Knicks coming apart

[Chaplin]

Ultimately, everything bad or good is on Sarver (and his as-far-as-we-know silent co-owners). He/they decide who to hire to help run the team and listen to them or not as they choose. So blaming Sarver for whatever you dislike about the Suns moves is hardly irrational.

But giving a free pass is definitely irrational. If Lon Babby or Lance Blanks or Alvin Gentry go to Sarver and say they want a guy, and then give reasons why it's a good idea, then if Sarver says yes, why does he have to take the brunt of the blame if that move backfires? He certainly deserves some, maybe even a lot of the blame, but certainly that doesn't mean other people in the organization are free from responsibility.

We go on and on about how he doesn't know anything about the NBA or talent--why should he take all the blame for relying on someone who is actually supposed to know?

Sure, he's at fault for hiring the person, but let's face it, he may not be a good NBA team owner, but he's a savvy businessman and you don't get where he is without learning how to hire people you trust.

 

[BC867]

... he's a savvy businessman and you don't get where he is without learning how to hire people you trust.

The bottom line is that the Suns of '10-'11 have an unbalanced, undersized team by NBA standards. At the bottom (or next to the bottom) in both defense and rebounding. That's a statistical fact.

Then factor in the recent turnover of the GM position under Sarver. Put it all together and it falls right on his shoulders.

The owner of a business owes it to his investors to protect the bottom line. Most of what goes on with management is not out there for the public to see. Such as in banking. There are a lot of competing banks for the public to choose.

The owner of a sports franchise has the additional responsibility of putting more than a one-dimensional team on the court for the community.

The Suns are a monopoly. The only NBA team in the state. And, because of its nature, the public sees a lot of what is going on in management.

Sarver is a banker. He has not shown the insight to be the owner of a sports franchise. That is why he gets the blame for a weak product and dysfunctional team, as he should.

 

[cly2tw]

Amare's recent comments about defense indicates to me that he misses Gentry's coaching as compared to DA's. That's probably the true sign of Knicks coming apart?

 

[Errntknght]

But giving a free pass is definitely irrational. If Lon Babby or Lance Blanks or Alvin Gentry go to Sarver and say they want a guy, and then give reasons why it's a good idea, then if Sarver says yes, why does he have to take the brunt of the blame if that move backfires? He certainly deserves some, maybe even a lot of the blame, but certainly that doesn't mean other people in the organization are free from responsibility.

We go on and on about how he doesn't know anything about the NBA or talent--why should he take all the blame for relying on someone who is actually supposed to know?

Sure, he's at fault for hiring the person, but let's face it, he may not be a good NBA team owner, but he's a savvy businessman and you don't get where he is without learning how to hire people you trust.

BC and mojo only gave Gentry a free pass as far as fielding a team with a hopelessly undersized and overpaid frontcourt. I certainly didn't read what they wrote as absolving Babby and Blanks of all responsibility for that. You're reading that into it for some strange reason. Heck, if they're doing their jobs they certainly had some hand in it, and we all know that.

 

[Trifecta]

BC and mojo only gave Gentry a free pass as far as fielding a team with a hopelessly undersized and overpaid frontcourt. I certainly didn't read what they wrote as absolving Babby and Blanks of all responsibility for that. You're reading that into it for some strange reason. Heck, if they're doing their jobs they certainly had some hand in it, and we all know that.

To be fair Blanks wasnt even hired or under consideration for our GM job when our pathetic frontcourt was put together, and he hasn't had a chance to do anything other than bring in fringe players other teams didn't want like Siler and Barron. So the assembling of our frontcourt (and doing so without even having a GM under consideration) is largely on Sarver, and I guess Babby, even though by his own admission he is not a personnel guy and clearly has no business being in that role if he was indeed involved.

 

[jagu]

I wish the Suns had the Knicks schedule, the last plus .500 team they beat were the Chicago Bulls lol. A long long time ago.

 

[slinslin]

Seems to me Amare is playing as good as ever almost 25/9/2/1/2 and the Knicks with little talent are just as good a team as the Suns.

 

[cly2tw]

Seems to me Amare is playing as good as ever almost 25/9/2/1/2 and the Knicks with little talent are just as good a team as the Suns.

Amare is making Felton look like Nash on offense. Both Feltong and Douglas have been learning to keep the dribble alive and wait for the split of second to pass to Amare. And the Knicks just are figuring out, how easy it is to have the offense featured around Amare-p&r. All of a sudden, all other players like Gallo, Chandler have more space for their offense. And aside from the obligatory lack of size for DA's team, they have otherwise very good defenders to keep the lead in the 4th quarter.

 

[Chaplin]

Seems to me Amare is playing as good as ever almost 25/9/2/1/2 and the Knicks with little talent are just as good a team as the Suns.

Nobody has said he would suck in NY, so that argument doesn't work.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Nobody has said he would suck in NY, so that argument doesn't work.

I don't know about "suck" but there were several posters on this forum that predicted he'd play well below the level he played in Phoenix.

Steve

 

[jbeecham]

I thought he'd still get his stats, but it would be harder for him. I also thought the team would suck overall and he'd be a malcontent by mid-season (still bet that'll happen). D'Antoni is pretty good at designing offensive plays though (especially inbounds plays) so it looks like he's found ways to get Amare the ball.

Still, the NY Knicks have had the easiest schedule in the league according to Hollinger's SOS stat. Let's see what happens to their record & team chemistry once they face a few tough opponents. Amare's already spoken out once about not being used to losing & that was while they were facing weak competition.

 

[elindholm]

I really don't think the issue is how well Stoudemire plays in the first two months of Year One of his contract.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I really don't think the issue is how well Stoudemire plays in the first two months of Year One of his contract.

In the world of reason, sure, this start to the season tells no real story. However, there were people hoping and expecting Amare to fail miserably. Most of these posters credited Amare's success almost solely to the presence of Nash and they were convinced his scoring numbers would drop considerably in New York. I think Amare has demonstrated that he is a legitimate offensive force in his own right.

I miss the guy and the team misses the guy but we're better off with him in New York. I'll believe we made the right decision even if he defies the odds and continues to play at a high level throughout his contract. At least I feel that way up until I look at the terms of Hedo's contract and then I start to wonder.

Steve

 

[JCSunsfan]

I really don't think the issue is how well Stoudemire plays in the first two months of Year One of his contract.

Yep. His longevity is the real gamble. Hats off to the Knicks for throwing the dice.

 

[ReddBird]

As far as I know, Amare has never knocked the Suns -- and I'm not going to knock Amare. I think he's busting a** in NY and deserves some kudos for doing so.

 

[dodie53]

i hope the knicks somehow get rubio from the wolves.

the knicks are my 2nd favorite team in the east.

 

[AfroSuns]

Amare is showing that he can get his even with an average point guard. , he may also average a career high rebounding this season.
Amare may just disappoint those hoping his knee would give out and end his career.

 

[Chaplin]

Amare is showing that he can get his even with an average point guard. , he may also average a career high rebounding this season.
Amare may just disappoint those hoping his knee would give out and end his career.

You do know that those of us (and the Suns front office I might add) think his knees will give out in 3 or 4 years, not 2 weeks ago, right?

 

[AfroSuns]

You do know that those of us (and the Suns front office I might add) think his knees will give out in 3 or 4 years, not 2 weeks ago, right?

Will he have another surgery in 2 years? very likely. Will it end his career? With advancement in medicine and others who have survived the surgery coupled with Amare's dedication to rehabbing; highly unlikely.
Will it be worth it for the knicks if he stays healthy for at least 2 years? Absolutely, because they may just sniff the playoffs again, which is huge for them and their fans.
This is not an argument of whether the Suns should have resigned him, but like Steve mentioned, I remembered some fans saying without Nash, Amare is going down the same route as The Matrix, he has proven them wrong.

I don't think i would have resigned him too, if i were in Sarvers shoes, but i can bet you, just like most would, he is going to have multiple jolts of sellers remorse until he is injured, especially if the Suns suck the rest of Nash era;which appears to be more imminent that Amare having surgery again.

31pts and 16boards today for Amare.

 

[elindholm]

Will it be worth it for the knicks if he stays healthy for at least 2 years? Absolutely, because they may just sniff the playoffs again, which is huge for them and their fans.

Wow, really? $100 million for four years on the court and sniffing the playoffs?

 

[AfroSuns]

Wow, really? $100 million for four years on the court and sniffing the playoffs?

By sniffing i mean, getting into the playoffs. When was the last time Knick made the playoffs? 6-7yrs ago?
The knicks FO will not lose in that state in terms of merchandise sold, if they make first rounds of PO alone.
With their young core, with good outside shooting, they are one good player away from being a favorite for the east finals.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Wow, really? $100 million for four years on the court and sniffing the playoffs?

It may not be enough for the fans but financially, it's probably worth it and then some. It certainly wouldn't be enough for the Suns but Phoenix is a nice sized city while NYC might as well be a country.

Steve

 

[elindholm]

With their young core, with good outside shooting, they are one good player away from being a favorite for the east finals.

That's an outrageous exaggeration. If the "one good player" is Jordan in his prime, then maybe. Otherwise, no chance.

 

[AzStevenCal]

That's an outrageous exaggeration. If the "one good player" is Jordan in his prime, then maybe. Otherwise, no chance.

Hate to say it but IMO, so is this. I think his point was an exaggeration but I wouldn't put it in the "outrageous" class nor would I label it as "no chance". Add a good player (Carmelo for example) to that lineup and they would still need a couple of their young players to develop into stars/near stars but I think Randolph, Galinari and Fields each might have that kind of potential.

BTW, if you just threw in outrageous and no chance in order to make your point, sorry to nitpick.

Steve

 

[AfroSuns]

That's an outrageous exaggeration. If the "one good player" is Jordan in his prime, then maybe. Otherwise, no chance.

Not as outrageous as you might think, with a star like Melo and a decent center who can bang with Dwight, you have them up their with Celtics, Heat and the Magic.
Atlanta to me will continue to underachieve and i don't believe Boozer with all his injuries can put the Bulls in that Category.