Knixkik wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:Each of them is a year older? Melo and Lowry aren't playing for contracts? Maybe 43-39.

Why is it always assumed that every player won't play as hard during a non-contract year? I think only a very small percentage work harder on contract years. Most players work hard and play hard regardless of their contract status. This is mentioned a lot and its simply not a factor in most cases.

fishmike wrote:

Knixkik wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:Each of them is a year older? Melo and Lowry aren't playing for contracts? Maybe 43-39.

Why is it always assumed that every player won't play as hard during a non-contract year? I think only a very small percentage work harder on contract years. Most players work hard and play hard regardless of their contract status. This is mentioned a lot and its simply not a factor in most cases.

yea.. sorry, but last year was the one off. It was an everything that can go wrong will year. It happens. Before that for 3 straight years the winning % went up. Ignoring the 3 prior year and focusing on the one year where you had your #2 scorer start the year on a drug suspension then suck for 2 months is just fool hardy. While the roster was not as good the main thing was the roster did not perform as well, and those who didnt perfom well are fixable situations.

Unless its Phil's desire to take a few steps back and deal with losing while there is some roster cleansing or positioning I fully expect this to be a 50ish win team next year again.

Dagger wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:Each of them is a year older? Melo and Lowry aren't playing for contracts? Maybe 43-39.

No don't worry we have a time machine behind the showers in the locker room...

Of course they're older, besides the thought of Lowry a year older and playing in a non-contract year didn't bother you when you were pushing for the mid-season Lowry trade (and rightfully so). Have you soured on him?

gunsnewing wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:

fishmike wrote:

Knixkik wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:Each of them is a year older? Melo and Lowry aren't playing for contracts? Maybe 43-39.

Why is it always assumed that every player won't play as hard during a non-contract year? I think only a very small percentage work harder on contract years. Most players work hard and play hard regardless of their contract status. This is mentioned a lot and its simply not a factor in most cases.

yea.. sorry, but last year was the one off. It was an everything that can go wrong will year. It happens. Before that for 3 straight years the winning % went up. Ignoring the 3 prior year and focusing on the one year where you had your #2 scorer start the year on a drug suspension then suck for 2 months is just fool hardy. While the roster was not as good the main thing was the roster did not perform as well, and those who didnt perfom well are fixable situations.

Unless its Phil's desire to take a few steps back and deal with losing while there is some roster cleansing or positioning I fully expect this to be a 50ish win team next year again.

There's no such thing as a step back when you're already missing the playoffs in the Leastern Conference. Missing the playoffs but at least having our pick would be a step forward, though there's no need to miss the playoffs anyway.

It's a huge step backwards!

LegendaryKnicks wrote:No idea why Lowry would leave what they're building in Toronto and come here to play with bozos like Bargnani and JR Smith..............

He gets to play with Carmelo Anthony and have the ball stripped out of his hands!!

BRIGGS wrote:C-Tyson Chandler 7-1 250
F Amare Stoudemire 6-9 250
F Carmelo Anthony 6-8 245
G Jr Smith 6-6 225
G Kyle Lowry 6-1 200
C-Cole Aldrich 6-11 245
F Andrea Bargnani 7-0 250
F Iman Shumpert
G Tim Hardaway JR
G Patty Mills

Take out JR Smith and I like it.

Bonn1997 wrote:

Dagger wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:Each of them is a year older? Melo and Lowry aren't playing for contracts? Maybe 43-39.

No don't worry we have a time machine behind the showers in the locker room...

Of course they're older, besides the thought of Lowry a year older and playing in a non-contract year didn't bother you when you were pushing for the mid-season Lowry trade (and rightfully so). Have you soured on him?

Well Lowry could be a great or an awful addition depending on the contract. I'd go to about 4 yrs, $44 mil for him but I have a feeling he'll get more elsewhere.

this is about right for him. good call.

LegendaryKnicks wrote:

tj23 wrote:A mix of good and bad. Need a coach to implement defensive fundamentals and motivate Tyson.

Motivation won't help with injuries unfortunately. His body is done. At 32 years old, he won't magically get better. I can't even remember the last time he played a full season, or played close to a full season without bad nagging injuries.

NYKBocker wrote:

mreinman wrote:

NYKBocker wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:C-Tyson Chandler 7-1 250
F Amare Stoudemire 6-9 250
F Carmelo Anthony 6-8 245
G Jr Smith 6-6 225
G Kyle Lowry 6-1 200
C-Cole Aldrich 6-11 245
F Andrea Bargnani 7-0 250
F Iman Shumpert
G Tim Hardaway JR
G Patty Mills

Take out JR Smith and I like it.

You would rather have Bargs than JR?

Sadly, yes. JR is just a bad teammate. Bargs I see being an expensive triangle center for 1 year. I mean...the Bulls had Wennington, Purdue, Stacey King and the like at center. He can't do any worse than those fools. JR can do so much damage to the team. He is also owed 2 more years to Bargs 1.

For the second year cap hold, I agree with you.

I think that JR will improve a lot. He has had efficient years, I look for him to be kept more under control. No enablers left.