iSergio wrote:

Coach Mike D'Antoni named Landry Fields his starting shooting guard for Wednesday's opener.

Fields, a second-round rookie out of Stanford, came out of nowhere and earned this job with an eyebrow-raising preseason. Still, we shouldn't get too excited from a fantasy perspective. Fields is a glue guy more than a weapon and will have Wilson Chandler/Toney Douglas beating down his door immediately. The upside here isn't much more than 12 points, four rebounds and a 3-pointer nightly. Oct. 26 - 12:52 pm et
Source: Howard Beck on Twitter

Great news for the before mentioned reasons. The one that makes most sense to me is that Fields is a glue guy that know how to move the ball around. He plays both sides of the ball and has an IQ. He can shoot ok+ to good at this point, if the preseason and his college career was any indication of.

Yes, he might get exposed at times, but we are not going to lose that much offense when the second unit comes in (well, if Amare often plays with them.)

I think this decision came from logic and it's worth a shot.

knickstorrents wrote:

scoshin wrote:Bill Walker is a horrid defender though. He also never seems to make the little hustle plays that Fields makes.

Really? I think Walker is an OK defender and he seems to go for the boards pretty hard. I actually like Walker's game... he shoots a good percentage too.

That is my thinking. He certainly is not a shut down defender, but I would not describe him as horrible. Outside of Gallo, he is our best 3pt shooter and he can get up and down the court. I am happy for Fields because I think he brings a winner's attitude to our team and will do all the dirty work that allows Amare to shine, but I would not have been opposed to Walker starting as another person to spread the floor for Amare.

Vmart wrote:What is MDA's motive for this move. Sorry guys but I personally don't buy this Fields as starter something has to be up for this to come about. My gut feeling is that MDA did this to let Gallo know that he is the second option not Chandler. We already know Gallo has mental weakness, but what does this move do to Chandler's confidence? I think there might be some showcasing going on.

I tend to agree that he has a hidden motive for this move. I don't think it has to do with Gallo. Maybe its an attempt to motivate Chandler? Might mean more open shots for Gallo, because Fields seems to be a better passer than Chandler, or it might be a way to strengthen the second unit.

I would look at the minutes Fields is given, and whether he is playing during crunch time. If he is averaging near 30MPG and playing when it counts, it means that MDA really believes the kid can get the job done, and has no ulterior mootives. If we see Fields get the Batum treatment(18 MPG), which I mentioned earlier, MDA has something else up his sleeve.

Game 1: 16mins, 5-9 FG, 1-2 3pt, 1 reb
Game 2: 15mins, 2-2 FG, 0-0 3pt, 2 reb
Game 3: 20mins, 2-5 FG, 0-2 3pt, 7 reb
Game 4: 19mins, 3-3 FG, 1-1 3pt, 4 reb
Game 5: DNP
Game 6: 25mins, 6-12 FG, 2-4 3pt, 4 reb
Game 7: 25mins, 5-10 FG, 2-4 3pt, 3 reb

So overall thats 23-41 FG and 6-13 3pt. I don't think his stats are going to leap of the scoreboard this season, but hopefully he'll provide us with a solid, efficient contribution, and I'll be very pleased if he can replicate the last 2 games stats if given 25mins per game. I was very suprised to find out he's our strater, but the more I think about it, the more optimistic I am.

Chandler and Gallo don't seem to play well together, so I'm glad Chandler is coming off the bench- I get where you're coming from iSergio, and I wouldn't mind seeing how Gallo does as a sixth man, however he's the only player in the starting line up who's percieved as a 3 pt threat and thats why he stays in the starting lineup over Chandler.

iSergio wrote:I have no problem with Landry Fields starting. I do have a problem with starting Danilo Gallinari over Wilson Chandler when Chandler is the better player.

Chandler's the better player, I agree, but if we start Fields, we need Gallo's shooting more to space the court for Amare.

Chandler's probably better fit with the athletic second unit anyway. I think a bench of Douglas/Chandler/Randolph will be solid and run other second units out of the gym.

TymeLessKnicks wrote:with Chandler on the bench D'Antoni is "forced" to play at least 9 players. Im a doubter of this move...

Where have you been. Mike already said he's playing 9-10 guys anyway. Don't be so hung up on things like that anyway. It's a new day and more important at this stage of the year is to win, not how deep your rotation is. Later in the year you can stretch to 11 guys if you want, but it's important to establish your core 8 and get them as cohesive as you can.

Only the Elite teams have a bench that warrants going really deep. We have a good bench, but most of the guys are of equal talent. You win with your best 8 guys and if you win big you can get some rest for them.
In any event expect Mike to be looking for ways to rest Amar'e, so we'll see a deep rotation often this year.

Uptown wrote:So much for the theory that MDA doesn't play rookies nor develop them......

Thank You. Fields is a player. DW is getting players who not only have physical tools but also MENTAL tools for basketball. This is a good move and like many have said, the bench will be much stronger now and many times that is the difference in a game.

TymeLessKnicks wrote:

Markji wrote:

nixluva wrote:

TymeLessKnicks wrote:with Chandler on the bench D'Antoni is "forced" to play at least 9 players. Im a doubter of this move...

Where have you been. Mike already said he's playing 9-10 guys anyway. Don't be so hung up on things like that anyway. It's a new day and more important at this stage of the year is to win, not how deep your rotation is. Later in the year you can stretch to 11 guys if you want, but it's important to establish your core 8 and get them as cohesive as you can.

Only the Elite teams have a bench that warrants going really deep. We have a good bench, but most of the guys are of equal talent. You win with your best 8 guys and if you win big you can get some rest for them.
In any event expect Mike to be looking for ways to rest Amar'e, so we'll see a deep rotation often this year.

Good point about resting Amare if we have a big lead in the 4th Qtr.

I was inferring the opposite. I want the rotation to be shorter but with Fields starting I think we are now looking at Chandler, Douglas, Randolph, Turiaf & Walker coming off the bench.

Its game day so we shall see how this pans out.