta choose by era: Frazier, King, Oak
Occupation: Writer

I’m stealing an idea from our Yankees beat writer Peter Abraham, whose blog is legendary. While the Knicks are kicking back on the beach over the All-Star break, I’ve asked some of the regulars here to steal the spotlight. First up is Dan. Be nice with the comments, I’m still the only person here getting paid.

I hate to say it folks, but Pat Riley wins again. He wins, because he even loses better than we do. He has the inside track on Michael Beasley, he’s wiped as much as 40 LARGE off the books with his latest deal, and in a couple of years he’ll be a player for Lebron.

What if he had never left MSG? What if we had given him the keys to the Ferrari that he wanted?

I heard he wanted to trade Ewing, and this was pre-wrist injury, pre- lockout, pre-bad knees Ewing. What would he have gotten? How would he have shaped the team? I’m giving everyone a license to rewrite history.

Go ahead and take any move back that was made since Riley’s departure. Marcus Camby for Antonio McDyess, for example. Dream up some other moves. With the benefit of 20 /20 hindsight you can’t go wrong! Click your heels three times and repeat, “There’s no place like home. There’s no place like home.â€? Maybe we’ll wake and it will all just have been a dream.

Name: Dan Seiden
Hometown: Brookline, Vt. (I grew up in Queens)
Knicks fan since: Consciously or pre-consciously? I’m sure I was watching when they won their last championship, though I have no memory of it.
All time favorite Knick: Bernard King
Occupation: Musician
http://www.danseiden.com