Ondre Baronette's New York Knicks fan blog

Hey fellow Knicknews users, the new season is here, and if you need information from a person that has contact with the Knicks beat writer, I'm your guy. I will have news and information about The Knicks, after Newsday has it of course, both are owned by James Dolan, and Cablevision (Stock ticker (CVC), I'm covering all bases right now).

The Knicks will take on the Nets tomorow, 2pm, in Albany.It will give all of us, the first glance at the team that will take on this "hump year", one that is sure to leave the fans excited and in a frenzy. If the team makes the playoffs, free agency doesn't feel as bad, but if they miss it, then all the attention turns to attracting, two of the best players in the NBA, to their organization. Bringing back some MSG magic.

I think the team will be able to sneak in the back door of the playoffs this season and probably, take out a team like the Pistons. I'll write down how i think the East will shake out.

Continue reading "Knick of hope"

The Yankees look good, and i think that it isn't too early to mention magic number. The amount of games they have to play until they can "pop champagne." I'm just putting it out there, there are bigger concerns with the team, oh wait, no there isn't. They look like they will lose to the A's on the opening night of the series. It would have been nice to give them a day off, but having been shut out 3 other times, the last by Atlanta, on June 23rd. But what do you say, go get them again tomorrow. By the way, any combination of 51 wins it for the Yankees. They win that much, the Red Sox's lose that many, the team will be celebrating the championship of their division. I think that A-Rod is playing hurt, because he looks a little slow, and although that is obvious to see, it's worth

Continue reading "It's not too early is it?"

I hope that Mr. Donnie Walsh goes out there and gets Ramon Sessions. This young baller out of Nevada can be Raja Bell like for Mike D'Antoni's Knicks. No, he won't guard the two, but he can be a good player against the point. Raja Bell might have been a bit of an overstatement, but I really think they need depth at the point. Duhon and Douglass cannot be the full plan. I could see Monta Ellis finding his way with the team. Golden State has depth at his position, and although they are committed to him, I could see them working something out. I just believe that with the team staying the way it is, the season will be just like last year, even with the addition of Hill and Douglass. Nate and David are still unresolved, and training camp is 10 weeks away or there about. I think it's about time

Continue reading "I mean, really Knicks??"

                The Yankees look good. Their offense is #1 and their pitching is 17th, behind The Mets, surprisingly enough. It shows how much the injuries truly have derailed The Mets, but that's not the purpose of this blog. I think at 70-43, they have shown themselves to be the class of the league right now. Compared to this time last year, when they were 63-56, 9 games out. That difference of 8 games, and three very important piece to that 8 games difference in Teixeira, Sabathia, and Burnett. From this, i gather that players make it difficult to run away with their division, and if it weren't for an 0-8 start to The Redsoxs, the ead would be bigger, like the payroll and play dictates. The Yankees can only de-rail themselves and The Redsoxs, lost like the bully that needed to be confronted and defeated to completely forget all apprehensions. They have all things lined for a run at the World Series for real, and it would be fitting for the new stadium to experience the World Series after the old stadium missed the playoffs for the first time in 13years.                                                                                       

Continue reading "A little something to show..."

As the free agent market is all but dried up for the summer of 2009, Donnie Walsh continues to work the back channels of the team player personnel. They are even doing their due diligence, in taking a look, or speaking to former household names, such as Jerry Stackhouse, Jason Willams, and Jamal Tinsley. These players are passed their prime, but i guess put in the right situation, help a team contend for a championship. But, contend for the bottom seed in the playoffs? I don't think so. My opinion is that of, making sure the New York Knicks have an identity on the basketball court. Last year an identity was being established. They had the ability to put points on the board. Much like any team that is given the freedom to play, and not have to be robotic in running plays all the time. Their defense caused them to falter down the stretch. Their inability to have a stable head given them sound direction and passing. If The Knicks had the Chris Duhon of the first half of the season, during the second half of the season, they still don't make it to the playoffs. I thought that Duhon was only a good signing if he had Marbury there also. (I guess Duhon wished he really consider that Orlando offer, and Walsh offered him that money early in the free agency period if i remember correctly.)

Continue reading "Knicks still searching...."

The Knicks are headed in the right direction. Although I think Donnie Walsh is old school, I love the consistency the teams he control has. He seems like the type of President willing to listen to well thought out ideas.  Mike D’Antoni was a great hiring, and Mark Jackson or Patrick Ewing would have been a nice story to write, but Coach D’Antoni has won 60 games before. I am glad that we were unable to get J-Kidd.  He is a great player, but we don’t want the Knicks to stay an old team. We also don’t need New Jersey’s traded player. He showed Marbury who the better point guard was, after Marbury claimed he was, back in 2005. That’s a side point. I believe in Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari, and even David Lee. We just need to surround these guys with players willing to do the thinking on the court, and be the leader. Sounds a lot like J-Kidd, it’s just that some players don’t need to be a Knick. Much like Penny Hardaway, or Glen Rice, a former great that was just a few years late. I like how the free agency market has opened up for the organization now and I the future.  

Continue reading "Read this Knick fans....Take that Alan Hahn..."

The Knicks are looking to add Jason Kidd to the mix, I hope it is smoke screens for  Sessions. Who is the second best point guard in free agent market this year? Stephon Marbury, Allen Iverson, maybe Bibby, since he reportedly re-up with the Hawks. There isn't a hard line. Its just a well researched, highly discussed opinion, of who will fit in a particular system. Mike Bibby is a tested professional in pressure situations. His Atlanta team finished a little bit shorter than his Sacramento teams did in the playoffs. He knows how to play in space and stretch the floor himself too. The Hawks are smart to keep him. Sessions is the next best option beside trading for a player. He doesn't shoot the three very well, but that could be a good thing, he'll got to the basket more frequent.  Some beat writers believe that Nate Robinson will not be back and i buy that, (dont agree) but as a commodity that he seems to be, why not sign and trade him? Teams that want him, need to pay the price he's worth. I think that David Lee has to be a more expendable player, the Knicks need a knock down shooter, his 61 double doubles help and are impressive, but that didn't get them in the playoffs, kept them in contention, but they can replace his boards with players on the roster now. That is not fair to call Lee expendable, but he's a higher commodity. He has been a pefect professional since he became a Knick, and I'd love to have him on a different team, with a different system. We need game changers, lane cloggers, and defensive intimdation, and frustrators. A contenders need a player like Lee, and he'll be a great supplemental piece.

Continue reading "More Knicks thoughts..."

I am appreciating my job at CitiField more and more. I have a degree in English from Hofstra University, and i am a Hospitality Attendant at CitiField. It's not a bad job, but I don't get to see the game live because i work inside the Majestic store. i get to see a classmate of mine wear his suit and tie to the games. It is truly a humbling experience. But that is not the reason for my post.  I saw The Knicks draft picks Jordan Hill and Toney Douglass in the Media Relations office. I thought that was pretty cool. I saw Melkey Cabrera, Robinson Cano ,Sweeny Murdi, Joe Girardi, Susan Waldman, and Mike Crespino too. Back to the focus of me post. I like The Knicks picks. I'm happy that both were available, but I am happier that we don't have to deal with Stephen Curry not being able to live up to the hype and becoming a better player than Jamal Crawford. Curry wants to manage his team and be a leader on the court, making all the right passes for the team. Crawford hasn't been able be that type of player and I am not prepared for him to learn those skills in NY. He might get them(which i doubt), Lebron believes that he is the goods, but watching him play a few games, I expect him to become a player like Barbosa. I expect for him to play the game like a lesser Ben Gordon. A little bit better than T.J. Ford, and i mean a little, a lot less than Derrick Rose. Jordan Hill may not bring toughness, but can we say a little bit of Marcus Camby. Can we say Renaldo Balkman with more height, and more ability. (Sorry Staten Island Staten Island: "That's Ok, we didn't even know he from here" Only joking man) 

Continue reading "Getting better bounce by bounce..."

I sit and I watch the encore presentation of the Yankees game, thinking about The Knicks starting five last year, and try to project this years 5. Duhon will be in the last year of the contract, and the second year of D'Antoni's system. I think he's the starting 1. He's a Duke graduate, so i hope that he comes into the year ready to play major minutes, work on getting that gig to become a Derek Fisher type in the league. A solid point on a great team. Maybe even resign with the team, because, well do i really have to say it. Summer of 2010.

    At 2, you put Larry Hughes. I hope that he can be a consistent player, challenging for recognition for resurgent play. Wilson Chandler at the 3. I think he can just continue to get better. He doubled his points per game, 7 to 14, and i think he'll try for 18-21 this year.  I see him progress like Trevor Ariza would, with less defense, more explosivness, and w/out Kobe. Since Trevor went home, practice against Kobe, his skills have really shot up. (pun intended). He was the real Scottie Pippen out there, even though Derek Fisher hit the biggest shot.  Al Harrington and Jared Jefferies cross matching to full fill the four and 5. Eddy Curry is there, but I cant trust that he will be in starting lineup shape, much less opening day starting 5 shape. I think they need Chris Wilcox's, and maybe Darko Milic is partly the answer to the lack of size. I think Chris Wilcox brings some of that football toughness a playoff team need. I want the Knicks to challenge Chicago for the 8th spot at least, it's not Confrence Finals, but a rivalry is a rivalry right? 

Continue reading "Re-Run"

The Wolves have the 5th & 6th pick. They shipped out Randy Foye and Mike Miller. The KNicks are affected by this. I think that Donnie Walsh is upset by this move. Stephen Curry will be off the board by then. Tyreke Evans will be gone by then. Ricky Rubio will be gone too. James Harden wont be there then. I think that they need to go for a PG. I also think that Nate Robinson needs to stay with The Knicks too, but i also cant have both he and a player like Flynn in the backcourt as well. I would love to bring in Hasshem Thabeet, but he'll be gone at 2 based on my research. I'd like to see Jordan Hill, but the Warriors will have selected him if he's there. I am left with players  Flynn and Holiday. Donnie Walsh can't get creative and drop down in the Draft and get two picks, a Ty Law

Continue reading "It's getting close...."