that's a big test for the knicks tomorrow. it'll be the third game in three nights for philly, but none of their guys played too much more than 24-30 minutes tonight in a blow out against sacto.

nyshakespeare wrote:Philly is one of the few teams that remained mostly unchanged from last year.
You have to think that gives them an advantage in a year without training camp
& 2 preseason games. Add to that Collins streamlining the offense to plays that
were the most effective last year & you have a team running on all cylinders.

I agree that they have an advantage on many teams that are still trying to get it together.

Knick just need to worry about themselves. Focus on the defense they've been learning and talk to each other. If they do this they'll win. Philly is a solid team, but I wouldn't go overboard just yet with them. Very few teams are in full synch with chemistry and the ones that are have started off strong.

The Knicks are a little run down right now, but this should be a good test of how their Defense is coming along. One good thing is that the Knicks have already been down in games this year so I don't expect any panic from them.

Unfortunately for the posters that say we need to rebuild our bench, our 3 superstar salaries make that an extremely difficult task. Finding high quality players willing to accept the league's minimum is tough. The Knicks best shot appears to be feeding off the new Amnesty provision. It gives us a chance to find talented players, who have already been paid most of their salaries by the team's dumping them. Find one that you are confident you can motivate long term, and maybe there's a chance for a modestly better bench in the future. The key to that tactic working next year, is that the Knicks must end this season looking like they have a chance to seriously compete for the championship the following year.

rvwink wrote:The corollary to "best bench" is that the team likely doesn't have a lot of expensive stars. For example, while the 76er have 7 players earning over $4 Million, the Knicks have only their 3 superstars. (Our next two highest paid players are $1.675 million to Renaldo Balkman, and $1.563 million to Shump.)

Unfortunately for the posters that say we need to rebuild our bench, our 3 superstar salaries make that an extremely difficult task. Finding high quality players willing to accept the league's minimum is tough. The Knicks best shot appears to be feeding off the new Amnesty provision. It gives us a chance to find talented players, who have already been paid most of their salaries by the team's dumping them. Find one that you are confident you can motivate long term, and maybe there's a chance for a modestly better bench in the future. The key to that tactic working next year, is that the Knicks must end this season looking like they have a chance to seriously compete for the championship the following year.

Knicks will be OK, more than anything we need another good draft.

fishmike wrote:

rvwink wrote:The corollary to "best bench" is that the team likely doesn't have a lot of expensive stars. For example, while the 76er have 7 players earning over $4 Million, the Knicks have only their 3 superstars. (Our next two highest paid players are $1.675 million to Renaldo Balkman, and $1.563 million to Shump.)

Unfortunately for the posters that say we need to rebuild our bench, our 3 superstar salaries make that an extremely difficult task. Finding high quality players willing to accept the league's minimum is tough. The Knicks best shot appears to be feeding off the new Amnesty provision. It gives us a chance to find talented players, who have already been paid most of their salaries by the team's dumping them. Find one that you are confident you can motivate long term, and maybe there's a chance for a modestly better bench in the future. The key to that tactic working next year, is that the Knicks must end this season looking like they have a chance to seriously compete for the championship the following year.

I would say we are off to a good start. Jerome Jordan definatly is a way away but has nice potential. Worst case is a Steven Hunter type with better scoring skills. Harrelson looks like a really good bench player. I can see Shump being the starting 2 for a long time, especially if Davis sticks here (might need the full MLE to resign him next year)

Knicks will be OK, more than anything we need another good draft.

I think of the next three drafts Knicks only have a first round pick in 2013. That's a problem. Especially since we can't buy first rounders as easily anymore. For instance, we can't buy one this year because we used all of our alloted $3M to include in trades in the Turiaf deal.

rvwink wrote:The corollary to "best bench" is that the team likely doesn't have a lot of expensive stars. For example, while the 76er have 7 players earning over $4 Million, the Knicks have only their 3 superstars. (Our next two highest paid players are $1.675 million to Renaldo Balkman, and $1.563 million to Shump.)

Unfortunately for the posters that say we need to rebuild our bench, our 3 superstar salaries make that an extremely difficult task. Finding high quality players willing to accept the league's minimum is tough. The Knicks best shot appears to be feeding off the new Amnesty provision. It gives us a chance to find talented players, who have already been paid most of their salaries by the team's dumping them. Find one that you are confident you can motivate long term, and maybe there's a chance for a modestly better bench in the future. The key to that tactic working next year, is that the Knicks must end this season looking like they have a chance to seriously compete for the championship the following year.

Actually Philly does essentially have 2 max players in Brand and Igudola. Nevertheless--I dont think Philly has what you would call a power 5 in the starting unit. However in a shortened season where injuries and the bench come into play--Philly seems to be in good shape. I will be very interested tonight as Philly plays the back to back at NY.

DurzoBlint wrote:easiest schedule so far---Philly.

martin wrote:only caught second half... Philly has best bench cause they start Tony Battie and Jodie Meeks who would usually come off bench?

They were missing Spencer Hawes who normally starts at center for them. Don't think they were missing anyone else.

To be fair, Thaddeus Young would start for many teams in the league. Louis Williams and Evan Turner might start for a few, too.