[2k8]:Rebuilding: Knicks Association (4-0)[2k8]

[mp3]

[Inspired by Buzzy]

The New York knicks
The Slow Road To Recovery



WALSH HIRED TO RUN KNICKS
GARDEN ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY

The KnicksNew York Knicks will announce the hiring of the esteemed Pacers executive as their new president today at a Garden news conference at 1 p.m., according to a team source.

The hiring of Walsh, the 67-year-old Bronx-born executive, spells the end of the disastrous four-year Isiah Thomas Era. Thomas will not be at the press conference. With the Knicks playing in Memphis tonight, Thomas will still coach the game and is expected to finish out the season on the bench.

Thomas is expected to be removed from the bench at season's end, though he could be retained in a front-office capacity and help out with this June's vital lottery pick that could turn the direction of the franchise. However, Thomas has lost the power he had wielded for four years during a nightmare run. Last week, Thomas became the second-quickest Knicks coach to reach 100 losses.

Walsh, who along with owner James Dolan could join the Knicks tonight in Memphis, also is expected to hire a GM and Billy King has been mentioned prominently as a top candidate. Glen Grunwald currently holds that role.

Walsh was not in Indianapolis yesterday, but was said to be at a speaking engagement out of town, initiating speculation he could be in New York. Walsh had been negotiating with the Knicks for the past week.

Following last night's overtime 119-115 loss to the Bucks, Thomas, when asked generically about his stint, said he had no regrets and added, "I feel we still have a bright future."

The Knicks had hoped to make the announcement at season's end, but speculation about his situation became too severe. But it also makes sense to make the announcement now and put Walsh into the middle of the mess to observe the decay of a 20-54 season.

Walsh, out of Fordham prep and the University of North Carolina, spent 24 years with the Pacers but stepped down nine days ago, saying he had been there too long. It was also believed it had become an awkward situation between Walsh and Larry Bird.

Commissioner David Stern helped encourage Dolan to pursue Walsh and admitted last week he calls him for basketball advice.

Mark Jackson could be considered the top candidate to become the Knicks coach because of his strong ties with Walsh. Scott Skiles and Rick Carlisle are the two most successful unemployed coaches and Knicks assistant Herb Williams, a Dolan and Walsh favorite, could get an interview.

Walsh has a huge task and will be given full control of the operation with Dolan expected to take a step back. Walsh is extremely media friendly while Dolan has had a strict media policy.

His philosophy will likely be to break it down and try to get under the salary cap after the 2010 season when LeBron James becomes a free agent. The only way the Knicks can get under the cap is to trade Zach RandolphZach Randolph and either Jamal Crawford or Eddy CurryEddy Curry .

The Bucks also are in search of a GM and interviewed Suns executive David Griffin Monday. Milwaukee fans are hoping the Knicks-Walsh thing falls through because the rumor here is Walsh, friends with Kohl, would then join the Bucks and reunite with Larry Brown.

In Walsh's 22 years overseeing the franchise as GM, the Pacers made the playoffs 17 times, with six Eastern final berths and one Finals appearance.

[mp3]

Isiah Thomas Fired As New York Knicks Coach

NEW YORK — Isiah Thomas couldn't win as coach with the players he assembled as president. Now, he's lost both jobs. Thomas was fired as the New York Knicks coach Friday after a season of listless and dreadful basketball, a tawdry lawsuit and unending chants from fans demanding his dismissal.

Thomas lost a franchise record-tying 59 games this season, and along the way seemed to lose the support of his players, who didn't always play hard for him the way they did last season.

"I can't really tell you where he failed with the club. I think that we reached a point this season when our team didn't compete for a long time," new team president Donnie Walsh said. "The bottom line is that we haven't won and the team didn't look like it was motivated to try to win and be competitive."

Walsh said that isn't always the coach's fault, but Thomas is blamed for enough already _ sometimes unfairly, Walsh added.

"I feel like some of the bigger events that happened on the way with Isiah have overshadowed some of the good things he's done for the franchise," Walsh said.

Walsh said no player brought up Thomas' name during their exit meetings Thursday, though Walsh said he wasn't going to be asking for it, anyway.

Thomas, the coach for two seasons, will remain with the organization in an unnamed role, reporting directly to Walsh, who said he informed Thomas of the decision Friday.

"It's very difficult to be the coach and general manager," Walsh said. "Maybe it was too much."

Walsh took over Thomas' role as team president April 2, and his first big decision was to change coaches as he begins the process of turning around a team that never won a playoff game in Thomas' tenure.

"I just believe a new voice, a new coach, is necessary to change the direction of the team," Walsh said. "This is a coveted job. People want to coach here."

A message was left for Thomas at his New York office.

The Knicks finished 23-59 in their seventh straight losing season.

Two of those 59-loss debacles came in the last three years, when the Knicks solidified themselves as the NBA's most dysfunctional franchise with poor play on the court and embarrassing behavior off it.

This season alone, Thomas was found to have sexually harassed a former team employee, feuded with point guard Stephon Marbury and benched center Eddy Curry _ the players Thomas acquired in the two biggest of a number of moves that never panned out.

Walsh wants a new coach in place by the draft in June, when the Knicks will finally have their lottery pick again after handing over their last two to Chicago in the Curry trade.

Walsh said he hasn't talked to any candidates, but mentioned former Knick and current TV analyst Mark Jackson, and assistant coach Herb Williams as people who likely would be interviewed. He said he has no timetable to make his decision.

"Obviously, when you're losing, there has to be a culture change," he said. "There's no easy answer. ... We've got to work 24-7 to become competitive."

And Thomas will be a part of that. Without getting specific, Walsh said there were assignments he'd feel completely comfortable giving to Thomas.

"I will be in touch with Isiah a lot," he said.

Thomas went 56-108 in New York and is 187-223 as an NBA coach, leading the Indiana Pacers to the playoffs in three straight years from 2000-03. Larry Bird fired him after becoming team president, a move Walsh _ who had hired Thomas as coach _ was originally against but eventually went along with.

Thomas was hired as the Knicks' team president on Dec. 22, 2003, and he acquired Marbury from Phoenix weeks later. The Knicks made the playoffs that season, getting swept by New Jersey, but haven't gone back despite their annual spot atop the league's highest payroll list.

Though the salary cap was already out of whack by the time Thomas arrived, he didn't help matters with some questionable moves. He gave a $30 million contract in the summer of 2005 to center Jerome James, a career 4.3 points per game scorer who hasn't been healthy or productive, and seems bothered by neither. A year later, Thomas used his mid-level exception on Jared Jeffries, who has limited offensive skills.

Still, Madison Square Garden chairman James Dolan remained confident in Thomas, even making him coach in June 2006 after firing Larry Brown following one season. But that came with an ultimatum, as Dolan warned Thomas to show "evident progress" in one season or be fired from both positions.

The Knicks went 33-49 last season. Dolan rewarded Thomas with a multiyear contract extension with more than a month left after New York moved into eighth place, but the Knicks collapsed under a series of injuries and missed the postseason.

Things went poorly this season from the time training camp opened.

The jury came back with its verdict that day, finding that Thomas and MSG sexually harassed former team executive Anucha Browne Sanders and ordering the company to pay $11.6 million in damages. Criticized by Al Sharpton and Rutgers women's coach C. Vivian Stringer for comments he made in his taped deposition, Thomas seemed downcast during most of training camp _ and never had much reason for better spirits when the season began.

The Knicks started 2-1, then dropped eight in a row as the Thomas-Marbury feud sent the season spiraling out of control. Marbury responded to Thomas' plans to bench him by skipping a game in Phoenix, and the players reportedly voted to make Marbury sit out a game when he returned. Instead, Thomas played the point guard more than 33 minutes off the bench in a game in Los Angeles against the Clippers.

It soon became obvious that Thomas' draft night acquisition of Zach Randolph had set back Curry, who lost his confidence and later his starting job. Speculation was rampant by Thanksgiving that Thomas' job was in jeopardy, and it only heated up after the Knicks' nationally televised 104-59 loss at Boston on Nov. 29.

Chants of "Fire Isiah!" sometimes started minutes after home games, and even Dolan's strong relationship with Thomas couldn't convince people the coach would last.

Thomas will be replaced on the knicks bench by former Celtic and Knicks assistant Tom Thibodeau.

[mp3]

Walsh wastes no time in reshuffling roster


Today New York's Donnie Walsh made his first moves as knicks president by trading away 3 knicks in 2 seperate deals involving the Cavs and Nets and by signing free agent forward/guard Viktor Khryapa.



The first deal of the day saw the Cavs and Knicks swapping Zach Randolph for Ben Wallace and 1st round draft (and) 1st round pick(N).

Both Forwards have been a dissapointment for there teams since trading for them last summer.

Randolph last traded for by Isiah Thomas at last years draft send young forward Channing frye and aging Steve Francis while many believed that
Zach and Eddy Curry could co exist in the bench the knicks sunk even lower with a record of 23-59.

Wallace, a summer signing of the Bulls back in the 06-07 season did not live upto the big contract or the solid play they thought he would bring from his glory days with Pistons therefore trading him to the Cavs right before the trade deadline of last year, the Cavs felt the need to space more scorers around LeBron James and made an offer to the Knicks.



Viktor Khryapa a former 1st round pick (22nd) of the Nets spent his first 2 years in Portland where he avaereged a career best 5.8ppg and 4.5rpg he was later traded to the Bulls in a draft day deal that brought Tryus Thomas to Chicago, he played a full season (06-07) with Bulls but was released after just 9 games of of the 07-08.

He returned to euro powerhouse CSKA before been picked up by the Knicks.

The second deal with the Nets sent Nate Robinson and Fred Jones in return for second year point guard Marcus Williams.





The Knicks needed a future point guard to fill the shoes of Stephon Marbury, the Nets needed a spark off the bench and after trading for young and rising star Devin Harris made Williams expandable.

The Team

Coach Tom Thibodeau

(College - Salem State)

Eddy Curry

[C] #34 - 13.5ppg 3rpg 0.5bpg

Ben Wallace

[PF] #4 - 6ppg 7.3rpg 2.3apg 1spg 1.3bpg

Wilson Chandler

[SF] #21 - 12.3ppg 6.8rpg 1.5apg 1.3bpg

Jamal Crawford

[SG] #11 - 17.5ppg 1.0rpg 4.8apg

Stephon Marbury

[PG] #3 - 17.5ppg 1.0rpg 6.5apg 1.0spg

Marcus Williams

[PG] #1 - 10.8ppg 2.3rpg 2.8apg

David Lee

[PF] #42 - 9.0ppg 9.8rpg 1.3spg

Quentin Richardson

[SG] #23 - 8.8ppg 5.5rpg

Renaldo Balkman

[SF] #32 - 3.5ppg 1.8rpg 0.5bpg

Jared Jeffries

[SF] #20 - 2.5ppg 1.3rpg 0.5spg 0.5bpg

Malik Rose

[PF] #31 - 2.3ppg 0.8rpg 0.8spg

Mardy Collins

[PG] #25 - 1.0ppg 0.5apg 0.3spg

Randolph Morris

[C] #5 - No games played

Jerome James

[C] #13 - No games played

Viktor Khryapa

[SF] #38 - No games played

The Season so far

Knicks 4-0

Knicks@Cavs
[106-91]
[Knicks]Marbury - 18 points 7 assists
[Cavs]James - 30 points 7 rebounds 9 assists

Twolves@Knicks
[95-104]
[Knicks]Curry - 8 points 6 rebounds 2 blocks
[Twolves]Brewer - 21 points 6 rebounds 4 assists

Nuggets@Knicks
[93-106]
[Knicks]Crawford - 23 points 1 rebound 3 assists
[Nuggets]Iverson - 21 points 6 assists

Magic@Knicks
[92-102]
[Knicks]Marbury - 21 points 1 rebound 4 assists
[Magic]Howard - 17 points 14 rebounds 1 block

Next game posted later.

Heat@Knicks

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Double post.

[mp3]

108
102

Knicks hold off late Heat run to remain there perfect record.

Starting lineups

Knicks
C-Eddy Curry PF-Ben Wallace SF-Wilson Chandler SG-Jamal Crawford PG-Stephon Marbury
Heat
C-Alonzo Mourning PF-Shawn Marion SF-Scott Padgett SG-Ricky Davis PG-Dwyane Wade

The Knicks got off to a fast start blowing the Heat out the water and finishing the 1st quarter with a 10 point lead.

Despite the Knicks lead they still had there problems with poor decision making the turnovers started to pile up, Marbury was quicking subbed back out just afew minutes into the second after commiting his 5th turnover of the ball game.

New York caught a break before half time when Wade went to the bench with an ankle injury, he would return later in the 3rd put the knicks had already mounted a 20 point lead and this game was starting to look like a blowout.

Both Eddy Curry and David Lee had yet to miss a shot as the knicks were red hot in the 3rd shooting 70% from the field.

Wade return late and teamed up with Marion to put together a late run that would bring the Heat to within 4 in the closing seconds but the Knicks would be clutch at the line to hang on for there 5th straight victory.

The Games Top 3 Plays


Boxscores

[Chaser7]

Pretty nice story here... I'm alittle confused by your wording with the Randolph trade:

"The first deal of the day saw the Cavs and Knicks swapping Zach Randolph for Ben Wallace and 1st round draft (and) 1st round pick(N)." Wait so you got 2 first round picks or what? Sorry, but what's the different between a 1st round draft and a 1st round pick?

Anyways the trade is pretty good since if Wallace can regain his defensive power then he will complement Curry well.

Also those articles are pretty long, did you write them? Nice effort here

[mp3]

Pretty nice story here... I'm alittle confused by your wording with the Randolph trade:

"The first deal of the day saw the Cavs and Knicks swapping Zach Randolph for Ben Wallace and 1st round draft (and) 1st round pick(N)." Wait so you got 2 first round picks or what? Sorry, but what's the different between a 1st round draft and a 1st round pick?

Anyways the trade is pretty good since if Wallace can regain his defensive power then he will complement Curry well.

Also those articles are pretty long, did you write them? Nice effort here

With the Randolph trade i got this years draft pick and next years, in 2k8 they stat the "next years pick" with (N )

No i didnt write the articles they are copy and pasted from the real news just to add alittle background.

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111
[5-0]
107
[6-1]

Knicks shine in Phoenix

Starting lineups

Knicks
C-Eddy Curry PF-Ben Wallace SF-Wilson Chandler SG-Jamal Crawford PG-Stephon Marbury
Suns
C-Shaquille O'Neal PF-Amare Stoudemire SF-Grant Hill SG-Raja Ball PG-Steve Nash


Jamal Crawford scored 46 while Shaq's suns stuggled.

The Knicks and Suns met in what was already a well hyped game with New York the only unbeaten team in the league while Phoenix was looking to hand the knicks there first loss and regain the nba's best record.

Phoenix's Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire would get little help from there suns teammates on the night despite Nash's 20 assists and Amare's 31 points 13 reounds it would be Jamal Crawford's night scoring a season high 46 points which saw him go off for 19 in the 4th.

Stephon Marbury would regain his allstar play with 20 points and 11 assists while rookie Wilson Chandler is starting to look like the steal of the draft finished with 22 points 8 rebounds and 5 assists.

Player of the Games
46 points 3 rebounds 5 assists

Boxscores




View the game action here!

ps this truely is an nba live forum... full of bugs

It took me 5 hours yesterday to get my post online and 2 hours today.

[The X]

Nice stuff going on here. Keep it up. I'm doing Knicks as well (well after I finish my 1st Syracuse legacy season). I look forward to the challenge.

[zmac]

Nice stuff, 2k associations always require a bit of effort to do stories.
One thing you should do though, especially since its a rebuilding one...

Turn up the difficulty, no one wants to see a 'rebuilding' knicks team go 5-0

[kibaxx7]

Turn up the difficulty, no one wants to see a 'rebuilding' knicks team go 5-0

That's what I was going to say... apart from that, nice work

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Havent got to play 2k8 due to work so no updates yet.

Iam playing on hall of fame ! cant get any higher than that, il tweak the sliders abit more but my stats have been pretty realistic so far.