Posted by BRIGGS:

Posted by kam77:

Blair has no cartilege left. He has maybe 3-4 years of career in front of him.

That's good because he has cahones the size of melons. His body has grown in and is used to what it is. Your body adapts.

Posted by BRIGGS:

Posted by Paladin55:

Posted by BRIGGS:

Posted by nixluva:

Blair? I don't think it would make any sense at all to add him to this team when we needed two things in h
the draft a PG and a big that can help defend and run the floor. Now when Bynum was a raw draft pick no one had a problem with taking a shot and would allow him time to develop, but with Hill he's not being given a chance to develop. He's only been playing organized ball 5 yrs. He made steady and fast progress so far in his college career but still has a lot to learn. My belief is he'll be the better player once he fully develops.

Hill is bigger, faster, more athletic and gives us a big that can block shots. I'll take my chance with Hill.

If game 1 can tell us anything--the players are in two separate worlds right now. Only 1 game but our guy looked like a poor mans Mikey Moore and Blair looked like a version of Moses Malone.

That, my friend, is the problem- 1 game in the pre-season does not really tell us anything.

At some point you must come to understand that a basketball career (or one in any sport) is a marathon and not a sprint.

Do you evaluate your stock picks based on a day's result, or their performance over an extended period of time? Just wondering.

At some point you must come to understand that a basketball career (or one in any sport) is a marathon and not a sprint.

Well Jeez I did pick Amare Stoudemire Bynum and Randolph knowing fully they would need developmental time but they were all guys who should signs right away. So your theory holds no water.

We drafted an upperclassmen from AZ--he should NOT be that raw--three years at AZ you should not be lost on the court. Lets pit the hammer down now--Jordan Hill pick 8 show me something at 6-11 245--I don't want to see another nose picking performance--please shut me up.

Briggs, you sure have a way of spotting players but in your evaluation of what we got you lower your normally high standards of judgement and make incomplete and passing statements ( I do feel our collective disgust with how this organization has performed, but lets give this management a chance and see what happens).

Perspective:
Hill has 5 years of basketball experience. Take that into context..., he played two years in high school and AZ took a chance on him cause they saw something (AZ, a top program mind you). Three years later he is thought to be a top 5 pick but due to coming late to the game, he is raw in many ways (great shot, good rebounder and good defender but still raw - Nice problem to have.) and you leave all that out. I see your argument with Blair, but does he fit a running system with his style of play? No he doesn't and on top of that he has potential knee issues. I mean a lot of other teams passed on him too.

Douglas has looked very good so far, hopefully his shot starts falling like in college (same with Stephen Curry so far). Runner up ACC player of the year and defensive player of the year, you don't see that combo very often at all. The Only reason he slid is because scouts saw him as a short SG (as they didn't know of he could run a team). Thus far, ok it's early he is very capable of running a team and defending, dare I say, Great.

I'm not happy with a lot of what this organization has done. (Not getting that extra pick last year for Jordon for starters), but heck, if many of us gave Isiah a chance, we should give someone who has a proven track record a chance as well.

Posted by fishmike:

Posted by BRIGGS:
At some point you must come to understand that a basketball career (or one in any sport) is a marathon and not a sprint.

if thats the case why take the guy with the bad knees?

I saw Blair totally abuse your guy Thabeet. I know Blair can play, but for me its simple. Long arms or not give me a list of productive power forwards in the NBA who are 6'6 over the last 20 years... Dude measured 6'5 out of shoes.

It probably goes something like this:
Charles Barkley
Clarence Weatherspoon
... fill in the blank

Hill is going to need some time to adjust to the NBA game but saying he's a bust or a wasted pick just doesnt make any sense.

I think that's it right there. Blair was a very good college player, but aside from the fact his knees are hanging together by twist-ties, he's still a 6'6 PF. Add in the fact that 28 teams passed on him and the fact that his style of player doesn't come close to fitting what we do, then I don't see any good reason why we should have drafted him.

Blair ended up in the best possible place for his own career in playing next to Tim Duncan, so let's see what happens.

Posted by JohnWallace44:

I would love to hear the Knicks scouts explain the difference between Hill and Wilcox, who could have been brought back on a one year deal.

Posted by sebstar:

Posted by JohnWallace44:

I would love to hear the Knicks scouts explain the difference between Hill and Wilcox, who could have been brought back on a one year deal.

Damn. John Wallace always brings heat. Real talk.

Posted by Bippity10:

Gallinari was a bust and a dumb pick because he had a "pre-existing" back injury that the team "knew about" but ignored. Dumb organization that ignored the "obvious" and took a chance on our future. Oh yea, but I feel that same dumb organization that drafted Gallinari with the "pre-existing" back condition should have drafted Blair with the pre-existing knee injury.

No consistency.

Posted by PresIke:

No disrespect, but I don't really see where the heat is...

Wilcox was not a good fit here (quite obviously, as there was ZERO word about us re-signing him) and has been in the league for years.

Hill is a raw rookie with potential for growth.

How is that a consistent comparison?

Posted by BRIGGS:

2 things

1. If Dejuan Blair was picked 30th by the Knicks and put up 16-19 in his first game in 22 minutes--people would be going wild and he would be on the front page of the papers. But it seems like we NEVER get that player--someone else does. Like we get Roberson GS gets Morrow. As much as we can say he's not an MDA player[and what is that?] he's a guy who represents what we dont have leadership toughness he's intimidating and most important there is no doubt about--he will produce for you. Thats when the picks 29-30-31 become attractive--when a guy who couldve gone as high as ten falls to 30.


2. Jordan Hill looked SCARY bad. I didnt want to say it--but there it is. I'm sorry but most guys dont even play 3 years at a high D-1 school like AZ and I DO NOT buy the raw and need to understand the speed of the game. I watched a guy who looked like he didnt know what he was doing--it's not rocket science--got beat down court had absolute awful fundamentals on his shot and looked like a pure 4-5 tweener with a low basketball IQ. Lets put the pressure where it should be---Jordan Hill is a guy who should play better next game without excuse. You get picked 8th and play like that even in game 1--you deserve criticism. Atleast he can give more effort.

Posted by nixluva:

When u don't know what to do and where to be it can make you hesitant and look like you're not giving effort. Hill was showing energy and explosion but it wasn't effective. In time he'll learn how to use his talents in this system. You're making a mistake in bashing him so early. I'll explain why. In college he made great improvement from freshman yr to junior. That guy was a raw a sushi when he started. Yet he put in work and was highly rated for good reason.

The knicks had a good look at Hill and liked his potential. Key word is potential!!! Meaning he hasn't peaked yet. My bet is that Blair isn't going to get much better than what he is. Hill has a lot more room for growth and a higher upside IMO.

Posted by BRIGGS:
2. Jordan Hill looked SCARY bad. I didnt want to say it--but there it is. I'm sorry but most guys dont even play 3 years at a high D-1 school like AZ and I DO NOT buy the raw and need to understand the speed of the game. I watched a guy who looked like he didnt know what he was doing--it's not rocket science--got beat down court had absolute awful fundamentals on his shot and looked like a pure 4-5 tweener with a low basketball IQ. Lets put the pressure where it should be---Jordan Hill is a guy who should play better next game without excuse. You get picked 8th and play like that even in game 1--you deserve criticism. Atleast he can give more effort.