Twenty three and fifty nine.
Those two numbers are indicate the won-loss record of the 2007-2008 New York Knickerbocker season. Twenty three wins indeed for an NBA franchise in the nations largest market along with one of the highest payrolls in the league is indeed a disappointment to say the least.
While Knicks fans such as myself were not only just "crying" about paltry number of wins posted by their beloved Knicks. They also had to endure a season of embarrassment off the court which actually began the previous off-season with former head coach Isiah Thomas' sexual harassment case. That case also involved star point Stephon Marbury aka "Starbury" who abandoned his team just a few games into the season. The Knicks were an ever-evolving soap opera as they free-falled their way to 59 losses giving New Yorkers very little optimism about the future of basketball at the World's Most Famous Arena.
However, things at the Garden actually may be loooking up. After the disaster that was the 2007-2008 season. Isiah Thomas (finally) was relieved of his duties as head coach and team president. Although, somehow (and only God knows) he actually STILL has a scouting job with the organization. The Knickerbockers did not make many moves in the off-season but they did change the face of their organization with the hiring of new GM Donnie Walsh and head coach Mike D'Antoni. These two men are committed to bringing change to what for the majority of this decade has been clearly an unstable organization.
A week and a half ago I had the opoprtunity to speak with both Walsh and D'Antoni about the upcoming season at Madison Square Garden and both men seemed very eager about the future of the Knicks. (Knicks New Beginnnings). Walsh and his head coach both spoke highly of the young talent on the roster which was a clear indication to me that they are looking to change the culture of this ballclub. As a first year head coach D'Antoni will have the challenge of finding minutes for young players. From speaking to him it appeared as though he was very high on the talents of Wilson Chandler. Knick fans can expect to see the second year forward contribute heavily this year. D'Antoni also believes that once healthy Danilo Gallinari (back injury) can be a regular contributor to the team.
While management is excited about the team the real question is should the fans even be excited and if so why? As a fan scanning the Knicks current roster which has 19 players under contract; it is hard to ignore the amount of familiar losing names. Marbury for one has been labeled as a cancer throught the media and among the fans. While I think Marbury has a lot to prove this season (mainly because he is playing for a new contract) and will be a good citizen; I do think that he is sometimes unfairly criticized. Jeromes James can be summarized with one word: overpaid. Jared Jeffries has yet to show why he was worth the assinine contract given to him by Isiah Thomas. Eddy Curry and Zach Randolph appear to only be motivated by offensive touches and neither can play a lick of defense. Quentin Richardson while a solid player has yet to show that he can stay healthy. Jamal Crawford, while improving has been much like the Knicks team of this milenium; consistently inconsistent.
Are you excited yet?!
Ok, after reading that paragraph I surely would not be. But the way Knick fans have to approach this season as tonight the team takes on Toronto in their first pre-season game is by the old cliche "one game at a time." This season is not about wins and losses. In fact I would be shocked if the Knicks won more than 28 games this season. The 2008-2009 season is all about this organization forming an identity. An identity is something the Knicks have lacked since the Patrick Ewing era. With Walsh and D'Antoni in charge they WILL establish an identity for the Knicks. D'Antoni has already stated that he wants this team to incorparte his "seven seconds or less" run and gun style he was so famous for during his coaching days with the Phoenix Suns. The Knicks are not guaranteed to be significantly better this season but they will be more exciting. D'Antoni plans to hold players accountable and expects EVERYONE to play hard for 48 minutes. Now thats something we have not seen at the Garden in a long time.
Bring that excitement will be many of the young players on this roster who are the future of the team. David Lee now in his fourth season has gone on record as being tired of the circus atmosphere that has surrounded this organization and now wants to win. Players such as Lee, Chandler and Nate Robinson will infuse energy into this formerly lifeless team. It will be exciting to see how the lottery pick Gallinari develops over the season. Knick fans are hoping that Walsh made the right pick with him and the fans want a player that can give them hope for the future. If Gallinari (the Knicks highest lottery pick in over 20 years) does not pan out many Knicks fan will utter one of my favorite lines by the character Wee-Bay on my favorite television show of all-time ("The Wire"): "The Knicks done F***** up their draft again!" But then again....we are Knicks fans shouldn't we be used to this by now?!
So tonight as you sit down to watch some NBA action considering their is nothing better else to watch which the baseball championship series starting tomorrow; look for hope in the New York Knicks. Focus on development and progress. Set your expectations low because trust me, if you think this team is making the playoffs then you my friend (word to John McCain) are delusional. The playoffs are a pipe dream....this team will show progress and devlopment. Maybe not in the win column but D'Antoni and Walsh will get this team to play hard consistently. And that my fellow Knicks fans is most assuredly progress!!
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