IT’S A LAKERS-MAGIC FINAL AS LEBRON AND MUPPETS EXIT STAGE LEFT
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2010, A CAP SPACE ODYSSEY
Welcome to the new home of Knicks Fanatics, the best independent Knicks basketball blog for fiery and usually intelligent fellowship. Here you will find avid Knicks fans able and willing to defend divergent, convergent, emergent and subversive viewpoints. Through hard times and great times, our Knicks are our bond. Hop a squat and get comfy for 2010 is on its way, whatever the hell that might mean to you. And while you wait for that day (you’ll know it, when if you see it) feel free to enjoy our collection of sounds, videos and fave websites below. If you want the latest news without traveling the long route through the blogosphere, check out Knicks Klippings. For the latest in hot action, rummage through the Vodpod while you wait for someone to respond provocatively to your brilliant insight. And if you don’t have brilliant insight, please feel free to say something stupid, because according to most Fanatics anything that doesn’t come from their keyboard is stupid anyway. LOL.
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Knicks 2009-2010 Schedule
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__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________2009 NBA HIGHLIGHTS
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igmknicks
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orangeandblue1
peaceman1
statesman2
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Knicks Fanatics 
“It’s hard for me to congratulate somebody after you just lose to them,” James said. “I’m a winner. It’s not being a poor sport or anything like that. If somebody beats you up, you’re not going to congratulate them. That doesn’t make sense to me. I’m a competitor. That’s what I do. It doesn’t make sense for me to go over and shake somebody’s hand.”
LeBaby is more like it.He needs a coach like Isaiah to make him a real man!Come to NY after you grow up.LGK
Fanatic Predictions Please? FIRST Magic or Lakers?
Followed by draft preference. I’ll place mine first.
Please follow the legend so eveyones is similar
in format, then copy and paste your predictions!
Peaceman: Magic and S. Curry
O&B:
Statesman1,2,3:
Lives:
African:
DLT:
Tman:
Modi:
Jaybee:
Postup Prince:
IMG:
Cooley:
Bronxboy:
Steady:
Vic Corbit:
St George:
BARF(Willis):
Davonn (Dajoka):
Knicksdefense(Drossman):
Antisports:
Paul Noize:
Harlemboy:
Harewood:
George M:
Bokonon:
EwingsCurselives:
Vladimir:
Lakers in 6, prefer Brandon Jennings, but they will draft Rubio.
Peace & Blessings
Peaceman: Magic and S. Curry
O&B:
Statesman1,2,3:
Lives: Lakers (in 6) and Stephen Curry
African:
DLT:
Tman:
Modi:
Jaybee:
Postup Prince:
IMG:
Cooley:
Bronxboy:
Steady:
Vic Corbit:
St George:
BARF(Willis):
Davonn (Dajoka):
Knicksdefense(Drossman):
Antisports:
Paul Noize:
Harlemboy:
Harewood:
George M:
Bokonon:
EwingsCurselives:
Vladimir:
What’s up Fanaticals? It’s a beautiful day in Jersey. Sorry about the lull in posts, but life is wonderfully hectic.
IGM is due for a couple of posts as are a couple other Fanatics. More significantly, I think we’ll be reporting from the Draft room at the Garden, so stay tuned.
Peace.
Eddie Jordan is the 76ers new coach. That should keep them playoff tough and means that the Knicks will need to take that eighth spot from someone else.
Let’s assume that the following teams keep their spots.
(Definitely)
Magic
Cleveland
Boston
Heat
(Likely)
Hawks
Bulls
Pistons
Left for the pickings
76ers
Improved competition
Nets
Washington
Charlotte
CAN WE GET A VAN GUNDY!!! LOL
It is tough for me to be too hard on LeBron for not congratulating his victorious opponent. I am sure that as much as I like to win at everything I do, from playing Bid Whist to Basketball to double dutch, I must have been so upset at losing that at the intense emotional moment after the game, I did not wish my opponent the best or show appreciation for his/her superior performance. I don’t recall when I have ever been so upset, but I am sure it has happened.
I have always thought it was wrong to “define” Isiah’s personality by his failure to congratulate Michael Jordan and the Bulls in the series where the future best player ever beat down the intimidating Bad Boys of Detroit. That series was so full of acrimony that one could understand why Isiah did not want to show Michael a scintilla of respect at that final moment of defeat. The truth of the matter is that Jordan and Bird were neither good losers nor good winners for a good part of their careers. They were known to be pricks as winners and competitors, using intimidation and disrespect as a weapon constantly.
I certainly wish that my children would show more sportsmanship than LeBron did after he got his ass kicked, but I fault LeBron for trying to justify his actions more than the actual in-emotion refusal to shake his opponents’ hands. Certainly, he could have easily made up for it by going into the visitors locker room or certainly apologizing for the behavior later. If an apology can work for steriod users, it should work for one time bad sports.
I am a bit surprised, given how role model perfect he is, that LeBron was too prideful to admit an obvious error. LeBron has one of the best basketball camps ever and he is there everyday for the kids. It is a wonder that he would allow them to think that the level of one’s skill and competitive spirit should afford them the right to have a different set of values than the rest of the sporting community.
LeBron knows better and certainly his behavior would have looked much worse if the USA had lost in the Olympics where sportsmanship not revenue is the principle promoted publicly.
Still, I don’t think his momentary lapse is such a big deal that it should define his character which is consistently remarkable. Sometimes winners (especially those that rule by intimidation of some sort) just get pissed when they get their asses handed to them.
In this case, LeBron needs to carry that ass that Howard gave him to the Magic lockerroom and apologize for his conduct and come back better prepared to handle his whuppin’ (or hand out one) next year.
Peaceman: Magic and S. Curry
O&B:
Statesman1,2,3:
Lives: Lakers (in 6) and Stephen Curry
African:
DLT:
Tman:
Modi:
Jaybee:
Postup Prince: Lakers and R. Rubio
IMG:
Cooley:
Bronxboy:
Steady:
Vic Corbit:
St George:
BARF(Willis):
Davonn (Dajoka):
Knicksdefense(Drossman):
Antisports:
Paul Noize:
Harlemboy:
Harewood:
George M:
Bokonon:
EwingsCurselives:
Vladimir:
I predict Rubio will fall to 8th spot because S. Curry will be gone from the board, taken by a team that knows it cannot attract the Spanish wonder boy to their town. Knicks will not likely resist taking Rubio at the 8th spot. Whether they should do so or not is open for discussion.
Peace: This is a great idea. Eveyone should weigh in and compare notes/results on NBA draft night. LGK
Lakers is my pick (in six)–just to give the Mamba no other challenges remaining in LA. Come to NY and scoop the King a la Alan H2O to ET Miller. Not coveting OTPs but Just Blogin’.
Somehow the Rubio media machine is too strong. And we need a defender/defensive sets in NY.
KFL
Yes, great idea Peaceman. I am not quite ready to give my opinion yet. However, I love the way Post-up is thinking. That theory may lead to some trades early in the draft, but I have a feeling that Curry will not be available at the 8th spot. After the exhibition from the tre by Hedo and Lewis, other teams will want to keep up. Points (guards) are at a premium but shooters are hot.
Lakers in six–Rubio to round out the Euro movement and the changing “face” of the organization.
KFL
Lakers in FIVE…and Donnie will find the sellers too greedy, and will settle for the lesser of evils after Curry is drafted early, and select Jrue tha Damaja as the best available fit at #8.
i bet a conservative adviser to BJ Mullens would tell him to sit tight, dress nicely and spit platitudes…or nothing at all. Sure, it does appear weak when he skips those workouts, but…..he’s already been legitimized/vetted by the MSM. It’s not like he’s gonna vault over Rubio or anything in draft standing, but poor performances could send him crashing into the second round.
Bringing Brandon Jennings in would simultaneously: a) fill Nate’s carnivale role vis a vis unguardable quickness, and b) strengthen the post-Isiah aye-talian branding of Daddy Charles’ shamefully reduced corporate asset.
I think serious consideration will be given to Jennings over Curry (assuming a Nate trade/offer sheet signing). Personally, i’d rather see us make a trade than pick over the lukewarm pupu platter leftovers available at numero ocho. Sure: there’ll be a lot of guys available who can make our team better. But good enough to make the second round of the playoffs? i ha’e me dooou’ts.
Also, lotsa noize about the Knicks buying a late first round pick.
i will point out that it was Isiah waaaay back when who insisted that the Knicks would “toe the line” and observe some fiscal sensibility (0bama should’ve named Zeke as Treasury Sec’y over Geithner).
Donnie observed that rule last season, and with his forward-thinking cap-reducing trades (boy, i wonder if the Clips & Warriors could undo their cap-crippling trades from last year, if they would?).
Donnie’s conservatism will likely be his undoing, though. No team will be STUPID enough to offer Lee an outlandish contract…anything just outside the current MLE will likelu suffice to sign him away with zero repercussions. Donnie likely WILL TRADE Nate away beforehand, in an effort to appear “proactive” to the rabid NYC fans. This deal will likely suck or tread water. How’s Curry + Nate for Dalembert thrill ya? How bout Nate for Kyle Korver? Sellers market with so many FA’s out. =(
I can’t see Nate going anywhere. If ever there were
a “Staple” among these Knicks ..it would be Nate.
We have yet to see the Best of Nate! Ergo Jr Smith.
Nate IMO will be our “Cazzie Russell” when the Knicks
return to being a Formidable team. I kinda like Alan
Hahn’s senario where we trade Cutino Mobley’s expiring
contract along with perhaps Harrington or a similar
one for SHAQ as this is his FINAL YEAR AND his contract expires. So maybe SHAQ keeps us a playoff threat and
bitch slaps E Curry into being a better Center. I would not
be surprized to see SHAQ in a NY uniform next year. He’s
still got a few years where he can make a difference if
he conditions himself the Kareem did during his FINAL
contract with the Lakers…(BTW..Kareem got a three year
extention after that season as he was the same age as Shaq.)
IMO…we trade down to get Curry. Rubio is not even a bench
option in this MAN’S league!!!!!!!
As of today on DX Express:
2009 1st Round Mock
1 Clippers Blake Griffin PF/C
Oklahoma, Sophomore
2 Grizzlies Hasheem Thabeet C
Connecticut, Junior
3 Thunder James Harden SG
Arizona State, Sophomore
4 Kings Ricky Rubio PG
DKV Joventut, International
5 Wizards Jordan Hill PF
Arizona, Junior
6 Timberwolves Tyreke Evans PG/SG
Memphis, Freshman
7 Warriors Brandon Jennings PG
Lottomatica Roma, International
8 Knicks Stephen Curry PG/SG
Davidson, Junior
Eric Maynor is slated @ 21 by the Hornets. If we can
wheel both Maynor and Curry…I’d be happy as hell
to have BOTH TRUE PG AND PG AS A FOUNDATION TO BUILD AROUND!
OR ….Jeff Teauge is a sleeper too….either way it is a FACT that we are again “Rebuilding.”
Peaceman: Magic and S. Curry
O&B: This series should be a very good one.
I’ll say Lakers in 7 if their Ariza and Odom can help keep Turkoglu and Lewis Honest, and if the combination of Gasol, Bynum, Mihm can keep Howard from the paint and from getting too many easy buckets inside. Lakers roll players will need to step it up in this series, since it’s been Kobe with Gasol as their most consistent players.
I still think the Knicks ought to address either one of the two areas of immediate need in this draft if at all possible. I like what I’ve read about Walsh perhaps trading up to acquire Thabeet, and if we could buy a late 1st rounder to acquire Maynor then that would be sweet.
But the Knicks are stuck in a harsh reality. I still believe that since Thabeet will be gone, they will need to get a true point guard not a tweener. The reasons I backed Jennings are still in my reasoning for acquiring a more natural point, and like States I believe that speed in a league w/o hand checking will allow a player like Jennings to make the most of his talent but…
His failure to attend the pre-draft camps have hurt his stock. Another point stock has risen and that player is Jrue Holiday. I like what I am reading about this guy and look forward to reading what the result is of his face off against Stephen Curry. I’d still take Jennings over Curry and same goes for Holiday over Curry. You take the natural point and the player with a higher cieling. Either Jennings or Holiday provide that. Beside either would likely be an understudy for at least a year or more to Duhon if not a Kidd or Nash should they join the Knicks on a farewell tour. Both have the speed and quickness to better exploit the running aspect of the 7 seconds finesse offense. And again while many are salivating on Curry offense,… just remember that J.J. Reddick was heralded likewise for his offensive numbers and dominance in college.
Last point, however… is that the Knicks will probrably take Ricky “ricardo” Rubio should he punk the rest of the league into steering clear of him.
Anyway it happens I’ll cheer on the rook to make the most of his opportunity and help the Knicks but I do have my preferences.
Statesman1,2,3:
Lives: Lakers (in 6) and Stephen Curry
African:
DLT:
Tman:
Modi:
Jaybee:
Postup Prince: Lakers and R. Rubio
IMG:
Cooley:
Bronxboy:
Steady:
Vic Corbit:
St George:
BARF(Willis):
Davonn (Dajoka):
Knicksdefense(Drossman):
Antisports:
Paul Noize:
Harlemboy:
Harewood:
George M:
Bokonon:
EwingsCurselives:
Vladimir:
Whose up for live blogging game 1 of the finals?
If not that one how about game 3 and games 5 or 7 should it go that far.
It’ll be a great series.
Magic Dwight “The Fright” Howard and Stan “The Man” Van Gundy and crew as the unwieldy and underheralded Clubber Lang already took out the NBA’s darling heir apparent Lebron, and now they set their sites on the Rocky darling of Rocky III fame in the Glitzy Glamorous LA Lakers and Mega Star Kobe Bryant.
Will the Magic pull off a Clubber Lang Beat down of the Lakers?
Can Stan avenge his brother’s defeats at the Hands of “Big Chief Triangle?” Can Dwight show the NBA that he is the “Master of Puppets” and outshine Hollywood Darling Bryant?
Plenty to talk about. Whose with me on the LBE????????
Count me in O&B….this may be the best finals
in a long time!
Set it up and I’ll pop in.
interesting read from RealGM.Com:
An academic study of NBA officiating found little to no evidence that referees favor teams from large media markets in the playoffs, which comes as a surprise to many conspiracy theorists.
The same study, however, found that NBA referees tend to favor home teams, teams trailing in a game and teams trailing in a playoff series.
“We can say with fairly high confidence that the results are not just due to randomness or (statistical) noise, that even teams facing elimination have an additional advantage in these referee-based turnovers, discretionary turnovers,” said Daniel F. Stone, assistant professor of economics at Oregon State University and one of the study’s authors.
Ok,
Since this is my first time officially posting an article on this revamped KnicksFanatics site, the presentation might come out mundane.
I’ll set her up to run around 9:00 start time.
O&B
Who else is up to smacking about the knowledge on basketball and the NBA Finals?
Fanatics,
For those of you that believe the college experience, or NCAA-tournament experience will determine who’s a starter or quality pro (IGM), chew on the following.
College basketball and the NBA Finals
Today’s question: How many guys who played in the ACC, SEC, Big East or Big Ten are starting in the NBA Finals?
Answer: Zero.
Nada.
Nobody.
Check the backgrounds of the 10 players who will start for the Magic and Lakers in the NBA Finals that begin tonight in Los Angeles.
Four guys who went pro out of high school: Kobe Bryant, Andrew Bynum, Rashard Lewis and Dwight Howard.
Two guys who arrived from overseas: Pau Gasol and Hedo Turkoglu.
Four guys that played college basketball. Here is the roll call:
Courtney Lee, Western Kentucky.
Rafer Alston, Fresno State
Derek Fisher, Arkansas-Little Rock
Trevor Ariza, UCLA.
Interesting?
Peace & Blessings
Statesman2,
That is an interesting fun fact.
For the record, I certainly believe that one’s experience should be a part of projecting whether a player can have success in the NBA. Scouts, GMs and even fans are always attempting to use as much information as possible to make an educated guess as to the likelihood of one’s success. Tangible skills, detectable but intangible attributes, past behavior and personal history, game experience, competition, body size and type are among the several bits of information used to guess what type of career a player might have. Of course, this does not account for the system a player is likely to be in, his future coaches and teammates, the opportunities for success, the quality of on-the-job training, injuries and other unknowns that may be as important in shaping one’s career.
I do not believe that college experience is the sole determining factor to one’s success. IMHO, only an idiot would think that the one general factor is the determinant factor of success. I am not even certain that you unscientific observation can lead us to believe that non-NCAA athletes are more likely to be in the championship finals than college educated athletes. I am sure you don’t mean that to be true although you are asserting that the opposite is false.
I understand your desire to defend your faith in Brandon Jennings despite his considerable deficiencies, but I would suggest that the success of Kobe Bryant, a high school grad who played in Europe, is no more an indicator of Jennings ability to succeed than Michael Jordan’s success is an indicator that Curry will succeed.
I also appreciate the way you try to re-frame the questions, the answers and my position to support your position and premise. I wonder who it is that argued that only players from the ACC, SEC, Big Ten and Big East are most likely to succeed in the NBA. Quite an interesting effort of arguing a position on your part. I wonder how Lives would address that effort.