If you haven't seen Nichols play, they are replaying the Cuse vs Louisville game on ESPNU at 9:30. Then at 12:30 they are replaying the Cuse vs ND at 12:30.

Thanks for the heads up.

Yeah I saw the game, but unfortunately they cut several parts of the game and wouldn't you know it those parts were when Nichols decided to start scoring. He started off poorly going 0-4. He had a better 2nd half and you could see his game. He indeed did run around like Rip and he has a sweet midrange fade away. He's long and quick. He releases high and quick and his shot rainbows down softly. He's 6-8 but to me he plays like a SG not a SF. Even with the limited views I got of him, you can see this guy has an NBA sniper type of game and perhaps more. If he gets a pick he'll be DEADLY. I just can't imagine him not making the team. He's exactly what we need.

Posted by nixluva:

Yeah I saw the game, but unfortunately they cut several parts of the game and wouldn't you know it those parts were when Nichols decided to start scoring. He started off poorly going 0-4. He had a better 2nd half and you could see his game. He indeed did run around like Rip and he has a sweet midrange fade away. He's long and quick. He releases high and quick and his shot rainbows down softly. He's 6-8 but to me he plays like a SG not a SF. Even with the limited views I got of him, you can see this guy has an NBA sniper type of game and perhaps more. If he gets a pick he'll be DEADLY. I just can't imagine him not making the team. He's exactly what we need.

He was projected to be a SG on SportingNews mock sometime ago. I had him as a late 1st and 2nd early round. This was a nice pickup for Isiah. I hope he makes the team. Only reason why he wouldn't is because of vet contracts. I rather see him and Chandler go to the NBDL and get real playing time. When are the Knicks going to utilize the NBDL?

Posted by nixluva:

I don't think isiah likes the idea of the NBDL. I think he wants the players to be under him so he can really monitor their development.

It makes you wonder why the Knicks haven't bought an NBDL team that they can control.

They really should. Guys like Collins could have developed even more if we had our own team. CHandler, Nichols and Morris need to be in the D-league working on their games under the coaching staffs' supervision.

In order to be a truly be a steal of Michael Redd/Carlos Boozer proportions, a player needs the opportunity to play.

It would be extremely unlikely that Nichols sees the light of day with scorers like Marbury & Crawford manning the backcourt.

Shot distribution on the Knicks remains a complicated issue. I'd imagine that the Knicks still envision Curry and Crawford to be 18-20ppg scorers. You'd think Marbury would want to at least stay in the 16-18ppg range. We'd hope David Lee could still keep up his 10/10 numbers. That's about 65 points covered. What can Randolph do? Is there room for 15ppg for him? That'd bring us up to 80ppg. We'd probably get 10ppg out of Nate, so we're at 90ppg now. The rest of the scraps could be 5ppg scorers among 2-4 players, assuming the goal is to be a 110ppg scoring team. It'll be interesting to see how Q-Rich returns. And it remains to be seen how much Balkman/Mardy can do after a year of seasoning. Mardy apparently is now the primary backup PG, unless Dickau/Jones are kept on board. Mardy's could make him a more valuable player than any of our other guards (except Crawford) in crunch time, where his height/size would make it easier to execute entry-passes to the post.

So that leaves us with Nichols/Chandler. I don't think there's immediate need for them now - other than as Q-Rich's understudies. The could be valuable floor spreaders in limited minutes... and they're fabulous injury insurance, but I don't think they'll be getting major burn.

I see Nichols performing the way DerMarr did. Not very much.

Chandler, on the other hand, actually looks like he's got the physical coordination/talent to develop into a Gerald Wallace type. (hey, so does Balkman - though Balkman doesn't really seem all that interested in becoming a scorer beyond being a scrappy finisher)

Neither Nichols or Chandler have to have huge impact right away. Just the idea of having that kind of talent being nurtured is the point. This is a team of the present and future. We have a good 5-7 year window with the guys we have. I'm just glad that we picked up such good prospects that can fill our needs in the future.

Posted by nixluva:

Yeah I saw the game, but unfortunately they cut several parts of the game and wouldn't you know it those parts were when Nichols decided to start scoring. He started off poorly going 0-4. He had a better 2nd half and you could see his game. He indeed did run around like Rip and he has a sweet midrange fade away. He's long and quick. He releases high and quick and his shot rainbows down softly. He's 6-8 but to me he plays like a SG not a SF. Even with the limited views I got of him, you can see this guy has an NBA sniper type of game and perhaps more. If he gets a pick he'll be DEADLY. I just can't imagine him not making the team. He's exactly what we need.

I was hopeing for that. Thats very good news. Im liking the Nichols & Chandler selections because they are both long atheltes. Chandler is said to have a developing perimeter game to go along with crazy atheltism and has star potential. Nichols is said to be a excellent shooter. Im liking the potential they could have as a tandem.

Since Thursday, I have pretty much only heard positives about this kid. If he is so good, can someone explain to me how his name never came up with the other shooters of the draft, or what his biggest set backs are that dropped him nearly 30 picks from guys like Cook/Almond/Fernandez?

It seems too good to be true, and over the past few years, it usually has been.

Posted by MaTT4281:

Since Thursday, I have pretty much only heard positives about this kid. If he is so good, can someone explain to me how his name never came up with the other shooters of the draft, or what his biggest set backs are that dropped him nearly 30 picks from guys like Cook/Almond/Fernandez?

It seems too good to be true, and over the past few years, it usually has been.

He's not really an athlete, but I thought he could sneak into the first. He's also a bit of a 1 year wonder...last year he showed a massive amount of improvement.

Posted by nixluva:

I don't think isiah likes the idea of the NBDL. I think he wants the players to be under him so he can really monitor their development.

It makes you wonder why the Knicks haven't bought an NBDL team that they can control.

Because Isiah is still bitter that he couldn't flip the CBA to the NBA for a huge profit.

The NBA probably won't let Isiah be anywhere associated with controlling a developmental league franchise after that fiasco.