Show Him The Door!

The New York Knicks can own New York City if they wanted to. There could be blue and orange all over NY, even Yankees fans would be ok with that. NY would have its Golden Boy, Carmelo Anthony much like the Yanks did with Derek Jeter. Madison Square Garden could be the best place in sports but it's nothing but a pipe dream these days. The Knicks sold hope and promise. Now they just sell live action soap operas at MSG.

Phil Jackson's days at MSG should be numbered

Saturday night the Knicks hosted the defending World Champion Cleveland Cavaliers for the second time this season in prime time on national television. For the second time, they were embarrassed. The Cavs took a 27 point lead at one point in the game..27! To the Knicks credit, they climbed within 5 with a minute left but that's where the magic ran out. That's been their M.O. They strap you in for a roller coaster ride and fail to deliver in the end. Everyone in the city knows this, so does everyone in the NBA. The only ones who don't see it are the people running the Knicks organization.

Saturday night's game showed everything was wrong with the Knicks. They missed 14 free throws. They lost by 11. Something so simple couldn't be executed. The fans booed the Knicks for their awful performance. Melo shook his finger "no, no, no" in response. The Knicks fought back from a 27 point deficit, got as close as 5 points but Lebron James took over in the final minute and dished out an outstanding pass to a wide open Kevin Love to hit a 3-pointer to seal the win. The same Kevin Love the Knicks are trying to acquire from the Cavs for Melo.  Melo and Kristaps Porzingis were a non factor in this game. They are the guys that are suppose to be driving this team into the playoffs. The other guy that was suppose to be helping them this season was Derrick Rose sat out his 4th consecutive game with an ankle injury. I guess he should just disappear again like he did a few weeks ago without explanation. At least that would get the Knicks some sympathy...right?

This has led to speculation that Carmelo Anthony is going to get traded sooner than later. The debate has gone on for weeks, should the Knicks keep Melo? Is it his fault the Knicks are in disarray or is it Phil Jackson's? Melo doesn't care how people view it, all he cares about is winning as a NY Knick but it's starting to show in his performance on the court. When asked about all the off the court drama Melo said:



Off the court drama starting to affect Melo on the court

"I'm still keeping it [mellow], still keeping it cool, man. It definitely kind of tests you, can put you to the test...You have to dig deep within yourself to get through it on a day-to-day basis, figure out a way how to still go out there and play at a high level every night, play hard, lead this team."That's kind of where you have to dig deep at, despite of everything that's going on, that's surrounding -- I don't even want to say us -- me. It's testing me. It's testing my will. It's testing me as a human being. It also is making me stronger throughout this process."

The Knicks would be crazy to trade Melo especially if they don't get high caliber players in return. The problem here is Phil Jackson. The guy outside of drafting Porzingis has been a disaster for the Knicks. Even now I'm thinking that he paid someone to scout and do the drafting for him. He's so out of touch with the team and the city that it's apparent he's the problem. Getting Rose this past offseason was a nice touch and good idea in theory but it was a one year experiment at best. That experiment has gone up in flames. Joakim Noah was signed to a 4 year $72 million contract, the guy has eight  games this season without scoring a single point. Now he looks like a guy who's going to be coming off the bench the rest of his career. Good moves Phil. Rose disappeared one night and missed a game. No one knew where he was or if he was ok. Phil declined to speak that night about it. How? You have nothing to say? The fans who pay way too much money to come watch THIS Knicks team aren't owed an explanation as to why one of the team's elite players suddenly vanished? Poor decision Phil.

Phil and Melo are headed to an ugly divorce

The problem isn't Carmelo. I've witnessed him score 25 points in one quarter just a few weeks ago. That set a Knicks Franchise record for most points in one quarter. That's saying something. He's still got enough left in the tank to make this team great again. Porzingis has enough right now to make this team great again. The problem is no one else on the team is capable on a consistent basis. There are flashes around the team but nothing consistent. Nothing to supplement an off day by Melo and/or KP. LeBron has his support system in Cleveland. Steph Curry has his in Golden State. Where's Melo's? That is on you Phil and only you. That is why you sir need to be shown the door, not Carmelo. Take the money with you...this city wants a winner and you my friend are no longer one.

 

 

Ruda's Ramblings: Garden of Disarray

Sports franchises go through periods of times where they need to rid the roster, start over, rebuild from the ground up. For the New York Knicks, this has been going on for the better part of 15 years now. A franchise that was once a force in the NBA's eastern conference in the 90's, has become an afterthought, and a joke to most basketball fans. With the exception of the 2012-2013 campaign the Knicks have been a mess. A mess that has been created by an owner , a tyrant, for that manner, who is absolutely clueless in James Dolan. He had the right idea hiring Donnie Walsh, who had the vision moving in the right direction, but Walsh resigned, a move made which i firmly believe was a direct result of pressure from above to acquire Carmelo Anthony.

Cue the next big move, hiring Phil Jackson, the Zen-master, arguably the greatest coach in NBA history to head basketball operations. He'll fix this mess right? Well in his tenure here the Knicks have yet to be even competitive. Drafting arguably our best rookie since Patrick Ewing in Kristaps Porzingis, and a slew of offseason moves that landed us Joakim Noah, Derrick Rose, Courtney Lee, and Brandon Jennings , hasn't lived up to on paper expectations. In fact what we see on a nightly basis is a team that can score, but lack the discipline defensively that is needed to hold down the opposing team in the closing minutes of a game. They also sorely lack veteran leadership. That's where our supposed superstar comes in to play. Sorry knick fans Carmelo isn't that guy. He proves time and time again he hasn't matured enough to lead a franchise. He's a guy that would be a robin to a batman. A Scottie Pippen to a Michael Jordan. A player that compliments a superstars skill set.

For the Knicks to be competitive again the time has come to TRADE CARMELO ANTHONY. The time has come for a full youth movement, led by Porzingis. The kid has superstar written all over him. His game mirrors that of Hakeem Olajuwon, and Dirk Nowitzki rolled in to one. Trading Carmelo doesn't have to net us an A-1 guy in return either. Build through the draft. Hijack a team desperate for that championship piece like the Celtics did a few years back for Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett when they dealt them to Brooklyn. And it doesn't have to be right this second. Wait for the right deal. Carmelo is going to be difficult to deal because his contract envokes a 15% salary increase once dealt rocketing his salary from 24 mill per to about 29 mill per, but there is a team out there that will be willing to take that on. Look at the way Lebron constantly whines to his franchise that he needs "playmakers".

I have no hatred for Carmelo. This ship has sailed. Its time to bring back meaningful basketball to the mecca again. Its time for Phil Jackson to realize that the triangle offense hasn't been successful since the early 2000s. Its time for the New York Knicks to get back to that gritty defensive style of ball that made us the bullies of the east in the 90s. No matter what team came in to the building the Garden was a place opposing teams HATED to play. Lets build that again, the time has come.

Michael Ruda will be offering his insights, analysts and knowledge on the world of sports, WWE, and more as part of "Ruda's Ramblings". Also look out and subscribe to his podcast  WHAT'S THE RUCKUS