My take on it is accountability. Grant is still getting his shot to play. He's been terrible. He still can't show he can out play Calderón. In affalo case, Sasha is just bringing more intensity and providing the style of play we want to play. Sasha sucks but he's bringing it. Affalo hasn't been bringing that intensity every night. Plus affalo only wants to post up and fade away. Recently he's been trying to face up more. That's coaches orders in my opinion. In the offseason Phil is going to go after a more face up guard that can initiate the offense. Even though Sasha sucks, that's what he is doing. I'm ok with all of it.

CrushAlot wrote:Maybe the motivation is to get Afflalo to opt out and Melo to waive his ntc.

I don't have a problem with Afflalo, but he is a sixth man at this point in his career, he's not a starter, so really he needs to start getting used to that role (which I think he will be very good at)

EnySpree wrote:

nixluva wrote:

EnySpree wrote:I dunno what you guys want. We're not making the playoffs. If we start Jerian Grant and Affalo we still will have the same chance at winning the game..... but do you even care that we win the game or you just want to see Jerian Grant play 40 minutes?

My take on it is accountability. Grant is all getting his shot to play. He's been terrible. He still can't show he can out play Calderón. In affalo case, Sasha is just bringing more intensity and providing the style of play we want to play. Sasha sucks but he's bringing it. Affalo hasn't been bringing that intensity every night. Plus affalo only wants to post up and fade away. Recently he's been trying to face up more. That's coaches orders in my opinion. In the offseason Phil is going to go after a more face up guard that can initiate the offense. Even though Sasha sucks, that's what he is doing. I'm ok with all of it.

I understand this. I could go either way at this point. Rambis plays the young guys based on performance. He allows them to play even after they surrender a lead or fall further back but he will limit their minutes. Besides Jerian has actually been improving gradually. It's not where we want him to be but he has been showing flashes of improvement. His shooting is clearly improved. He still has a ways to go in other aspects of the game.

Next year will be Jerians year to play a bigger role, but that clearly will be on his ability to improve in the offseason. He's got Wroten to worry about too and that is a good thing for the team. Affalo is a backup in the nba. He's not going to start anywhere in this league with his playing style.

I still very much believe in Jerian's talent. I could see it being a positive thing for him playing next to another guard who wants to play faster and defend like Wroten. If Jerian can make even more improvement on his jumper I see him having a good 2nd season.

yellowboy90 wrote:

nixluva wrote:Could be they feel the GS game isn't reason enough to make the change. Aside from that game and the Denver game the team has been competitive. Could just be that simple. Not saying I agree but just offering some rationale. If they win tonight they'd be 5-5 in last 10 games.

I'm sorry but this kind of thinking is not rationale because they have the whole season to see that Jose/Sasha are not up to snuff. Get the kids ready for next year. You do not help them by keeping the kids under 20 minutes a night. This stuff is truly ridiculous.

This just goes to show people that Phil doesn't want to win later with a rebuild but instead he wants to win now. The crazy part is that his win now tactics results into lose now games and lose later seasons.

Sasha doesn't deserve to be on the floor with his play. He is terrible on both ends and Jose is terrible on both ends because he chooses not to use his offensive talent.

It's not true that Phil isn't committed to building for the future. The way he's improved the D League, drafted KP n Grant, added Wroten, stashed Willy and made the team younger it's clear he has a present and future approach. He isn't going All In on a Win Now approach. Not when we have so many young players already in the pipeline with more to come.

yellowboy90 wrote:He tried to put two teams to win now and get into the playoffs to lure FAs. He has even admitted that. Also, who knows if the D-league has improved or if it's producing any results. He added draft picks because he had draft picks. Good for him. He made one winning trade in his tenure so far.

It's one thing to draft players it's another thing to cultivate that talent. How about testing some of your D-league talent by giving them minutes instead of keeping dead weight guys on the roster. How about cutting Lou, KS, and Sasha to give your going "talent" time. That would be better than the dog n pony show they pulled with Fredette. That was garbage and a waste of time, truly a mockery of a good process. That's more of the old regime type stuff. It's already bad Sasha is Phil's Chris Smith exept he is given minutes. Grant needs minutes and not just to cultivate his offense. What about playing the guy to build up his defense?

Wroten is a project not worth mentioning right now.

Oh well, maybe tonight we'll see KP at the 3 so he can post up guys.

Just cuz he's not doing the things you or others want doesn't mean he's not developing young players. There is more than one way to develop players. Just giving them minutes doesn't mean they automatically improve. Players spend more time getting work in practice and the offseason than in live games. It's a combination of things that go into development. Most of a players growth physically and mentally comes in the offseason and practice and then they apply that in games. How many times has a player come back the next season much improved after a summer of work?

Wroten would be the most dynamic guard on the roster right now if he was ready to play. He is most certainly worth mentioning. Lets all hope he makes significant progress this summer cuz if he does his impact can be enourmous.

yellowboy90 wrote:Dynamic like Waiters is dynamic Or Dynamic like Austin rivers? Progress, he needs to change his whole attitude to become an even average player. Defensively he's a negative despite his size, quickness, and length. Offensively, he needs to go to the Lance school of shooting and then learn the art of protecting the ball.

Of course improvement comes in the off-season but the lunacy of giving Sasha minutes and not limiting Jose's minutes is one for the ages. The desicion to try to post up KP more at the end of the season after he has suffered illnesses that zapped the strength he had from him is silly. I could see if this was College and KP could get reps against players still developing but to change the process this late against grown mean is just dumb. Now, that is stuff you do in the off-season as he gets stronger. I don't even blame Ram is because he is just doing what Phil wants.

Dynamic like he can push the ball and get to the basket better than any of our guards. He's got to improve to be sure but even just what he can do right now would help this team. No one is suggesting Wroten is a sure thing but he's worth taking a look at.

As for his defense there is plenty of potential there. I'd be careful basing everything off how he looked in Philly. This will be a completely different environment for him. The Knicks are #8 in the NBA defending shots within 10' and #4 in the NBA defending within 6' of the rim. That should help a perimeter player like Wroten to be better on D if paired with another solid perimeter guard.

I would also be careful in criticizing Phil n Rambis when it comes to developing young big men also. They did a very good job with Bynum. You're talking about 2 men that have extensive knowledge and experience in coaching n developing players. But after not quite one season with these young players you want to assume your judgment is superior. SMDH!