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Dream On
The New York Sun's Martin Johnson sure is an optimist: "As presently constructed, the Knicks should vie for the final playoff seed this year and maybe next." That's absurd. The only thing the Knicks are in contention for is a three-way battle with Atlanta and Charlotte for last place. If anything, New York is worse situated than ever since Orlando and Toronto both might be in a position to take non-trivial steps forward depending on how their respective European big men turn out. If, however, Iverson, Pierce, Arenas, and Redd all suffer catastrophic injuries, Bargnani is a bust, Darko can't add any stamina, then I could imagine the Knicks being in the playoffs. Maybe.
August 17, 2006 | Permalink
Comments
I think he's closer to being right than you are. I could see Indiana and MIL falling out, and I don't believe that Toronto will improve dramatically enough to challenge for the last playoff spot. Also, I think you have to assume that after half a year with the Knicks' players, Coach Isiah is likely to kill GM Isiah. So the Knicks are likely to have a new coach in '07.
Posted by: SomeCallMeTim | Aug 17, 2006 1:41:42 PM
The Jared Jeffries signing will surely vault the Knicks into the playoffs.
Posted by: Al | Aug 17, 2006 1:52:31 PM
How can you take seriously anything that's said in the New York Sun? Apparently, not even their sportswriters belong to the reality-based community.
Posted by: Fred App | Aug 17, 2006 2:11:35 PM
I think the Knicks could make a run at the playoffs. There seems to be a lot of motivation for both the coach and the players. With that much offensive firepower, they could win some games.
Brown purposely ruined them last year thinking that he would take over the team and right the ship.
Posted by: a | Aug 17, 2006 2:12:35 PM
Where's the analysis of Bruce Bowen's departure from Team USA?
Posted by: Nicholas Beaudrot | Aug 17, 2006 3:03:02 PM
The Jared Jeffries signing will surely vault the Knicks into the playoffs.
Heh.
Posted by: Pooh | Aug 17, 2006 4:33:20 PM
Where's the analysis of Bruce Bowen's departure from Team USA?
I think all the analysis required is:
Duke.
Posted by: Quarterican | Aug 17, 2006 5:50:29 PM
I think it's really tough to evaluate the Knicks' prospects this coming year.
Last year was so badly dysfunctional and the Knicks' roster is so deep that it's really, really hard to see whether or not the core group Zeke puts on the court this year will be competitive or not.
Even in happy scenarios, I think they'll need to find a way to get production from Curry to win more than 40 games. Of course, even at 40 games, they'd be in playoff contention in the East.
And there are plenty of non-happy scenarios that seem quite plausible, of course.
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The Knicks won 23 games last year. TradeSports doesn't have NBA odds up yet, but I'd guess the over/under on the Knicks would be around 32. I'd take the over.
I think everyone will be happy playing for Zeke, and I'd put the over/under around 37. If they hit that number on the nose, they won't get a playoff spot, but they will be in contention late in the season.
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Johnson is entirely correct that the Knicks should be salivating after Darius Miles. An incredibly talented possible bust like Miles is perfect for a team that's willing to bury bad contracts and pay tax.
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The Webber talk is intriguing from a Sixers' fan's point of view. It'd probably improve the team immediately, but after two seasons when Webber's contract expires, it'd leave them in a much worse situation.
In short, it'd be good from an Iverson perspective, but bad from a franchise perspective. So, I'm in favor. And maybe King is just stupid enough to go for it.
Posted by: Petey | Aug 18, 2006 8:28:33 AM
I think everyone will be happy playing for Zeke
Huh?
How are Jalen Rose and Quentin Richardson going to be happy if they are benched (which looks to be the plan, coming into the season)?
Posted by: Al | Aug 18, 2006 11:16:41 AM
"Huh?"
I arrive there by using the Indiana past as a guide to the New York future.
My use of "everyone" was figurative, rather than literal. If 10 guys are happy and two are malcontents, that's "everyone".
And by "happy", I mean that players will be motivated to play at an intense level.
Additionally, I regularly use "WNBA" to mean NBA, and vice versa. When I say "Olajuwon", I'm referring a state of discord in the French - American relationship. And I refer to both Eton Thomas and Brenden Haywood as "Brenden Haywood".
Please read my comments accordingly.
Posted by: Petey | Aug 18, 2006 11:35:17 AM
You forgot to mention that you are the last person on the planet who thinks Isiah is competent at anything beyond playing point guard.
Posted by: Pooh | Aug 18, 2006 12:27:05 PM
I think all the analysis required is:
Duke.
I can't say I agree. Apparently Bowen's been shooting like (ma)caca lately, which leaves only his "defensive prowess". But with the int'l ref so trigger happy on the hand-check foul calls, what good is Bowen? Dirty perimeter hand-checking is all he can do.
Bruce Bowen is a D-Bag.
Posted by: DJ Ninja | Aug 18, 2006 12:41:20 PM
I am a Defensive-Bag, one that you couldn't punch your way out of. It's just that in International play, creepy 'staches just aren't as much of an asset, even if you're named Bruce. Oh, and I think the Int'l 3 line is like metric or something- it's f*ing up my shot worse than a hand check to the sternum. Oh yeah, and Shane Battier's playing like the second coming of Shane Battier. And I won't even try competing with that dude's head wrinkles.
Posted by: Bruce "Floyd" Bowen | Aug 18, 2006 1:19:25 PM
Floyd, it's not nice to make fun of me just because I'm half-Klingon.
Posted by: DJ NinjaShane "K'Ehleyr" Battier | Aug 18, 2006 1:44:52 PM
I think everyone will be happy playing for Zeke, and I'd put the over/under around 37. If they hit that number on the nose, they won't get a playoff spot, but they will be in contention late in the season.
Posted by: שש בש | Aug 19, 2006 7:30:26 AM
שש בש
These go to eleven.
Posted by: DJ Ninja | Aug 19, 2006 11:32:24 AM
Such smart spam.
Posted by: SomeCallMeTim | Aug 19, 2006 1:59:31 PM
"Such smart spam."
It really is an impressive idea, ain't it?
Posted by: Petey | Aug 19, 2006 2:35:36 PM
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