SB Nation User Blog: solanumbrella

A Rubio Hypothesis.

solanumbrella — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 05:36:57 -0000

Admittedly, I'm in love with Ricky Rubio pause. But I have an objective hypothesis concerning our acquisition of the spicy point guard pause, and here it is:

Rubio was taken 5th overall by the Wolves, who then proceeded to take Jonny Flynn 6th overall. They definitely need a point guard, but they certainly do not need two. This leads us to believe that one of the recent additions will be moved.

First Question: Why would they move one of their picks?

First Answer: As individuals, Rubio and Flynn are both higher-echelon talents. Rubio is Harry Potter with the rock and Jonny Flynn is an excellent energy player who could develop into a starting NBA point guard within the year. In tandem, however, the two playing on the court together simply does not work. One of the them would have to guard the two position, a job of which neither player is capable (Flynn for obvious reasons and Rubio because he's only 6'4" and lacking muscle). This leads me to believe that the Wolves never planned to combine the two guards, as it would be foolish for them to draft a player who would play back-up with the 5th or 6th overall selection. Moving on.

Second Question: Of the two, which one is more likely to be moved?

Second Answer: Rubio. The reason for the is a simple one: Money. Had the Timberwolves planned on keeping Rubio, they would have taken him 6th rather than 5th, so they would pay slightly less considering the rookie pay scale. I could also cite his disappointment with his selection, but I don't read too much into that shit. However, in the NBA, as with every industry, you must follow the dolla signs, bitch.

Third Question: What would make the Knicks his most likely destination?

Third Answer: Need. The Knicks were one of the many teams who went into this draft with a mindset of nabbing a "point guard of the future." From a quick analysis, they were the only team who was unsuccessful. The Kings, Warriors, Bucks, Sixers, etc. all got their players (no matter what Monta Ellis's shooting guard ass has to say about it). Our Knicks, however, remain stagnant with a mediocre Chris Duhon.

Also we must consider the needs of the Timberwolves. They will, in some way, have come out of this draft with a solid point guard. They have have an excellent PF/C in Al Jefferson, and an additional power forward in Kevin Love. A quick glance at the three spot makes any sportsfan want to vomit. With Ryan Gomes and Rodney Carney playing the small forward position, the Wolves need help. I think you guys know where I'm going with this: Wilson Chandler.

Giving up Willie would be painful, but we really need to let the cock spin. You truly do not want to click that.

I'll let you guys go nuts with the trade machine concerning the salaries, but a quick glance at the free agent list shows you plenty of expiring deals on the part of the T-Wolves, and you know we gobble that shit up son pause.

What would you guys think of some fangled deal swapping Willie for Rubio and more burn for Gallo?

Peace.

This started out as a comment, ended up as a girl's diary entry.

solanumbrella — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 03:45:34 -0000

This was originally a response to Seth’s comment in the post about New York being the Mecca of Basketball, but it got way too lengthy so fuck it. It’s a post now.

I never lived in the city and only spent 7 years of my life in the state of New York before moving to Pennsylvania. I have yet to meet another person out in Pennsylvania who even CLOSE to shares the same feelings toward the Knicks that I do.

Normally I wouldn't consider this a good thing, but I've kind of enjoyed it, retrospectively.

In the past however many years, I've watched the Knicks get their asses handed to them by some of the worst teams ever assembled. I've watched them get their asses kicked to shambles by teams in a division marked the "Titanic" conference.

I've watched the Knicks play like SHIT against teams of almost all white guys (here's to you, 2006-2009 Indiana Pacers!).

They are going to get a lot better sometime relatively soon, and you're going to have a lot more people going absolutely bugshit about them almost entirely because of their improved record. I welcome this, but at the same time it's going to make me look back on the game threads of "Knicks vs. Nets 2008: Everybody get ready for a terrifying shitshow pitting the worst teams of all time against each other!" and kind of miss them.

It probably seems really pompous that I'm even typing this up, seeing as the Knicks' improvement is far from guaranteed. But these last few (ten) years have been a test of will, and I think we all deserve it.

Any given year, I want the Knicks to go 82-0 and sweep the playoffs. I want to see, in my lifetime, not just a Knicks Championship team, but a fucking Dynasty. I want to be able to say "Wow, someone from your team won the dunk contest? Cool...what was your record this year again?" I want the Celtics to fake injury at the end of the year against us because really, there's no point in trying to beat us at the Garden.

Anyway, back to what I was saying in the way beginning, when I was unnecessarily giving a stupid autobiography for no reason. I live far, far away from the nearest Knicks fan, and this website has consistently given a shit about the Knicks even when the Knicks didn’t give a shit about the Knicks.

I agree with Seth that the fans of this site are predominantly diehard and realistic people. When there is a welcome influx of fans who are neither (which, frankly, has already started), I’m going to love it, but about 1% of me is going to look back on the last few years and say “Jesus Christ we were terrible, thank God other people still gave a shit!”

I just hope, with the impending flood of new fans of this site (Once again, I’m pumped for this, not dreading it. Welcome everybody), I just hope it won’t mean we have to do shit like, FOR REAL. I hope we still get ridiculous recaps, even if we’re winning 50 games a season (Please, God).

A girl can only hope, Diary. Goodnight.

Knicks All-Decades Awards

solanumbrella — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 20:33:25 -0000

Editor's Note: Knicks-Bucks thread coming soon. In the meantime, solanumbrella presents an interesting discussion topic.

Via Isola [Article on Knicks site here]

Donnie Walsh says he's having a "Greatest Players" tribute representing the greatest Knicks player from each of the last 6 decades at halftime of the March 23rd game vs. the Magic. He has each decade pegged:

40s: Carl Braun

50s: Richie Guerin

60s: Willis Reed

70s: Walt "Clyde" Frazier

80s: Bernard King

90s: ~~Chris Dudley~~ Patrick Ewing

2000s: ??? [Will be honored in 2010, when this shitshow is over]

with Dick McGuire getting a Legacy Award.

Isola hypothesizes Spree or Houston as far as 2000s are concerned, and one of the comments suggests maybe Marbury. Any other ideas? Agreement? Disagreement?

I say if, by some miracle, David Lee can string together 20 straight games of Godliness and lead us to the playoffs, he should get the nod for rescuing us from death's capture and deading the Isiah Era once and for all.

Marbury to Celtics

solanumbrella — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 18:57:57 -0000

As reported by the times

Marbury is definitely going to the Celtics, as we all suspected. The Times is reporting that he'll sign for the veteran's minimum (1.3 mil, I think). Quoth the Times:

"Marbury is scheduled to meet with reporters in Boston on Friday morning and be in uniform Friday night when the Celtics host the Indiana Pacers."

Definitely the best quote of the short article is:

"An elite player in his prime, Marbury has not always been considered a positive influence on the teams he has played for."

This guy is a douchebag. Thoughts, gentlemen?

Breaking: Tim Thomas & Big Snacks for Larry Hughes

solanumbrella — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 18:33:32 -0000

Just read on ESPN.com that Chad Ford heard the Knicks and Bulls have agreed to the following trade:

Jerome James

Tim Thomas

for

Larry Hughes

What the hell would this do to help us? I don't know, give us back a player who has forgotten how to be a good basketball player in the last 3 years? You guys tell me.

Is he serviceable? Is this a mistake? Are we going to miss Tim's 3-point shooting and size, with no real big men? Does this mean less playing time for anybody? Thoughts.

ESPN report

solanumbrella — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 16:45:54 -0000

This shit that Chad Ford (is white as fuck) just wrote up lists his top ten ballerz most likely to move before the trade deadline. David Lee is listed as #7 with the following reasoning:

"But to keep Lee, who becomes a restricted free agent next summer, the Knicks would have to pay a terrible price, considering that team president Donnie Walsh is trying to clear cap space for the summer of 2010. As the Knicks currently stand, if Walsh signs Lee to a big extension, any hope of having cap space to lure LeBron James goes out the window."

with some other shit, too.

Personally, I think David Lee is the only big man we currently have that I wouldn't peg an "alien" in that test they did at the beginning of Men In Black. Not sure what this means, but it's definitely something. I would like to hang on to him as long as possible no homo.

Thoughts? Concerns?

Someone help me out, here.

solanumbrella — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 03:55:27 -0000

I'm trying to figure out some way for the Knicks to get ahold of Raymond Felton. I know he's not an unbelievable point guard by any means, but I've watched him a little over the past couple of years (Don't ask me why the fuck I get the Bobcats channel) and I have to say he's pretty sick.

Here's what Hollinger over at ESPN has to say about him:

Scouting report: Felton's penetration skills are his primary asset. He is very quick off the dribble, can go with either hand and is effective pushing the ball in transition. He has good court vision, too, and might be able to indulge that part of his game more now that he has a few teammates who can score. While Felton has a reputation as a poor outside shooter, he's actually done decently from outside the past couple seasons. Instead, finishing at the rim has been his big problem.

Defensively, it would be nice if he were an inch or two taller, but Felton does a good job keeping opposing guards in front of him and doesn't appear to have any glaring weaknesses. Opponents rarely attacked him since some of his teammates were such easy targets, but that might change this season.

Does that sound like someone who should be running in a D'Antoni System? My vote is yes.

Also: According to Chad Ford over at ESPN:

"Analysis: I'm a D.J. Augustin admirer, and I think he'll be an improvement over Raymond Felton eventually. The Bobcats were shopping Felton before the draft and I think they'll keep doing it now."

So, what trades can we think of? What do the 'cats need that we have? Matching Salaries? Watch some youtube, get on the ESPN Trade Machine and give me your opinion.

May the The Cock be with you.

[Early] Update: David Lee is my second favorite player on the Knicks (RENALDOOOO!!!!!), and I love him (no homo).
I love the way he plays, I love his work ethic, I love his desire to get better, his desire to play no matter how shitty his team is, and his commitment to excellence. But he is a career 6th or 7th man, no matter how you slice it. His defense simply isn't good enough to make up for the fact that he'll average ten points his whole career. He would be excellent on a competitive team as a staple of the second unit (a la Millsap).

However, we just drafted a project (The Cock), and priority number one right now is developing him. You want to know how to develop players? Pass it to them. On a regular team, this wouldn't be a problem at all. On the Knicks, there is NO ONE to pass him the ball. Last year the Knicks ranked dead last in assists per game. We need, I repeat, NEED somebody to distribute this year. Nobody will get better if we do not have a pass-first PG who can actually ball a little (Sorry, Mardy).

There are people on the board talking about getting someone better for David Lee (understandable). But I don't see how we could get much more than someone like Felton. Let's brainstorm and think of other PG's to go after. There are talks of getting someone like Mike Conley Jr. of the Grizz.

To put this into perspective, people are entertaining the idea that we should acquire a FOURTH OVERALL PICK from last year's LOADED-ASS-MOTHERFUCKING-DRAFT for David Lee.

As much as I love Lee, this is nothing short of insane.

I'm essentially just rambling, here, but I think priority #1 at this point should be to cop a competent passer, of which our Knicks have ZERO. Thoughts?

Don't read unless you're sick in the head, like I am.

solanumbrella — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 00:54:36 -0000

Here is a compiled list of every rhyme I heard Clyde say throughout the course of the season. Yes, I have a lot of free time.

"So nice, we’ll show it twice."
"So nice, we’ll show it twice."
"So nice, play it twice."

"Swoops… and hoops."
"Swoops and hoops off the glass."
"Swoops and hoops."
"Undaunted by the first rejection, able to swoop and hoop."
"Swoops for the hoop."
"Nice swoop to the hoop."

"Don’t break that plane. So all that work, in vain."

"In vain, in pain."

"Stealin’ and dealin’."
"Stealing and dealing, what got them into the game."
"Stealing and dealing."
"Yeah, he’s been stealin’ and dealin’."

"Wheelin’ and dealin’."
"Wheelin’ and dealin’."
"Wheeling and dealing to the hoop."
"Wheels and deals off the glass."
"Nice wheelin’ and dealin’."
"Wheels and deals to Dave."
"Wheels and deals."
"The wheel and deal by Zach."
"Wheelin’ and dealin’ off the dribble."
"This time wheeling and dealing for the deuce."
"Providing the emphasis with his wheeling and dealing."
"Then the wheelin’ and dealin’ by Stevenson."
"Wheelin’ and dealin’ with the finger roll."
"This time wheelin’ and dealin’ to get to the line."
"Nice wheelin’ and dealin’ by Zach."
"Wheeling and dealing that time."
"And this wheel and deal off the glass."
"Watch the wheelin’ and dealin’ right there."
"Wheeling and dealing."
"Wheels and deals off the glass."
"Nice wheelin’ and dealin’ in the paint."
"Watch the wheel and deal off Bosh."
"Nice little wheelin’ and dealin’ this time."
"Nice little wheelin’ and dealin’ right there."
"Wheelin’ and dealin’ by Jeffries."
"Nice wheelin’ and dealin’ by Cook."
"Wheelin’ and dealin’ right there."
"In his element, wheelin’ and dealin’."
"Wheelin’ and dealin’ off the glass."
"Now he’s getting into his act again, wheeling and dealing."
"After this wheelin’ and dealin’ by Dunleavy."
"This time nice wheelin’ and dealin’."
"Snyder wheelin’ and dealin’."
"Gomes wheelin’ and dealin’."

"Movin’ and groovin’ to draw the foul."
"Moving and grooving."
"Nice moving and grooving to score."
"Jamal movin’ and groovin’."
"Guys are moving and grooving out there now."
"Now Jamison movin’ and groovin’."
"Nice movin’ and groovin’ by Zach."
"Showed a lot of energy out there, moving and grooving."
"Start movin’ and groovin’ a little more."
"Good movin’ and groovin’ by Curry on the D."
"Good movin’ and groovin’ by Q."
"The Knicks movin’ and grooving’, but can’t finish."
"It’s like vintage Curry, now, movin’ and groovin’ in the paint."
"Zach is moving and grooving tonight."

"Stumbling and bumbling."
"Knicks stumbling and bumbling now."
"The Knicks stumbling and bumbling again."
"The Knicks thriving in transition, the Bucks stumbling and bumbling."
"Knicks stumbling and bumbling out there, can’t stay on their feet."
"A lot of stumbling and bumbling going on tonight."

"This time Chandler stumbling, fumbling."

"Slicing and dicing between the Knicks."
"Slicing and dicing with dexterity."
"Nate did a nice job that time slicing and dicing."
"This time slicing and dicing through the Blazers."
"Slicing and dicing that time."

"The Knicks playing with tenacity and sagacity now."
"Talk about Paul’s sagacity, his tenacity, and his old school mentality."

"Nate the great."
"Nate the great at the line."
"Let’s take a look at Nate the great."
"So Nate the great providing the Knicks offense, now."
"Nate the great, penetrating and devastating."
"Nate has been great."

"Razzle dazzle by Jamal."
"Razzle dazzle."
"Razzle dazzle."
"A little razzle dazzle off the dribble."
"A little razzle dazzle by Paul to get into the paint."
"Let’s take a look at the razzle dazzle by Crawford."
"Little razzle dazzle by Jamal."

"Huffing and stuffing."
"Huffing and stuffing."
"Huffing and stuffing along the baseline."
"Huffing and stuffing that time."
"Good anticipation, huffing and stuffing."
"Huffing and stuffing that time along the baseline."
"Off the dribble, perimeter shots, huffing and stuffing."

"Take a look at Zach, going to the rack."
"Zach to the rack."
"Zach to the rack with the right hand that time."
"Zach to the rack, so he’s at the line shooting one."
"So Zach to the rack."

"Zach gets it back."

"Both teams huffing and puffing, now."
"They’re all huffing and puffing."
"See the huffing and puffing going on now."
"A lot of huffing and puffing going on."
"A little huffing and puffing going on."

"Nate continues to percolate."
"Nate starting to percolate."

"Cruises and bruises to the hoop."

"It was vicious, let’s see if it was malicious."
"Vicious, but not malicious, by Balkman."

"Nick the quick."

"It’s not how many you take, it’s how many you make."

"Duping and hooping."
"Then the dupe for the hoop."
"Nice duping and hooping that time."

"A little more pep in their step."

"They were hacking and whacking guys."
"Hacking and whacking by the Knicks, now."
"Dreadful hacking and whacking."
"They were hacking and whacking him all the way to the hoop."
"The Pacers hacking and whacking."

"Spinning and winning that time."
"Yi and Lee. Spinning and winning on Dave."
"Spinning and winning on the right side of the court."
"That time nice spinning and winning off the glass."
"Spinning and winning along the base line that time."
"Spinning and winning that time off the glass."
"Previously spinning and winning the right side, now the left side."

"The Knicks running and stunning."
"Running and stunning the Knicks now."
"Running and stunning the Knicks."
"Running and stunning the Knicks now."

"No play for Mr. Gray."

"Used and abused him."
"Being used and abused by Jamal."
"He was usin’ and abusin’ Bibby."
"Usin’ and abusin’ the big man."
"Been used and abused by Nate Robinson."

"Hustling and muscling."
"Watch his hustle and muscle in there."

"A little shake and bake."
"Another little shake and bake right there."
"A little shaking and baking that time."
"That time a little shakin’ bakin’ off the glass."
"No one can stay with him when he starts shaking and baking."
"Right there, shaking and baking."
"Jamal, shaking and baking in the paint this time."
"Let’s take a look at the shake and bake by Nate."
"Not allowing him to shake and bake like he normally does."
"He’s been shaking and baking here in the third quarter."
"There’s not a lot of time to shake and bake."
"Saw Nate shakin’ and bakin’ on him."
"Williams, a little shake and bake as he goes to the hoop."
"Nice little shake and bake that time to get to the line."

"Rose with a post and toast."
"Rose knew right away he could post and toast him."
"He’s going to post and toast him all evening if he does that."
"This time posting and toasting in the paint."
"Previously Curry posting and toasting him."
"No match as Curry posted and toasted him."
"This time posting and toasting."
"West starts posting and toasting."
"Previously posting and toasting."
"Nice post and toast by Zach that time."
"Nice post and toast that time by Q-Rich."
"Aldridge posting and toasting."
"Frye looking to post and toast."

"Good dishing and swishing now by both teams."
"Let’s take a look at the dishing and swishing."
"Yeah, they’re dishing and swishing now."
"Nice dishing and swishing here by the Knicks in transition."
"Nate Robinson, with his dishing and swishing."
"Can’t allow him to dish and swish and bound and astound."
"They continue to dish and swish now."
"They need to do more dishing and swishing."
"Good dishing and swishing right now by the Knicks."
"They’re not scoring in transition, just a easy dish and swish."
"Another dish and swish."
"After no dishing and swishing earlier in the first half…"
"That time they did some dishing and swishing."
"Yeah, not a lot of dishing and swishing by the Knicks."
"Good dishing by the Hawks, but can they swish?"
"So not a lot of dishing and swishing by the Knicks."
"He was dishing and swishing right there."
"Good dishing and swishing by Gomes."

"That time stopping and popping."
"You can stop and pop."
"The stop and the pop by Crawford."
"This time stopping and popping."

"Lean and mean."

"The Knicks seem tired and uninspired."

"Rambling reck from Georgia Tech."

"Jamal doing it all."

"Q-Rich looking, Delfino Cooking."
"Chandler looking, Foster cooking."

"So if you don’t use it, you lose it."
"If you don’t use it, you lose it."
"And if you don’t use it, you lose it."
"So if you don’t use it, you lose it."

"The Knicks are looking to double, and that’s how they’re getting in trouble."

"A new beast of the East."

"Dancing and prancing is Q."
"That time dancing and prancing along the sideline."
"Dancing and prancing to the hoop."
"Dancin’ and prancin’ six feet away."

"With a hook and a crook that time."

"Resounding rebounding."
"Resounding rebounding, now percolating on the offense."
"Resounding rebounding, we’ve seen that."
"Resounding rebounding now, by both teams on the offense."
"That resounding rebound by Nate."
"Look at the resounding rebounding by the Knicks."
"Resounding rebounding that time by Jeffries."

"Nice little ziggin’ zaggin’."
"Paul likes to do a lot of ziggin’ and zaggin’."
"There’s a zig, another zag."

"As he hangs and bangs off the glass."
"Jamal hanging and banging that time."
"Hanging and banging to finish."
"That time he was hanging and banging…"
"This time hanging and banging."

"Bounding and astounding against the Knicks."
"Can’t allow him to dish and swish and bound and astound."

"The orchestrator, the penetrator, the creator."

"Money talks, nobody walks."

"The Pistons, now, with zest and finesse."

"Trying to dish it to Nate, but it was too late."

"Fire and desire."
"All the Knicks, now, playing with fire and desire."

"No threes, please."

"Just running and gunning."
"The Hawks came out running and gunning."
"As the Mavs continue to run and gun."

"Continues to penetrate and devastate."
"Penetrating, devastating."
"Barea penetrates, Dampier devastates."
"This is at least the third time Nate has been able to penetrate and devastate."
"Nate the great, penetrating and devastating."

"The ability to penetrate and create."
"Zach doing what he does best… penetrating, creating."
"Just penetrating, creating off the dribble."

"Poor D by David Lee."
"That time, good D by Lee."
"Right here, the good D by Lee."
"Good D by Lee, coming to help on the weak side."

"Goes from erratic to dramatic."

"No quit, ‘lotta grit."

"So the Knicks very loosey goosey, now."

"The Magic has been tragic."

"He continues to drive and thrive."

"To try to put some chillin’ on Crawford’s thrillin’."

"There he is… curling and furling the Knicks."

"Knicks without a knack, folks."
"No Knick with a knack right now. They are searching for offense."

"It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing."

"Crowd moans and groans as he misfires."

"Pachulia is peculia."

"Have you hurryin’ and worryin’."