Posted by BigSm00th:

Knicks should rotate KT and Sweetney at PF (with either equal time or KT getting a few more minuts. KT should no longer play 35 minutes a game) and Nazr and Baker at C--I like Baker with the subs because he's a consistent scorer downlow and they sometimes lack offense.

Yes. And the coach has to pay attention to matchups and who is hot. Baker looked good, so he stayed in. Bad call on the coach not calling for a foul at the end of the Philly game (or should the players already know it and just do it before the shot?) and good coaching on keeping in Baker and putting in Penny and Anderson in when he did.

Nazr should start every game for consistency. Baker should come off the bench. Both should fight for minutes.

Nazr started and played 8 mintues for the game. So what. He has had other monster games and will have another soon. So will Baker. And so will the Knicks.

Posted by Nalod:

Baker perhaps may go back to Celts.

Are you thinking that his contract will be reinstated? I think the arbitrator pretty much ruled that it couldn't.

It all depends on how good Baker plays. If they guy goes out there and scores 16pts on the lowpost to along with 10boards and a couple of blocks you can't keep him out of the starting lineup. Nazr is just not that good. The best he'll ever do is 12 10 and 1. So who knows. Its all up to Baker, this guy is still only in his early 30's and did average 21 and 10 at some point in his NBA carrer.

i dont get this whole Nazr development thing. He's been in the league for what 7 years? He's a solid backup no more no less.

I'd have to agree with Gunsnewing... no matter how you slice it, you'll be confirming what everyone has seen-- he's a career backup playing starter minutes.

After being in the league so long... do we really expect him to turn into a 15ppg/11rpg monster? Well, not to say he isn't capable of that, but much like we've said about KT in another thread, he'll need to keep working on his game so he doesn't have any glaring flaws. He has the athleticism to do almost anything... but he's not the most polished player out there.

Posted by gunsnewing:

i dont get this whole Nazr development thing. He's been in the league for what 7 years? He's a solid backup no more no less.

let's assume for a minute that Baker is not going to be on the team next year and that Deke will continue to come off the bench. Nazr will be the starting center for the Knicks.

- Starter minutes are different than backup minutes, different mentality. You can't play recklessly; fouls are more precious. You can't take a night off and know that the coach will bring in the starter if you are doing poorly.

- Usually bench players are either defensive specialists or offensive specialists. Starters should have a more balanced game. As a player off the bench I am sure that Nazr was not part of the offensive or defensive game plan; as a starter he HAS to be. That means knowing your game. No post play for Nazr, no 18 foot jump shots; yes to pick and roll to the bucket, yes to going immediately to the rim when Marb breaks his man down.

- Starters who play starter minutes also have to be acutely aware to the game plan. Is the team running at every opportunity, is the team playing a motion offense, is it slowdown ball. Where is the opponent’s weak point and how do you exploit it regularly (if Houston has a mismatch guys better not be constantly calling for the ball in the post).

- Do starters or bench players get more attention from assistant coaches? Easy question. 7 years in the league, but how many of them were spent making the player better? Is there some special year that players cannot get better? No.

... and so forth.