Panos wrote:Apparently, you keep ignoring what I posted.
I said show me evidence that anyone thought that Walsh blew the pick and should have picked Jennings over Hill before the season started.
Perhaps my post was unclear.

Around the time of the draft and then looking to the season for results are what matters.
Maybe you can clarify the point of "blowing the pick" at that time?

earthmansurfer wrote:

Panos wrote:Apparently, you keep ignoring what I posted.
I said show me evidence that anyone thought that Walsh blew the pick and should have picked Jennings over Hill before the season started.
Perhaps my post was unclear.

I'm not ignoring what you posted. It just wasn't clear (to me). I think I see what you mean. But between the draft and season, there is nothing going on, outside of summer league and practice. What is the point in saying show me evidence from that time of the year?

Around the time of the draft and then looking to the season for results are what matters.
Maybe you can clarify the point of "blowing the pick" at that time?

What I mean is, it was not obvious that Walsh made a clear error by passing on Jennings.
No one was blasting him for not picking him, from posters to analysts.
Some people wanted Derozen or Blair or whatever, but I never heard anyone say boo about Jennings.
Now its all hindsight and people want to blast him for it. Lots of GMs passed on Jennings,
including at least 4 PGs, maybe more.
So yes, maybe Jennings should have been picked, but I'm not going to kill Walsh for it.
And this is coming from someone that's not crazy about Hill in the first place.
But I'll withhold judgement till Hill develops.

playa2 wrote:It's time for the knicks brass to go out on a limb and shock the world and go against the grain for a change, we had Bynum on the radar , but we chose french frye instead.

Think about it Bynum chandler Lee Gallup(RANDOLPH-GORDON) and Jennings, This could have been our starting 5. This is why I post like I do, Im tired of safe picks every year.

Gallinari was NOT the safe pick.
The safe pick was Bayless or Gordon.

Panos wrote:

playa2 wrote:It's time for the knicks brass to go out on a limb and shock the world and go against the grain for a change, we had Bynum on the radar , but we chose french frye instead.

Think about it Bynum chandler Lee Gallup(RANDOLPH-GORDON) and Jennings, This could have been our starting 5. This is why I post like I do, Im tired of safe picks every year.

Gallinari was NOT the safe pick.
The safe pick was Bayless or Gordon.

How so?

Bayless was a bigger Nate Robinson and Gordon was an undersized SG.

Gallinari was 6' 10" who could stroke a 3. Worse case you have a post back surgery Stojakovic.

Panos wrote:

AnubisADL wrote:

Panos wrote:

playa2 wrote:It's time for the knicks brass to go out on a limb and shock the world and go against the grain for a change, we had Bynum on the radar , but we chose french frye instead.

Think about it Bynum chandler Lee Gallup(RANDOLPH-GORDON) and Jennings, This could have been our starting 5. This is why I post like I do, Im tired of safe picks every year.

Gallinari was NOT the safe pick.
The safe pick was Bayless or Gordon.

How so?

Bayless was a bigger Nate Robinson and Gordon was an undersized SG.

Gallinari was 6' 10" who could stroke a 3. Worse case you have a post back surgery Stojakovic.

Everyone had Bayless going third or fourth in predraft polls. Gordon was a well known college star commodity.
No one was looking much at Gallinari. I bet if the Knicks didn't have interest he'd have slide to the middle of the round.

I beg to differ:

FINAL 2008 NBA MOCK DRAFT
Last updated morning of June 26, 2008

FIRST ROUND MOCK DRAFT

1. Chicago: Derrick Rose (PG 6-4 195 Memphis)
Super athletic, strong, great point guard who can do it all, but must improve outside shot. Instant impact.

2. Miami: Michael Beasley (PF 6-9 230 Kansas State)
Super athletic versatile forward who can score in multiple ways and rebound like crazy. Instant impact.

3. Minnesota: O.J. Mayo (G 6-4 195 USC)
Tough combo guard who plays a confident game which makes him look like an instant impact player for parts of a game and a guy with flaws and a lot to learn in other stretches. Has shoot-first mentality.

4. Seattle: Brook Lopez (C 7-0 245 Stanford)
A smart, skilled, legit big man with nice legit scoring moves with strength. Takes up space nicely. Sonics also may want Jerryd Bayless. Trade with Clippers may occur, with those teams picking for each other.

5. Memphis: Kevin Love (PF/C 6-9 260 UCLA)
A multi-skilled strong, bruising power forward who can bang, score down low, and nail jumpers out to three-point range if his feet are set. Got into better shape since the season ended. Pretty regular athlete. Not as quick as the cat-like big men he'll sometimes have to face. May take Jerryd Bayless or Eric Gordon

6. New York: Danilo Gallinari (SF 6-9 210 Italy)
Very versatile small forward who can pretend to be a guard, pass, score, shoot, move without the ball, and do those good Euro-kind of things. But athletic ability is limited and that's his main issue right now. May take Russell Westbrook or another good guard if available. Will Knicks trade David Lee to Blazers?

7. LA Clippers: Russell Westbrook (PG 6-3 190 UCLA)
A combo guard who can probably be a legit NBA point guard. Pretty good at everything, but must prove he's developed and skilled enough to really help an NBA team. Can defend. Has impressed teams in workouts. NOTE: SONICS AND CLIPPPERS MAY MAKE TRADE HERE, PICKING FOR EACH OTHER

8. Milwaukee: Joe Alexander (F 6-8 230 West Virginia)
The highest-flying super-athlete in the Draft. Can leap like a lunatic, run, attack the rim, and dunk on multiple defenders without even trying.

9. Charlotte: Eric Gordon (SG 6-4 205 Indiana)
A short but thick, strong, aggressive shooting guard who can score like a master but is still improving other aspects of his game. May get Kevin Love if available

10. New Jersey: Anthony Randolph (F 6-11 215 LSU)
A lanky, offensively-versatile talent, big upside but hit or miss player, and we aren't sure exactly which forward spot he's going to wind up playing in a few years after he fills out a bit. Nets are making a trade, and this pick may not stay with them.

11. Indiana: Kosta Koufos (C 7-0 260 Ohio State)
A legit, big center who takes up space who is developing nicely.

12. Sacramento: Jerryd Bayless (PG 6-3 190 Arizona)
A big-time scorer, very quick, with explosive moves and a great jumper in the body of a point guard.

13. Portland: D.J. Augustin (PG 5-11 180 Texas)
A true point guard, passer, leader, but very undersized, who can also score quite easily.

14. Golden State: DeAndre Jordan (C 7-0 240 Texas A&M)
Very quick and athletic big guy who is extremely raw and has more developing to do than the majority of players on this first round list.

15. Phoenix (From Atl): Brandon Rush (SG 6-7 200 Kansas)
A shooting guard can can probably pretend to be a small forward for stretches. Smart, athletic, outside shooter.

16. Philadelphia: Marreese Speights (F/C 6-10 240 Florida)
A scoring and rebounding big man who is still developing on the defensive side of the floor.

17. Toronto: Donte Green (SF 6-8 215 Syracuse)
A shooter and scorer who loves shooting lots of outside shots. Still developing other aspects of his game.

18. Washington: Robin Lopez (C 7-0 255 Stanford)
An energetic, hustling big guy who can take up space and make some noise but isn't particularly skilled at much of anything.

19. Cleveland: Darrell Arthur (F 6-10 215 Kansas)
He can move, and score, handle the ball, but probaby destined to be a somewhat decent contributor off a bench.

20. Denver: Roy Hibbert (C 7-2 265 Georgetown)
A tall center. He's tall. Did we mention that he's tall. Hibbert has size, especially height. A smart, tall player.

21. New Jersey (from Dal): JaVale McGee (C 7-0 235 Nevada)
A tall dude who is still developing his basketball skills.

22. Orlando: Jason Thompson (F/C 6-11 250 Rider)

23. Utah: Alexis Ajinca (PF/C 7-1 240 France)
A Euro type center, meaning he can pass and understands basketball but needs to get stronger.

24. Seattle (from Pho): J.J. Hickson (PF 6-9 240 NC State)
A nice combo of strength, wingspan, quickness, and a lot of offensive moves.

25. Houston: Chris Douglas-Roberts (SG 6-7 200 Memphis)
Gets to the rim, scores, shoots and can defend. Some wonder if his upside is limited.

26. San Antonio: Nicolas Batum (SF 6-8 212 France)
A quick, leaping scorer with nice potential and very good defensive ability.

27. New Orleans: Mario Chalmers (PG 6-1 190 Kansas)
A defender, passer and shooter who can strengthen a team's bench.

28. Memphis (from LAL): Courtney Lee (G 6-5 200 Western Kentucky)
Would make a good backup.

29. Detroit: Nathan Jawai (C 6-10 270 Australia)
Athletic, quick guy with big wingspan who is still raw and learning to play basketball. He's like a more explosive Glen Davis, says an InsideHoops.com source in Australian basketball.

30. Boston: Omer Asik (F/C 6-11 230 Turkey)

from: http://www.nba.com/draft2008/board/mock.html

Marv wrote:

sebstar wrote:I hope Jennings puts on a show. Rubs it in the face of Walsh and company.

i'm hoping for the opposite. i have nothing against jennings and hope he does great against everyone else. but i hope he gets his ass handed to him here and i hope douglas and hill lead the handing. i don't even care about walsh, this is about the knicks.

i'm hoping Jeffries puts up triple doubles & Nate goes off for 50 for the next 2 weeks.

playa2 wrote:There MAYBE a reason why coach Danphoney promoted Nate just in time for the Jennings showdown. He wanted to pit his best guard against the rookie Jennings hoping to d diffuse the crowd from cheering R.O.Y R.O.Y during the game.

Jennings seems to torch smaller PG's.

Just ask Will Bynum and Jonny Flynn.

But hey, you're the rookie point guard and taking the most shots of anyone on your team... no red flags there.