McK1 wrote:Mikki Mooore...aka the guy David Lee was responsible for...was invisible offensively the entire game. HOWEVER,
Azabuke, aka Danilo's man..Ellis, Duhon's man..and Steven Jax, Chandler's man lit the Knicks up
Early in the game watch Lee, who had to cover Azabuke on the outside, get beat off the dribble without a fake. He ends up doing what some of you call the "jazz hands," instead of going for an attempted block. For what it is worth, I thought that Gallo, then guarding Moore, did not recognize the rotation, and he should have come over for a potential block, but Lee showed no tenacity on the play.
The next time down, Ellis blows by Duhon, and Lee, who should have attempted to block the shot, is on the floor watching a foot away, no attempt at a block, while Ellis lays it in.
The next time down, Gallo is sagging low to help in the middle because Chandler's man is driving into the paint with nobody in front of him, the ball is kicked out to Asabuke, Gallo comes running out to help, and Azabuke goes around him (while Gallo is picked off by Jackson) and has a clear path to the basket. Lee is slow to rotate, and attempts a very half-hearted block.
I like Lee, but for a guy who was known as a pretty good leaper, who had nice agility stats at the combine, he is a terrible help defender and shot blocker. He has almost become a purely offensive player and rebounder, with little or no contribution on the defensive end. He really needs a shot blocking C to play with if he is to be utilized properly. I understand he is playing out of position, but that does not excuse his lack of toughness as an interior defender.
There is no reason with his athletic ability that he should not be blocking some shots. Ironically, Gallinari is third on the team win blocks behind Chandler and Jeffries- even Hughes and Harrington have more blocks than Lee.
Time for Hill to start getting significant minutes.
No man is happy without a delusion of some kind. Delusions are as necessary to our happiness as realities- C.N. Bovee
