Comments for Hot Stove New York

Comment on John Tortorella Is a Disappointment by Jeff Freier

Jeff Freier — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 13:58:47 +0000

Agreed. Where’s all the excitement (last night’s game notwithstanding)?

Comment on John Tortorella Is a Disappointment by Jeff Zachowski

Jeff Zachowski — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 16:00:23 +0000

To me, I don’t see how anyone could make the argument that this year’s squad has worse talent than last year’s. Gomez, Zherdev, Antropov, Mara for Gaborik, Prospal, Anisimov, Del Zotto. That’s a no-brainer to me. If we can agree to that, then we can forget about Sather for the time-being, and there really are few other places to point aside from the coach. I’d coveted Tortorella ever since we let him slip through our fingers, so needless to say, I was overjoyed when they brought him aboard last season. The guy has been a disaster.

This team has taken so many twists and turns this year, I can’t pretend I remotely understand them, so you can take my opinion with a grain of salt. But personally, here is what I don’t understand: When Torts took over the team at the end of last year, the point we heard loudest and clearest, in terms of changes from Renney’s system, is that the defense were going to pinch. We heard the same thing all throughout training camp and the team begun the season on fire, largely on the back of that “Safe is death” mantra. Next thing you know, the team losses three in a row, including a game against San Jose when they surrendered 7 goals, and the team – or more specifically, the coaching staff – seemed to panic. We heard Matt Gilroy describe Tortorella’s system as “run & gun” and the coach had a fit. From that point on, I feel as if I’ve been watching a completely different system out there. Sure the forwards forecheck a bit more aggressively than they did under Renney, but do the defense really pinch that much? Outside of that first week or two of the season, I don’t really see it.

Michael Del Zotta has 8 goals on the season. Four of those came between the home opener on Oct 3 and the San Jose defeat on Oct 19. Matt Gilroy has been completely underwhelming. Even so, 2 of his 4 goals on the season came in October. Wade Redden scored on Oct 12, then never scored again until last week. Marc Staal – 2 goals in October, 3 the rest of the year. It is glaring and it confuses the heck out of me.

Torts talked about having the best goalie in the world and affording the luxury of surrendering an odd man rush or two during a game. The team surrenders a few goals on odd man rushes and he flips his lid. Well the team plays more conservatively now, and they still surrender odd man rushes. Way to go, Coach.

At the start of the season, one of the things I said was, even if they’re just as mediocre as they’ve been the last two seasons, they at least will feature a more entertaining brand of mediocrity. Well that lasted about two weeks. With a more potent offense, they’ve managed to score fewer goals. With a supposedly high-octane coach, they’ve managed to bore us to tears on most nights. It is a season where I don’t think you look at the roster and simply say – This group stinks. I think the WAY in which they’ve stunk has been the most frustrating part.

Comment on Jets sign Tomlinson…but are they better off? by Jeff Zachowski

Jeff Zachowski — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 03:32:41 +0000

I am one of the crazy few who thinks LT is a better fit here than TJ… Assuming of course that Shonn Greene is the new sheriff in town. Neither Greene nor Jones are the threat out of the backfield that LT is, even at this advanced stage in his career. The crux of it, to me, is that if Greene gets injured or proves a dud, Jones could have stepped in to take the bulk of the carries, while LT obviously cannot. However, assuming health, I think this backfield as the potential to be explosive. In short, I’m a happy camper. We’ll see.

Comment on Jets sign Brodney Pool by Jeff Zachowski

Jeff Zachowski — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 20:59:56 +0000

correct, greg. updated.

Comment on Jets sign Brodney Pool by Greg

Greg — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:50:45 +0000

how many concussions, not bow!

Comment on Calamity Carl Kicked To the Curb by David Carll

David Carll — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:14:43 +0000

Gia

I think you are much more beautiful on the inside then you are on the outside. I would love to just have one opportunity to meet with you one to one for dinner.

David

Comment on Knicks get T-Mac and S-Rod by Jeff Zachowski

Jeff Zachowski — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:15:59 +0000

“The Knicks reported a 40 percent spike in on-site merchandise sales during Saturday’s game at Madison Square Garden — including more than 200 McGrady T-shirts and more than 100 McGrady jerseys. All for a player who might be here for just 39 games.”

So embarrassing.

Comment on Knicks get T-Mac and S-Rod by Jeff Zachowski

Jeff Zachowski — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 16:13:48 +0000

You’re delusional, Holmes.

Comment on Knicks get T-Mac and S-Rod by L. Holmes

L. Holmes — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 07:21:36 +0000

Yep, now that T-Mac is ready, his knee blew up, and he is on the bench. Houston played that one great. But why did New York need a point guard? I don’t understand? D’Antoni stated in November when Duhon was in a fog that he was sticking with him. He sure did, started him 50 games, but he had 24 points recently, but that was for the whole month of February. Why all the love for the worst point guard on the floor this year, playing over 30 plus minutes for 50 games.
Headgames with Marbury, Curry, Harrington (leads the team in scoring, but can’t start), Darko, Robinson and Hughes. Three guards that can blow Duhon out any game, but Duhon is the man.
Now he is benched for T-Mac, sorry D’Ant, T-Mac is not Steve Nash, and your headgames in New York did two things. One, shafted the fans out of a playoff spot, when the team jelled with Hughes in December/January. Almost the best Dec in Knicks history. Two, all these vets have spread the word, this guy is no fun to play for, so good luck, because there is maybe 2 players (if just money hungry, for Lebron does not need more press or money) of top tier quality coming to New York, but you need 5 on the court and the word is out, “Escape from New York and D’Antoni with his high school coaching experience only brother picking “in the press fights” with expiring contract players, DUMB. Robinson on the bench for a month, please, Hughes for 6 weeks, please. That cost at least 6-8 wins, and got the Knicks franchise ZERO.

Comment on Building the World Champion 1970 Knicks by Joe Coppola

Joe Coppola — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 03:09:25 +0000

Arguably the greatest Knick team of all time. The one that all the others are measured up against!

I remeber game 7 like it was yesterday. Had to listen to it on the radio as it was blacked out in NYC until a tape delayed airing at 11:30 PM. Marv Albert’s unforgettable call of Reed coming out of the locker room and then of Willis’ hitting his first two shots is legend. Reed’s performance is one of the gutsiest ever in NY!

Even if we get LeBron and win ten titles they won’t equal the 2 we won with the teams that Red Holzman coached!