Panos wrote:Ok, I guess I'll be the dissenting voice.
IMO, Shumpert replaces Lin in the starting line up by the second month of next season at the latest. Better defender, AND better scorer. Only thing Fields has over him is rebounding. I think Field's perfect role is backup SG/SF.

Maybe once Baron returns and you don't need to rely on Shump to hold the fort backing up Lin

I agree with Rvwink too once Melo returns it will be Shump out there in the 4th quarter to close out games. Once Shump starts hitting those jumpshots later this year or next year WATCH OUT

Bonn1997 wrote:Melo's development is the final piece. This team will go as far as or fall as far short of expectations as he takes them.

I agree with this.

rvwink wrote:I think bringing in Smith would be a big mistake. You have three strong scorers now, two in the front court and one in the back court. Plus these days Tyson Chandler scores very efficiently. What you need at shooting guard is most definitely not a chucker. We need someone like Landry who rebounds and gets assists and scores some, but is in control.

I am surprised that some people want to take some shots away from our new big three, for someone who seems to be undisciplined. I will be astonished if MDA actually wanted Smith on his team. Fact is that we have a great shooting guard in Shumpert. Why spend money there. Save the $2.5 million in case an injury later in the year creates a sudden need.

That SG in the corner hitting that open three could mean the difference between making it to the second round or not...Fields was scared last playoffs series..

rvwink wrote:In my head, our shooting guard later in this year is not Landry Fields, but rather Shump Shump. He seems to play better in the fourth quarter both on his offense and particularly in his defense. MDA believes all of his players need to be team players. I don't get the idea that Smith is an unselfish team player. Three strong scorers seems like enough for us and the other two guys aren't going to get too many shots.

I agree that Shumpert will probably end up as the SG of the future for the Knicks. Fields definitely has more of a spring in his step lately, is taking it to the rim faster off the catch, and as always moving well without the ball. Still running into problems when he tries to use his dribble to break down a defender.

Shumpert has all the tools to be a starting SG, great defense and very good skills on offense but he needs more polish in that department. When he gets that down we'll probably see him inserted as a starting SG.

[Watches that video repeatedly for five minutes.]

What were we talking about? Oh yeah, Fields. He also ran some gorgeous pick-and-rolls with Chandler and snaggled ten rebounds. He was five assists away from a triple-double. Oh, and he guarded Tyreke Evans and kept him mostly on the perimeter. Beautiful game.

Fire the coach and "dump" Lando!