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Knicks mulling a lineup shakeup that already may be overdue
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earthmansurfer
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11/8/2015  11:59 AM
From Berman so not sure how credible it is. http://nypost.com/2015/11/07/knicks-mulling-a-lineup-shakeup-that-already-may-be-overdue/


Really, if you are going to try a lineup change, do it against the Lakers and not a good team.
I can actually watch the game this time (in Germany) so look forward to not seeing Jose start.

Knicks coach Derek Fisher said a shakeup to the starting backcourt is being discussed for Sunday’s matinee vs. the Lakers as the under-the-gun, all-international pair of Jose Calderon and Sasha Vujacic could be broken up.

Vujacic was the last one off the practice court Saturday, taking dozens of extra shots as his shooting percentage has plunged to 30.4 percent — 18.2 percent on 3-pointers. The starting backcourt combined for two points in the Knicks’ third straight loss Friday to Milwaukee and that bucket came in the final seconds by Vujacic.

Vujacic, ready to face his old club and sparring mate Kobe Bryant, showed good humor after his extended shooting session.

“It’s obvious,” Vujacic said of his being the last to leave practice. “You go through ups and downs in the season and mine came very soon. I’m going through a slump. It’s not a secret anymore. They’re not going in.

“I got to make a better friendship with the baskets at the Garden and everything will be OK.”

Fisher has a lot of options until starting shooting guard Arron Afflalo makes his Knicks debut on the Toronto-Charlotte road trip Tuesday and Wednesday. The likeliest is benching either Calderon or Vujacic for Langston Galloway, who plays both guard spots. Fisher can yank Calderon for rookie point guard Jerian Grant or remove Vujacic for forward Derrick Williams, who has played shooting guard in practice.

Or he could do nothing and let Vujacic go at Bryant.

For the second straight day, Fisher said Calderon and Vujacic aren’t getting a lot of shots to classify them in shooting slumps, but admitted they’re “pressing.”

“Considering shaking anything up is never based on how one guy is shooting the ball,” Fisher said.

“Shaking things up for us is a decision made based on what’s going on with the group.” If a decision needs to be made, we’ll make it on the team, not one guy. We’ll talk about it today and the morning and go from there. We’ll assess if a change needs to be made. If it does, we’ll make it.”

Vujacic got booed when he reentered in the fourth quarter Friday and the Knicks were a minus-7 before his removal four minutes later. Vujacic could be useful Sunday as he knows Bryant’s nuances. In practices, Bryant used to trash-talk Vujacic in Italian as they both speak the language.

“He was taking a lot of minutes away from me, but later on we managed to play together the last minutes of the game because he moved to the 3,” Vujacic said, reflecting on his Lakers stint. “I learned extremely a lot from him. He was a good mentor. One of a kind. We have good memories. From Day 1, we were on same page — we were both stubborn and gym rats.”

Vujacic’s biggest value to the Knicks has been as rookie Kristaps Porzingis’ mentor. Porzingis (12.3 points per game, 8.3 rebounds) has had a terrific start to his rookie season, with Vujacic getting an assist.

“Like I said way before everybody was booing, I said it’s the biggest steal in the draft,” said Vujacic, who played part of last season in the same Spanish League as Porzingis. “Not only his talent, his personality and what he brings to the locker room. He turned the boos to claps.”

The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift. Albert Einstein
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Knicks1969
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11/8/2015  1:02 PM
The mere fact that he has to discuss the change with others tells me that this dude does not know his job
Thank God Fisher is no longer our coach, now let's get Calderon out of here:)
StarksEwing1
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11/8/2015  1:49 PM
Knicks1969 wrote:The mere fact that he has to discuss the change with others tells me that this dude does not know his job
fisher definetly needed a few years as an assistant first
earthmansurfer
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11/8/2015  1:51 PM    LAST EDITED: 11/8/2015  1:52 PM
Knicks1969 wrote:The mere fact that he has to discuss the change with others tells me that this dude does not know his job

LOL, this is where getting asked the question "Are you considering any starting lineup changes at the guard position?" has taken its toll on him.
Thanks to all the reporters (aka assistant coaches)

The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift. Albert Einstein
Knicks1969
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11/8/2015  1:59 PM    LAST EDITED: 11/8/2015  2:01 PM
StarksEwing1 wrote:
Knicks1969 wrote:The mere fact that he has to discuss the change with others tells me that this dude does not know his job
fisher definetly needed a few years as an assistant first

Agree. The dude was never known to be a pure point guard; thus, I never thought he had the vision of a J. Kidd when it comes to coaching or seing the floor

Thank God Fisher is no longer our coach, now let's get Calderon out of here:)
clyderules
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11/8/2015  6:19 PM
Galloway needs to play all of the time. He looked good in combo with Calderon. And so did Jose. Grant can't shoot at all. Sasha needs to play garbage time. Very encouraged by Calderon /Galloway combo!
earthmansurfer
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11/9/2015  4:25 AM
clyderules wrote:Galloway needs to play all of the time. He looked good in combo with Calderon. And so did Jose. Grant can't shoot at all. Sasha needs to play garbage time. Very encouraged by Calderon /Galloway combo!

Yeah, Galloway solidified what we already knew about him last night. You don't want to weaken the bench, but Jose and Sasha are just too weak to both be starters. Galloway really needs to be inserted there.

Grant, wow, the guy could shoot ok in college, his shot is really off and it doesn't look good. But damn can he pass. I wonder about "hiding" his shot with the Starters. If Melo, KP and Galloway are starting, then Grant wouldn't be such a liability. (And hopefully KP's shot comes around.

The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift. Albert Einstein
Knicks mulling a lineup shakeup that already may be overdue

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