Know The Prospect: Anthony Randolph
June 20, 2008
Anthony Randolph:
Anthony Randolph is listed as a 20-year old, 6’11, 220 lb SF/PF from LSU.
Should the Knicks add a third Randolph to their front court, alongside Zach Randolph and Randolph Morris? Read more
Danilo Gallinari Loves NY…
June 17, 2008
Via Slam Online, quoting Danilo Gallinari in The Star-Ledger:
“I like New Jersey and New York. I like those two places,” the Italian forward said matter-of-factly after his one-hour, one-man workout with the Nets yesterday in East Rutherford. “Now I will work out for New Jersey and New York (today), then I don’t know (about) other teams.”
The reason being? He has all the leverage a teenager needs, in the form of a very lucrative multiyear offer from his team in Milan, so he doesn’t have to play in the NBA at all.
And so we have a nice synergy between the blogger at Slam Online, backing the writer at Star-Ledger, in assuming this is some sort of slight at the rest of the US.
Certainly that is possible. Hey, maybe Danilo Gallinari, like Yi Jianlian and his handlers last year, wants to push to be in a city where he will be more comfortable. Certainly the Italian food in NJ, and NYC, is far better than the Italian food in the rest of the US (exception: Providence, supposedly. Oh, and New Haven has really good pizza). But is that really what Danilo Gallinari was saying here?
Read that quote again:
“Now I will work out for New Jersey and New York (today), then I don’t know (about) other teams.”
Now, keeping in mind that English is not Danilo’s first language, doesn’t it seem possible… more likely, even… that what Danilo meant is that he doesn’t know when he will be working out for other teams? As in, “Hey, I don’t know my schedule”. It seems that way to me. Especially since, well, I’ll bet big money that Danilo will work out for other teams in the upcoming weeks.
I think what here we have a local beat writer for the Nets trying to make it seem like the Nets, with pick #21, are somehow in play for a top-7 talent. And the way the media works nowadays, one big blogger (soon to be followed by other bloggers wanting an easy post) follows the lead blindly, without giving much thought to the context of the quote, or motivation of the original writer.
Next thing you know, there will be a discussion on ESPN about Danilo as the next Yi Jianlian (or Steve Francis, or Kobe Bryant), a draft pick with the balls or hubris or ego to demand a trade if they don’t like where they were picked. And yes, there will be a discussion of the Milan contract offer as leverage, and whether the NBA is going to have to deal with this competition from Europe in the future. And the reality is this: Danilo played for Milan for the past three seasons. If he wanted to stay in Europe, he didn’t need to declare for the draft, period.
This is the second straight season the likely top foreign draft pick (a tall SF, ironically) has been rumored to be a prima donna, demanding the location of his choice. Yet as we saw last year, Yi Jianlian “settled” for Milwaukee with minor arm-twisting. Perhaps the beat writers should focus more on actually trying to give us insight into Gallinari’s game… will he be able to adjust to the NBA or not?…
Know The Prospect: Danilo Gallinari
May 26, 2008
Like we always do at this time… last year our long-time blog buddy Seth from Posting and Toasting and I split up the possible available draft options for the Knicks. I don’t remember who got Wilson Chandler in the end, though I do remember both of us being strongly in favor of Sean Williams (who unfortunately was not available when the Knicks finally picked). This year we are once again splitting up the prospects. Who will the Knicks pick at #6?
We decided to start off by looking at the top two candidate: Seth has already done his OJ Mayo preview post, so check it out. And I’m now given you the goods on the other most-mentioned candidate, Danilo Gallinari. Read more
David Stern Saves John Paxson’s Job; No Fix, Knicks Picks Sixth
May 21, 2008
Here’s what last night’s NBA Lottery Drawing means:
1. John Paxson will survive to mess up the Bulls once again.
Let me start from the beginning, at the top of the list, knowhatI’mean?
What this means for the Bulls: Simply, Michael Beasley.
Read more
Lottery Countdown For Knicks Fans
May 18, 2008
The NBA draft lottery is this Tuesday, May 20th, from 8:00 - 8:30 PM. For Knick fans, it is more than just an Event. At the risk of hyperbole, this Tuesday’s lottery could be the moment that changes the franchise’s history, like the 1985 lottery that netted the Knicks Patrick Ewing, and set the stage for the success of the late 80’s through the 90’s (yes, I still consider the Rick Pitino Era a success of sort). Or it could just be another year the Knicks fail to get a top-2 pick, and continue walking the path of the Atlanta Hawks (a franchise without a franchise guy).
Here’s the deal, so Knick fans know what to look for while watching the draft live:
14 teams are in the lottery. The top-3 spots are available based on the results of the lottery; the rest fall into place based on record. The Knicks had the 5th worst record, so if everything went according to the odds, the Knicks would get the 5th pick.
Of course, the lottery never goes by the odds. In fact, over the past 15 years, only three times has the “odds-on favorite” (the team with the worst record) actually gotten the top pick. During the live telecast, Commissioner David Stern will announce the names the first 11 teams, from 14th pick down to the number four pick, before cutting to a drama-building commercial break.
Okay, here’s the key formula to remember if you are a Knicks fan: for everyone of these 10 teams that isn’t in their designated “slot”, add one to the number five; that number will be the Knicks new designated slot:
14. Golden State Warriors
13. Portland Trail Blazers.
12. Sacramento Kings
11. Indiana Pacers
10. New Jersey Nets
9. Chicago Bulls
8. Charlotte Bobcats
7. Milwaukee Bucks
6. Los Angeles Clippers
Once we get to the Knicks designated slot (again, currently #5, plus one for any teams that jump into the top-3), if the Knicks are not there, then get ready to celebrate, for they have made the top-3. Which means there is a 67% chance* they will get Michael Beasley or Derrick Rose, the two players who are closest to being sure things.
For example: If, after mentioning Golden State (14), Portland (13) and Sacramento (12) the Indiana Pacers are not in the 11th slot, then they have moved up into the top-3. That means the Knicks drop down to the number six pick, unless they also are in the top-3. Clear?
Keep in mind that the slot we want is #2. Netting the #1 pick will force the Knicks to have to pass on Beasley to pick Rose, who fills the greater need. That will give the local media ammunition to assault the Knicks if Beasley turns out to be a better player than Rose, which he most likely will. Unless Rose turns the Knicks into winners (much more so than Beasley’s new team), or unless Rose turns out to be an unquestionable better player than Beasley… expect the Post and Daily News writers to trash the selection from game one until the end of his career.
If the Knicks don’t get a top-2 pick, then no matter who is selected, he’ll have to be the steal of the draft. Otherwise the Knicks will get it from the media again. Even if they take OJ Mayo, who fits the need of the Knicks (plus is a solid defender), and who Chad Ford has ranked as the third-best player available… the Knicks will get slammed by the local press. Trade down and pick up DJ Augustin or Danilo or somebody… and the Knicks blew it.
That is what is at stake for the franchise tomorrow.
Wildly unlikely prediction:
For some strange reason, I think the Portland Blazers good karma will net them yet another top-three pick.
*Most likely statistically inaccurate.
Mike D’Antoni Introduced As Knicks Head Coach
May 14, 2008
“I look at the roster and that’s the roster I’m going to win with,” D’Antoni said at a news conference at Madison Square Garden.
Thus began the reign of the 24th head coach in Knicks history. He shrugged off doubts about whether his system or not could work with the Knicks’ current personnel. He shrugged off doubts about his defensive weaknesses - “We held the other team to less points than us 58 times a year… 31 times on the road…”.
Read more
The Line-Up Theory: How Mike D’Antoni Can Save Knicks Roster, Future… & Isiah’s Legacy
May 14, 2008
The New York Daily News Mike Lupica’s most recent headline reads: “Mike D’Antoni has Stiff Task Ahead Leading Isiah Thomas’ Stiffs”. Lupica claims D’Antoni must clean up a mess that is “the biggest in the history of Madison Square Garden”, and that Thomas put together “the most wretched Knicks team of them all”. Lupica did not mention if Thomas had any role in bombing the World Trade Center.
Donnie Walsh’s First Blunder or Future Knicks Media War with New York Daily News?
May 12, 2008
Donnie Walsh really blew it. Mr. Nice Guy pulled a fast one. Actually, he pulled an Isiah. Or is that “a Dolan”… Hiring Mike D’Antoni? Nah, the jury is out on that one until we see future personnel moves. Pissing off the big bad New York Daily News? Not a smart career move. Read more
