The Liberty Move Out and the Knicks Move Into the MSG Training Center
The New York Knicks opened training camp for the 2012-13 season with their annual Media Day held at the Madison Square Garden Training Center, in Tarrytown, on October 1.
Simultaneously, as the Knicks assembled their array of veteran players, returning players, new acquisitions and rookies at the MSG Training facility, the New York Liberty were there cleaning out their lockers after a season ending loss to the Connecticut Sun, in the First Round of the WNBA Eastern Conference Playoffs.
The Liberty finished their 16th regular season in the WNBA with a 15-19 record and was swept away in two games by the Sun in the best of three-games Semifinals.
The Liberty lost two hard fought games in the playoffs. On September 27, they were edged by the Sun 60-65, in Connecticut. Then they came home to their temporary residence at the Prudential Center, in Newark to lose, 75-62. The Liberty will not return to play at Madison Square Garden until after next season due to renovations being completed at MSG.
More interesting, then the two games the Liberty lost in the playoffs were how they made the playoffs with one game remaining in the season. When the Chicago Sky could not keep pace with the Liberty and fell to the Atlanta Dream, on September 20, the Liberty made the postseason for their third consecutive year.
And “keeping pace” with the Liberty after the Olympic break this season was not a small feat to overcome. Before, the WNBA players headed to London, to secure a Gold Medal, the Liberty had a dismal 6-12 record on July 13.
However, none of the Liberty players were chosen for the U.S. Olympic team, (not even Cappie Pondexter as puzzling as that is), so they got one month of much needed rest.
The Liberty returned to action at the Prudential Center, on August 16, and destroyed the Sun, 79-66, the very team they lost to in the WNBA Playoffs. After the game, Liberty star guard Cappie Pondexter sat by her locker and revealed with 15 games remaining in the season. “Our goal is to win 11 of the 16 games in the second half of the season and make the playoffs,” she said. Pondexter averaged 20.4 points per game this year.
It was a bold statement by Pondexter noting most critics had counted the Liberty out of the postseason with a 6-12 record at the break. But Pondexter rallied her team to win nine of the sixteen remaining games, which was good enough for a berth in the postseason.
Furthermore, it was Pondexter’s remarkable play in the month of September that led the Liberty to the playoffs. However, Pondexter could not have done it without the supporting cast of Liberty resilient forward Plenette Pierson and former Rutgers University teammates center Kia Vaughn and Essence Carson, with guard Leilani Mitchell, forward Nicole Powell and improved center Kara Braxton.
Pondexter, who had her contract renewed by the Liberty for three years on September 24, was the WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Month for September.
As the Liberty closed out the season with a 6-3 record, Pondexter compiled two double-doubles in the month with 21 points and 12 rebounds in a win against the Los Angeles Sparks. She also had games with 30 points and 11 rebounds and 22 points and six assists, while beating the Washington Mystics twice in September.
“Cappie is our team Most Valuable Player,” stated Liberty Head Coach John Whisenant. “Depending on how you describe a MVP, I cannot imagine another player that would be more valuable to their team then Cappie,” said Whisenant, who is a White Plains resident during the WNBA season.
Besides dealing with injuries such as the loss of Pierson for eight games this season, the Liberty had to also rally around and support their Head Coach, who was dealing with a serious family health issue, as he coached the entire 2012 season.
Whisenant’s wife Joyce was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer the day before the Liberty opened preseason training camp. Joyce Whisenant had successful surgery at Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital in New York City and her follow-up treatments are being administered at Phelps Memorial Hospital, in Sleepy Hollow.
“Fortunately, through the MSG Medical Staff, we got my wife Joyce admitted quickly to Sloan Kettering for surgery. Joyce is finishing her sixth round of chemotherapy and all of the tests so far indicate that they are getting the cancer, so we are very optimistic,” stated Head Coach Whisenant. Our best wishes for a full recovery to Joyce Whisenant.
Knicks Mike Woodson, “Youth Does Not Win Championships”
New York Knicks Head Coach Mike Woodson emphatically stated during Media Day at the MSG Training Center, October 1, in Tarrytown: “It is not young teams that win NBA titles.” It seems Woodson is certainly out to prove his theory is valid.
Woodson and Knicks Executive V.P. and General Manager Glen Grunwald have brought back to the orange-and-blue, 40-year old forward Kurt Thomas, a 17-year veteran of the NBA, who previously spent seven seasons with the Knicks from1998-2005.
Also, back with the Knicks is center Marcus Camby, who is presently 38 years old. Camby is also making his second stint with the Knicks having played four years on the team with Thomas from 1998-2002.
The Knicks also signed 15-year NBA veteran forward Rasheed Wallace, who won an NBA Championship with the Detroit Pistons in 2004, alongside the Pitons then assistant coach Woodson. The Knicks also brought back point guard Raymond Felton who is making his second visit with the team in as many years.
Of course, Thomas, Camby and Wallace have been added to give star forward Amar’e Stoudemire and 2011-12 Defensive Player of the Year center Tyson Chandler some quality rest in games this season.
Felton was brought back because of the loss of fan favorite Jeremy Lin, who signed a lucrative deal with the Houston Rockets during the off-season. But if there is one veteran free agent signed that will make a huge difference for the Knicks this season, it is the signing of 10 time All-Star point guard Jason Kidd, who won an NBA Championship with the Dallas Mavericks in 2010-11.
Kidd, 39 years old is an 18-year veteran in the NBA. He has played with four teams during his career. Kidd is one of the most storied players in the former New Jersey Nets organization (now Brooklyn Nets), having spent nearly seven seasons across the river.
He also played for the Phoenix Suns and had two stints with Dallas.
Kidd will make Knicks scoring ace Carmelo Anthony and three-point sharp shooter Steve Novak extremely happy, by dishing assists in the proper spots on the court. Stoudemire will also benefit from his precise passing ability, as he moves to the hoop. Kidd also has his own options to score, as a penetrator and prolific outside shooter.
The only question is the ages of these established NBA stars that in their own right have nothing more to prove in their careers, except if they can help the Knicks win a NBA Championship. “When you look at the core group of our team in Melo, Amar’e and Tyson, I and Glen (Grunwald) felt and ownership felt that we needed veteran pieces around those players; if we stay healthy we got a shot (at an NBA title),” commented Woodson.
