Recap: Thunder 121 Knicks 118

by Tommy Dee on February 20th, 2010 at 10:31 pm

BOX SCORE

Bottom line is that star players, can make everyone better.

I wasn’t sold on Tracy McGrady at first, then I sort of got the picture in terms of low risk a week or so ago.

I saw the picture tonight.

McGrady draws double teams every possession. He’s been a mismatch his whole career, and it looks like he still can be.What he brought tonight was a level of play in a system that seemed to mesh perfectly. Well, almost.

What a great sign.

What you saw tonight for the better part of the game was space. And it’s a term that’s used but it needs to be defined. Space occurs when the defense is forced to react to the ball. And it just wasn’t with Chris Duhon.

Sergio Rodriguez gives them pace in the second unit, and allows for Jonathan Bender, at least tonight, to park in the corner. Eddie House is a high energy player to the um-teenth degree. He knows Mike D’Antoni made his career, or at least saw enough to give him a shot, and House is grateful. Nate and his coach never clicked. The coach is going to be here, may as well get him a player who can do similar things.

Yes, the team still lacks many things and it needs to rebound better and have players like Al Harrington and Danilo Gallinari blend and make shots. Yes, the coach can do a better job calling plays at the end.

But this was game one of a great thing moving forward.

  • bklyn ton

    Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Magik_Trick

    The Garden needs to be rockin’ like that every game..

  • Baller11

    as much as I wanna make a big deal about this game, so many things should of been done better, they stayed in the game the whole night in the first game with their new players, House and T-Mac played great and they were playing a good Thunder team. The Knicks certainly should of won this game, but I wont get into the stupid mistakes that were made, House and T-Mac both succeeded my expectations, so thats the silver lining

  • Grandmama

    chandler was brutal in multiple crucial situations.

  • josh108

    fun game to watch, its good to see the garden crazy again…

    such a bad loss!!!

    i have a few big complaints with this game..
    1. the coaching was terrible. I couldnt believe what i was watching the last posession of the game and the last posession of regulation. honestly i think i could have drew up a better play, maybe give it to tmac in the isolation? that would have been a million times better play call then what this idiot drew up!!
    2. it is amazing to see the difference with sergio in the game at the point rather then duhon. I really liked what i saw from sergio, he brings energy, play making, and a ton of quickness. I really hope he starts monday…
    3. david lees defense was terrible. words cant describe how angry i was at all the offensive rebounds that fool gave up, but hey he got his double double and scored 30 so thats all that matters right?…hahah whatta joke of a player that bum is!!!

    on a positive note, tmac looked great. I loved when he pumped his fist after his first and 1, i love the emotion…he looked really good and i hope it can stay that way!!!

    and eddie house…i love his game, he brings a lot of toughness and is a machine when it comes to shooting. If we get lebron or whoever this offseason, we need to sign him…he can be a great roll player just like he was on boston!!!

  • callamari

    ya know i have been a d’antoni supporter for a long time, but he is killing me

  • DapperMax

    Dantoni is awful, we need a smart defensive minded coach please hopefully walsh see’s the light.

  • josh108

    its funny cuz i never liked his coaching style but i tried to give him a chance i really did. but every single game he makes himself look like an idiot more and more…its starting to be hillarious how bad this guy really is!!!

    hoe do you not clear out for tracy at the end of regulation in a tie game? why are set on going for a three when your down 3 with 13 seconds left? n this isnt the first games this bs happened its beginning to happen almost every other game…this guy is a total idiot!

  • josh108

    agreed

  • DaGawD_KnowLedge

    great having house an t-mac

  • callamari

    my thoughts exactly

  • josh108

    yeah i like both them a lot, to bad they have hellen keller as a coach!!!

  • Hydr0

    Dantoni did say in the press conference that mcgrady’s legs were gone by overtime, which is reasonable to believe. When he gets to full strength, it could be huge. Obviously, we don’t have a guy that can take the last shot in a game. McGrady is going to have to be that guy.

  • DaGawD_KnowLedge

    danni boy been guilty
    eva since denver
    he got lucky with that phoenix team

  • DaGawD_KnowLedge

    atleast hellen was good at drawning up plays with her hands..

    lol

  • Hydr0

    It was probably a smart trade for us to make, even without the draft pick. It could be one of those trades benefit both teams.

  • josh108

    for real, its getting clearer and clearer that nash ran that team…

  • josh108

    hahah a lmfao for real!!!!

    no joke tho, this guy pisses me off like u wouldnt believe!!!!

  • x-man

    Yep

  • DaGawD_KnowLedge

    s-rod can create like nash but he can’t shoot it like nash

  • ds2488

    Fantastic game, devastating loss. Any one who knows the Knicks knew like me that the second TMac missed that 2nd free throw the kNicks were losing. He had to hit both of those, would have iced the game.

    All 3 new guys were fantastic. Tmac especially, but House was also great and Sergio is such a pleasure to watch after being stuck with Suckhon for so long.

    Gallo struggled to blend in, but did a fantastic amazing job on Durant for 3.5 quarters. Very impressive.

    That last shot was absolutely ridiculous d by David Lee when he literally played Nick Collison rolling to the basket with less than 10 seconds left instead of guarding the Durant 3. That is basketball 101, and absolutely inexcusable by Lee. Just pathetic, and if he wasn’t an idiot there we probably win this game.

    Lastly, it was a great game and fun to watch, but some of the worst reffing I have ever seen. JUst atrocious and embarrasing. The refs decided pretty early on that they were not letting the Knicks play any sort of defense without calling a foul, and conversely let the Thunder d up really physically. Very unfair, and I give the Knicks a lot of credit for fighting through it and almost winning.

  • josh108

    yeah to be honest, i was really impressed with s rod!!!

  • DaGawD_KnowLedge

    when donnie signed him i was like here we go fun to watch
    but they will suck

  • x-man

    That’s bull because McGrady could be a decoy at best. who else on this team can like tonite. If this coach knew T-MAC was hurting, he should draw p a play where T-MAC gets the ball to House if he didn’t have a path to the rim.

    This coach is being exposed by those who never really paid attention to him in PHX or here last year.

  • DaGawD_KnowLedge

    all he needs is a jumper an he’s good to go
    this summer he will work on that.

  • x-man

    So True! Not many pt guards or shooting guards can shoot like Nash. They all can guard like him or better though.

    But did you see how many times s-rod was in the paint? He can only get better in that regards.

  • DaGawD_KnowLedge

    last but not least
    he lee isn’t rebounding the knicks gets killed in that area
    no1 else grabs rebz

  • BigDaddybluesman

    1-D’ass sucks as a coach. What kind of plays were those and what terrible execution at the end of the game on both ends of the court. That’s basic stuff a team should be able to do.

    2-Chandler is dumb as shit and has no BBall IQ.

    3-Al Harrington is an embarrassment.

    4- When DLee tries to play defense he can be OK but then nobody else has any idea how to rebound or box out. Especially Chandler who is clueless, he has no idea how or were to position himself.

    5- Serge is terrible, what is that dribble, drive and pass backward, that has to go. He has to hit the weights to get stronger and learn to drive to the basket. He missed Lee standing there for easy buckets a few times. He needs work big time.

    6- Gallo has no confidence, he just hesitates too much. He’s never going to be any good until he gets his game together. He’s floundering…….so far he’s a bust for the #6 pick of the draft that year.

    7- I hope House and McGrady can get used to this, it’s going to happen most every night until the end of the season, loss after loss.

    8- McGrady basically ignored D’Ass when he was talking to him. When on the floor he did what he wanted to and directed the team.

    I hope McGrady just flat out tells Walsh this guy is not a good coach and these players are really clueless, what has this guy been teaching them?

  • josh108

    agree!!!!!!

  • CircleLimit4

    D’antoni’s loss definitely.

    Gotta give credit to OKC though. Durant is a special player. Not many 21yr olds can walk into the garden and shut everyone up. The west is going to sh!t their pants once that team gets a halfway decent center.

  • DaGawD_KnowLedge

    i luv a p.g that take it to the paint to score or to create for his teammates

  • josh108

    same…i never supported going the dantoni route…

    this guy has no clue!!! unless a small canadian hall of famer is running his team!!!

  • BigDaddybluesman

    Oh the kool aid wore off, great.

  • bob go knicks

    Succeeded your expectations? Are you Norm Crosby by any chance?

  • DaGawD_KnowLedge

    the west is already shittin cuz durant is going to be puttin up 35-8-5 soon..

  • x-man

    You have a pt about s-rod in that he was getting into the paint and passing backwards to much. I chalk that up as players on this team not moving and filling the lanes with him.

    When T-MAC gets his legs and chandler realizes that S-rod will get into the lane, these guys should start looking for that pass inside. Our coach has to see that he has a pt guard now that luvs to get into the paint. S-rod is the anti-Duhon!

    Ned not worry, our coach wasn’t saying anything other than “Get a good shoot and win the game for us Nash.” It’s just a habit! lol

  • josh108

    i agree on every level!!!

    that would be great if tmac told walsh some shit like that…i f’n hate this coach, noone on this team (including lee and i really hate him) get on my nerves like this dumb f”ck dantoni!!!

    hes clueless, he really is just clueless!

  • x-man

    Westbrook is a b-i-tc-h too. When this dude improves his perimeter shoot, OMG, this team is gonna run Kobe out of the West. Maybe we can get Kobe before he’s 40

  • bob go knicks

    Are we gonna sign him this summer? Its good to have a real PG

  • italian stallion

    1. Had we been able to make that Harrington for Tyrus Thomas trade, this would be a DARN GOOD team right now. This teams gives up way too many offensive boards in critical situations. Thomas would have instantly given us the boards, shot blocking, and overall better defense we desperately need.

    2. I know I’ve been ragging on Harrington all season because he’s a black hole with the ball and makes so many poor decisions, but at this point he really shouldn’t get a single minute on the court. He’s the same Harrington he’s been all season, but he’s also physically shot now. He looks terrible going up and down the court.

    3. I realize that T-MAC makes us a better team now and we are basically getting a chance to look at him without a long term obligation. But from a long term perspective he has zero value to the franchise UNLESS he resigns here at a price that makes sense. We also need to add enough in 2010 (AND I REPEAT 2010) to make a very serious championship run. We gave up Hill and picks to get this look at him and get Jeffries off the books in 2010. So if we don’t use all that space in 2010 in a very positive way, then we gave up Hill and picks for NADA because Jefffries would have been off the cap in 2011 ANYWAY. The jury is still out on this trade no matter how many extra games we win this year. This year is meaningless.

    4. Chandler made a few boneheaded plays tonight, but the Knicks can’t get a damn call even their own gym. I’m convinced the entire league hates us and for the life of me I can’t figure it out. I can understand how non New Yorkers hate the Yankees. They buy everyone and win all the time. The Knicks have sucked for forever and a day, have been a dumping ground for bad contracts for years, and still suck. Why can’t we get any love?

    5. Sergio has to play with Gallo and T-Mac so when he creates he can pass to someone that can hit an outside shot.

    6. The entire Knicks organization still doesn’t understand that if the Knicks don’t use the entire cap space in 2010 and sign excellent players at salaries that make sense that this trade was dumber than a rock. You can hear it in their comments that they have no clue. They would have had the same space in 2011 anyway and wouldn’t have had to give up Hill and picks. It’s 2010 or BUST on this trade.

  • DaGawD_KnowLedge

    when players havn’t played with a passing p.g like s-rod they will drop alot of passes an miss shots

  • Qaspec

    you owe me a royalty on that joke josh108

  • DaGawD_KnowLedge

    i wanted jax
    but the knock is he has no coaching experience
    but i think he could of done better than what danni boy has done so far

  • Earl The Pearl

    Norm Crosby … lol.

  • x-man

    Yep, me too! That is why s-rod should make good players happy and fans too!

  • italian stallion

    7. Oh yea, I should add that the Knicks get out coached in the last minute or so WAY TOO OFTEN. I’m sure part of it is lack of execution by mediocre players, but they can’t get off a good shot a real lot of the time coming out of a timeout and give up way too many 3 pointers in situations where that’s the only thing that can beat them.

  • DaGawD_KnowLedge

    they should give him 12 mill for 4 years

  • DaGawD_KnowLedge

    duhon is the complete opposite.lol.

  • josh108

    haha lmao!

  • x-man

    Do you see that the wrong players have the ball in critical pts EVERY time? Off all the players on the floor, why would Lee have the ball our past the 3 pt line with 6 secs to go?

    We saw JJ and others get the ball in these moments in the past too. It’s the coach dude. It’s the coach!

  • x-man

    Yep, I agree totally. Our players could always find Duhon above the arc panicking for someone to come get the ball. Now it’s something new to get used to.

  • matthewfraguela

    Knicks were up by 3 (105-102) with 12-seconds left.

    OKC calls a timeout: HELLO! NBA’s leading score is going to attempt a game-tying 3-pointer, right?

    So, do we foul? Basic math tells me 2<3!

    ANYONE HIGH SCHOOL coach understands this logic. You foul. Force OKC to make 2 free throws. You do not let them attempt a 3!

    Coach has done this before. Remember when we had a foul to give in POR last year?

  • DaGawD_KnowLedge

    kobe will be done in 3 4 years thats when durant will be averaging close to 40 a season

  • Earl The Pearl

    Alan Hahn was interviewed on the FAN and said that all the star players in the league have a very high opinion of D’Antoni. He said some coaches are more suited to get the most out of little talent but can’t coach stars.

    D’Antoni’s real evaluation should come next year.

  • Qaspec

    Reposting my opinion on the trade

    My Rapid Reaction of the Trade….

    T-Mac = Upgrade at SG
    Sergio = Upgrade at PG
    House = Upgrade at Leadership, Outside Shooting and Defense
    Walker = Even an Upgrade as Walker was warming the bench at a level Milicic can only dream of.

  • DaGawD_KnowLedge

    2bad the knicks don’t even have an H.S coach

  • josh108

    im gonna hate when t mac sees how things really work here in new york now. Hes prolly thinkin r u kidding me? this dude is a fu”ckin clown foreal!!! does dantoni realize this is america? not f”uckin the italian /euro league…

  • DaGawD_KnowLedge

    lmao@ walker statement

  • harris

    It’s amazing how bad this coach is. The Knicks would do just as well, if not better, if every night they picked a different fan out of the stands to coach the team. Everybody outcoaches this clown.

  • x-man

    You do have a pt in that the Thunder will try to run LA old a-s-s- out of the gym. If the Thunder ever get a real legit Center,…can’t even think about that.

  • Rene

    TMAC

  • DaGawD_KnowLedge

    exactly

  • josh108

    haha, maybe we can get that highschooler rubio to go along with him…that dude looks like he doesnt even have pit hair and we want him? haha no thanks im good…

  • x-man

    lol. the DaGawD_KnowLedge’s post on getting our coach a twitter account is priceless. Imagine how much Fan interest would be generated. it’s marketing brilliance.

  • josh108

    haha im literally lol!!! its true or just make tmac player coach for 28 more games..the outcome would be far better then this jokester!!!

  • CircleLimit4

    Disagree. The coach screwed up by not using the foul to give, not in sending OKC to the line.

    The decision to foul when up 3 has never been clear cut for coaches. Some are for it, some are against it. If you foul then OKC could have easily turn it into shooting foul by attempting the shot after hearing the whistle. It’s very risky, especially considering that OKC is the 2nd best free throw shooting team in the NBA.

  • matthewfraguela

    The only reason D;ant is coaching is b/c Stern changed the rules of the game. He was horrible in DEN.

    I would take Rick Adelman over D’ant ANY day of the week. Look at what HOU is doing (and his career record).

    Mike D’ant is an overrated bafoon.

    HIs SSOL offense evaporates into CFOS (completely full of ship) when the game reach ‘crunch-time-halfcourt’ …

    His team cannot execute b/c (like defense) it something that’s not stressed (practiced).

    Coach K at Duke is a big believer in the Mike D philosophy NOTICE seens he’s started playing the SSOL spacing offense, his team can barely sniff the sweet-16.

    No excuses tonight. Up 3 with 12 seconds left. You only lose that game if the other team hits 2 free throws and you miss a free throw and the hit a rushed, last second forced shot. Not Mike D’s team though.

  • DaGawD_KnowLedge

    they might take bynum away from l.a

  • DaGawD_KnowLedge

    rubio an s-rod got the same game but rubio i think will be better.
    he could get to 6’5
    he’s listed at 6’4

  • DaGawD_KnowLedge

    very true
    on everything about danni boy

  • josh108

    yeah i know rubio will prolly be good, i just thought the joke fit the h.s. comment…lol

    but idk im not fully sold on the rubio thing but we’ll see what happens!

  • josh108

    haha i always thought it was hillarious u call him dani boy…

  • CircleLimit4

    Tmac says he’s hurting and you want him to take it to the rim? You realize he had major knee surgery, right?

  • CircleLimit4

    I don’t really care what Hahn says, but after the game Eddie House said D’antoni is one of the best coaches to play for when Tyrone Lue asked House about him.

  • italian stallion

    I have never seen someone with a rocket scientist IQ actually study this issue carefully, but the more I watch it in action the more I think you have to aggressively look to foul ASAP and take whatever time off the clock you can. You can’t be idiotic about it, but the GOAL should be to foul and not some murky gray area situation where no player wants to be the one to take the foul because he’s not sure if it’s the right thing to do. I’d bet we blew 3 games this year already by not fouling.

  • BigDaddybluesman

    Exactly, someone sees that…..I said that in my last post a few threads down. People forget there is also 2011 free agents.

    People think there is some boat load of great talent this off season, it’s not true. There are only a few great players and they are probably staying were they are.

    This is a disaster from the first day Walsh took over. It’s going to take another season or 2 for people to go “oh Shit it happened again”. But some are starting to realize it now. Walsh already blew 2 drafts……..

  • italian stallion

    If Durant ever learns to distribute the ball better, he will be a better player than Lebron because he’s already a better shooter.

  • DVJ

    You people dissing D’Antoni do realize that T-Mac didn’t play the entire overtime right?

    You people dissing D’Antoni do realize that Wilson Chandler was fouled on a great play call with 1 second left on the shot clock at a crucial part of the game right?

    You people dissing D’Antoni do realize that OKC won 7 in a row coming into tonight and were considered one of if not the hottest team in the league right now right? (especially after Cavs lost 2 in a row)

    You people dissing D’Antoni do realize that this was the 1st game this team has played together right?

    You people dissing D’Antoni do realize that not even 2 years ago we were an organization in shambles from top to bottom. Now we have a go to guy and an all star.

    If T-Mac stays healthy…..there goes the argument about Lebron not having anybody to come play with.

  • BluEandOrange

    Anyone else amazed at how LOUD the Garden was tonight? Man that was loud even through my speakers! I was suppose to go today but I did not feel good enough to take the Metro North to MSG.

    This team was 19 and 34 – now 19 and 35 – and the house was rocking! And the Knicks actually had a point guard that infiltrated the paint consistently to set up his teammates. Spicy Chocolate was making drives-and-kicks like it was nothing. Too bad Harrington and Bender couldn’t capitalize on the threes.

    Also, T-Macs missed free throws were painful, but I couldn’t have expected more from a guy that missed that many games. In addition, Eddie House was insane. The guy is a lights out shooter who is not afraid to take the open shot.

    Hopefully the lineup next game will be S-Rod, Chandler, McGrady, Gallinari, and Lee. But when House and Gallinari are in the lineup, that is a wicked three point combination.

    Eddie House will be a top notch sixth man for this team for the rest of the season.

    P.S.

    Did you see Serg bring the ball up the court and set up the offense. I was filled with excitement!

  • manners

    Now that every coach and gm in NY has commented let me just say that this was the first game for everyone. The mistakes made came from not knowing the plays and unfamiliarity.
    For those of you who feel that the trade was bad because jj contract was up next season. And for those who feel that DW has to get two max players this summer, think again. Freeing cap space gives the team flexibility that it hasn’t had in over 10yrs. Now team can make trades like a sign and trade involving DLee. Can use Curry’s contract as chip this summer or next season for those positioning themselves for a shot at Chris Paul and Carmelo to name just two.
    Give it a little more time. Next season we are back in the playoffs

  • BluEandOrange

    Save the kool-aid man, no one else wants to drink it.

  • BigDaddybluesman

    It’s about time people are starting to see through the smoke and mirrors.

    D’Ass is not a good coach. He’s not a good teacher and he’s not good with players in terms of motivation and communication.

    Now you are also seeing how Walsh keeps changing his story. Now he said oh it’s not about 2010 free against it’s about having the ability to move freely or some other BS like that.

    Stick to one story and one plan fool!!!!!!!!!

    Does this guy have all his marbles or is he just so full of sheet? Like Dolan…..I think Walsh took the money score before he is retiring and this is a sham. He’ll be laughing every time he sits back and looks at his bank account as he travels around the world on his personal yacht built with Dolan’s cash.

  • BluEandOrange

    Knicks now need to go 22-6 the rest of the way.

    Can they do it?

  • bigknicka

    S.rod has a team option for 2 mill, they should really pick that up

  • DVJ

    Oh and one more thing.

    I think everybody here knows or at least almost everybody here knows that Harrington is terrible.

    Well guess what? Donnie tried to get rid of him and he would have if Charlotte didn’t throw a first round pick their way. The original deal was supposed to be Harrington for Tyrus Thomas and Pargo.

    Just thought I would throw that out there.

  • DaGawD_KnowLedge

    if t-mac does his thing an the coach lets him play an if his knee’s hold up

  • DaGawD_KnowLedge

    very true
    but i don’t think he will eva be a passer like lebron
    his O game is already better than L.B.gaymes

  • harris

    Then just give him away-they don’t need anything back-just get him off the team already.

  • JR12

    “words cant describe how angry i was at all the offensive rebounds that fool gave up”

    give me a break, everybody complains about how lee always backs off his man gives up open shots to get the easy rebound and pad his stats, tonight lee stepped up and put a hand in the shooters face all game long. lee had 3 blocks (possibly for the first time in his life) and finally attempted to try to play defense and not just simply rebound. rebounding is a team effort if i jump out to contest a shot on your man that beat you, you go down low and try to get a board.

    30 points on 12-16 shooting, 10 boards 6 assists and 3blocks, but yea, what a joke of a player that bum is….that all star bum that gets respect by nba players all around the league. sergio should start from now on though, and awful play call at the end of regulation, good points there

  • bigknicka

    I was saying that with some of my boys today, he’s taller than lebron and lightning quick, but scary part is his jump shot….. He’s gonna be in this league for a looooong time cuz he could slash but could also play the outside.

    I honestly believe if the summer of lebron is a success it’s gonna be the knicks and thunder in 2012

  • matthewfraguela

    DVJ still hasn’t explained why D’ant didn’t foul with 6 seconds left? How you let OKC take a 3 in that spot is impossible to defend?

    Did you not see coach Boheim (Syracuse) foul Gtown this week?

    WINNERS foul and seal the game. 2 points does nothing when you’re up 3. Losers sit there and wonder how it got away.

    No coach who fouls has to explain themselves, b/c their teams win.

    Only tools and fouls play with fire and don’t foul (let along not doubling NBA’s leading scorer).

  • Hydr0

    Tmac said it himself on the post game interview. He had nothing left. He didn’t pace himself to play for 32 min. I was the first one to go after D’antoni about this in the last thread. But he didn’t have a choice.

  • Assistant DA

    Not fair, Grandmama… ILLWill was fouled (pushed in the back) by Green on both of those drives to the basket. No calls for the home team by this crew.

  • italian stallion

    Yea, I have to agree.

    Like I said earlier, I’m sure someone out there has done a detailed mathematical study of what should be done, but it seems clear the Knicks have blown quite a number of games over the last 2 years because the they are not aggressive enough about fouling.

  • Hydr0

    He had a bad game tonight. He’s not always going to be this terrible.

  • CircleLimit4

    Well it definitely shouldn’t be a murky gray area for players, the coach should make it 100% clear whether or not they should foul.

    But Durant is definitely one of those players that can turn a simple reach-in into a shooting foul or even a 4pt play. I think it leaves too much in the hands of the refs and the opposing players’ ft%. Play strong perimeter D and you don’t need to foul more often than not.

    The problem this time around was a lot like the OT game against Boston when KG hit the jumper from the top of the key to win it., complete failure to rotate off the screen.

  • knicksfan36

    after watching this game i believe the knicks should do the following this offseason:

    1) Resign Lee, Sergio, Tmac, House.
    2) Trade Curry’s expiring contract to a team who cannot afford their center signed for a few more years… maybe for Al Jefferson? Lee would a lethal PF, but he’s clearly not a center. He still racks up stats at that position but as one can see there is more to having a winning franchise than stats. Lee is mismatched almost every game bc he is not as tall as these other centers.
    3) Max out on 1 free agent. 1 is key here. Either Lebron or Wade if they leave. With the Knicks trading Curry for basically an equal salary of 11 mill, they should have roughly around 16 mill to resign lee, tmac, sergio, and house. lets say 11 goes to lee, and the last 5 will have to be split up between sergio tmac house and other supporting members.

    Pg- Sergio
    Sg- Wade/Lebron
    SF- Galinari
    PF- Lee
    C- Jefferson

    6th man — Tmac
    Chandler
    House
    Toney Douglas

    that’s a great rotation if you ask me.

  • Hydr0

    I think it takes 2 max free agents for tmac to sign on the cheap. He’s not taking a discount to give it to Lee.

  • JR12

    good post dvj, im drinkin the koolaid….if tmac stays healthy…or resigns for really really cheap lol

  • italian stallion
  • josh108

    hahaha save the kool aid man noone else wants to drink it…thats hillarious…

  • JR12

    true, true, but lee should take notes….try to sign for 5yrs at 40 mil instead of 60mil…then maybe tmac will sign for 8mil, the two would equal around a max contract (estimate)….the two looked good together tonight especially for never playing together be4…add a max player with them and gallo and chandler thats top tier status…someone pointed out the 2mil team option for sergio…i need to see more then one game but wow he played much better then i expected

    why jefferson for curry? why not just go for dwight howard? maybe orlando will even throw in ewing

  • Hydr0

    It’s a good article even though the guy’s a bit of a star wars geek. I don’t like fouling in that situation btw..play tough defense, maybe take a risk, but don’t just foul.

  • knicksfan36

    why not? he’s inferring the knicks should sign 2 all stars. lee is an all star. he’s better than bosh in my opinion. and tmac was not flat out limiting the knicks to those 4 fa’s. what he meant was that if the knicks built a championship contender, a legitimate one, then he would sign to be a part of it. maxing out on bosh would be silly because if the knicks were to max out on someone else like lebron or wade lee would be gone bc the knicks wouldnt be able to fit him under the cap (i believe they would have to waive his birds rights).

    if the knicks were able to trade for a non-max center rather than signing one then it’d make it all the easier to fit everyone in thus creating a better championship team.

    i believe minnesota is a team which has financial trouble. their terrible team has no attendance and thus less revenue. with each coming season that their team is bad their owner is losing a lot of money. jefferson costs 12 mill a season, curry 11.2. if the knicks were to offer let’s say curry and a future 1st/wilson chandler, conceivably the wolves might bite.

  • Baller11

    haha wow not sure at all why i wrote that meant to type exceeded sorry

  • RR

    Don’t you guys thinks that maybe Dantoni should have a little more time to coach this team before everybody says he is a horrible coach. T Mac is the 1st legitimate star player that he has had since he got here.. I completely agree that they should have fouled at the end of the game & not allow a 3pt shot in that situation….

    Just seen Terry Porter break down the last play Dantoni called on NBA tv. The play was designed for T Mac to get the ball on a isolation play after a dribble hand off by Lee but Gallo didn’t rub screen the man defending Lee. It really comes down to execution and making your free throws at the end of the game both of which the Knicks players didn’t do not Dantoni…

    I am not sold on Dantoni either but I would like to see what he can do with this team now that they have a little talent.. People are forgetting that Dantoni’s system was part of the reason TMac got off just wait to see when he gets his legs bag.

  • Mucha

    The atmosphere was crazy, the “We want T-Mac” chants in particular. Too bad the Knicks didn’t win this one – but the energy was amazing and everybody played hard.

    But Mike D’Antoni did a terrible job down the stretch in my opinion – too bad!

  • pak14life

    so much for the dantoni haters. I was watching that too. The play was simple guys jus didnt execute.

  • gdaibes

    i believe the word is exceeded.

  • gdaibes

    wat about his big THREE to answer (i believe) Kevin Durant’s 3? DONT SLEEP

  • gdaibes

    Tonight we got a preview of what this team can be with a legit superstar too create for LEE, CHANDELER, GALLO. Gallo i believe is the type of player that can compliment and ANSWER the demands of a top flight star. I think the pressure of a MAX player will benefit Gallo as he usually comes up in BIG situations and a MAX star will demand that play from Gallo. Will/Mcgrady in the 2/3 spot was KILLER. WOW. Will still needs to learn to relax and recognize when he’s gonna draw the ffensive foul, but kid can DRIVE. The Lee/Mcgrady combo was TIGHT. The buzz at the garden was TIGHT. despite the loss i felt a BUZZ tonight that i havent felt in a MINUTE.

    SERGIO aka the DUHON KILLER
    HOUSE… wont play this well every night but this is ur system to do ur thing.

    this team has lacked 3 main things this year…
    1. a true center, defensive presence.
    2. pure scorers who can sr8 up shoot the ball
    3. a PG who can draw attention and create shots

    DONNIE WALSH has answered 2 of those needs. EDDIE and TMAC can st8 up SHOOT/score. SERGIO can do things duhon only dreams about.

    a loss is a loss. but tonight was the most fun ive has losing in a long time. If mcgrady made ONE of those free throws we woulda won. he’ll get used to the MSG lights.

    can u feel it? DONT SLEEP.

  • JR12

    i believe curry is 11.8 next year

    im not a big al jefferson fan but i personally don’t think curry and a first round future can get the knicks nenad kristic, let alone jefferson, unless walsh is good at blackmail….just my opinion, no facts to back it up

  • gdaibes

    this is the cool aid line.

  • gilbertosilva

    There were plenty of positives tonight, no doubt – but DAMN I wanted the win, and it was there for the taking, be it through missed fts or poorly executed last plays. Still, it’s nice to get genuinely into a knicks game once more. Thought TMac and House were excellent, and let’s just get SRod starting asap.

  • DatNewYorker

    Hellen Keller had a foul to give before the end of regulation and before Durant hit that 3 to tie the game.

  • prettyToney

    All I can say is thank god the Thunder didn’t draft Tyreke Evans.

  • DWknickfan

    Pick a plan and stick to it?????? How does a person say that about Donnie Walsh. He has said from day 1 that getting under the cap was his priority and he has done that. I think some people get a thrill by getting under people’s skin on this site. You can say the team stinks, you can question the coach’s decisions and DW’s trades and draft picks. The one thing u can’t question is his plan, he has stuck to it from day one, even through means that some disagreed about (i.e. Early Randolph and JC trades). Regardless, he has stuck to his plan, for better or worse.

    I’m glad he followed his plan. I rather be in the position to hit a homerun through free agency, the. Sit with a mediocre team that is praying a draft pick turns out to be a steal.

  • Knicks4life

    He had the same exact problem in PHX.

    The man just won’t learn.

  • Knicks4life

    Play tough defense?

    You do realize this is the Knicks we are talking about right.

  • Knicks4life

    Knicks have had this problem all season though.

    And if the players are not executing your plays whose fault is that? I hear you that it is on the players to some extent but he has had this problem everywhere he goes, at some point it is because he is not holding his players (other than Nate and Hughes) accountable.

  • Knicks4life

    ??

    The already had Westbrook?

  • Knicks4life

    DW has achieved his objective no question about that.

    I think people just debate:

    (1) whether he gave up too much to get there (draft picks/players)

    (2) unlike his promise the team has not remained competitive

    (3) his hiring of the coach

    (4) the players he has chosen in the draft

    (5) some of his free agent signings (notably Duhon, but also Bender)

    (6) the way this years team was constructed pre-trade deadline (one PG was crazy and gave us virtually no chance to win)

    He has cleaned house and acheived what many thought was impossible. Now the question is, can the Knicks build a championship team. Not just can we spend money but can we spend it wisely. With all the money, fanfare, and homegrown basketball products NY has produced it is crazy that the Knicks have not won a championship since the 1970s. Now it is up to Walsh and/or his successor to put us back in spotlight (for good reasons).

  • BigDaddybluesman

    Are you kidding?

  • italian stallion

    The problem is that the Knicks are not the Celtics, Spurs, Lakers etc… that can play lock down defense and get a stop. So if you are the coach and you know that (and you should), then the probabilities shift towards fouling. I don’t think there is a clear cut formula that works for all teams in all circumstances. However, I think this coach is not reading the specifics of this team well otherwise we wouldn’t constantly be getting the worst of it.

  • italian stallion

    EXACTLY.

    The Knicks are such a poor defensive team that fouling almost becomes a no brainer. If we were the Celtics, Spurs, Lakers etc… then it’s probably better to not foul.

  • BigDaddybluesman

    I think you have a short memory. If you can go back to interviews he had when he first came here. He has changed what he said numerous times as the mistakes he made piled up.

    He’s full of sheet. No he has not been consistent with what he has said. The most glaring being how important his first 2 drafts will be considering we don’t have one in 2010. Well guess what………he screwed both of them up.

    Now because Washington gave Cleveland Jamison Walsh knows his chances of landing LeBron are slimmer. So he has to change his plan again.

    His plan was to sign Lebron and another Max free agent. Add 2 important drafted players to fill out the roster. Those 2 quality young future stars along with whatever else he had from Isiah or trade the rest of the Isiah players(Chandler, maybe Lee) They thought Lee would NOT fit when they first came here, again a mistake he does. Lowering the cap hurt his plan, drafting poorly hurt his plan, Cleveland getting Jamison hurt his plan. So now his plan is what?

  • pak14life

    i mean is it too much to ask to have gallo set a good screen. hes not the best x’s and o’s coach but hes far from the worst.

  • Hydr0

    do you really think Lee will take $20 million less?…$20 million….that’s a lot of money for someone who hasn’t made the big bucks in the nba yet.

  • Hydr0

    Bosh is much better than lee. Who would you rather have the ball in their hands for a crucial shot? Remeber what those two did at the end fo the game the last time toronto was here? Toronto ran what was almost an unstoppable play with bosh and then Lee took it back the other way with total confusion.

    Jefferson also has a bad knee…how many bad knees and backs do we really want to put on this team?

  • x-man

    You guys need to wake up. lol As long as T-MAC could have stood up, this coach could have used him as a decoy. Do you think the opposing team knew that about T-Mac or do you think they would have put a double team or much attention to T-mac being on the floor?

    Mt pt was that unless T-mac had a free rein to the rim which is unlikely, he should have been on the floor to set the play for Eddie house or an open Lee underneath and etc.

    This coach is an awful game strategist and it’s amazing some of ya never sees it. YIKES!

  • x-man

    LOL I told many of ya many weeks ago that Walsh would start doing this once the 2010 timeframe nears. It’s easy to talk about 2010 until the time comes to put up or shut up!

    I do agree with the reality that he is saying now but that is not what he was stating before. Walsh does not want it to be LBJ or bust. But too many, it will be just that. Walsh is out saying ‘ 2 max stars? that a possibility but not a necessity, yada yada. all I know is we better have a good team next year.

    I’ll leave the details to Walsh!

  • x-man

    Well Tommy Dee likes aggressiveness so i’m curious how he feels about your take on this?

  • x-man

    lmao! Like I said before D’antoni told his players “Go out and get a stop……Nash!” Why can’t these players ever follow specific instructions?

    It’s never ever this coach!

  • x-man

    Boy, It’s hard to pull crap by you! You’re dead on about Walsh.

    Yet, I’m giving him some leeway to make this team much better next year. I don’t care how he does it, but it’s his job.

    It’s amazing how Walsh is getting a little like Isiah when the day of reckoning gets closer. Yet, I’ll still give the man some time because he now have the cap space he so wanted. Now let’s see what he des to make this team much better.

    As for D’Antoni, this phony needs to be sent packing.

  • x-man

    All Donnie has to do is to throw the ball across the river and RapheAL would be a Net.

  • Realist_Knick_Fan

    Easy – they put Evans at SG – at 6’6″ he can handle it. Imagine:

    Westbrook, 6’4″ PG
    Evans, 6’6″ SG
    Durant – amazing forward
    Green – ubber sixth man

    Man the Thunder are great – they are going to be amazing for seasons to come with Durant. I kind of wish we had tried to rebuild the right way during the 00s and had a chance at him instead of trying to rebuild/and win at the same time and try to get the no.8 seed.

  • Dave the Rave

    Coaches don’t play defense, players do, and these guys can’t. Lee, Harrington, Gallo and Bender are this team’s front line. They are the worst defensive front line in history and that’s not D’A's fault. Lee was awful on D except for 2 lucky blocks. Next year……

    T-Mac rocks! I hope his knee or leg holds up. If he becomes another Steve Francis or Penny Hardaway it will be brutal.

    House is a total stud and 3 times the player N8 is.

    Rodriguez is mediocre and that makes him 10x better than Dunothing.

    Almost all the bums are gone! Go Knix!

  • HomeOfTheJets

    It took me 3 long hours but finally I’m done making a 10 minute highlight from T-Mac Debut as a knick. Enjoy Fellow Knicks fans.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIqZR3hQPYU

  • harris

    They can have him.

  • http://westcheddar.com/2010/02/21/new-look-knicks/ New Look Knicks « WESTCHEDDAR

    [...] NBA right now.  Check Tommy Dee at the Knicks Blog for more commentary on last night’s game HERE.  Scream. Posted by ip Filed in Ill Events, My Dudes, Sports Leave a Comment [...]

  • HomeOfTheJets

    It took me 3 long hours but finally I’m done making a 10 minute highlight from T-Mac Debut as a knick. Enjoy Fellow Knicks fans.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIqZR3hQPYU

  • harris

    Other than Kiki Vandeweghe, it’s pretty hard to find a worse coach than this guy when it comes to decision making in the final minutes of close games. Everybody seemingly outcoaches him.

  • harris

    Give -’Antoni a one way ticket back to Treviso. If he wants, he can take Duhon and “Buckets” with him.

  • Knicks4life

    Evans at SG? Why would they do that?

  • bob go knicks

    Can we all stop saying MOVING FOWARD now.Did i miss a meeting? When was it voted on to stop saying”IN THE FUTURE”…..Moving foward,sounds like the latest catch phrase that all sports reporters love to use….STOP IT!

  • x-man

    lmao. Evans can’t shoot worth a dime now. That could change later but to have him as a SG is like having Lee at Center…..oh wait!

  • bob go knicks

    Walsh never said “we are going to sign LBJ” never.it was sports reporters and fans who said this

  • SilentJay

    Though the coaching has been mediocre throughout the season, a lot of people keep saying that next year will be his true judgement. What I see more and more every game is that he lacks the strength to truly lead a team and reach his players, teach them his game and what he wants, regardless of the level of the roster. Playing disciplined and organized ball can be done with any squad. This coach, thus far, is at fault. He needs to get his head out of ass once and for all.
    Whatever happens next summer (I’m in the LBJ or bust bus), DW can definitely form a playoff squad. I don’t know if James will be sold in the idea of playin alongside Boozer and Felton (for example) or if he prefers Bosh and a bunch of D-Leaguers (because that’s all the money DW will have after signing 2 max players). Walsh is not dumb and realizes this, and is slowly changing his speech so people would understand his decisions when the time comes to sign FA’s. What I do know is, that no matter what, those picks traded to lose JJ have to become late 1st rounders. If not, add another check for the fail that Walsh may receive if he doesn’t land James or any max player.

  • Hydr0

    oh yeah…i forgot what a great defender nash was lol