martin wrote:

HofstraBBall wrote:

nyknickzingis wrote:Positionally KP is a player who has not shown his defined position yet. The team has protected him because of his lack of power to play 5 because they don't want him being pushed around under the basket. So they've done the right thing. It has nothing to do with the Triangle, when KP came to the league it was clear his lack of power would hinder him from playing 5 full time. He has to add weight, but strength base. When he does that he want get rooted out or pushed around in the post.

I also want to see the team play with some athletic defensive wing players around KP/Willy. We have seen some great defense in lineups with KP at 4. Last season he played 4 all season as a starter and the defense was much better. RoLo did a good job protecting the rim and our defense was better as a team. This season not the case at all.

So I think it comes down to many factors. Not about Triangle alone.

For wins, we should play KP/Melo/Thomas.
For the current stretch, playing Willy/KP/Melo is ok, because the season is over from a W-L perspective.

Agree with most. Problem going forward is that Willy is a better 5 than KP. And KP cant defend stretch 4's. It was a joke when he was guarding Harris the other night. KP is obviously a much bigger impact on offense but where do you start him if your main goal is to have a better defensive unit? And as good as Willy can be, do you leave him as a back up to KP long term?

This is not a forgone conclusion is it? I don't know too many 2 second year players - especially with the underdeveloped body that KP has - that are complete defenders. Took Bruce Bowen like 10 years in the league before he was good. Was Kobe good in his first 2 years? No he was a jump shooting punk. Draymond Green was even WORSE than KP in all aspects of his game in his first 2 years than KP.

Patience and watch it grow.

Ofcourse he can improve. But to say a 7'3 guy will work into being able to cover the new type of stretch 4's in the league is, at best, being hopeful. Same as saying a guy that weighs 220 can cover and rebound over the true centers in the league. And we are both leaving out an important variable, to this, NOAH. if anyone thinks Phil is going to bench one of his big signings, they are in for a surprise.

HofstraBBall wrote:

martin wrote:

HofstraBBall wrote:

nyknickzingis wrote:Positionally KP is a player who has not shown his defined position yet. The team has protected him because of his lack of power to play 5 because they don't want him being pushed around under the basket. So they've done the right thing. It has nothing to do with the Triangle, when KP came to the league it was clear his lack of power would hinder him from playing 5 full time. He has to add weight, but strength base. When he does that he want get rooted out or pushed around in the post.

I also want to see the team play with some athletic defensive wing players around KP/Willy. We have seen some great defense in lineups with KP at 4. Last season he played 4 all season as a starter and the defense was much better. RoLo did a good job protecting the rim and our defense was better as a team. This season not the case at all.

So I think it comes down to many factors. Not about Triangle alone.

For wins, we should play KP/Melo/Thomas.
For the current stretch, playing Willy/KP/Melo is ok, because the season is over from a W-L perspective.

Agree with most. Problem going forward is that Willy is a better 5 than KP. And KP cant defend stretch 4's. It was a joke when he was guarding Harris the other night. KP is obviously a much bigger impact on offense but where do you start him if your main goal is to have a better defensive unit? And as good as Willy can be, do you leave him as a back up to KP long term?

This is not a forgone conclusion is it? I don't know too many 2 second year players - especially with the underdeveloped body that KP has - that are complete defenders. Took Bruce Bowen like 10 years in the league before he was good. Was Kobe good in his first 2 years? No he was a jump shooting punk. Draymond Green was even WORSE than KP in all aspects of his game in his first 2 years than KP.

Patience and watch it grow.

Ofcourse he can improve. But to say a 7'3 guy will work into being able to cover the new type of stretch 4's in the league is, at best, being hopeful. Same as saying a guy that weighs 220 can cover and rebound over the true centers in the league. And we are both leaving out an important variable, to this, NOAH. if anyone thinks Phil is going to bench one of his big signings, they are in for a surprise.

And you can also turn this around, would those 4s be able to cover a 7'3 guy in a few years, especially after he develops Dirk-like moves? Who are these stretch 4s that start that we are worried about? They should worry about KP.

martin wrote:

HofstraBBall wrote:

martin wrote:

HofstraBBall wrote:

nyknickzingis wrote:Positionally KP is a player who has not shown his defined position yet. The team has protected him because of his lack of power to play 5 because they don't want him being pushed around under the basket. So they've done the right thing. It has nothing to do with the Triangle, when KP came to the league it was clear his lack of power would hinder him from playing 5 full time. He has to add weight, but strength base. When he does that he want get rooted out or pushed around in the post.

I also want to see the team play with some athletic defensive wing players around KP/Willy. We have seen some great defense in lineups with KP at 4. Last season he played 4 all season as a starter and the defense was much better. RoLo did a good job protecting the rim and our defense was better as a team. This season not the case at all.

So I think it comes down to many factors. Not about Triangle alone.

For wins, we should play KP/Melo/Thomas.
For the current stretch, playing Willy/KP/Melo is ok, because the season is over from a W-L perspective.

Agree with most. Problem going forward is that Willy is a better 5 than KP. And KP cant defend stretch 4's. It was a joke when he was guarding Harris the other night. KP is obviously a much bigger impact on offense but where do you start him if your main goal is to have a better defensive unit? And as good as Willy can be, do you leave him as a back up to KP long term?

This is not a forgone conclusion is it? I don't know too many 2 second year players - especially with the underdeveloped body that KP has - that are complete defenders. Took Bruce Bowen like 10 years in the league before he was good. Was Kobe good in his first 2 years? No he was a jump shooting punk. Draymond Green was even WORSE than KP in all aspects of his game in his first 2 years than KP.

Patience and watch it grow.

Ofcourse he can improve. But to say a 7'3 guy will work into being able to cover the new type of stretch 4's in the league is, at best, being hopeful. Same as saying a guy that weighs 220 can cover and rebound over the true centers in the league. And we are both leaving out an important variable, to this, NOAH. if anyone thinks Phil is going to bench one of his big signings, they are in for a surprise.

And you can also turn this around, would those 4s be able to cover a 7'3 guy in a few years, especially after he develops Dirk-like moves? Who are these stretch 4s that start that we are worried about? They should worry about KP.

Anyone with a good 3pt. shot or that is a quick 4. So many. As that is what the league has become? Harris just the other night. Torched him on offense and KP came down to other end and shot soft 3pt. shots. Did not impose his size inside at all. Dirk Like moves? If he does, he would be a Hall of Famer. My point all year.

I think what we should do is use KP similar to how Pau Gasol was used with Phil Jackson as his coach. Start at 4, for short minutes, close the half and rest of the game at 5. Maybe 15 minutes at 4, about 20 at 5. This allows Willy to play at 5 as well and make his mark, and it would mean we would need a realible 4 that could play minutes for us, Maybe Lance Thomas and Kuz could help there as they are big enough to play 4.