Looking back at this 2004-2005 season has been surprising to say the least. Many of my original thoughts on the Knicks have not turned out to be right at all. I?m somewhat of a young fan so I have not experienced such a season. Although those who root for the Knicks in recent years have been quite disappointed, this season has to be the most interesting. When the season started, I was feeling very optimistic about the Knicks chances as were my fellow orange and blue supporters. I felt as if the excitement of New York basketball would be restored to what it originally was in the 1990?s. It had all the makings of a good season as well. We had Marbury, a seemingly great coach at the time, talent, as well as many priceless and valuable lessons. To my surprise, this season turned out a complete disaster. It started off in the summer when Marbury was in Athens, Greece in search of giving the United States yet another Olympic Gold Medal. That experience overseas was similar to the season us Knick fans are experiencing presently?everything going completely wrong. The United States faltered to expectations and came home with a Bronze Medal. I was disappointed about the fact Team USA losing, but I also thought it was an ideal situation for Marbury to be in. He learned a valuable lesson about the importance of chemistry and in addition, his leadership qualities should have improved as well. During that span, the Knicks made a major trade with the Chicago Bulls. The player that Isiah Thomas has coveted the most, Jamal Crawford, would finally be a member of the Knicks. Jerome Williams who is known for his high energy and high intensity basketball, was sent to New York as well. Our expiring contracts of Cezary Trybanski, Othella Harrington, Dikembe Mutombo and Frank Williams were sent to the Bulls. [IMGr]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/jamal_crawford.jpg[/IMGr] [IMGr]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/jerome_williams.jpg[/IMGr] It saddened me to see Mutombo and especially thriving sophomore Frank Williams being shipped out, but I thought that it would be in the team?s best interest. With Allan Houston?s return being later than expected, Jamal Crawford would give us some scoring at the two, and when Houston came back, he could add depth and a future corner stone for the franchise. Jerome Williams gave us a great option to go to off the bench. Constant hustling, aggressiveness, and a positive attitude is what I expected from the eight year veteran. The season started off on a good note. The Minnesota Timberwolves were the Knicks first match of the year. I knew it would be tough for the Knicks to pull out a win against a team argued to win a championship this year that happened to have the reigning MVP on their squad, but I believed in them. The intensity they came out with made me pleased. They played with so much heart knowing that their opponent was one of the elite?s of the NBA at the time. The Big Ticket was just too much for the Knicks too handle as they fell short by six. The very next game was the Knicks home opener. The sold-out MSG crowd a disgraceful Knick performance. Words such as ?What in the world is going on?? ?I want my money back!? and ?Huh?? is what was said about the game playing the Celtics. Boston was a decent team but, losing at home by 34 points is inexcusable much less to simply a decent team. These two games of the Knicks? season mostly dictated the rest of the 80 that they played. The Knicks effort was simply not there on a nightly basis. There were however two things consistent about the Knicks. They were a consistently horrible defensive team, and overall there play was consistently inconsistent. The Knicks had some great games in which they played within themselves and got the win such as that game in Houston, where Jamal Crawford banked in the game wining three at the buzzer to give us our only win against the Texas-Triangle known for elite teams. For every win like that, there was a game like how the Raptors embarrassed the Knicks the Knicks in a blowout. Another good example is what they did to Philadelphia in December. [IMGl]http://www3.metrowestdailynews.com/images/sportsNews/marbury20041230.jpg[/IMGl]Once Allan Houston returned, things looked very bright for the Knicks. Although it was easy to tell this was not the same Houston playing, he still gave us very valuable things to the table. He gave the Knicks a commanding perimeter threat and most importantly, he gave us leadership, experience and clutch shooting. One of my favorite games from Houston and the whole Knick team was in December playing the 76ers. The Knicks were trailing by 19 points in the 4th quarter! A run sparked by Jerome Williams got them right back into the game. In the waning seconds of the game, Houston made the run more worthwhile when his three, tied it despite a hand in his face. The Knicks eventually won this game in overtime. While everyone started taking the Knicks more seriously, they ruined it after an enormous 39 point thrashing from the Mavericks. As the Knicks went on a 3 game winning streak, which included wins over the Timberwolves and the Magic, everything seemed to be headed in the right direction. This controversial, popular, blown-strait-out-of-proportion by the media comment by Stephon Marbury, was made during this time. When the media asked Marbury ?Do you feel like you?re the best point guard in the NBA?? many were disgusted. The common misconception is that Marbury out of the blue said he was the best point guard in the league, when in all actuality it was an asked question from none other than the infamous New York media. Since Marbury responded by saying, I do feel as if I?m the best point guard in the league, the Knicks went on a terrible stretch including a franchise worst in January as they lost 13 of their 15 which included a seven game losing streak. Overall in 25 games they played, 20 of them were lost. As a Knick fan, it was very depressing watching the first place team in the Atlantic division sink to the depths of the NBA standings. When the Knicks finally stopped the bleeding, the band-aid could not facilitate their record as the orange and blue were almost certain of their 3rd lottery in four years. Isiah, the man originally thought of a genius by many (yes, myself included) could not explain the play if the Knicks this season. He made moves such as firing Lenny Wilkens and naming assistant coach, Herb Williams as the interim coach. As the season progressed, although the players seemed to be responding to Herb better, there was very little improvements from when Wilkens left. Isiah Thomas than decided to make another move when he a very improved Nazr Mohammed and Jamison Brewer for Malik Rose from the Spurs along with two 1st round draft selections. In addition, he traded bench men, Moochie Norris and 11.5th man Vin Baker, for Maurice Taylor who has not fit in with the Rockets this season. Isiah?s favorite move (the risky ones) was yet again made when he was the general manager of the Knicks. Although he added salary to the roster, he acquired two 1st round picks, and with his draft resume being the way it is, he could be a good thing for the Knicks. Also Allan Houston?s enormous contract expires the same time Taylor?s enormous contract expires. This is the time that free agents such as LeBron James and Amare Stoudemire are around. With 30 million expiring in 2006, and 30 million gone in 2007, the Knicks can work out a good plan to sign a nice free agent. Add that to the fact some have bonuses on other contracts which go in effect if they sign in New York. This is a risky move, but if it turns out the way Isiah wants, we could be looking at a championship caliber team. The Knicks overall have been a disappointment. A good reason has been Houston?s absence, our coaching situation, us not meshing properly, and our awful defense. The Knicks are currently eliminated from playoff contention and are in the lottery. The question is, who can they get? With nice young players such as our new rookies Ariza, Sweetney, Crawford and a young prospect in Jackie Butler, we definitely have a good future. This season could serve as a valuable lesson for the Knicks or it can serve as an excuse for them to remain the same. But for now, the Knicks are headed into the NBA draft and what they do there, will determine our future for the next couple of years. Talent does not equate to winning, neither do athletic players. What does is a balance of everything good the Knicks do have, and everything good things they don?t have. I can only wait and see what next season has in store for me, but this season has made me a stronger fan of the Knicks and I have learned many lessons about the game of basketball.
