The 2011 New York Knicks: The Rebirth

[bigeastbumrush]

Re: The 2011 New York Knicks: The Rebirth

My thoughts:

*I'm cool with the Iman pick if the Knicks mold him to become their PG of the future.

*That being said...I no longer want Chris Paul or any other max player. I'd rather them use the cap space to round out the roster with a C, SG and good role players (unlike the Miami Heat).

*You wonder how many minutes a Singleton or Faried would have gotten. So this puts alot of (well-deserved) pressure on Melo and Amare to step up their defense.

*Gotta keep Toney Douglas IMO. SG is too thin and he's still a great defender and good 3-point shooter.

*Landry Fields better be putting in some serious work this offseason.

[Pavvy8]

Re: The 2011 New York Knicks: The Rebirth

Paavy, are you working on an Iman Shumpert mix?

good question- im still thinking it over to see if i get enough footage and stuff.....they said that Iman will be presented by knicks today and have a chat so ill see.....

what im more likely to do is wait these last 7 days out when donnie quits and maybe make a farewell mix for our donnie!!!

[ehh]

Re: The 2011 New York Knicks: The Rebirth

My thoughts:

*I'm cool with the Iman pick if the Knicks mold him to become their PG of the future.

I don't think there's any chance he becomes a full time NBA point guard.

*That being said...I no longer want Chris Paul or any other max player. I'd rather them use the cap space to round out the roster with a C, SG and good role players (unlike the Miami Heat).

It's too early to spend a lot of time speculating about next summer. Who knows, the cap may be up near $64-65m giving us quite a bit of space. It may be possible to add nice pieces and CP3. But in principle, I'm with you - elite PG's do not = rings. Would love a Marc Gasol-type big and other decent pieces.

*You wonder how many minutes a Singleton or Faried would have gotten. So this puts alot of (well-deserved) pressure on Melo and Amare to step up their defense.

This is where I'm a little confused because Shumpert clearly wasn't the best available player at the time yet we took him. Hopefully Donnie knows what he's doing. Faried made no sense, even if he turns into a quality player where in the world does he get minutes? The only way he gets a lot of burn is with Amare at the 5 and we all know that's bad news.

Everyone wanted Singleton and I would have preferred him but oh well. Shumpert, if he isn't a bust, gives us someone to match up with Rondo, Rose, Wade, etc. Another ball handler doesn't hurt either. And the fact that Shumpert played for Paul Hewitt gives me some hope, that guy is one of the worst college coaches I've ever seen. He can recruit and most GTech products are at least rotational guys recently.

*Gotta keep Toney Douglas IMO. SG is too thin and he's still a great defender and good 3-point shooter.

For now I'm fine with keeping him. Long term I'm indifferent. I was all for the Flynn trade but looks like that's out of the question with him going to HOU last night.

*Landry Fields better be putting in some serious work this offseason.

Hopefully they're rebuilding his J to get some lift/arch on that darn thing. Guy shoots lasers. I'm confident in his work ethic though.

[bigeastbumrush]

Re: The 2011 New York Knicks: The Rebirth

I don't think there's any chance he becomes a full time NBA point guard.

What makes you say that?

Then that's a wasted pick IMO.

[ehh]

Re: The 2011 New York Knicks: The Rebirth

His skill package, his DNA, whatever you want to call it. He wasn't even GT's point guard last year really, Udofia and Miller were.

I don't think it's a wasted pick at all and I think we're being unrealistic if we thought we'd find our PG of the future with a mid-first round pick in a terrible draft.

If he can be a rotational guy and defend then it's a good pick. If he can bother opposing perimeter stars then it's a good pick. If he can rebound a little then he's a good pick. If he can flourish in transition then it's a good pick.

If he isn't a total bust he'll probably be a better fit for us than Singleton. We'll see.

[ehh]

Re: The 2011 New York Knicks: The Rebirth

Decent breakdown of Iman.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezNtkaz3AV0&feature=player_embedded

As you can see, his jumpshot form isn't bad at all and his footwork/balance is good. Some small tweaking could do wonders (maybe he has too much palm on the ball, etc?).

EDIT: Dunno why I can't embed it.

[ehh]

Re: The 2011 New York Knicks: The Rebirth

According to multiple sources, Walsh took a poll of the Knicks' war room, of all the scouts and basketball staff, and there was a split between Shumpert and Singleton. Walsh then turned to Mike D'Antoni, who said he wanted Shumpert. That's when Walsh declared, "Shumpert is the pick" and the selection was submitted.

Guess Pringles isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

[ehh]

Re: The 2011 New York Knicks: The Rebirth

Marc Berman: One Knick official on Shumpert: "Best workout I'd seen in ten years

Geez, big words. Let the hype train begin.

Walsh's choice came down to two defensive guys -- Florida State forward Chris Singleton and Shumpert. Some in the organization felt Singleton was the best player available, but Walsh chose the latter because of position. The Knicks are thin in the backcourt and Shumpert can also defend shooting guards.

"Internally we talked about that a lot," Walsh said of the choice between Singleton and Shumpert. "Fact is, we're going to have more room at the [point guard] position and 2-guard position than the guys we have at the 3 and 4. I know people say [Singleton] can play [against shooting guards] but it's difficult for guys that size."

[CMH]

Re: The 2011 New York Knicks: The Rebirth

Still not buying it. I hope I'm proven wrong.

I just don't see how you pass on rebounding and defense for just defense. They are acting like they have a plethora of big men that can rebound. If the biggest worry is STAT playing center, well, then, who plays the 5 now?

It's not like keeping Stoudemire at the 4 is magically solving an issue: rebounding.

And who gives a crap about positioning anyway? Where does it say a team has to have a 5? Why not two 4s? The problem last year is the Knicks put 3s and Jeffries at the 5 spot. A guy like Faried could play the 5. So we have a matchup problem against Howard. Big whoop. That's 4 games all season.

And Walsh turns to D'Antoni to ask him who he wants? This is a mess of a franchise.

[bigeastbumrush]

Re: The 2011 New York Knicks: The Rebirth

Decent breakdown of Iman.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezNtkaz3AV0&feature=player_embedded

As you can see, his jumpshot form isn't bad at all and his footwork/balance is good. Some small tweaking could do wonders (maybe he has too much palm on the ball, etc?).

EDIT: Dunno why I can't embed it.

Watching that...I don't get why you say he doesn't have the acumen to be a full time PG...?

I'm sure if you showed a vid from Rondo's last year at UK, he didn't hit a jumper. Yes, better assist man but geez...he looks very solid to me.

I believe Donnie when he said he doesn't want another max contract and he drafted this kid for the long-term at PG.

Yeah...he's a goner and a bunch of idiots will be calling the shots but why go after a Chris Paul when there are bigger glaring holes in this team?

[ehh]

Re: The 2011 New York Knicks: The Rebirth

Still not buying it. I hope I'm proven wrong.

I just don't see how you pass on rebounding and defense for just defense. They are acting like they have a plethora of big men that can rebound. If the biggest worry is STAT playing center, well, then, who plays the 5 now?

It's not like keeping Stoudemire at the 4 is magically solving an issue: rebounding.

And who gives a crap about positioning anyway? Where does it say a team has to have a 5? Why not two 4s? The problem last year is the Knicks put 3s and Jeffries at the 5 spot. A guy like Faried could play the 5. So we have a matchup problem against Howard. Big whoop. That's 4 games all season.

And Walsh turns to D'Antoni to ask him who he wants? This is a mess of a franchise.

Because now you look to free agency to find a center. Amare at 6'10 and Faried at 6'7 is a tiny front court. Faried is a guy you put alongside a big frontline, not an undersized (or non-existent in our case) one.

Based on the Berman article the Knicks weren't even considering Faried, they crossed him off their list in Chicago.

[ehh]

Re: The 2011 New York Knicks: The Rebirth

Watching that...I don't get why you say he doesn't have the acumen to be a full time PG...?

I'm sure if you showed a vid from Rondo's last year at UK, he didn't hit a jumper. Yes, better assist man but geez...he looks very solid to me.

It's just a feeling a I have, I can't really describe it much more than I already did. Who knows, I could certainly be wrong.

[CMH]

Re: The 2011 New York Knicks: The Rebirth

Because now you look to free agency to find a center. Amare at 6'10 and Faried at 6'7 is a tiny front court. Faried is a guy you put alongside a big frontline, not an undersized (or non-existent in our case) one.

Based on the Berman article the Knicks weren't even considering Faried, they crossed him off their list in Chicago.

So they could have Faried and Stoudemire and the big guy they'll find in Free Agency.

Anthony is a point-forward anyway. So does it hurt to have free agent big man - Stoudemire - Faried/Singleton - Anthony - crappy point guard in your starting lineup?

I'd take that lineup over what they have now. At least I know that lineup will get rebounds, block shots, play defense and score a ton of points.

It's OK. If the Knicks crossed Faried off their list back in Chicago then they truly have no clue.

Back to another season of getting out-rebounded and having no forces in the paint.

[ehh]

Re: The 2011 New York Knicks: The Rebirth

You're certainly not wrong by any means and the Knicks and every other basketball fan on the planet knows the Knicks need size and rebounding. Walsh even said it last night.

But they felt that once the Sixers took the USC kid that no other big was worth it in the draft. Faried would help of course but Walsh felt Shumpert was worth the risk.

A year from now when we're hopefully contenders, Faried would probably be a nice piece off the bench but Walsh feels Shumpert has a chance to be a our long-term PG solution (which I already said I don't think will happen).

As BEBR said, the Knicks probably aren't going to pursue another max contract player. They're going to try to add a lot of size next summer. We all know 2012-13 is going to be our first "real" year as a complete team, we all know 2011-12 isn't going to be anything special.

[CMH]

Re: The 2011 New York Knicks: The Rebirth

You're certainly not wrong by any means and the Knicks and every other basketball fan on the planet knows the Knicks need size and rebounding. Walsh even said it last night.

But they felt that once the Sixers took the USC kid that no other big was worth it in the draft. Faried would help of course but Walsh felt Shumpert was worth the risk.

A year from now when we're hopefully contenders, Faried would probably be a nice piece off the bench but Walsh feels Shumpert has a chance to be a our long-term PG solution (which I already said I don't think will happen).

As BEBR said, the Knicks probably aren't going to pursue another max contract player. They're going to try to add a lot of size next summer. We all know 2012-13 is going to be our first "real" year as a complete team, we all know 2011-12 isn't going to be anything special.

I agree that I don't see Shumpert as a future PG for this team. But, I will repeat that I don't mean to be hard on the guy. I just felt they had bigger needs.

If their strategy is to have Shumpert hopefully develop into a nice point (and hopefully he does) and add the size through signings, then I can live with that.

The 2nd round pick (or trade pickup) might be a nod in that direction. I honestly just don't understand what the Knicks are trying to do. I don't expect them to tell the world, but it seems as if they don't even know what they really want to do.