Red
TYPE-A
KNICKS OFF-SEASON KEYS TO SUCCESS
1. Develop Goals
We can check off signing max contract free agents, although things didn't go according to plan, we found ourselves in a position to capitalize on two star players. Please don't get caught up in the "there's a difference between star and superstar" sh!t. I'm talking all-stars, limited in their own right, they come through at times, and they don't at times, period.
If our goal was to make the playoffs, check that off too. Next goal, compete for a title.
If our goal was to make the playoffs, check that off too. Next goal, compete for a title.
2. Develop Plan
To be the best you must beat the best. Strategic planning entails analytics. The best in this case is assumed to be MIA, but actually includes ALL CONTENDERS going forward, meaning projection is also needed. If we project MIA, CHI, LAL, DAL, BOS as most likely to be contenders going forward, we must realize their commonalities. Stars, size, veteran leadership, defense, coaching.
These teams have one or more of these common traits. It can be argued that we may see a changing of the guard. There are always up-and-coming teams that surprise every year. I agree, the POR's, MEM's or IND's are certainly in the mix as far as potential, but there are mainstays, and we must target the best.
Our plan must be comprehensive, in-depth, strategic.
These teams have one or more of these common traits. It can be argued that we may see a changing of the guard. There are always up-and-coming teams that surprise every year. I agree, the POR's, MEM's or IND's are certainly in the mix as far as potential, but there are mainstays, and we must target the best.
Our plan must be comprehensive, in-depth, strategic.
3. Take Action
After realizing it's better to win a title and sell expensive tickets than to sell tickets alone, we will realize exactly what needs to be done. Stat & Melo vs any two combination are formidable. James/Wade, Rose/Boozer, Kobe/Gasol, Kidd/Nowitski, Rondo/Pierce, Gay/Randolph, Westbrook/Durant.
The issue as we can clearly see, is it's more than our two best vs theirs. All the combo's listed actually include other very good players and form better teams as a result.
There's Bosh, Deng and Noah, Bynum and Odem, Terry and Marion, and Garnett and Green. The elite teams are way more than just two star teams. They're 2+ star teams, deep with bench players, role players, and overall talent to perform what the system and coaching entails.
Our Actions must be well conceived and shrewd if we wish to compete. On a positive note, when seeing things this way, it should be relatively easy to tell what the front office of the Knicks values; tickets or ticker-tape?
The issue as we can clearly see, is it's more than our two best vs theirs. All the combo's listed actually include other very good players and form better teams as a result.
There's Bosh, Deng and Noah, Bynum and Odem, Terry and Marion, and Garnett and Green. The elite teams are way more than just two star teams. They're 2+ star teams, deep with bench players, role players, and overall talent to perform what the system and coaching entails.
Our Actions must be well conceived and shrewd if we wish to compete. On a positive note, when seeing things this way, it should be relatively easy to tell what the front office of the Knicks values; tickets or ticker-tape?
4. Ok, ok Walsh may not fire D'Antoni this year...
but he sure as hell isn't doing anything to boost his confidence. Walsh has had to fight against the current durring his brief Knicks career as he has witnessed first hand the ineptitude of those involved in this organization. Of course it can be argued that he was the one who hired D'Antoni and should be willing to accept the blame for the short comings of the past three years.
Walsh has been a consummate professional, deflecting all the blame to himself knowing the battle within between selling expensive tickets and building a title contender. It's Dolan/D'Antoni vs Defense/Development and Walsh is in the middle. No he wasn't forced to hire D'Antoni but he made a strategic move not fully understanding the ramifications on defense and development. He won't make the same mistake twice. That goes for clarifying his position and more so Dolan's when it comes to negotiating future deals. He wasn't pleased with the boss's meddling in the Melo deal. Again he has handled this as a professional, never pointing the finger at anyone else.
Once Walsh gets a guarantee in writing regarding his decision making power, he will insist on hiring a new defensive assistant. This will be the last straw for D'Antoni, and rightfully so. This is Walsh throwing Mike a life-line filled with lead.
Walsh knows Mike cannot survive another year of media and fan scrutiny and ineptitude. And like a pro, Walsh realizes he put Mike in a difficult position, but will it be easier for Mike to incorporate a new coordinator into his scheme? We should expect our offense to be working like a well-oiled-machine that strikes fear into the hearts of the opposition come next season.
Walsh has been a consummate professional, deflecting all the blame to himself knowing the battle within between selling expensive tickets and building a title contender. It's Dolan/D'Antoni vs Defense/Development and Walsh is in the middle. No he wasn't forced to hire D'Antoni but he made a strategic move not fully understanding the ramifications on defense and development. He won't make the same mistake twice. That goes for clarifying his position and more so Dolan's when it comes to negotiating future deals. He wasn't pleased with the boss's meddling in the Melo deal. Again he has handled this as a professional, never pointing the finger at anyone else.
Once Walsh gets a guarantee in writing regarding his decision making power, he will insist on hiring a new defensive assistant. This will be the last straw for D'Antoni, and rightfully so. This is Walsh throwing Mike a life-line filled with lead.
Walsh knows Mike cannot survive another year of media and fan scrutiny and ineptitude. And like a pro, Walsh realizes he put Mike in a difficult position, but will it be easier for Mike to incorporate a new coordinator into his scheme? We should expect our offense to be working like a well-oiled-machine that strikes fear into the hearts of the opposition come next season.
5. Player Acquisition
We don't know what the CBA will bring. What we do know is who is under contract, and what powers Walsh will have; it begins with a defensive assistant, and a fire under D'Antoni's ass.
Mike should be up for the challenge. His reputation is soiled, his short comings on full display, he still has something to prove, he's on his last year of his contract and hopefully would still like to coach. He should be more than willing to accept help from various sources and alter his approach.
Under contract are four of five starters in Billups, Fields, Melo, and Stat. Right away Mike will notice he has a floor general, and two scorers. He does not have the speed at the point that he likes. He also does not have a spot up shooter for kick outs; and of course he does not have a center for rebounds and defense. Mike will attempt to turn Landry Fields into that spot-up shooter over the extended summer, but will he have say so in the center position?
The history says yes, the present circumstance says different. Mike will be forced to play with the player that Walsh feels is best for the team, except this time he won't sit a player to prove his point. The same point that has been battled from day one; get me the players I want and we can be successful, if not I just won't play them.
The first priority player we get is center (is it me, or have we been asking for this for years now?). There are two assumptions we can make if this does not happen: There just wasn't one available- which is bullsh!t, we've seen Walsh literally scour the earth for a big man and we drafted Jordan last year or, Walsh and the Knicks front office would rather sell expensive tickets and sell us on building for 2012.
With Chauncey Billups, unless he is traded for a better PG, why else would we still deprive ourselves of a complete roster, even if he is traded? That excuse must be put to bed. Get the players now, stop putting all your eggs in one basket, stop manufacturing excuses for failure.
There is the notion that Turiaf will do as starter next year. He cannot hold up in this offense for 82+ games. Not a shot.
Mike should be up for the challenge. His reputation is soiled, his short comings on full display, he still has something to prove, he's on his last year of his contract and hopefully would still like to coach. He should be more than willing to accept help from various sources and alter his approach.
Under contract are four of five starters in Billups, Fields, Melo, and Stat. Right away Mike will notice he has a floor general, and two scorers. He does not have the speed at the point that he likes. He also does not have a spot up shooter for kick outs; and of course he does not have a center for rebounds and defense. Mike will attempt to turn Landry Fields into that spot-up shooter over the extended summer, but will he have say so in the center position?
The history says yes, the present circumstance says different. Mike will be forced to play with the player that Walsh feels is best for the team, except this time he won't sit a player to prove his point. The same point that has been battled from day one; get me the players I want and we can be successful, if not I just won't play them.
The first priority player we get is center (is it me, or have we been asking for this for years now?). There are two assumptions we can make if this does not happen: There just wasn't one available- which is bullsh!t, we've seen Walsh literally scour the earth for a big man and we drafted Jordan last year or, Walsh and the Knicks front office would rather sell expensive tickets and sell us on building for 2012.
With Chauncey Billups, unless he is traded for a better PG, why else would we still deprive ourselves of a complete roster, even if he is traded? That excuse must be put to bed. Get the players now, stop putting all your eggs in one basket, stop manufacturing excuses for failure.
There is the notion that Turiaf will do as starter next year. He cannot hold up in this offense for 82+ games. Not a shot.
6. The Bench
The bench can put a team over the top. It's not a matter of finding good players, like the starting five, they have to fit into the system, be able to perform crucial roles with limited minutes, and must be financially feasible. This is why this plan must be comprehensive.
Decide on a strategy based on team identity. Strengthen our defensive weakness with a proven assistant. Complete the starting five with a center while leaving room for depth.
The good news is we can compete with our 1-4 and need a starting 5. We also can say Douglas, Routins and Turiaf are not starters, but not bad subs. We have no SF off the bench, and WIlliams may be a cheap option.
Walsh must consider that signing Williams will allow Mike to use him at the 3 and 4. That may be to Mike's detriment, not that Williams cant play the 4, but that Mike is still deciding on using a short, out-of-natural position rotation.
Decide on a strategy based on team identity. Strengthen our defensive weakness with a proven assistant. Complete the starting five with a center while leaving room for depth.
The good news is we can compete with our 1-4 and need a starting 5. We also can say Douglas, Routins and Turiaf are not starters, but not bad subs. We have no SF off the bench, and WIlliams may be a cheap option.
Walsh must consider that signing Williams will allow Mike to use him at the 3 and 4. That may be to Mike's detriment, not that Williams cant play the 4, but that Mike is still deciding on using a short, out-of-natural position rotation.
We can assume a few things:
1. Without a center and or a defender, we can't compete. We were 28th in defense, atrocious on the boards, and full of incomplete, undersized excuses and incompetence. A center is the one position in need of filling that will affect this ranking.
If we don't see new formidable centers and or big men on the roster come tip-off, the Knicks don't want to win and rather sell tickets and hope for the future. So it really doesn't matter who it is as much as what he is? Is he a center?
2. D'Antoni with his coaching style, approach, defensive effectiveness or lack there of, subs, and overall strategy will prove his intentions and prowess, one way or the other... especially if number 1 is the case.
3. With Billups, Fields, Stat, and Melo + D'Antoni's ubber genius rep, more time, a bench, and Mike's lame duck status: 99% OF THAT BULLSH!T WE SAW FOR THREE YEARS SHOULD CEASE.
4. At the least we will be in the playoffs.
How far is that step from Winning a title? That answer can come about over the course of a summer, or be contemplated for a lifetime.
