The NYK Depth Chart looks something like this:

Lead Guard - (3) Billups, backup one and backup two

Shooting Guard - (4) Fields, Mason, Walker and a starter to be named later, Toney Douglas is on the bubble

Skill Forward - (2) Carmelo, Shawne Williams, the more I see extra E, the more I like him, especially after he showed fight on Friday night and refused to go quietly

Big Forward - (3) Stoudemire, Turiaf, (Jamie Skeen would be perfect)

Center - (3) need three new employees here, Jerome Jordan is a huge question mark

That makes 15

It would be different if he tried really hard and failed BUT, running under screens, continuing to back peddle while (excuse me) guarding rondo....back pedelling before jumping out the way instead of planting your feet.....Neither of them warrant another go around.

Mason was just a mistake....but one I might have made myself considering his past production.

Lets take it further...Turiaff has to go. The guy makes 1998 Marcus Camby look like an iron man. Dude jumps for a rebound and pulls a hammy. Catches a pass and dislocates his shoulder. Block a shot and sprain his ankle. Dude has to go.

PG - Billups, somebody new, Carter
SG- Fields, Douglas
SF - Anthony, Walker, Balkman
PF, Amare, Extra E
C, New Guy #1, New Guy #2, Turiaf

That makes 13 and Rautins is still under contract, so he's 14.

Roger Mason has to go because he hasn't produced at all, and I'd give Douglas another shot because I think he can play SG off the bench and score points. He shouldn't be playing point guard, though.

Extra E deserves a look as a starter. That is part of the thinking for sliding him to the two. He can use the summer to refine his ball handling skillz. His shot diversification can also be improved, just for variety. At 6'9 he already has the range on his shot to be a load for any defense. The beauty of Shanwne Williams at he two is that he opens floor space and prevents opposing defenses from collapsing around Amare in the paint.

Landry Fields at 6'8 can cameo at skill forward and refine the craft of the midrange game. He is not a three point shooter just yet.

PG - 6'4 Billups, 6'2 New Guy #1, Carter
SG - 6'9 Shawne Williams, 6'7 New Guy #2, Toney Douglas is too small to contend with taller three's and too slow to keep up with Mike Conley
SF - 6'8 Anthony, Fields, Walker
PF - 6'10 Amare, 6'9 New Guy #3, Turiaf
C - 6'11 New Guy #4, 6'10 New Guy #5, 7' New Guy #6

We need 6 new guys. Minimally.

That is a tall order (pun intended) for any President of Basketball Operations and staff.

That is also why reaching the Eastern Conference Finals is a two year task.

PresIke wrote:td over mason by a mile, earl.

Why?

Olbrannon wrote:I think there are some nice young pieces for d'A if he stays and Walsh is here to add to. Over the course of the season Fields, Williams, Douglas and Walker have shown flashes of promise and growth. All will come back better next year.

I like the idea of Fields as a 3/2 Good spot for him is taking minutes when Anthony sits. Shooting can be learned/coached I'm surmising. Williams is a 3/4 with a nice outside stroke. Like to see him work on that baseline move this summer he has shown flashes of it.

Walker is a natural as a 2 guard. His defense is getting better.

TD has shown brightly and looked like crap. Some say he's played through injury most of the season. Back and a recurring shoulder problem. Sounds like something that needs to be corrected. I know I saw him dislocate his shoulder...pop it back into place race down court and set up an assist on one series. Still think he's quite capable of learning to lead this team. Especially with a summer of study with Chauncey.

Watching d'A play Moz like he did has mostly convinced me he does understand how to use them. So when does Moz go for a double/double with over 20 points? Against Detroit.

Obviously anyone that can run the floor finish @ anywhere near 7' and 250+ should be calling for an audition.

The saddest story of the year is still not being swept but sneaking Moz through Russian customs without a burp from the Nets and then trading him away. If he does blow up ...and well he could the Knicks 'one-upsmanship' will not be quite the same.

I thought last year they needed more help at point and shooting guard but it's nothing like the hole in the middle.

The saddest story of the year is still not being swept but sneaking Moz through Russian customs without a burp from the Nets and then trading him away. If he does blow up ...and well he could the Knicks 'one-upsmanship' will not be quite the same.

It would have been worth the price of admission to watch Mozgov lean his massive body into the back of Kevin Garnett and render him helpless to bully his way to the rack.

There would have been fewer runs to the hoop by Rondo with Mozgov standing in the path. Yes, Mozgov IS quick enough to get back on defense.

Denver has no use for him. After hearing the MSG faithful chant his name, that just feels unfair to the young, impressionable Russian.

Panos wrote:

misterearl wrote:

Olbrannon wrote:I think there are some nice young pieces for d'A if he stays and Walsh is here to add to. Over the course of the season Fields, Williams, Douglas and Walker have shown flashes of promise and growth. All will come back better next year.

I like the idea of Fields as a 3/2 Good spot for him is taking minutes when Anthony sits. Shooting can be learned/coached I'm surmising. Williams is a 3/4 with a nice outside stroke. Like to see him work on that baseline move this summer he has shown flashes of it.

Walker is a natural as a 2 guard. His defense is getting better.

TD has shown brightly and looked like crap. Some say he's played through injury most of the season. Back and a recurring shoulder problem. Sounds like something that needs to be corrected. I know I saw him dislocate his shoulder...pop it back into place race down court and set up an assist on one series. Still think he's quite capable of learning to lead this team. Especially with a summer of study with Chauncey.

Watching d'A play Moz like he did has mostly convinced me he does understand how to use them. So when does Moz go for a double/double with over 20 points? Against Detroit.

Obviously anyone that can run the floor finish @ anywhere near 7' and 250+ should be calling for an audition.

The saddest story of the year is still not being swept but sneaking Moz through Russian customs without a burp from the Nets and then trading him away. If he does blow up ...and well he could the Knicks 'one-upsmanship' will not be quite the same.

I thought last year they needed more help at point and shooting guard but it's nothing like the hole in the middle.

The saddest story of the year is still not being swept but sneaking Moz through Russian customs without a burp from the Nets and then trading him away. If he does blow up ...and well he could the Knicks 'one-upsmanship' will not be quite the same.

It would have been worth the price of admission to watch Mozgov lean his massive body into the back of Kevin Garnett and render him helpless to bully his way to the rack.

There would have been fewer runs to the hoop by Rondo with Mozgov standing in the path. Yes, Mozgov IS quick enough to get back on defense.

Denver has no use for him. After hearing the MSG faithful chant his name, that just feels unfair to the young, impressionable Russian.

earl, if it can happen, I'm all for bring the Moz back.
I don't see Ex-E as a starting SG. On the offensive side he's ok, though he doesn't have a move to the rim, but on defense he's not quick enough and is going to get torched.

Panos - sure, Extra E at two guard is a stretch but before you give the idea a quick hook, think about it... Whatever deficiency in lateral quickness is compensated for in his extra length at 6'9. Let's see a two guard adjust the arc of his jumper over Shawne's stretch wingspan. He rebounds and gets out and runs.

The move to the basket thing can easily be discovered through confidence and reps. Williams was a first round pick for a reason.

Shawne also flashed some defensive intensity that reflects a DESIRE to take pride in his defense. He also developed a cool scowl. Shanwne took being scored on personally.

I dig that about him.

Ask not if Shawne Wiliams can hit the three point shot. Ask if the putrid Knicks shooting percentage increases if Shawne selects open shots inside 18 feet.