Yes! and the Foul

Finally on Team Carmelo

Archive for category NBA Talk

Bill Simmons: Unlikely source of reason for Knicks fans!

Feb 25

Posted by YesandtheFoul in Knicks Banter, NBA Talk | No Comments

After a weeks of hearing that the Knicks didn’t have any desirable assets to give up in a Carmelo trade, all of the sudden Donnie gave up too many assets.  WHAT?!  You can’t make it up, really.  Any chance the media has to kick the Knicks and Jim Dolan, they are going to do it, even if there is no consistency, rhyme or reason to it.  We have to hear how Carmelo is only a top 20 player now, when before the trade he was a top 5 talent.  We have to hear all about Isiah Thomas conspiracy theories.  We have to hear that Deron Williams is a better player than Carmelo, and that finding an elite point guard – what Donnie really should’ve been doing – is the toughest thing to do in this league…  even if I can rattle off ten ‘elite’ point guards (or soon to be ‘elite’) off the top of my head: 1. Williams, 2. Paul, 3. Nash, 4. Rondo, 5. Rose, 6. Westbrook, 7. Parker, 8. Wall, 9. Steph Curry, 10. Billups (Oh yeah, we also got him in this trade in a MAJOR upgrade over Felton for the next season and a half). If you’re keeping count, that means a third of the teams in the league have ‘elite’ point guards.

There’s no talk about how the Knicks struggled all season in fourth quarters, but now have one of the most clutch players in the league in Melo, and a steady closer in Billups whose free throw ability may as well make him basketball’s equivalent of Mariano Rivera.   Add that to Amare who was leading the league in 4th quarter scoring this season, and the Knicks should have the ability to close out a lot of close games that they couldn’t before.  There’s also little talk about how Carmelo will open up the floor for Amare (and the rest of the Knicks) and make scoring a lot easier for the team.  Before teams double and tripled on Amare and forced the rest of the inconsistent Knicks cast to beat them.  Can’t do that anymore.

Anyway, as a Knicks fan, there a lot of reason to love this trade.  A lot of reason to be a happy camper, even if there isn’t much love from ESPN, TNT and the rest of the national media.  But, in case you need reassurance about the trade, go on and read Bill Simmons write up on the trade deadline.  Only love for the Knicks and what they did.  Celebrate!!

 

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Is Prokhorov cocky enough to trade for Melo without his signing off on an extension?

Jan 10

Posted by YesandtheFoul in Hypotheticals, NBA Talk | No Comments

That to me is the most pressing question. Proko might be so immensely confident he can persuade Carmelo that the Nets are his future, that he would pull the trigger on a deal without Carmelo’s blessing.  And even as a Knicks fan, I kinda love it.  What a high rolling nut job!  I get this image in my mind of the dude’s putting all his chips on 15 and acting like it ain’t no big thing.  He knows the roulette ball is going to magically hit.  It might even impress Carmelo that there is an owner out there willing to roll the dice on him.  But, is this just a fantasy?

From all accounts, the Nuggets new ownership is making a serious mess of this situation and are a big reason for the hold up on the deal.  Additionally, Carmelo certainly doesn’t seem happy about what is going on and hasn’t signed off on a Nets trade (or else it probably would’ve happened months ago).  Additionally, as brought up in Chris Sheridan’s excellent breakdown, it’s clear Carmelo’s new agents want this trade to go down.  After all they stand to lose money, too, if the new CBA negatively impacts how much Melo can get in a new contract.

But despite all of this, no one seems to have confidence in the fact that Carmelo will okay a trade to the Nets.  And, certainly, Carmelo can’t appreciate his reputation being sullied by all of these details being made public.  It might be putting pressure on him, but it also might make him all the more resolved to get what he wants: New York.

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Say What?! (v.2, Chris Broussard on Lebron, now…)

Dec 2

Posted by YesandtheFoul in Knicks Banter, NBA Talk | No Comments

He championed Lebron taking his talents to South Beach, and was the first to guess report that’s where Lebron would go, but now Chris Broussard of ESPN is changing his tune.  He’d just like to clarify that Lebron would’ve been a better fit in New York with Amar’e.  He’d also like to clarify that Amar’e is a better player than Bosh.  And, he’d also like to mention “no one was saying any of this” when it happened (nevermind his own colleagues, or most of the partial New York media).  [ ESPN New York ]

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Say What?! (v.1)

Oct 29

Posted by YesandtheFoul in Knicks Banter, NBA Talk | 2 Comments

UPDATE: In what is surely an ESPN first, Chad Ford admits he blew it and takes himself to task for missing the boat on Landry Fields.  Kudos to the blusterless Ford, one of just a handful of journalists who actually does his work on researching NBA prospects.  In reality, most writers are forming their opinions almost exclusively from his scouting reports (and those on DraftExpress) without giving due credit.   This is why the Fields pick drew such a strong negative reaction — since Chad Ford didn’t know about Fields, no one knew about Fields.  Except Donnie, thankfully.

After sucking for the last decade, it’s been easy to talk smack about the Knicks. Admittedly, a lot of it is deserved—this team has stunk. But, so much of the dialogue has become lazy and convenient, perpetuating lazy and ignorant generalizations about the team, the coach and it’s players. You just have to wonder to yourself “Are these guys even paying attention?!” It’s become frustrating enough to start a new feature: “Say What?!”

The idea stemmed from a conversation with my brother. What got him/us going in this particular case was Charles Barkley going on record to say the Nets will be better than the Knicks. I mean come on, really Charles?! You think the Knicks are going to be that bad? Sure the Nets are improved, but not that improved. How soon into the season before Chuck is telling everyone “Don’t sleep on the Knicks” or something along those lines?

With that, It seemed like a great time to start a collection of both dubious and astonishingly insightful quotes about the Knicks. Hopefully, when the dialogue finally turns positive on the Knicks, we can remember who was getting it right and who was getting it wrong.

On drafting Landry Fields…

We’ll start by revisiting an easy topic: universally panned, second round draft pick, Landry Fields. Or, as he’s now known, our starting guard. I thought it would be nice to go down memory lane and revisit what was said then.

“Knicks take Landry Fields with their second pick. Fields wasn’t in my Top 100. First time a team drafts a player out of my Top 100 in yrs” [ Chad Ford ]

NEW YORK KNICKS GRADE: D
Round 1: None; Round 2: Andy Rautins (38), Landry Fields (39)
Analysis: The Knicks had a pretty weird draft. I can understand taking Rautins somewhat. Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni loves shooters and Rautins is the J.J. Redick of the draft. But drafting Fields is puzzling. Yes, he’s a great athlete who was one of the best scorers in the Pac-10 last season. But he was not ranked in our top 100 and I couldn’t find another scout who had him in the top 60. Maybe the Knicks know something that we don’t, but with so much talent left on the board, it seems that New York may regret its decisions eventually. [ ESPN Insider - Chad Ford ]

A lots of draft gurus and scouts slept on Fields, but it was these quotes from Ford that led to the rest of the media absolutely killing the Knicks for their draft selections. Because of Ford, everyone became an expert on a player they hadn’t seen. Ironically, and to his credit, Ford might have been the only one to give Donnie the benefit of doubt.

But seeing how Fields is already showing to be a very capable contributor, you have to wonder what the hell was everyone talking about?! Next year at draft time, Ford and everyone else will be telling us how wonderful Donnie is the draft.

On trading for Carmelo Anthony…

When 90% of the voices out there are saying the Knicks HAVE to trade for Carmelo, I thought it’d be interesting to post what unexpected voice of reason, Bill Walton, has to say on the matter.

Michael Kay: Do you think Carmelo Anthony is a good fit with Stoudemire? Their styles?
Legend Bill Walton: No. Carmelo to me does not have what it takes to be the great player. He puts up nice numbers? He makes a great salary… media, publicity and all likes him. But, does he help you win the games? Does he make the squad better. Does he pull guys together. I mean, it hasn’t happened in Denver at all, and… I’m a big Amar’e Stoudemire fan. I will hold my tongue on Carmelo. [ Walton on ESPN radio, Oct 28, 2010]

Time will tell, but at least Walton is giving Knicks fans something to think about, instead of the same canned insight on Carmelo.

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If Melo wants to be in NY, the Knicks don’t have to give up much

Aug 18

Posted by YesandtheFoul in Hypotheticals, NBA Talk | 1 Comment

Not much.  Not much at all.  Gallo (or Randolph), Curry and a future pick could be enough.

Think about it.  If Carmelo makes it abundantly clear to the rest of the league that he wants to be a Knick, what other team would trade for him now just to lose him during free agency this summer?  Only a team that is willing to take the risk that they can convince him otherwise—that they have a superior roster to the Knicks.  Perhaps the Bulls can do that.  Maybe Orlando.  Maybe the Nets.  But really, this could be a one team race to obtain Melo if New York is where he wants to be.

And, all indications are that Melo only has eyes for New York.  He just got married to his wife who’s in the entertainment industry and is from the city.  He has his own roots to city (born in Brooklyn), the state (went to Syracuse), and the east coast.  He has a great relationship with Mike D’Antoni where he featured as one of Team USA’s three best players.  His marketing opportunities would explode as a Knick.  He knows the Knicks will spare no expense (which is more than you can say for the Bulls and Orlando).  And, his chances to win a championship might be best in NY.  Here is the Knicks roster if a Gallo/Curry trade goes down:

PG: Felton / Douglas
SG: Azubuike / Walker / Rautins
SF: Carmelo / Chandler / Fields
PF: Amare / Randolph
C: Turiaf / Mozgov / Jordan

That’s solid.  That can compete with any team including the Heat.

It should be noted, I’d really, really, really be bummed to trade Danilo.  I truly believe he has borderline all-star potential and is a great fit for SSOL, especially with his stroke.  But, you’ve gotta give something up to get something.  I’d add Walker and/or Chandler, too if it would sweeten the pot.  I’d be very reluctant to give up Randolph, though, since he’s so multidimensional which might be just as important as outside shooting to D’Antoni.

The Knicks truly have the upper hand in this situation.  Carmelo wants New York.  Denver doesn’t want to end up in Cleveland’s situation.  The longer this goes on, the less Denver will be able to get back.  At the trade deadline, a team surging for a playoff spot or a team thinking this is their one shot to put them over the top, might pull the trigger on renting Melo.  But how much would they really give up?

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