[ IMAGES: Images ON turn off | ACCOUNT: User Status is LOCKED why? ]

Ariza v. Balkman
Forum Index  ›  NY Knicks Forum
Page 1 of 2  1  2 Next ›
« Reply To Topic
Author Thread
TheGame
Posts: 26657
Alba Posts: 0
Joined: 7/15/2006
Member: #1154
USA
3/27/2007  11:00 AM
Last night was the first time I recall them playing head-to-head. Ariza looks better than when he was here. He seemed more in control of what he was trying to do out on the court and had a few nice plays. Balkman had a larger impact on the game and IMO is a more active player both offensively and defensively. His inexperience showed and he, like Ariza, cannot shoot. Overall, I am glad that Ariza is doing well but I think Balkman has more potential as an impact player if he can learn to shoot effectively from the field and at the free-throw line.
Trust the Process
AUTOADVERT
oohah
Posts: 26600
Alba Posts: 0
Joined: 4/7/2005
Member: #887
3/27/2007  11:05 AM
They are about the same player! It's amazing!

I think Ariza has just a tad more raw athleticism, but balkman is mroe tenacious and a better dribbler. Ariza is a better passer, but Balkman ain't bad. I wish we had them both.

Ariza's handle looks much improved. That is why we shouldn't give up on young players who show ability.

oohah

Good luck Mike D'Antoni, 'cause you ain't never seen nothing like this before!
nixluva
Posts: 56258
Alba Posts: 0
Joined: 10/5/2004
Member: #758
USA
3/27/2007  11:06 AM
I still like Ariza, but MAN that Balkman is a bundle of energy and if that guy EVER gets an offensive game at all, he's gonna be a big player for us. This summer he needs to be assigned a shooting coach and he needs to hit the weight room a bit, to build up his upper body. He just shows how far off some of our other guys are effort wise. It's a shame too. While not everyone has his motor, surely they can play harder than they do.

Balkman is ahead of where Ariza was when we got him, but it's funny how LB thought he was garbage and just one season later the guy is doing some of the things we felt he could do. SAD, just freakin sad. Now we're stuck with this bum Francis.
MS
Posts: 27064
Alba Posts: 0
Joined: 7/28/2004
Member: #724
3/27/2007  12:10 PM
Blame isiah, if he had any backbone the kid would still be here instead of sulky francis eating up a roster spot and bringing nothing to the table. And we wouldn't have to look at jefferies big lips for the next five years. Unreal this kid got less than 1.5 and jefferies got 5, isiah loves charity work
BigSm00th
Posts: 24504
Alba Posts: 0
Joined: 12/9/2001
Member: #178
USA
3/27/2007  12:38 PM
balkman fo sho
#Knickstaps
playa2
Posts: 34922
Alba Posts: 15
Joined: 5/15/2003
Member: #407
3/27/2007  12:57 PM
Only difference I see is ariza has been in the league a tad longer.



Both when inserted can make an impact the game
JAMES DOLAN on Isiah : He's a good friend of mine and of the organization and I will continue to solicit his views. He will always have strong ties to me and the team.
MaTT4281
Posts: 35345
Alba Posts: 4
Joined: 1/16/2004
Member: #538
USA
3/27/2007  2:00 PM
Love both players. I still wear my Ariza jersey with pride.
Easy to complain about how we could have had both, but had we kept Ariza, would we have drafted Balkman? (Ah screw it, we would have had Williams instead of Francis...go ahead and take your shots.)
nixluva
Posts: 56258
Alba Posts: 0
Joined: 10/5/2004
Member: #758
USA
3/27/2007  2:17 PM
Posted by MS:

Blame isiah, if he had any backbone the kid would still be here instead of sulky francis eating up a roster spot and bringing nothing to the table. And we wouldn't have to look at jefferies big lips for the next five years. Unreal this kid got less than 1.5 and jefferies got 5, isiah loves charity work

Funny Jared kind of reminds of a Fish with it's lips puckered up

I Like Ariza, but I don't have that much of a problem with Jared being on the team. If he improves on his FT's and finishing at the basket, he is a useful role player. Still the Ariza trade is one of the worst moves Isiah has made. It just didn't make sense and now it looks even worse. Francis hasn't been able to provide a boost to the offense on a consistent basis and is often detrimental. He's just a poor fit for a post up team, cuz he's not comfortable spotting up and taking the open jumper.

Watching Balkman, his shot isn't that bad. It's a bit long and thus I think there's plenty of time for things to go wrong with it. If he was taught to shorten the stroke a bit and if he REALLY gets serious about it this summer I think he can improve. Ariza has come a LOOOOONG way with his scoring ability. It just shows you that with work you can improve. All of these guys are young and it's not that unusual for them to need work on their shot. Collins is the same way. He has the D and hustle already, we just need him to be a bit more dependable on offense, so teams will respect him out there. In Collins case I think he looks a bit heavy. He's not in that great a shape. I can see he's not very cut and the weight seems to slow him down just a bit. He needs to hit the gym this summer and really get in great shape.
technomaster
Posts: 23358
Alba Posts: 0
Joined: 6/30/2003
Member: #426
USA
3/27/2007  2:27 PM
Well, a subtle difference is that Balkman seems to react very instinctively on both ends of the floor. The ball is in and out of his hands quickly... and he's constantly moving.

Maybe it's part of the system in Orlando, but Ariza has a tendency to look like he's thinking when the balls in his hands and holds on to the ball a little longer (well, yeah, he looking for the open man)... and there are times when he's just standing there.

Ariza might be a slightly better athlete and has put up pretty good stats, but it sure seems like Balkman has "it" - innate basketball IQ. He seems like a natural out there.
“That was two, two from the heart.” - John Starks
efw
Posts: 20669
Alba Posts: 0
Joined: 10/10/2005
Member: #1002
3/27/2007  2:32 PM
Posted by technomaster:

Well, a subtle difference is that Balkman seems to react very instinctively on both ends of the floor. The ball is in and out of his hands quickly... and he's constantly moving.

Maybe it's part of the system in Orlando, but Ariza has a tendency to look like he's thinking when the balls in his hands and holds on to the ball a little longer (well, yeah, he looking for the open man)... and there are times when he's just standing there.

Ariza might be a slightly better athlete and has put up pretty good stats, but it sure seems like Balkman has "it" - innate basketball IQ. He seems like a natural out there.

i agree with you. While it's obvious he has a lot of work to do, his instincts are spot on. Even when he's flailing around helter-skelter, he still looks in control. Part of that is being extremely athletic, but I think he understands defense in a way most players don't.

I don't think he'll ever become a great shooter-most players by his stage of the game have some semblance of a shot. But as long as he can occasionally hit a 15 footer to keep defenses honest, that's all I need to see. Hopefully we'll get a 2 guard who can handle the scoring duties.
Pharzeone
Posts: 32183
Alba Posts: 14
Joined: 2/11/2005
Member: #871
3/27/2007  2:36 PM
Ariza will always be my guy. But I can't doubt Balkman anymore. The guy can really play and he hasn't something Reezy doesn't. Ball handle. Ariza is a better passer than Balkman and a better slasher but Balkman is the better rebounder, blocker and defensive player than Ariza. 2 Nice draft picks by Thomas. Neither can shoot much though Balkman looks like he could develop just based on how he improved his freethrows.
I don't like to play bad rookies , I like to play good rookies - Mike D'Antoni
bitty41
Posts: 22316
Alba Posts: 5
Joined: 12/3/2006
Member: #1215
3/27/2007  2:53 PM
They both have a very long ways to go in terms of cultivating a game worthy of a legit NBA starting position.
JrZyHuStLa
Posts: 25677
Alba Posts: 3
Joined: 1/5/2007
Member: #1241
3/27/2007  3:02 PM
They both have a long way to go, but from what we've seen so far, Balkman can change the game, Ariza can 't.
bitty41
Posts: 22316
Alba Posts: 5
Joined: 12/3/2006
Member: #1215
3/27/2007  3:09 PM
Posted by JrZyHuStLa:

They both have a long way to go, but from what we've seen so far, Balkman can change the game, Ariza can 't.

What exactly does Balkman do that Ariza doesn't do?

efw
Posts: 20669
Alba Posts: 0
Joined: 10/10/2005
Member: #1002
3/27/2007  3:10 PM
Posted by bitty41:
Posted by JrZyHuStLa:

They both have a long way to go, but from what we've seen so far, Balkman can change the game, Ariza can 't.

What exactly does Balkman do that Ariza doesn't do?

bounce the ball off the floor. not his foot.
TheGame
Posts: 26657
Alba Posts: 0
Joined: 7/15/2006
Member: #1154
USA
3/27/2007  3:24 PM
Posted by bitty41:
Posted by JrZyHuStLa:

They both have a long way to go, but from what we've seen so far, Balkman can change the game, Ariza can 't.

What exactly does Balkman do that Ariza doesn't do?

Balkman is a more active player and his ability to grab the rebound and start the break will become a big weapon once the team gets used to him doing that. I anticipate that the difference between the two players will become more pronounced after Balkman gets the summer to work on his weaknesses.
Trust the Process
JohnWallace44
Posts: 25119
Alba Posts: 1
Joined: 6/14/2005
Member: #910
USA
3/27/2007  3:55 PM
I'd love to see Balk run the point forward if we had more people to run with him.
Alan Hahn: Nate Robinson has been on a ridonkulous scoring tear lately (remember when he couldn't hit Jerome James with a Big Mac in early January?)
djsunyc
Posts: 44929
Alba Posts: 42
Joined: 1/16/2004
Member: #536
3/27/2007  3:58 PM
Posted by JohnWallace44:

I'd love to see Balk run the point forward if we had more people to run with him.

balkman can not run a point forward.

he can bring the ball up the court...albeit out of control.
Nalod
Posts: 72394
Alba Posts: 155
Joined: 12/24/2003
Member: #508
USA
3/27/2007  4:04 PM
Reezy would change a game with steals and run the wing. Balky does the same ting.

PUn intended.

Balky I could see as being the object of PHX's affection and he would have been great there.

I would rathter have Williams and Reezy with Penny's contract off the books than just Balky.

Whats done is done. I like Balky!
Finestrg
Posts: 27296
Alba Posts: 1
Joined: 1/1/2006
Member: #1069
3/27/2007  4:12 PM
Posted by TheGame:

Last night was the first time I recall them playing head-to-head. Ariza looks better than when he was here. He seemed more in control of what he was trying to do out on the court and had a few nice plays. Balkman had a larger impact on the game and IMO is a more active player both offensively and defensively. His inexperience showed and he, like Ariza, cannot shoot. Overall, I am glad that Ariza is doing well but I think Balkman has more potential as an impact player if he can learn to shoot effectively from the field and at the free-throw line.

Completely agree. Well said.
Page 1 of 2  1  2 Next ›
« Reply To Topic
Ariza v. Balkman
Forum Index  ›  NY Knicks Forum

©2001-2025 ultimateknicks.comm All rights reserved. About Us.
This site is not affiliated with the NY Knicks or the National Basketball Association in any way.
You may visit the official NY Knicks web site by clicking here.

All times (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time.

Terms of Use and Privacy Policy