Posted by Bonn1997:

Posted by eViL:

Posted by Killa4luv:

I never hear people make these defensive gripes about Steve Nash who is also a very poor defender. Granted, he's phenomenal on the offensive side (where Eddy is just good), but he is very much a one way player. Why the double standard?

It's probably because of their respective positions. Centers are typically expected to get blocks and rebounds.

Exactly. Your center is in the "middle" on defense. He has to gaurd his man and cover up other teammates' mistakes by rotating to help. You can get away with a PG who's poor on defense to some extent but not a center who's poor on defense. It's like asking why people don't kill some 1st basemen for having poor throwing arms but they do criticize 3rd basemen for the same thing. Different positions require different skills. Also, Nash is just not as athletic as a lot of PGs. He doesn't have the lateral speed they do. There's not a lot he can do about that. Eddy's problem in contrast is that he's fat for an NBA player. There's a lot he could do about that, as he showed in his contract year.

Damn. Bonn's coming with the fierce posts. Let 'em know, yo.

Eddy curry was on fat burners which would explain the heart problems and his slim condition back then.

Curry is doing **** now that he has never done on offense. He is a quick learner. Its a shame this guy just started to learn his position. Right now he knows what he can do but he still hasn't crossed over to that other level yet. Shaq said it best describing it as Shogun status.

Marbs may have reached that status this year, and craw is in currys boat where they are realizing what they can do and what they are supposed to be doing.

When they cross over I want them to be knicks. That would be special.

Its pointless arguing with some of the nuts. If he said he is not an All Star, the same people would question his will to compete.

Posted by Bonn1997:

All that said, if Eddy turned a lottery team into a 60 win team, people would cut him a lot of slack for his defense. Likewise, if Nash's teams were 32 win teams, people would focus on his defense a lot more.

Eddy Curry will improve on defense by next year. He will be a complete player by the all star break next year. I think the coaching staff is working with him to improve his game an become a complete player. Are you betting he will never improve?

You are being such a hypocrite! You never gave Houston any grief for playing defense or getting assists. You argued with me for pages that Houston was good enough to not complain about. Now you compare Eddy to Houston and want to trade him? Give some time ok. Wait till the end of next season before you declare him a bust. His defense will improve just like his conditioning, staying out of foul trouble and free throw shooting has improved.

Posted by NJK:

19ppg & 7rpg is ok for him this year; but there has to still be some more improvement to make those stats more meaningful and fearful to Knick opponents playing against the Knicks.

exactly! Thank you! He has shown significant improvement this year so he can show steady progress next year and learn a few things about defense. 19 and 7 is good enough to give him another year.

Posted by babyKnicks:

Posted by Silverfuel:

Posted by Bonn1997:

All that said, if Eddy turned a lottery team into a 60 win team, people would cut him a lot of slack for his defense. Likewise, if Nash's teams were 32 win teams, people would focus on his defense a lot more.

Eddy Curry will improve on defense by next year. He will be a complete player by the all star break next year. I think the coaching staff is working with him to improve his game an become a complete player. Are you betting he will never improve?

You are being such a hypocrite! You never gave Houston any grief for playing defense or getting assists. You argued with me for pages that Houston was good enough to not complain about. Now you compare Eddy to Houston and want to trade him? Give some time ok. Wait till the end of next season before you declare him a bust. His defense will improve just like his conditioning, staying out of foul trouble and free throw shooting has improved.

i was thinking the same exact thing.

I know. Why is it so hard to believe that he will improve on defense next year? After improving his offense this season, give him some effing time to improve his defense!! Pass judgment on him after he is with the Knicks for 3 or 4 years.

Offense takes Repetition. Defense Takes Heart. Like my coach used to tell me if you don't want to play defense your not going to play defense(who likes to play defense anyway?). It seems Curry is content with scoring and could careless about the defensive side.

I guess I just haven't seen improvement in any aspects of his game besides low post scoring and am discouraged than he hasn't improved in those areas in the first six years of his career. I'd feel better if he at least started boxing out consistently now. I really hope he shows up in great shape and proves me wrong next year. That would be WONDERFUL. And I just want to be clear it's nothing personal Silverfuel. I enjoyed meeting you and talking about the Knicks with you.

Posted by Bonn1997:

I guess I just haven't seen improvement in any aspects of his game besides low post scoring and am discouraged than he hasn't improved in those areas in the first six years of his career.

His FT% has improved. He draws more fouls and commits less fouls. He is playing more minutes than the last 6 seasons. He tries to pass out of the double instead of jacking a dumb shot. Thats not enough to back off of him for now? Seriously, Eddy is not the problem with the Knicks this year. He has a long way to go before he turns into a complete player but IMO, he is on his way. He is demanding the ball in the paint. That itself shows he wants to play!

I'd feel better if he at least started boxing out consistently now. I really hope he shows up in great shape and proves me wrong next year. That would be WONDERFUL.

I thought he was a bust early in the season. I honestly thought that Eddy was a big mistake. His offense has me believing though. Think about it. We had a rebounder and a decent defensive player in Kurt Thomas. He added nothing to this team. He wasn't even close to the player Eddy is right now. Frank Isola had a good point on Michael Kay the other day. Eddy Curry draws so many fouls, the other team is over the limit with 7 to 9 mins left in every quarter. Knicks are the highest FT shooting team in the NBA. Thats huge! I expect the other parts of his game to come with time. Eddy will learn to box out. He will learn help defense. If he doesn't, time to trade him for a franchise player or a high pick. That should be after we have given him sometime. I'll give him another year to learn. I think his improving on offense has earned him that.

And I just want to be clear it's nothing personal Silverfuel. I enjoyed meeting you and talking about the Knicks with you.

Yes, same here. I enjoyed it too and I hope you can make it out to more games this or next year.

[Edited by - Silverfuel on 01-28-2007 12:40 PM]

It's actually good to hear Eddy say something like this. It may get him going even stronger now.

Remember how Gilbert was upset when he wasn't selected ??? Look at him now...

Posted by bobs3304:

I hope to Gawd Eddy gets better on defense.


He's perhaps the lazies big man EVER.

Maybe it's not only Curry. I don't think the Knicks have many defensive minded assistant coaches. Mark Aguirre was only known for his offense. Pat Ewing needs to give Curry some tutoring on defense. Plus had anybody realized how Patrick is coming to almost all of the Knick games now? Could he be waiting to replace someone if they fail to meet requirements?