by Dan L.

When the Knicks were 3-8 and things were looking bleak different folks reacted differently to the frustration of what appeared to be another lost season. Bitterness and recrimination abounded. Some people lashed out at coach Mike D’Antoni. Others at certain players. Most of use are happy now that the Knicks are winning again though and it’s time for me to acknowledge that Wilson Chandler is playing great basketball.

I was really on Chandler’s case when the Knicks were struggling for shooting too many threes and not being aggressive enough with the basketball. He was shooting poorly and early and he was wasting possessions for a team trying to establish an offensive identity.

Well, he’s playing better now. Not only is he knocking down the corner three with stunning regularity, he’s hitting other threes with some regularity. The result is that his three point percentage is up to 36%. That’s quite a feat considering that when things were going bad he was leading the team in attempts and was hovering around 30%. He’s also learning that his bread is really buttered in the paint, and he’s been living inside of late. His overall field goal percentage has rocketed to 54% this month. That translates into career highs for Wilson in shooting efficiency measured by True Shooting % and also Effective Field Goal %.

He’s still not drawing enough fouls but for now I’ll take the improvement in his shooting numbers.

It’s already been acknowledged that he’s become a better rebounder and shot blocker this year, so his overall game has improved this year too.

Wilson is having a breakout year and perhaps not coincidentally, so are the Knicks.

iSergio wrote:I will never get why most Knicks fans prefer Danilo Gallinari over Wilson Chandler. I mean, it's not even close!! Chandler is by far the better, more consistent and more versitle player. I really hope we trade Gallinari to Denver and get to keep and resign Chandler longterm. He's the perfect combo forward backup behind Amar'e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony.

sometimes you just have to project a players upside, just like the draft.

Wilson has a year on Gallo. If Wilson played like he did last year, we wouldn't be saying the same things. What is Gallo gonna be like in a year?

Both are versatile, young and still growing.

I can see moving him for a wing that can help you with PG duties, or someone who is a younger version of Wilson because its his contract year, but you had darn well better get a guy back who has a low salary that's controlled for a couple more years.

OJ Mayo gets a big salary compared to Will. He's not a fit.

Two of my favorites, Maynor and Larry Sanders have skills that fit a need and salary numbers that would be a better match to Will's...

Mullens, a Briggs guy would be a fit.

I don't know... Donnie's made some good moves since his low point (drafting Hill) but he's got to get it right with his trades or non-trades this year. I wonder what the number would be to extend Chandler's deal. That would impact his value to the franchise quite a bit.

All that said, it's dangerous to judge a player in the middle of a hot streak. He's not as good as he's been playing. Nor is Amar'e or Felton, for that matter. But I think they're all close to as good. Over a longer period, they'll all shoot at somewhat lower percentages (which will drop Ray's assists totals), they'll all miss on some of the key crunch-time makes they've been contributing, but they're all playing well enough that a slight drop in production still leaves them as very good to excellent players.

BTW, it's also dangerous to judge a player in a cold-ish streak. Gallo is a better shooter than he's been showing, I'm pretty sure. It's to his credit that he's still helping the team on most nights, even when he's missing some open looks that I expect him to knock down. Over the long run, he will convert the vast majority of open looks. After all, he's the best 3-point shooter has every seen.

This is the same Wilson Chandler. Only difference is he asserting himself more ensure he gets his stats. His stats are practically identical to his previous year just with greater efficieny thanks to Amare.

AnubisADL wrote:OMG Wilson Chandler is having a career high year in a contract year. I have never seen that before.

This is the same Wilson Chandler. Only difference is he asserting himself more ensure he gets his stats. His stats are practically identical to his previous year just with greater efficieny thanks to Amare.

Papabear Says

You can take that another way Amear playing with Chandler and Gallo is making him a better player in this system and on to a canadate for the MVP. It goes both ways.