Recap: The 07 knicks were a disgrace to basketball. I could have assembled a starting 5 of midgets, retards, and handicap people and been more competive than they were. It took James Dolen 2 years to realize Isiah Thomas isnt qualifed to run a Diary Queen let alone a NBA franchise. Thomas won 23 games last year with a team that had talent which is the sad part about all this. The season was lossed form the get-go but what sent it straight to the shitters was when the team was on a flight to the West Coast. On that flight Isiah got into a little argument with the leagues most overpayed player Stephon Marbury, but this is not where the season went to hell it was when he reinstated Marbury the next game that the team quit on him. The highlight of Thomas tenure with the knicks may have been his sexual harrasement case but thats a whole nother story. His big offseason pick of Zach Randolph combined with Eddy Curry was suppose to make the Knicks relevant. Well to say the least it didnt work, Randolph and Curry work about as well as R Kelly works with teenagers. Needless to say it is a bad combo. On offense Curry and Randolph had their worst numbers yet, and on defense they were an utter abomination, sticking two of the leagues laziest and slowest players in the paint allowed teams to drive to the hole without being touched. The Knicks could have stuck two card board cut outs of the players and done a hell of alot better, and would have saved a pretty pennny.
Strength: Inside scoring. When the Knicks are succusful its when they run their offense through the low posts, and yes i know i just got done shitting on Curry and Randolph but offensivly they have talent espically with D'Antoni running the offense. Just two years ago Randolph averaged 23.6 points per game so he has talent. As for Curry all he has to do is throw his fat ass around to create some room for Randolph. Then theres David Lee who is a perfect compliment to these lazy bums and fits D'Antoni's system perfectly. There is even a outside shot that Lee starts over Curry becasue he roams the weakside so well. Another guy to look at in this new run and gun offense is Quinton Richardson, who can eat up smaller guards and had his best season under D'Antoni while in PHX.
Weakness: Interior Defense. The Knicks were dead last in block shots last year, and figure to lose a good amount of games becasue they cant stop anyone from getting to the basket. In fact this year they may be more pathetic because they traded away there leading shot blocker, Balkman. You have to figure the Knicks wont pack it in for D'Antoni like they did for Thomas, with that said D'Antoni is the Mike Leach of basketball coaches, he does not believe in defense at all if he could tell his team after every offensive possension to stop at half court he would.
Outlook: There is no way in hell the Knicks are as bad as they were last season they cant be. The team will play for D'Antoni becasue they like him unlike Isiah. Certainly there are some good vibes coming from D'Antoni about this team but whenever you have Marbury and Curry on your team its safe to say that you are looking forward to being in the Lottery. Other than career backup Chris Duhon and first round pick Gallinari this is Isiah's team. The same problems Thomas faced D'Antoni will face, lazy unmotivated big men, shoot first ask questions later guards, and a bunch of overpaid smucks that fill out the bench. This season is more of whats to come for the Knicks, they will still suck you can bet on that but now there is a glimmering of light at the end of the tunnel.
Prediction: 29-53
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