Phil’s Not My Father

In contemplating a return to coaching, Phil Jackson has placed himself in the unenviable position of being seen as a weary, wayward traveler always in search of greener pastures. Jackson’s prior success with the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers places him in the pantheon of coaching greats. Detractors are quick to point his success lies in his choosing teams where superstar players reside, bemoaning the fact that Phil may know Zen but he’s no master of the X’s and O’s.

When it comes to winning NBA championships, even Larry Brown, the great re-builder, had to go where the players were. Many label the Detroit Pistons as a team void of superstars, evidently using the label to mean “media darlings” and not players with well-rounded offensive and defensive prowess.

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NBA Playoff Picks

Triangle Offense resident columnists pick the NBA Playoffs:

See what Rob King & Guichard Cadet have to say!


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A Steph Closer?

…Knicks’ Year-End Grade

Steph is the epitome of a player who embodies a city and the dominant (hip hop) culture of our times. His persona is best described by the words of two hip hop icons who were cut down in their prime: 2Pac Shakur’s album title (me against the world) and Notorious B.IG.’s lyrics from “Hypnotize” (you got it, flaunt it… that Brooklyn bullsh!t…we’re on it).

The numbers the music or the player puts up to lay bare his value are used as fodder for critics. Though he will never win his critics over, Marbury will do best to realize he cannot lead those who refuse to follow, until they fail at leading. This past season he often played the passive role, letting his teammates shine or fade.

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Ishii as 1, 2, 3…

It really was not easy for the Mets to win these past 3 games. They could have easily stumbled and be 0-8. Instead fans have been treated to a multi-faceted team, anchored by starting pitching, solid defense and speed.

The wins have a few things in common, mainly great starting pitching, from the Mets and their opponents.

Kaz Ishii joined the team late in spring training after Steve Trachsel's season-ending injury. The knock on Ishii has been his high walk-to-strikeout ratio. Though he walked 3 batters yesterday, Ishii mixed his pitches well and only allowed 2 hits in 7 shutout innings.

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Mets Play Eight-Ball In Consecutive Victories

By Rob King

Martinez’s performance trumped his Met debut last Monday, when he struck out twelve batters and allowed three runs on three hits over six innings. He ended up with a ‘no decision’ as he watched the bullpen squander a three-run lead over the final three innings to lose 7-6 to the Cincinnati Reds. On Sunday Martinez took fate into his own hands with the 101-pitch, 9-strikeout, 2-hit complete game masterpiece to break the Mets five-game losing streak.

Yesterday in front of a capacity crowd, the Mets engineered another eighth inning comeback in their 8-4 victory over the Houston Astros in their home opener at Shea Stadium. Mets starter Tom Glavine pitched six effective innings allowing one run on four hits. Glavine left the game with an opportunity to secure his first win of the 2005 campaign when the Mets scored three runs in the bottom of sixth inning to take a 3-1 lead.

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sunday wrap-up: The Battle for New York

Except for the NHL Devils, New Jersey team sports seem to be the result of a bad bluff by team owners who did not think New York politicians would let them bolt. For football, fans only have to trek across the river 8 times a year for regular season games. The teams benefit by keeping the New York name and identity, and fans get the extra space to tailgate.

The Nets had the option of moving from Secaucus (the Meadowlands) to Newark, where the Devils plan to build their new arena. As a former New York team now owned by a New York real estate developer, the team is actually an ancillary part in the new owner’s desire for other real estate ventures in Brooklyn.

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Can Rivera Regain His Mojo?

by Rob King

Over the last eight seasons Yankee manager Joe Torre would strike fear in the hearts of opponents with one phone call in the eighth inning of games in which the Yankees held slim leads. They knew that phone call would tell the bullpen coach to loosen up Mariano Rivera. Soon number 42 would take off that jacket, warm up and all hopes the opposition had of coming back vanished, along with Maalox moments for Joe Torre in the ninth.

Mariano pitched the ninth inning of those contests but essentially the game was over. The other team didn’t believe they could come back and were accurate in that assessment. Mariano was unhittable!! When opponents did connect it seemed like an act of providence. Mariano’s blown saves during the 1997 American League Divisional playoffs and the 2001 World Series are memorable because they were so infrequent. The New York Yankees and their fans have been spoiled the past eight seasons watching baseball's premier "fireman" extinguish opposition rallies in routine fashion. Recently it seems as if the top "fireman" in the game is burning out.

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Not A Closed Loop

After using two relievers who pitched shutout seventh and eighth innings, Randolph relied on what he knows best. He brought in his closer, as if reliving his days with Gossage and Rivera.

The call was right and wrong. Today’s game has become one of specialists. Managers often bring in relief for pitchers who are not even on the brink of struggling.

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