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New York-Phoenix Trade? - February 05, 2009: Not another obscure Knick Fan Trade!

1st Round Pick
Quentin Richardson
Eddy Curry
Cash Consideration

for

Amare Stoudemire

Steve Kerr is marketing Stoudemire after countless pleads from Stoudemire. He wants out and what better place to go then to his former coach with whom he had tremendous success with. Additionally, under Kerr the Suns have established a slower paced offense allowing Q-Rich and Curry to be used to the best of their abilities. Q-Rich is one of the most versatile players in the game: he can shoot the three and post up making him a valuable asset in spreading the floor. Q-Rich also had his hay-day with the Suns so that should be a nice homecoming (unless Q-Rich left on bad terms). Curry is rehabilitating and should be capable of playing in the coming weeks. Curry isn't an elite center in the league, but when alternated with O'Neal the opposing team will be in for a tough battle sure to leave opposing centers with bruises. If thats not enough the Suns will also be receiving a 1st Round Draft pick and Cash.
PG: Nash
SG: J. Richardson
SF: Q. Richardson
PF:Curry
C: O'Neal
With Barbosa and Hill, the team can start small by sitting Curry and starting Hill at SF and Q at PF. What is even more appealing is that the Suns will have three picks in what should be a promising draft. Q's and Curry's contracts both terminate before the 2010 free agency allowing the Suns to compete now, draft for the future, and redirect in two seasons.

The Knicks will be looking to add Bosh in 2010, so instead of him they will have Stoudemire. Both Bosh and Stoudemire can run the floor which make each of them so appealing for D'Antoni's system. Curry has refused to play in NY, while Q is a fan favorite but with Wilson Chandler and the Italian determined to prove he is not a dud the Knicks have enough at SF (also have Jefferies). David Lee will also be able to play PF, a position his figure is better suited for.
PG: Chris Duhon
SG: Wilson Chandler
SF: Jared Jeffries
PF: Lee
C: Stoudemire
... with Al Harrington, Nate Robinson, Danilo Gallinari, and Tim Thomas coming off the bench.

EDIT: After receivng a great deal of disgust from the ESPN Message Boards, a revision will be made to the trade.

1st Round Pick
David Lee
Eddy Curry
Quentin Richardson

for

Amare Stoudemire
Goran Dragic

Harrington would now be starting for the Knicks. As a Knicks fan I would prefer that we didn't have any draft picks since we don't know how to use them, while the high draft pick could be a valuable asset to any other team. It seems the Knicks might be better off just waiting for Bosh, but I like the guarentee of having the player rather than hoping to sign him.

Tags: amarestoudemire, eddycurry, nba, newyorkknicks, phoenixsuns, quentinrichardson, traderumors

Thursday February 5, 2009 - 11:01pm (EST) Permanent Link | 2 Comments
Bracketism 204 - February 01, 2009: East
1 Connecticut
16 Alabama St./Morgan St.
8 Kentucky
9 Dayton
5 Washington
12 South Carolina
4 Villanova
13Vermont
3 Wake Forest
14 Virginia Military
6 Illinois
11 Arizona
7 Florida
10 Baylor
2 Michigan St.
15 Cornell

West
1 Duke
16 Holy Cross
8 Notre Dame
9 UNLV
5 Texas
12 Michigan
4 UCLA
13 Buffalo
3 Xavier
14 Belmont
6 Gonzaga
11 Utah St.
7 Davidson
10 Texas A&M
2 Louisville
15 Weber St.

---

South
1 North Carolina
16 Morehead St.
8 West Virginia
9 Missouri
5 Syracuse
12 USC
4 Purdue
13 Northeastern
3 Memphis
14 Western Kentucky
6 Arizona St.
11 Siena
7 Kansas
10 Ohio St.
2 Marquette
15 Robert Morris

Midwest
1 Pittsburgh
16 Long Beach St.
8 California
9 Miami (FL)
5 Tennessee
12 St. Mary’s
4 Butler
13 Northern Iowa
3 Clemson
14 North Dakota St.
6 Georgetown
11 Utah
7 Minnesota
10 Florida St.
2 Oklahoma
15 Stephen F. Austin

Last Four Out - Penn St., Boston College, Northwestern, LSU
Next Four Out - Providence, Virginia Tech, Cincinnati, VCU
Honorable Mentions - Wisconsin, Illinois St., Seton Hall

The Bracket Project

Tags: bracketpredicitions, bracketism, bracketology, brackets, collegebasketball, joey'ssportsblog, ncaa, ncaatournament2009

Sunday February 1, 2009 - 05:30pm (EST) Permanent Link | 0 Comments
Jets' Impreative Adjustment - January 26, 2009: The following was quoted by the Jets defensive coordinator personnel:
"The one thing about our system is that it is player-driven," Pettine said. "We are going to evaluate during the spring what our players do well and what they don't do well. We've always been of the mind-set that you fit your system to your players and not your players to your system."

Instead of insulting the coaches, what kind of system do you think the Jet defense will suffice?

We have the necessary parts to run a power offense with one of the premiere Offensive lines in football (particularly the left side). Tony Richardson is an above average fullback and even though he is nearing retiring we can use him for the time being. Thomas Jones is the ideal running for a power offense, since he excels at running through the tackles and fighting for those extra one or two yards that eventually payoff in this system where three down first-downs and time of possession are critical. The passing game will no longer be a strength for the Jets as Coles is aging and injury prone, while Favre is on the way out leaving either Kellen Clemens or a new-comer. Either way it will not be someone who has spent an extensive amount of time during game play with the Jet offense, so having a run based offense would be extremely beneficial.

Having that said, the Jets could emulate the likes of Pittsburgh, Tennessee, Baltimore, and the other New York team by creating a team with a dynamic running game and stingy defense.
Currently the Jets are an effective blitzer away from having a top rated defense. With Kris Jenkins and Shaun Ellis providing a solid foundation followed by Calvin Pace, Vernon Gholston, and David Harris. The team has a lot of versatility which would allow them to line up in either the 4-3 or 3-4 - provided the speed and size of Gholston. Presumably, the Jets could sign either a DL or LB and play a fundamental defense with some blitz packages without having to install some elaborate system like Mangani attempted. Having Rex Ryan puts the Jets in the position to steal one of the free agent linebackers from Baltimore (Bart Scott or Terrell Suggs, Ray Lewis is not happening); if that doesn't work then Karlos Dansby should be a potential suitor.
If a reliable blitzer is added then the Jets will be an extremely difficult team to run against forcing teams to pass. The Jets had one of the worst pass defenses in terms of passing yards even though Darrelle Revis and Kerry Rhodes are two of the most promising defensive backs in football. With no other significant flaws the Jets can afford to focus on improving the secondary; this offseason turns out to be abundant in defensive backs with Nnamdi Asomugha (yes I copied and pasted his name), Mike Brown, and Brian Dawkins on the market and Malcolm Jenkins, Vontae Davis, William Moore, DJ Moore, and Alphonso Smith in the draft. Realistically, the Jets should be able to sign one of those players and draft one of the players since signing one of the linebackers should be a hassle with Rex Ryan.

The Jets are a commitment, two signings, and a draft pick away from being a definite playoff team and Super Bowl contender. It will be a difficult task, but with the flexibility of Rex Ryan it is within reach.

EDIT: I was inconclusive about what the imperative change is for the Jets. The change is a commitment, as opposed to their current policy of indecisiveness - in terms of system, quarterbacks, direction, and focus. It should have been stressed continually as that was my original intention for the piece; it is also important to recognize that commitment is critical to success in anything.

Tags: changes, defense, jets, rexryan, newyork

Monday January 26, 2009 - 12:07am (EST) Permanent Link | 2 Comments
Bracketism 203 - January 24, 2009: South
1 Duke
16 Morgan St./Alabama St.
8 West Virginia
9 Kansas
5 Minnesota
12 VCU
4 Texas
13 Vermont
3 Syracuse
14 Virginia Military
6 Memphis
11 Arizona
7 Kentucky
10 Missouri
2 Louisville
15 American

West
1 UNC
16 Robert Morris
8 Florida
9 UNLV
5 Butler
12 Wisconsin
4 Georgetown
13 Utah St.
3 UCLA
14 Portland St.
6 Villanova
11 Florida St.
7 Illinois
10 Washington
2 Oklahoma
15 Long Beach St.

---

East
1 Connecticut
16 Austin Peay
8 Miami (FL)
9 St. Mary's
5 Xavier
12 Utah
4 Purdue
13 Siena
3 Marquette
14 Western Kentucky
6 California
11 Texas A&M
7 Tennessee
10 Ohio St.
2 Wake Forest
15 Cornell

Midwest
1 Pittsburgh
16 Stephen F. Austin
8 Davidson
9 Michigan
5 Notre Dame
12 Northern Iowa
4 Arizona St.
13 Buffalo
3 Clemson
14 E. Tennessee St.
6 Gonzaga
11 Arkansas
7 Baylor
10 Dayton
2 Michigan St.
15 North Dakota St.

Last Four Out - Boston College, Stanford, USC, BYU
Next Four Out - Penn St., LSU, Illinois St., Oklahoma St.
Honorable Mentions - Virginia Tech, George Mason, UAB, Providence, Cincinnati

The Bracket Project

Tags: bracketpredicitions, bracketism, bracketology, brackets, collegebasketball, joey'ssportsblog, ncaa, ncaatournament2009

Saturday January 24, 2009 - 03:08pm (EST) Permanent Link | 0 Comments
Bracketism 202 - January 17, 2009: As of now the last four spots in is interchangeable among the one that I have chosen and most of the members of the last four in and the next four in. As the season progress, it will be easier to distinguish between the deserving teams and the inadequate ones as the basis for contention will be based on the teams' resumes instead of skill, potential, and the few key victories teams have been able to gather thus far.

East
1 Pittsburgh
16 Alabama St./Morgan St.
8 Davidson
9 Boston College
5 Marquette
12 VCU
4 Xavier
13 Siena
3 Texas
14 Western Kentucky
6 Kentucky
11 Florida
7 Michigan
10 Kansas
2 UNC
15 Cornell

West
1 Duke
16 American
8 St. Mary's
9 BYU
5 Louisville
12 Texas A&M
4 Purdue
13 Utah St.
3 Georgetown
14 Belmont
6 Gonzaga
11 Washington
7 Memphis
10 Illinois St.
2 UCLA
15 Long Beach St.

---

South
1 Wake Forest
16 Oral Roberts
8 Arkansas
9 Ohio St.
5 Minnesota
12 Arizona
4 Arizona St.
13 UAB
3 Syracuse
14 Virginia Military
6 Villanova
11 UNLV
7 Tennessee
10 USC
2 Oklahoma
15 Stephen F. Austin

Midwest
1 Connecticuit
16 Austin Peay
8 Miami (FL)
9 Illinois
5 Butler
12 Dayton
4 Notre Dame
13 Vermont
3 Clemson
14 Portland St.
6 California
11 Kent St.
7 Baylor
10 West Virginia
2 Michigan St.
15 Robert Morris

Last Four Out - Missouri, Wisconsin, Florida St., Stanford
Next Four Out - Oklahoma St., Providence, LSU. St John's
Honorable Mentions - George Mason, Bradley, Alabama, Cincinatti, Northern Iowa, Mississippi St.

The Bracket Project

Tags: bracketpredicitions, bracketism, bracketology, brackets, collegebasketball, joey'ssportsblog, ncaa, ncaatournament2009

Saturday January 17, 2009 - 01:55pm (EST) Permanent Link | 0 Comments