http://www.wsj.com/articles/knicks-guard-arron-afflalo-may-just-shoot-his-way-out-of-new-york-1459381286

Knicks Guard Arron Afflalo May Just Shoot His Way Out of New York
The veteran guard, brought in to add scoring punch from the perimeter, has been one of the NBA’s most inconsistent shooters. Now he’s squabbling with the team over a bench role.
By CHRIS HERRING
Updated March 30, 2016 8:33 p.m. ET

DALLAS—If the crumbling Los Angeles Lakers are the picture of NBA dysfunction at the moment, they’re at least helping the Knicks look normal.

The disagreement between Knicks swingman Arron Afflalo and interim head coach Kurt Rambis continued here on Wednesday as the Knicks, already eliminated from playoff contention, prepared to play the Mavericks. Rambis, who has moved Afflalo out of the starting lineup, reiterated that the Knicks feel the 30-year-old guard is “somebody who can make a major contribution for us coming off the bench.” He also said that he informed Afflalo of his plan to tweak the lineup.

But Afflalo maintained that he and Rambis never spoke about his role changing. “There’s no breakdown in communication—we never had the conversation,” he said.

Afflalo, whom the Knicks signed before the season to add scoring punch from the perimeter, suggested that while he will do what the team asks, he doesn’t see himself as a reserve: “People can have their opinion of what they feel you bring to the team. That’s their opinion. My opinion may be different.”

The whiff of drama, which normally wouldn’t be all that meaningful in the final chapter of a lost season, takes on added importance for the Knicks, given Afflalo’s player option for $8 million next season. Should he decide to opt out of the second and final year of his contract—and that seems feasible, given his displeasure with the demotion and the squabbling that followed—the Knicks would move closer to having enough salary-cap space to sign a max-level free agent this summer.

If Afflalo does depart, the Knicks should use his uneven play this season as another example of what to avoid in free agency, especially if Carmelo Anthony stays with the team.

In particular, the Knicks would be wise to steer clear of another inconsistent shooting guard. Afflalo, who was meant to fill the void left by a trio of erratic guards (J.R. Smith, Iman Shumpert and Tim Hardaway, Jr.), has been one of the NBA’s least steady players this season. Entering Wednesday’s game, Afflalo was shooting about 51% in wins and about 40% in losses—the league’s third-biggest disparity, according to Stats, LLC. He was making better than 50% of his 3-point attempts in wins, versus just over 30% in losses—the second-largest gap. His game-to-game plus/minus numbers had an incredibly strong correlation with the Knicks’ fortunes, too, averaging a plus-13.8 when the team wins and a whopping minus-14.1 when it loses.

Part of the problem is his playing time. Afflalo has been on the floor for 34 minutes a game in victories and 33 minutes in defeats, too little flexibility for when he’s struggling. He generally seems content taking just as many shots—and the same types of difficult, off-balance jumpers—regardless of whether they’re actually falling.

This season, Afflalo has played 30 games in which he has shot 45% or better from the field, a number that looks fine until you realize he’s had 20 games under 35%. The Knicks might have seen this coming: Last year with Denver and Portland, Afflalo had 32 games shooting 45% or better, but 28 games of 35% or worse.

For their part, the Knicks have failed to hold Afflalo more accountable by yanking him from games in which he’s clearly weighing them down. But it’s also apparent that New York feels it lacks solid replacement options on the roster. After all, Sasha Vujacic—who has replaced Afflalo in the lineup and is a front-office favorite thanks to his knowledge of the team’s offense—is the only player in the NBA who has started at least 15 games this season despite shooting less than 35% from the floor, according to Basketball-Reference.

What’s worse, Afflalo’s penchant for shooting the Knicks out of games has been bad for Anthony.

Anthony has largely bought into the principles of Phil Jackson’s beloved triangle offense, passing the ball better than he ever has in his career. But he needs those passes to amount to something. His trust in his teammates, even someone like Afflalo, with whom he played in Denver, is liable to diminish again if he opts to give up the ball, only to watch someone miss shot after shot every other game.

For that reason, a number of free-agent swingmen—ones with less variance and who are less likely to cost the team games with poor shooting—could be better options this summer. Charlotte’s Courtney Lee (43 good shooting nights against 20 poor ones) is one possibility. Orlando’s Evan Fournier, a slashing guard with a better than 3-to-1 ratio in that regard (38 vs. 12) looks like a good fit, too.

Wednesday’s quarrel between Afflalo and the Knicks might foreshadow a split after the season. Depending on whom the Knicks have in mind, and whether they can reel in a more consistent performer, it could end up being the best thing for them.

But I want some starters. We need to get at least a Brandon Jennings and a Courtney Lee in the off-season. Then Afflalo off the bench would not be a bad thing.

PG--M.Conley
SG--C.Lee/E.Turner
SF--Melo
PF--KP6
C--R.Lopez

That team will make the playoffs and could make some noise in the playoffs.

newyorker4ever wrote:My realistic dream off season would be M.Conley and C.Lee or E.Turner. To do that we would need both Afflalo and D.Williams to opt out and we'd have to use the stretch provision on Calderon. If that happened we could probably even find a way to get another mid level name as well. I want Conley pretty bad and think he would fit in perfect with the guys we have in the front court and with a C.Lee or E.Turner to play SG and both can play SF that would be a beautiful couple of signings.

PG--M.Conley
SG--C.Lee/E.Turner
SF--Melo
PF--KP6
C--R.Lopez

That team will make the playoffs and could make some noise in the playoffs.

35 wins max

newyorker4ever wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:

newyorker4ever wrote:My realistic dream off season would be M.Conley and C.Lee or E.Turner. To do that we would need both Afflalo and D.Williams to opt out and we'd have to use the stretch provision on Calderon. If that happened we could probably even find a way to get another mid level name as well. I want Conley pretty bad and think he would fit in perfect with the guys we have in the front court and with a C.Lee or E.Turner to play SG and both can play SF that would be a beautiful couple of signings.

PG--M.Conley
SG--C.Lee/E.Turner
SF--Melo
PF--KP6
C--R.Lopez

That team will make the playoffs and could make some noise in the playoffs.

35 wins max

That's the WRONG opinion of someone on a message board.

fixed

newyorker4ever wrote:

martin wrote:

newyorker4ever wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:

newyorker4ever wrote:My realistic dream off season would be M.Conley and C.Lee or E.Turner. To do that we would need both Afflalo and D.Williams to opt out and we'd have to use the stretch provision on Calderon. If that happened we could probably even find a way to get another mid level name as well. I want Conley pretty bad and think he would fit in perfect with the guys we have in the front court and with a C.Lee or E.Turner to play SG and both can play SF that would be a beautiful couple of signings.

PG--M.Conley
SG--C.Lee/E.Turner
SF--Melo
PF--KP6
C--R.Lopez

That team will make the playoffs and could make some noise in the playoffs.

35 wins max

That's the WRONG opinion of someone on a message board.

fixed

Hahahahaha you sure do watch Briggs' back don't you??

I'm agreeing with you, you realize that, right?

martin wrote:

newyorker4ever wrote:

martin wrote:

newyorker4ever wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:

newyorker4ever wrote:My realistic dream off season would be M.Conley and C.Lee or E.Turner. To do that we would need both Afflalo and D.Williams to opt out and we'd have to use the stretch provision on Calderon. If that happened we could probably even find a way to get another mid level name as well. I want Conley pretty bad and think he would fit in perfect with the guys we have in the front court and with a C.Lee or E.Turner to play SG and both can play SF that would be a beautiful couple of signings.

PG--M.Conley
SG--C.Lee/E.Turner
SF--Melo
PF--KP6
C--R.Lopez

That team will make the playoffs and could make some noise in the playoffs.

35 wins max

That's the WRONG opinion of someone on a message board.

fixed

Hahahahaha you sure do watch Briggs' back don't you??

I'm agreeing with you, you realize that, right?

Sarcasm never translates well

Cartman718 wrote:

martin wrote:

crzymdups wrote:For the record, I like Afflalo okay and if he could embrace a bench role here, I would be okay bringing him back at a reasonable number.

But I want some starters. We need to get at least a Brandon Jennings and a Courtney Lee in the off-season. Then Afflalo off the bench would not be a bad thing.

Finestrg wrote:

crzymdups wrote:Also, didn't see Afflalo's instagram post - sounds like he's getting fed up https://www.instagram.com/p/BDkBoNkCSZ0/

I feel bad, man. I like Arron a lot. Always have..It's not his fault that it's been dysfunctional around here and he doesn't have better teammates to play with. Having said that--I hope he opts out. Time to get younger and go in a different direction imo. I actually think Berman may have a point--the demotion to the bench and the whole not being on the same page with Rambis about it all may indeed be a strategy to get him to opt out. I definitely feel that too. See what happens..

I used to like AA and thought he would thrive as a SG in the triangle. And then I started watching his game, especially on the defensive end of things and he got exposed big time. The lack of rebounding, the lack of energy on both ends of the court, no passing, constantly loosing his man on D. He is the type of guy I would expect to be the second leading scorer on the team and a leader and, for me, he has failed big time.

The guard spots for the Knicks are a huge vaccuum and still is. AA didn't step up IMHO. Too inconsistent, poor defense, bad attitude.

its like watching a shorter version of Melo from Woodson days.

Good anaology

crzymdups wrote:He suggests Courtney Lee and Evan Fournier - I'm a fan of both, though Fornier being restricted makes him highly unlikely IMHO. Courtney Lee is a really good option, both defensively and in terms of being a competent shooter who is more consistent that AA.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/knicks-guard-arron-afflalo-may-just-shoot-his-way-out-of-new-york-1459381286

Knicks Guard Arron Afflalo May Just Shoot His Way Out of New York
The veteran guard, brought in to add scoring punch from the perimeter, has been one of the NBA’s most inconsistent shooters. Now he’s squabbling with the team over a bench role.
By CHRIS HERRING
Updated March 30, 2016 8:33 p.m. ET

DALLAS—If the crumbling Los Angeles Lakers are the picture of NBA dysfunction at the moment, they’re at least helping the Knicks look normal.

The disagreement between Knicks swingman Arron Afflalo and interim head coach Kurt Rambis continued here on Wednesday as the Knicks, already eliminated from playoff contention, prepared to play the Mavericks. Rambis, who has moved Afflalo out of the starting lineup, reiterated that the Knicks feel the 30-year-old guard is “somebody who can make a major contribution for us coming off the bench.” He also said that he informed Afflalo of his plan to tweak the lineup.

But Afflalo maintained that he and Rambis never spoke about his role changing. “There’s no breakdown in communication—we never had the conversation,” he said.

Afflalo, whom the Knicks signed before the season to add scoring punch from the perimeter, suggested that while he will do what the team asks, he doesn’t see himself as a reserve: “People can have their opinion of what they feel you bring to the team. That’s their opinion. My opinion may be different.”

The whiff of drama, which normally wouldn’t be all that meaningful in the final chapter of a lost season, takes on added importance for the Knicks, given Afflalo’s player option for $8 million next season. Should he decide to opt out of the second and final year of his contract—and that seems feasible, given his displeasure with the demotion and the squabbling that followed—the Knicks would move closer to having enough salary-cap space to sign a max-level free agent this summer.

If Afflalo does depart, the Knicks should use his uneven play this season as another example of what to avoid in free agency, especially if Carmelo Anthony stays with the team.

In particular, the Knicks would be wise to steer clear of another inconsistent shooting guard. Afflalo, who was meant to fill the void left by a trio of erratic guards (J.R. Smith, Iman Shumpert and Tim Hardaway, Jr.), has been one of the NBA’s least steady players this season. Entering Wednesday’s game, Afflalo was shooting about 51% in wins and about 40% in losses—the league’s third-biggest disparity, according to Stats, LLC. He was making better than 50% of his 3-point attempts in wins, versus just over 30% in losses—the second-largest gap. His game-to-game plus/minus numbers had an incredibly strong correlation with the Knicks’ fortunes, too, averaging a plus-13.8 when the team wins and a whopping minus-14.1 when it loses.

Part of the problem is his playing time. Afflalo has been on the floor for 34 minutes a game in victories and 33 minutes in defeats, too little flexibility for when he’s struggling. He generally seems content taking just as many shots—and the same types of difficult, off-balance jumpers—regardless of whether they’re actually falling.

This season, Afflalo has played 30 games in which he has shot 45% or better from the field, a number that looks fine until you realize he’s had 20 games under 35%. The Knicks might have seen this coming: Last year with Denver and Portland, Afflalo had 32 games shooting 45% or better, but 28 games of 35% or worse.

For their part, the Knicks have failed to hold Afflalo more accountable by yanking him from games in which he’s clearly weighing them down. But it’s also apparent that New York feels it lacks solid replacement options on the roster. After all, Sasha Vujacic—who has replaced Afflalo in the lineup and is a front-office favorite thanks to his knowledge of the team’s offense—is the only player in the NBA who has started at least 15 games this season despite shooting less than 35% from the floor, according to Basketball-Reference.

What’s worse, Afflalo’s penchant for shooting the Knicks out of games has been bad for Anthony.

Anthony has largely bought into the principles of Phil Jackson’s beloved triangle offense, passing the ball better than he ever has in his career. But he needs those passes to amount to something. His trust in his teammates, even someone like Afflalo, with whom he played in Denver, is liable to diminish again if he opts to give up the ball, only to watch someone miss shot after shot every other game.

For that reason, a number of free-agent swingmen—ones with less variance and who are less likely to cost the team games with poor shooting—could be better options this summer. Charlotte’s Courtney Lee (43 good shooting nights against 20 poor ones) is one possibility. Orlando’s Evan Fournier, a slashing guard with a better than 3-to-1 ratio in that regard (38 vs. 12) looks like a good fit, too.

Wednesday’s quarrel between Afflalo and the Knicks might foreshadow a split after the season. Depending on whom the Knicks have in mind, and whether they can reel in a more consistent performer, it could end up being the best thing for them.

This is a nice article, thanks.