N.Y. Knicks: Coach Thibodeau's Time Bandits

From the desk: KICKIN' CANS DOWN 33RD STREET WITH JIMMY

KNICKS STARTERS 

AVERAGING 33 MINUTES PER GAME

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Coach Thibodeau Time Stamping Team Effort at the Door

Six games into the season, the Knicks perhaps have already won two more contests than many anticipated.  First and foremost was their bedazzling twenty-point victory over Milwaukee.  They promptly followed up with a nine-point victory at Cleveland, and then Saturday's defensively contested win at Indiana.  A defeat at the hands of Toronto makes them 3-1 in their last four games.

The Knicks, on average, have thus far allowed 104.7 points per game, ranking them fifth-best in the league.

Hello Coach Tom Thibodeau!

If you're a starter for the Knicks, Coach is taking away the minutes that make up a dull day in an old-fashioned way (... Pink Floyd).  Said another way, he makes you work hard, and it appears as if he has the full attention of his largely young and impressionable personnel.

I'll make opening night a stand-alone game, only because it was the first game, and no one really knew what to expect - not from Thibodeau, but from this roster.  However, six games in, we have a trend to speak of.  

During game one against Indiana, seven different players registered at least twenty minutes; the starters clocked in an average of 27.6 minutes.  After the first game, what's there to say..?

During game two versus PHILA, six different players played at least twenty minutes; the starters averaged 28.4 minutes.  However, whereas Elfrid Payton started, he only played eighteen minutes.  Carrying the load off the bench were Kevin Knox II with 29 minutes and Alec Burks with 31 minutes.

Coach Thibodeau switched up and started Reggie Bullock against Milwaukee but limited him to seventeen minutes.  Similarly, six different players partake in at least twenty minutes, with two coming off the bench; Knox registered 26 minutes and Burks 21 minutes.  The five starters this time average 31.2 minutes.

Thibodeau revved things up in their victory at Cleveland, playing his five starters an average of 38.4 minutes without a single bench player achieving twenty minutes.  Coach stuck with a tight eight-man rotation with Knox, Frank Ntilikina, and Nerlens Noel, receiving sixteen minutes each.

Coach then eased up on the gas pedal against Toronto.  Seven players got at least twenty minutes, but the starting five still averaged 32.2 minutes.

SATURDAY

KNICKS   106

PACERS   102

FINAL

Saturday in their return match against the Pacers, Coach stuck with a nine-man rotation.  Elfrid Payton started and scored 19 points with five assists in 34 effective minutes.  The starting five averaged 35 minutes, but center Mitchell Robinson just missed the mark with 29 minutes.  Otherwise, the four-man bench averaged 16 minutes.

Cycling back, I am omitting game one just because ...

Under Coach Thibodeau, Knicks' starters over the last five games average 33 minutes per game and play top tier defense.  They have now played Indiana twice.  Therefore, to date, four of the Knicks' five opponents last season all qualified for the playoffs, with the lone exception being Cleveland.

With another coach in place, this team is not playing .500 basketball.  Inclusive in Tom Thibodeau and Scott Perry's job descriptions are making the recent past (twenty years) a non-issue.  Thibodeau is already garnering results.  The onus now falls on general manager Scott Perry to procure for this coach some more complimentary talent by the March trade deadline.  Nothing crazy, just someone to help share the load.  That Thibodeau is a demanding dude.

• NEXT: @ Atlanta Hawks, Monday

N.Y. Knicks: Outpaced at Indiana

From the desk: DUTCH PANTS CAN'T JUMP

KNICKS OPENING NIGHT AT INDIANAPOLIS

Knicks   107

Pacers   121

FINAL

Installing Effective Leadership Is a Solid First Step Forward; On The Court, Not So Much

Outpaced, yes, but outplayed, not so much.  We won't see much of that under Thibs.  The Knicks took a 66-61 lead into halftime.  

Just let me begin the 2020-2021 regular season by saying you can't be disappointed with what you don't expect.  

That should be easy for Knicks fans, no?

Leon Rose has my respect.  As new President, he effectively wiped clean the mess left behind by Phil Jackson and Steve Mills.  I like it when executives act with conviction, and he did just that.  With one fell swoop, he cleared $40 million in salary-cap space much, in the same manner, Donnie Walsh once upon a time miraculously restored salary cap flexibility and order to the Knicks.  However, in each instance, the NBA's premium free agents demonstrated that playing for the New York Knicks is not a desired destination of choice. 

We all know who is to blame, so why go there.  The Knicks have money to spend.  But so do other teams.  Therefore, what matters most is reestablishing a positive and inviting atmosphere that the NBA's elite will find appealing and ultimately creating a new winning culture.  Lest we forget, this is not about playing in New York City; this is about playing for the Knicks.  So let us not make any mistake about it; the Knicks are starting anew, again.  Yes, the twenty-year-long rebuild continues.

However, things are looking up for a change.  If nothing else, the Knicks now have a legitimately competent chain of command.  General manager Scott Perry is finely qualified for the job and very well-spoken of around the league.  If Joe Dumars liked him, then he must be okay.  Otherwise, he has been associated with winning and procuring winning talent during his twenty-year career as an NBA executive.

Under Rose and Perry, the Knicks are perhaps in the best hands since Donnie Walsh was the general manager.  Enter Tom Thibodeau, who is no stranger to New York or the Knicks.  I believe there is actually no more perfect person for the job in the team's present state.  He is charged with a largely young, inexperienced, but moldable squad, albeit with the obligatory veterans on board to help guide the way.  Thibodeau, we know, emphasizes strong defense.  But where other coaches talk a good game, Coach Thibs actually wields enough sway to extract such effort from his players - or they just won't play; it's their choice.  No job is safe on this team, but they have the right coach in place if they want to learn and develop.  Thus, the Knicks with Perry and Rose, together with Thibodeau, seemingly have assembled what may prove to be their strongest triumvirate in quite some time.  

And so, I'm not interested in the off-season that was.  With this new hierarchy in place, what they accomplish together moving forward is what now matters most.  They have a few years of drafting ahead.  Expect another 25 to 30 win season.  But it's still rather refreshing commenting on this team under these circumstances instead of constantly hammering James Dolan about running this once-proud organization into the ground - so there, I just did it again.

🏀     🏀     🏀     🏀     🏀

RJ Barrett was a very efficient 11/15 from the field and 3/3 from the arc (1/2 from the line) for a team-high 26 points and five assists in 34 minutes.  Julius Randle scored 17 points in a team-high 35 minutes with a likewise team-best nine rebounds.  Alec Burke was second on the team with 22 points in 32 minutes off the bench.

The Knicks were outrebounded by the Pacers by a 50-40 margin.  Domantas Sabonis posted a game-leading double-double with 32 points and 13 rebounds.

Rookies Obie Toppin and Immanuel Quickley made their respective Knicks debut.  Toppin was 3/12 from the field, all from the arc, with three boards in 24 minutes.  Quickley, who left the game with a hip injury and did not return, was 1/3 from the field but 3/3 from the line for five points in 12 minutes.  

After averaging at least 20 minutes through his first three seasons, Frank Ntilikina was limited to just five minutes against the Pacers.  However, he did endure an Achillies issue in the pre-season.  In any event, he and the team are unlikely to reach an extension agreement, Coach Thib's lineup and strong scuttlebutt suggest he is likely to be traded. 

Knicks host the Philadelphia 76ers this Saturday.

N.Y. Knicks: Business as Usual at the World's Most Dysfunctional Arena

From the desk of: DUTCH PANTS CAN'T JUMP

Steve Mills and Scott Perry 

Continue Pushing Knicks Up The Mountain

What's sad for me as someone with a blog, much less being a fan since the mid 1970's, is the standard operating procedure put in place twenty years ago which still remains in effect today, by all indications will continue steering the future course of this organization for an unceremonious third straight decade to come.  I could be wrong with regards to what tomorrow holds, but the narrative emanating out of an unyielding MSG to date remains unchanged.  There was that one fleeting moment when Donnie Walsh expertly restored to the Knicks long needed financial flexibility and roster maneuverability.  That is until James Dolan trampled him (and coach D'Antoni) underfoot like some flaming brown paper bag of dog poop left on his front porch.

David Fizdale is merely MSG's latest victim.  I wish him well.  His departure at the very least reconfirms the ongoing dysfunction afflicting the Knicks.  Fizdale marks the twelfth Knicks head coach of this new millennium, and now Mike Miller steps in as unlucky number 13 in the last 19 years.  Players across the league have taken notice of this organization's behavior, and thus rate them low on the NBA's most favored destinations list.  The most recent off-season speaks for itself.  James Dolan is of course the founder of this calamity we call the Knicks.  In turn Steve Mills is his lead executive.  And until Mills is relieved of his duties I do not foresee any relief from this prolonged state of futility.

Meanwhile Scott Perry to me represents the stack of pages reading: all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.  Next thing you know it's your face in the old picture hanging behind the ballroom bar. You've always been caretaker of the world's most dysfunctional arena, Sir.

N.Y. Knicks: Sunday Night's Main Event Featuring David Fizdale Versus Front Office

From the desk of: DUTCH PANTS CAN'T JUMP

KNICKS UNDER DAVID FIZDALE

19 WINS in 92 GAMES (.206)

In the corner to your left, James Dolan and his henchmen Steve Mills and Scott Perry.  In the corner to your right, head coach David Fizdale and the players provided to him.  In Sunday night's main event at the Garden, upper management lands an opening hay-maker and down goes Fizdale!  Down goes Fizdale!  Under the bus goes Fizdale!

We can safely surmise at this juncture Mills and Perry under orders from Dolan spent the second half of Sunday's 21-point loss against the Cavs hastily arranging their preemptive post game press conference like only Madison Square Garden can.  Standing side by side, Steve Mills and Scott Perry make known to an assembled media their displeasure with the team's state of affairs.  Only the executive duo does not claim responsibility.  Ironic is their failure to lure top tier free agents this past off-season, which is now manifesting itself on the floor.  The delusional duo instead express (paraphrasing) great dismay with the present situation, claiming this collection of talent should be performing better, and are not where the front office expected them to be.  They repeatedly pinpoint the team's lack of consistency in its collective effort.  Just don't misinterpret them, for they also said they're not focused on the team's record.

Speaking of which the Knicks have now played 92 regular season games under David Fizdale but are yet to win twenty games.  The Knicks finished 17-65 last season, and are off to a 2-8 start this season.  Despite the utterly laughable reactive posturing by Perry and Mills, the process of scapegoating David Fizdale is nevertheless underway.

Before drawing to a close the beleaguered coach counters with perhaps the best upper cut and straight right combo of the night.  Newsday scribe Steve Popper quotes Fizdale saying, "I don't need anyone to speak to me to give me a sense of urgency."  And when asked about his job security, ESPN.com quotes Fizdle saying, "I got a two-and-a-half year contract.  That's my assurance."

The sweet science is back at the Garden.

Brooklyn Nets: Flatbush Opens Eighth Campaign Poised to Expand Turf

From the desk of: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

YEAR EIGHT

FRIDAY
New York Knicks
vs.
Brooklyn Nets
FROM
FLATBUSH AVENUE

SINCE THE FIRST MOMENT SHOVELS SCOOP DIRT AT GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONIES, BROOKLYN FOR BETTER OR WORSE REMAINS ONE STEP AHEAD OF THEIR EAST RIVER RIVALS.

More better than worse ...

Kings County native and real estate developer Bruce Ratner in 2004 reveals plans to purchase the New Jersey Nets with the intent of relocating them into a new arena proposed for construction in downtown Brooklyn.  On more than one occasion his vision appears dead on the drawing board.  For six long years protests and seemingly endless litigation stymie any and all forward progress.  A sudden contraction of the national economy further compromises Ratner's finances and development efforts.

With Ratner bogged down in court, New York Knicks owner James Dolan in 2005 is able to successfully devote his full attention and financial resources towards thwarting a more tangible threat posed by a New York Jets stadium being proposed for construction atop Manhattan's west side rail yards.  However, Dolan's victory over NYC's politico and the Jets is short lived.  By 2010 Bruce Ratner not only wins court approval to move forward with construction of an arena, but also secures an infusion of needed capital courtesy of new partner Mikhail Prokhorov.

On March 11, 2010, fifty-three years after the Dodgers play their last game at Ebbets Field, groundbreaking ceremonies take place for Barclays Center ironically in the same general location Walter O'Malley had once hoped to secure for his baseball club bordered by Flatbush Avenue and Atlantic Avenue.  Back here in the future, Ratner's legal victory makes certain direct inner-city competition will soon be arriving at James Dolan's door step.  This time there's nothing J.D. can do to prevent this from happening.

Later that summer Mikhail Prokhorov launches the first salvo in what becomes known as the Billboard Wars when he commissions a building-side mural featuring Jay-Z and himself just a few blocks away from Madison Square Garden along Eighth Avenue.  James Dolan strikes back with a rather clever purchase of billboard space located within the Atlantic Yards footprint itself.

Hostilities ratchet up in February of 2011 upon outbreak of the now infamous Melo War.  Carmelo Anthony makes it clear he wants out of Denver and is a handshake agreement away from authorizing a sign and trade to the New Jersey Nets.  That is until Jim Dolan catches wind of it and launches himself headlong into the Carmelo Anthony trade negotiations like a charging bull through a fine china shop.  Dolan tramples general manager Donnie Walsh with an utter lack of compunction, and is equally dismissive of head coach Mike D'Antoni en route to securing one of the league's perennial scoring threats.  But to his great dismay the Nets are the next morning's lead story, arresting tabloid and sports radio attention away from the Knicks with a stunning overnight acquisition of well regarded point guard Deron Williams from the Utah Jazz.  A squabbling media rages throughout the day debating which team executed the better deal.  Because there is a point guard involved, the consensus says Nets.

With Barclays Center scheduled for opening by the 2012-2013 season, James Dolan also in 2011 orders a billion dollar renovation of Madison Square Garden.

• Question: Were it not for Barclays Center does James Dolan renovate a his tax-sheltered building that really isn't his?

Neither Carmelo Anthony or Deron Williams perform up to their team's respective satisfaction.  In 2012-13, Carmelo Anthony leads the Knicks to an Atlantic Division title, but they've failed to qualify for the playoffs in the six seasons since.  The Knicks average just 34.2 wins during Melo's five seasons in Manhattan, and just 33.3 wins in the five years prior to David Fizdale's arrival.  Meanwhile the Nets make three straight playoff appearances in their first three seasons at Barclays.  In truth their ill fated acquisition of Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett better serve as springboards into the abyss.  Suffice it to say the Melo/Williams era ends with a whimper.  In 2015 the Nets buy out the remainder of Deron Williams' contract, and by 2017 the Knicks trade Carmelo Anthony to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

A new rebuilding period ensues.  The Nets are first to acknowledge their organizational failures and by 2016-2017 recommit themselves to a grassroots rebuild.  They hire Sean Marks as new general manager who in turn hires Kenny Atkinson as head coach.  Bereft of high draft picks the new general manager and head coach strip down the team, and through organizational discipline manage to effectively and efficiently build it back up.  Agreeably ahead of schedule, the Nets last season put forth a spirited and unified effort resulting in a well earned post-season appearance.  If nothing else it serves to confirm Sean Marks, Kenny Atkinson, and the Nets, have gone about their business in fine manner.

The Knicks on the other hand are far slower in recognizing their blight, and perhaps more stubborn, as well.  I view Sam Mills as nothing more than James Dolan's lone remaining friend in the building, and Scott Perry as a rather inconsequential league executive.  This, along with the Phil Jacksons in life is why I believe the Knicks lag far behind the Nets and continue losing ground by the day.  Lest we forget this is about direct competition.  The Nets are the invaders, and Jim Dolan was made to defend.  To date, he's tried matching them move for move.  Yet somehow continues falling farther and farther behind.  His front offices tried clearing cap space in order to facilitate a free agent haul a first time and came up woefully short.  They retried clearing cap space this past off-season in order to facilitate yet another proposed free agent haul and again fail miserably.  Unfortunately the free agent market proved shy on players motivated to shoulder 20 years of dysfunction and front office futility.  Why bother when today's NBA player can easily make big money elsewhere with far less headaches.

This is precisely why Sean Marks' acquisitions of Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant are prime examples of culture, chemistry, competence, and ultimately competitiveness, coming together under the same roof.

It's true ...

But this has never been about the Knicks.  The Nets are foolish to think they can steal fans away from the establishment.  Barclays Center attendance bears that out.  Since day one this has always been about winning over the 2.7 million denizens of Brooklyn.  James Dolan has always benefited from playing in a midtown arena where tourists ensure a sellout every day and night no matter what.  In that respect he is well shielded.  Anywhere else and Dolan's gate receipts would more accurately reflect true fan ire (same holds true for the Rangers).  Brooklyn is a different kinda cat.  Therefore the real test lay ahead.  Last season's organic rise to competitiveness was an endearing experience bringing club and fan closer together than at any other time over the previous six seasons.  That, along with the off-season acquisitions of Kyrie Irvin and Kevin Durant make this easily the most anticipated season in Brooklyn's NBA history.  Whether that translates at the gate remains to be seen.  So far, the pre-season buzz in Kings County is palpable.

But there is no rivalry; not yet; or at least not until the Knicks step up their game.  We're entering Year Eight with no signs of improvement across the river.  A true rivalry would be nice.  In the meantime, bet on Brooklyn.

 OPENING NIGHT

WEDNESDAY

Timberwolves

vs.

Nets

FROM

BARCLAYS CENTER

N.Y. Knicks: Culture Club and the Mecca of Dysfunction

From the desk of:  DUTCH PANTS CAN'T JUMP

No Zion Williamson; No Kevin Durant; No Kawhi Leonard

THE OFF-SEASON THAT NEVER WAS

DEFLATION NATION

Daddy Dolan hands the MSG keys in 1999 over to his son, James Dolan.  The new boss straightaway declares Latrell Sprewell the enemy.  General manager Ernie Grunfeld smartly jumps ship with haste.  Incoming general manager Scott Layden foolishly catapults the Knicks into salary cap hell in 2000 by trading legend Patrick Ewing and his expiring contract.  And in December 2001 head coach Jeff Van Gundy quits.

So begins the James Dolan Era ...

Since taking over control of the club, New York Knickerbockers amass the worst record in basketball.  A charter member of the NBA, from 1946 through 1999/2000 the Knicks post an all-time 2,156 - 2,023 (.516) record.  Under Dolan however they achieve a mere 622-920 (.403) record to date with just four winning seasons, five playoff appearances, and just one post-season series victory to speak of.  Ten times they lose at least fifty games in a season including the last five in a row.

I don't have the stomach for parsing the innards of this mess.  Dissecting the last two decades of egregious futility and organizational decay is enough to make a coroner projectile vomit.  But what has become painfully clear to all is the cantankerous and implosive manner in which Dolan runs his operation, making him a leading (if not the leading) reason why premium NBA players seem increasingly disinterested in joining the New York Knicks.  The true mistake is in believing players around the league remain blind, deaf, and dumb to New York's front office shenanigans.  Low and behold they pay attention.  And it comes to pass, again.

Seven different persons have filled the office of general manager under Dolan.  That averages out to a new general manager every 2.7 years.

• Scott Layden
• Isiah Thomas
• Donnie Walsh
• Glen Grunwald
• Steve Mills
• Phil Jackson
• Scott Perry

There's no need revisiting the Isiah Thomas Era outside of acknowledging the unmitigated disaster that it was.  The league office interceding and pressuring Dolan into parting ways with Thomas speaks for itself.  Dolan then retains the league wide respected executive Donnie Walsh, whom he soon tramples under foot in a personal and desperate attempt at securing Carmelo Anthony.  After which Steve Mills returns for a second stint with the Knicks.  How and why he survives Phil Jackson I'll never know.  His continuing employment remains a cosmic mystery to me.  Be that as it may, he and Scott Perry together presently serve to form an army of none.

Meanwhile ten different persons have served as head coach prior to David Fizdale's arrival.  That averages out to a new coach every one and three-quarter seasons.

• Jeff Van Gundy
• Don Chaney
• Herb Williams
• Lenny Wilkens
• Larry Brown
• Isiah Thomas
• Mike D'Antoni
• Mike Woodson
• Derek Fisher
• Jeff Hornacek
• David Fizdale

In today's NBA fame and fortune can be had anywhere.  The bright lights of Broadway or Madison Avenue exposure no longer hold sway.  The lure of New York City still exists for as long as it doesn't entail playing for an organization so poorly run as Dolan's Knicks.  Free agents previously demonstrated they wanted nothing to do with the Knicks in 2010 (don't @ me with Amar'e Stoudmire).  Evidently the same still holds true today.

Outside of being drafted, why would anyone willingly come play for the Knicks?  Say what you will about this, that, or the other.  Odds are you're probably right.  But what remains indisputable is that Knicks Culture is a product of Dolan's machinations.  The man spends upwards of one billions dollars to renovate Alien Nation where fans, certain media, and even former players are banned from the arena.

If it weren't for tourists ensuring a full house the organization would otherwise find itself in more dire straits.  But for as long as Dolan remains insulated by tourist global warming Madison Square Garden will continue transforming itself into the Mecca of dysfunction.

N.Y. Knicks: Opportunity to Move Porzingis and Hardaway is a Godsend

From the desk of:  DUTCH PANTS CAN'T JUMP

TAXI..!!!!

New York Knicks: The Two Decade Old Rebuild Continues ...

Don't get me wrong, the Knicks lose me with Jimmy Dolan Steve Mills.  He's been a constant throughout this ongoing crisis we call the Knickerbockers.  Moreover, I wouldn't trust Scott Perry to mail a letter for me, much less build a contender.  In light of the big trade, my opinion of them has not changed.

However, I'd be a hypocrite if I said I didn't agree with their decision to trade Kristaps Porzingis.  Because when the situation calls for a full blown rebuild, I firmly believe in stripping things to the bone.  That means all assets must go.  So bravo to them, because no not only do I agree with trading Kristaps, I applaud it.

I acknowledge the manner in which the game is played has changed.  Be that as it may, I never saw the use for a seven foot three-point shooter.  He doesn't rebound, nor was he going to turn around a 10-41 team by himself.  In fact, I contend freeing themselves of both Porzingis and Hardaway is a godsend.  They're what I call net asset zero salary cap suckers.  Besides, seven-footers with feet/leg issues are historically known to be NBA taboo.  So whether he wanted to be in New York or not is irrelevant to me.

Mike, you idiot!  When healthy he  ...

No.

Dallas Mavericks get:

• Kristaps Porzingis
• Tim Hardaway, Jr.
• Trey Burke
• Courtney Lee

New York Knicks get:

• DeAndre Jordan
• Wesley Matthews
• Dennis Smith, Jr.
• 2021 #1 pick
• 2023 #1 pick *top ten protected

They'll be far better served with two first round draft picks versus anything Courtney Lee or Trey Burke brought to the table.  Let's be real.  Before the trade, the Knicks were effectively void of players not named Kevin Knox worthy of retention.  But they must draft smartly.

... and there's the rub.

As I sit here watching Zion Williamson and Duke destroy St. John's, it dawns on me the only way this season's tank-a-thon truly pays off is either through pure luck, or if Commissioner Silver fills the Knicks' ping pong balls with helium.  Otherwise, amassing high drafts picks is the next best strategy.

"The person who does not select Zion Williamson at number one in the upcoming draft, will go to sleep each night embarrassed over what they passed up!" - loosely paraphrasing college basketball god Dick Vitale during Saturday's St. John's/Duke game.

With regards to rumors of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, or other big name free agents coming to town, anticipate nothing.  Yes, Mills and Perry created an intriguing amount of cap space.  But you can't be disappointed with what you do not expect.  High profile players say they love playing at Madison Square Garden.  But  how many of them actually say they want to play for the Knicks?  Therefore, I'll believe it when I see it.

In the meantime, bringing in DeAndre Jordan serves as yet another slap to the face of Enes Kanter.

Taxi..!