Let's keep it very simple...
Phil did not become captain of this ship right before it hit the iceberg...
Phil became captain of the Titanic after it hit multiple icebergs in the last decade and the bottom cabins had already been flooding and the nose of the ship was already submerged.
We have had losing seasons, absolutely.
However, as
@I.V. used to argue, and I now admit I was on the wrong end of those arguments, it's about our future prospects.
And w/ Porzingis and Hernangomez, as well as the gambles of Kuzminskas, O ' Quinn and Lance Thomas - he has actually done a lot with few resources in establishing some stable future for this franchise.
I will still, as a fan, believe in playing hard to give fans a show, but the trading away J.R and Shump and other moves (Chandler/Felton) to low key sabotage the season and going from treadmill team to lottery team has actually worked in our favor.
Let me push the envelope...
An argument can actually be had that Phil's 2 years (possibly 3 this year) of making a strategically bottom feeding team has had more success in a considerably less time than the 76ers egregious "trust the process" lottery strategy.
I want us to succeed this year, but Phil is still trying to remove excess water from our sinking ship and if he gambled with a "could be a good team but most likely another lottery" strategy, I'm looking forward to the pick and above average prospect scouting in the next draft.
The biggest problem with Phil... his adherence to the Triangle. When you look at this Knick team...we actually could be formidable if they let these players play their game with Hornacek's schemes.
I mean if we were a primarily pick and roll team with guys like Rose, Jennings, Noah, Porzingis, and O 'Quinn... that's some potential. (I left Melo out of the PnR equation intentionally)
Thoughts?
First off, ideological arguments of any kind (politics, religion, alcohol brands, sports, rolling papers) tend to get heated. That comes from a place of really BELIEVING and BEING INVESTED in what you're arguing for. And obviously, I'm not always the easiest dude to have words with online. So this is not me gloating or anything like that, honestly, I would have loved for your and the people who thought like you to be right, and the knicks to get better that way... because in the end, the only thing that matters to me is the team improving, short term and long term.
I think our biggest issue going forward is how committed Jax is to rebuilding through the draft/young free agents. This joakim noah signing to me portends bad things. Philly has been a shytbox for a few years now, but as they get toward the other end of the tunnel, they now have assets. Embiid, Jah, Saric, Simmons, Noel -- they assets aren't matched up, they need another guard and a wing... but last night I saw a team fighting for their fukking lives against the Thunder, and a fan base that was gobbling it up.
Brooklyn is about to undergo an ugly few years. They were trash last year, and gutted the team further this summer. The new GM marks is slashing and burning, and knows they're gonna be a tire-fire for the next 3-4 years, especially without a pick this year. I was talking to one of their recent hires, and they're gonna sell off Brook for whatever they can get for him, hunker down, and wait. Nobody gets a long deal, anybody that can be flipped for picks is out the door.
Now, it would be better to NOT have to do this kind of shyt, to not have to put your fanbase through multiple 5-15 win seasons. But the climb up is steep, and honestly, there are 2 teams that are head and shoulders above the rest for the next 2-3 seasons, anyway. (of course, things can shift, but I'm painting broad strokes)
And the thing is, you can't really hedge, unless you have a scouting department that can always pick the best player in the middle of the round. I think there is going to be serious talent up and through the middle of the first round this year, obviously something in the lottery would be incredible, but if we end up being a fringe playoff team, that's cool too. Right now Lonzo, Monk, and Jonathan Jeanne are all in the middle/back half half of the first round projections... that may shift, but those are major potential draft picks.
I'm off topic -- I think the Knicks are in a better position than they have been in a long long time. But I also think they are sabotaging themselves with decisions like the Joakim Noah deal. I like Jo, and I'll root for him, but he runs counter to what we're trying to do. He's not even a win-now guy, who is in his prime (like melo!) -- he's passed his prime. So that one is going to hurt for a while.
But this year, I'm happy to root for Rose. He's exciting, this could be his best year in the last 3-4. It's a comeback, and this team has lacked dynamism at the point. He does all of that. But this roster is still not overly talented. Even with some solid moves. They have one young potential star, and some young pieces that could fill useful roles. That is a good place to be, considering we have first round picks coming up.
Knicks fans are actually listing Billy and Kuz as if they're part of the Knicks core of the future.
Both players are rotation players at best most likely. Cheese is already 27 years old. Hernangomez has a long to go to be competent defensively. Not going to be projected as difference makers or starters like Porzingis will be.
Finding rotation players in the second round for cheap, is how good teams build out a roster. KP is a potential star. If Wily and Kuz could be role players, that is a win. If Justin Holiday turns the corner, and becomes a rotation player, that's a win.
I mean, the fact that Kuzminskas went from "undrafted foreign FA" to on the roster, is impressive. Hopefully it holds.
I think it's okay to be excited about the development of young players, without pretending that those excited think they're gonna be SUPERSTARS. That's some lame twitter shyt.
The funny thing with the Knicks is they actually have the ability to do the proper rebuild. People are going to show up regardless- there's always a demand to see the Knicks....you don't need washed up stars in the lineup for celebrities to sit courtside.
The only thing we can pray for is to not trade their picks like they used to. The window dressing of Noah, Rose etc like I said is a waste of time but as long as they keep their picks I can live with it I guess.
I'm cool with the rose gambit, because it clears the decks. Knicks could take a shot on restricted deals like Dipo or KCP if they have good years, could try for a Griffin/KP front court, or you just keep biding your time. The Celtics are doing that now, they've had assets, but no great deal to make... so you hang tough, keep building a solid roster, and see what happens. There will be options.
