Predictions are like ___ ___; Everybody has one

by Tommy Dee on October 8th, 2009 at 9:45 am

Seriously, who cares about predictions? Predictions are only useful if the current group  of players that is trying to come together for a common goal stays together the whole year, and doesn’t get battered with injuries. This time last year people were saying whatever they were saying about the Knicks, then the entire roster shifted several weeks later. Granted, those predictions still suggested that the Knicks were a 30-ish win team, but what’s so special about that?

If you’re in the habit of reading a prediction from a couple of people who haven’t watched one minute of training camp and maybe a few minutes of a preseason game then head to BDL.

“…Donnie Walsh is the right executive for this team. Mike D’Antoni’s the right coach. And soon enough, they’ll have the right players. Or, at least, they’ll have a chance at them. And it’s just not worth commenting on any of these players because they won’t be Knicks in 12 months time. Danilo Gallinari(notes) will be, and he looks like a stud. Jordan Hill looks solid, for a thin draft at least. Others might come back, but if Knicks fans have any say, they’ll be role players. Even the ones who are brilliant, like Lee. Or explosive, like Robinson.

So take in one more year of nonsense. It might not net you LeBron or Bosh or Wade or even Carlos Boozer(notes).

But whatever happens, another year of taking blows will lead you toward respectability. And though New York’s record won’t be respectable this season, you can respect where they’re going. Even if they step back in 2009-10.

Prediction: 30-52…”

How this team can be worse than last year’s 32 win group is hard to fathom.  Did I miss where it says Al Harrington or David Lee are lost for the season due to injury? Did I miss where the Pacers, Nets, Bobcats and Bucks have become unbeatable?

The bottom line is no one knows what will come of this group, but from someone who has actually seen what is going on in camp I can tell you that things are moving in the right direction and that baring a roster shift or injury the team is going to win more than 32 games.

That’s a prediction and not one of hopeless optimism. How many wins exactly? Who knows and who cares. It’s not a stretch to say they can compete for the 8th seed.

I’ve watched a ton of basketball and beg for teams to do the little things, which I am pleasantly surprised to have seen from certain members of this team. But, then again,  I’m more concerned with giving fans Xs and Os and solid info than punchlines and forced comedy.
  • DatNewYorker

    I believe this roster we have right now is a 41-41 season. Last years roster before the Zach and Crawford trade looked to be even better. I think Dantoni had the team on the right track before all the must needed trades took place.
    This year if we are lucky we may have the same set back when we trade Eddy Curry. If Curry is traded expect us to lose someone special for a player with a one year contract or a quality player who can play with Lebron or Wade or Bosh. Whatever chemistry we build this year can be disrupted by a single trade. We hope and pray that Walsh pulls off a trade for this dead beat Eddy Jerome James Curry. Maybe we have a mirracle on 34th street and Curry becomes an AllSTAR and Lebron comes to NY just to play with Eddie Curry and we live happily ever after.

  • http://www.tedquarters.net/2009/10/08/items-of-note-2/ tedquarters.net » Items of note

    [...] Dee puts a really silly picture of Al Harrington in an otherwise well-crafted teardown of people who obviously don’t follow the team like he [...]

  • jfried

    @DatNewYorker – Did you even read the article or the title for that matter?? The point is that we don’t really know what have and Tommy (more power to him) pointed out that the guys who wrote that piece for BDL prolly don’t really know what they’re talking about…

    That said I just wanna give props to Tommy D for for giving fans Xs and Os and solid info than punchlines and forced comedy. Keep up the good work that’s what makes this my daily knicks blog.

  • jfried

    ***don’t really know what we have.

  • gbaked

    “I’ve watched a ton of basketball and beg for teams to do the little things, which I am pleasantly surprised to have seen from certain members of this team. But, then again, I’m more concerned with giving fans Xs and Os and solid info than punchlines and forced comedy.”

    oh snap tommy…

    really though, the BDL review was a good read. I was happy to read something from a non-ny blog about how the rebuilding process is correct and the knicks are doing the right thing here. Even if I do not agree with their take on this season, it was a positive review of the knicks in general.

  • MiamiMoe

    Tommy i think your spot on w/ that post…The fact is that the NYK are still fun punching bags to sports writers so the lame predictions don’t suprise me…You’re absolutely right that there is no reason to believe that we won’t be on the hunt for the 8th seed…i mean the teams you can ink in for the playoffs are BOSTON, CLEVELAND & ORLANDO…
    I think Atlanta & Toronto will also make it (even though Toronto is basically a new team and may have chemistry issues i think they got too much talent not to make the playoffs)…
    THAT LEAVES 3 SPOTS…
    MIAMI: Being that i live in Miami i see a lot of them and let me tell you they look dreadful!!! i know they got Wade but IMHO the supporting cast is so bad that i don’t know if Wade can carry them again this year…
    PHILLY: I think they’re gonna miss A.MILLER way more than expected. Lou Will is no Miller and not only has BRAND not shown if he can stay healthy, but the Sixers had a bettet record w/out ‘em. Philly is gonna be too sloppy and Brand is a question mark:
    DETROIT: They are inba rebuilding yr. I don’t believe in the VILLANUEVA & GORDON acquisitions…i just don’t think Villanueva is that good and def. not worth the contract he got…who knows if Gordon can coexist w/ RIP or if Rip even stays.
    WASHINGTON: Loads of talent but can NEVER STAY HEALTHY…Arenas is good but hasn’t played in 2 yrs and i don’t know if he is what can lead them to the playoffs
    CHARLOTTE: Good squad…maybe
    INDIANA: Good squad, i’m a Granger believer, and the core of this team has been together for a while now…so maybe….
    My prediction for the playoffs are:

    BOSTON
    CLEVELAND
    ORLANDO
    TORONTO
    ATLANTA
    WASHINGTON
    NYK!!!!
    INDIANA / HEAT / BOBCATS
    (i think INDIANA takes the 8th seed)»»

  • DatNewYorker

    Dear Mr. Jfried
    I did read the article and I would not change the comment I posted. The BDL post is very much on point if you ask me. I agree with most of what was said except the prediction of 32-50. I predicted a 41-41 record this year. But that is only nine more wins. I also explained that we might have to trade a key player. I agree with Tommy D also but also disagree with his attack on BDL for telling it like they see it from a nonNEWYORKKNICKFAN point of view. We as Knick fans could be blind sometimes. We hope and pray things are going to get well so fast. I’m looking at the way we play and I DON’T see playoff basketball so far. No low post scoring and the defense is still weak. There are not enough big men on our team. Hitting three’s all night is exciting when they are falling. I hope you dont expect us to win shooting from the perimeter all night. Shooting outside shows weakness and means that you dont have the talent or the toughness to bang inside with the big boys. How many Championship Teams have you seen win it with out the low post game in the last ten years??? So, until I see somthing diffrent I will continue to post reality.

  • http://none knicks2win

    I like your prediction.

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