martin wrote:Strange to me to see posters who are first to complain about MDA not being defensive enough are the same who are also complaining about the Iman pick.

I want to say that adding the reason that you don't like the pick because MDA will have this kid in the doghouse is using MDA as a prop for not liking the pick instead of looking at the player himself.

The Knicks need defensive players. Getting a starter at #17 is an iffy situation at best for any team. And with CP3 on the horizon, Iman will probably be coming off bench anyway, and then the Knicks got either a long-term project at PG/SG and a right now defender at those positions for a long time.

I would rather have this pick over someone like Jimmer almost all day long with Melo and Amare on the team. I want to say that the 1 thing NBA players gain after they get into the league is shooting; defense is probably the last.

Excellent post. agreed on the shooting. How many athletic guards enter the league with shooting being the main weakness and they progress, the dedicated ones improve in that area tremendously.

Derrick Rose was a poor shooter in college now is a reliable jumpshooter, and the list goes on: Iggy, DeRozon, Sprewell, Wade, Tyrik Evans, Holiday, Jason Richardson, etc. I will say one thing though, I think the Knicks do this kid a diservice if they force him to play exclusive point. I think he's more of a 2 guard.

martin wrote:Strange to me to see posters who are first to complain about MDA not being defensive enough are the same who are also complaining about the Iman pick.

I want to say that adding the reason that you don't like the pick because MDA will have this kid in the doghouse is using MDA as a prop for not liking the pick instead of looking at the player himself.

The Knicks need defensive players. Getting a starter at #17 is an iffy situation at best for any team. And with CP3 on the horizon, Iman will probably be coming off bench anyway, and then the Knicks got either a long-term project at PG/SG and a right now defender at those positions for a long time.

I would rather have this pick over someone like Jimmer almost all day long with Melo and Amare on the team. I want to say that the 1 thing NBA players gain after they get into the league is shooting; defense is probably the last.

islesfan wrote:

AnubisADL wrote:

That was a fair scouting report. Absolutely can help with perimeter defense. Offensively he's shockingly bad. He wasn't just missing his medium range jumpers, he was missing badly. There is zero reason to believe that this guy can run an offense or be a shooting guard.

Shockingly bad is like... exaggerating...

Jeffries is shockingly bad on offense. Iman is mediocre at worst, though we will see soon. But remember, we needed a guy that can help us without having to be a main focus on offense because for that we have Melo, Amare, Billups and even Douglas off the bench. If the guy can penetrate a few times and hit a few shots while doing his main job of handling the pick-n-roll and defending, the guy will be great.

TheGame wrote:The reason the Knicks drafted this guy is because he was the only player in the draft who looked like he might be able to guard a D-Wade or Derrick Rose, and you are not getting through Chicago or Miami unless you can guard those two. It is that simply. The Knicks are hoping on a wing and prayer that this kid can develop a more consistent jumpshot and that he can run a team for a few minutes a game, but the reason he was drafted was because of D-Wade, Rondo, and Derrick Rose.

I wouldn't say it was the only reason, but it certainly was one of them.

Knicks know Amare, Melo gonna be on the court at end of games. They also needed backcourt help.

Prob had Shumpert and Singleton rated the same, looked at their roster and chose the obvious weak spot.

I think Shumpert's shooting over the past weeks also indicated that he was better than he showed during collegiate career.

Iman Shumpert Live Chat
Friday June 24, 2011

NYK: Hey it's Iman. I appreciate all the welcomes to New York City. I'm going to do my best to work hard every day and bring a championship to New York.
1:11

Comment From ghaffar.mahmood
What can you bring to the table of an already talented knicks team?
1:11

NYK: A defensive mindset at the guard position. Also i think I bring a lot of athleticism.
1:11
Comment From bibbin.george1
What are your thoughts on playing in Mike D'antoni's system?
1:12

NYK: I love him as a coach! I've been watching him since I was in high school just watching and seeing that he's got that big basketball mind. He's someone I want to learn so much from. Every time I have a conversation with him I want to learn as much as I can. I'm just bring a sponge.
1:12
Comment From john.soohoo
how does it feel knowing that your going to pass the ball to the likes of Melo and STAT
1:13

NYK: Oh that's gonna make my decision making a lot easier! They take a lot of pressure off you offensively. I can play free knowing I can play off those guys. I will get a ton of open shots. Now I got to knock them down!
1:13

Comment From harlemdakid.daytwon.telfair
welcome to the new york knicks
1:13

NYK: Thanks! Can't wait for the season to start!
1:14

Comment From ghaffar.mahmood
The team needs help defensively. How are you as a defensive player and what can you do to become better defensively?
1:15

NYK: I think I am a good on the ball defender as well as playing passing lanes. What I have to get better at is not taking so many chances. It had a lot to do with us losing this year. I took a lot of gambling to take intiative to get a win. I have to tone down the gambling and continue playing solid defense.
1:15

Comment From daniel.rovin
What excites you the most about playing in NYC and with this Knicks team?
1:16

NYK: With this Knicks team what excites me the most is to play with Chauncey Billups, someone I have idolized for a long time. Most about the city is I know Knicks fans are die hard. I grew up a Bulls fan, and for the Knicks to now have me, everyone in my camp is a Knicks fan. I wore orange and blue in high school, so I have no problem wearing it now!
1:16

Comment From אלירן.אברמוב
are you ready to open up "Iman Island" !
1:16

NYK: I look forward to being a lockdown defender.
1:16

Comment From joe.calabrese
Welcome Iman! For those of us not too familiar with your game, is there an NBA player you could compare yourself to?
1:17

NYK: I don't like to compare myself. I just play the hardest I can and be the best I can be.
1:17
Comment From rhonda.dearborn
welcome! Can you run the P&R with Amar'e?
1:18

NYK: Oh yea! I feel like me and Amar'e playing the pick and roll will put a lot of pressure on whoever is trying to defend us.
1:18

Comment From javier.hernandez
What's your work ethic like?
1:18

NYK: I'm a gym rat. No days off.
1:18

Comment From elan.tanen
are you ready to guard players like kobe, d-wade, ray allen, or derrick rose?
1:18

NYK: I look forward to the challenge.
1:19

Comment From rahsaan.venable
What are your first impressions of New York City and playing in Madison Square Garden?
1:19

NYK: It's the biggest stage. The big stage brings the most out of big players so I am excited to see exactly what I can do. I know that being on a stage like this will bring the best out of me.
1:20

Comment From teardrop.jones
From your perspective, what do you think the Knicks need to win a championship at this point?
1:21

NYK: Now we just need a bigger defensive presence as a whole, and we need to make sure people don't get second chances. If we can make people get one shot every possession, I think we will be in a better position to win games.
1:22

NYK: Alright, thanks everyone for joining me. I look forward to playing my heart out each and every day. Can't wait to see you all at The Garden!
1:22

TheGame wrote:Here is NBADraft.net's take on the Knick's pick (they gave us a D):

This is going to be fun, because there is little doubt that people will give the Knicks the benefit of the doubt in this draft because of the success of Landry Fields. The problem is that in 2010 when he ran the point with Derrick Favors and Gani Lawal, his poor point play was widely panned as the reason Favors had an underwhelming season. He then became the featured player in the Georgia Tech offense this past year, and was an inefficient scorer and mediocre distributor. He will get out and defend incredibly well, but when has there been an NBA team with a defensive specialist who touches the ball on every possession and initiates the offense? There is a reason those guys do not exist. If the Knicks envision him as a shooting guard, can a shooting guard in the Mike D’Antoni system get on the floor when he cannot consistently knock down an open three? The Knicks bought a second round pick and took Josh Harrellson who will set screens, rebound, and hit an open shot. It's difficult to imagine him making an NBA team however.

_______

I cannot say I disagree, but I guess we will know in about 4 months.

-------

Call it the Landry Fields factor, but I'm starting to love people overlooking our picks. Who really knows what will happen, but Im sure these players will take notice of all the talk and come here with the attitude of proving everybody wrong.

TymeLessKnicks wrote:

knickstorrents wrote:Holy **** he's fast.

Tymeless - where did you move from and how did you become a Knick fan?

just moved from brooklyn. lived in ny for many years, hence knick fan.

wow good luck. new job?

martin wrote:

TymeLessKnicks wrote:

knickstorrents wrote:Holy **** he's fast.

Tymeless - where did you move from and how did you become a Knick fan?

just moved from brooklyn. lived in ny for many years, hence knick fan.

wow good luck. new job?

thanks! yeah new job.

BasketballJones - They are hot!