Yahoo's Marc Spears: Give it up New York, you suck

[czvo]

Granted the NY Post probably isn't the most reliable news source (even in NY...), but this guy seems to have some semblance of common sense. As it turns out, that's a rarity among NY sports bloggers/writers:

When Donnie Walsh began the Knicks' purge 15 months ago, he said the two goals were to clear cap space and remain competitive. Walsh's second goal has failed, miserably.

The Knicks fell out of the playoff race the last week in March last season. They were out of it this year entering the All-Star Break. Disgraceful.

Fans have every right to be outraged, knowing the LeBron Sweepstakes is an utter crapshoot. Signing Joe Johnson and re-signing David Lee and a mid-level salaried player doesn't make the Knicks more than the eighth seed. They could've made the eighth seed last season with Zach Randolph and Jamal Crawford.

Walsh probably thought he'd remain competitive because Mike D'Antoni would get the most out of the talent. D'Antoni hasn't done that, and I have yet to see Walsh and D'Antoni on the same page.

From the very beginning, in overruling Walsh and not giving Stephon Marbury a chance when he arrived in the best shape of his career, D'Antoni's arrogance has shown. He is better than this.

D'ANTONI: I HAVEN'T HAD GOOD YEAR

Among his many peculiar moves, giving up on defensive center Darko Milicic in November when he was just learning the system and adjusting to New York remains mystifying. I'm sure Walsh is just as mystified.

Milicic will start Wednesday for Minnesota. Walsh gave up an asset in Quentin Richardson for Milicic. D'Antoni and Walsh were gung-ho about this trade. Then D'Antoni "marburyed'' Milicic, who actually could be used now as the Knicks' roster has no center, unless you count comebacking Eddy Curry.

The Knicks may not break 23 wins with this new roster assembled after the Tracy McGrady and Nate Robinson trades. I asked D'Antoni after the trade if he thought this new roster could be better than the old one. He said it depended on T-Mac. But McGrady's not trying to win games. He's trying to get healthy and has already had a series of setbacks.

Maybe only Wilson Chandler, disappointing Danilo Gallinari and David Lee will be holdovers for next season. Incredibly, they won't have their lottery pick from last June (Jordan Hill) or from this June (Utah).

And having only those three guys on the roster is supposed to be a selling point when LeBron meets with Donnie and Mike in July? Wake up.

LINK: http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/knicksblog/walsh_antoni_not_on_same_page_jbxRTUIRcH5ljbDHxbMM8L

 

[AM24]

I sometimes think a lot of these sports writers feel the same was that Spears does, and feel that LeBron will not leave Cleveland, at least deep inside. But, the bottomline is that most successful sports writers and talk-show hosts become successful by have polarizing opinions and stating outlandish things. There's a reason a talk show or newspaper is filled with these guys. They get the ratings, the page views, or responses, etc. that newspapers and television studios love.

Marc Spears is 100% spot on in his analysis. Unfortunately, no one outside of Cleveland wants to hear what he has to say.