2005 New York Knicks Preview

Larry Brown will finally get the opportunity to be the coachof his hometown New York Knicks and despite their porous recordthis year, the Knicks have some talent to work with.

Brown has a history of making teams better wherever he landsand for the Knicks, they can‘t get much worse then last years33-49 record. Changing addresses for Brown is nothing new, ashe has made stops in Philadelphia 76ers, Indiana Pacers, Los AngelesClippers, San Antonio Spurs, New Jersey Nets, and Denver Nuggets,Brown also coached collegiately at Kansas and UCLA and his firstprofessional coaching job was with the Carolina Cougars of theABA.

The backcourt is crowded and there are rumors that star guardStephon Marbury will need to go, as he and Brown clashed whenBrown coached the US National team last year. Unloading Marburywould not be a bad thing, if he can be traded for a big man, asthe Knicks do not have a legitimate center.

Their number one draft pick Channing Frye was an excellent shotblocker at Arizona, but he will need to bulk up and mature. Youhave to figure that Brown’s boss Isaiah Thomas and Brown willtake a good long look at Washington Huskies draft pick Nate Robinson.This 5’8” package of dynamite may be the answer in the backcourtwith Quentin Richardson and Jamal Crawford. That is unless Brownthinks there is still some life in overpaid and underachievingguards Allan Houston and Penny Hardaway.

The guy that should excel under Mr. Brown is 3rd year forwardMichael Sweetney, who has the opportunity to be a superstar inthis league and having Tim Thomas around won’t hurt either.

Brown is the ultimate teacher and in a division of average teamsdon’t be surprised if the Knicks win 45-46 games next year!

Brown’s wife, Shelly, had been concerned about her husband’shealth. Brown missed 17 games last season due to a hip replacementoperation that led to a bladder problem and Brown underwent histhird surgery in nine months shortly after the Pistons lost Game7 of the NBA Finals to the San Antonio Spurs.

Doctors at the Mayo Clinic told Brown he needed rest, and heand his wife have decided he’ll get enough of it during the nexttwo months before training camp begins. In 22 seasons as a professionalcoach, Brown has compiled a 987-741 record.