I think, looking at the team as of now, I don't want to keep too large a rotation, although there's a lot of guys who can play. Frankly, I think the additions of Fred Jones and Dan Dickau could make Nate expendable in another trade (we'll see). I don't think Wilson Chandler plays at all. I *hope* Jared Jeffries and Jerome James don't play at all. With that, here's my lineup (and mock stats):

Starters:
C-Eddy Curry - 33 mpg --> 20 ppg, 7.0 rebs, 0.5 blks, 1 ast
PF-Zack Randolph - 32 mpg --> 17 ppg, 8.5 rebs, 0.3 blks, 2 asts (should play some center when Curry is out of the game)
SF-David Lee - 30 mpg --> 10 ppg, 9.5 rebs, 0.4 blks, 2 asts (should still play a lot of minutes should be at PF)
SG-Jamal Crawford - 30 mpg --> 16 ppg, 2.5 rebs, 0.1 blks, 4 asts (might slide over to play some PG when Steph sits)
PG-Stephon Marbury - 30 mpg --> 14 ppg, 2.5 rebs, 0.1 blks, 6 asts

Bench:
C-Randolph Morris - 8 mpg --> 1 ppg, 2 rebs, 0.3 blks, 0.2 ast
SF-Renaldo Balkman - 25 mpg --> 8 ppg, 6 rebs, 1.2 blks, 1 ast
SF/SG-Quentin Richardson - 25 mpg --> 10 ppg, 5 rebs, 0.1 blks, 1.5 ast
PG-Mardy Collins - 18 mpg --> 5 ppg, 2 rebs, 0.1 blk, 1.8 ast

Others (will somehow combine for the minimal remaining minutes -- not sure which of this group will even be on the team): Dan Dickau, Fred Jones, Jerome James, Jared Jeffries, Kelvin Cato, Wilson Chandler, Demetris Nichols, Malik Rose

So, as a team I see something like this:

102 ppg, 45 rebs, 3 blks per game (awful), 17+ asts

I think offensively, we're going to be very good. Defensively is going to be a huge issue, but we'll see. If the right guys get minutes and there's no attitude problems (which I'm doubting), I could see us possibly being a .500 team.

Thoughts?

No, Lee at SF is a pretty bad option. He will get plenty of minutes at C/PF because either Curry or Randolph will get into foul trouble.

My ideal line up:

Curry - 30 mins
Randolph - 38 mins
Balkman - 24 mins
Richardson - 30 mins
Marbury - 35 mins

Bench
Lee - 25/35 mins
Crawford - 25/35 mins
Jeffries - 10/15 mins
Collins - 10/15 mins
Chandler and Morris and Jerome - around 5 mins.
Nate and Malik would not see a single minute if I were the coach.

[Edited by - DarkKnicks on 30-06-2007 1:35 PM]

Curry 35 mins 20 pts, 7 Rebs
Randolph 35 Mins 20 Pts, 9 rebs
Lee 25 Mins 12 pts, 10 rebs, 1 stl
QRich 28 mins 16 pts, 7 rebs, 1 stl
Marbs 35 mins 16 pts, 8 assts, 1 stl

Bench
Craw 30 mins 16 pts, 5 assts
Balk 25 mins 11 pts, 6 rebs, 2 stls, 2 blks
Collins 15 mins 6 pts, 3 assts
Malik, Morris, Cato, Nate & Jones (if he stays) get time when necessary.
Wilson will probably not see the court excpt for the rare blowout!!

I would get rid of J. James, Dickau, and probaby J. Jeffries

If Zeke can get some kind of consistant defensive effort out of these guys, we should do well in the coming season. There still may be some kind of trade sooner or later.

[Edited by - Travla on 06-30-2007 13:15]

Yeah, Jefferies has no place here but he's Isiah's boy. So is Fred Jones. With that said, there's two possibilities:

If Quentin is healthy:
Curry
Randolf
Quentin
Crawford
Marbury

Not healthy:
Curry
Randolf
Jefferies
Crawford
Marbury

If Quentin AND Jefferies are on the roster and if Curry and Randolf are on the floor for big minutes, which WILL happen, then expect Lee and Balkman to have severely reduced minutes. Collins should have increased minutes with Francis gone now. Especially if it's true that Isiah really does hate Nate.

Posted by DarkKnicks:

Solace I agree that we have TOO MANY players that need to play some big minutes, but I think its better that we get rid of some of them than playing them out of position. In the case of Lee, as I said, I dont think he will have any problem in finding minutes. Who will take minutes away from him at PF or C from the bench? Malik? Morris? Jerome?¿?¿? I think it is safe to say that he will play around 30 minutes each night coming from the bench and especially considering Curry´s inability to stay out of foul trouble.

Well, here's the thing, Curry played 35 mpg last season. Randolph played 35 mpg last season. That's already 70 mpg. There's only 96 minutes between PF and C. If NOBODY else plays those two positions except Curry, Randoph and Lee, there's 26 remaining, which isn't enough. I also think we're going to play one of our other centers (Randolph Morris or Jerome James). They won't get 0 mpg for the season. So Lee is going to have to play some minutes out of position here and there, or he won't hit 30 mpg... and really if he's not playing 30 mpg we're cutting ourselves short, and should trade him.

I agree with that. Ideally, Curry and Zack for 30 mpg per game each would be enough. Frankly, I thought Curry was tiring too much when he played major minutes, which I think was part of the reason for his terrible defense last year.

I think this is pretty much the first half sub pattern - 2nd half is more matchups depending on the situations

0:00 - 10:00
Curry - Randolph - Jeff - Q - Marbs

10:00 - 16:00
Randolph - Lee - Balkman - Craw - Collins

16:00 - 24:00
Curry - Lee - Q - Craw - Marbs

Posted by VDesai:

Zach will score more than Eddy. I get the feeling Fred Jones plays a lot next year.

Expected sequence:

Eddy offensive foul
Eddy miss layup
Zack scores
Zack scores
Zack Miss
Eddy Dunks
Eddy offensive foul
Zack scores
Zack Miss
Zack Scores
Zack scores
Zack Miss
Zack Scores
Zack Miss
Zack scores
Zack Miss
Eddy Dunks

NY down 40-55 after first half... LOL

Posted by VDesai:

Zach will score more than Eddy. I get the feeling Fred Jones plays a lot next year.

I've always liked Fred Jones as a ball-player. good perimeter defender and attacks the rim on O his outside shot isn't pretty but it goes in sometimes

Marbury will probably have more pick and pop opportunities with Zach.