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Phil's Rebuilt Frontcourt A Success
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nixluva
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4/30/2016  8:14 PM    LAST EDITED: 4/30/2016  8:15 PM
Despite the protests to the contrary, not everything went bad this year. The Frontcourt was pretty good and has upside going forward. I can see Melo, KP and RoLo getting better and who knows what Willy can add. It's a huge plus to have that aspect of the team solidified. With so much focus on the 2 backcourt players not being up to par it's something that warps the view of just how competitive the Frontcourt can be going forward. This summer we'll see the big focus being the Backcourt but it's not out of the question that Phil could look to add another quality big.

 
NBA Frontcourt Stats | Overall Stats
No Team G Min Pts Reb Ast Stl Blk To Pf Dreb Oreb Fgm-a Pct 3gm-a Pct Ftm-a Pct Eff Deff
1 San Antonio 86 47.4 65.5 32.5 11.9 4.7 4.9 7.1 10.7 24.9 7.6 25.7-50.2 .512 2.5-6.4 .397 11.6-14.3 .810 85.2 22.5
2 Oklahoma City 87 48.3 65.7 34.7 7.7 3.3 4.9 8.2 13.4 24.5 10.1 25.1-48.9 .512 3.9-11.1 .356 11.7-15.0 .778 80.8 13.8
3 Cleveland 86 48.3 63.5 34.9 11.6 3.7 3.0 7.7 12.2 26.1 8.8 23.5-48.6 .484 4.9-14.3 .345 11.5-15.8 .728 79.8 13.5
4 Atlanta 88 48.9 61.4 31.8 11.8 5.6 5.1 7.5 12.0 24.6 7.2 23.6-49.5 .477 5.1-14.7 .345 9.1-12.0 .756 79.4 7.7
5 Indiana 87 48.6 64.5 33.0 9.8 4.9 3.9 8.6 13.8 24.5 8.5 24.1-51.6 .466 4.5-12.3 .364 11.9-15.6 .760 76.2 7.5
6 Utah 82 49.0 57.7 33.0 9.3 4.7 4.6 8.3 12.4 23.8 9.2 21.4-45.4 .471 3.5-10.0 .353 11.4-15.9 .719 72.5 7.2
7 Golden State 87 47.2 52.6 33.1 16.0 4.2 4.8 8.0 13.5 25.4 7.7 20.0-41.4 .484 4.4-11.4 .388 8.1-12.3 .658 77.0 7.0
8 Denver 82 48.5 65.1 34.5 10.4 4.3 3.8 7.8 14.1 24.7 9.8 24.1-51.4 .469 3.8-11.0 .347 13.0-16.9 .769 79.2 4.2
9 Miami 87 47.9 56.8 32.4 7.9 3.8 5.2 6.5 11.4 25.1 7.3 21.5-44.3 .487 3.7-10.7 .344 10.0-13.8 .726 72.9 4.1
10 New York 82 47.1 65.6 31.8 9.7 2.7 5.1 8.4 12.2 23.0 8.8 24.5-54.9 .447 3.6-10.9 .334 13.0-16.1 .807 73.1 3.1

The Backcourt production was abysmal. It's so obvious why this team struggled. It's amazing they were ever able to get to .500 with the low level of production and poor D of the Backcourt!

NBA Backcourt Stats | Overall Stats	  
No Team G Min Pts Reb Ast Stl Blk To Pf Dreb Oreb Fgm-a Pct 3gm-a Pct Ftm-a Pct Eff Deff
1 Golden State 87 50.3 62.0 12.9 13.0 4.2 1.3 6.8 7.3 10.7 2.2 22.4-45.7 .490 8.6-20.1 .430 8.6-9.7 .882 62.2 20.9
2 Toronto 87 49.8 50.1 12.2 13.0 4.0 1.1 6.3 6.8 10.2 2.1 16.9-39.0 .434 4.0-11.0 .362 12.3-15.1 .817 49.3 11.0
3 Washington 82 49.8 48.6 12.1 16.2 3.8 1.1 7.5 6.9 10.3 1.8 17.8-40.6 .437 4.4-11.8 .370 8.8-11.3 .775 48.9 4.5
4 L.A.Clippers 87 49.7 49.3 9.6 14.7 4.1 0.5 5.6 7.4 8.0 1.6 17.6-40.4 .437 5.4-14.8 .363 8.7-10.0 .866 48.5 10.5
5 Houston 87 48.9 48.7 12.0 13.9 4.1 1.2 7.6 8.1 9.7 2.3 15.8-37.5 .422 6.1-17.1 .359 10.9-13.0 .832 48.4 5.0
---
27 New York 82 50.1 32.7 12.6 10.8 3.0 0.6 4.3 7.5 11.0 1.6 12.3-29.1 .424 3.8-10.6 .359 4.2-5.3 .800 37.5 -5.5

IMO this is why the team could be primed for another double digit increase in wins. The backcourt was so subpar that it leaves a possibility for a huge improvement in the team's performance depending on any upgrades they can make to the backcourt. Just gaining more offensive production and a little better defense would net a very nice improvement.

The guards we add don't necessarily have to be the few elite guys in order for this team to make a significant jump in wins. It would of course be welcome to land one of the Elite FA's but short of that you can still get huge benefits from some of the 2nd tier guys or a young RFA like Fournier or Beal. For once I think it makes sense to target RFA's early in the process to see if one shakes loose. The Magic may not wish to overpay for Fournier with Hezonja in the fold. That's the kind of risk I think makes sense.

There are also low hanging fruits like Courtney Lee types. Guys that won't be world beaters but better than we had and solid enough to make a difference. IMO the Path to improvement is clear and not an impossible task.

AUTOADVERT
Malcolm
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4/30/2016  8:47 PM
Locking down this frontcourt for next 2-3 years with P. Gasol, Williams,
and Hernangomez should be do-eable for Jackson (with Hernangomez at
PF and Williams at SF).

Just do it . . . let it develop Triangle savvy (Gasol helps immeasurably)
. . . and forget about it.

Then do the same for the backcourt somehow . . .

Malcolm
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4/30/2016  8:54 PM
Malcolm wrote:Locking down this frontcourt for next 2-3 years with P. Gasol, Williams,
and Hernangomez should be do-eable for Jackson (with Hernangomez at
PF and Williams at SF).

Just do it . . . let it develop Triangle savvy (Gasol helps immeasurably)
. . . and forget about it.

Then do the same for the backcourt somehow . . .

We need TRIANGLE people to move ahead (!)

Gasol (C)
Hernangomez (PF)
Williams (SF)
Calderon (PG)
Vujacic (SG)

. . . is a very adequate Triangle bench.

Now sell and trade everything else (including 2017 draft pick)
and get a decent guard or two (!)

This is entirely do-eable and does what we want (!)

SO DO IT (!)

EnySpree
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4/30/2016  9:00 PM
You need a backcourt to succeed in the nba, but you need a front court to win in the playoffs. The playoffs this year proved that so far.

Right off the bat if feel the Knicks are better with Jerian Grant finally awake and Tony Wroten. We need both guys producing positively in the rotation. You upgrade Affalo and I think the knicks will be ready to make a jump.

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TPercy
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4/30/2016  9:09 PM
EnySpree wrote:You need a backcourt to succeed in the nba, but you need a front court to win in the playoffs. The playoffs this year proved that so far.

Right off the bat if feel the Knicks are better with Jerian Grant finally awake and Tony Wroten. We need both guys producing positively in the rotation. You upgrade Affalo and I think the knicks will be ready to make a jump.

Very good assessment.

The Future is Bright!
nixluva
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4/30/2016  10:29 PM
I can safely say I don't expect the Knicks to have a #27 ranked Backcourt next year. The degree of improvement will determine just how much more this team can win. This summer is huge and I can't wait for Free Agency and Summer League.
EnySpree
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5/1/2016  3:49 AM
nixluva wrote:I can safely say I don't expect the Knicks to have a #27 ranked Backcourt next year. The degree of improvement will determine just how much more this team can win. This summer is huge and I can't wait for Free Agency and Summer League.

With the way Jerian Grant played, you can put him above Calderón in the rotation and day it with a straight face. I'm thinking Wroten might develop into a 6th man like Jamal Crawford...then you sign a shooting guard... Derozen, Fournier or Eric Gordon. Starting Grant next to one of them with Calderón and Wroten off the bench is a significant upgrade to the backcourt.

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nyknickzingis
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5/1/2016  7:40 AM
Think Phil was hoping for more from Afflalo. At one point, Afflalo was capable to score 17 points a game pretty effeciently.

Yes the Knicks have one of the best front courts in the league. Pretty much most of us have said that we're 1 star guard away from becoming a good playoff team. It is why it makes it tough to pass on Mike Conley or DeMar DeRozan. Both guys would balance out the scoring and impact on the team.

nixluva
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5/1/2016  1:54 PM
nyknickzingis wrote:Think Phil was hoping for more from Afflalo. At one point, Afflalo was capable to score 17 points a game pretty effeciently.

Yes the Knicks have one of the best front courts in the league. Pretty much most of us have said that we're 1 star guard away from becoming a good playoff team. It is why it makes it tough to pass on Mike Conley or DeMar DeRozan. Both guys would balance out the scoring and impact on the team.

Yeah I'm worried about Conley but if healthy he's a major upgrade. DeRozan would be a better fit IMO tho I don't like his poor defense. In any event upgrades will change the potency of this team drastically.

newyorker4ever
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5/1/2016  2:23 PM
Malcolm wrote:Locking down this frontcourt for next 2-3 years with P. Gasol, Williams,
and Hernangomez should be do-eable for Jackson (with Hernangomez at
PF and Williams at SF).

Just do it . . . let it develop Triangle savvy (Gasol helps immeasurably)
. . . and forget about it.

Then do the same for the backcourt somehow . . .

Gasol is not gonna chose to play his last couple of years with a team that has no chance at winning a championship in his last couple of years when the Spurs and GSW and other teams that are ready to compete for championships will be calling him. I mean the guy chose the Bulls over us last year because he thought they had a chance. I want Gasol as bad as anyone but i also know it isn't happening.

mreinman
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5/1/2016  7:44 PM
so we ranked 10th based on what? diff?

Our front line is ok but not playoff good ok. And, our front court has a serious lack of depth and many big question marks.

so here is what phil is thinking ....
Bonn1997
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5/2/2016  8:33 AM
I'm glad that after 26 months, Phil has gotten respectable players for 3 of the 15 roster spots.
matt
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5/2/2016  9:08 AM
Bonn1997 wrote:I'm glad that after 26 months, Phil has gotten respectable players for 3 of the 15 roster spots.

Just a great job by Phil. Who knows, maybe by 2020 we may have a PG on the roster that other teams wouldn't cut on theirs.

nyknickzingis
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5/2/2016  9:32 AM
Bonn1997 wrote:I'm glad that after 26 months, Phil has gotten respectable players for 3 of the 15 roster spots.

I think it's a little better than that, and there's also a bigger equation to look at. You don't want to invest in players longterm you don't think will be part of a championship level team. RoLo, Melo, Porzingis and Grant are on contract longterm, and all 4 have shown why. Melo's an all-star, RoLo is a very solid 2-way Center, Porzingis has immense potential to be a star and already is a top 10 PF in the East, and Grant has shown towards the end of the season he is a very decent guard to have in the rotation. There's Lance Thomas who before the concussion and injuries showed he was a valuable rotation player. Now that leaves 3 more spots, to get together a 8 man rotation that's good enough to square off against Cleveland, Toronto, Atlanta ... in the playoffs.

You can't go out and just sign or trade for those 3-4 extra players just to get a little better, and instead the team went with short gaps like Afflalo, Calderon and has taken some chances on Galloway and Wroten. We either can be patient and sign, draft or trade the right longterm players, or do the quick fix which is to go after the expensive veterans who will command big contracts but not yield the results.

The way things are set up right now, the team has the potential to knock on the playoff door with a core of Lopez, Porzingis, Melo, Grant, Calderon and Thomas (when healthy and next year I expect both Porzingis and Grant to be more consistent) plus we can add players through free agency in 2017 and 2016. Both years we can go to work. This is a way in the past the Knicks have never gone at it. They've always tried to jump from 30 wins to 45 wins by trading or signing the biggest name on the market, thus mortgaging the future and killing the cap situation. The way the Knicks are currently set up, they can both try to make the playoffs the next 2 seasons, develop a potential franchise player in KP, and also keep the option open through free agency of getting a ton better by signing a star like Durant, DeRozan, Westbrook (and more) if any of them have interest in leaving their current teams.

nixluva
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5/2/2016  10:40 AM
nyknickzingis wrote:
Bonn1997 wrote:I'm glad that after 26 months, Phil has gotten respectable players for 3 of the 15 roster spots.

I think it's a little better than that, and there's also a bigger equation to look at. You don't want to invest in players longterm you don't think will be part of a championship level team. RoLo, Melo, Porzingis and Grant are on contract longterm, and all 4 have shown why. Melo's an all-star, RoLo is a very solid 2-way Center, Porzingis has immense potential to be a star and already is a top 10 PF in the East, and Grant has shown towards the end of the season he is a very decent guard to have in the rotation. There's Lance Thomas who before the concussion and injuries showed he was a valuable rotation player. Now that leaves 3 more spots, to get together a 8 man rotation that's good enough to square off against Cleveland, Toronto, Atlanta ... in the playoffs.

You can't go out and just sign or trade for those 3-4 extra players just to get a little better, and instead the team went with short gaps like Afflalo, Calderon and has taken some chances on Galloway and Wroten. We either can be patient and sign, draft or trade the right longterm players, or do the quick fix which is to go after the expensive veterans who will command big contracts but not yield the results.

The way things are set up right now, the team has the potential to knock on the playoff door with a core of Lopez, Porzingis, Melo, Grant, Calderon and Thomas (when healthy and next year I expect both Porzingis and Grant to be more consistent) plus we can add players through free agency in 2017 and 2016. Both years we can go to work. This is a way in the past the Knicks have never gone at it. They've always tried to jump from 30 wins to 45 wins by trading or signing the biggest name on the market, thus mortgaging the future and killing the cap situation. The way the Knicks are currently set up, they can both try to make the playoffs the next 2 seasons, develop a potential franchise player in KP, and also keep the option open through free agency of getting a ton better by signing a star like Durant, DeRozan, Westbrook (and more) if any of them have interest in leaving their current teams.

EXCELLENT POST! I find it funny how far people go to paint the Knicks in a negative light. It only takes 8-9 quality players for your rotation to be playoff competitive, so if your Frontcourt is capable then you have fewer holes to fill going forward.

I suspect Phil will continue to upgrade talent as he been doing. People forget about Willy, who could help the rotation next year. As for the need at guard, Phil isn't just gonna stand pat. He knows the team needs upgrades there. He has a shot to improve this summer but there's no need to panic either. Phil has shown he can be very patient and practical in building this roster.

jrodmc
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5/2/2016  11:03 AM
Bonn1997 wrote:I'm glad that after 26 months, Phil has gotten respectable players for 3 of the 15 roster spots.

Maybe if you said "after 735 days,..." it would even sound more credible.

fishmike
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5/2/2016  11:46 AM
jrodmc wrote:
Bonn1997 wrote:I'm glad that after 26 months, Phil has gotten respectable players for 3 of the 15 roster spots.

Maybe if you said "after 735 days,..." it would even sound more credible.

na
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SupremeCommander
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5/2/2016  1:21 PM
EnySpree wrote:
nixluva wrote:I can safely say I don't expect the Knicks to have a #27 ranked Backcourt next year. The degree of improvement will determine just how much more this team can win. This summer is huge and I can't wait for Free Agency and Summer League.

With the way Jerian Grant played, you can put him above Calderón in the rotation and day it with a straight face. I'm thinking Wroten might develop into a 6th man like Jamal Crawford...then you sign a shooting guard... Derozen, Fournier or Eric Gordon. Starting Grant next to one of them with Calderón and Wroten off the bench is a significant upgrade to the backcourt.

I agree with your overall sentiment however I am not ready to throw the keys to the kingdom to Grant and Wroten... I do think the team needs either a second/third tier starter or a first tier guy who can handle the ball off the bench.

Previously I was all about Conley but now I do feel more optimistic about the points and think if somehow the Knicks could get DeRozan they would be exponentially better

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franco12
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5/2/2016  1:24 PM
jrodmc wrote:
Bonn1997 wrote:I'm glad that after 26 months, Phil has gotten respectable players for 3 of the 15 roster spots.

Maybe if you said "after 735 days,..." it would even sound more credible.

what a shame that by the time the KP hits his prime, Rolo & Melo will likely be out of the league or so old as to be ineffective.

nixluva
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5/2/2016  1:29 PM
franco12 wrote:
jrodmc wrote:
Bonn1997 wrote:I'm glad that after 26 months, Phil has gotten respectable players for 3 of the 15 roster spots.

Maybe if you said "after 735 days,..." it would even sound more credible.

what a shame that by the time the KP hits his prime, Rolo & Melo will likely be out of the league or so old as to be ineffective.

KP doesn't have to be in his prime for this team to win. He's going to be getting better over the next several years with Melo and RoLo. The key is to upgrade the Backcourt. That is what will make the biggest impact on this team's ability to win games right now. It's not an either or proposition. We can develop KP and win at the same time.

Phil's Rebuilt Frontcourt A Success

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