nixluva wrote:

knicks1248 wrote:

nixluva wrote:

knicks1248 wrote:

nixluva wrote:

fishmike wrote:

mreinman wrote:

knicks1248 wrote:he only played 9 minutes, i guess fisher felt larkin gave us a better chance so he played him 45 minutes as if this was a battle for playoff seeding...wow

Were playing out the season, and you play a kid 45 minutes..smh

beyond ridiculous especially for a guy who won't be here next year.

not at all.. its very common in all sports to do this for guys. Its called showcasing. You see it the most in the NFL when teams plays guys for exended plays in preseason when they arent making the team. Its a goodwill gesture to players. It also lets you view a player when they dont have a leash. You tell them they are getting 35-40 minutes regardless of how they play because you want to see them for extended stretches. This is pretty normal... and lets face it the last 50+ games have all be preseason. Hopefully its for 2015 and not 2020

It's hard for us to know what the internal discussions are regarding personnel. I'm pretty sure Phil and Fish have a good idea of what they're gonna do and which players are most likely part of the plan. Ledo is probably more of a longterm investment. Larkin IMO isn't part of the plan going forward. He can play enough to be on a team, but I don't see him being a high priority here. I wish I could be a fly on the wall during one of the Knicks meetings on the current NBA and D League players.

I'm pretty positive that Thanasis will be in camp next year. Don't know about Acy and Wear tho. I really like how Cole has played this year. He has gotten some good minutes this year and looks like a much more confident player IMO. Lance Thomas has given a max effort and looks like a useful cheap reserve.

He played ledo 9 minutes in the previous game even though shved went down in the first half. When gallow and thomas were on 10 day contract, they saw significant minutes. We have 2 healthy Guards and you play one for 45 minutes coming off a back to back...what sense does that make, not even super stars play those kind of minutes.

NOTHING Fisher does makes any freaking sense to me, especially when it comes to rotations.

Ledo has had one practice with the team and he's not a guy with a ton of experience anyway. This was a tough game for him against a top team. The Grizz D is tough and Ledo was struggling a bit and you could see he had moments of brain freeze. Can't really put too much into any of this. There will be more practice days coming up soon and Ledo will get more opportunities to play.

PRACTICE, PRACTICE, dude don't let me go A I on you.. we have been practicing since xmas when we were unofficially remove from any playoff hopes.

Where we really interested in beating the Grizz, because they look like they were playing a pick up game. Some of the defensive lapses look like a bloopers reel. In one case gasol though a bounce pass through traffic to randolph, in another case randolph zipped a pass right around jason smith as if he was jason kidd that resulted in a gasol uncontested dunk..lol. all i could do is close my eyes and SMH..

The practice comment was in regard to LEDO! He had one practice with the team. This is a thread about Ledo so basically that was the main point of my post. The Grizz weren't just letting Ledo have an easy time out there. He was challenged on D repeatedly and harrassed when he was on offense. He's still trying to get a feel for things and so it does matter that he just got here.

I was in and out of the game, so I didn't see Ledo at all., i forgot he was even on the roster until i saw this thread and then went to the stat sheet

nixluva wrote:

nyk4ever wrote:watching him play tonight, you can tell this kid has offensive skill. he can create off the dribble and he's been looking to distribute, not just chuck. i hope we can turn this kid into something special.. seems like he definitely has the talent.

This is the perfect system for a kid like him. He'll learn to think the game and not just play dumb basketball. He'll learn to play more under control which should be good for him.

I think that's really the bottom line with Ledo. And in the two years with the Texas Legends of the D League, that may be where the development was slower then it perhaps should have been. Clearly, he has the tools. Did the Mavericks sense Ledo would never "get it"? Publicly, only good things were ever said of Ledo. And, as I mentioned in another thread, we can forget the so-called character issues; they don't exist. At the same time, he didn't set the D League on fire. But you can't watch the guy on a bb court and not see a player; one that should have everything it takes to succeed at this level. JMO of course.

I would try and get him on the cheap for next season. Watch him on a court, and the first thing that comes to mind is not "naw, this won't work". I think he's worth a longer look. I'm biased, he's from my hometown Providence, but I think I'm objective in thinking it's too early to jettison Ledo. Maybe Cuban was slinging it when he called him possibly "a steal". Throw him out there. Let's find out.

Finestrg wrote:

Red wrote:

nixluva wrote:

nyk4ever wrote:watching him play tonight, you can tell this kid has offensive skill. he can create off the dribble and he's been looking to distribute, not just chuck. i hope we can turn this kid into something special.. seems like he definitely has the talent.

This is the perfect system for a kid like him. He'll learn to think the game and not just play dumb basketball. He'll learn to play more under control which should be good for him.

I think that's really the bottom line with Ledo. And in the two years with the Texas Legends of the D League, that may be where the development was slower then it perhaps should have been. Clearly, he has the tools. Did the Mavericks sense Ledo would never "get it"? Publicly, only good things were ever said of Ledo. And, as I mentioned in another thread, we can forget the so-called character issues; they don't exist. At the same time, he didn't set the D League on fire. But you can't watch the guy on a bb court and not see a player; one that should have everything it takes to succeed at this level. JMO of course.

I would try and get him on the cheap for next season. Watch him on a court, and the first thing that comes to mind is not "naw, this won't work". I think he's worth a longer look. I'm biased, he's from my hometown Providence, but I think I'm objective in thinking it's too early to jettison Ledo. Maybe Cuban was slinging it when he called him possibly "a steal". Throw him out there. Let's find out.

Agreed. Great posts and welcome!

BRIGGS wrote:Having Ricky Ledo is a Knick uniform is a disgrace. Whoever made the decision to bring him to the team should be fired. To allow someone who is clearly way out5 of shape on to the Knicks home-court from the D league is incredulous. So it''s ok to bring in a fat kid to play basketball? Its ok to allow someone out of shape to play NBA basketball in NY? He was an embarrassing disaster out there tonight.

FistOfOakley wrote:fringe nba guys who aren't self motivated to stay in the league at all costs are usually not worth it.... staying in shape is a pre-requesite...

i haven't seen much of him but he does look a little doughey...

Oh he's Pillsbury Soft alright. I just wouldn't hold it against him that much given his age and lack of experience. I think Ledo is still worth a look. This is a good little test drive and i'm sure he's growing to appreciate how much of a jump in levels it is going from D League to NBA. It should serve to motivate him to step it up this summer no matter where he ends up he'll need a higher level of conditioning.

if this is really who this guy is i can't see him staying on the team past this contract anyway... and then we are in the summer frenzy... no harm no foul...

The Knicks are likely his last shot. If they don't sign him to a 2nd 10 day, he'll probably be shopping what talent he does have overseas. I would still sign him for that 2nd 10 day. And if it's a question of a tough conditioning program and hard work, and the Knicks sense the drive/desire isn't what it needs to be, then I guess you don't take a chance on him beyond that. He blew it leaving Providence early. He listened to those saying he was a first rounder. He's had a hard lesson on what going in the 2nd round can do to a career. He's got to show the Knicks that there's a player there. And they need to believe that Ledo understands there is no let up if you want to remain at this level. He has to know this is his last shot at the NBA. If he doesn't act the part of a man fighting for his last shot in games, practice, and the weight room, then maybe that is the "character issue" that eliminates his shot at playing in the NBA.

The skills and talent are there. Ledo was often being guarded by Chris Paul who was making things difficult for Ledo and the defensive approach of the Clippers was to pressure the ball handler, so often he was doubled on the perimeter in an effort to slow him down or create a turnover. Just like the Memphis game, people have to acknowledge that this is one of the few times he's faced this level of NBA defense. I'm talking the highest levels of team defense. I'm personally not that put off by his performance. The game is a bit too fast for him but he's got to go thru this in order to make the adjustment. I still like him as a prospect and don't think there's any character issue with him in terms of a lack of preparation. Like many young players he still needs to get in better shape and to mature and get stronger. He's still young at 22. I think he's going to be pretty good once he is more developed. Still love his overall talent.

All this nonsense about being embarrassed is silly. Shved is too skinny and Ledo is a bit soft. I'm judging the skills and talent cuz we can always get these players in better condition.
When dealing with a prospect like Ledo you can't only go by how he looks in a less than optimal stage but what he'll look like after more time in your program and development. How much better you believe he can be. That's the nature of a prospect. You aren't looking at a finished product and don't judge them that way. When we have so many holes in the roster this is the kind of player you bring into your program and look to develop for the future. That's whey they call them Diamonds in the Rough. This seems to be lost on this Knicks fan base. No patience or sense of perspective. If they aren't playing like a superstar from day one they must be bums.