Frank Isola:  A Desperate Man

Time and time again this summer we have seen Frank Isola spewing nonsense regarding LeBron James.  Today is no exception, in a trend that could ultimately lead to LeBron not wanting to deal with overbearing beat writers like Isola.

Via Isola’s Knicks Knation:

I really believe (LeBron) cares less about winning and more about his money and his image. This is why the Knicks have a legitimate chance of signing him. The Knicks don’t have much to offer James when it comes to basketball. The best thing the club has going for it is New York City and Madison Square Garden.

What inspires Isola to write this drab?  Is he intentionally trying to scare/piss off potential free agents from signing with the Knicks.  Is it possible he is hoping this will make a better story…Knicks swing and miss?

If you are indeed fed up with this kind of “reporting” email Frank and let him know: fisola@nydailynews.com

Remembering Your 1999 New York Knicks

Do you remember where you were when Allan Houston (@ALLAN_HOUSTON on Twitter) made that miracle bucket?

Even if you still feel spurned by Jeff Van Gundy (@Notorius J v G on Twitter), you gotta love the NBA Finals Knicks-related telecast Trio

From the NY Times - Van Gundy Provides X’s, O’s and Oddities:

There is a parallel between the Breen-Van Gundy-Jackson team and the Gary Cohen-Keith Hernandez-Ron Darling triumvirate calling Mets games on SNY. Each set of announcers springs from long ties to a particular team, in this case the Knicks and the Mets. And each has one member, Van Gundy and Hernandez, willing to jump into the weird and unknown, then snap back into sharp analysis.

We think Van Gundy left for the right reasons, although walking out on your team mid-season is not okay.  Even with a bit of a bitter taste, it is nice to see this trio working the NBA Finals.  Makes us feel like the Knicks do indeed matter, and highlights New York’s importance to the game (and hopefully free agency).

June 11, 1999

Your New York Knicks defeated the Indiana Pacers 90-82 in the series-clinching Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals, becoming the 1st ever eight seed to reach the NBA Finals.

To Let Your Best Player Walk:  The Potential David Lee Story

David Lee:  27 years old; 20.2 points per game; 11.7 rebounds per game; 81.2% free throw shooting %; 3.6 assists per game; 1 steal per game; .5 blocks per game

Read these numbers…read them again…absorb them.

Now compare them to these numbers:

Chris Bosh:  26 years old; 24 points per game; 10.8 rebounds per game; 79.7% free throw shooting %; 2.4 assists per game; .61 steals per game; .97 blocks per game

Amar’e Stoudemire:  27 years old; 23.1 points per game; 8.9 rebounds per game; 77.1% free throw shooting %; 1 assist per game; .63 steals per game; 1.01 blocks per game

Carlos Boozer:  28 years old; 19.5 points per game; 11.2 rebounds per game; 74.2% free throw shooting %; 3.2 assists per game; 1.08 steals per game; .46 blocks per game

David Lee is abetter rebounder, foul shooter, and ball distributor.

Sure, numbers can lie or at least skew the story, and these numbers happen to only be for this past season, but it’s pretty strange that David Lee is rarely talked about and seemingly the forgotten big man in this year’s free agency bonanza.

So let us delve further into the story… (more…)

AP: Michigan State coach Tom Izzo plans to travel to Cleveland

From USA Today:

(Tom) Izzo is expected to travel to Cleveland later Thursday to meet with the Cavs and tour their facilities, said the person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team is not commenting on the coaching search.

A person familiar with this one’s thinking…

A person who spoke on condition of anonymity…

A source…

REVEAL YOURSELVES OR KEEP IT SHUT!

Dick Vitale’s (@DickieV on Twitter) lock of the week: Tom Izzo is not moving

From USA Today

Dickie V:   “Tom Izzo will not leave the sideline for the Spartans (to take the Cleveland Cavaliers job). Why in the world, if you are an elite coach making millions, would you want three seasons in one, why would you want to go coach a hundred games and go where you could tarnish your resume. Just ask (Rick) Pitino, (John) Calipari…I don’t care if he has LeBron James, he is going to get fired in the NBA. A guy (Cavaliers coach Mike Brown) goes (61-21) and he gets fired.” read full article here

If Izzo goes to Cleveland the Knicks would certainly be moving onto Plan B.  Not that Vitale knows anything, but he has good college basketball insight and connections.  Izzo saying no would be “Awesome Baby!”

Players Who Worked Out for the NY Knicks June 8

With the NBA Draft only 15 days away, the Knicks continue to look at an array of players.

From The Official Site of the New York Knicks:

Trevor Booker (@Trevor_Booker on Twitter)
Position: Power Forward
Height: 6-7
Weight: 240 lbs.
College: Clemson
Class: Senior
Hometown: Whitmire, SC

Profile: Trevor Booker oozes with unlimited athleticism, which is a rare commodity in a power forward….MORE

Dwayne Collins
Position: Forward
Height: 6-8
Weight: 243 lbs.
College: Miami
Class: Senior
Hometown: Miami, ML

Profile: One glance at Dwayne Collins is all you need to see that he is an exceptional physical specimen….MORE

Sherron Collins
Position: Point Guard
Height: 5-11
Weight: 205 lbs.
College: Kansas
Class: Senior
Hometown: Chicago, IL

Profile: The winningest player in Kansas history, Sherron Collins lit up the college basketball world over his four years as a Jayhawk….MORE | VIDEO

Andy Rautins
Position: Guard
Height: 6-4
Weight: 195 lbs.
College: Syracuse
Class: Senior
Hometown: Jamesville, NY

Profile: Sharpshooter Andy Rautins has the coveted ability to drain the three from anywhere on the court….MORE | VIDEO

@mudhousejoey‘s 5th Grade Journal from Dec. 19, 1991:

Loyal KnicksTweeter and diehard Knicks fan @mudhousejoey sent this to us and it was too funny not to share.  Way to catch your grammar mistake and congrats on spelling Vandeweghe correctly, that silent g is always a killer!

A Classic Knicks Rivalry You May Not Have Known Existed:  New York Knicks & Baltimore Bullets 1969 to 1975

From NBA.com:

There are several ingredients needed in order to make a great rivalry in professional sports. The rivals need to face each other in meaningful games for a number of years. They need to play with distinct styles. Their fans have to build a passion against the rival city and team. And the coaches and players have to have a mutual respect for one another. Under any definition, the Knicks and Bullets were classic rivals from 1969 to 1975.

This is a great piece of Knicks history for the younger, jaded NY Knicks fan.  To think, a rivalry the Knicks actually dominated!  Been a long struggle since these glory days, but hopefully this once proud franchise will turn the corner soon.

Classic Confrontations: Walt Clyde Frazier vs Earl The Pearl Monroe

Classic Confrontations: Willis Reed vs Wes Unseld