Posted by BRIGGS:

Also and final from me--I will go back to this point

We needed a talent upgrade at PG in a very heavy laden PG draft. To BYPASS all of those PGs to take a Jordan Hill means that the Knicks scouting staff mustve been super high on him. So to me that puts an expectation level--I can understand a guy like Gallinari taking some time because it is a new country--but Hill should be able to step in and play now--it's not like we were a 49 win team. We were WILLING to lose Lee and Hill was his replacement and I think that they may have over estimated his talent level and now are in excuse overdrive already.

Posted by Paladin55:

Posted by BRIGGS:

Also and final from me--I will go back to this point

We needed a talent upgrade at PG in a very heavy laden PG draft. To BYPASS all of those PGs to take a Jordan Hill means that the Knicks scouting staff mustve been super high on him. So to me that puts an expectation level--I can understand a guy like Gallinari taking some time because it is a new country--but Hill should be able to step in and play now--it's not like we were a 49 win team. We were WILLING to lose Lee and Hill was his replacement and I think that they may have over estimated his talent level and now are in excuse overdrive already.

You have put out your opinion enough on this issue so that you don't have to repeat the same thing over and over again, Mr. B.

You like Blair.

You don't like Hill.

You wanted a PG, probably Jennings (?) at #8

Points made.

You have no control over any of this, so now you have to sit back and watch how players develop. Simple as that.

Since nobody from the Knicks has responded, by the way, I say that you should go to MSG and picket in front of Walsh's office until Walsh comes out to give you the scoop as to why he took Hill when he did, and why he did not take Blair.

Posted by fishmike:

Posted by BRIGGS:
lets be honest--3 years of high level division 1 basketball at AZ--that is a LOT of experience.

and what's your assesment of what he did during those 3 years?
Just look at the #s man...
Year 1 14 mins 5 points 4 rebs 1 blks
Year 2 29 mins 13 points 8 rebs 1.6 blks
Year 3 36 mins 18 points 11 rebs 1.7 blks

Does that look like a guy who is what he is or like a guy who is clearly learning the game still? This isnt Tyler Hansbrogh who was 20/8 for four straight years.

Posted by BRIGGS:

Posted by fishmike:

Posted by BRIGGS:
lets be honest--3 years of high level division 1 basketball at AZ--that is a LOT of experience.

and what's your assesment of what he did during those 3 years?
Just look at the #s man...
Year 1 14 mins 5 points 4 rebs 1 blks
Year 2 29 mins 13 points 8 rebs 1.6 blks
Year 3 36 mins 18 points 11 rebs 1.7 blks

Does that look like a guy who is what he is or like a guy who is clearly learning the game still? This isnt Tyler Hansbrogh who was 20/8 for four straight years.

Fishmike--I think if the head coach is saying that he reminds him of Amare Stoudemire[and remember Stoudemire at 21-22 was a top 10 Nba player] they use a high lottery pick on him and were willing to let Lee go--then he should be a guy who can play effectively now--what else is there to say? Maybe Mike D is wrong--it can happen. This guy will NEVER be anything close to Amare Stoudemire -- all I am asking for--a guy who along with Darko can give Lee legit help.
One thing it shows is just how good Lee is. I think Lee might be the most under rated player in the NBA.

Posted by BRIGGS:

Posted by Paladin55:

Posted by BRIGGS:

Also and final from me--I will go back to this point

We needed a talent upgrade at PG in a very heavy laden PG draft. To BYPASS all of those PGs to take a Jordan Hill means that the Knicks scouting staff mustve been super high on him. So to me that puts an expectation level--I can understand a guy like Gallinari taking some time because it is a new country--but Hill should be able to step in and play now--it's not like we were a 49 win team. We were WILLING to lose Lee and Hill was his replacement and I think that they may have over estimated his talent level and now are in excuse overdrive already.

You have put out your opinion enough on this issue so that you don't have to repeat the same thing over and over again, Mr. B.

You like Blair.

You don't like Hill.

You wanted a PG, probably Jennings (?) at #8

Points made.

You have no control over any of this, so now you have to sit back and watch how players develop. Simple as that.

Since nobody from the Knicks has responded, by the way, I say that you should go to MSG and picket in front of Walsh's office until Walsh comes out to give you the scoop as to why he took Hill when he did, and why he did not take Blair.

Please don't tell me what to do. If you don't like what I say--just ignore it.

Posted by jimimou:

interesting read on the hill / amare comparison and what it means for the lbj 2010 plan. didnt see it posted on here yet, so here you go:

Hill holding key to Knicks' futureBy DAN TOMASINO

Last Updated: 2:22 PM, October 7, 2009

Posted: 2:31 AM, October 7, 2009

Jordan Hill is a quiet guy, but the amount of noise he makes on the court this season is of utmost importance to the Knicks' future.

The first-round draft pick must prove he was worthy of such a high selection (No. 8 overall) to keep fans from losing faith in the drafting prowess of team president Donnie Walsh and coach Mike D'Antoni. And he must show he is a building block of a championship-caliber team in order to lure LeBron James to New York.

The Knicks gambled on drafting Hill, a 6-foot-10 power forward, despite the presence of David Lee at the position and the team's obvious need for a point guard. In fact, Hill was drafted ahead of talented point guard Brandon Jennings, who greatly impressed scouts and executives with his Summer League performance.

The Knicks selected Hill because they believe he has Amare Stoudemire-like ability. That's the kind of player who would be a great complement for James, should the Knicks sign the superstar free-agent-to-be next summer.


If Hill fails, The LeBron Plan could fail with him because Lee and Nate Robinson are on one-year contracts and Danilo Gallinari, 2008's lottery pick, so far has been a bust.


The Knicks need to show James that they have some pieces in place and they aren't the toxic club they were made out to be when several free agents spurned them this past summer.

D'Antoni acknowledged at the beginning of camp his team would have to overachieve to make the playoffs. That means 2009-10 is more about developing the young talent than winning.

As if beginning another season with such low expectations isn't painful enough for Knicks fans, consider that Hill, around whom the future of the franchise at least partially rests, has not been impressive so far. In Sunday's preseason opener against the Nets, he shot 1-for-8 in 17 minutes.

"He's been OK," D'Antoni said after practice yesterday in Greenburgh. "He doesn't pick up his intensity all the time. He shows flashes of a very good athlete, but he'll have to learn how to use that all the time."

The learning process includes working with assistant coach Herb Williams on his shooting in the post, pump fakes and moves to the basket, as he did yesterday.

"Being a rookie is a whole lot different from college," Hill said. "Trying to pick it up slowly, take it all in like a sponge, listen, ask questions, and work hard."

It's no secret the Knicks are tying their future to next summer's class of free agents. But the future also is tied to Hill.


Eddy Curry (torn right plantaris muscle) did not practice but did conditioning work before and after practice with the training staff. There is no timetable for his return to practice.

Posted by tkf:

Posted by MS:

I will say there is no chance he is in Amare's league. Hill isn't going to be able to take the ball and dunk on anyone with ease. Amare had serious surgery and still came back and was super athletic. Has anyone watched Amare as a rookie? I'm beginning to question Mike D. Roberson was garbage and we had to have the guy while Wafer who was on our SL roster was actually a valuable piece for the rockets we just let him go, Gallo is the best shooter, Hill reminds him or Amare, Jeffieries is going to be his Diaw. I know PR is important, but comon.

Bip you bring up a good point. The guy isn't a difference maker. That team barely made the tourney and Budinger is an NBA talent and is playing well much better than Hill. He isn't a five and we needed a five, we already have Lee and Gallo at the four. The pick just doesn't make sense.

I have been the biggest amare fan since his HS days. He was a man child, but amare is what? 26 now, and he just started developing a jumper a year or so ago. Hill has been hitting that jumper since last year at arizona. I see the comparisons physically, and both guys just may develop differently. Hill has some skills now that amare didn't have, and one of them were shooting skills. So lets see how hill develops by time he is amare's age, maybe he will get stronger, become more of a force closer to the basket.. right now he is not a scrub, just has a different game at this point in his young career. I think he will make a lot of us happy down the road..

TKF, I love you any everything but you've got a loose relationship with Hill and you combine that with the fact that you are his most vocal supporter, other than of course nixluva, and its like C'mon Son!

Most cats around here that defend hill at least cop to the fact that he's got a long way to go, and he's been pretty bad, but you seem not at all concerned about his poor play: You know you're sweating too, you have to be. I understand riding for your homie, but ...