Being a fan is pretty cut and dry. You pick a team and root for that team to win. The more the team wins, the better the odds are to win a championship. Not exactly rocket science.
Well, what if winning is actually bad for your favorite team? Do you actually root for your team to lose? Do you hope they miss that last second shot? Or that they get out rebounded? Is it ok to wish for turnovers in key moments of the game? As crazy as it may sound, that’s what all Knicks fans should be rooting for this season.
The Knicks would be better off without Isiah Thomas. Everyone knows this. There is no sense in rehashing the reasons why, they are well documented. As long as Thomas is the Head Coach and President of Basketball Operations, the New York Knickerbockers will not be a championship caliber team. However, during a weird, rambling interview back in June, Knicks fans were given a glimmer of hope. James Dolan stated that the Knicks have to make “significant progress” toward being a championship team for Isiah Thomas to keep his job.
If you understand basketball, then you know that the Knicks are more than a season away from making significant progress toward being a championship team. The Knicks don’t defend, pass or rebound. So it’s a foregone conclusion that by late spring, Knicks fans will be dancing in the streets at the end of this season since Thomas will be fired, right? Well, it’s not that simple.
The Knicks won 23 games last season. And while they have plenty of flaws, they do have talent. There is quickness and scoring punch in the backcourt with Marbury, Francis and Crawford. Channing Frye has plenty of potential and while Eddy Curry will never be confused with Shaquille O’Neal, he has better tools than most starting NBA centers. This is a roster that should win more than 23 games. Think about it, even the Bobcats won 26 games last season. So it’s not inconceivable that the Knicks could be in playoff contention this season. With a few breaks, the Knicks could get the 7th or 8th spot in the playoffs, playing in a weak conference where the Milwaukee Bucks made the playoffs last season with a losing record (40-42). That could be just the “progress” Dolan needs to save face and keep Thomas around, which would easily be the worst thing for the Knicks and their fans.
No, success this season will not be a good thing for the long term health of the Knicks franchise or their fans. It will just lead to more bad trades and free agent signings, continued changes in philosophy and odd draft choices. All of which, I can’t take anymore. So I’m rooting for the Knicks to lose. I want them to be terrible. That’s the only chance they have to turn the franchise around.
Kwamby ....... I think that it's a complete travesty that while the season is about to start, we're hearing that David Stern is saying that he'll come up with a decision concerning the monies due to former coach Larry Brown. This is a situation is further damaging to the Knicks' once illustrious name. Should the decision go against the organisation it'll further be humiliating to management and in particular James Dolan and Isaiah Thomas.
Last edited by rampantfanatic on October 31st at 10:13 AM.
kwamby .... Now comes the news that the Knicks are prepared to buy out Jalen Rose's contract for the $17m that he'll be owed this year and then they'll waive him off their roster. Sound business management if you've got the money to blow. Then again who ever said the Knicks were guilty of good or sound business judgement !
Just look at their draft picks over the past five years and you'll see why they've got the problems they have. Absolutely ridiculous !
edclinch: They will definately win more than 23 games. While the pieces don't fit and they still can't defend, they still have enough scorers to win 30-35, maybe 40 games with some luck. Thats what I'm scared about. Dolan thinking that an 8th seed with a crappy, selfish team is "progress".
Rampantfantatic: Are you really surprised that the Knicks will pay 17 million so the guy can play somewhere else? They are still paying Shandon Anderson.
kwamby ...... Like I said they'd never be considered for or of making sound business judgements that'd be advantageous to them. Hence the reason the team is where it is !
Could the guys at Enron have done any better after all they were thought of as being the 'Smartest Guys In The Room' ? Somehow I think the Knicks' management has got them beat by a mile on that score ! If not more !
Last edited by rampantfanatic on October 31st at 10:50 AM.
At least the Enron people on some level was charasmatic and were able to inspire confidence (even though it was misguided). Dolan and Thomas, they've caused the fan base to revolt. It's beyond just being bad, they have damaged the brand.
kwamby ...... The guys at Enron certainly weren't charismatic as they were basically just a bunch of thieves. They caused the destruction of a once mighty company and the morale of their employees were left in pieces. If that's how you judge charisma then I'm sorry I can't agree with you on that one !
rampant/tophatal
Last edited by rampantfanatic on October 31st at 10:19 PM.
I'm with you Kwam, Dolan/Thomas make is so easy to hate the Knicks. Add that to the fact that their entire team is comprised of people who think basketball consists of entirely shooting and making whiny faces at calls they don't like and it's a little too easy to hate them.
Now let's talk my Raiders. As much as that number one draft pick would help the franchise (theoretically) who wants to root against their own team, the team they love and pull for even when they are embarrassing the #### out of you on the field. My point is woot, go Raiders that's TWO for us yay!!!
It goes the same in Hockey or any sport. Think draft position. If you team is already bad...do you root for them to be worse to get the number one draft spot. Or worse, do teams purposfully not try as hard to win those games knowing that they have a good chance at the number one draft...If you suck...suck it up be proud and do whats best for the team.
Hey Guys, Being the number 1 draft pick doesn't always necessitate that the player picked turns out to be the best player overall. Look at this last NFL draft as it was a mockery that the Texans chose not to go with Reggie Bush. The same has been done with all the other major sports. At the end of the day it's about the astute judgement of your scouting staff and the GM.
I'm in no way defending the Enron guys, I saw "Smartest guys in the room" as well and I was so disgusted by what I saw. What I'm saying is that in moment, when things were "going good" with the smoke and mirrors they got people to believe in them (especially Skilling (sp)). Who has ever believed in Isiah or Dolan at any point?
kwamby ....... I'm sure that there are some undying devoted Knicks' fans that in their demented wisdom believe implicitly in both Dolan and Thomas. That being said I'm hoping that they awake from their sleep with a healthy perspective on life and to appreciate it.
Thankfully they've started off the season with a win. Albeit against the Grizzlies, it's still a win ! And if they continue on that path playing some intelligent, solid team basketball there might be some hope for them yet !
you were sailing along and making good sense, until you tried to talk up eddie curry - i knew about him since high school and he does not have
"IT" and he won't find "IT" and any team he is on, won't do very well.
it is a mistake to paint a happy face on any team that has curry as a key member - he is k-rod without a bat.
Gaff, ...... Long time since I've seen you in the forum. I expect you've been extremely busy no doubt. I agree with you about Eddie Curry and it's nonsensical to think that he can resurrect a moribund franchise. That being said they got off to a close win last night after triple overtime.
Dare I say it, but Isaiah has got them playing team basketball ? How long it'll last is open to question as we haven't seen Marbury or Francis implode as of yet.
I've written a couple of posts that may well be dear to your heart as they feature some hot women, in some thought provoking poses......here are titles 'The Girls Who Ate American Pie Are Delicious'...'Guess What I'm Thinking ?'...'Is It Me But What's Hotter Than Nikki Cox At The Moment ?'......and finally ..'Kiss The Girls And Made Them Go Ooohhh...!!!' Check them out let me know what you think ? They're all written under the rampantfanatic moniker, regards.....
I'm in no way saying Curry is a savior or a franchise player. I didn't even want the guy here. But the fact is that he is here and its not easy to find guys over 6'10 who can walk and chew gum at the same time, let alone put up 16 and 9. I think Curry does have the tools to do that which would probably make him a top 10 center. Even Jamal Maglore has made an all star team.
30 year old life long sports fan of the Knicks, Giants and Mets and since some of my best friends are Jets fans I root that they will end their years of inflicting heartbreak on their fans. I've worked in various roles for the NFL, NBA and AFL (gotta love Arena Football) which has given me a slightly jaded opinion of sports media.
Currently I look forward to watching Reggie Bush, Isiah Thomas getting fired and the Mets making a run at the World Series this fall. I'm absolutely tired of talking about Barry Bonds, T.O.,
Some of my favorite writers include: Paul Zimmerman, Len Pasquarli, William Rhoden, Peter Gammons, Bill Simmons, Peter King, Scoop Jackson, Marty Noble and a host of others that I'm forgetting.
