Sweetney a starter?

[hoyarooter]

I know this thread probably belongs on the Pro Sports board, but I think it's too important to risk getting lost there.

While there are those who think that Zeke Thomas is insane (and frankly, I can't say I totally disagree), it appears that one result of today's deals is that M. Sweetney may become the starting power forward for the Knicks. With Nazr Mohammad traded, tonight's Knick line-up featured Kurt Thomas as the starting center, and our own Mr. Sweetney as the starting power forward. Since the Knicks also traded Vin Baker (big loss) and now appear to have no centers, this may be the starting combination going forward. I think Malik Rose will come off the bench when he arrives.

If that's the case, I say hooray!

[MEGAFAN]

Big Mike did indeed get his first career NBA start today! First - CONGRATS to our beloved Hoya. Here's his line from tonight's game against AI and the Webber-less Sixers:

Name Min FG 3Pt FT Off Reb Ast TO Stl Blk PF Pts
Sweetney 32 2-5 0-0 6-8 4 9 1 0 1 1 3 10

Not bad. I personally think he played OK, but was expecting him to be a little more assertive and energetic given that this is his first start with many more to come. But Kurt played really well tonight, and Tim Thomas had an uncharacteristically strong performance, with a season-high 27 points, so Big Mike wasn't getting too many looks inside. Obviously, his numbers aren't too bad, but in 32 minutes, I expect he will be more productive, on average.

Now, realize that Sweets is one of my favorite, if not my #1 boy, in Hoya Hoops history. Furthermore, I truly believe that he can be a force to be reckoned with in this league. But, as I discussed with a few other Hoyas earlier today, I also must admit, he hasn't totally taken control of his own destiny.

I know MCI will wanna kill me for saying this, but despite not always getting enough PT and not having plays set up for him, he hasn't taken the bull by its hors. Reportedly he was a little out of shape last season, and this is understandable after dealing with his father's passing and with being unfairly kept out of the rotation.

This year, he started off like a beast, and many thought he would steal a starting spot on the roster, but despite not getting enough of a chance to thrive, the one thing that has bothered me about him lately is that he does 't appear to have taken a 100% warrior-like attitude. I have high expectations for him, and would never accuse him of not playing his heart out at Georgetown, but I think the losing and what not has gotten to him.

Take JYD for example. Even when the going has gotten really tough, he shows that he plays hard every second of every minute he's on the court. Of course, I realize Big Mike has a deifferen demeanour, and he doesn't have a JYD persnality, which is fine, but even through my bias Sweetney-shaded glasses, there are times that his effort is not where it should be.

I think the last couple of years at Georgetown, coupled with the passing of his dad, coupled with getting a little out of shape, and all this coupled with not getting the minutes he deserved early in his first year wore on him some. But he was a consumate proj and just kept plugging away. And then came this season, and just when it looked like the Knicks were turning the corner this year, and he was really part of something good, and getting some meaningfuly PT (but still not enough), I think the nose-dive and negative mentality in NYC finally got to him. After all, he's only human.

With all that said, let's hope this latest trade means that he will be inked in as the starting power forward for the rest of the season, and for many years to come as Knick. Barring any trades that would bring in a star forward and/or legitimate center, presenting a case for moving Kurt Thomas over to the starting PF slot, I think it's safe to say that Isiah envisions Sweetney as the starting power on a young team he's trying to build. Also, odds are that if the Knicks make a move during the off-season or next year, if they did secures a top froncourt player, either Kurt or Mike himself would be part of that deal. So basically, big Mike finally has his chance to shine.

While I have defended Thomas' moves to date, I will only agree with this trade if it means that Big Mike is inked in as the starting power forward for the rest of the season, and perhaps for the future of this franchise. Let's just hope the Knicks can get some more winning players brought in, as well as a superior coach. I love Herb Williams and all (and he loves Sweets), but I think he needs some more time until he's ready for this coaching position.

And for all of you out there who don't give a rat's a$$ about the Knicks, remember that you're rooting for Big Mike, not necessarily for NY.

BIG MIKE - STEP UP LIKE GEORGETOWN IS ABOUT TO!

LET'S GO HOYAS!!! BEAT 'NOVA!

[3GenerationHoya]

"he hasn't taken the bull by its horns."

Sweetney definitely needs to take the bull by the horns - as long as it isn't Hoya-alum and current Chicago Bull Othella Harrington because the Bulls need him to keep giving them solid minutes off the bench during their playoff run.


That quote also reminded me of Dodgeball...
Kate Veatch: That... is a really interesting painting.
White Goodman: Thank you. Yeah, that's me, taking the bull by the horns. It's how I handle business. It's a metaphor.
Kate Veatch: I get it.
White Goodman: But that actually happened, though.

[ColumbiaHeightsHoya]

They bring in two similar players though in Taylor & Rose so regardless of who starts, minutes will be scarce. Mike's best bet is to get traded because the Knicks are going to be average for a very long time with Isiah at the helm.

[sweetney50]

ColumbiaHeightsHoya said:

They bring in two similar players though in Taylor & Rose so regardless of who starts, minutes will be scarce. Mike's best bet is to get traded because the Knicks are going to be average for a very long time with Isiah at the helm.

Pretty much what I was just going to post. I love Mike as well and the best thing for him is to be traded. Isiah is running the Knicks into the ground and these trades were horrible. Basically, everyone on the roster is untradeable now except Kurt Thomas and Sweetney. Both were not brought in by Isiah so they'll be gone soon and it would be the best thing for Sweets since they now have, at last count, five PFs.

[the_way]

I think Sweet or Thomas may get traded. Mo Taylor is a good player and so is Malik Rose. Where the minutes are going to go, I don't know. You still have JYD there, and Tim Thomas he is 3-4 type player. Somebody has to get traded. But then again its Isiah Thomas we are talking about here. One of the greatest players ever and leaders on the basketball court is the total opposite as an executive/coach/commentator.

[1803]

Zeke is just not doing a great job.

I grew up a Phillies fan, and I remember one year in the late 90's when they Phils were having a brutal second half of the season. They would lose at least five games a week, and had turned to a lot of minor leaguers. Richie Ashburn made an observation that I will never forget. To paraphrase he said that everyone in sports is obsessed with getting a young team, but if the young guys aren't good, it just doesn't matter.

This is what Isaiah did. He took on a lot of youngish guys who aren't worth it. Crawford never helped Chicago do anything. Tim Thomas is still in his 20's and he has been zero help. Right now the guy is like a fan itching for his team to make a move to make things exciting. But these moves are not going to help. Nazr Mohammed for Malik Rose, and what is most likely to be one of the last picks in the first round next year. What a joke. That team was messed up beyond recognition when he got there, and none of that has changed.

[the_way]

1803 said:

Zeke is just not doing a great job.

I grew up a Phillies fan, and I remember one year in the late 90's when they Phils were having a brutal second half of the season. They would lose at least five games a week, and had turned to a lot of minor leaguers. Richie Ashburn made an observation that I will never forget. To paraphrase he said that everyone in sports is obsessed with getting a young team, but if the young guys aren't good, it just doesn't matter.

This is what Isaiah did. He took on a lot of youngish guys who aren't worth it. Crawford never helped Chicago do anything. Tim Thomas is still in his 20's and he has been zero help. Right now the guy is like a fan itching for his team to make a move to make things exciting. But these moves are not going to help. Nazr Mohammed for Malik Rose, and what is most likely to be one of the last picks in the first round next year. What a joke. That team was messed up beyond recognition when he got there, and none of that has changed.

I hear, but Isiah is just not a good executive. He is horrible. Yes his problems where bad when he got there. Even if they weren't, you would still see the same results. I love Isiah as a player and person. But he is a horrible coach and GM. His greatest success was with Indiana, where Carlisle got them to the Eastern Conference Finals right after Isiah was fired for first round exits, although they had loads of talent. He screwed up Toronto as their GM. His problem is he thinks he knows what he is doing. Unlike his former backcourt mate Joe Dumars, who knows exactly what he is doing, and he has the ring to prove it as GM. Remember when he hired Rick Carlisle and everybody thought he was crazy because Rick wasn't proven. And then they won 50 games twice. He let go of Rick to get Larry Brown and then traded for Rasheed Wallace to win a title. Plus, look how he built the team through draft, trades,and free agency.

[aggypryd]

I was watching the Knicks' game last night and was thinking, "I didn't know New York had signed Oliver Miller...OH NO!!! That's Big Mike!!!"

[the_way]

Yeah, Mike did look kind of beefy. Remember, coming out of high school Mike was close to 300. Esh told him he had to lose weight, and Ronnie T worked him out vigorously. Freshman year he was real slim and trim. I could move a lot better.

[Fan Of The Game]

the_way said:

I hear, but Isiah is just not a good executive. He is horrible.

"You know what would be a good TV show? A reality show where Isiah Thomas runs something into the ground every year. One year, it could be a sports league or a cable-TV network. The next year, a movie studio. The year after that, a record company. The year after that, a third-world country. And so on. We could call it 'The Midas Touch.'"
-Bill Simmons

sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/050215