Knicks Leave Losing Past, Pursue New Path

The New York Knickerbockers of 2008-2009 seemed to take the advice of St. Paul somewhat literally--they took off the old men of losing and put on the new men of winning ways, and nothing says winning than kicking off the nonsensical personalities that the Knicks had acquired in recent years. With former front-office executive/head coach Isiah Thomas sent away in corporate purgatory within the New York organization, the team was able to acquire offensive genius Mike D'Antoni, who decided to run with the Knicks and trim the fat, literally, as several players came into training camp in good basketball shape, but not D'Antoni shape, including overachieving forward David Lee. The exodus of Stephon Marbury, after a half-season coup, made for a better locker room and also presented the talents of Nate Robinson for all of Madison Square Garden's center stage.

While the Knicks unfortunately lost 50 games, they gained a better sense of what can come. David Lee set himself up for a great future payday, showing that he was able to sustain premium production as a post player in both an uptempo system or half-court scheme. Wilson Chandler, a great Isiah Thomas draft choice, showed consistent effort and comparable production as a versatile forward for the Knicks, while playing ahead of veterans Jared Jeffries and Quentin Richardson, whom have yet to be forces for New York like they were thought to be. Al Harrington came to New York in the midst of the season in a trade with Golden State, but he was able to boost the firepower from the post and the three-point line and was a significant factor on offense; in tandem with Harrington was Robinson, the 5'7" combo guard who became an NBA dynamo overnight during the league's All-Star Slam Dunk Contest, and electrified the crowds with his high-octane energy, shooting stroke and dunks.

Other veterans have given adequate production, though they are not looked to be core members of the franchise. Players like Larry Hughes, Chris Wilcox and starting point guard Chris Duhon have been good rotation members, though their presence on the team is more out of necessity of contract and player space than actual talents.

The future is hard to predict for upcoming seasons, especially with the back injury to 2008 No. 6 pick Danilo Gallinari (a bright and shining talent from Italy), but 2009 marked the ending to the old and beginning of the new.