Tyson Chandler likes Knicks' additions at point guard

Originally published: October 5, 2012 7:32 PM
Updated: October 5, 2012 9:14 PM
By AL IANNAZZONE al.iannazzone@newsday.com

Photo credit: James Escher | Tyson Chandler speaks at the podium during the team's annual media day held at Madison Square Garden. (Oct. 1, 2012)

Videos
Knicks videos

Galleries
Knicks preseason 2012 Tyson Chandler Knicks jerseys through the years

Web links
Knicks 418: Meet every player in team history Blog: Knicks 'Zzone
GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- Tyson Chandler said Jeremy Lin brought a great "light" to the Knicks last season but that he wasn't ready to run an offense, and added that the team's immediate future is brighter with the point guards they have now.

Chandler said the Knicks didn't have a point guard to get himself, Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire the ball in their comfort zones last season. In Raymond Felton and Jason Kidd, the Knicks have experienced floor leaders who already have made a difference through the first four days of training camp.

"The intensity is way up and also there's also calmness when we're coming downcourt, with the point guards getting things under control and making sure we get good shots every possession," Chandler said Friday.

"I think the toughest thing last year was our best players were at the 3, 4 and 5 spots with nobody really to get them the ball in the right places . . . This year, with the additions that we got at [point guard], Melo can play his natural role and be a finisher and Amar'e can do the same thing."

The Knicks' play at point guard wasn't strong last season. Lin, Baron Davis, Toney Douglas, Mike Bibby and then-rookie Iman Shumpert all started at some point. Asked about Davis and Lin, who hadn't started an NBA game before last season, Chandler said one was too banged up and the other too inexperienced.

"Baron was hurt and Jeremy was a young point guard who was just learning, trying to learn and figure out an offense," Chandler said. "It was nothing against them and it was definitely nothing against Baron.

"Baron was hurt the whole year and giving us everything he had. Jeremy was a young point guard who was inexperienced, who brought a great light to the organization. But as far as being able to run the offense and putting players in the right position he just wasn't there. We got some veteran point guards that are capable of doing that."

Chandler was a big Lin fan and praised him repeatedly last season. But with Lin now a member of the Houston Rockets, the Knicks have moved on.

"I knew how good Ray was coming from Denver," said J.R. Smith, who played part of the 2010-11 season with Felton. "You'd always hear about playing with J-Kidd and how smart he is, but you never really understand it until you get out there. These guys are 100 percent better than what I thought. Even a 40-year-old Jason Kidd is probably better than a lot of these 22-, 23-, 24- year-old guys."

Smith, a sixth man most of his career, wants to be a full-time starter. He likely will open the season as the starting shooting guard while Shumpert and Ronnie Brewer rehab from knee surgeries. Smith hopes to have the job all season but said he'll accept whatever role he has.

"I would rather be a starter, but if that's not in my cards, I understand," Smith said. "It gets frustrating after a while when people see you as a sixth man, sixth man, sixth man, when you believe you're a starter. But at the same time, you have to understand this is a team game. You have to put individual goals aside."

tkf wrote:I am a fan of tyson chandler, but what i am finding out about this dude is that he is full if "ish"... he talks out of both sides of his mouth...

I hope he remembers these types of passes... he sure won't be getting them from felton and kidd doesn't run anymore so...

tkf wrote:I am a fan of tyson chandler, but what i am finding out about this dude is that he is full if "ish"... he talks out of both sides of his mouth...

I hope he remembers these types of passes... he sure won't be getting them from felton and kidd doesn't run anymore so...

Come on tkf! You really think Kidd can't throw a pass from anywhere on the floor with the kind of accuracy of Lin? REALLY? That's a very sad and pessimistic view to take about a PG that is as skilled as Kidd is. Even if he's 50 he'd be able to make great passes up the floor. Besides that wasn't even a high speed fast break. It was a very controlled mid speed break. Kidd is more than capable of pushing the ball at that speed. He's not an invalid. I think you need to see some video of Kidd just to remind you of how great he is at passing the ball. I'm sorry I have to do this to you but...

nixluva wrote:

tkf wrote:I am a fan of tyson chandler, but what i am finding out about this dude is that he is full if "ish"... he talks out of both sides of his mouth...

I hope he remembers these types of passes... he sure won't be getting them from felton and kidd doesn't run anymore so...

Come on tkf! You really think Kidd can't throw a pass from anywhere on the floor with the kind of accuracy of Lin? REALLY? That's a very sad and pessimistic view to take about a PG that is as skilled as Kidd is. Even if he's 50 he'd be able to make great passes up the floor. Besides that wasn't even a high speed fast break. It was a very controlled mid speed break. Kidd is more than capable of pushing the ball at that speed. He's not an invalid. I think you need to see some video of Kidd just to remind you of how great he is at passing the ball. I'm sorry I have to do this to you but...

the point of this was not to say hey, jason kidd can't do this.... the point was that lin did have good chemistry with chandler, especially during that 8-1 run....

felton was a mess last time I saw him.... and kidd doesn't run anymore, those passes will be few and far between...

I am a huge fan of kidd, but he doesn't push the ball like that anymore.. everyone that puts a knicks uni on turns the clock back according to you.. dude, kidd does not run!!!

kidd was one of the beat PG's I have ever seen, but posting this youtube video of kidd is meaningless..... if he could do all of these things in the video on a regular basis he wouldn't be playing behind felton.. we would not have been able to get him for 9 million dollars.. stop being a homer man..... it is just not a good look...

BTW: I do love the kidd video.. so tell me, why is he playing behind this guy?

Kidd is behind Felton so that we can preserve his body for the end of the season. Besides no one said this was permanent. I think Felton will be more than adequate to start games and take the bulk of the minutes. Kidd can still be there to close games.

As a PG if your game is predicated mostly on your pure athleticism then getting older is a problem, but that isn't what Kidd is all about. He had plenty of speed when younger, but he also had great BB IQ and Skill and that's what he uses most now. PG's, QB's and Pitchers can still deliver late into their 30's and early 40's. They do it with guile and experience.

3G4G wrote:This Youtube Video is a doosy......

Here's the thing. Ray played horrible in that game. If you want to make excuses, his situation was as bad as the Knick players that Knew D'Ant was done at the end of the season. Ray's turnovers don't compare to Lin'a.

tkf wrote:

nixluva wrote:tkf Kidd will be able to push the ball at his tempo. He doesn't have to lead the break like D Rose cuz he's not looking to score himself. Kidd will leave the finishing to our finishers. The video you posted of Lin, he wasn't even moving at top speed. If you think Kidd can't get up and down the court at that speed you are severely mistaken. Even at my age of 47 I can still move at a reasonable speed and pass the ball up the floor. The PG doesn't have to lead the break to make it work. The PG has to be able to deliver the ball on target.

Kidd is behind Felton so that we can preserve his body for the end of the season. Besides no one said this was permanent. I think Felton will be more than adequate to start games and take the bulk of the minutes. Kidd can still be there to close games.

As a PG if your game is predicated mostly on your pure athleticism then getting older is a problem, but that isn't what Kidd is all about. He had plenty of speed when younger, but he also had great BB IQ and Skill and that's what he uses most now. PG's, QB's and Pitchers can still deliver late into their 30's and early 40's. They do it with guile and experience.

I love kidd's talent, and I completely understand guys who don't rely on athleticism, but there is a point where your skills are just no longer NBA worthy... not saying kidd is at that point, but jeez he is almost 40, we are not even talking a 35 year old kidd here... these types of plays will be fewer and far between.... the point with lin is that he is a high energy player who displayed a pretty good level of skill and at his age can make these plays more often...... steve nash is trying to preserve his body I am sure... but I can also assure you he will be starting with the lakers... if we were trying to preserve kidd's body, he could start and still play less minutes... right?

Kidd has been able to transition to a guy that can play PG and SG. That being the case you can play Felton next to Kidd and have him guard the SG but play the point as well. I think there's a misconception about aging that somehow you can't move anymore or something. That's not really true. It's about keeping yourself in shape. Now we're not talking about running at the Hyper Athletic level of Westbrook, Wall or D Rose. That's not gonna happen, but for the type of game we're gonna be playing in the playoffs you won't be running all game anyway!!!

Kidd is MORE than capable of playing a halfcourt style ie PLAYOFF BB. This is where he comes in handy. Very few PG's can effectively run a team in the Halfcourt at the level Kidd can. Like i've pointed out many times, if Dick Bavetta can run up and down the court at 73 then Kidd can jog up court at 40. The PG doesn't have to be the most athletic guy on the floor to get the job done. Not if you play a style that is tailored to a halfcourt grind it out game like the Knicks will be.

Remember our best player is primarily a halfcourt ISO player. We'll be looking to slow it down and get into that style more this year. That fits right into what Kidd does best!!!

tkf wrote:I am a fan of tyson chandler, but what i am finding out about this dude is that he is full if "ish"... he talks out of both sides of his mouth...

I hope he remembers these types of passes... he sure won't be getting them from felton and kidd doesn't run anymore so...

I hope you arent the TKF fom RealGM because you're annoying over there with the Gallo/Lin love and Melo hate