Who's Gonna Be Right?

Starting right now, we here at Knickerbocker Nation will be starting a series of posts. My co-writer Bach and I (Matt) will be arguing a different point for every post. Then it is up to the universe to decide who will ultimately be right. The first question we will be debating is:

Who will be the most underwhelming team this season?

The Milwaukee Bucks (Matt)– The Bucks were the big surprise of the year last year. They were a revelation after the John Salmons trade, and almost upset the Hawks in the first round of the playoffs. Everyone from ESPN to SI to the guys on the Free Darko podcast seem to have the Bucks finishing 4th or 5th in the East. The Bucks were a pretty good tem last year, and I think they will be a pretty good team this year, but I just don’t see them making the leap that everyone else does, and if anything I see them getting worse. Remember when the Bulls traded for Salmons? He kicked it up a notch, and the Bulls had one of the best playoff series ever against the Celtics. The very next year Salmons slumped. The same thing could very well happen to him in Milwaukee. He has a fat new contract and does tend to get upset when he is not the focus of the offense, which he will be even less with the development of Brandon Jennings and Andrew Bogut. Bogut’s injury could also be a problem. His arm got hit in a preseason game and immediately started to swell up. It’s the kind of injury that can nag a player all season, and without Bogut the Bucks would be lucky to make the playoffs. The other big difference from last year is their acquisition of Cory Maggette. Maggette doesn’t play defense, and doesn’t know the meaning of the word pass. I can see him driving Scott Skiles out of his mind. The Eastern Conference got a lot stronger in the off-season, and a team like the Bucks needs to win with hard work and chemistry. I can see the Salmons-Maggette duo ruining the great chemistry they had last season. The Buck may very well be the team that a lot of people think they are, but they would need a lot to go right. Jennings and Bogut would need to make the jump to the star potential they’ve only flashed, and Salmons and Maggette would need to buy into Skiles system. I just don’t see all those things happening.

The Charlotte Bobcats (Bach)-The Bobcats played to expectations last year. They made the admittedly big leap of making the franchise’s first playoff appearance, and were quickly dispatched by the Orlando Magic in four games. It would stand to reason that this performance would serve as a building block for greater things (such as winning a playoff game). Instead, the Bobcats will be lucky if they get to the postseason. They boasted an offense that ranked 28th in scoring and 2nd in turnovers, and that was before they lost their facilitator and biggest post presence in Raymond Felton and Tyson Chandler, respectively. DJ Augustin will be asked to fill in where Felton left off, which means he’s going to have to get back in Larry Brown’s good graces. Gerald Wallace and Stephen Jackson are going to have to do the bulk of the scoring, which will keep Jackson happy for a little while. Then he’ll realize no one cares about what’s happening in Charlotte, and he’ll return to his petulant ways until he gets shipped out of town. Really, the only interesting storylines for this team heading into this season will be playing the “When Will Larry Brown Bail?” game and seeing how MJ does in his first season as majority owner. One of his first moves was bringing back the prodigal son, Kwame Brown. Oh boy, this team is going to be boring.

Five Knicks Related Things I'm Excited About In 2011

Having a point guard – I know Raymond Felton isn’t going make anyone shit their pants, but you know what? He’s a starter. (Wait we have a Starting PG? I actually just did poo a little). I can’t remember the last time we had a starting point guard. We no longer have to pretend that Duhon can run an offense for 30-35 min. We can finally forget the jostling between has-beens like Duhon, Stephon Marbury, Howard Eisley, Charlie Ward, and a washed up Mark Jackson like we’ve done over the past ten years. We have needed someone who can run the offense and who actually likes when an assist is added to his box score.

The Front Court – This is such a weird sensation for me. I’m so used to having a line of overpaid out of shape SGs and SFs stretching from MSG to Hoboken. All of a sudden we have more than just one undersized power forward and two white guys battling for starting center. Aside from Amare, the Knicks have their pick of Turiaf, a good shot blocker and scrapper, Mozgov, who impressed a lot of people this summer at the FIBA Worlds, Randolph, who can jump out of the building, and the 41% of Eddy Curry that’s not body fat. Choices? At Center? I just pooed again.

The Rooster – Many people have been touting the under-the-radar star potential of Anthony Randolph. Yes, he’s athletic. Yes he’s got the tools. But here’s the thing: he spent the last two seasons getting mind fucked by Don Nelson, then playing a little, then getting mind fucked again. I’m talking serious mind fucked. I’m talking Don Nelson is Mickey Rourke and Anthony Randolph’s is mind is Kim Basinger in some serious 9 ½ weeks shit. I’m talking Playmate of the Apes as hard as softcore can be mindfucking. I’m talking what the sisters did to Andy Dufresne but the movie had too much tact to show you, mindfucking. That’s all been very well documented, but what hasn’t been nearly the story it should be is how god damn good Danilo is going to be. He may not be as athletic as Don Nelson’s mind-bitch, but he’s got the tools. Everyone knows he can shoot the lights out, but this kid can ball. He can put the ball on the floor, and he’s way stronger than Dirk was at this point in his career. The rooster is willing and able to play defense as well. With a couple years of maturation I don’t see why he can’t be the third best player on a title team. In fact, if he is, you have one good team.

Run and Gun – This ties in to point number one. Now that we finally have a PG (actually, now that we have an actual team), Mike D can finally run an offense. Felton is not Nash, but he’s young, likes to run and he has a lot of weapons to chose from. The Knicks are finally going be an exciting team again. I can’t wait to see them run.

Isiah Tomas getting eaten by an Alligator, ensuring he will never return - Hey, we all got to have a dream right? Although I’m sure stupid James Dolan will find a way to play Reanimator and then Zombie Zeke will be the GM, Coach, Trainer, and every other position in which he can fail.

Listen to Darko...Don't be Darko

I never thought I'd say this, but Timofey, please, please, please listen to Darko: “I tell (Mozgov) to do the opposite like I did,” Milicic said. “I don’t know how it will be for him, if he plays a lot. When I didn’t play, I stepped aside. You need to work a lot and I didn’t do it. If he doesn’t play, practice hard.”

WTF???

Okay i'm all for using one's body as a from of expression, but is this really how we want to start off the "STAT City" era??

http://www.sportsgrid.com/nba/amare-stoudemire-nude-pool/

Amare Chuckles at Terrorists

Amid terrorism warnings across Europe, Amare Stoudemire promised to have fun while the Knicks spend the next few days in Paris as part of their preseason tour. "We know where to go and the places to visit and again, you have to cherish the moment because it's not often you get a chance to play an NBA game in Paris," Stoudemire said. That's fine, Amare, enjoy yourself. Paris is a wonderful city, full of art, culture, and history. Check out the Eiffel Tower, Napolean's Tomb, and, of course, the Louvre. Make sure to partake in world class shopping along the Champs-Elysees, and enjoy an espresso at one of the Montmartre district's finest cafes. Take a ride along the River Sennes, and get a snapshot of yourself in front of Notre Dame. Just remember that pesky suicide bombers have a special knack for targeting surgically repaired knees worth $100 million. They're uncanny.

Just in case you didn't catch the strong whiff of sarcasm, don't get yourself fucking killed, Amare.

We have Returned!!!!!

Yesterday I woke up naked next to a half eaten Rhino. In unrelated news I have received a lifetime ban from the San Diego Zoo.

I needed it recounted to me but, apparently after The Decision I went on a two-month bender and I received 178 counts of public drunkenness, exactly 3 more than Snooki. So we didn’t get Lebron James? He teamed up with Wade and Bosh? CP3 and Melo are now demanding to be traded? Scalabrine isn’t a Celtic anymore? The WNBA still hasn’t folded yet?????? What the hell happened while I was blacked out?

Oh well. Never fear devoted readers. I have returned to help both of you get out of your depressed stupor. After a long hiatus Knickerboker Nation is back!!!!

We have much to be excited about this coming season. Our staff has doubled. So we have as many writers are readers, which you know…is cool. Eventually we will be adding a podcast to the articles posted here. I know what you’re thinking. “KBN you have only posted like 5 articles in the last 6 months aren’t you getting a little ahead of yourself?” The answer is no... you shut up!

Check back soon for training camp is upon us and this proves to be a very interesting season.

Lebron Watch 2010:

I hate to be one more voice talking about Lebron but I have a real problem with the way people were talking about Lebron and his presumed Knicks supporting cast. How is the Cleveland supporting cast any better? "All-stars" Jamison and Williams only play well when Lebron is playing well, and if Lebron is playing well they're probably gonna win anyway. Now that there is a chance that Lebron is leaving everyone, from the guys on PTI to Dan Patrick from Sports Illustrated, is saying they'd be lucky to win 25 games without Lebron.

I'm gonna sound like a big homer but, the Knicks won 29 games with David Lee as their best player. You're telling me that if we bring back most of the same rotation guys and upgrade David Lee to Chris Bosh that wouldn't be a better team than the Cavs? At least they'd be able to hit their threes.

With the obvious exception of Chicago, the Knicks can offer a better supporting cast than any other team with cap space. When are people gonna start saying it?