Time to Start Rebuilding

The Knicks have struggled badly out of the gate and are 1-9. The players who I thought would be playing their butts off to earn a new contract have been playing terribly, and it is pretty clear that the team is not going to sniff the playoffs. The Knicks brass should see that the team is not fit to compete with the rest of the NBA, except maybe the Nets and the Wolves, and they also must realize that most of the rotation players will not be on the team next year.

In a look toward the future, I would like to see Mike D'Antoni either bench or greatly reduce roles for guys like David Lee, Nate Robinson, Chris Duhon, and Al Harrington, and put out a starting lineup of Douglas, Chandler, Gallinari, Hill and Curry, with Jeffries as a sixth man. I would also have Hughes play a lot, since he is one of the few Knicks who cares about defense. In the offseason quest to sign LeBron, Wade, Bosh, Joe Johnson, whoever, there most likely won't be enough money left to resign any of the expiring players, and none of them are really worth it anyway, so they may as well give the young players who have a future with the Knicks some time to grow together, learn the game, and develop. It will be rough and there will be some blowouts, but how much worse can the team really get? Not only would this give Douglas and Hill some time to learn the NBA game, it will let the core of the future build chemistry with eachother. Gallo would also be free to become the leader of the team, the star, and the one who drives the offense. Playing guys like Al and Nate, who fancy themselves as stars, destroys chemistry, since they pass only out of necessity, and stifles the development of Gallo. Watching Douglas and Gallinari play, the thing that stands out is they mostly shot good shots, when they are relatively open and in rhythm (sure Gallo can chuck some 3's, but he makes most of them). If they don't have a good shot, they pass, which keeps the offense in motion and helps everyone get in the flow of the game. It can't get worse, so why not try something new?

Curry and Jeffries must play big roles as well, not because they have a future on the team, but because they need to be showcased for a possible trade. Donnie Walsh should do everything he can to packgage Curry or Jeffries with somewhat valuable commodities (Lee, Chandler, Harrington, Hughes, Nate). They won't be on the team next year, so we might as well use them to reduce our cap number. The team can't trade Nate or Lee until Christmas, and even after they would have to agree to the trade, but with their value plummeting as the team stinks it up, why wouldn't they want to abandon the Knicks.

This is going to be a long season, and the only reason I am watching is to see some development from Gallo, Douglas, and Hill. I hope D'Antoni sends a message to the vets and reduces their roles and sets the young guns free to develop and grow to get ready to win next year.

Toney Douglas is also growing some serious sideburns and may be modelling his facial hair after the Legend Walt Clyde Frazier. Any time a young Knicks point guard is idolizing Clyde in any way, it is a good thing.