Hitting Back :: A New York Sports Blog

Despite what’s being said by fools like Daily News columnist Mike Lupica, the Knicks are still easy to hate. That’s just how Team Dumb and Dumber Clown Mgt 101 makes it.

Let’s face it! Compared to the hockey team which thankfully is run solely by hockey people, the basketball team that resides at 2 Penn Plaza remains a circus of epic proportions no matter who coaches and who is GM.

Need more proof? All you had to do was take a look at the over the top performance from rapper Q-Tip during the team’s introduction. As if the Knicks were back. Even the reception from rap’s birthplace was subdued despite some fancy lyrics and encouragement for them to get up and chant, “New Yooooork!”

Aside from the sideshow, at least they played Young Jeezy’s “Put On” for lineups. As for why it’s fairly simple to still despise the Knicks. Because Jim Dolan is still calling the shots no matter what kinda spin they’re saying about Stephon Marbury’s deactivation. Only the Knicks could turn Coney Island’s Finest into a sympathetic figure. Especially when you consider how lousy his Knick career has been epitomizing that the former Lincoln High standout never got it on or off the court.

However, how this situation has been handled by Mike D’Antoni is an absolute sham much like the over the top propaganda about how this team is gonna be so much more “exciting” quoting the former Suns coach’s mantra.

As if that actually can be translated as a winning brand of basketball. The quintessential hoops fan
isn’t a fool and knows better about what wins in the NBA. Did I just mention NBA basketball? The Knicks don’t deserve to be included because they’re really not going to win many games no matter what the hype machine says.

So, they put up 120 on the lowly Heat in their home opener yet nearly blew a 26-point lead needing to hang on for dear life just to get a ‘W.’ D’Antoni’s up-tempo offensive system should have success against teams who are on their level. Problem is there are only so many you can cite. Won’t it be fun when former coach Larry Brown brings his equally dreadful Bobcats to the Mecca? Rumor has it those match-ups will be renamed the Toilet Bowl!

So what if D’Antoni benched Eddy Curry? I could’ve become coach and sat out Fat Albert. The way too big man who probably has spent way too many trips to Burger King and McDonalds just doesn’t care enough about basketball. Was anyone surprised by the reaction he got when introduced?

For the pro-D’Antoni/Knicks backers, that’s the argument they can make when it comes to the decision to not play Marbury in the team’s home opener. This while the worst and ugliest NBA guard we’ve ever seen, Mardy Collins is getting PT along with Italian pet project Danilo Gallinari who didn’t even see preseason action and looks like a string bean on the court. Bet if you breathed on him, he’d blow over. The 2008 first round pick might want to join Fat Albert for some Big Macs cause he needs them much worse.

So, how does one explain D’Antoni’s actions playing Marbury during exhibition and coming away impressed enough to hint that he’d be part of the Knicks second unit? We don’t care how many shots Jamal Crawford gets, it’s Starbury who’s still the most talented player on the roster and fits the coach’s new philosophy to a tee.

Just how bad was it? When a part of an MSG crowd who booed Marbury last season began chanting for him to come into the game, the coach reportedly did a double take having a few choice words for those closeby.

So, is D’Antoni a liar or was this just another typical Dolan induced episode? What do you think?!?!?!?!?!

It’s clear that Donnie Walsh was never going to buyout Marbury, who now shall earn all 22 million while in the fancy business attire. He doesn’t believe in doing that. So, will the team find a suitor and unload the contract? Highly unlikely especially when one considers he’s in the final year which will allow any interested teams to wait it out.

The question is can a motivated Marbury still help another NBA roster which is a lot closer to winning than the Knicks. I don’t believe there’s any doubt that he can still play but his reputation will continue to linger until proven otherwise. Wouldn’t it be in his best interest to continue saying all the right things about how if this is the situation, then so be it? Absolutely. If he’s indeed on best behavior, he knows he might get out of jail and have another chance elsewhere.

And what better way than to stick it where the sun don’t shine to a faulty mismanaged organization which would probably blame him for the stock market along with current economy and how embarrassing the Presidential Election campaigns have become. Well, at least that nonsense will be over in a couple of days.

This isn’t about Marbury being a good guy. He’s clearly not but the Knick actions have actually painted him as the winner in this situation because it’s still the same old song and dance at the Garden no matter what their brainwashed PR tell you.

Was it any surprise that the Orange and Blue got blitzed in Philadelphia losing by 29 the other night? Come on. You knew better. Don’t believe the hype. This team is a long way from being anything. Clearly, the Nets are better and might even possess better young talent though it’s close.

So, where will these “new look” Knicks wind up? Where last year’s Lord Isiah ones did. In the Atlantic cellar because the Celts, improved 76ers and Raptors are so much better and even the Nets should win more.

Again, what is there to get excited about? Here’s hoping Michael Redd and Richard Jefferson combine for 60 later tonight.