by Stop Mike Lupica on January 2 at 2:38PM
Because our boy MC Bias asked the question: "Do any Knick players even have back-to-back playoff experience?"
The Knick roster, from bottom up, in terms of playoff experience:
-The youngsters, those who have played with the Knicks for their entire (short so far) career, have a total of 0 playoff games played. Those guys are: Nate Robinson, David Lee, Renaldo Balkman, Wilson Chandler, Randolph Morris, and Mardy Collins.
For those veterans, acquired via trade:
-The two former Bulls have 0 games of playoff experience, too. That is Eddy Curry and Jamal Crawford. They didn't play on a playoff team, though Eddy Curry did lead his team to the playoffs, but his heart condition forced him to sit for the playoffs.
-Zach Randolph played on two Portland teams that made it to the playoffs: In 01-02, and 02-03. He played in 8 games over those two years, starting in 4.
-Quentin Richardson played for the 04-05 Suns that made it to the Conference Finals. He played in, and started, 15 games. That was his only playoff experience.
-Jared Jeffries made the playoffs in back-to-back seasons, too. He played for the Wizards in 04-05, and 05-06. He played in, and started all, 16 playoff games in those two years.
-Jerome James (still a Knick, apparently) played on three different playoff teams, never in back-to-back years (or even close - more like every four years). He has played in 17 total playoff games, starting 12.
-Stephon Marbury has made the playoffs for times. He made it back to back as a T-Wolve in 96-97 and 97-98, then again back to back as a Sun in 02-03 and 03-04. He started all 18 playoff games he has played in.
-Fred Jones is second on the team in playoff experience. He wen to the playoffs three straight years, from 03-06, as a Pacer. His played in 33 playoff games over that span, though he only started once.
And the only Knick with real, consistent, and deep playoff experience? That's Malik Rose, who made the playoffs every year for almost a decade, first with the Hornets in 96-97, then with the Spurs in 97-04, winning a few rings along the way. He's played in 82 playoff games in total, including 3 starts, and is the only active Knick to make the NBA Finals or win a title.
In fact, only Rose, Richardson and Jones have ever even made it to the Conference Finals (once each for Jones and Richardson). No other Knick has made it past the second round, and eight Knicks have zero playoff experience.
I suppose the obvious conclusion is that the Knicks should bring in more playoff experience players, especially since guys like Rose and Jones, while very limited in their skills, have helped the team in limited spurts.
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Speaking of which... The Daily News is suggesting that Eddy Curry might be on the trading block. They mention the same two names that we've mentioned in the past - the Kings, and Mike Bibby and Ron Artest, as potential targets.
We mentioned a few weeks ago that we thought the Bulls would make the most sense, though it would never happen in a million years. Still, trading Curry to the Bulls would allow Ben Wallace to return to his natural PF position, and give the starting lineup an offensive focus (right now, without Ben Gordon in the lineup, the Bulls lack an offensive go to guy).
Other teams that could use a down-low post presence:
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The Knick roster, from bottom up, in terms of playoff experience:
-The youngsters, those who have played with the Knicks for their entire (short so far) career, have a total of 0 playoff games played. Those guys are: Nate Robinson, David Lee, Renaldo Balkman, Wilson Chandler, Randolph Morris, and Mardy Collins.
For those veterans, acquired via trade:
-The two former Bulls have 0 games of playoff experience, too. That is Eddy Curry and Jamal Crawford. They didn't play on a playoff team, though Eddy Curry did lead his team to the playoffs, but his heart condition forced him to sit for the playoffs.
-Zach Randolph played on two Portland teams that made it to the playoffs: In 01-02, and 02-03. He played in 8 games over those two years, starting in 4.
-Quentin Richardson played for the 04-05 Suns that made it to the Conference Finals. He played in, and started, 15 games. That was his only playoff experience.
-Jared Jeffries made the playoffs in back-to-back seasons, too. He played for the Wizards in 04-05, and 05-06. He played in, and started all, 16 playoff games in those two years.
-Jerome James (still a Knick, apparently) played on three different playoff teams, never in back-to-back years (or even close - more like every four years). He has played in 17 total playoff games, starting 12.
-Stephon Marbury has made the playoffs for times. He made it back to back as a T-Wolve in 96-97 and 97-98, then again back to back as a Sun in 02-03 and 03-04. He started all 18 playoff games he has played in.
-Fred Jones is second on the team in playoff experience. He wen to the playoffs three straight years, from 03-06, as a Pacer. His played in 33 playoff games over that span, though he only started once.
And the only Knick with real, consistent, and deep playoff experience? That's Malik Rose, who made the playoffs every year for almost a decade, first with the Hornets in 96-97, then with the Spurs in 97-04, winning a few rings along the way. He's played in 82 playoff games in total, including 3 starts, and is the only active Knick to make the NBA Finals or win a title.
In fact, only Rose, Richardson and Jones have ever even made it to the Conference Finals (once each for Jones and Richardson). No other Knick has made it past the second round, and eight Knicks have zero playoff experience.
I suppose the obvious conclusion is that the Knicks should bring in more playoff experience players, especially since guys like Rose and Jones, while very limited in their skills, have helped the team in limited spurts.
**********
Speaking of which... The Daily News is suggesting that Eddy Curry might be on the trading block. They mention the same two names that we've mentioned in the past - the Kings, and Mike Bibby and Ron Artest, as potential targets.
We mentioned a few weeks ago that we thought the Bulls would make the most sense, though it would never happen in a million years. Still, trading Curry to the Bulls would allow Ben Wallace to return to his natural PF position, and give the starting lineup an offensive focus (right now, without Ben Gordon in the lineup, the Bulls lack an offensive go to guy).
Other teams that could use a down-low post presence:
- The Nets have need one for years, to complement the outside game of Jefferson, Carter and Kidd. In fact, adding Curry alongside Sean Williams in the lineup would have to make the Nets legit contenders again. The Nets don't have much to offer, though. They could offer expiring contracts (Magliore, plus Jason Collins' two year deal) but the Knicks aren't really looking for that. They could offer a young cheap talent (Sean Williams, or more likely Nenad Krstic), or a draft pick (which could be as low as midrange #14, though more likely a low 20's). I could see a Curry trade working for both teams here.
- The Bobcats traded for a center, in Nazr "The Prophet" Mohammad, already. It's interesting to note, because Nazr's contract runs for as long as Curry's, and is about 65% of Curry's value, for a player who might not be as much as 50% as good as Curry.
- Washington might have been in the hunt for Curry, had the team not suffered as many injuries as they have. They are also cheap, so it's doubtful they would trade for Curry. However, they have enough bad contracts (Antonio Daniels, Brent Haywood and Etan Thomas are all signed for two more years past this season) that they might be okay with trading a bad contract or two to take a flyer on Curry. But their is not much to offer back to the Knicks, except for maybe a draft pick.
- Memphis was mentioned in the Daily News article. That seems unlikely, unless they are talking about splitting time with Darko (or talking about straight up for Darko). The Knicks could use Damon Stoudemire at point guard, but nothing else really matches up.
- And the only other team that could use Curry is the Sonics, who are in complete rebuilding mode, and are unlikely to pursue Curry. But a Luke Ridnour plus a conditional lottery protect #1 (in 2011, for example) for Eddy Curry trade wouldn't be terrible for either team.
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Woo-hoo, I inspired a post! I'm honored, SML. As I suspected, only Marbury has any real experience as a play-off starter; that does explain some of the Knicks problems. I wouldn't trade someone "just because", but a veteran glue guy/part-time starter with play-off experience would help the atmosphere. Too many young, desperate guys trying to save the day individually on that team, methinks.
I never even considered the notion that we could deal Eddy Curry. How wonderful! And you're right; he'd be spot on perfect fit for the Bulls. This post is a sliver of light in the vast darkness. Thanks, SML.
Wasn't one of your buddies pushing a Curry to Miami trade with Shaq coming back in return?