Article: Fed-up Steph rips Knicks

[Knicks Analyst]

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">he Knicks resembled a fractured, disorganized group for most of the night, as if they were five strangers playing pickup ball at the local YMCA.
Tim Thomas was trying to break out of a season-long slump at the expense of his teammates. Jamal Crawford was launching shots from impossible angles and Stephon Marbury couldn't control the pace or his temper.

It wasn't until 20 minutes after the Spurs' 99-81 victory that the Knicks were unified in something: that they were guilty of playing selfish and dumb basketball.</div>
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Oh, thanks a MILLION, Isiah! :thumbsdow :thumbsdow :thumbsdow:

 

[Henacy]

Last night Tony Parker out play Steph, he got him in alot of point guard Pick & roll situations. And thats how Parker gets most of his baskets in the half-court. But overall I can understand Steph's being at wits end. He said from the start of the season that his focus was winning. And that he would completely alter his own personal stats & offense inorder to make the team better. And honestly he has done exactly that, his shot attempts are down. And even tho you down see that much rise in his assist stats, his playmaking & controlling of the knicks offense is way up. And ultmately the failure that the Knicks are having will always rest on his shoulders because he is there best player. But honestly I dont think it should all be put on him this year like it was alot in New Jersey, and in PHX & NY last year.

The Knicks have to look at the inconsistencies in Jamal Crawford's game, who has shown these same type of inconsisencies thru his entire NBA career. They have to look at the lack of production they are getting from the center spot. Vin Baker & Nazr arent giving them much of anything at all. Inoreder for the Knicks to have their best frontline on the court they have to go small with Mike Sweetney & Kurt Thomas playing togehter alot. And while its working on offense being undersized in the frontline cost them against the bigger better frontlines in the league. So this team has alot of holes. And thats why before the season started I said I dont see this team winning 45 games this year. Honestly they are exactly what I expected them to be, a team that will win about 40-44 games.

 

[Tribute to H2O]

What can I say? It was depressing. The Knicks performed well up until the third quarter then...I dont know what happened. Stephon Marbury is actually becoming more of a pass first point guard which surprised me. He still takes one or two bad shots but that's just the kind of player he is I suppose. It's not all his fault. The problem is that Crawford is too inconsistent as Henacy said and TT is a complete failure as a basketball player. He had Manu Ginobili on him!!! He has four inches on that man!!! He still couldnt capitalize!! As if that wasnt bad enough he kept shooting!!!! The Knicks have been wishing for a post up player. Finally we have one and they dont feed him. Sweetney posted up against Tim Duncan and shot over him to score. How could they not go back to him?? Instead Crawford shot at strange angles, Marbury kept on passing the ball to TT and TT kept on firing away. I just dont understand. It's like they dont know how to play smart basketball. The Knicks have to go small with Kurt Thomas and Sweetney playing up front. And when Houston returns starting him at small forward should be seriously considered.

 

[Mr. J]

The Knicks played well untill that third quarter collapse. Let's not forget that they were playing a top defensive team in the league. TT's shooting was dismal but, I was encouraged that he was taking it to the basket and was getting more rebounds. TT might have a height difference but, despite his height Ginobili still is a good defender for anyone. TT was trying to take advantage of his height but, the double teams really messed him up. Crawford's FG% might not have been good but then again he was playing Bruce Bowen one of the best perimeter defenders in the league right now. Michael Sweetney might have made a shot over Duncan but, it would not have happened again. Duncan would not have let it. Sweetney also got into some foul trouble in the game. BTW why is Baker rotting on the bench? Baker could have provided some help for us.

 

[Tribute to H2O]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting mrj18:</div><div class="quote_post">The Knicks played well untill that third quarter collapse. Let's not forget that they were playing a top defensive team in the league. TT's shooting was dismal but, I was encouraged that he was taking it to the basket and was getting more rebounds. TT might have a height difference but, despite his height Ginobili still is a good defender for anyone. TT was trying to take advantage of his height but, the double teams really messed him up. Crawford's FG% might not have been good but then again he was playing Bruce Bowen one of the best perimeter defenders in the league right now. Michael Sweetney might have made a shot over Duncan but, it would not have happened again. Duncan would not have let it. Sweetney also got into some foul trouble in the game. BTW why is Baker rotting on the bench? Baker could have provided some help for us.</div>

That loss can be attributed more to the Knicks bumbling than to the Spurs defense. The Knicks simply played bad basketball. No doubt about it. "Dismal" finally you used a word that accurately describes his performance. But let's all look on the bright side. Last night his performance was an upgrade over his other games. Next game he might only be bad. Ginobili might be a good defender but he's still just a small(he's less than 6'6" I believe) shooting guard. TT should have dominated him but alas it was expecting too much fom TT to have a decent game when playing against someone five inches shorter than him.
Two things: 1. Duncan wasnt on Sweetney some other guy was so there is no reason why we shouldnt have been feeding Sweetney.
2. Why wouldnt it have happened again? If it happened once then it can happen again. Duncan might be a former MVP but let us not forget he is still human not some god. And he looked mortal last night.

Crawford has to stop taking those bad shots. The Knicks simply didnt play like a team. They didnt even play like a group of strangers. It was terrible. As for Baker, we cant play everybody. I suggest going small with Kurt and Sweetney up front starting. Baker backing up Sweetney. Then have JYD and Nazr back up Kurt or something like that. Here is a list of musts the Knicks must do. We have to start feeding Sweetney. That is a must. We have someone in the low post we have to use him. Crawford must stop forcing the issue. TT must go to the bench and when Houston returns Houston has to start at small forward while TT must leave the rotation completely.

 

[Mr. J]

Although Duncan isn't a god he still is a top NBA defender and as Marbury said: "The best player in the world." Sweetney isn't going to make that over someone 4 inches taller than him all the time. H2O can't really start at SF. he will be playing people that are like 2-4 taller than him on a nightly basis. He also hangs out by the 3point line too much too really be a rebounding factor. I understand your frusturation with TT but he is still our best option at SF. Penny is good off the bench and Lenny doen't want to disrupt anything.

 

[Tribute to H2O]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting mrj18:</div><div class="quote_post">Although Duncan isn't a god he still is a top NBA defender and as Marbury said: "The best player in the world." Sweetney isn't going to make that over someone 4 inches taller than him all the time. H2O can't really start at SF. he will be playing people that are like 2-4 taller than him on a nightly basis. He also hangs out by the 3point line too much too really be a rebounding factor. I understand your frusturation with TT but he is still our best option at SF. Penny is good off the bench and Lenny doen't want to disrupt anything.</div>

I disagree. Duncan isnt four inches taller than Sweetney. He's two inches taller or at the most three inches. He wont shoot over him all the time but I'd rather give Sweetney that shot than those crazy shots Crawford was taking. So what if Houston will be a little shorter than everyone else. Unless it's a premier forward it wont be too much of an issue. The reason why he hangs around the three point line so much is because he has been told to. He's more of a threat out there. If he's told to go and rebound instead of hanging around the perimeter he'll do at least as good of a job as TT. Frustration my friend isnt the word. Try disgusted. And please dont say TT is our best option at small forward your just depressing me. If Lenny wants to win he will disrupt some things. If he wants to keep his job that is. With Houston starting at small forward we have everything to gain and nothing to lose. As a bonus we'll be able to remove TT completely from the rotation. Isnt that worth fighting for? This will work trust me.

 

[Beat]

I dont see how so many people overrate Houston. Was it just me or did everyone else see how much Houston didnt make the team better. Houston can score but he also gives those points right back. And i dont think Houston is told to stand at the 3 point line, I think he stands there because that is the only way he can score. He cant drive and is forced to take jumpers. He's not that good of a passer cant rebound or play Defense. The only thing he can do is shoot. Maybe Im wrong and he'll comeback and put up somethin like 20/4/3 but I highly doubt it. Houston is just as soft as Tim Thomas .... as a matter of fact the only difference I see between them is Allan Houston makes more shots.

 

[Mr. J]

I too would like Houston at the 3 but we're better off leaving him at his natural position in which he excells in the most the shooting guard. There will be times when Steph, Crawford, and Houston will be placed in at the same time however, we're already a small team. Adding Houston at the small will make us even smaller.

 

[Tribute to H2O]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting BobbyEscobar:</div><div class="quote_post">I dont see how so many people overrate Houston. Was it just me or did everyone else see how much Houston didnt make the team better. Houston can score but he also gives those points right back. And i dont think Houston is told to stand at the 3 point line, I think he stands there because that is the only way he can score. He cant drive and is forced to take jumpers. He's not that good of a passer cant rebound or play Defense. The only thing he can do is shoot. Maybe Im wrong and he'll comeback and put up somethin like 20/4/3 but I highly doubt it. Houston is just as soft as Tim Thomas .... as a matter of fact the only difference I see between them is Allan Houston makes more shots.</div>

How can you underrate him?? He's led the Knicks in scoring for years. And please dont say it's because he was on the Knicks. Noone says that about McGrady being on the Magic last season. The man is one of the most lethal(note my choice of words) shooting guards in the league. How did he make the team better?? He spreads the defense that makes EVERYONE'S job, including Marbury, much easier. It cant be stressed the difference he makes. How does he give those points right back. If your talking about his defense he's an average defender. And Marbury isnt exactly a defensive stopper either. None of the Knicks are so what do you mean exactly he gives those points right back. If Houston isnt told to stand at the three point line he probably hangs around there because he understands that he's a much bigger threat out there. He doesnt have to drive he can create his own shot!! What is it with you and driving to the basket?? He's not a great passer either your right. As for rebounding his position and style of play dictated how many rebounds he pulled down. I dont care what anyone tells you guards are not supposed to get rebounds. Some do but their not supposed to. I'm sure if he played at small forward he'll be able to pull down at least as many rebounds as TT. He doesnt just shoot, he shoots WELL!!!. Soft...there goes that word again. The sole justification for the Van Horn trade. I'm sick of that word. Van Horn is averaging a double double and TT is sucking it up. Who cares if the players are soft?? All that matters is that the team wins!!! TT isnt soft...he's trash. There is a difference. He's athletic and crap and can probably dunk really well which is I'm pretty sure all you care about but he's garbage. I can tell your into those amazing dunks and highlights but really winning is more important. I'd rather have points than having people who can run up and down the floor really fast. I want wins not highlights. And Houston can give us that.

Then let's play small ball. As long as it's effective who cares how small we are? I honestly think Houston starting at small forward should be given a try. He'd be able to spread the defense for Marbury and Crawford and we wont have to worry about him taking stupid shots or being selfish. It'll work.

 

[Mr. J]

TT losing his starting spot will only cause problems which the Knicks can illafford to have with their only 2 wins this season. I think it's worth a try and if it's effective we should continue however, I don't think it will be effective overall because the size we give off. I'm getting some painful flashbacks of the 02-03 season when we had Sprewell at the SF and Kurt at the C. We really struggled in the rebounding department because of this.

 

[Tribute to H2O]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting mrj18:</div><div class="quote_post">TT losing his starting spot will only cause problems which the Knicks can illafford to have with their only 2 wins this season. I think it's worth a try and if it's effective we should continue however, I don't think it will be effective overall because the size we give off. I'm getting some painful flashbacks of the 02-03 season when we had Sprewell at the SF and Kurt at the C. We really struggled in the rebounding department because of this.</div>

Your right. TT can become a cancer if he doesnt start I'll agree with you on that. But we can just trade him if Houston starting at small forward works. I'm sure alot of teams would want an underachieving, ridiculously overpaid, laughably inefficent small forward. The size can be an issue but I dont think it will be a huge one. As for that particular season...we didnt have great rebounders like JYD and Sweetney. Knicks have nothing to lose. Their supposed to be a high scoring team this year. Starting our three best guards will allow us to be a high scoring team.

 

[Mr. J]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Tribute to H2O:</div><div class="quote_post">Your right. TT can become a cancer if he doesnt start I'll agree with you on that. But we can just trade him if Houston starting at small forward works. I'm sure alot of teams would want an underachieving, ridiculously overpaid, laughably inefficent small forward. The size can be an issue but I dont think it will be a huge one. As for that particular season...we didnt have great rebounders like JYD and Sweetney. Knicks have nothing to lose. Their supposed to be a high scoring team this year. Starting our three best guards will allow us to be a high scoring team.</div>

I have to disagree with you on the trading TT issue. We can't just trade him and get back high quality value. Maybe if we trade him to the Cats for a second round pick or something. But I highly doubt the Bobcats will be willing to sacrifice capspace for him but, the good thing is he is a free agent after this season so he will be mcuh more valuable. I wish he will just start playing really well and fit with the team.

 

[Tribute to H2O]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting mrj18:</div><div class="quote_post">I have to disagree with you on the trading TT issue. We can't just trade him and get back high quality value. Maybe if we trade him to the Cats for a second round pick or something. But I highly doubt the Bobcats will be willing to sacrifice capspace for him but, the good thing is he is a free agent after this season so he will be mcuh more valuable. I wish he will just start playing really well and fit with the team.</div>

Well of course we wont get back high quality. He's trash! Noone trades for lesser value except for of course Isiah Thomas. The Cats arent stupid enough to take him your right. But I'm sure there is some sucker who will take him. Afterall the Bucks found a sucker didnt they? The fact that his contract expires next season will make him more valuable. There has to be a team out there who could use this soon to be expiring contract that will trade a half decent player for him. As for you wish..."if wishes were fishes then there would be no water for us to drink."