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Post by daglazer on Oct 6, 2009 16:17:58 GMT -5
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Post by ReneNYG1 on Oct 6, 2009 16:47:00 GMT -5
Dave great job though you left out Hill.
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Post by kgooglog on Oct 7, 2009 11:42:43 GMT -5
DA...
An excellent article, although I don't think Al Harrington is that under-rated of a player. I would prefer to see Harrington on a second unit, perhaps with Milicic and Nate, with Mike D balancing out the other positions with Toney Douglas and, in time, Jordan Hill. I think you captured most of how I feel about Darko Milicic, Nate Robinson, and I also see Wilson Chandler having the potential for an unbelievable year.
I don't believe that Larry Hughes will give us much more than his uniform number. He is one of my least favorite Knicks, lacks the passion to improve, and despite being in his contract year, both Chandler and Nate will be the primary guards, in my humble opinion. You definitely saw what I saw in the rookie, Jordan Hill. Until this kid bulks up, and I think he can and will, he will not be that "Amare" like player some pundits have already pronounced him as. He is rail-thin, from what I saw in the preseason game versus the Nets, and when a player's hair-do is that awesome, I expect big things. Hill may not be NBA ready at this point, but I think he has the goods to eventually be a solid, if not better than average PF. I also agree with you about Toney Douglas, who I think will soon be the first PG of the bench, and maybe even supplant Chris Duhon, if the latter player has not changed his partying ways. Douglas lacks the one thing Chris has, which is an NBA shot, and Chris can hit some long 3 pointers.
Conversely, from the first glimpses of TD, I think he is a better defender than Duhon as well as Nate, who had better prove himself in this vital area. Robinson is in a very tenuous position, in my book. He has a one year deal and must, and I emphasize this word, MUST improve his play making skills to have a chance at even drawing attention in the FA market of 2010.
I think you captured David Lee perfectly. His lack of a consistent jumper at the 4, will hurt our team. He is a sub-par defensive presence, although I expect some improvement in this area, for Lee is a determined, hard-working player. I sincerely hope that we do not see him as the pivot man, since we have an adequate, if not better one in Milicic, who is a legit 7'2 and can run, shoot, block, and board. David is not a shot-blocker and, as you said, Curry is most definitely not a fit in this system. I do see Curry being the starting center, when he eventually gets over his latest bizarre injury.
D'Antoni has mentioned the possibility of a starting five of players who are all over 6'8, which makes me wonder if he is thinking Curry, Lee, Chandler, Gallo, and Harrington, with Gallo as a PG. I think Danilo is the Knick with most versatility, and can handle the ball as well as most guards in this league. I also think Gallinari must become more offensively minded, for his shot is as sweet as any Knick player I've seen since Allan Houston.
Personally, I think Wilson Chandler will be a better player than Shawn Marion was or is. He is also the team's best defender, he is, as you said, a better slasher than Marion could ever hope to be, is an excellent free throw shooter, and can block shots. This is a player who I believe has unlimited potential, if he could inculcate the aggressiveness he lacked last season. He need not argue with officials like Robinson does to do this. He just needs to hit the three pointer a little better in terms of percentage, yet not rely on it, since Chandler is an excellent ball-handler in his own right and his driving to the basket remains his most effective weapon. He is like a nicer Sprewell, in some ways, but a better defensive player, and Latrell was pretty decent in this area. Spree lacked the height of Chandler, though, and Wilson's body is one that Eddy Curry should look at for motivation to remove the excess blubber which still remains, I'm sure, on his 6'11 317 pound frame.
The one player I have to mention is Jared Jeffries, who possesses no inherent NBA skill whatsoever. I love the fact that he hit three 3 pointers, but this was obviously a full moon, and the ghosts were on Jared's side this time. Still, anything this guy can show, even if it is mystical in nature, may be enough to merit a trade to either Sacramento or Washington. As long as Jeffries contract is on our payroll, Donnie Walsh will have a tough time of it next summer in getting TWO elite players here. Of course, if Curry blows out his frontal prehensile trunk, we may be able to buy his ass out.
I see great things for Wilson, Danilo, and Darko on this team, and I say 45 wins is not out of the question, if Mike gives Milicic a chance to prove he is perfect for his system and lets Gallo be himself. Douglas will pleasantly surprise us, I think, for this guy shows leadership in how he doggedly defends and looks for the open man. His NBA shooting will come.
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Post by jbnewyork162 on Oct 7, 2009 14:36:40 GMT -5
Frontal prehensile Trunk, lmao! Great reply post Ken! Classic use of words.
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Post by ironman95 on Oct 7, 2009 16:22:29 GMT -5
I don't see 45 wins with this team, however that does not mean I don't think they can make the playoffs. I see 40, if Gallinari becomes Gallinari, and 42 if Darko comes into his own, and provides a defensive presence in the middle. I think the playoffs hinge on whether Darko is real or a bust, and I think we are about to find out. The competition in the East has both gotten better and evened out some. I see the top teams coming down a little, and the middle teams improving some. There is just a little room for the Knicks to make the playoffs, with the Raptors, Wizards with Arenas back, having gotten better for sure, and the 76ers and Bobcats possibilites to make the playoffs, along with the obvious good East teams. I think it will be a real battle for 5 through 8 between as many as 7 teams involved. Cavaliers, Magic, and Celtics for sure. Heat and Chicago pretty good, and who knows about the others such as the Pacers.
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Post by daglazer on Oct 7, 2009 20:09:01 GMT -5
Dave great job though you left out Hill. Rene, I did discuss Hill. I think that he is a project who lacks NBA level strength to be effective. |
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Post by ReneNYG1 on Oct 7, 2009 22:26:40 GMT -5
Ok Dave I missed that but hey at least he's not fat LOL.You did a great job,I think most players that come into the league are weak compared to NBA vets,these guys are coming out to early to have a developed body ,then you have your exceptions like Lebron,but Gallo needs to get stronger too,I think Hill will be a good player when he gets the deer in the headlights look off his face,he's real green but he has the goods to be real good for us IMO.I think most players that play DAnt system has to get in real good shape to run and Hill fits that to a tee.I can see this team doing some damage if we stay healthy ,I like our parts,I really like Duhon too and think he could be our answer there and everyone is selling him short.I like the way Gallo is playing with Lee and I think his passing will help this team too so while we have more than one good passer Duhon might suffice at the point IMO.I really like the team defense coming off the bench with Darko,N8 and Douglas.Al was playing like a man possed and hopefully he will be playing better with the shape he came in too.I can't wait to get more games under our belt to see how far we can go.
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Post by kgooglog on Oct 8, 2009 7:24:38 GMT -5
Frontal prehensile Trunk, lmao! Great reply post Ken! Classic use of words. I have to admit that I actually laughed out loud when I wrote that, and I wasn't sure that I spelled "prehensile" correctly. I mean, with Curry, anything is a possibility, and if he appeared in a game, sporting wings, I don't even think I'd be that shocked. |
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Post by kgooglog on Oct 8, 2009 7:32:58 GMT -5
It's a bit eerie, but Toney Douglas seems ready to play NBA ball while the few moments that I did catch Jordan Hill, I was a little disappointed in his frame. He will be manhandled in the pivot, so I am somewhat baffled by my comrades' saying that he can be a spot pivot. At his current size, and I am referring to his weight, he cannot be expected to outmuscle the likes of Dwight Howard, Shaq, or even Mikki Moore.
This kid is very, very thin. He makes Jared Jeffries look like Pig Miller. I definitely see that Gallo has put on weight and it is muscle. I recall that several of us were worried that the kid would be too skinny, and that, thank heavens, hasn't been the case.
On the other hand, I wish that was Eddy Curry's problem. Meaning being too skinny, which is akin to Bill saying that Jared Jeffries possesses talent.
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Post by ironman95 on Oct 8, 2009 13:33:13 GMT -5
I don't agree, Ken. I think Jordan Hill looks wiry strong to me. He can slash to basket and throw it down. Between Hill and Jeffries playing center, I would choose Hill. If Jeffries plays major minutes this season, the Knicks are going nowhere. I really don't want either playing center, but my choice would be Hill. Probably equal on defense, and Hill better on offense. Yes Hill needs to build himself up more, but I can just bet that he is strong enough not have a lot of turnovers. I also would bet that he is stronger than Jeffries even if he doesn't look it. A weak player loses the ball in close, and that is why Jeffries doesn't go underneath. Hill is not going to have the ball knocked out his hands, like Jeffries would have happen to him. There are four situations possible: 1.Look weak and be weak, 2. Look weak and be strong, 3. Look strong and be weak, and finally 4. Look strong and be strong. Dwight Howard is a 4. Eddy Curry is a 3. Jeffries is a 1. and Hill, I think is a 2. I would even rate Nate a 4. Gallinari was a 1., but now, I am not sure. He cannot be considered a 4, so I give him a 2 1/2. David Lee doesn't look all cut and muscled up, but he is explosive, I give him a 2, not that he looks weak, but he doesn't have the muscles showing like Howard or Nate. Besides looking muscular, I make my judgements on whether they can hold on to that rebound, and whether they can hold onto the ball in traffic. That shows true strength. Jeffries can't do either. It also takes lower body strength to hold your position against an opponent trying to back you in to the basket. We shall see if they try that with Gallo. I would.
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Post by jbnewyork162 on Oct 8, 2009 17:33:02 GMT -5
Damn ken. You ascended to God status on here overnight, lol.
But concerning thin kids in the NBA. Two kids who i wish were on this team in a NY minute who are thin but use that frame to best use so far are; Anthony Randolph of Golden state. He is on the wrong team personally as if he were a big man(PF) in a rotation spot on the Spurs(6th man) or in the samee rotational psot that Big Baby Davis had last year with the Celtics, it might have been boston in the finals and not Orlando.
Next i would say Javale McGee(Center) via Washington, whom by the way is the next big center in this league to sneak under the radar behind Shaq, D Howard, Yao and Bosh, IMO. what he lacks in a strong build like Howard he makes up in spacing, defensive awareness, good hands and feet and an aggressive attitude. Washington would be fools to trade him for anything less than a first rounder I believe his potential is so high.
Any of those two youngsters next to David Lee and Gallo and we'd have the most talented frontline in the league. But that's neither here nor there.
The whole point is to tell you with the right tools, which Hill has, and the right mindset and watching tapes and having heart out there, you can be a beast.
Nate's a beast when his mind is right place and he is the smallest out there. Now if he used his freakish strength for a little man on defense like he does on offense, the man would have a long term agreement locked up this summer already, if not from us from someone.
-Jason
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Post by greatgates on Oct 8, 2009 18:45:36 GMT -5
 very nice pice of david. be very proud
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Post by ironman95 on Oct 8, 2009 21:48:04 GMT -5
Word out of the Golden State camp was that Brandon Wright was outplaying Anthony Randolph until he blew out his shoulder. I am not convinced that Randolph is that good of a player, but I would take McGee.
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Post by jbnewyork162 on Oct 9, 2009 19:22:30 GMT -5
Ironman,
Brandon Wright has been in the league for three years now. I would hope he was playing better than Anthony Randolph at this stage but make no mistake Randolph the way he has defensive awareness and aggression in the paint and a nice mid range jumper to boot, the ceiling is higher to me on Randolph as right during the same period of time. Randolph is a sophomore.
But as the season progresses, I will support what i feel about the kid. Last year i had NBA League pass and watched some Golden state games because as I cant stand the Warriors as an organization, their roster is misused and more importantly ripe with prospects, IMO. Azibuke, S. Curry, Beidrins and Anthony Randolph all are players I'd take and replace any four Knicks with outside of Lee, Gallinari and Chandler and Nate, in that order.
-Jason
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Post by kgooglog on Oct 10, 2009 8:03:13 GMT -5
Iron...
I agree with you 100% about Hill versus Jeffries, as well as your astute analysis of body strength. You know way more than I do about strength and conditioning, since my work-out regimen consists of smoking 1 pack of cigs per day, drinking 6-8 large coffees light no sugar, and rounding it off with a 2 liter bottle of coca-cola classic. Still, I am more than 100 pounds lighter than Eddy Curry's "new" weight but I am also 10 inches shorter than him.
Nate has superlative muscular definition, which allows his body to take the beating it did last year. Jeffries' body is akin to the near extinct flightless bird, the Ewe, and I still would take the rookie over Jared in any game situation. I just think that he must bulk up. Talent wise, I am sure that he beats out Jared on every level.
Jason...
I was a bit surprised that I have elevated to the status of G-D on the MB. I would have been more than content to be deemed the "Anti-Curry" in status, but, hey, 500 or more posts, I suppose, means that I have spend 5000 or more minutes here, pontificating about our beloved team. I've heard Bill go nuts over this McGee kid in the past, and sadly I have not seen him that much to make an informed decision about him. All I know is that Washington has improved dramatically this year, which is remarkable considering Ernest Grunfeld is making decisions on the player personnel.
I want to see Hill become this "Amare" player most of the media was saying. I definitely think my lack of seeing him in college and in more than a meaningless preseason game versus a lotto-bound New Jersey team--they are simply awful--has prevented me from seeing Jordan do what he is probably quite capable of doing.
Walsh has said that Hill is a legit 6'11, and even if he is our eventual spot pivot or PF, I'd be happy. I'd be even happier the moment the MSG favorite post-game interviewee, Jared Jeffries, is traded for an expiring pulse/contract. I suppose that my fake girlfriend, Tina Cervasio, has been ordered to seek out Jeffries after the fourth quarter ends and build up his trade value as they discuss all of his "improvements" over the first half of last season. Hey, this tactic worked with Q-Tip, and we got a 7'2 pivot man in Darko for the fattest 6'5 swing man in the history of our franchise. I'd settle for Mike James and a first round pick in 2010 for our "defensive specialist"...
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very nice pice of david. be very proud