NYKBocker wrote:Coach PringlesIt's time to play the youngins. You want to rebuild? Then lets rebuild full tilt.
Starting Five
C-Darko
PF-DLee
SF-Gallo
SG-The Mayor
PG-TD
Bench-Hill, Landry, Al, Nate
Let everbody else rot in hell.
I'm basically with ya here. Ain't gonna happen (MDA's not gonna just bail on Duhon only 7 games in esp. after what he put him through last year, Hughes has come on of late so it'll be tough to sit him now, he loves Jeffries, don't ask me why, etc..) but it makes sense to me. To me having any kind of success the rest of this year with this group boils down to D'Antoni recognizing each player's individual strengths and playing to those strengths. If he shows he's willing to do that and willing to play his most effective players we still have a shot at being halfway competitive most nights. But if he wants to continue going the unortodox route where it's his way or the highway with guys playing out of position all over, refusing to play some guys, refusing to adapt on the fly in games where stuff isn't working, etc.., it's gonna be a long year. A lot of this is on D'Antoni, how adapatable he can be and how much he can get out of what he has to work with. Coaches not only win with good players, the good ones know how to squeeze the lemon and get the most out of their situation even on sub-par teams like ours. Here's how I look at this mess right now:
FRONTCOURT
I like the idea of starting Darko and letting Lee play the 4. Lee is what he is man - he's not a great defender at all, not even good really, but he's a very good rebounder/passer and even his offense has come a long way, to the point where I actually don't mind him taking jumpers in the 15-18' range. He's worked on that and everytime he lets one of those go, I feel like it's gonna drop. And they're good shots too for the most part. They come in the flow - he never really forces them if you watch closely. I'm fine with Lee I just wanna see the dude play his normal position for once...Harrington I reinsert back in the starting lineup and leave him there. He plays like a bonehead at times, but the guy's the most talented player on this team imo. And he cares. He talked all about being the leader of this team during the pre-season and now Mike basically pulled the rug right out from under him by sending him to the bench. Hard to be the leader now when the coach basically created the perception that you're not good enough to start on a crumby team like this one. I think Mike's taken the wind outta this guy's sail a little bit now. Al's playin' hard though - guy even has a 40 pt. game under his belt already this season. Not his fault why we're losing if you ask me. I agree with the whole 'it's not who starts but who finishes' thing but with this guy on this team being the best player and being the only one who stepped up and talked about assuming a leadership role, I think he belongs in the starting lineup....As for Darko, when he's in there, I want him as close to the basket as possible on both ends of the floor. Offensively, I realize he has nice passing skills but someone tell me why Mike wants him 25' from the basket hitting cutters with passes that far away? Sure he can do it but why not anchor him down low and let him hit guys slashing to the bucket from there? At least then you've got a 7'1" guy in position for rebounds and putbacks, no? Still don't get it. Same thing with Hill - no way Hill should ever be roaming around 20' from the basket. The guy's an interior scorer/rebounder with some decent shot-blocking potential first and foremost. Mike needs to identify those skills as strengths that can help his team be competitive. Step one for Hill on this team - realize what he can do and can't do. I mean they should've had a grasp on that even before the draft. Utilize those skills for Christ's Sake. True he actually has a pretty jumper out to about 15-18', but that's not his bread & butter. And you sure as hell don't want him roaming around far from the basket where now all of a sudden he's completely out of his element and more apt to make mistakes. You get nothing out of playing Jordan Hill 25' from the rim. Nothing. So why do it? In the Milwaukee game at least, it looked like he stayed home down low most of the time and you know what? He was effective. He scored, he rebounded and he blocked a shot or two. That's where he belongs. Let's see if Mike realizes it and leaves him there. One thing's for sure - both Darko & Hill need to be playing ahead of Jeffries. JJ just doesn't do it for me - he's a waste. Even when he pulls a 3 ball or two out of his ass, he's still a waste. Unlike Jeffries, Hill and Darko, if utilized properly, have skills that can help this team. For the good of the team, I would scale back Jeffries' playing time altogether and then give that time to Darko & Hill. Jeffries just doesn't do enough to warrant that kind of playing time. Every NBA GM is well aware of what Jared Jeffries can do by now - no need for the Knicks to showcase him or even shop him -- if some team's in need of a big man, they'll be the one contacting Donnie. Curry's a mess - don't even care that he might be back soon. I just can't wait until he comes off the books after next year. Zero chance of ever trading this bumb. Less than zero..If he shows he's ready and the weight's down close to 300 lbs. I guess give him a look. Can't hurt. With all the players that may bolt after the season, having Jeffries and Curry still around next may not be the worst thing in the world I suppose. Don't get me wrong, they both stink & if any team ever came calling I'd gift wrap both & put the bows on their heads myself, but at the very least we'll have two vets to help round out the roster for next year. Nothing to really get excited about at all, but you can look at it that way I guess...I like this guy Landry (I'd love to give this guy a long look to see how good he can be - imagine if this guy's as good if not better than Wilson Chandler?), I just don't see how you get him any PT. He was a nice little find, but with that last spot, I would've looked to find the best pure shooter on the cheap I could've got my hands on. AD Vassallo was that guy for me - 6'6" SG, tremendous shooting stroke, very smooth with a decent enough handle. This guy had a shot to be another Anthony Morrow type. Maybe a slightly less athletic Matt Barnes only with a much better shooting stroke..I would've taken a chance on him. Instead they brought in another SF. Vassallo supposedly signed a 1-yr. deal to go play in France - you better believe I'll be interested in him next year. This guy will be playing in the NBA eventually..I'm happy for Landy though - Landry talked about how making the team now gives him a chance to take care of his family. That's a nice story and I'm glad he made the team..
BACKCOURT
Outside of making sure there's a commitment to getting TD some consistent time, there's not much we can really tinker with here. Overall, it's a poor backcourt and we're just gonna have to wait it out where hopefully through free agency, the draft, and possibly a trade or two, we can find some long-term upgrades... Like I said earlier, it ain't gonna happen, but if Duhon continues to play this poorly, I agree with most of you guys, I'd sit him. He's just not doing enough out there. He can hit an uncontested 3 and he can work a pick and roll but that's really about it. Coming outta Duke he was overhyped as a defender. Takes much more than a bunch of guys banging their hands on the floor in coach K's system to be a good defender as Duhon's proved in the NBA. In addition, he doesn't push the ball to get easy offense and he doesn't take the ball inside at all. Not a fan. And he's regressed badly this year so far for some reason compared to last season. TD needs to be getting some time. I agree with what someone said above, you wanna start Duhon fine, but the min. it starts to get away from him, I want this kid in the game. Hughes I'm OK with - he's been fine. I actually give him credit for staying ready. Nate is what he is - he's gonna come back like a bolt of lightning and try to kickstart us all by himself. I just don't think we'll be moving forward with Nate after the year. Hopefully he can play under control somewhat and have an impact.
TRADE POSSIBILITIES
You're not looking to hand over a lottery pick to Utah, I understand that, but winning really isn't everything this year. What's the best that can happen here - 40 wins and a playoff berth where we get bounced in a few games by a far superior team?? Right now everyone on this team is available in a trade. First, I'd look to target some backcourt help - basically any young guard out there that can help this team moving forward in a rebuilding effort. Like it or not, this team is basically in full rebuilding mode right now anyway. We're gonna be looking at a totally different team next year. On the trading front, outside of trying to acquire as many additional draft picks as possible (I'd love to have 3 picks in next year's draft - don't even care if they're that high - we're gonna need to fill out an entire roster and I think next summer's draft, like this past one, is gonna be pretty deep), trying to secure a young SG with some size and potential is important for this team. I think that'll go a long way for D'Antoni. He needs a lot of things including a PG and they should never stop looking for one but worst case scenario, I think we could get a decent PG late in next year's draft. Right now though, there are plenty of young shooters out there that could help this team - explore options to possibly get one. Anthony Morrow, one of NJ's SGs (Lee, Douglas-Roberts, Williams), Nick Young, Mike Miller (more of a vet but a guy that could help us this year at least - wouldn't mind getting Miller along with a draft pick possibly or one of Washington's young players), JJ Redick, Wayne Ellington (in a bigger Rubio package possibly), etc.. Many of these teams have a surplus of SG talent. Having guys that can actually shoot the deep ball is paramount for us with the way coach wants to play. In addition, continue to explore other opportunities at other positions as well. I still like the idea of trying to get Koufos from Utah for example. Or maybe they look into doing something like dealing David Lee to Orlando eventually for a package built around Ryan Anderson, Reddick, Adonal Foyal's contract & cash. I couldn't see Lee approving a deal to go many places (and he can't be traded until Dec. 25th anyway after signing that 1 yr. deal to return), but Orlando could be one place that works for him though..Briggs was talking Rudy Gay the other day - maybe you look into making a deal with Memphis to get Gay and maybe Iverson eventually (AI signed as a FA so like David Lee, I don't think he can be traded right now) or for some of their other young talent like Marcus Williams, Sam Young.. I'm in favor of any trade where we'd be bringing back young cost-effective talent that can help us now and years from now. Someone just wrote on here recently - "we're in rebuilding mode, why not go full tilt"? I agree. Why not? They should be trying to aquire every young player and draft pick they can get their hands on right now..
