“‘I think the majority of Knick fans have said that this trade was the start of the downfall of the franchise, that this was the first step toward the morass that everybody has been entrenched in since,’ Checketts said. ‘I just think that’s silliness. It was only the first in a series of very bad moves.‘” Although Dave Checketts demures, the NYT retraces the sorry state of the Knicks — 5 years and counting — to the Ewing trade. I can see their point, although that in no way absolves Scott Layden or Isiah Thomas for some seriously lousy decision-making over the past couple of seasons.
Tag: Scott Layden
Layden Off.
On the verge of effectively ending another season before the new year starts, the Knicks finally fire Scott Layden. This’d be great news for Gotham if his replacement weren’t Isiah Thomas, who’s recently run the CBA into the ground and treaded water for years with the hyper-talented Pacers. Hmmm. Well, at least Thomas isn’t coaching, and perhaps he can manage to draw some top talent back to the mecca of basketball.
The Dyess Man Cometh.
(Ok, I cribbed that from the Post, but it’s still a great headline.) After two years recovering from injury, former All-Star Antonio McDyess returned to the Knicks last night in their OT loss to the Pistons. He looked pretty lost out there (2 points, 3 boards), but I’m sure he’ll find his sea legs after some more minutes. In the meantime, Scott Layden has just lost his last excuse. If we can’t make the playoffs in the lEast now, heads should roll.
It’s the Tipoff.
Finally, the NBA season is here. (The Knicks start tonight against Orlando, but frankly I’ve got no illusions about this squad – it’s clear the Knicks’ idiot management chose them for their “character” rather than for their basketball skills.) I must say, I was hoping the recent Shaq-Kobe feud would mean the beginning of a full-on Lakers collapse this season…but, alas, the Mailman and the Glove looked dominant last night against Dallas. Although I thought one of ’em might end up being a locker room cancer, it looks for now like Payton and Malone will instead be a stabilizing force at the Staples Center, despite whatever develops between the big fella and the possible felon.
So long, Spree.
It’s official…the most dynamic Knick since Bernard King has left the Garden. Consider me among the legions of Knicks fans who’re bummed to see him go…and who aren’t psyched at all about Keith Van Horn. This lousy trade reeks of Layden.