Let's imagine that Richardson's back is healthy enough to start.

Who are the next in line?

Balkman - the return of the Tasmanian Devil

Nichols - agile enough to defend the perimeter, fluid and a nice stroke

Chandler - in two years will be a handfull

somebody is headed to the developmental league

Chandler and Nichols are auditioning for trade bait. IT plans to keep them on the roster but will include them in a trade in the right deal comes up. I doubt either will play more than spot minutes this year, much like Collins last year until everyone got hurt. The starter is clearly Q. He plays decent defense and can shoot from the outside, which gives him slightly more value than Balkman. The tough question will be who does IT play more. I would imagine that Q will not get more than 30 minutes a game at SF/SG in order to protect his back. Thus, there will likely be about 20-25 minutes available for a SF/PF. Basically, either Jeffries is going to play for 20+ minute or Balkman is going to get those minutes. I don't think it would be effective to give each like 12 minutes. My choice would clearly be Balkman. It is doubtful Jeffries has made any substantial improvement in his jumper and Balkman is just as good of a defensive player, if not better. Balkman is also a better rebounder and shot blocker. Balkman deserves at least 20 minutes a game and IT would be a fool not to give them to him.

i would keep a 3 guard rotation of marbury/q/jamal and a 3 big man rotation of zach/eddy/lee.

starting lineup (if q is healthy): marbury, quentin, jeffries, zach and eddy
bench: jamal, balkman, lee, malik/jerome/morris

play a 9 man rotation and try to make the playoffs. nate, mardy, dickau, jones get no more than 10 mins total between them. chandler, nichols, and whomever else remains on the roster is glued to the bench or in d-league.

knicks need to make the playoffs.

dj - Quentin at two guard?

curious

but hold up a second. Let's focus. The problemmatic position for the Knicks is skill forward. The cat who checks Paul Pierce.

can Jeffries/Q/Balkman hold it down?

Posted by misterearl:

VDesai - Chandler and Nichols are getting noticed and that ain't a bad thing, Summer League or no Summer League.

Between the two sets of skills, which player translates best for you to the three spot?

I think Chandler looks like a prototypical 3 man. Does a little of everything on the floor...and a lot more smooth than what he was at DePaul.

I don't think Q has ever had a position. He was a 6'5" 4 man that happened to have a decent outside shot (but not much of a 2 pt'er). I like that the guy rebounds and plays harder than the rest of the team even when he's hurt, but I've never been a big fan of his game (lots of chucks and no mid range ability).

starting crawford makes zero sense, but he will start because isiah needs to put the three worst defenders on the court at once......

If we are going to pound the 4/5 why not pound the two guard position as well with Q who is a little lighter this season, crawford should not play more than balkman, not if you want to win, jamal comes in plays 25 minutes a night max if i am coaching if he is off he sits, and then i insert him back in the forth to close which is his real value.......

Isiah should have lee and balkman playing until they can't breath if he is going to make this eddy zach tandem work it's the only way to ensure we don't get blown out and are in every game

I read that, too. Q said he was going to come to camp a little lighter this season, though he's not there yet.

Lee's defense isn't great but having his defensive rebounding on the floor ensures that we deny the other team a second opportunity when we do get a stop, and his offensive rebounding gets us more possessions.

So he isn't going to shine as a defender, but as a team we probably do as well with him on the floor as we would if we had good defender at the 4. No shot-blocking, though.

Again, Lee isn't going to get more than 25 minutes per. Only good news there is that Randolph is no slouch in the rebounding department either.

Posted by misterearl:

what are your first impressions of Chandler and Nichols?

Any impressions I formed were done so briefly, as my lady is a fan of bicycle racing and I had to make a 6:15 court time the next morning.

I will say this much...Chandler is no Ariza. He has game on offense, as well as putting in the effort on D. I liked the way Nichols moved without the ball, played off of picks and sunk his jumpers.

Beyond that, I can only echo sentiments already expressed...its summer league and neither of these guys will likely see much playing time, if any at all.

Posted by misterearl:

dj - Quentin at two guard?

curious

but hold up a second. Let's focus. The problemmatic position for the Knicks is skill forward. The cat who checks Paul Pierce.

can Jeffries/Q/Balkman hold it down?

the sf spot is a tough one b/c we really need a 2-way player at that position.

i would like both q and either jj/balkman out there in the starting lineup b/c it at least gives us 2 perimeter players (3 if marbury sucks it up and isn't hurt) that can somewhat play perimeter defense. considering we have EZPass hanging out in the back, any perimeter defense help we can get, we should take it.

i start q at the 2. and, it's a tough choice, but jj at the 3. he's been around the league longer and can play better man up defense than balkman (for now). balkman tho provides so much ruckus that maybe that's what we need but jj, right now, is a little more solid. plus, balkman in that 2nd unit would fit right in.