Remember last week when everyone was saying that the Knicks had rediscovered their heart and motivation? And that Isiah Thomas was a genius? And that Stephon Marbury had changed his style? And that this season was going to be a rebirth for the orange and blue?
Remember that big thud you heard on Saturday night? You should, because that’s the only thing that matters.
When the Knicks beat the Grizzlies opening night, everyone was pointing to the resilience they showed in holding on after three overtimes. What people chose to ignore was that the Grizzlies were playing minus Pau Gasol, had missed three of four free throws that could have won the game in the first overtime and that the Knicks missed not one, not two but three potential game-winning shots earlier in the game.
So the fact that Knicks fans were celebrating that it took them three overtimes to beat a team being led by Mike Miller is bad. The fact that everyone thought that win meant a prosperous season is worse.
The Knicks followed their opener with a loss in Atlanta, where Joe Johnson reminded everyone that the New York defense really is that bad. The Knickerbockers came home the next night, were cheered in introductions and then booed for the rest of the night.
The treatment of Stephon Marbury was, literally, as bad as it was last year, and, with Knicks now sitting at 1-2 heading into Monday night’s game at San Antonio, nothing seems to have improved.
Somehow, the Knicks just can’t get it right. Last year we saw Tim Thomas get traded away, get bought out then lead the Suns in the playoffs. This year Jalen Rose will probably average 30 points a game playing in the desert. But don’t worry everyone, Jerome James is still under contract.
Not that the Knicks like to see Pat Riley succeed, but last year he did, and not just as coach. He is the one who put together the Miami Heat roster, saw Stan Van Gundy struggle with it and decided he, himself, would be a better fit to coach the team.
It’s fair to consider that a GM who has coaching experience may be putting together a team that he can coach better than anyone else, like Riley demonstrated. But even though Isiah Thomas put the Knicks together, they are in such disarray that Thomas is good for no more than an additional 7 or 8 wins this year, which still keeps them at around the 30 mark.
And speaking of Van Gundys, the fact that the Knicks’ win on opening night put them above .500 for the first time since Jeff Van Gundy sat on the Knicks’ bench is just a bad thing. So I guess that win did at least get one positive thing done.
So, Knick fans, the point is this: Don’t give up on the franchise, but don’t jump to think that this year will bring much. The Knicks will end up in the lottery again, and we may not even have the pick when it comes. Again.
At least Renaldo Balkman is shooting 50 percent from the floor.