This is a big season for Mardy. He was coming off a serious injury last season and didn't impress. He wasn't able to work on his skills last summer and seemed to be playing hurt at the beginning of last season. Just a few days ago, I think most of us were ready to give up on him. But he did have a good first game in the summer league.

He's a guy that plays hard and plays smart. No one questions his d. He does need to run the offense better when he's playing the point. And he has to develop a more consistent jumper. He did look like he was addressing his problem areas yesterday. I almost wish Nate wasn't coming, because I want to see more of what Mardy can do.

[Edited by - ira on 07-15-2008 4:32 PM]

I just think he's a limited player when all is said and done. To me his absolute ceiling is as a 6th man. Hope I'm wrong, but thats just what I see.

It was nice to see him healthy, leaner and looking to improve yesterday. He's looking like he could be a good second teamer.

No matter what, he's a lot better than the 3rd string PG's we've had in the past. At least he's not making $6MM for it.

I don't understand how people ever use SG and Mardy Collins in the same sentence.
In what way is he a SG? Just because he may not be as good a PG as we would like
doesn't make him a SG. Please explain how he's a SG.

Posted by Panos:

I don't understand how people ever use SG and Mardy Collins in the same sentence.
In what way is he a SG? Just because he may not be as good a PG as we would like
doesn't make him a SG. Please explain how he's a SG.

I think in a SG scenario he would not normally bring the ball up the court. When he gets the ball
I imagine he would drive and if no shot was available he would kick it out. So he would sort of
be part time pg sort of SG. Make sense?
I think Isiah envisioned him developing a shot, cause he would refer to him as capable of playing SG (has the size and D, not O from the outside).

He clearly didn't have his shot from the outside last year. I'd be interested to see if he keeps
up this good play. I thought he was doing above good before the injury and he was never the same
again.

EMS

Nothing yesterday makes me think that he can't be a good backup PG. If you look at his line, it was similar to the numbers he was putting up at the end of his rookie season. He seems to have a confidence issue, but when he gets playing time, he gradually regains it and becomes a decent player.

I am holding back judgement on whether or not his shot has improved enough to allow him to hit the open jumper when defenders give him some space, or he if he is passed to when open. His shooting form looked good yesterday, but that was only one game. He played decent D. His weight is down. And he is not injured. He also had 5 assists. and 6 rebounds. I think that if D'Antoni lets him play, he will respond and become an important rotational player, but he has to hit that jumper, and he can't get discouraged if he has a bad game now and then.

He is a legit 6'4", and has the body of an NBA shooting guard and has decent athletic ability. I would say that this should be his last year on the Knicks if he cannot learn to shoot, but if he can, Mardy is someone who can play on a winning team and contribute.

[Edited by - Paladin55 on 07-15-2008 6:49 PM]

Posted by sebstar:

I just think he's a limited player when all is said and done. To me his absolute ceiling is as a 6th man. Hope I'm wrong, but thats just what I see.

Don't you mean he's 'one dimensional'? Like they been calling Lee?

Mardy can fill an important need for the Knicks. He can guard the opponents SG and play point when our undersized SG are playing (Nate and Roberson). And Nate and Roberson guard the teams point Guard.

[Edited by - markji on 07-16-2008 07:45 AM]

[Edited by - markji on 07-16-2008 07:46 AM]

Posted by Markji:

Mardy can fill an important need for the Knicks. He can guard the opponents SG and play point when our undersized SG are playing (Nate and Roberson). And Nate and Roberson guard the teams point Guard.

[Edited by - markji on 07-16-2008 07:45 AM]

[Edited by - markji on 07-16-2008 07:46 AM]

D'Anton runs an 8 man rotation. There is no minutes for a player that can not shoot, push the tempo or pass to setup players. If the Knicks had faith in Mardy they would not have signed Duhon or Roberson.

Mardy is young, inexpensive and a back-up. He can develop but now he is back-up. No big deal. But he does have some value.

Even if D'Antoni runs an 8 man offence, we still need/have 15 players on the roster. Mardy is in the 9 to 15 range. I also think D'A will use more than 8 players. Everything is new and he will test some players and cominations on the floor and work with the players to find a good line-up.