and we're done

[big j 33]

Dub is drunk.

 

[nick.]

At the time it was either match Lin or sign Felton, Prigioni, and Kidd for that money.

Any true Knicks fan knew letting Lin walk was the right move.

 

[foamsworth23]

rocked my knicks Lin jersey tee today 

 

[nick.]

http://newyorkknicksmemes.com/2013/04/18/new-york-knicks-memes-50-rules-of-being-a-knicks-fan/

This is perfect.

 

[youngin33]

There should be a NT version of that 50 rules thing. Would be so much greater.

 

[7thave btn 31stn33rd st]

Look at this piece of ****.

Five Things To Watch: New York Knicks

The New York Knicks were stuck in neutral while other Eastern Conference teams improved mightily this offseason.

Are they still No. 2 as they were last regular season? Probably not.

After a disappointing loss to Indiana in the Eastern Conference semifinals that denied them a shot at the NBA champion Miami Heat, the Knicks essentially replaced Chris Copeland, Jason Kidd and Steve Novak with Metta World Peace, Beno Udrih and Andrea Bargnani. The team also re-signed J.R. Smith, Pablo Prigioni and Kenyon Martin.

Meanwhile, Miami remains the class of the East and added Greg Oden; Indiana gets back former All-Star Danny Granger with a bolstered bench featuring Copeland, C.J. Watson and Luis Scola; Brooklyn made a bold move by acquiring Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Jason Terry plus signing Andrei Kirilenko; and Chicago gets back former MVP Derrick Rose.

All together now … “Fifth best.”

Oh wait, do we want to piss off J.R. Smith again?

Despite a more competitive conference, the Knicks are still contenders. After all, the core remains intact from a team that was the second seed last season.

With that in mind, here are five questions the Knicks must answer to win their first championship since 1973.

1. What is the most effective starting lineup? Coach Mike Woodson has only guaranteed starting spots to center Tyson Chandler, forward Carmelo Anthony and point guard Ray Felton. Since New York is committed to “Meloball,” keeping Anthony at power forward – where he played the best basketball of his career – seems logical. That almost certainly eliminates Bargnani and Amar’e Stoudemire from starting.

As a result, Iman Shumpert is the best option to start at small forward. Shumpert is regarded as one of the league’s best on-ball defenders and a freakish athlete as evidenced by this dunk. His game also expanded in the playoffs as he became a 3-point threat (.429) and a solid rebounder (six per game). By performing at a high level on a big stage, Shumpert should get the nod over World Peace and enjoy a breakout third season.

Finally, Prigioni can start alongside Felton in a two-guard lineup that was effective down the stretch of the regular season and during the playoffs. Prigioni will replace Kidd as the poised veteran who orchestrates the offenselocates Anthony in prime scoring positions and spreads the floor with his shooting ability.

2. Can Anthony expand his game? Anthony led the NBA in scoring (28.7 ppg) after setting career highs in 3-point percentage (.379) and free throw percentage (.830) to finish third in MVP voting last season. While Anthony has proven to be one of the NBA’s greatest scorers, his defense and passing leave more to be desired.

If Anthony ran more pick-and-roll sets as a facilitator, he would create easy scoring opportunities for Chandler and Stoudemire while lightening his load. When Anthony gets double-teamed, as he often does in isolation sets, he can find those rolling big men darting toward the basket. On pick-and-pop plays, Anthony can dish to Bargnani floating beyond the arc.

Anthony also showed more effort on the defensive end under Woodson, who is known for holding players accountable. Woodson must convince Anthony to attack the glass with the same abandon as he attacks opposing defenders.

If Anthony becomes half as good a passer and defender as he is a scorer, he still won’t be considered an elite all-around superstar in the same breath as LeBron James, but he’d put New York much closer to a championship.

3. Which J.R. Smith will show up this season? J.R. Smith took the Knicks on a rollercoaster ride during his contract season, which has continued through the summer. After agreeing to come off the bench despite publicly stating his desire to start at the outset of training camp, Smith won the Sixth Man Award by averaging career highs in points (18.1 ppg) and rebounds (5.3).

(RELATED: SEE CHRIS SHERIDAN’S 2013 OFFICIAL NBA AWARDS BALLOT)

However, Smith’s dream season came to a crashing halt when he elbowed Terry during Game 3 of New York’s first-round series with Boston. He drew a suspension for Game 4 and never rediscovered his rhythm. In the following eight playoff games, Smith shot 29 percent (34-for-117) from the field. During the meltdown, Smith was rumored to be partying hard with Rihanna and became a major distraction.

After accepting full blame for his poor performance to end the season, Smith became an even bigger distraction upon re-signing with the Knicks. Just four days after signing a three-year, $18 million contract, Smith had left knee surgery sidelining him for up to four months. He remains questionable for the start of the upcoming season.

Based on his track record, Smith will ultimately leave management befuddled. He always does. This becomes all the more worrisome for a team that desperately needs Smith to remain a consistent second scoring option to Anthony.

Woodson has gotten more out of Smith than any other coach, but he must manage Smith’s dedication off the court for New York to contend. If anyone can help Smith mature, it is Woodson, whom Smith refers to as a father figure.

4. What can the newcomers bring to the table? Bargnani had a target on his back from the day he was taken first overall in the 2006 draft by Toronto and unfairly compared to Dirk Nowitzki, the best European in NBA history.

After arriving in a trade for a 2016 first-round draft pick and second-round selections in 2014 and 2017, along with Steve Novak, Marcus Camby and Quentin Richardson, pressure remains on Bargnani to perform.

The 7-foot Bargnani is considered soft due to his diminutive rebounding and block totals and propensity to play on the arc rather than the low block. However, New York hopes Bargnani can consistently space the floor and draw Metta World Peacecenters and power forwards away from the rim. Management believes a fresh start will bring out the best in Bargnani. At worst, all he has to do is be a better version of Novak.

New York also hopes a homecoming will help World Peace turn back the clock to his Ron Artest playing days.

MWP is no longer named Artest, nor is he one of the league’s best lockdown defenders. But he can still guard prolific wing players for brief stretches. At 6-7 and 260 pounds, World Peace is the only player that can rival James’ physical stature.

Expect MWP to add another colorful personality to an already entertaining locker room, along with defensive intensity and a championship pedigree.

Udrih also brings a championship pedigree after winning titles with San Antonio in 2005 and 2007.

Udrih was a bargain, signing for one year at the veteran’s minimum. He should flourish in Woodson’s two-point sets. Udrih is playmaking point guard who can create his own shot or find an open teammate off penetration.

Each player will figure heavily in the rotation and help determine how far New York can advance.

5. What is Amar’e Stoudemire’s role? When Stoudemire first signed a five-year, $100 million contract with the Knicks, he became the face of the franchise. Now he is an afterthought, a shell of his former self.

Stoudemire has been limited to 76 games over the past two seasons due to injuries. As a result, he is no longer a freakish athlete that rattles backboards. Let’s not forget: He did not even take his warmups off in the second half of the Knicks’ final playoff game against Indiana.

Trial and error has shown Stoudemire can’t co-exist effectively with Anthony in the frontcourt. At this stage of his career, he should focus on being a potent scoring big off the bench. Despite his injuries, he can still provide instant offense for brief stretches.

Knicks stuck in neutral? Add Ron Artest, Bargs, resign the 6thMOY, and two studs in the draft, and the Knicks are stuck in neutral?

 

[worldbeefreeg]

I'd say what the Knicks did this off-season is neutral...Metta is washed, Bargnani was one of the worst players in the league last year and basically just replaces Cop, its really hard to argue we got significantly better.

 

[tommyicerocking]

Jeremy Lin run was so good, OMG i miss it

 

[Hahahaha]

So happy that ****** Lin is gone. People really said he was better than Carmelo and Amar'e......LOLOLOLOL

 

[don ramon]

yeah i don't miss lin at all


it was a good, exciting run for the NBA as a whole, but dude got full of himself and knicks made the right decision

 

[lver of jordan]

Linsanity came & gone but fools still end up talking bout it

Anywhooo change if subject my uncle Allen Iverson aka Mr. Chuck aka who needs practice will offically accounce his NBA retirement soon, I'm sad

 

[beh235]

Lin is a scrub. Good riddance.

Completely agree, but you couldn't tell  Knick fans NOTHING those two weeks tho 

. He's sort of a serviceable PG. He's def a backup and not a starter. He needs to learn how to make better decisions earlier and convert to pass first, but that ship has sailed. 

 

[beh235]

I'd say what the Knicks did this off-season is neutral...Metta is washed, Bargnani was one of the worst players in the league last year and basically just replaces Cop, its really hard to argue we got significantly better.

sounds like par for the course if you ask me..

 

[nick.]

I don't even read what these "experts" post anymore. I know our team isn't finishing 5th in the east. F*ck a Derrick Rose return. F*ck the Nets adding 3 players on their way out of the league. The Knicks improved from last season, and I wouldn't be surprised at all if they finished 2nd again.

 

[pr0phecy718]

NBA
It's not a good idea to get into a one-on-one battle with New York's resident scoring machine.

vs. Kobe Bryant: http://on.nba.com/1760tCN
vs. LeBron James: http://on.nba.com/1760dDE
vs. Russell Westbrook: http://on.nba.com/14mmr61
vs. Chris Paul: http://on.nba.com/14mmnDd
vs. Nate Robinson: http://on.nba.com/1760g2y

 

[beh235]

Keep it real, I like Nate, but he's the odd man out on that list 

 

[don ramon]

 

[8pm at msg]

I'd say what the Knicks did this off-season is neutral...Metta is washed, Bargnani was one of the worst players in the league last year and basically just replaces Cop, its really hard to argue we got significantly better.

sounds like par for the course if you ask me..

Its all about expectations. I'm not expecting Ron from 03-09 on defense but I do know that even with his decline athletically he's still a willing and solid defender. Bargnani is coming off the two worst years in his career but hopefully the lack of pressure of being the best player on the team in a system based on ball movement and threes with PGs that are willing passers would make for an easy comeback. Our role players are old enough to have been around the block a few times but aren't knocking on death's door career wise like our guys from last year. So I'll just say we'll see what happens.

 

[pr0phecy718]

Keep it real, I like Nate, but he's the odd man out on that list 

I noticed that too

 

[7thave btn 31stn33rd st]

Im not expecting the Knicks to win 54 games, howeve I am expecting them to be more cohesive which will make us a better team.

 

[beh235]

I'd say what the Knicks did this off-season is neutral...Metta is washed, Bargnani was one of the worst players in the league last year and basically just replaces Cop, its really hard to argue we got significantly better.

sounds like par for the course if you ask me..

Its all about expectations. I'm not expecting Ron from 03-09 on defense but I do know that even with his decline athletically he's still a willing and solid defender. Bargnani is coming off the two worst years in his career but hopefully the lack of pressure of being the best player on the team in a system based on ball movement and threes with PGs that are willing passers would make for an easy comeback. Our role players are old enough to have been around the block a few times but aren't knocking on death's door career wise like our guys from last year. So I'll just say we'll see what happens.

that's just it, being a long time follower of the Knicks (sorry I gave up afer 96, but still pay attention to them) this is just what they do. Paper expectations (puts hand high) vs actual production (puts hand lower). In the off season you get excited then when the season starts, things go sideways. Did anyone see 'Sheed, Marcus, and Kurt get hurt all at the same time? Not saying they would have turned the team around, but if fully healthy they would have made significant contributions, despite the type of season the Knicks had. It's just a shame the Knicks have a tendency to sign players that are shells of what they used to be. It's been going on for so long, I'm starting to think it's a franchise philosophy for the most part. Of course Melo is excluded in this argument, but he's the only one out of how many? 

 

[Mark Antony]

I still do want a proper Linsanity documentary though, the whole process.

 

[8pm at msg]

I'd say what the Knicks did this off-season is neutral...Metta is washed, Bargnani was one of the worst players in the league last year and basically just replaces Cop, its really hard to argue we got significantly better.

sounds like par for the course if you ask me..

Its all about expectations. I'm not expecting Ron from 03-09 on defense but I do know that even with his decline athletically he's still a willing and solid defender. Bargnani is coming off the two worst years in his career but hopefully the lack of pressure of being the best player on the team in a system based on ball movement and threes with PGs that are willing passers would make for an easy comeback. Our role players are old enough to have been around the block a few times but aren't knocking on death's door career wise like our guys from last year. So I'll just say we'll see what happens.

that's just it, being a long time follower of the Knicks (sorry I gave up afer 96, but still pay attention to them) this is just what they do. Paper expectations (puts hand high) vs actual production (puts hand lower). In the off season you get excited then when the season starts, things go sideways. Did anyone see 'Sheed, Marcus, and Kurt get hurt all at the same time? Not saying they would have turned the team around, but if fully healthy they would have made significant contributions, despite the type of season the Knicks had. It's just a shame the Knicks have a tendency to sign players that are shells of what they used to be. It's been going on for so long, I'm starting to think it's a franchise philosophy for the most part. Of course Melo is excluded in this argument, but he's the only one out of how many? 

I understand you completely. In the past I've been the victim to high expectations with this squad from the Marbury trade to signing Z-Bo and whatever other transaction that was supposed to boost our team to a competitive level. I'm not going to act like I'm not somewhat skeptical but I can't say I see us being a complete non-factor either. It's a new season, I have to give the team some time before I make an assessment even if I feel like I already know what's gonna happen.

 

[beh235]

Nah, they def won't be a non factor.

 

[pr0phecy718]

MSG to host all star Sunday in 2015

Barclays gets the other half

Then it'll come back again in 2017 or '18
http://m.nypost.com/p/sports/knicks/nets_knicks_again_split_years_star_iHHALpOkFoKhMpP03th0gN