BRIGGS wrote:Its easy to "lock in" the roster(starters) but in might not be in their best interests. I think we should experiment the next couple of weeks--maybe one game with KP as sixth man--maybe another using someone other than Lee as starting SG. Maybe play Carmelo at starting 4. We need to keep an open mind and see what fits best. Also Rose needs to get his arse back here.

nixluva wrote:I actually think it's still early to be worried about the roster makeup. Tho i'm sorry about Randle getting hurt cuz he was really a Godsend for this team. Hopefully he's not out long. We haven't seen this team at full strength and in midseason form yet. Noah is trying to shake the rust off. Rose will have a similar adjustment period.

The good thing is that the end of rotation guys look like they will be better than Analysts assumed. Willy is definitely better than they assumed.

Rose
Lee
Melo
KP
Noah

BJ
LT
Willy/KOQ
Sasha/Holiday

It seems to me that there are enough solid payers for a 9/10 man main rotation. I feel pretty good about this roster. Not every team is of the quality of Boston, so you have to keep that in perspective when comparing. It looks like the Knicks should be a very competitive team once they come together a bit more.

Yes we have young players that we think can ball but when we match up against other team young players we sometimes seem to show up short. We still can't defend the 3 pointer.

BRIGGS wrote:From what I have seen so far

C J Noah (starts but only plays 18-22 minutes)

PF Carmelo Anthony

F Mindaugas Kuzminskas

G Sasha Vucevic

G Derrick Rose

C Willy G

F KP (will get 30+ minutes at 5-4-3)

F Lance Thomas

F Courtney Lee

G Branden Jennings

Im still going to get KP those 30 minutes--I just dont like the 3 big from a combination of perspectives on both ends. I like the way Kuz can go in and out and Melo Kuz and Sasha can rally spread the floor with Rose as the driver. IF Noah does NOT perform at C I can move KP into the starting 5 spot. Willy has all but earned 24 minutes from the 5. Lee has started slow and may be more valuable off the bench

Kind of hard to judge KP next to Noah in one game where KP had a pulled groin and it was Noah's first game. Lee has been off to a slow start, but it is preseason. You left your starting lineup with no significant defense after Noah.

I actually get it if you want to put KP with the second unit to let them grow together.

Noah/Melo/Thomas/Lee/Rose

Hernangomez/KP/Cheese/Baker/Jennings

Plumlord/KOQ/NDour/Holiday/Randle

Amundson/Sweetney/Ingleis/Tokoto/Vujacic

BRIGGS wrote:

EwingsGlass wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:From what I have seen so far

C J Noah (starts but only plays 18-22 minutes)

PF Carmelo Anthony

F Mindaugas Kuzminskas

G Sasha Vucevic

G Derrick Rose

C Willy G

F KP (will get 30+ minutes at 5-4-3)

F Lance Thomas

F Courtney Lee

G Branden Jennings

Im still going to get KP those 30 minutes--I just dont like the 3 big from a combination of perspectives on both ends. I like the way Kuz can go in and out and Melo Kuz and Sasha can rally spread the floor with Rose as the driver. IF Noah does NOT perform at C I can move KP into the starting 5 spot. Willy has all but earned 24 minutes from the 5. Lee has started slow and may be more valuable off the bench

Kind of hard to judge KP next to Noah in one game where KP had a pulled groin and it was Noah's first game. Lee has been off to a slow start, but it is preseason. You left your starting lineup with no significant defense after Noah.

I actually get it if you want to put KP with the second unit to let them grow together.

Noah/Melo/Thomas/Lee/Rose

Hernangomez/KP/Cheese/Baker/Jennings

Plumlord/KOQ/NDour/Holiday/Randle

Amundson/Sweetney/Ingleis/Tokoto/Vujacic

We lack some defense all over the place but I would be hoping that the size 6-11 6- 6-9 6-7 would bother teams and were more mobile with Melo at 4. This takes nothing away from KP I still think hes the best player and I would still get him 30 minutes--but I dont like the flow. Really we got wasted by Washington Boston and Rockets starters

I think if you switch Thomas and Lee into that lineup, it looks a little more clean on defense.

I just want to see what a front court of Billy Kris and Kuz looks like.

nixluva wrote:I actually think it's still early to be worried about the roster makeup. Tho i'm sorry about Randle getting hurt cuz he was really a Godsend for this team. Hopefully he's not out long. We haven't seen this team at full strength and in midseason form yet. Noah is trying to shake the rust off. Rose will have a similar adjustment period.

The good thing is that the end of rotation guys look like they will be better than Analysts assumed. Willy is definitely better than they assumed.

Rose
Lee
Melo
KP
Noah

BJ
LT
Willy/KOQ
Sasha/Holiday

It seems to me that there are enough solid payers for a 9/10 man main rotation. I feel pretty good about this roster. Not every team is of the quality of Boston, so you have to keep that in perspective when comparing. It looks like the Knicks should be a very competitive team once they come together a bit more.

I'm kind of in the same boat. IMO they have looked more fluid on offense, both as a team and the new guys. The issues are our defense. I'm hoping that Noah will help with that in multiple ways -- on the court presence and demanding accountability as a teammate. However I think there's more to it than that and unfortunately i don't have a clue whether it's player breakdowns, scheme or what. Houston and Boston are not as good as we made them look

HofstraBBall wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:Its easy to "lock in" the roster(starters) but in might not be in their best interests. I think we should experiment the next couple of weeks--maybe one game with KP as sixth man--maybe another using someone other than Lee as starting SG. Maybe play Carmelo at starting 4. We need to keep an open mind and see what fits best. Also Rose needs to get his arse back here.

Shift Roster? But the season has not started and Hornacek is doing a good job trying multiple rotations to see who fits well together, There is zero chance that KP will be a sixth man. He is able to spread the floor out so well for Rose and Melo to go to work. He is also a great compliment to Noah on defense. As far as Lee not starting? He looks like our best, on ball perimeter defender. Can hit open shots and has shown to drive and penetrate to basket. Just do not think anyone else on the squad can come close to replacing those two players.

I understand where you are coming from--I just have to wonder about "fit". We have been down double digits in 3 of 4 games and there were a lot of defensive similarities to last year. I actually think Sasha is a very decent defender and is just more explosive than Lee. There is NO DOUBT we need upgrades at the SG position and possible we may need a whole new roster of guards. We "may" have some solutions but we wont know for a period of time. I like our young big men but we will also need augmentation with athleticism at the 5 and 3 down the line.