all of this stuff that Turriaf might start or Randolph to skinny---AR was pulling down roughly 25% more rebounds per minute that Turriaf. Since we lost lee(the 2 or 3rd best rebounder in the game) one area that goes way down is rebounding. We do have length but in terms of proven rebounding--we are weak and rebounding is a high caliber stat in the game of basketball no rebounds=no rings. With increased body weight Randolph will only become a better re-bounder and with that much more talent than Turriaf--should easily take the 5 position at nearly 7 feet 230 or so. I still question the third big--we give up rebounding--gallo and chandler will help but I still am not adding the numbers up that look good. I question where the rebounds will come from--when i figured bench enhancement--thought the knick management would find a third big(to me turriaf is not a top 3 line player in a really good team) but that has not taken place. At worst I think bring back Barron--he was giving us the best rebounding production we have had in years besides Lee and Z Randolph--at the very least bring back earl.

thought we were at 15 with the Mason Jr signing?

Randolph @ Center is the typical move the fans want to make but a coach will never make.

Works great in 2k10... I think would even work in real life but.. I just dont see D'Antoni doin that. Unless Randolph bulks up..

we'll see.

Think Van Gundy with Camby in 99.. BENCH

maybe 92%

Briggs- I think that Turiaf will start at the 5 spot to start the season, primarily because of what he has going for him between his ears.

D'Antoni doesn't start the best five talents- he starts the best five guys that understand and can execute his system.

I see Randolph off the bench, to start at least.

Rebounds are going to have to be a team effort - Gallo at the 3 should be a net advantage us, as should Gallo.

Its when we go small that we will hurt.

We better shoot a high percentage!

My biggest concern about Randolph is injuries. Adding too much muscle on a thin frame that isn't able to support that weight could make him more injury prone.

My thing is why subject Randolph to the pounding that goes with guarding bigger/stronger guys possession after possession? I don't want anything to interfere with him playing at optimum level -- I don't want him sore, I don't want him worn down, I don't want him fatigued to the point where he's not doing what he's capable of doing, I certainly don't want him injuried and I don't want him in foul trouble --- these are some of the risks you run by shoehorning this kid in at the 5 full-time imo...82 games (and hopefully the playoffs) isn't a sprint, it's a marathon..I for one want this kid as fresh as possible and I would do what I had to do to ensure that's the case.. I look at AR as one of our best players now -- I prefer he start games this way we can go with one of our best weapons right outta the gate although as I said before on the other thread, it doesn't really matter as long as he's getting big minutes to showcase his talent (maybe Mike finds he's a better fit coming in with the 2nd unit and DOMINATING). Bottom line is we traded David Lee to get this kid..I want MDA to justify the trade right off the bat by giving this kid all the minutes he can handle, basically all the minutes Don Nelson failed to give him..He's too talented on both ends of the floor to not trust him with more responsibility at this stage. His feet are already wet - now it's time for the next step..I don't want him looking over his shoulder anymore everytime he makes a mistake--I want him to concentrate on playing a lot more freely now, mistakes and all (yes, that is a little dig at coach Nelson).. I understand he's young and he'll make mistakes along the way -- I don't friggin' care. I'll live with those mistakes. He should round out accordingly...As long as he's giving effort and we put him in the right situation to succeed where he's able to maintain max. effort, the pluses will outweigh any minuses along the way. He's too good a talent to bring along piece-meal anymore. He was the major component in this trade and I want him treated accordingly..

Having said that, I don't want him playing out of position unnecessarily. A couple of things to consider:

1) I agree with rebounding being a concern now that Lee's gone...Amar'e's a lot of things, but he's not a real dominant rebounder. 9 rebs/game is more than decent but he obviously doesn't bring the same rebounding prowess/intensity as D Lee. Who knows, maybe that'll change..Maybe MDA challenges him and this'll be the first year Amar'e goes for over 10 rpg. He's certainly capable..Overall I'm confident the rebounding will be up to par..Who knows what Gallo will bring but collectively with Amar'e, AR, Turiaf, Chandler at the 2, the two 7 footers, etc..we should be OK..Better than last year even...Randolph will help tremendously on the boards and it doesn't really matter where he plays...This notion that he'll only grab rebounds if we play him at the 5 makes no sense...Gerald Wallace averaged 10 rebs/game on the head. Is he a center???? AR will grab rebounds..Period. It doesn't matter where he plays..Only playing the 5 is not some pre-requisite for rebounding, as if somehow he won't rebound playing the 3 or the 4, two positions (his two more natural positions) where he should hold up much better physically over the long haul. That's the key for me right there..

2) If the Knicks saw AR as their next center, why'd they go out of their way to trade $1M for pick 44 and grab 7' C Jerome Jordan? You wanna saw JJ came before they knew they had AR on the hook (even though I'm sure the GS trade had been in the works for awhile behind the scenes, possibly even before the draft), OK maybe, but then

3) Why insist that C Ronny Turiaf be included in the trade? We were always under the cap -- my understanding is we didn't have to take back equal salary in any trade. We didn't have to take Turiaf back in this trade but we did and we did it for a reason..I think Turiaf's a decent role player that's gonna help us myself..And then after all this

4) Why sign 7'1" C Timo Mozgov?

This is all stuff the Knicks have carefully considered..AR may see some time at the 5 depending on a particular matchup but I don't see it as some automatic solution full-time..Look at all the facts.

He's 21, coming off an injury, didnt play much last year...

The season is LONG. I think he should be a bench player. No reason he cant get 30 minutes + off the bench. Also no reason he cant be a starter at some point.

I think we are better off starting a conventional center like Mosgov or Turiaf, but nobody is established there and that spot should be wide open. If Randolph is getting 30 minutes a game I would prefer them off the bench with one of the bangers getting the first 10 minutes at C and go from there.

AR will be q big part of the rotation. A long athletic skilled shot blocker who can handle and shoot will be a BIG part of MDAs rotation. AR's going to get starter's minutes, where they come from will be TBD.

"I've got 99 problems but a chick is kicking me, spitting in my face, swinging at me, trying to scratch my eyes out ain't one"

Anthony Randolph can play four positions.

Center ain't one of them.

“According to his former coaches at LSU, Mr. Randolph needed incentive on occasion. Midway through his only season at LSU, he was averaging about eight rebounds per game—good but not great for someone with his size and athleticism. So before the team played at Vanderbilt, assistant coach Butch Pierre made a surprise announcement in a team meeting: Mr. Randolph would spend some time at point guard. He was thrilled. His teammates were shocked. But Mr. Pierre said he included an important caveat: Mr. Randolph would be permitted to bring the ball upcourt only after he grabbed a defensive rebound. He finished the game with 19 rebounds.”

Sure long as he got the defensive rebound.

Let's see the girly-man Lakers match up with:

G - 6'10 Randolph

G - 6'8 Mayor

F - 6'10 Gallo

F - 6'10 STAT

C - 7'1 most interesting Knicks player in the world

Go big or go home