When did most GM's tell you Balkman wasn't a first rounder, joe? Anyone who saw him in the NIT could tell he could play.

Posted by joec32033:
It's the preseason-even Isiah Thomas himself doesn't know if he made a mistake drafting Balkman.

& for that matter, neither do the critics know if he made a mistake passing up Marcus Williams joe... it works both ways.

Posted by PhilinLA:

When did most GM's tell you Balkman wasn't a first rounder, joe? Anyone who saw him in the NIT could tell he could play.

When did most Gm's tell you he could? If you're gonna hold me to the standard of "a gm had to tell me" I'll hold you to the same one. Show me on GM that had him as a first rounder. I start doing research on the draft about 2-3 months before the draft. I saw his name once-at the end of the second round.

I nor Anthony ever said he couldn't play. Keep to the argument. Anthony said he was a second round talent. The projected picks from like 7 all the way to 30 didn't stand out talent wise. I've said it before in draft threads.

You call a kid who averaged 9 pts and 6 rebs, who wasn't even a solid starter for an NIT team, a guy who was average at best against teams in the actual tournament during season play (2 PT, 2 REB, 1 TO in 12 MIN in loss to No. 21 LSU , Started in win at No. 6 UF (first start since UT (1/8/06); 8 PT, 8 REB, 2 AST, 2 STL in 35 MIN -,

Shot off the bench

like a rocket, scoring 14 PT (6-7) w/ team-high 6 REB in win over No. 4 Florida; 3 STL, 2 AST in 28MIN ) a first round talent for the NBA draft? The CBA-oops, don't exist anymore-the D-League draft, maybe.

Averaged 25.7 mpg/9.6 ppg/6.3 rpg/1.9 apg/1.3 bpg/1.7 spg ... Led team in RPG, STL; 3rd in PPG; 4th in APG ... In NIT finals win over Michigan, scored 10 PT w/ 12 REB, 5 BLK, 4 STL in 35 MIN ... In NIT semi-final win vs. Louisville, scored 23 PT w/ 8 REB, 3 AST, 4 BLK in 36 MIN ... In NIT second round OT win at Florida State pulled in 13 REB (6 off, 7 def) w/ 8 PT, 3 AST, 5 STL (tied career high) in 42 MIN ... In SEC Tournament final loss to Florida, scored 12 PT w/ 11 REB (fourth double-double of the year), 4 STL, 1 BLK in 34 MIN ... Scored 8 PT w/ 8 REB, 3 AST, 2 STL in 27 MIN in SEC semifinal win over Kentucky ... Tacked together second super game off the bench in SEC Tourney win over UT scoring 16 PT w/ 7 REB, 2 AST, 3 STL and 1 BLK in 27 MIN ... Scored game-high 12 PT w/ 3 REB, 2 AST, 2 BLK, 1 STL in 28 MIN of play in win over MSU in SEC Tourney ... After starting five straight, hasn't started the past three games, but played very well off the bench in win at AU: 6 PT, 6 REB, 2 AST, 1 STL in 26 MIN ... No very effective: 2 PT, 2 REB, 1 TO in 12 MIN in loss to No. 21 LSU ... Scored 10 PT 2/ 6 REB, 3 STL in 24 MIN in loss to Vandy ... Had the game of his life in win over Alabama: 28 PT (11-15 including 2-3 3 PT), 16 REB (7 off, 9 def), 4 STL, 2 BLK, 1 AST in 35 MIN -- career high in points, FG made, FT att, minutes played; tied career high in rebounds, FT att, 3PT made (rewrote almost all season highs) ... Started second straight game in win over MSU, playing 24 MIN w/ 6 PT, 3 REB, 2 BLK and 3 STL ... Started in win at No. 6 UF (first start since UT (1/8/06); 8 PT, 8 REB, 2 AST, 2 STL in 35 MIN -- played with Renaldo-type positive energy ... Shot off the bench like a rocket, scoring 14 PT (6-7) w/ team-high 6 REB in win over No. 4 Florida; 3 STL, 2 AST in 28MIN ... Team leader in REB had just 1 in the 1st half and 1 in the 2nd half vs. UGA; team leader with 14 PT; 1 AST, 1 STL; 12 of 16 games in double figures ... Scored 12 PT w/ 7 REB, 1 BLK, 1 STL in 21 MIN off the bench in loss at Ole Miss ... Tacked together another fine game, scoring 9 PT w/ 9 REB, a career-high 5 AST, 4 STL in 24 MIN in win over S.C. State ... Led team in PT, REB, STL, AST, BLK in Clemson loss, playing heart out in 34 MIN he was on the floor; scored 15 PT, 12 REB (2nd career DD) ... Scored 16 PT (1 off a career high) in win over UNCG; added game-high 7 REB, 2 AST, career-high 5 STL in 27 MIN ... Named to Great Alaska Shootout All-Tournament team; averaged 14.7 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 2.7 APG, 3.0 BPG, 1.3 SPG ... In OT Shootout loss to Marquette again scored in double figures w/ 16 PT, 8 REB, career-high 6 AST, 3 BLK in 30 MIN ... In Monmouth win scored 14 PT w/ 6 REB, 6 TO, 2 BLK, 1 STL in 26 MIN ... Named Player of the Game in win over UAA; first double-double of his career w/ 14 PT, 12 REB, 4 BLK, 3 STL in 34 MIN ... Played on the Score International team with teammate Stephen McDowell that traveled to Germany for competition this past summer playing in five games against international competition ... Led the USA team in rebounds and was second in ppg playing in the Nation's Cup.

http://uscsports.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/balkman_renaldo00.html

[Edited by - joec32033 on 10-18-2006 9:29 PM]

Posted by joec32033:

Posted by PhilinLA:

When did most GM's tell you Balkman wasn't a first rounder, joe? Anyone who saw him in the NIT could tell he could play.

When did most Gm's tell you he could? If you're gonna hold me to the standard of "a gm had to tell me" I'll hold you to the same one. Show me on GM that had him as a first rounder.

I think its your job to prove he would've been there at #29 not the other way. Stupid debate but you are being a bit biased here saying Greg was right and Isiah is wrong. This will very quickly turn into a "you are wrong, no you are wrong" flame war. Basically, Gregg Anthony had no clue (and has obviously been proven wrong in the 1st 3 games) what Balkman is capable of.

[Edited by - Silverfuel on 10-18-2006 2:33 PM]

Posted by joec32033:

Posted by PhilinLA:

When did most GM's tell you Balkman wasn't a first rounder, joe? Anyone who saw him in the NIT could tell he could play.

When did most Gm's tell you he could? If you're gonna hold me to the standard of "a gm had to tell me" I'll hold you to the same one. Show me on GM that had him as a first rounder. I start doing research on the draft about 2-3 months before the draft. I saw his name once-at the end of the second round.

I nor Anthony ever said he couldn't play. Keep to the argument. Anthony said he was a second round talent. The projected picks from like 7 all the way to 30 didn't stand out talent wise. I've said it before in draft threads.

You call a kid who averaged 9 pts and 6 rebs, who wasn't even a solid starter for an NIT team, a guy who was average at best against teams in the actual tournament during season play (2 PT, 2 REB, 1 TO in 12 MIN in loss to No. 21 LSU , Started in win at No. 6 UF (first start since UT (1/8/06); 8 PT, 8 REB, 2 AST, 2 STL in 35 MIN -,

Shot off the bench

like a rocket, scoring 14 PT (6-7) w/ team-high 6 REB in win over No. 4 Florida; 3 STL, 2 AST in 28MIN ) a first round talent for the NBA draft? The CBA-oops, don't exist anymore-the D-League draft, maybe.

Averaged 25.7 mpg/9.6 ppg/6.3 rpg/1.9 apg/1.3 bpg/1.7 spg ... Led team in RPG, STL; 3rd in PPG; 4th in APG ... In NIT finals win over Michigan, scored 10 PT w/ 12 REB, 5 BLK, 4 STL in 35 MIN ... In NIT semi-final win vs. Louisville, scored 23 PT w/ 8 REB, 3 AST, 4 BLK in 36 MIN ... In NIT second round OT win at Florida State pulled in 13 REB (6 off, 7 def) w/ 8 PT, 3 AST, 5 STL (tied career high) in 42 MIN ... In SEC Tournament final loss to Florida, scored 12 PT w/ 11 REB (fourth double-double of the year), 4 STL, 1 BLK in 34 MIN ... Scored 8 PT w/ 8 REB, 3 AST, 2 STL in 27 MIN in SEC semifinal win over Kentucky ... Tacked together second super game off the bench in SEC Tourney win over UT scoring 16 PT w/ 7 REB, 2 AST, 3 STL and 1 BLK in 27 MIN ... Scored game-high 12 PT w/ 3 REB, 2 AST, 2 BLK, 1 STL in 28 MIN of play in win over MSU in SEC Tourney ... After starting five straight, hasn't started the past three games, but played very well off the bench in win at AU: 6 PT, 6 REB, 2 AST, 1 STL in 26 MIN ... No very effective: 2 PT, 2 REB, 1 TO in 12 MIN in loss to No. 21 LSU ... Scored 10 PT 2/ 6 REB, 3 STL in 24 MIN in loss to Vandy ... Had the game of his life in win over Alabama: 28 PT (11-15 including 2-3 3 PT), 16 REB (7 off, 9 def), 4 STL, 2 BLK, 1 AST in 35 MIN -- career high in points, FG made, FT att, minutes played; tied career high in rebounds, FT att, 3PT made (rewrote almost all season highs) ... Started second straight game in win over MSU, playing 24 MIN w/ 6 PT, 3 REB, 2 BLK and 3 STL ... Started in win at No. 6 UF (first start since UT (1/8/06); 8 PT, 8 REB, 2 AST, 2 STL in 35 MIN -- played with Renaldo-type positive energy ... Shot off the bench like a rocket, scoring 14 PT (6-7) w/ team-high 6 REB in win over No. 4 Florida; 3 STL, 2 AST in 28MIN ... Team leader in REB had just 1 in the 1st half and 1 in the 2nd half vs. UGA; team leader with 14 PT; 1 AST, 1 STL; 12 of 16 games in double figures ... Scored 12 PT w/ 7 REB, 1 BLK, 1 STL in 21 MIN off the bench in loss at Ole Miss ... Tacked together another fine game, scoring 9 PT w/ 9 REB, a career-high 5 AST, 4 STL in 24 MIN in win over S.C. State ... Led team in PT, REB, STL, AST, BLK in Clemson loss, playing heart out in 34 MIN he was on the floor; scored 15 PT, 12 REB (2nd career DD) ... Scored 16 PT (1 off a career high) in win over UNCG; added game-high 7 REB, 2 AST, career-high 5 STL in 27 MIN ... Named to Great Alaska Shootout All-Tournament team; averaged 14.7 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 2.7 APG, 3.0 BPG, 1.3 SPG ... In OT Shootout loss to Marquette again scored in double figures w/ 16 PT, 8 REB, career-high 6 AST, 3 BLK in 30 MIN ... In Monmouth win scored 14 PT w/ 6 REB, 6 TO, 2 BLK, 1 STL in 26 MIN ... Named Player of the Game in win over UAA; first double-double of his career w/ 14 PT, 12 REB, 4 BLK, 3 STL in 34 MIN ... Played on the Score International team with teammate Stephen McDowell that traveled to Germany for competition this past summer playing in five games against international competition ... Led the USA team in rebounds and was second in ppg playing in the Nation's Cup.

http://uscsports.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/balkman_renaldo00.html

[Edited by - joec32033 on 10-18-2006 9:29 PM]

You're the one who said "most gm's" not me. I was just wondering when you got to talk to all of them as your post suggested you had.

Later, when talking about Balkman's ability to handle the ball, a reporter jokingly asked if he had a better handle than Greg Anthony. "Most definitely," Thomas said. "Greg could only go left."

I'm sorry, but this made me laugh my ars off.

Who cares if M. Williams is a great PG or not? He doesn't play for this team and the guy we picked is a good player that fits our ACTUAL NEEDS! Williams i'm sure will be a good player, but let's not get crazy. This team wins this year and starts to get on track and who cares about other players on other teams? Balkman is needed on this team and the Jeffries injury is showing just how good it is that we have Balkman on the roster. We didn't NEED Williams, but we did NEED a player like Balkman, cuz we don't have enough players like him.

Greg Anthony didn't have to benefit of knowing what Isiah had in mind for this team. Now we can clearly see that we don't NEED a great passing PG in this offense. Isiah isn't the idiot that some of you think he is. I'm growing tired of all the bitching about him and what he's doing with the team. If LB had simply done his job last year then we would've already been headed in the right direction. Still i'm glad he's gone, cuz Isiah is the right coach for this group. Isiah may not be the best GM in the world, but in the end I think he's still going to help this team to be successful over the next few years.

Posted by PhilinLA:

BTW, when are people gonna realise the Knicks weren't taking Williams over character concerns? He wasn't on their board.

What?!? How does that explain Q. Woods???

Posted by VDesai:

I hated Greg Anthony when he was on the Knicks. He sucked.

Times two