NBA Basketball
Getting To The Apple's Core
By Jerald L. Hoover, BASN Staff Reporter
Nov 27, 2009

NEW YORK (BASN) -- The answer to that question could be an emphatic…YES!  Why is it that no matter whom the coach is and or who’s running the show upstairs or even who’s playing, the same results are happening? 

They are losing and losing well.  Maybe it’s ownership?  Well for whatever faults he has or may have, he’s not playing and he’s not really making the “basketball” decisions ala Dallas Mavericks owner, Mark Cuban.   

The Knicks -- just like the Los Angeles Clippers -- lack leadership, stability and maturity.  The Clippers however are probably the only team in NBA history to go sour with two No. 1 overall draft picks. 

Picking Danny Manning in 1988 is understandable, but his career was cut short and derailed of true greatness because of injury.  Michael Olowokandi, the center from Pacific University was a complete washout.

What’s even more daunting is that that 1998 NBA Draft also featured the likes of Mike Bibby, Vince Carter, Dirk Nowitzki and Paul Pierce. 

The last three have become franchise players, multiple All-Stars and will probably be Hall of Famers when their playing days are over. 

And what’s scary is the Clipper’s had the number 1 pick this past June draft and he hasn’t played a regular season game yet due assorted injuries in the preseason. 

The Clipper’s have also been a team that has had more than a few high first round draft picks or multiple picks out of one draft. 

The results have not gotten them much off anything. 

That is scary if you consider the San Antonio Spurs had two number 1 picks and the results were netted with 2 Hall of Famers, David Robison and Tim Duncan. 

No matter who the ‘team’ on the floor is for the Knicks, Madison Square Garden is still turning into the Garden of Eden or the Enchanted Garden; a place where if a team has a losing streak coming in, when they leave they’re miraculously cured of all their ills. 

Maybe it’s the pressure of playing in New York – beware and take heed LeBron – and in front of 20,000 rabid fans?  Or maybe it’s the fact that the Knicks are the only team that has at least 8 beat writers following their every step at home or on the road? 

Either or and what ever the real situation is, it’s making for sport in New York as professionals almost a non entity. 

It’s getting to a serious point to where if you’re walking the streets and you even mention the word, “Knicks” it’s followed by someone with a profane word or a wave of the hand in disgust. 

Management really seemed to blow it in this past draft.  Sure, a lot can be said about losing out on Brandon Jennings, but the Minnesota Timberwolves had twice as many chances at getting him also and they selected, Johnny Flynn or Syracuse and Ricky Rubio of Spain. 

The latter of which isn’t even trying to come the States until 2011.  But, lets face it, the Timberwolves ain’t the Knicks; and Minnesota sure ain’t New York. 

The drafting of power forward Jordan Hill when you still had (albeit unsigned) David Lee still in the shadows was a head scratcher.

Especially when you consider in Coach Mike D’Antoni’s system he likes playing Wilson Chandler at the 4 (power forward) spot. And who can forget the immortal Jared Jeffries?

There were other point guard goodies, North Carolina’s Ty Lawson for an example, still on the floor waiting to be taken that could’ve ran the seven seconds or less offense that D’Antoni is trying to force feed down New York’s throats. 

Lawson would’ve been a much better option than head case Nate Robinson.