Category Archives: 2008 preseason
Yes, they can’t build any momentum, nor can they close out games, but the Knicks still have a legit chance to earn that last playoff spot.
So let’s not lose sight on that fact. I am a relatively positive person, but let’s keep in mind that we’re talking about playing “well” enough to win 10-12 more games.
It’s the sad state of affairs that comes with being a Knick fan since the millennium.
Let’s take a closer look at the schedule coming down the stretch:
| Tue 10 | @ Milwaukee  |
8:00pm | MSG | ||
| Wed 11 | @ Detroit |
7:30pm | MSG |  |
|
| Fri 13 | @ Minnesota |
8:00pm | WPIX | ||
| Sun 15 | @ Cleveland |
6:00pm | MSG | ||
| Wed 18 | vs New Jersey  |
7:30pm | MSG | ||
| Fri 20 | vs Sacramento |
7:30pm | MSG | ||
| Sat 21 | @ Orlando |
7:00pm | MSG | ||
| Mon 23 | vs Orlando |
7:30pm | MSG | ||
| Wed 25 | vs LA Clippers |
7:30pm | MSG | ||
| Fri 27 | vs New Orleans |
7:30pm | MSG | ||
| Sat 28 | @ Charlotte |
7:00pm | MSG | ||
| Mon 30 | @ Utah |
9:00pm | MSG | ||
| Tue 31 | @ Denver |
9:00pm | MSG | ||
| April | Opponent | Time | Local TV | Nat TV | Radio |
| Sat 04 | vs Toronto |
1:00pm | MSG | ||
| Sun 05 | @ Toronto |
6:00pm | MSG | ||
| Tue 07 | @ Chicago |
8:30pm | MSG | ||
| Wed 08 | vs Detroit |
7:30pm | MSG | ||
| Fri 10 | @ Orlando |
7:00pm | MSG | ||
| Sun 12 | @ Miami |
6:00pm | MSG | ||
| Wed 15 | vs New Jersey |
8:00pm | MSG |
Granted, the team hasn’t shown you the ability to make you feel that they can win 12 games, but is it out of the realm of possibilities that these hard-fought games recently that have ended up in losses may be character builders?
Again, I’ll be the first one to actively scout players and get the inside scoop as to who the Knicks may draft, but I’m not there yet.
Not until it’s over.
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According to Newsday, Wilson Chandler will be available for Wednesday’s opener against the Heat.
“…Wilson Chandler (knee) returned to practice yesterday and is on track to play in tomorrow night’s season opener against the Heat at the Garden. Said D’Antoni: “He’s ready to roll…”
No word, yet on Danilo Gallinari, who could be a game time decision. Maybe the team thinks his first taste of action should come on the road, instead of a possible hostile Garden, with the team’s first road game Friday night in Philly.
Hoopsworld’s Joel Brigham recently did his annual predictions for the upcoming
season, and took the opportunity to highight your Knicks.
Among his league-wide opinions, Brigham notes:
- The New York Knicks will win over 30 games this year (compared to 23 wins last season).
- As much as the Knicks would love to trade Zach Randolph, nobody’s going to want to eat his contract. As a result, he’ll still be on the roster by year’s end.
- Danilo Gallinari is going to look more and more like a bad pick as the season progresses. My best guess is he’ll float somewhere in between injury and mediocrity.
Like all predictions, even ours, take them with a grain of salt. But I take exception to the Gallinari one. A bad pick? Because the organization is taking their time with him he’s already considered one? Plus he’s 19, so geez, why not just say “Gallinari will struggle during his rookie season.” Don’t ALL rookies struggle one way or another? I don’t know, maybe it’s just me but there isn’t ONE rookie in this draft who would add to the Knicks’ win column this season.
In fairness, Brigham did hold himself accountable. He managed barely over 50% last year so like all predictions he’s right or wrong half of the time, which is the equivalent of a coin toss.
“Oh, Lebron will win MVP (flip)…Sweet!”
“Uh, Gallinari stinks…(flip)…Doh!”
With the news that Ewing Jr. has been officially cut, Internet forums everywhere are buzzing with
dejected fans confused by the decision.
Fans believe this should not have been an issue about money, since none believe Jerome James deserves to be in a Knick uniform. And poor Anthony Roberson, I hope the kid gets to play a few minutes to see what he can do.
Clearly Donnie Walsh isn’t concerned about the fans reaction, afterall he could easily have dumped James by telling Jim Dolan that he wasn’t his problem. But we know Walsh is a patient man, and thus is allowing James to waste another year rotting on the bench.
But the question most fans have is why would the team trade Renaldo Balkman? Logically trading Balkman and adding Ewing made great sense, but to lose them both (granted neither were going to be in the rotation this year) has fans scratching their collective heads.
And pounding their fists…
So I guess I’m about to be shocked.
It appears, based on several reports, that Donnie Walsh has decided to keep Anthony Roberson at the expense of fan favorite Patrick Ewing Jr.
Clearly, this move makes little sense on the surface, based on the performances of the two, Roberson couldn’t hit a shot and barely played, but Walsh must feel a 6th guard makes more sense than cutting Jerome James or keeping the project in Ewing.
The other night MSG’s John Rothstein said on ESPN Radio that sources close to the team considered Ewing a Matt Barnes-type who may find his way into the rotation at some point during the year.
This may not be the last the team has seen of Ewing, there’s reason to believe that Walsh has an agreement with Jr. to return to the team as soon as a roster spot opens up, which will assuredly happen throughout the course of the year.
Ewing Jr.’s not sold on the idea of joining the Knicks D-League team…yet.
“…There’s been talk of Ewing Jr. possibly playing for the Knicks’ D-League affiliate in Reno, Nevada. When he was asked about that, he said: “I really just have to look at my options first before I would sit here and commit to one scenario or another. If they decide not to keep me, then I’ll sit down with my agent, discuss what possible scenarios would be and we’ll go from there…”
Video courtesy of realknicks.com
So today’s the day for final cuts, a reminder of the days when your coach would post the names of the team on a piece of loose leaf taped to the gym door then run for the parking lot.
As I said before, it will be no surprise for Ewing Jr. to make the team, and his performance the other night against the Nets had the Garden buzzing.
It sounds as if no deals are in the works so unfortunately Eddy House Anthony Roberson is on the outside looking in, and frankly his campaign has been rather underwhelming. But like they say I guess timing is everything.
From Chris McCosky at the Detroit News:
“You might have read in some of the New York papers that the Pistons were keeping an eye on the Knicks to see how Zach Randolph fits with Mike D’Antoni’s system. The presumption being that if the Knicks look to move Zach, the Pistons would be interested. Trust me, the Pistons are not interested — not now, not later. The Pistons’ scouts have known Zach for a long, long time and they know his talents and warts as well as anybody. Bottom line: There’s too much baggage and too much contract for the Pistons to take that risk.”
Well, I know one team that is interested in how Zach Randolph can help them win games – the Knicks. Donnie Walsh is clearly intrigued by Zach’s talent. If he wasn’t, he would have GIVEN him away to the Clippers. As for his baggage, I think that it might be time to give that a rest. Following Zach on a daily basis last season, I never got the feeling that his “baggage” was hurting the team. Some reputations never die I guess. Sorry Zach, but I guess you made your own bed on that one.
The bottom line is that the Knicks will progress this season with Zach Randolph donning the orange and blue. Walsh will not give him away and thus will only deal him in the right deal. Donnie Walsh understands that he was brought in here to win basketball games. If he believes that Z-Bo will help, then Z-Bo will stay. If the Pistons will never have interest in dealing for him, then so be it.
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