Here’s the Thing

by Tommy Dee on June 3rd, 2010 at 4:32 pm

I’ve said for a long time that I think Lebron is coming to NY. Nothing, not one single argument that I’ve had with other people has made me feel differently. In fact, I’ve changed more than a few minds. My boy Gil Santana at SNY agrees with me. We had lunch today with Alvino and Matt Cerrone. After words Gil and I came back to 75 Rock and thought out loud about some things.

Let me ask you a question. We all know Michael Jordan went 3rd overall in the draft. How on earth could the Blazers pass on MJ right? But do you ever hear anyone complain about how the Rockets, who held the first pick, missed out on his Airness?

Neither do I. Why is that? Because Hakeem won two championships? Maybe. Or maybe it’s because outside of Houston, no one cares about the Rockets.

I rank Hakeem ahead of Shaq in terms of All-Time big men. He was better than Patrick Ewing. But what if Hakeem and Ewing switched and Hakeem won two titles here? What if he managed to beat Jordan in the playoffs? Where would that rank him All-Time?

Much higher..because it’s New York.

If you’re a young fan who doesn’t remember Hakeem, maybe you can blame the media or the lack of technology. But branding has been around for a long time and people should have heard of him if not for the All-Star games and Finals appearances. Or maybe you knew that he battled Ewing and Georgetown in the NCAA Finals while at the University of Houston in 1984.

The time for Lebron to leave and pair himself with a star is now. I had a discussion asking why wouldn’t he sign in Cleveland and move to Brooklyn?

Because the roster is land locked and frankly, the idea to bring in an aggressive Russian billionaire owner was not to sit around  and wait for James in two years. They have a business to run and a responsibility to the league. I’ve said the Knicks would be willing to wait another year for a Carmelo Anthony if they miss out on James, but I’d still expect them to be aggressive this year in the meantime. They owe it to the fans. I would think the Nets want to leverage their cap space well before summer 2012.

Bottom line for me is this. Lebron can win two championships in Cleveland and somehow be considered a disappointment, or fly under the radar like Hakeem has in many ways. Did anyone really watch the Rockets/Magic Finals? Matter of fact, did you REALLY watch Cavs/Spurs?

Lebron can come to NY, be a hero, re-brand himself and scoff at some in the NY media who are seemingly basing a lot of opinion about Lebron on these past playoffs. He has a lot to prove. Can he really prove his greatness without a wingman? Without a player to take some of the load off him? If the guy has a bad night against a good team, wouldn’t it be nice if his teammates picked up at least some slack?

Forget the BS business stuff. Those are amenities. New York provides the opportunity to brand Lebron as the best player in franchise history. To walk with legends. He can be the Jordan New York has never had, THE star the LEAGUE has never had in NY.

To be fair, if he stays in Cleveland it’s good for the NBA. Not good for the Knicks, but good for the league. Not as good as if he came to NY from an advertising/marketing perspective, but good for the fans of professional sports who thinks the Joe Mauer’s don’t have to wear pinstripes.  I can live with him staying and I think Knicks fans should- trade deadline moves or not. He’ll be an enemy here for toying with the Big Apple, that’s for sure.

There will never be an easy time to leave Cleveland, but the best time to do it is absolutely now.

  • philprimato

    Tommy,
    Great posts. I wish I was as confident as you are on LBJ in NYC. I hope but am not convinced. I believe if he does leave, he ends up in NY.

    One thing that stands out to me is that IF LBJ wanted to stay in Cleveland, why is he going into the market in the first place? Why turn down the contract extension last year? Why not just sign a deal now, tell everyone to shut up about NY, Chicago, Miami, LA, and just sign with Cleveland?

    Is he doing it to force Cleveland into upgrading its rosters? If LBJ goes back to Cleveland, where does that leave them? Boston and Orlando are already better than Cleveland. If Miami keeps Wade and adds a Boozer or Bosh, they are in the mix. Chicago can add a piece to that young squad and all of a sudden, Cleveland is out in the Semis next year with LBJ and a bunch of average players.

    BUT, if LBJ teams up with Bosh in NY, you cant tell me that LBJ-Bosh-Gallo-Chandler-TD is not a top 3 team in the east. I think Miami is flying under the radar and the apeal of DWade, South Beach and Reilly may get him to consider them strong.

    But at the end of the day, if LeBron wanted to be in Cleveland, why would he do this to the team and the city? Why drag them along until July 1, watch him hang out and be recruitied by half the NBA, to just go back to Cleveland? It doesnt make sense.

    Did Jordan ever opt-out and test his options? How bout Magic? or Bird? Hakeem? No, No, No, and No.

    LBJ has laid the ground work for leaving, otherwise he would have committed. Lets just hope (and pray) his next destination is MSG.

    Keep up the great work.

    Phil
    http://www.twitter.com/philprimato

  • bbrody1

    Tommy what do you make of this talk of the sixers leaning towards drafting favors and the possibility of turner slipping to the nets or even out of the top 5

    i can’t believe turner won’t be #2 but sillier things have happened…

  • dogmanx23

    Its NY??? This isn’t baseball.. I’m a knick fan but the fact some people use the “its NY” thing is ridiculous. I swear some people think our history is as rich as Boston, LA, Philly, Detroit.

    The same guys licking their lips to bring Lebron here will be the same ones destroying the guy if he doesn’t win here. The same way they did with Ewing. It took us sucking major ass for 10 years to realize we had an amazing player with Ewing and started giving him props just the last few years.

    You think lebron doesn’t know that?

    Its the same way people ignore Bosh’s game just because he’s elsewhere and ignore everythign D.Lee has done to get better.

    Bosh is the better player but if he did half the things he did in toronto he’d get murdered in NY but he gets a pass since he wasn’t. Everyone always loves the other teams players.

    I still rather sign lee over bosh because of what else we could bring in with the extra cap space. But i know its what king lebron wants. I ain’t sweating the guy because he hasn’t won anything yet. I see a lot of people act like its the end of the world if he doesn’t come. Last time i checked 7 years in the NBA teams without Lebron has won a championship.

  • knicksallday

    Tommy your right and I hope this dude sees it, but to tell the truth in my heart I really want Melo here… To me he is more NY to me! I think he would embrace want NY is really about! Hard, gritty, fight till the last breath and if you come into the GARDEN you are coming for a WAR!!! LBJ not so much…

  • CircleLimit4

    “It took us sucking major ass for 10 years to realize we had an amazing player with Ewing and started giving him props just the last few years.”

    What??? Sure people were disappointed that the Ewing era came up fruitless but Knick fans never stopped giving him props. I remember standing o’s in his return trips to the garden.

  • Mostafa Khalifa

    Even if Hakeem and Ewing didn’t switch places, Hakeem (who I loved watching when he played) still wins his two titles, and Ewing only wins one title (let alone two to tie Hakeem), he’d rank so much higher among the all-time greats (fair or unfair, it’s reality). That’s what NY gets you, and that’s why LBJ should come to the Knicks. Will he? I think he will. We won’t know for sure until July (no matter how many interviews he does before then).

  • http://theKnicksBlog.com Tommy Dee

    “The same guys licking their lips to bring Lebron here will be the same ones destroying the guy if he doesn’t win here. The same way they did with Ewing. It took us sucking major ass for 10 years to realize we had an amazing player with Ewing and started giving him props just the last few years.

    You think lebron doesn’t know that? ”

    Speak for yourself bro…

  • Tomhimself

    LOLOLOL @ Hakeem being better than Shaq. lOLOL

  • http://theKnicksBlog.com Tommy Dee

    thanks Phil

    TD

  • http://theKnicksBlog.com Tommy Dee

    Stranger things have happened. If the sixers took favors 2 would the nets pass on Turner at 3?

  • knicksallday

    Hakeem is better than Shaq!!! Your crazy! Did you see what he did to Shaq in the FINALS!!! The sad thing is Ewing never had a great supporting cast.. Let alone a side kick (Pippen, Drexler, Kobe, etc….. )

    Please get it together!

  • http://theKnicksBlog.com Tommy Dee

    Well 1995 was a good case in Hakeem’s defense.

    All around more skilled. That’s just how I feel.

    Shaq was the most dominant.

  • Namifi

    Your off on Ewing, He is loved in NYC. fans recognize that he played hard and didn’t quit on NYC. He may not have won a championship but he still loved as though he did. But also, NYK fans realized that management did not do a good job of getting Ewing the help the need to get that championship. Can’t blame him for that, he left it on the floor, as well as Oak, Mase, Harper and Starks. the Knicks needed more offensive fire power than they had to reach the pinnacle.

  • http://www.youtube.com/tharealest62qb DaGawD_KnowLedge

    he’s not gonna play in EWING’S SHADOW……………………

  • Mucha

    “I rank Hakeem ahead of Shaq in terms of All-Time big men. He was better than Patrick Ewing. But what if Hakeem and Ewing switched and Hakeem won two titles here? What if he managed to beat Jordan in the playoffs? Where would that rank him All-Time?”

    Great analogy Tommy, Hakeem Olajuwon is clearly one of the most underrated superstars in NBA history and I think he would be more famous today if he did play with the New York Knicks back in the day.

    The Cleveland Cavaliers are boring. I didn’t even watch the NBA Finals in 2007, the Cavs are so boring/flat in terms of image. And I don’t think LeBron James will ever be as popular as Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant because he doesn’t have the same “mystique”. But we all agree with the idea that he needs to leave Cleveland. And New York is the best destination in my opinion.

  • http://www.youtube.com/tharealest62qb DaGawD_KnowLedge

    in the history on the league i’m taking a prime DREAM over any
    dude had dribbles best foot work foot every THE BEST CENTER OF ALL TIME…

  • Mucha

    Face palm.

    I think it’s a toss-up between Shaq and Hakeem. But Hakeem won 2 championships and his Kobe Bryant/Dwyane Wade was a 67 year-old Clyde Drexler…

  • HaS

    The thing about this argument is that comparing a big man to a guard/wing player is very hard to do. Big men never are as popular as the small guys (unless they’re from a country with a billion people like Yao Ming), Hakeem had a sneaker deal with LA Gear if I remember correctly, Shaq after his initial Reebok contract wore some off-brand or his own, Ewing’s sneaker? Ugh, terrible.

    The point is that it’s a guards (or forwards with guard-like skills’) league. As charismatic and funny as Shaquille O’Neal has been his entire career he would never be the salesman that Jordan is (and still is), people don’t relate to the giant. I’ve made this point before here awhile back. Big men are just not the popular athlete because not many people can relate to being 6’10 and above and being able to donkey punch people on the top of the head.

    The Cavs vs. Spurs series? The Spurs were clearly the better team and who is the best player on that team Tim Duncan. Big man.

    Houston vs. Orlando? Shaq vs. Hakeem. Big men have never been the “sexy” matchup (pause).

    It is most definitely because Hakeem was a great player in his own right AND the fact that he won that city two championships that you don’t hear people complain about passing on Jordan.

    I obviously agree to a certain extent that he would be able to market/re-brand himself around a move to NY, but in the sport’s world, which is often separate from everything else, he would never be looked upon in a glowing light until he actually hoisted a Larry O’Brien trophy in June. Maybe more than one, it is a huge risk. I hope he takes that leap of faith, I’m just wondering if he sees just how hard it is to win and wonders if it’s worth that risk.

  • HaS

    When Ewing played here he wasn’t exactly adored by fans. It wasn’t until he was gone that fans appreciated him, to say anything else is just revisionist history.

  • harris

    Hope you’re right about James coming here. I’m not nearly as confident about it happening, but at least the Knicks have a legitimate shot, which is all a Knick fan can really ask for at present.

    I would hope that people remember how great a player Hakeem was, regardless of where he played for most of his career. For that matter, James does not need NY for people to recognize his abilities-his decision will ultimately come down to what is most important to him. If it’s about expanding his “brand”, and becoming a “global icon”, NY NY is the place (although it sounds like his inner circle has concerns about the New York scene). Perhaps he looks at Chicago as being the best combination for him, in terms of both the ability to win and marketing opportunities (although I have major doubts his ego allows him to wind up in a place where he will never be the top banana). Maybe Jay Z and the fancy Prokhorov will intrigue him on the Nets (although two years in Newark doesn’t do much for his “brand”, not to mention that Brookly doesn’t, and never will, have the cache of Manhattan). Frankly, I suspect his ties with the community in Ohio might be what ultimately wins out, but we shall see.

  • Mucha

    Well I think this is precisely why LeBron James will never be as popular as Kobe Bryant or Michael Jordan.

    He relies on his strength more than his skills – his style of play doesn’t make people (kids in particular) dream because they can’t relate to it! And he has no mystique!

  • Mucha

    I have no sympathy whatsoever for LeBron James though. I hope that he’ll sign with the Knicks because I’m a Knicks fan but…

    Prince James needs to change. Skip Bayless was right all along.

  • http://www.youtube.com/tharealest62qb DaGawD_KnowLedge

    u don’t know a goodthing until IT’S GONE

  • ds2488

    Good points HaS and Mucha. I think Dwight Howard is the exception though. He’s extremely popular, and while Im not sure where he ranks in jersey sales, he has lucrative ad campaigns with T-Mobile and Mcdonalds, I think he was the leading vote-getter for the all-star game this past year, and is branching off into Hollywood.

    He’s really charismatic though. There’s very few players ever who have his type of charisma.

  • ds2488

    “Skip Bayless was right all along.”

    You take that back right now Mucha!!! lol. I hate that guy with such a passion, I didn’t think I would ever hear those words. He’s somehow turned being a loud idiot who who’s a contrarian just for the sake of being one into a lasting career as a sports personality. Crazy.

  • ds2488

    Hakeem and Shaq are a toss-up I think. Hakeem definitely has the skills, but Shaq’s got the physical dominance. They’re both incredible.

  • JeffM729

    Tommy,

    You missed the mark on this one. LeBron is already bigger than Hakeem and Ewing, without a ring. LeBron is bigger than the NBA Finals. His free agency is upstaging the Laker and Celtic matchup. I can’t think of a player that has been able to do that. Perhaps more people watch Larry King than Game 1.

    At age 25, he is bigger than Jordan. I would place him ahead of MJ or Kobe at that stage of his career. Donnie Walsh is trying to reel in the possible greatest of all-time player. We need him far more than he needs us.

  • http://www.youtube.com/tharealest62qb DaGawD_KnowLedge

    so far he’s looking like he can be the greatest statistically

  • http://www.youtube.com/tharealest62qb DaGawD_KnowLedge

    as of rite now d.how is the most popular player at his position power/center

  • dogmanx23

    Exxactly.. now every year when orlando is here we have to do something because ewing is here. It took 10 years of sucking ass to appreciated not the player but the FN Warrior we had with Ewing here.

  • PickNY

    LBJ will PickNY!

  • DatNewYorker

    OMG this is the first time that I agreed with everything Tommy had to say in a post. Good Post Tommy Boy!

    I was having an argument about Patrick Ewing being one of the top 10 centers in NBA history. The person I was arguing with insisted that Patrick Ewing was not one of the Top 10 or 15 centers in NBA history. To put a long story short… I only put Hakeem Olajuwon, Shaq, and Kareem Abdul Jabbar over Ewing. I have Hakeem as number one because of who he played with. He like Ewing did not have a superstar to play with to win a Championship. If you look at any other center with rings you will see that there roster had one or two hall of famers. Shaq had Kobe, Kareem had Magic and Worthy. I don’t think Wilt Chamberlain would be scoring a hundred points with the players in today’s game. In his time the NBA did not have too many African Americans. The level of competition was weak. Blacks did not even stay in the same hotels or drink from the same water fountains as whites. If you put Ewing, Shaq, Howard, or Hakeem in that era they would have dominated the NBA as Chamberlain did.

    I also am starting to believe more and more each day that Lebron is coming to NY. You win in Cleveland and it is only a big thing for Cleveland and it will be lost in the memory of the NBA fans within the next two or three years. If you win in NY everyone will remember the time, date, and every stat and every big moment of his Championship run.

  • bbrody1

    lebrons on kimmel
    hes doing everything to be in the spotlight, and hes accomplishing it

  • bbrody1

    i think im the only one who likes skip

    i enjoy his ability to be an opinionated douchebag and know hes a douchebag and not care

    most of espn is unaware of their douchieness

  • DatNewYorker

    He is in High demand, Why NOT?

  • bbrody1

    i’d be at scores with bosh if i was him

  • Skot

    I think you are wrong on that. While people expected a little more from Ewing, nobody ever questioned his work ethic and effort. They just hoped he was better than he actually was and that led to a little disappointment. There are always a few guys who will boo – I am sure they will boo lebron too for some reason ir another if he comes. But as far as Ewing is concerned, it was more media driven since he did not have a good relationship with some sections of the media. But if you went to a game or watched those games on TV, you would know that the garden was rocking most of the time during that era. If Ewing was your best player and the garden was rocking during his era, how can you say that he wasn’t adored by fans? It just doesn’t add up.

  • Skot

    How is the ‘Philly’s’ history rich? They haven’t won a championship in 28 years. Is ‘rich’ history measured only in terms of championships won? The Knicks have been to the finals 8 times and won 2 times, besides being one of the original franchises. Is that not enough history to make it ‘rich’? The redsox have won titles 2 times in the last 90+ years. Do they not have a ‘rich’ history? I just don’t understand people’s view point sometimes.

  • harris

    lol. exactly.

  • Knicks4life

    I guess this is true.

    But one of the most beloved men in the history of the league is Bill Russell. For years Wilt Chamberlain was also synonmous with basketball. Maybe its more about having a marketeable personality.

    I guess you can look at sneaker deals as a sign of popularity but Shaq was one of the most recongizable personalties throughout the world.

    I think the problem was more that Duncan, Ewing, Kareem, Hakeem etc didn’t have the personality to pull it off. Yao, Shaq, Russell all have marketeable peronalities. You will see D. Howard become on the level of Wade, LBJ, Kobe if he develops his offensive game and wins a championship. He has the personality to be a superstar.

  • ds2488

    lol. Thats actually a good point. Never thought about it that way.

  • Mucha

    I like Skip Bayless.

    I’m not saying that he’s the best NBA analyst obviously but he is unique and he doesn’t give a f*ck! I mean he always called LeBron James a sore loser and an overrated diva who doesn’t play well under pressure – and I think he’s right until LeBron James proves that he can win a championship or lose with a little bit of class! He just doesn’t like the way Dwight Howard and LeBron James approach the game of basketball and I can understand him because they haven’t won anything!

    Skip Bayless > Stuart Scott, Jon Barry or the legendary Mike Wilbon anyways.

  • dino2008

    LOL everyone check out this site.

    http://www.nycgo.com/cmonlebron

  • Mucha

    Exactly.

    At least he doesn’t give a care about his relationship with the players, agents, fans and things of that nature. He’s an opiniated, politically-incorrect douchebag and he’s proud of it – I like it.

  • Mucha

    Good point

    I respect the fact that Dwight Howard cares so much about the kids etc. I’m not a fan but he’s a great guy.

  • Knicks4life

    Interesting.

    Greatest Centers (IMO).

    1. Russell
    2. Wilt
    3. Shaq
    4. Kareem
    5. Hakeem
    6. Robinson
    7. Moses Malone
    8. Ewing
    9. Walton

    I place a big emphasis on championships. Duncan I’ll leave at PF. Dwight Howard will end up at #5 before his career is over.

  • Mucha

    I think Ewing was the most charismatic.

    His face was unforgettable.

    I love Yao too.

  • ds2488

    well, anyone’s better than Stuart Scott and his terrible catchphrases. I like both Wilbon and Barry though.

  • JaymanJD

    HHahahha I agree with you man we both saw the same thing Hakeem is not better then shaq on any planet. First Shaq has more rings. second, shaq did it on two different teams. Third, no player has dominated his position like shaq did for a very long time they had to change rules for this guy. The all time great centers are Russel, Chamberlain, Jabar, and Shaq in whatever order you choose. Everyone else is not really even close. Hakeem was better than Ewing and he is a great hall of fame player but he is not shaq even in his prime. Hakeem won his two championships without beating Jordan either.

  • Knicks4life

    Media hated Ewing though. And I hear he wasn’t very good with the fans.

  • Mucha

    Really?

    I like Brent Barry but Jon Barry annoys the hell out of me lol

  • Mucha

    Jordan Farmar… LMAO

  • Knicks4life

    By the way you have the president of the United States now commenting twice on what Lebron James should do this summer.

    James is the biggest star in the sport and may soon be the biggest star in all of sports.

  • bartnyk

    How about Nate Robinson in the Finals from the Knicks to a chance to win a ring.

  • JeffM729

    My top 10 would be;

    1-Kareem
    2-Wilt
    3-Russell
    4-Shaq
    5-Hakeem
    6-Moses
    7-Mikan
    8-Robinson
    9-Reed
    10-Ewing

    I would rate Walton below these guys based on his brief career.

  • HaS

    I will be extremely happy if Toney Douglas turns into Derek Fisher 2.0.

  • fauci933

    I could easily see him becoming that, and I would be more than satisfied, especially with his current on the ball defensive skills.

  • ds2488

    I don’t know why. Most people I know also hate Jon Barry, but I find him pretty funny. To be honest, I think Brent is kind of a douche.

  • ds2488

    The president should do his job and stop commenting on this crap. I don’t know if he notices that their is a disaster going on right now. He just needs to stop getting involved with crap like this…It just gives his enemies ammunition. Im sure Fox news will not fail to bring this up.

  • illmatix

    +1…J Barry is an ass, he is a company man. I saw him last week on mike & mike, he was sitting in for the fat mike and free agency topic and James came up and Mike was asking him where he thought James would go and of course like everyone else @ espn he was saying either he stays or goes to the bulls and when asked about the knicks he said they didn’t have a shot at all and added that the knicks would be shut out of the free agent pool he is just another espn nyc hater, imo

  • Rick MoSports

    I agree about the titles in NY. I always said 1 NY title= 3 Chicago titles. Thats why I believed the Kobe to NY rumors from a few years. Kobe wants to be known as the greatest ever and he knows if he would have won in NY, that would’ve solidified his status as greatest ever. He has 4 rings in LA and he knows that he need to surpass the 6 MJ did to even be put on that level. Lebron just beat him again for MVP. If Kobe was a Knick, do you think Lebron beats him for MVP? NO! Lebron knows this too, thats why he is coming to NY. 1 NY ring = 3 Chi rings!!!

  • Mucha

    I agree.

    A younger version of Derek Fisher is very solid.

  • Mucha

    I think Jon is stupid.

    No depth whatsoever in his analysis

  • x-man

    Tommy Dee,

    That was a great read but as usual, you’re the quintessential homer or blinded fan! I would luv for LBJ to choose NY as much as anyone. However, there is NO way LBJ is choosing NY. It’s has nothing to do with NY not being a good b-ball town.

    LBJ ain’t coming because NY has PROVEN it can’t get it right and the way. This team seem to have no real master plan other than freeing up salary so far. LBJ needs to win a ring and very soon. When have we shown that we know how to put a winning team together lately?

    Our coach hasn’t gotten to a finals and he doesn’t believe in making defense a central part of his system. Why in the he-l-l- would LBJ leave the Cavs, become a enemy of that state ,to come to us of all places?

    LBJ is gonna milk all this attention in his 1st Free Agency and good for him. For any desperate player to wants to get a ring, the last place you would go is to a team that is allergic to a winning a ring!

    I luv being a die hard Knick Fan as many but many of us have been kicked in the teeth too many times to close our eyes, hope and not see what’s really there before us.

    As Ludacris would say it about our Knicks.” WE GOT TOO MANY HOLES IN DIFFERENT AREA CODES! “

  • x-man

    Yeah right! That’s because 1 NY title is about as common as 3 Chicago titles! We only have 2 period!

    So LBJ is coming to NY to get that one rare NY ring so he can tease Kobe about having 5 or 6! hahahahahahahahaha You better take your meds before midnight playa! You’re trippin! lol

  • PipeDreamin

    im glad hes not a knick… but i cant help but root for him. he’s playing with discipline. i like it.

  • ds2488

    Nate’s playing fantastic right now. I’ve never seen him play so under control. He’s actually trying to play the point right now. Too bad it took him 5 years to figure something like this out, although I imagine he is being helped just by playing with winners like this. If he had figured it out sooner, he might still be here.

  • JeffM729

    Fox news would knock Obama if he swam to the bottom of the Gulf and plugged the hole single handedly. You can’t let haters dictate your actions.

    Lots of Presidents were sports fans. Nixon even designed a play for the Redskins.

  • x-man

    lol If the last President left you this awful mess, I’m sure you would spend a little time talking about your #1 sport. Let this man talk about sports or he is gonna jump off the white house.

    Obama ain’t D’antoni! His half black a-s-s gotta work and produce. He can’t take 2-3 years off without any progress. It is what it is! lol

  • ds2488

    Absolutely atrocious call there on Odom. Straight with his hands up. If he had called that earlier it would have been fine. But he waited until Ray missed that layup until he called it. TERRIBLE

  • x-man

    N8 knows he’ll be shown the bench if he gets too much out of control. The Celtics will win game 2. Nynum will be limping by the next game and Gasol will turn softer!

  • x-man

    Wasn’t you dogging Fisher some weeks ago?

  • ds2488

    Im just talking about decorum and responsibility right now. He’s kind of sat back and watched as BP has messed up this whole situation, and instead he’s jumping right into the NBA free agency.

    Whatever. I don’t want to bring politics on here so lets just forget I brought this up lol.

  • ds2488

    lol. The Knicks Blog-Where X-man can turn a political reference into a reason to bash Dantoni seamlessly. Well-done sir. lol.

  • HaS

    I didn’t want to call Mucha out on that one, but he did rag on my man Fisher pretty bad lol.

  • http://www.youtube.com/tharealest62qb DaGawD_KnowLedge

    the series key players is ARTEST for the lakers.
    an WALLACE for the celtics

  • http://www.youtube.com/tharealest62qb DaGawD_KnowLedge

    gasol hard some days off to get in the deep freeze now game is on an he will get softer like ice cream out of the FREEZE

  • JeffM729

    N8 was a +10 tonight. He played solid defense and looked like a point guard. Just wondering where he will end up next season after showing he can contribute on a playoff team.

    Heck with LeBron, where’s N8 playing in ’11.

  • http://www.youtube.com/tharealest62qb DaGawD_KnowLedge

    i’ll be happier if he turns into KEVIN JOHNSON…………………………………………..

  • PipeDreamin

    Doc RIvers needs to play Wallace on Gasol more in game 2. Gasol was playing scared against Wallace, like it was 2008.

    Key matchups will be Artest/Piece & Gasol/Wallace.

  • ds2488

    yeah. Garnett looked pretty terrible tonight. I think Wallace should have played more. He really d’s up on Gasol and forces him to lose his composure. I was surprised Garnett didn’t do a better job in him.

  • Mucha

    I know.

    But I said he was too slow because of his AGE. That’s why I said “younger version of Derek Fisher”

    Obviously I underestimated the fact that Fisher’s a champion.

  • Mucha

    To each his own though.

    I just dislike people who sound arrogant/over-confident when they can’t even think out the box and bring something to the table. And Jon Barry fits the description IMO.

  • Mucha

    lol

  • http://www.youtube.com/tharealest62qb DaGawD_KnowLedge

    i know u all look at NIGHTLINE
    gotta luv how they are milking this lebron story.

    honestly i don’t care about DUDE or where he goes but the IDOL worshipers will care..

  • ds2488

    Yeah its just a matter of personal preference I guess. The only reason I really like Jon is because he’s sometimes funny and talks about golf a lot.

    But I don’t really like any basketball analysts to be honest, other than the TNT crew and the NBA TV crew of Mchale, Webber, and Winer. All the ESPN guys suck imo. So its like a lesser of 2 evils with Jon I guess. He’s bad, but he’s no Stuart Scott.

  • ds2488

    To be fair, Fisher was absolutely terrible in the regular season. He’s clutch though. Him and Rasheed both had terrible regular seasons. Once you get old enough, I think you start to get complacent during the regular season and really start to bring it only in big games and the playoffs.

  • joeyballz

    DaGawd

    You dont care about the dude or where he goes? So as a Knicks fan your telling me that if he comes here next year you are going to be a Knicks fan but not a Lebron fan!! Ha..Dude we all know you are too savy and knowledgeable of a basketball and Knicks fan to feed into the Lebron hype…but comon man do you actually post as a Knicks fan or do you post to keep up your imaginary rep as “that” blogger that you think you have built yourself up to be?…HONESTLY…really..”you dont care about the dude or where he goes.” I guess your Knicksblog imaginary rep remains in place

  • http://www.youtube.com/tharealest62qb DaGawD_KnowLedge

    i luv basketball in general
    i don’t watch 1 player or 1 team…

    goodluck knicks an there IDOLISTIC FANS..

  • x-man

    Yep, I have been telling Mucha and others that Fisher has good b-ball IQ and he’s usually clutch with that jumper!

    He’s surely has lost a step or two but he has a big heart!

  • x-man

    LOL Tru Dat. Without an active Bynum on the court, the Celtics are gonna start beating Gasol a-s-s underneath and Kobe will start ripping into him too!

    The Lakers maybe my 2nd Fav team but i could care less if they get beat! There’s no joy going around saying my 2nd Fav team won! lol I’m just hoping for a good series so I can make it thru the LBJ luvfest!

  • x-man

    Yep, Kobe must have sent a stripper to Garnett’s room last night. Garnett usually have that skowl on his face and more aggressive.

    I guess that stripper must have been swinging on multiple pols because Garnett looked p-whipped!

  • http://www.youtube.com/tharealest62qb DaGawD_KnowLedge

    it wasn’t a stripper it was 2 3 of the finest laker girls…

  • bob go knicks

    Tommy,your argument about hakeem is bullshit! If houston had beaten the Michael Jordan Bulls in the championship round ,then he would have been known(for lack of a better word)you just cant take Hakeem,put him on the Knicks,and say IF he had won 2 playoff series against the bulls etc.etc.Thats such moronic homerism.You can take any great player from the 90′s and put him in the same situation,and one constant reamains the same,YOU WILL NEVER HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED!!! If Jordan was on Sacramento,and won 6 rings he still would be the greatest,because it doesnt matter where you play,only how you play.Dr.J played for the Nets and sixers,and that will never take away how great an Icon he was.I could write a 2 page list of other great players and keep repeating the same logic,but whats the point.The 90′s were a different time,we had Ewing,not Hakeem.If we had Jordan and the Knicks were the ones with the 6 rings,Jordan would NOT be any bigger than he was with the Bulls

  • x-man

    lol D-a-m-n Kobe! He surely learned from MJ! lol

    Did you see the segment on TV of Kobe talking about all the great legends and how he learned from them. He broke down all of their games and how they were able to be effective. Kobe has a huge b-ball IQ.

    Is LBJ saw this clip, I’m sure he called Wade instantly and begged him to can he join him and Riley in Miami! I know if I was LBJ, I would surely need a warrior to join with to go get the 1st ring.

  • bob go knicks

    after it was too late

  • bob go knicks

    +1

  • x-man

    lol Joey trying to bust your ballz huh?

  • bob go knicks

    @HAS

  • http://www.youtube.com/tharealest62qb DaGawD_KnowLedge

    lmao…na he was just speaking his mind
    no prob at all X the only prob i have is with the knicks COACH an his lack of demanding Defense

  • bob go knicks

    man you guys call everyone a douche bag and a hater if they opine that they dont think LBJ will end up with the Knicks.It is you guys who are the haters,Take a step back and read your own posts!By the way EFF LEBRON AND HIS HUGE HEAD!

  • http://www.youtube.com/tharealest62qb DaGawD_KnowLedge

    na i missed that i came in at 3 an change in the third Q..

    yea berman just broke that story about lebron calling an begging wade then riley he even gave kobe a call

  • x-man

    Our coach just don’t have the players! lol

  • bob go knicks

    yes 1930s NBA was sure tough.But really!only the people in NY will remember a Knicks championship with such fondness,nobody else really gives a shit.I never hear a celtics fan or a bulls fan,speak of how great the 69 or 73 knicks were

  • bob go knicks

    I knew he was on something

  • bob go knicks

    JEEZIZ! and i thought I was immature

  • x-man

    lol I could imagine Bosh was on the cell trying to reach LBJ but even with call waiting LBJ was on the 3 way line with Wade and Riley!

    All Bosh hears is “At the tone, please leave a message!” LBJ has hundreds of voice mails from Bosh and JJ saying “Please take me with ya King”

  • http://www.youtube.com/tharealest62qb DaGawD_KnowLedge

    it’s all good to me whoeva wins
    but i like routing for the underdogs.

  • bob go knicks

    it only take 30 seconds to make a comment,im sure he didnt put aside his whole day and let the USA go to hell in a hand basket,just to say LBJ should…..

  • x-man

    I wonder where u got that from? lol

    I’m out for tonite! Gotta get up in several hours!

  • bob go knicks

    D’antoni is half black?

  • bob go knicks

    good answer X-man

  • http://www.youtube.com/tharealest62qb DaGawD_KnowLedge

    yea that was my fault not HIS he just didn’t have players the past 2 years

  • YO SON

    “the idea to bring in an aggressive Russian billionaire owner was not to sit around and wait for James in two years. They have a business to run and a responsibility to the league. ”

    AHAHAHAHAHAHAA….what else you think there going to be doing in Newark but sit around and wait for the BK arena to be built……………

    they oh it to the league……AAHAHAHAHAH…. reallllllllyyyyyyy…….did the Knicks show that they owed anything to the league……is this not a BUSINESS……so WE can turn around and say that this is the World Most Famous Arena….The Mecca of Basketball …..The Greatest City in the World……. the best marketing place and BUSINESS decision for Lebron to come too etc etc ……

    and as a BUSINESS for the past two years we have been a JOKE and a soap opera……ahahahahaha

    Who do you think your kidding……….Who is suppose to be fooled by this…….I’m appalled…..

    we can sit around for 3 drafts and still only have just 1 starter maybe 2(too be nice) for 2 max players to play with and the 2 players were brought here by the old gm(whether you like reading it or not DEAL WITH IT!!!!!)……… so let me get this straight……we can sit around for 2years and it’s OK for the league …….but if the nets the team that nobody cares about (not even fans in there own state) that’s playing in a city outside of the NY metropolitan area most people has never even heard of , CANT sit around and continue to build around Lebron. Even if it meant being in the lottery for 2 more years. So they can get even better younger talent and DEVELOP there young talent. Maybe even higher a Head Coach who doesn‘t have an ego(THAT HE HASN’T EARN YET) and doesn‘t mind working to make his rookies the best that they can be BY PLAYING THEM 82 GAMES A YEAR……AAHHAAHHAHAHAAHAH YO

    So now the NEWARK NETS and there organization are held to higher standers then T H E K N I C K S………they have more responsibilities to the league then we do…because we damn sure didn’t show any loyalty too it the past 2 years….A team that is suppose to be one of the most Historic Franchises in all of sports didn’t show ANYTHING but that we can dump salary …..WE DIDN’T show how a BUSINESS is suppose to be properly run….CONTRARY TO THESE APOLOGIST BELIEF………..

  • http://www.youtube.com/tharealest62qb DaGawD_KnowLedge

    lol.
    kobe does have a high b-ball i.q but it can easily go to low when he gets frustrated by his team mates an tries to go 1 on 5.

    what people need to understand this is a business an whoeva offers the most cash wins the player..CASH RULES EVERYTHING THEY WANT THE DOLLAR DOLLAR BILLS YALL..

  • JeffM729

    Kobe has a high BB IQ because he lived in Italy when his father, Jelly Bean Joe Bryant, played there. If you don’t believe me, just ask D’Antoni.

    I hear N8 is taking a two week vacation there after NBA Finals, hoping to get a bigger contract.

  • http://www.youtube.com/tharealest62qb DaGawD_KnowLedge

    good post SON

  • YO SON

    thank you……

  • bob go knicks

    I swear,i would kill to go back in time,and watch those Ewing led KNICKS teams do it all over again.yeah,they shouldve had at least one championship,but they will always be champs (in a way) to me.Just typing about them in the playoffs gives me fucking chills.The same chills that i had before every one of their playoff games.WE didnt win one,But it was GREAT!!! when they lost,it was always “we’ll get’em next year” and you knew they had a chance for about 7 or 8 years ..but then……i guess we just ran out of years,but i think i would rath watch Patrick dripping sweat on the foul line,looking as if some one had sprayed the man wit a shit load of water,because NO MAN CAN POSSIBLY SWEAT THAT MUCH!yes i would rather watch that team lose a close one,then watch LBJ in my uniform!the uniform of the knicks and win.A-Rod will never be a real yankee,Lebron and his fairy dust and all of our money will never be a KNICK(not in the real sense and not to anyone who has sense.That miami championship with wade and shaq is not a real team,those cheap tradesboston did to get garnett will never make Garnett a true celtic,and the worse of thos rip-offs ..getting gasol for Kwame KLOWN commish throws EWING out of the most important game he ever was in but he lets these obvious trade set-ups go on as okay!..I cant believe that when you guys see a bill-board in chicago or in New york,begging Lebron to come to your team,you dont feel like PUKING from the embarrasment of your home team……okay one more thing…….THE LEAGUE IS ALWAYS SUPPOSED TO BE BIGGER THAN ONE GUY.PLEASE IGNORE THE BILLBOARDS,AND ALWAYS IGNORE THE PEOPLE WHO WRITE SPORTS,CUZ THEY ARE ALWAYS THE ONES WHO ARE WRONG.’ Its sportswriters that create the hate,as fans ,look inside yourselves Q:did you hate EWING A:never,he always gave it his all or moreim sure most knicks fans think that way…..but sportswriters,they are the ones who are rembered for saying shit like “i dont think patrick will ever win one” and millions of other stupid quotes that would make one of the best centers in ny history look like and feel like shit.I would love to kill the first sports guy to say(about any great athlete)he’ll never be any good unless he wins a championship!that crap is bullshit spewed from the lips of little boys like CHRIS Russo of wfan yer tellin me that elgin baylor was a lousy hoops player? MY ASS!

  • bob go knicks

    Sorry,but i read these same old posts nite after nite thinking that i might hear something new,and once in a while ,my usual “EFF LEBRON<AND friends who bang his mom"but tonite that post by tommy Dee was like reading what a little kid was hoping for ,on x-mas day and cant think of anything else cuz he has tunnle vision…i cant wait to see Tommys face

  • bob go knicks

    ewing,on an individual basis was better than admiral Robinson all day long

  • PipeDreamin

    we really havent seen the 5 on 1 side of Kobe much in the last 3 years. He is playing smart, disciplined basketball.

  • thebossandbenji76

    Guys, question, there’s a lot of discussion about Chris Bosh wanting a sign and trade to get that extra year in his contract. You know Toronto would love to get out of Hedo Turklogu’s contract after the tough year he had. If the Knicks were willing to take Turklogu’s contract, would that swing things their way in a sign and trade for Bosh? Perhaps David Lee(sign and trade) and Eddy Curry’s expiring contract to Toronto for Chris Bosh and Hedo Turklogu? Important note*- Curry’s upcoming salary and Turklogu’s salary works cap wise under the current NBA salary cap.

    I ask this question because what happens with Bosh could very much decides what Lebron does…………

  • BiggieSmalls

    we did a whole weekend on this topic.

  • BiggieSmalls

    I have to say Tommy-

    I agree with this post… Good job.

  • krayziehustler

    dude, Hakeem was not better than Patrick, I remember Pat getting the better of him in their matchups

    Hakeem just had more help, Patrick had a better jump shop, better post moves (Hakeem pretty much only has a spin move). Though Hakeem had more blocked shots, blocked shots are only 1 aspect of defense and Pat was better one on one defender, Ewing was all around better rounded than Hakeem, Hakeem was more athletic however

    can you imagine if Ewing got to play with the stars Keem did, like Drexler and Cassell?

  • Sharp Elbow

    You don’t put Russell on your list? You know nothing.

  • HaS

    “If Ewing was your best player and the garden was rocking during his era, how can you say that he wasn’t adored by fans?”

    Because he wasn’t, it’s just that simple.

    “It just doesn’t add up.”

    Which is why fans appreciate him so much now.

  • HaS

    He’ll never be as good as Kevin Johnson, KJ was a beast. If he was that good we’d see it already.

  • HaS

    If that means the Knicks have 1 ring for every 3 rings Chicago has, I agree.

  • HaS

    “Kobe has a high BB IQ because he lived in Italy…”

    Huh?

    SMH

  • fauci933

    I understand where you’re coming from, and I would love for that to be the case, but it simply isn’t anymore. The league’s changed, probably not for the better, but it has. The only mildly successful team I can think of building a team from the ground up with homegrown talent is the Thunder, and that was helped a lot by being able to snag high lottery picks in consecutive drafts. There’s no loyalty anymore, the league has become a big business with no soul. It’s not driven by team and player rivalries as much, or even just basketball, it’s about money. I clamor to relive the 90′s Knicks everyday. Hell I play old school NBA Jam sometimes just to be able to put a virtual Starks and Ewing on the floor again haha, but the league won’t be the same. It’s not a good thing, but if I want to keep watching and trying to love the NBA, I know I have to make some concessions to the idea that it is no longer what it used to be.

    So I do want LeBron to come here. Yea it would be more fun to play against him in the playoffs and try to rebuild old schoolish rivalries, but it would be extremely tough to do without trying to take away any “homegrown” players from other teams. Even if we don’t get LeBron, and wait on Melo or Paul or both, we’re still taking other players away from the franchises they got their start with.

    A team of purely homegrown talent from the Knicks over the years hasn’t exactly fared well. Nate, Lee, Chandler, Gallo, Douglas, and whoever else just sucks as a team. It’s not that easy to build a good team from the ground up…while you have to have good scouts to get good talent, you also have to get a bit lucky in the draft to get players capable of being cornerstones to a franchise. I would love if David Lee and Nate Robinson ended up being the faces of the Knicks, but they aren’t capable of carrying the franchise.

    I long for the 90′s NBA, but it’s gone and it most likely isn’t coming back. The NBA is evolving into a soulless monster, but I still love the Knicks and understand that someone like LeBron, while obnoxious at times, could be extremely valuable to the city and to the team.

  • fauci933

    Agreed, I think Fisher can still definitely be counted on to step up in the playoffs. Like ds said, guys like him and Sheed who know their teams will most likely be in the playoffs, get complacent during the regular season and only really care about the playoffs.

  • dino2008

    my question is why will the knicks have to sign and trade for bosh but not lebron. im pretty sure lebron, the king is not going to want a smaller contract than bosh

  • HaS

    “im pretty sure lebron, the king is not going to want a smaller contract than bosh”

    lol the “king” says it’s all about winning, right?

  • http://www.youtube.com/tharealest62qb DaGawD_KnowLedge

    yo HaS
    i guess i should eat more pasta

  • http://www.youtube.com/tharealest62qb DaGawD_KnowLedge

    yes he is can’t disagree with that..

  • http://www.youtube.com/tharealest62qb DaGawD_KnowLedge

    i know just wanted to add that….

  • HaS

    “Patrick had a better jump shop, better post moves (Hakeem pretty much only has a spin move).

    This isn’t serious is it? LMAO

    I love Ewing, but this is just completely false. Hakeem had the best footwork of any big man to play in the NBA and had more moves than anyone not named McHale.

    “can you imagine if Ewing got to play with the stars Keem did, like Drexler and Cassell?”

    Um… Cassel was a rookie and Drexler was almost 50 when he joined Olajuwon.

  • http://www.youtube.com/tharealest62qb DaGawD_KnowLedge

    na bob he was referring to obama.

    where the bar at BOB u scared to tell me DUDE..

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  • bob go knicks

    being 55 years old ,ive seen alot of cool things as far as sports are concerned.But ive always felt,that watching your favorite team get built to a championship type level was just as exciting as watching the games.I used to be a huge baseball and football fan ,but the Free Agency system in baseball the team with the most money wins(YANKS),in football,watching the draft was as good as watching the super bowl for me.My friends and i had some parties on draft day ,with college player charts tacked up on my walls and books listing all the players ,strenths and weaknesses(of course this was PRE-COMPUTER,so we’d have to mail away for all of this info)but again greed and free agency kinda ruined all of that too,so i only watch a little bit of football,im not the DIE HARD COWBOY fan i once was.so now the NBA.I have been waiting for the KNICKS to get into position to be a perrennial playoff contender since the ewing days and now everyone wants the Knicks to be the Yankees(I HATE) and just buy the best player in the league,which to most of you guys seems okay.but to me,if the Knicks sign LBJ,i wont be able to watch my beloved Knicks anymore,and my life as a sports fan will be over.I wish i were a writer or an english major to explain what i am trying to say …..but i cant

  • bob go knicks

    oh i forgot EFF LEBRON JAMES DIE DIE MUTHER FU**ER

  • bob go knicks

    ITS AN EXTREMELY NICE RESTAURANT WITH A BAR IN IT! I WOULD’NT WANT TO ASK A BUNCH OF PEEPS THAT I DID’NT EVEN KNOW TO COME IN AND SEE ME(MOST OF WHICH PROLLY HATE ME,AND PUT ON IN THE BACK OF MY HEAD HA HA)BUT WE CAN MAKE ARRANGEMENTS…BTW I WAS ONLY KIDDING BOUT D’ANTONI BEING HALF BLACK ..NOW I THOUGHT THAT WAS PRETTY FUNNY IN CONTEXT

  • bob go knicks

    UH…YEAH,SOMEONE PLEASE EXPLAIN IT TO ME!

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