The New York Knicks are like a beautiful woman with psychological issues. On her best day, she can sweep you off your feet and give you a vision of how awesome life could be with her, * yet you're never really far from a bathroom self-mutilation episode. I'll be first to admit, my Knicks look good on paper, but on the court, all bets are off. After an exhilarating 2012-13 season where we exceeded expectations and flamed out in the playoffs against the younger, bigger and hungrier Indiana Pacers, I'm worried about this season, like I worry about every seasons. So let's find out who are the Knicks, this year...
The Knicks' main defining factor for the last three years has been Ama're Stoudemire's big, fat albatross of a contract. The once all-star power forward is falling into pieces and yet he's making over $21 millions this season and he will do $23 millions next year. He's the best paid player on the team, yet chronic injuries have leeched the life out of his game and that's whenever he's healthy enough to play. Ama're never was a great fit for the Knicks, being a pick n' roll big man and an athletic finisher, which they never needed once they acquired Melo and fired Mike d'Antoni. The Ama're situation in New York will be remembered in history as one of the biggest financial disasters brought by the CBA.
I'm not done talking about this contract. You have to understand how binding it is. If the Knicks could amnesty Ama're and buy out one or two unguaranteed contracts, they literally wouldn't be in the luxury tax anymore. They could shop for a decent starting power forward and add all the muscle they so desperately need down low. The ideal situation here would be for Ama're to pull a Jason Kidd and retire, but let's face it: would you sit on your ass for two years if you were guaranteed $45 millions for doing so? Of course you would. That's what Ama're will do also, he's only human. Man wants the money he committed for. Signing him to a max deal was a short sighted move if there was ever one. I suspect it was th exact moment when owner Jim Dolan realized he should hire people to think basketball.
The Knicks' main defining factor for the last three years has been Ama're Stoudemire's big, fat albatross of a contract. The once all-star power forward is falling into pieces and yet he's making over $21 millions this season and he will do $23 millions next year. He's the best paid player on the team, yet chronic injuries have leeched the life out of his game and that's whenever he's healthy enough to play. Ama're never was a great fit for the Knicks, being a pick n' roll big man and an athletic finisher, which they never needed once they acquired Melo and fired Mike d'Antoni. The Ama're situation in New York will be remembered in history as one of the biggest financial disasters brought by the CBA.
I'm not done talking about this contract. You have to understand how binding it is. If the Knicks could amnesty Ama're and buy out one or two unguaranteed contracts, they literally wouldn't be in the luxury tax anymore. They could shop for a decent starting power forward and add all the muscle they so desperately need down low. The ideal situation here would be for Ama're to pull a Jason Kidd and retire, but let's face it: would you sit on your ass for two years if you were guaranteed $45 millions for doing so? Of course you would. That's what Ama're will do also, he's only human. Man wants the money he committed for. Signing him to a max deal was a short sighted move if there was ever one. I suspect it was th exact moment when owner Jim Dolan realized he should hire people to think basketball.
Pictured here, gritty veteran we're going to overuse and get injured.
But what about the players who are actually supposed to play? Recently fired Knicks GM Glen Grunwald pulled some puzzling moves last summer. We collectively winced when he traded yet another of our first round picks along with the geriatric Macus Camby and Steve Novak (those I didn't mind) to Toronto for...ugh...Andrea Bargnani. Honestly, I am ready to give Bargs a clean slate. He was in a shitty situation, playing for a shitty team, with a shitty fanbase that turned on him. That would make anybody sloppy. I don't think he'll be nearly as pressured to score on offense in New York and if he can only play closer to the basket on defense and raise those long arms of his in the air, I may not hate him comes next Spring.
The acquisition of Metta World Peace was interesting also. He's a 3-and-D only kind of player now, but if Mike Woodson uses him smartly and sends him on specific missions, I think we'll like him way more than we should. Tim Hardaway Jr. is the other important new face with the team. The son of homonymous legendary point guard had an immediate effect on the team, in the pre-season games. His jump shot in a thing of beauty and gives the Knicks another important weapon from the perimeter. Young Timmy seems like a quiet, responsible spin off J.R Smith. Oh and Beno Udrih. But like everybody always does with Udrih, I will overlook him and not comment on his signing **.
Speaking of J.R (who is currently injured...uuugh) and of the personel already in place, the starting five should be: Felton-Shumpert-Melo-Bargnani-Chandler or Felton-Shumpert-World Peace-Melo-Chandler. I'm expecting Woodson to flip constantly between those two lineups. We will need another great year from Melo although his resolve to make it work seems to be wavering. He improved his three point shot last year and I hope he keeps improving. You know who else has improved his shot? Iman Shumpert did (he also shaved his flattop). That should make him interesting if he starts gunning from mid-range like he did in the pre-season.
One last thing, I believe Mike Woodson will get fired. Nothing against Woody, but I think his uncanny talent at bottling egos and making the boys play together will not cut it anymore if the Knicks start the year weaker than they did in 2012-13. We will need solutions, alternatives to the perimeter-happy game and a way not to screw the pooch and blow 30 points leads like we did a few times last year. Maybe it's time for JVG's return? Who knows...
One thing sure, I'll be watching! You?
* By that, I mean wacky players, gunners, a trigger-happy three points shooting philosophy and the best damn scorer in the game. When it clicks, what's not to like?
** He should totally give us quality minutes and replace whoever is not producing in a pinch. Good signing.
No comments:
Post a Comment