From: raczka@HQ.Ileaf.COM (christopher raczka)
Subject: Re: Are the Knicks *really* going to be that good???
Reply-To: raczka@HQ.Ileaf.COM (christopher raczka)
Organization: Interleaf, Inc.
Date: Mon, 28 Sep 92 13:51:56 GMT

In article <6668@transfer.stratus.com> halpin@sw.stratus.com (Jim Halpin) writes:
> 
> 	Now that the 3-way trade was gone through, I still seriously question
> that the Knicks are going to be as good as some people think?
> 
> 	Lost in all the discussion of the trade was the fact that the Knicks
> renounced their contract rights to unrestricted free agent Gerald Wilkens. So
> everybody who was counting Wilkens in as one of the Knicks SF are way off. The
> Knicks have a major hole at the 3-spot.
>

    Oakley and Mason can play 3, as can Cambpell
 
> 	I think Charles Smith is an excellent forward, but he's a PF!!! If the
> Knicks start Tony Campbell at SF, who sits? Oakley or Smith? I'ld sit Oakley
> myself. But given his personality, that`ll cause problems? If they start a
> Ewing/Smith/Oakley front line, the rest of the league will just pack the D
> down low even tighter than they do already!!!
>

    This is expected, which is why they went out and picked up Rolando
    when the D comes down low, kick it back out and pick up an easy 2
 
> 	Are the Knicks planning on using Smith to backup Ewing, swing him from
> PF to Center when Patrick takes a rest? I was under the impression that Smith
> was unhappy playing C for the Clips? (Of course he wouldn't have to do more
> than 10-12 minutes a game at Center for the Knicks).
> 

    I expect to see the Knicks get small and fast when they take Patrick out
    for a rest ... Smith, Oakley, Mason|Campbell up front

    They got this idea from the Celtics who played small much of last season
    especially against the Knicks

> 	And the backcourt is suddenly very stratafied. Rivers (31) and Blackmon
> (33) are experienced, but old. Rivers has been injury prone over the last few
> seasons. Their backups Anthony & Starks are fairly young & inexperienced.
> Davis, like any rookie, is an unknown at this point! Kimble was included
> in the deal simple to get his salary off the Clippers books 
> (you have to take Kimble or the deal is off!!!). Kimble most likely won't
> make it through training camp.
> 
>
    
    Rolando will give what the Knicks need most; consistent outside shooting.
    For Doc, just the possibility of playing on a winner will cure anything
    and his contribution will be a bonus
    They both have plenty left

    Anthony makes the Knicks feel pretty damn good when you think of
    the diaster Kenny Anderson and Gary Payton have been.
    Anthony will settle down, and under Doc's tutelage that should happen
    sooner than some expect

> 	So, I see the Knicks waltzing easily to the top of the Atlantic
> division. But they are still a few steps behind both the Bulls (Rodney McCray
> would have been an excellent pick up for the Knicks BTW!) and the Cavs in the
> Eastern Conference.
>

    Yes it is going to be interesting this year.
    Charlotte is going to be a bitch as well as the Bulls and Cavs
    but the Knicks should be there at the end!

chris
not a Knicks fan
-- 

		Mephistopheles ... ruthless, sleepless, unsmiling,
                concentration on self or humorous, civilised, sensible
                and adaptable 
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