|
|
Post by dk7th on Aug 11, 2009 18:20:07 GMT -5
bill-- i feel that the growth curve of the potential for developing these skills is much steeper earlier in life, say from 10 to 16. my opinion is that the growth curve flattens out considerably by 18 or so, where acquiring advanced motor skills takes much longer and is more arduous. It is also more time-consuming and there is no guarantee of the fulfillment of the potential.
p.s. walt frazier was the starting quarterback on his high school football team, the catcher on his hs baseball team, and who knows maybe guard on his hs basketball team? are we talking "natural athlete" or what? and which players in the nba do you see as natural athletes?
|
|
|
|
Post by greatgates on Aug 12, 2009 15:32:10 GMT -5
bill-- i feel that the growth curve of the potential for developing these skills is much steeper earlier in life, say from 10 to 16. my opinion is that the growth curve flattens out considerably by 18 or so, where acquiring advanced motor skills takes much longer and is more arduous. It is also more time-consuming and there is no guarantee of the fulfillment of the potential. p.s. walt frazier was the starting quarterback on his high school football team, the catcher on his hs baseball team, and who knows maybe guard on his hs basketball team? are we talking "natural athlete" or what? and which players in the nba do you see as natural athletes? At first thought: AI Lebron Nash |
|
|
|
Post by greatgates on Aug 12, 2009 16:13:27 GMT -5
you're right, bill. you can't ever leave out work ethic and humility-- in other words chandler possesses character and the knicks sorely need that. i just don't feel that the sky is the limit for him. i'd love to see him become a sturdier version of the kid on detroit, tayshaun prince. with gallinari i see a mismatch nightmare along the lines of turkoglu but with more leadership and will. i also see a far smarter player and better passer than odom. i think he can be better than nowitzki for his passing skills and ability to drive. but i repeat-- what makes him special is his potential to lead which is something that none of the other three possess, and it is why knick fans have something to hope for. |
|
|
|
Post by dk7th on Aug 12, 2009 16:50:21 GMT -5
you're right, bill. you can't ever leave out work ethic and humility-- in other words chandler possesses character and the knicks sorely need that. i just don't feel that the sky is the limit for him. i'd love to see him become a sturdier version of the kid on detroit, tayshaun prince. with gallinari i see a mismatch nightmare along the lines of turkoglu but with more leadership and will. i also see a far smarter player and better passer than odom. i think he can be better than nowitzki for his passing skills and ability to drive. but i repeat-- what makes him special is his potential to lead which is something that none of the other three possess, and it is why knick fans have something to hope for. gates as the saying goes: nature abhors a vacuum. if you are a great leader you will either strive with another who is also a leader or you will claim the mantle for yourself through your actions. the greatest leaders the nba ever had were bill russell first and foremost, followed by jordan and bird and duncan. if i recall bird and duncan managed the greatest turnarounds with pretty much the same players-- that's leadership as much as skill level. i am getting ahead of myself but i am banking on gallinari-- if IF IF he can remain healthy-- being a precedent-setter in terms of being the first european player to achieve the kind of leadership role that any playoff contender needs. i am putting a lot on his shoulders but i like what i have seen of him and i like his attitude and i can see he has that fire. i just hope perennial knuckleheads like robinson and harrington are properly corralled by d'antoni and allow gallinari and chandler and perhaps douglas to blossom this season. i saw several occasions last season where robinson and harrington froze gallinari out. as a coach i would have benched their asses for two games. i have seen very little of douglas but nonetheless i think that he too has the potential to be a leader. as far as nowitzki goes i can't figure the guy out. world war two has been over for 65 years-- can't he assert leadership without being thought of as "der fuhrer?" all kidding aside i have to say i think the guy is a choke artist at the end of the day. i know that sounds harsh and maybe i'm being too hard on the guy, but i just don't like players who are lousy defenders (have you ever seen this guy backpedal?), don't really create for others, and who don't develop their game-- in his case a legitimate low post game. his mvp award was the biggest load of crap that bore itself out in the playoffs. |
|
|
|
Post by kgooglog on Aug 12, 2009 23:57:18 GMT -5
As I have said before, my money is on LeBron James being a Knick in 2010. All of the signs are there. The man publically declares he is going to explore his free agency. He wears NY Yankees hats, courtesy of CC Sabathia, who has already broken the secret that James' plan is to sign with NY. Akron ain't the Mecca. 20 or so Sports Financial experts have already said that LeBron would never return to Cleveland once he became a free agent and would take his show to NYC.
That said, James is still a Cavalier this season. We have two keepers, IMO, in Wilson Chandler and Danilo Gallinari. Both would make terrific 2nd and 3rd offensive options on a team which has little leadership and even less of an opposing presence. There is, however, a new, young core of promising young players in Darko Milicic, Jordan Hill, and Toney Douglas. We don't know what Darko or even Eddy Curry can and will give us at center. Does David Lee return for a year or four years at his market value?
The Knicks are committed to $22,000,000 in payroll next season and if the salary cap falls to $50,000,000, Walsh has just about enough money to sign LeBron James to a max contract and perhaps, just possibly, retain one of our two free agents--my bet is David Lee for $6.5 million, and the Knicks suddenly don't look like a lottery team with Wilson, Gallo, Lee, and LeBron James, who can play any position but center in the NBA.
Donnie Walsh's patience, IMHO, was what got the Knicks into this position and if a player is unwilling to participate in the future plan, than they can go play in Memphis or Sacramento as far as I am concerned.
If David Lee is not meant to be a Knick in 2010, than we have Chandler at the 2, Gallo at the 3, and LeBron at the 4. Walsh will sign a PG to replace Duhon or trade David Lee for one who is starting caliber. We have three pivots in Milicic, Eddy Curry, and Jordan Hill. And, when Curry's and Jeffries' contracts fall off the payroll in 2011, Walsh has another $19,000,000 to go shopping in yet another free agent class, which will have players who will fit in to whatever job openings are open. Perhaps Chris Paul? Possibly Brandon Roy (I don't care if he signed an extension--Portland may have to deal him for financial reasons), and a cast of dozens.
NY will be a title contender in 2 years. James will make sure of that.
|
|
