Post by Miami Heat on Mar 8, 2009 21:46:04 GMT -5
BowN: Hello everyone and welcome to my sit down interview with the Knicks GM, how's it going? What name would you like me to call you in this interview?
chad: Chad Walsh
BowN: Alright Mr. Walsh, how do you feel about the state of your NY Knicks right now?
chad: We have progressed a lot from last year and have made a few changes the players have adjusted well and are playing consistent basketball, we're hoping to raise our game to the next level and play good consistent ball until the all-star break.
BowN: Let's talk about some of the moves you have made, I believe the only two moves you have made the whole year were with Washington. They really shaped your team though, can you talk about those 2 moves for me?
chad: Well the managing staff has been busy this season in New York looking to make deals to make this a contending team, we showed high interest in some players in Washington and we brought them into New York. It was also an advantage brining over multiple players because they have already played together and mesh well together.
BowN: Hmm so how tough was it trading Kevin Durant?
chad: Kevin is a great talent, he's going to be one of the leagues greats and giving him up was tough but it was in the teams best interest to move him. The team improved in many different aspects by acquiring a Terry at guard and two forwards Lee,Deng that all play at a high level of basketball.
BowN: And the other trade was basically Charlie V for Bogut, an interesting move by both teams....how has David Lee felt about going back to PF? Also do you miss CV's offense, right now he is tearing it up for WAS.
chad: Charlie gave us great scoring inside and that is missed, however Lee and Bogut are a very tough combination inside and play well with eacother, our staff saw this opportunity to be a strong force inside and Boguts well-rounded game is valuable for a team heading in the positive direction.
BowN: Before we get into some league issues and leave your team, let me ask you to do one last thing...predict your teams final record and how far you will go in the playoffs.
chad: With a couple of slight adjustment and thing working out as well as they can for us, I think we can finish around .500 and hopefully earn a spot in the playoffs. That is the goal for us this year.
BowN: so 1st round and lose?
chad: hopefully if we get into the playoffs we make some noise but we know we're not one of the top contenders.
BowN: So since we are moving on, who are the top teams?
chad: When you think of top teams, in the East, Boston Atlanta and Detroit really stand out but its early now and i'm sure some teams in the same boat as us will look to make a push, in the West there is a lot of strong teams, Dallas Oklahoma and Phoenix stand out the most early in this season.
BowN: Speaking of Oklahoma City, you pretty much built that team. It looks like to me when Rim Rocker 1 resumes you're Thunder have to be the favorite to win it all. How does that make you feel, I mean you were a 1st year GM last year and in the shadows of say a Miami or Washington (RR1) but you may have out done them all.
chad: Yeah, I took over that team last off-season and had a few pieces I knew I could work together and hopefully make a contender then after a tough start we put together a great surprising season, and went from a bottom team to a top team in just a year.
BowN: I don't think you get the respect you deserve, does that bother you at all...or am I giving you too much credit?
chad: Well they're are some great gm's in this league sometimes gm's get overshadowed by the great moves other gms make. there is no hard feelings when it comes to getting respect, respect comes with time and experience.
BowN: great answer, so what I'm fixing to ask you I want you to be honest...you can't lie okay?
chad: ok sounds good
BowN: Did you know Wilson Chandler and Chris Duhon were studs, or did you get lucky?
chad: wilson i took notice in early on, chris would have been more luck.
BowN: Alright we are running out of time here, do you have anything you want to add or say?
chad: Thats fine, thank you.
BowN: alright well thanks for the time and good luck this your Knicks.
chad: Chad Walsh
BowN: Alright Mr. Walsh, how do you feel about the state of your NY Knicks right now?
chad: We have progressed a lot from last year and have made a few changes the players have adjusted well and are playing consistent basketball, we're hoping to raise our game to the next level and play good consistent ball until the all-star break.
BowN: Let's talk about some of the moves you have made, I believe the only two moves you have made the whole year were with Washington. They really shaped your team though, can you talk about those 2 moves for me?
chad: Well the managing staff has been busy this season in New York looking to make deals to make this a contending team, we showed high interest in some players in Washington and we brought them into New York. It was also an advantage brining over multiple players because they have already played together and mesh well together.
BowN: Hmm so how tough was it trading Kevin Durant?
chad: Kevin is a great talent, he's going to be one of the leagues greats and giving him up was tough but it was in the teams best interest to move him. The team improved in many different aspects by acquiring a Terry at guard and two forwards Lee,Deng that all play at a high level of basketball.
BowN: And the other trade was basically Charlie V for Bogut, an interesting move by both teams....how has David Lee felt about going back to PF? Also do you miss CV's offense, right now he is tearing it up for WAS.
chad: Charlie gave us great scoring inside and that is missed, however Lee and Bogut are a very tough combination inside and play well with eacother, our staff saw this opportunity to be a strong force inside and Boguts well-rounded game is valuable for a team heading in the positive direction.
BowN: Before we get into some league issues and leave your team, let me ask you to do one last thing...predict your teams final record and how far you will go in the playoffs.
chad: With a couple of slight adjustment and thing working out as well as they can for us, I think we can finish around .500 and hopefully earn a spot in the playoffs. That is the goal for us this year.
BowN: so 1st round and lose?
chad: hopefully if we get into the playoffs we make some noise but we know we're not one of the top contenders.
BowN: So since we are moving on, who are the top teams?
chad: When you think of top teams, in the East, Boston Atlanta and Detroit really stand out but its early now and i'm sure some teams in the same boat as us will look to make a push, in the West there is a lot of strong teams, Dallas Oklahoma and Phoenix stand out the most early in this season.
BowN: Speaking of Oklahoma City, you pretty much built that team. It looks like to me when Rim Rocker 1 resumes you're Thunder have to be the favorite to win it all. How does that make you feel, I mean you were a 1st year GM last year and in the shadows of say a Miami or Washington (RR1) but you may have out done them all.
chad: Yeah, I took over that team last off-season and had a few pieces I knew I could work together and hopefully make a contender then after a tough start we put together a great surprising season, and went from a bottom team to a top team in just a year.
BowN: I don't think you get the respect you deserve, does that bother you at all...or am I giving you too much credit?
chad: Well they're are some great gm's in this league sometimes gm's get overshadowed by the great moves other gms make. there is no hard feelings when it comes to getting respect, respect comes with time and experience.
BowN: great answer, so what I'm fixing to ask you I want you to be honest...you can't lie okay?
chad: ok sounds good
BowN: Did you know Wilson Chandler and Chris Duhon were studs, or did you get lucky?
chad: wilson i took notice in early on, chris would have been more luck.
BowN: Alright we are running out of time here, do you have anything you want to add or say?
chad: Thats fine, thank you.
BowN: alright well thanks for the time and good luck this your Knicks.