Broadway Dreams

This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.

The New York Sun

The uniforms still say “New York,” but that’s about all that’s the same about this year’s Knicks.In a tumultuous off-season, the Knicks waved goodbye to the last two links to their 1999 conference champions when Kurt Thomas was traded and Allan Houston retired.


Knicks GM Isiah Thomas continued his wild flurry of personnel moves, signing Jerome James from Seattle; trading for Phoenix’s Quentin Richardson, Chicago’s Eddy Curry and Antonio Davis; and using three first-round draft picks to take Channing Frye, Nate Robinson, and David Lee.


Perhaps most important, Thomas used his Indiana connections to cozy up to Larry Brown once the legendary coach was ousted from Detroit, luring him to coach the Knicks by making him the league’s highest-paid suit.


But after all that, where do the Knicks stand? Are they really any better off than the disorganized 33-49 squad of a year ago, or are all these moves just a case of putting lipstick on a pig? Let’s break down the Knicks and see where they’re headed this season:


STRENGTHS


SCORING The Knicks were a decent offensive team last season – it was the defense that did them in. Stephon Marbury carried much of the load, averaging 21.7 points and 8.2 assists to top the 20-8 plateau for the sixth time in his career. Newly imported center Eddy Curry also has a nose for the basket, averaging 16.1 points per game for the Bulls last season on a sizzling 53.8% shooting. Curry became available after the Bulls fretted over his irregular heartbeat, but the Knicks doctors cleared him and his ability to score in the post should add a new dimension to the attack. Just 22, the big man should continue improving.


On the wings, Jamal Crawford is an elusive dribbler who may run the point on many occasions while Marbury plays off the ball. But his horrid shot selection will need to improve if he’s going to stay out of Brown’s doghouse.


Richardson was one of the league’s leading 3-point shooters last season, but missed nearly all of the preseason with a hamstring injury and may need to be brought along slowly. And don’t overlook Nate Robinson. Generously listed at 5-foot-9, the rookie guard is an offensive energizer who should fire up the second unit.


FRONTCOURT DEPTH The Knicks have long had a glut of power forwards, but this year they also have some real, bona fide centers to go with them. Backing up the 6-foot-11-inch, 285-pound Curry in the middle will be the 7-foot-1-inch, 272-pound Jerome James. If James’s slothful work habits aren’t to Brown’s liking, the coach can also turn to Davis, who is only 6-foot-9, but could bench press a bus. Another possibility in the middle is Frye. He was drafted as a center for his shot-blocking skills, but the 6-foot-11-inch rookie may have to play power forward until he builds more strength.


At power forward, Davis is the likely opening day starter, but at least three other Knicks are fighting for minutes. Undersized Malik Rose has a nose for rebounding but needs to commit fewer turnovers,while Maurice Taylor has the requisite size but is strangely inactive on the glass. Another rookie, lefthander David Lee, has nudged his way into the picture with a strong preseason and could see more playing time as the season wears on.


COACHING The Knicks’ greatest asset is on the sidelines. Brown’s teams almost always improve sharply in his first season, especially at the defensive end. With New York ranking 26th in Defensive Efficiency a year ago (that’s my measure of a team’s points allowed per possession), Brown certainly has his work cut out for him.Additionally, he’ll have to teach Crawford the meaning of shot selection and get Curry and James to put forth more consistent efforts than they have for previous employers. Finally, he’ll have to repair a relationship with Marbury that was badly strained during Brown’s mishandling of the 2004 Olympic team.


WEAKNESSES


OUTSIDE SHOOTING Other than Richardson, there isn’t a single outside shooter who strikes fear into opponents. This will allow opponents to sag into the lane and bottle up Curry. Crawford (36.1%) and Marbury (35.4%) were at least reasonably accurate, and both might improve those numbers if Curry can draw some double teams. But reserves like Penny Hardaway, Matt Barnes, and Trevor Ariza also have limited range. Plus, the losses of Tim Thomas (40.9%) and Houston (38.8%) mean the Knicks will need some serious output from Richardson just to break even with 2004-05. The frontcourt won’t provide any help either, as most of that unit struggles even from the middle ranges.


SMALL FORWARD With the trade of Tim Thomas, the small forward job is wide open. Richardson is the most likely candidate, but at 6-foot-6, he’s a bit short for the position since he’s no longer playing at Phoenix’s run-and-gun tempo (the Knicks won’t be – Brown is one of the league’s slowest-paced coaches). The other options are even less palatable – second-year pro Ariza and unheralded free agent Barnes. Both are scrappy defenders who should endear themselves to Brown, but neither can shoot, further tempting opponents to sag in the paint. Hardaway is another possibility, but he appears to be near the end.


DEFENSE The Knicks didn’t play much defense a year ago, and there isn’t much defensive talent on the roster this year. Marbury and Crawford expend virtually no effort at that end, while Curry’s lackluster defense vexed the Bulls for years. Of the key players on the roster, only Anotnio Davis possesses a true defensive mindset, though Richardson will take his share of charges, and James has his moments as an interior presence. Still, it could be a rough ride as Brown tries to teach his troops “the right way.”


PREDICTION


I don’t expect Isiah’s player moves to pay dividends. Swapping Michael Sweetney for Curry basically replaced a good contract with a bad one at the cost of Tim Thomas, while James is stealing money, and the backcourt is a body short. In fact, if Herb Williams was still the head coach, I’d pick the Knicks to be even worse than they were a year ago. But Brown’s ability to get the best from his players is uncanny. Solely because of his coaching skill, I’m picking the Knicks to narrowly miss a playoff spot with a record of 38-44.



Mr. Hollinger is the author of the 2005-06 Pro Basketball Forecast. He will preview the New Jersey Nets in tomorrow’s New York Sun.


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