What has happened to this once proud franchise? Maybe proud isn't the word. Maybe interesting is the word. It's been years since I gave a damn about the Knicks. I wish this wasn't the case.
It's been about 20 years since I started following the team on a daily basis. I am more likely to be able to name the starting 5 from that team than this team (Mark Jackson, Gerald Wilkins, Johnny Newman?, Bill Cartwright, Patrick Ewing vs. Stephon Marbury, Jamal Crawford?, Quentin Richardson?, Jared Jefferies?, Eddy Curry).
I was never a big Patrick Ewing fan, but I have certainly come to appreciate him in the past 5 years or so. Along with good coaching (from Pitino, Riley, Van Gundy) and scrappy, hard working players (Oakley, Starks, Mason, shit even guys like Charlie Ward were trying), the team was always significant, even if they were always bridesmaids. I always hated the feeling when the Knicks fell short each spring. I wondered whether it would have been better if they were no good at all. I think I can say for sure now the answer is no. And not because it hurts more as a fan now because it doesn't. It's because I just don't care about the team anymore.
And all I have is jumbled memories (for better or worse) from the better days. Remember Charles Smith blowing the series against the Bulls in 93'. Kenny Walker winning the Dunk contest back when it was meaningful. Van Gundy hanging from Alonzo's leg. Remember Allan Houston with the shaved head hitting that shot to defeat the Heat and running across the court and taking a swing at the air followed by LJ's 4 point play in 99'. These were moments that I haven't forgotton. I can remember where I was and who I was with for all those times.
So what does this all mean? I guess it means I'm sad. I can't think of a solitary "moment" that I can remember as a Knicks fan since the game Patrick Ewing came back to the Garden in a ridiculous Sonics uniform. And as long as I continue to hear news such as "Dolan says Isiah's job is safe" I won't be caring because I know it's not gonna get any better. And if I'm not caring, I won't be getting any new notes for my memoirs.
And as for Eddy Curry and his gripes about not making the All-Star team... He's a starting center with 7 rebounds and .5 blocks per. Doesn't sound like an All-Star to me.
3 comments:
How does eddy curry only have 7 rpg? that is ridiculous. this team is easier to watch then last years team, but they still are a travesty. There is not one guy on the team that makes me say "we may suck now, but at least i get to watch so and so develop into a superstar". David Lee is great, but he is not leading us to the championship. Eddy Curry? nope.. jamal crawford, nope.. (you get the idea).. We also can't say "we may suck but at lease so and so comes off the cap this year and we can take a run at some upcoming free agents". The Knicks are $64mm over the cap. That is more then the cap itself! And there is no chance of cap room for at least 3 seasons (unless someone feels like paying Marbury $17mm and Francis $15mm). The most frustrating thing about this whole mess is all the dumber then dumb moves that have been made. No one in their right mind would have given Jerome James and Jared Jeffires 5 mil a year for 5 years? I have to stop, i am getting really pissed off right now.. I have no idea why i still torture myself with them any more..
Unfortunately, I think it's time to give up.
Great post. I can't say I'm totally pessimistic about the future for the Knicks. I like Crawford, Curry is good (not as good as he thinks, but serviceable) and I think Lee is a legit NBA forward. The rest of the roster? I hope they all go the way of Drazen Petrovic, Reggie Lewis, etc. They are all overpaid and worthless.
No NBA team would ever want a shoot first point guard who is no longer an offensive force. The Knicks have two.
No team would spend $30 million on a back up center. Or if they did have such a stiff, they wouldn't start him, but bench him after 4 minutes.
They wouldn't spend their midlevel exception on an underweight power forward with no range and no real rebounding skills.
They should seriously just give Lee, Curry and Crawford the keys to MSG, and let everybody else walk and replace them with CBA players. Channing Frye included.
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