NEW YORK, NY – Real starvation has consumed the Greater New York area – in the sports arena. And in no arena is that more evident than it is in the one between 7th and 8th Avenue. All you need to hear are the Current Madison Square Garden Chants to know that Knicks fans have been waiting 41 years for another NBA Championship. 14 years have lapsed since their last NBA Finals appearance.
During the glory years of the New York Islanders, the chant of “1940!” became the Nassau Coliseum counter punch to the Garden’s “Potvin Sucks!” Well, guess what? We’re now in “1940” territory when it comes to the last Knicks title. Such is life as a fan of the reeling, disintegrating and vastly overrated Knickerbockers – the worst pro franchise in New York.
Amazin’ that that designation includes the destitute and incompetently run New York Mets, whose General Manager has finally begun his final descent by taking on the fans of the team. And no, still no moves by Real Sandy yet. None forthcoming either.
Back to the Knicks … There are good reasons for this Knicks drought. Pound for pound, Jim Dolan is the biggest douche bag alive. There’s never been – and never will be – a bigger douche than Mr. Cablevision. Jimmy D and the Straight Shot’s style and affect make Jeffy Wilpon appear to be Eric Stoltz in one of Angry Ward’s ’80s classics: SomeKind of Wonderful. But that’s a column for another day.
The rapid disintegration of what little credibility and equity the New York Knickerbockers had built with their 54 Win season a year ago has been stunning. They’ve now lost 5 straight at home, and 4 of these games were by at least 15 points. I know the narrative; Tyson Chandler is irreplaceable, and who else can guard the rim the way he does. But here’s the thing. Chandler happens to be the most overrated defensive player I’ve ever seen. He was pretty effective until about mid-way through the 2011-2012 season, then he got dinged up and became a shell of the guy who helped Dirk in Dallas. Last year, Chandler literally operated as a turnstile while guys big and small challenged him. This is going to be seen as heresy because once a guy has a reputation – earned or not – like Chandler’s 2012 Defensive Player of the Year, the label must be true. I watch a lot of Knick games. Last year he was just awful. No defensive help, no shot-blocking, no challenging in the lane. I mean never. He actually made Amar’e Stoudemire look good by comparison on defense – and he’s had 2 hysterectomies. Last March, when they rattled off 13 wins a row, it was Kenyon Martin being the interior presence – not Tyson. Bottom line: excuses that the Knicks are now suffering without their big man patrolling the paint is a myth.
When Carmelo Anthony is your best player, you’re in trouble. Melo can fill it up. Always could. But he’s consumed with“getting his” and not with getting the W. He’s a cancer who uniquely has the ability to make his teammates… worse. The ultimate compliment paid to guys like Jordan and LeBron has always been how they’ve raised their teammates level of performance. Carmelo hurts his. Selfish, moody, petulant; he argues non-stop with refs, doesn’t hustle on D, hardly ever moves without the ball on offense…
Can you imagine LeBron or Wade or Kobe complaining they needed to spill their blood to get a foul call? Can you picture LeBron chasing after the Celtics team bus to respond to human skeleton face Kevin Garnett after a game? Melo is a punk with one-sided game that includes monopolizing the ball, marginalizing teammates and effectively negating the value and role of any point guard who has to try playing with him. He sat at his locker after the latest defeat on Saturday night and pointed fingers and babbled about not getting calls and guys not trying hard enough.
Look in the mirror, Melo! You have demoralized your team and sabotaged their skills and opportunities. They must hate your freakin’ guts! Not trying hard enough? That’s on YOU! You’re supposed to be the Franchise player!
One of the worst coaches ever is enabling this mess. Mike Woodson brought one undeniable strength to this job; He wasn’t Mike D’Antoni. You’ll recall that D’Antoni didn’t coach Defense and had this absurd notion that a skilled point guard could create opportunities for the entire team. The Woodson you’re seeing now is a very strong defensive coach (there have been a periods this season when the opponent failed to score 40 points). D’Antoni lucked out in having Lin land in his lap. But once there the performance of every teammate not named Carmelo took off. Shumpert, Chandler, Novak, Stoudemire. Melo sat with an injury during a chunk of “Linsanity” and repeatedly said he could co-exist with a ball dominant passer like Lin. Whatever was best for the team! Well, we know how that turned out. Enter Woodson. He tore down a free flowing, motion driven offense and was so thankful for getting a 2nd head coaching job, that he instituted his “ISO-Melo” offense.
This approach involves the point guard walking the ball slowly across mid-court, whereby he then hands the ball to Carmelo. Anthony then holds the ball and pounds it on the floor for 23 seconds before taking an off-balance 28 footer with 2 guys in his face. That’s been the Knicks offense since the day Woodson arrived.
So, when Melo or Woodson use the cliched/moronic comment that “This is on me…” tell them: “It sure is, guys. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.”
Angry Ward, our Charlie Ward, tomorrow.
P.s… it’s never too early for the G-Men to be thinking of adding depth to their backfield:
https://youtu.be/0X9WwxzZ8E4
