It took Scott Layden and Isiah Thomas around 8 years to destroy a once proud franchise while it only took new President Donnie Walsh an afternoon to show all fans there is a light at the end of the tunnel. And that light is the summer of 2010. On Friday afternoon Walsh made two bold cost cutting trades that should set the Knicks up for a return to glory in the near future.
Trade One
Jamal Crawford for Al Harrington
Crawford at times looked like an elite player but for the most part Jamal Crawford was nothing more then a stat compiler based on his over shooting. Crawford did provide many dramatic last second shots and even a memorable 50 point performance but with a contract that runs into 2011 Crawford and has lack of defense was easily expendable. I will give Crawford credit for one thing. In a franchise that often could be referred to as a circus Crawford was a stable force who was always the consummate professional and for that he should be commended.
Al Harrington is a 6’9 wing player from St. Patrick’s high school in New Jersey. On Overall talent you may give the edge to Crawford but as far as a fit into the system you may have to lean Harrington’s way. With his size and outside shooting Harrington should fit nicely in D’Antoni’s system and be able to play all three front court positions.
Harrington is a Donnie Walsh guy. Donnie drafted him straight out of college and now has traded for Harrington twice. Harrington will bring better defense, rebounding, and a nice touch from behind the arc.
Trade Two
Zach Randolph and Mardy Collins for Cuttino Mobley and Tim Thomas
Zach Randolph was having a tremendous year averaging 22 ppg and 12 rebounds. I really enjoyed the way Zach changed his game this season and truly became a team player that thrived in the system. That being said he just wasn’t worth the 46 million remaining on his contract.
Mardy Collins was basically thrown in to make the numbers work on this trade. Collins showed signs of becoming an Eric Snow type point guard but his lack of jump shooting really held him back. I do believe he’ll become a solid backup in this league at some point, but he just didn’t work out in New York.
Cuttino Mobley is a veteran NBA player who can knock down an open jump shot and defend at an above average rate. Mobley isn’t going to light up the stat sheet but he does have that perfect swagger to excel in the bright lights of NYC.
Tim Thomas will be making his second stint in the orange and blue. His first stint isn’t one to be remembered due to his overall waste of ability but Thomas did excel in his one season in Phoenix. Thomas a 6’10 wing player who plays like a guard, his outside shooting and length should be an improvement over what Mardy Collins brought the team.
Overall we gave up our two leading scorers and leading rebounder but in the end we are big winners in this trade. The main reason is all three players acquired in the trade will see there contracts expire before the free agent bonanza of 2010. Also all three players shoot the three ball extremely well (if you’ve been watching we shoot a lot of three pointers). Along with the three point shooting Mobley and Harrington are definite upgrades on the defensive side of the ball compared to Jamal Crawford and Zach Randolph. We definitely lost some scoring punch but for the most part I think the team is as talented as it was last week.
2010
Due to the genius of Donnie Walsh the Knicks are now in prime position to sign not one but two players to max contracts in 2010 while resigning Nate Robinson and David Lee to reasonable contracts.
ESPN Analyst Jalen Rose reported that Lebron James, Chris Bosh, and Dwayne Wade all discussed wanting to play with each other during there time with the US Olympic team. While we won’t be able to sign all three the possibility of signing Lebron James and Chris Bosh is very possible. I’d even go as far as saying the possibility is over 80 percent likely to happen. The only thing that prevented New York from drawing big name players was money, and now that they have money to spend the superstars will embrace the challenge of bringing a championship back to New York.
There’s also one more thing to add into the mix. Steve Nash has an opt out clause in his contract that would make him a free agent in 2010. Nash and D’Antoni have a great relationship and at the age of 36 Nash most likely will still be chasing his first championship and would love nothing more then to rejoin D’Antoni and Lebron James.
Nash spends the off season living in New York and would surely take a small contract in the hopes of winning a championship.
2010 Projected Lineup
Steve Nash
Lebron James
Wilson Chandler
Chris Bosh
David Lee
Nate Robinson
Danillo Gallinari
Jared Jefferies
2009 first round pick
Prediction Time
Knicks vs. Cavs – Your first chance to see the new look Knicks comes against Lebron James. Ironic huh? The Cavs are a great team led by a great player, but I expect the Garden to be rocking tonight and the new players to play with great energy in their first game. Knicks 107 – Cavs 104
Side note: Give Lebron a standing ovation during pre game introductions but once the game starts root for your Knicks.
Knicks vs. Detroit – Tough back to back game in Detroit against a veteran team. Hopefully the Knicks will be coming off an emotional hard fought win. That being said a let down would be expected. Pistons 104- Knicks 93
Knicks vs. Warriors - Jamal Crawford returns to the Garden and puts up 28 points. The Knicks don’t play much defense but the Warriors play even less. Expect a high scoring game. Knicks 124 – Warriors 118
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
No KG Gives Knicks a Punchers Chance
As predicted the Knicks went 2-1 against the likes of San Antonio, Memphis, and Oklahoma City. They then proceeded to play 45 minutes of solid basketball against a struggling Dallas team. The only problem being an NBA game is 48 minutes long. But despite a tough loss against Dallas Sunday the positives to this point in the season have without a doubt outweighed the negatives.
The skeptics will contend that the Knicks have been the proud owners of a soft schedule that was made even easier by the fact key opposition players missed games due to injury. But hey like a said in a previous post I’ve drank the coach D’Antoni Kool-Aid and for now I will continue to look at the bright side of the situation.
Last season with the much talked about Stephon Marbury and Eddy Curry the team won just 23 games, and thus far we have won 6 games which easily could have been eight. So to me that would mean we lost plenty of games to inferior competition or against teams missing key players. So the schedule argument in my opinion is lame. You can only play the teams on your schedule.
Now to tonight’s showdown against the defending World Champion Boston Celtics. I’m going on record right now and saying, if this game was in Madison Square Garden I would have easily predicted a Knicks upset, but sadly the game takes place in Boston
The Celtics have slowly gone from a second thought to public enemy number one in my book. We all know the Knicks are not a team capable of making a legitimate playoff run but tonight will be a measuring stick game. Boston has shown very little respect for New York and has taken great pleasure in embarrassing us over the last year. Case in point was the 54 point beat down on national television last year.
The C’s will be without Kevin Garnett tonight but the fact remains a solid performance against the Celtics will show the league we no longer are a doormat and the dark cloud that resides over the Garden is slowly beginning to head back to New Jersey where it belongs.
Some things I want to see tonight
I hard foul early in the game. I’m not saying we should injure anyone but a hard foul early in the game will send a message to the Celtics.
48 minutes of intensity. What the Celtics lack in overall talent they make up for in intensity. We must match that intensity from the opening tip.
Limit the turnovers. The Celtics are far from a fast break team but if you let Rondo and Ray Allen have easy baskets it’ll be a long night.
Survive the inevitable Celtic run. It’s the NBA and every team makes a scoring run. It’s imperative that we can withstand the two or three runs the Celtics will throw at us.
Make it a 5 minute game. There’s no better way to send a message then by hanging around till the final 5 minutes of the game. Besides the possibility of pulling out the game late, it will also give the team valuable experience in big situations.
PREDICTION: Celtics 103 – Knicks
The skeptics will contend that the Knicks have been the proud owners of a soft schedule that was made even easier by the fact key opposition players missed games due to injury. But hey like a said in a previous post I’ve drank the coach D’Antoni Kool-Aid and for now I will continue to look at the bright side of the situation.
Last season with the much talked about Stephon Marbury and Eddy Curry the team won just 23 games, and thus far we have won 6 games which easily could have been eight. So to me that would mean we lost plenty of games to inferior competition or against teams missing key players. So the schedule argument in my opinion is lame. You can only play the teams on your schedule.
Now to tonight’s showdown against the defending World Champion Boston Celtics. I’m going on record right now and saying, if this game was in Madison Square Garden I would have easily predicted a Knicks upset, but sadly the game takes place in Boston
The Celtics have slowly gone from a second thought to public enemy number one in my book. We all know the Knicks are not a team capable of making a legitimate playoff run but tonight will be a measuring stick game. Boston has shown very little respect for New York and has taken great pleasure in embarrassing us over the last year. Case in point was the 54 point beat down on national television last year.
The C’s will be without Kevin Garnett tonight but the fact remains a solid performance against the Celtics will show the league we no longer are a doormat and the dark cloud that resides over the Garden is slowly beginning to head back to New Jersey where it belongs.
Some things I want to see tonight
I hard foul early in the game. I’m not saying we should injure anyone but a hard foul early in the game will send a message to the Celtics.
48 minutes of intensity. What the Celtics lack in overall talent they make up for in intensity. We must match that intensity from the opening tip.
Limit the turnovers. The Celtics are far from a fast break team but if you let Rondo and Ray Allen have easy baskets it’ll be a long night.
Survive the inevitable Celtic run. It’s the NBA and every team makes a scoring run. It’s imperative that we can withstand the two or three runs the Celtics will throw at us.
Make it a 5 minute game. There’s no better way to send a message then by hanging around till the final 5 minutes of the game. Besides the possibility of pulling out the game late, it will also give the team valuable experience in big situations.
PREDICTION: Celtics 103 – Knicks
Monday, November 10, 2008
Drinking That Coach D Kool Aid
As I astutely predicted yesterday the Knicks beat the previously undefeated Utah Jazz yesterday to improve to an impressive 4-2. I don’t want to hear that the Heat, and Bobcats are just as bad as the Knicks, or that Gilbert Arenas and Derron Williams missed games due to injuries. The fact the remains that the Knicks did something they’ve failed to do since 2004 and that is be two games over .500.
That being said I’m another two or three wins away from believing Mike D’Antoni is the reincarnation of Red Holzman and Donnie Walsh may be a tad bit smarter then he appears.
While for the most part the same core of players are back from last seasons 23 win season the biggest difference thus far has been the effort. Defensively challenged Jamal Crawford even chipped in with two steals. I’m going to go out on a limb and say that may very well be his career high as a Knick. Along with Crawford, Wilson Chandler and Chris Duhon have improved the overall quickness and intensity of the team on the defense end. We’re still going to let up around 100 ppg. due to the up tempo style and the rash of match up nightmares playing this small lineup will bring but the overall intensity has been much better.
Here’s a few interesting stats from the last few games
Chris Duhon has 21 assists and just two turnovers over the last two games
Zach Randolph has three straight 20 points and 10 rebound games
Nate Robinson is averaging 15 ppg off the bench
Stephon Marbury stat line is as follows: 1 DNP 5 Inactives
Here are some quick predictions for the next 3 games.
San Antonio 95 - Knicks 87 I really wanted to make this a Knicks win but even without Tony Parker the Spurs are probably too tough to beat on the road.
Knicks 110 Memphis 101 – A nice bounce back over a very young Memphis team. Keep an eye on Rudy Gay. He may very well be the best player you’ve never heard of.
Knicks 108- Thunder 92 - Can you really take a team named the Thunder seriously. Was that honestly the best name the creative team in Oklahoma City could come up with? It’s like I’m playing NBA Live 96 where the two options for created teams are the Thunder and Bombers.
That being said I’m another two or three wins away from believing Mike D’Antoni is the reincarnation of Red Holzman and Donnie Walsh may be a tad bit smarter then he appears.
While for the most part the same core of players are back from last seasons 23 win season the biggest difference thus far has been the effort. Defensively challenged Jamal Crawford even chipped in with two steals. I’m going to go out on a limb and say that may very well be his career high as a Knick. Along with Crawford, Wilson Chandler and Chris Duhon have improved the overall quickness and intensity of the team on the defense end. We’re still going to let up around 100 ppg. due to the up tempo style and the rash of match up nightmares playing this small lineup will bring but the overall intensity has been much better.
Here’s a few interesting stats from the last few games
Chris Duhon has 21 assists and just two turnovers over the last two games
Zach Randolph has three straight 20 points and 10 rebound games
Nate Robinson is averaging 15 ppg off the bench
Stephon Marbury stat line is as follows: 1 DNP 5 Inactives
Here are some quick predictions for the next 3 games.
San Antonio 95 - Knicks 87 I really wanted to make this a Knicks win but even without Tony Parker the Spurs are probably too tough to beat on the road.
Knicks 110 Memphis 101 – A nice bounce back over a very young Memphis team. Keep an eye on Rudy Gay. He may very well be the best player you’ve never heard of.
Knicks 108- Thunder 92 - Can you really take a team named the Thunder seriously. Was that honestly the best name the creative team in Oklahoma City could come up with? It’s like I’m playing NBA Live 96 where the two options for created teams are the Thunder and Bombers.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Break Up The Knicks
This team is still years away but the fact we are 3-2 has me excited. When you've won 23, 33, and 23 games over the last three seasons any step in the right direction is a positive. But the fact the Young Knicks are 3-2 coming off an impressive road victory against a playoff team in the Washington Wizards is reason for celebration. Dreams of playoffs and star months away but the fact this team has gone out 4 nights this season (throw out the Philly game) and competed at a high level is encouraging.
In about three hours the Knicks take on an undefeated Utah Jazz team that should gives us fits but despite all that i have the feeling a victory isn't all that far fetched. The Jazz are undefeated may very well be due for a let down, and what better opportunity for a let down then a Sunday afternoon game. That said Knicks 110- Jazz 107
Lets take a look at a few of the major bright spots thus far.
Chris Duhon --
I'm truly starting to develop a man crush on this guy. It could be because he took the place of Stephon Marbury or it could be the fact he plays the game the right way. I've said it before and I'll say it again; Duhon isn't single handledly going to win you games but he won't be the player to lose you games. He makes all the right plays and gives the team a calming influence.
Nate Robinson --
Nate no longer looks like a spark off the bench, hes becoming a legit player in the league. He's always had athleticism but now with the confidence and and overall knowledge of the game hes gained over the last 4 years he's becoming the type of player who can become an X factor on a night in night out basis. I still believe he is best suited to be a sixth man but it may be time for Donnie Walsh to start talking contract extension with Nate the great.
In about three hours the Knicks take on an undefeated Utah Jazz team that should gives us fits but despite all that i have the feeling a victory isn't all that far fetched. The Jazz are undefeated may very well be due for a let down, and what better opportunity for a let down then a Sunday afternoon game. That said Knicks 110- Jazz 107
Lets take a look at a few of the major bright spots thus far.
Chris Duhon --
I'm truly starting to develop a man crush on this guy. It could be because he took the place of Stephon Marbury or it could be the fact he plays the game the right way. I've said it before and I'll say it again; Duhon isn't single handledly going to win you games but he won't be the player to lose you games. He makes all the right plays and gives the team a calming influence.
Nate Robinson --
Nate no longer looks like a spark off the bench, hes becoming a legit player in the league. He's always had athleticism but now with the confidence and and overall knowledge of the game hes gained over the last 4 years he's becoming the type of player who can become an X factor on a night in night out basis. I still believe he is best suited to be a sixth man but it may be time for Donnie Walsh to start talking contract extension with Nate the great.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Opening Night
The Donnie Walsh and Mike D’Antoni Regime officially kicks off tonight as the Knicks open the season tonight at home against D-Wade and the Heat. The summer has been a typical Knicks summer. Who is this Italian kid we drafted and how can a 19 year-old have chronic back issues? Will Marbury stay or will he go? Eddy Curry really showed up out of shape again? Will Patrick Ewing Jr. make the team?
Well the questions are on the backburner for the time being. Stephon Marbury is still a Knick, Eddy Curry has ate his way right out of the rotation, and unfortunately Jerome James’ albatross of a contract cost Patrick Ewing Jr. a chance at playing for the Knicks.
But it’s opening night and despite every national publication picking this team to be in the bottom half on the Eastern Conference there is still a slight sense of optimism surrounding this team. I mean it can’t get any worse right…
Preseason Positives
- Scored a ton of points
- The combination of Zach Randolph and David Lee seemed to mesh well
- Nate Robinson continues to defy the odds and get better every season
- Wilson Chandler has all the makings of a Shawn Marion type player
- For the most part Stephon Marbury has been incident free and has accepted his new role
- Isiah Thomas and his pink ties are no longer on the bench
Preseason Negatives
- The opposition scored a ton of points
- Eddy McFlurry continued to waste his talent
- Jamal Crawford looked completely lost in the offense
- The 6th overall pick didn’t play a minute of preseason
MY PREDICTION 35-47
This team is still a very flawed team but I do expect to see improvement as the season goes on. Having Chris Duhon as a stabilizing force at point guard along with the continued development of David Lee, Nate Robinson, and Wilson Chandler should lead to being much more competitive. And hey after this season we only have one more year till the arrival of Lebron James and the rebirth of the franchise.
Knicks 115 Heat 106
Well the questions are on the backburner for the time being. Stephon Marbury is still a Knick, Eddy Curry has ate his way right out of the rotation, and unfortunately Jerome James’ albatross of a contract cost Patrick Ewing Jr. a chance at playing for the Knicks.
But it’s opening night and despite every national publication picking this team to be in the bottom half on the Eastern Conference there is still a slight sense of optimism surrounding this team. I mean it can’t get any worse right…
Preseason Positives
- Scored a ton of points
- The combination of Zach Randolph and David Lee seemed to mesh well
- Nate Robinson continues to defy the odds and get better every season
- Wilson Chandler has all the makings of a Shawn Marion type player
- For the most part Stephon Marbury has been incident free and has accepted his new role
- Isiah Thomas and his pink ties are no longer on the bench
Preseason Negatives
- The opposition scored a ton of points
- Eddy McFlurry continued to waste his talent
- Jamal Crawford looked completely lost in the offense
- The 6th overall pick didn’t play a minute of preseason
MY PREDICTION 35-47
This team is still a very flawed team but I do expect to see improvement as the season goes on. Having Chris Duhon as a stabilizing force at point guard along with the continued development of David Lee, Nate Robinson, and Wilson Chandler should lead to being much more competitive. And hey after this season we only have one more year till the arrival of Lebron James and the rebirth of the franchise.
Knicks 115 Heat 106
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
The Forwards
I wasn’t able to watch Friday nights win against Philadelphia but from the box score it seemed like a solid win against a very good 76er team. As predicted by some smart blogger Chris Duhon bounced backed with 19 points and lowered his turnover numbers. Tonight the Knicks give the Garden fans their first taste of Knick basketball as they host the 76ers at 730. Here’s a question for you, who gets booed the loudest, Eddy Curry or Stephon Marbury? My money is on Marbury.
Back to the business at hand, here’s a look at the forwards
Wilson Chandler – 07/08 Stats PPG 7.3 RPG 3.6
Positives: Freak athleticism, best defender on team, improving mid range game, fits system perfectly.
Negatives: Mediocre jump shot, youth and inexperience.
Overview: By the time Wilson Chandler got regular playing time last year, the season was long over. But the 21 year-old definitely showed a ton of promise and became the lone bright spot of yet another 23 win season. He followed the strong last month by dominating the Vegas Summer League. Chandler is still raw but his talent often jumps out of the television screen (think a young Shawn Marion). Chandler most likely will start the season on the bench but by the all star break you could be looking at a mainstay in the starting lineup for the next 10 seasons.
Patrick Ewing Jr. – Rookie
Strengths: Defense, athleticism, last name
Negatives: Basketball IQ, shooting, not his father
Overview: Patrick Ewing Jr. for Renaldo Balkman and a second round pick. I don’t know about you but I approve that trade. Lets be honest Balkman was a waste of the 21st pick in the draft. He was a good energy guy but that was all he brought to the table. Unless Balkman became a great player over the summer the Knicks made out in this trade. Anything Balkman brought to the table Ewing Jr. can do and do it for a cheaper price. Jr. would be a great candidate for the D League (a resource the Knicks have yet to use). That being said I hope Jr. has a wide variety of suits to wear on the bench because if he makes this team he’ll be inactive 90 % of the time.
Danilo Gallinari – Rookie
Strengths: Shooting, Shooting, Shooting, the guy played in Italy and one summer league game I don’t have much of a scouting report on him.
Negatives: His back, age.
Overview: Like I wrote above I really don’t know much about the kid. Hopefully Donnie Walsh knows enough about him to risk selecting him with the 6th pick overall. From the little I’ve heard and saw he seems like a mature kid for his age who can really stroke the jumper. Hopefully he’ll at least be able to take part in a few pre season games. If not I wouldn’t count on any contribution from Danilo till January.
David Lee – 07/08 STATS PPG 10.8 RPG 8.9
Positives: Rebounding, finishing ability can run the floor, hustle
Negatives: Defense, mid range jumper?
Overview: David Lee is a fan favorite for a reason. He does all the little things needed to make a good team a great team. Only problem is this team isn’t a good team so his antics often are overlooked. Lee should flourish in this offense. He has an uncanny ability to finish on the break (see Rookie/Sophomore game two seasons ago). The only real knock on Lee is his defense and inconsistent jump shot. During the preseason his jumper has looked smooth, but until I see him knock down jumpers with confidence when the bright lights are on I’m not a believer.
Zach Randolph – 07/08 STATS PPG 17.6 RPG 10.3
Positives: Can flat out score, rebounding, offensive basketball IQ
Negatives: Defense, tends to dominate the ball, conditioning, defensive basketball IQ
Overview: Zach is really tough to read. One night I really like the way he plays and the next night I absolutely hate the guy. The fact of the matter is he does average a double-double and there are not many guys in the league that can say that. He seems to at least have bought into the system for the time being. He’s definitely not a long term solution but all Knick fans should hope and pray he averages 20 ppg and 11 rpg. Not only should that lead us to some victories but it also will raise his trade value to the point where we can dump his gigantic contract.
Let’s not forget the goal is to be under the cap by 2010
Quentin Richardson – 07/08 STATS PPG 8.1 RPG 4.8
Positives: Good rebounder for a small forward, has played for D’Antoni, team leader by default
Negatives: Left his jump shot in Phoenix, injury concerns, refuses to use a mid range or post game.
Overview: Q Richardson and his big contract often seem to get a pass because compared to Randolph, Marbury, and Curry it’s not that bad, but that stops today. This guy was traded for Kurt Thomas and has done nothing but steal money from the get go. The guy made 226 three point field goals with Phoenix in 2005 and since arriving in New York he’s made a combined 230 threes. He’s also the guy who said “I think this team can play with Celtics” and then proceeded to lose a game 104-59 on national television. So Q the free ride is over.
I know I left out Malik Rose but I really have nothing to say about him. He’s a decent veteran to have on the team but for 7 million dollars not so much.
Back to the business at hand, here’s a look at the forwards
Wilson Chandler – 07/08 Stats PPG 7.3 RPG 3.6
Positives: Freak athleticism, best defender on team, improving mid range game, fits system perfectly.
Negatives: Mediocre jump shot, youth and inexperience.
Overview: By the time Wilson Chandler got regular playing time last year, the season was long over. But the 21 year-old definitely showed a ton of promise and became the lone bright spot of yet another 23 win season. He followed the strong last month by dominating the Vegas Summer League. Chandler is still raw but his talent often jumps out of the television screen (think a young Shawn Marion). Chandler most likely will start the season on the bench but by the all star break you could be looking at a mainstay in the starting lineup for the next 10 seasons.
Patrick Ewing Jr. – Rookie
Strengths: Defense, athleticism, last name
Negatives: Basketball IQ, shooting, not his father
Overview: Patrick Ewing Jr. for Renaldo Balkman and a second round pick. I don’t know about you but I approve that trade. Lets be honest Balkman was a waste of the 21st pick in the draft. He was a good energy guy but that was all he brought to the table. Unless Balkman became a great player over the summer the Knicks made out in this trade. Anything Balkman brought to the table Ewing Jr. can do and do it for a cheaper price. Jr. would be a great candidate for the D League (a resource the Knicks have yet to use). That being said I hope Jr. has a wide variety of suits to wear on the bench because if he makes this team he’ll be inactive 90 % of the time.
Danilo Gallinari – Rookie
Strengths: Shooting, Shooting, Shooting, the guy played in Italy and one summer league game I don’t have much of a scouting report on him.
Negatives: His back, age.
Overview: Like I wrote above I really don’t know much about the kid. Hopefully Donnie Walsh knows enough about him to risk selecting him with the 6th pick overall. From the little I’ve heard and saw he seems like a mature kid for his age who can really stroke the jumper. Hopefully he’ll at least be able to take part in a few pre season games. If not I wouldn’t count on any contribution from Danilo till January.
David Lee – 07/08 STATS PPG 10.8 RPG 8.9
Positives: Rebounding, finishing ability can run the floor, hustle
Negatives: Defense, mid range jumper?
Overview: David Lee is a fan favorite for a reason. He does all the little things needed to make a good team a great team. Only problem is this team isn’t a good team so his antics often are overlooked. Lee should flourish in this offense. He has an uncanny ability to finish on the break (see Rookie/Sophomore game two seasons ago). The only real knock on Lee is his defense and inconsistent jump shot. During the preseason his jumper has looked smooth, but until I see him knock down jumpers with confidence when the bright lights are on I’m not a believer.
Zach Randolph – 07/08 STATS PPG 17.6 RPG 10.3
Positives: Can flat out score, rebounding, offensive basketball IQ
Negatives: Defense, tends to dominate the ball, conditioning, defensive basketball IQ
Overview: Zach is really tough to read. One night I really like the way he plays and the next night I absolutely hate the guy. The fact of the matter is he does average a double-double and there are not many guys in the league that can say that. He seems to at least have bought into the system for the time being. He’s definitely not a long term solution but all Knick fans should hope and pray he averages 20 ppg and 11 rpg. Not only should that lead us to some victories but it also will raise his trade value to the point where we can dump his gigantic contract.
Let’s not forget the goal is to be under the cap by 2010
Quentin Richardson – 07/08 STATS PPG 8.1 RPG 4.8
Positives: Good rebounder for a small forward, has played for D’Antoni, team leader by default
Negatives: Left his jump shot in Phoenix, injury concerns, refuses to use a mid range or post game.
Overview: Q Richardson and his big contract often seem to get a pass because compared to Randolph, Marbury, and Curry it’s not that bad, but that stops today. This guy was traded for Kurt Thomas and has done nothing but steal money from the get go. The guy made 226 three point field goals with Phoenix in 2005 and since arriving in New York he’s made a combined 230 threes. He’s also the guy who said “I think this team can play with Celtics” and then proceeded to lose a game 104-59 on national television. So Q the free ride is over.
I know I left out Malik Rose but I really have nothing to say about him. He’s a decent veteran to have on the team but for 7 million dollars not so much.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Preseason opener
One preseason game under our belts and there are still many of unanswered questions but as far as last night’s performance I’d have to say not half bad. Here are some observations from last night.
Wilson Chandler is going to be a very nice player in this league. The highlight dunk over O’Neil surely will garner the most attention but Chandler ran the floor and did a decent job guarding perennial all-star Chris Bosh. I like the idea of bringing him off the bench to give the team some energy and scoring punch off the bench until he becomes completely familiar with the league. Come second half of the season I’d expect Chandler to take over the starting small forward duties for the foreseeable future.
Did I just witness David Lee hit 4 mid range jumpers? We all know David Lee has all the intangibles. He can run the floor, rebound, and can get all the hustle points you need from him. But and this is a major But, if he ever consistently can knock down that mid ranger jump shot (ala Kurt Thomas) we may very well have an all star not just a hustle player.
Zach Randolph played pretty well. I still have doubts that Zach can run up and down the floor 82 nights a year, but last night he seemed to at least be buying into the system. Zach is like the old man you play pickup games against at the YMCA, he’s old, out of shape but at the end of the game you look at the stat sheet and he has 18 points and 10 rebounds.
Duhon struggled. The one thing you expect with Duhon is a low number of turnovers and he turned the ball over 7 times last night. I’m not going to rush to judgment though; it was his first game as a Knick and his first game in this system. Lets look at the bright side he had 10 rebounds and 6 assists. I’m going to give Duhon until the regular season to figure out the offense and fix the turnover situation, but if he turns the ball over 7 times in a regular season game I’ll be all over him.
Overall they ran the floor fairly well and spread the floor. The Phoenix offense is known for fast break opportunities and three point shooting. We got out in the open floor and had numerous wide open three point shots. Sure we missed a great majority of the open shots but the fact of the matter is the shots were there.
Wilson Chandler is going to be a very nice player in this league. The highlight dunk over O’Neil surely will garner the most attention but Chandler ran the floor and did a decent job guarding perennial all-star Chris Bosh. I like the idea of bringing him off the bench to give the team some energy and scoring punch off the bench until he becomes completely familiar with the league. Come second half of the season I’d expect Chandler to take over the starting small forward duties for the foreseeable future.
Did I just witness David Lee hit 4 mid range jumpers? We all know David Lee has all the intangibles. He can run the floor, rebound, and can get all the hustle points you need from him. But and this is a major But, if he ever consistently can knock down that mid ranger jump shot (ala Kurt Thomas) we may very well have an all star not just a hustle player.
Zach Randolph played pretty well. I still have doubts that Zach can run up and down the floor 82 nights a year, but last night he seemed to at least be buying into the system. Zach is like the old man you play pickup games against at the YMCA, he’s old, out of shape but at the end of the game you look at the stat sheet and he has 18 points and 10 rebounds.
Duhon struggled. The one thing you expect with Duhon is a low number of turnovers and he turned the ball over 7 times last night. I’m not going to rush to judgment though; it was his first game as a Knick and his first game in this system. Lets look at the bright side he had 10 rebounds and 6 assists. I’m going to give Duhon until the regular season to figure out the offense and fix the turnover situation, but if he turns the ball over 7 times in a regular season game I’ll be all over him.
Overall they ran the floor fairly well and spread the floor. The Phoenix offense is known for fast break opportunities and three point shooting. We got out in the open floor and had numerous wide open three point shots. Sure we missed a great majority of the open shots but the fact of the matter is the shots were there.
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