Hello fellow Knicks fans. How are you doing? Everyone okay? Am I okay?

Those last two games (Sac & Phoenix)... yeesh... (edit to add: bumping this to those two, rather than including the Utah game... revising history, message still stands.... sigh....)

First appearance of Francis... getting that slightly sweaty feeling... lump in the throat... two in the WRONG column... that old, unpleasant, and wholly uninvited "familiar" feeling from, say, the last 6 years?

STOP! JUST STOP IT RIGHT NOW!

Clear your minds. Seriously. Clear them. I'm about to get Braveheart on your asses.

I don't see anything from our inglorious recent past here (unless you count Herb Williams). I don't see Starbury. I don't see Darko. I don't see Larry Hughes. I don't see Isiah. I don't see Al gathering materials for that massive brick retaining wall he plans to build in mid-April again. I don't see Duhon. I don't see Nate. Frustrating Nate. I don't see Eddy Curry. Oh wait.. I see Eddy. How did I miss Eddy? Someone throw a tarp over Eddy. I don't see Q-Rich and Crawford hoisting up three's at a frightening pace. And, God bless 'im, I don't see good old David Lee.

And that's good. You know why? Because DLee was the OLD high water mark for this team. And we're NOT that old team. Do you want to know what I see?

I see the dormant talent awakening in Wilson Chandler as he slashes to the basket and finishes -oops with style.

I see a 2nd round diamond going completely Elmer's and making this team all sticky, in the best and Landriest way possible.

I see a returning young cock with all the potential in the world, ready to energize, strut, pop, and drive.

I see a bearded man. A crazed, overdramatic, shot-blocking bearded man.

I see a man who is doing what he do. And once his shoulder feels better, he's going to do what he do even more. Most Definitely.

I see a Bully and a corner pooper, both of whom can drive with aplomb, shoot the lights out, and even play some D. And, sometimes, just sometimes, carry us through the rough patches.

And finally, I see two men. Two CAPTAINS. Not potential, but BONAFIDE All-Stars. One who dishes and swishes with impunity, tough as a steel-belted penguin, fast as a turbo-charged penguin, and rocking the chin-strap beard.

And the other. The other can do whatever he wants. And you can't stop him. Because he's Standing Tall And Talented.

Do you hear me? DO. YOU. UNDERSTAND? This is not old. This is new. Now do what Donald Glover (A.K.A. - Childish Gambino) says and Be On That. I Be On That. Get On This. We Be On That (and This.)

First, let me say that I'm all for some team depth. A back-up forward/center and/or a back-up PG would be welcome addtions in my book. But two thoughts immediately jump to my mind when talking about getting STAT and Felton more pine-time. And they are as follows:

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Anyone notice who's leading the league in blocks? 
Not that there's any way in hell that I'd want Darko back on the team. I think his relative success in Minnesota makes him akin to an anglerfish (i.e. - he needs somewhere cold and dark where no one is watching in order to thrive). But, damn, wouldn't that stat line look lovely in tandem with Turiaf's contributions to date...

I will now take this space to bang the drum for two players I'd like to see fill the Knicks need at back-up PG and Big depth: Earl Boykins and Etan Thomas. Neither is getting the spin they need to show off their goods with the Bucks & Hawks, respectively, and I'd like to see them as Knicks. Please reply with your choices for back-up 1 and frontcourt ballast pieces who aren't currently making major contributions to their respective teams.

And, no, "BENCH/TRADE/STRAND GALLO ON THE MOON!" aren't viable replies.

I'm surprised as anyone to see the words "Landry", "Fields", "Starting", "Shooting", and "Guard" anywhere near each other, but I'm certainly intrigued. The announcement by Pringles regarding his line-up caught many by surprise, evoking equal parts "yay!" and dread. Regardless of whether you feel Fields deserves the chance or can handle the spot (my informal read on the feedback seems a solid "Yes" on the first count, "hrrrmmm, I dunno... maybe?" on the second one), there's no denying that Landry has lived up to and beyond expectations, and has surpassed his 2nd round mates. Make the jump to see how his draft position-specific comtemporaries (which included some P&T favorites) faired once the Summer ended, the rosters were whittled down, and rotations were decided. Please note that I'm only checking in on those who were drafted after Fields and Rautins, as hypothetical "if we got him!" situations bore me. They BORE ME!

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Is this just Isola taking something to it's extreme from an "inside Knicks official" quote?

"Timofey Mozgov, the Knicks' new international man of mystery, may have won the starting center job even before training camp begins. A Knicks official says that Mozgov, the 7-1 rookie from St. Petersburg, Russia, has been impressive during voluntary training sessions in Greenburgh and that coach Mike D'Antoni is already considering starting Mozgov alongside Amar'e Stoudemire, Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler and Raymond Felton. "

Read here and you tell me

While I think Timofey has potential, I think this is a bit of absurd logic, saying he's making strides at the starting Center position before camp has even started.

I posted this in the comments section of the schedule FanPost by gbaked, but felt bad about such a lengthy comment to someone else's post, reconsidered, and decided to re-post it as a new FanPost. And in the words of one of my favorite current comedians, hold on here folks; I'm gonna take you to Mordor and bring you right back to the Shire...

I know this is going to be an unpopular line of thinking, but I feel it has to be addressed. A lot has been said about the new acquisitions of the Miami Heat and how they’ll have to learn to play with each other, with many predicting (gleefully, in some cases) that the trio who I refuse to name will struggle mightily at first.

Which brings us to our Knicks. We’ve got 4 guys on the roster who’ve actually PLAYED with each other for less than a season (remember, DWTDD didn’t get any burn until a decent length into the season, and Bully didn’t arrive until even later, leaving only Gallo and Will to get acclimated with each other over the course of a full season). And, as noted, the Knicks have, literally, a whole new team. Most of whom wouldn’t know each other from Adam short of maybe bumping into each other at Vegas strip clubs. But playing on a basketball court together will be a wholly (and holy) new experience for them.

So, with all that said, let me preface (further) what I’m about to say with this: The Knicks are gonna be decent this year. I think, personally, playoff-worthy decent.

But with the schedule laid out in front of me, and the thought that these new guys are gonna take time to gel… I wouldn’t be surprised if this team starts out 10-10 to start the season (with a losing record for most of the first 20 games until they close out November strong and beat Detroit and the Nyets to get to 10-10). And, mark my words, the internet, the NY media, and probably even some on this blog will be HOWLING! Saying insane things! Calling for heads! Getting U-G-L-Y, you ain’t got NO alibi.

And all I can say is… stay strong, my knick brethren. It will all work out in the end.

In the Yahoo Sports "Knicks Team Report" posted today (no writer credited), there was the obligatory mention of the Knicks FA pick-up prospects of HWSNBN, Wade, and Joe Johnson (Bosh was conspicuously absent), and then the writer came up with this flight of fancy:

Or maybe it will be more of a Plan B approach, with the possibility of targeting restricted free agent Rudy Gay(notes) to join long, athletic scorers Danilo Gallinari(notes) and Wilson Chandler(notes) and add a crafty playmaking point guard (Luke Ridnour(notes), perhaps) and a shot-blocking big (Marcus Camby(notes)).

A) Has anyone seen Gay or Ridnour's names mentioned at all as possible pick-ups anywhere else? and

B) What's the general feel about the three new components mentioned?

I know Camby would be a welcome addition by many at P&T, but what about the rest? If the big names don't come, would Gay, Ridnour, and Camby be enough to salve your tortured souls (at least until reinforcements come in 2011-12)?

I'd welcome Gay's game (pause), but, much like my soup, I'd like something more substantial as a base. Have at it. What do you all think?