The Knicks have a real shot to improve dramatically this offseason. The reign of Isiah Thomas is over and the basketball team has a real shot at starting over. With Thomas in charge the team’s chemistry was always in flux and the roster never really got a chance to settle down and become a single unit.

Thomas’ time is well documented for his attempts to load the team talent and let overwhelming basketball ability carry the team to victory. This is not necessarily always a bad theory. The big Boston Three made Celtics tickets relevant in the spring. But sometimes the culture around a basketball team, from top to bottom is just so acidic that any potential for improvement is quickly washed over.

Isiah’s strategy simply did not work with the Knicks. His moves might have worked in a city without the pressure for success like New York. He entered into a situation where people with demanding attention spans equated the former star with success and expected to see that immediately. I think Isiah knew that as well and with his name and reputation his journey may have been forged in destiny.

The Knicks have a chance with a new front office guy, Donnie Walsh, and a new coach, Mike D’Antoni, to really change their moniker. I think everybody has now accepted the fact that miracles will not change the team over a single offseason. This newly accepted attitude might allow the roster to calm down and actually play basketball again.

Also the new coach’s love for offense should go over well with the players. Jamal Crawford will feel free to shoot the ball with only four seconds gone off the shot clock and will not feel spurned for doing so. He did that before, but this time with a little encouragement he might pass it on occasion too.

Zach Randolph and Eddie Curry’s terrible defense and rebounding will become less of an issue as Randolph’s mid-range game might be useful and Curry’s post moves will prove handy.

This is all speculation right now and the next season will truly tell if things have changed. Reality is that the Knicks will find it very hard to move any of their assets in the NBA right now. Almost every team is facing cap issues. Randolph and Curry are the likely candidates, but their one sided games might prove insurmountable in orchestrating anything.

Posted under Uncategorized