CrushAlot wrote:fwk00 wrote:I think Jaramaz will be starting at the two. He makes Rose redundant.Baker and Randle stick. Holiday likely gone. The speed and defense of Nitty and Jarz will be transformative. Hornacek will look like a genius managing these guys.
Melo sticks probably as the sixth man.
Lee likely gone.
From Fraschilla, “Chances are he’ll never play in the NBA and Knicks fans will never see him other than summer league,’’ Fraschilla said. “He’s an older international kid, very limited upside. He’s a hard-nosed competitor but not really a great athlete or shooter.”
I hope Fran is wrong. I like O.J. a lot but I have only watched a couple of highlight videos. He was the 58th pick. Those guys usually do not make it. The Knicks have scouted very well and have some undrafted second year guys that might be a part of their future. Hopefully O. J. is another positive find.
Yeah. Dotson is the guy I think gets minutes and makes the team. This 58th picked guy is a stash and see guy. Bring him over after another year. I liked how Chasson played at season's end. We should run a 3 man rotation at PG with Ntilikina, Baker and Randle. Top 2 to be determined at training camp and preseason. At 2 guard we should have Lee, Doston and Vujacic. Sasha knows the system really well and is active on defense. He can be a nice cheap 3rd rotation guy.
Where we need to focus on right now is the 3. We need to find a young athlete there who can get up on player's defensively and has some skill on offense. Melo is great on O, but we need a defender at this position. With Ntilikina/Baker/Lee/Vujacic or Dotson, I think our backcourt defense will be much better next season believe ir or not. If keep Melo we need to use him at 4. We need to find a starting 3 and Lance Thomas is a very good defensive backup 3 or 4. He gets up on people and fights on defense. His 3 pointer is really good now.
Focus this season should be on players that play active high motor defense, defensive skills, and players that can fit into the system on offense. "talent" wise we won't really do much better than Willy, KP, Melo and Ntilikina. That's as good as it gets for us in rich talent. We have to find the right rotation, right role players for this team now. We need to make a decision on Melo soon, because if we keep him, for defensive purposes we need to play him at 4.
I think this team could even make the playoffs and develop young players if Melo/KP come with the right attitude on defense and play different roles.
If we keep Melo, maybe sign a free agent like PJ Tucker who can defend and athletically is good enough to match up with starters in the league.
Starting 5
Porzingis (Sub out KP early for Willy bring him backwith 2nd unit)
Melo
Tucker
Lee
Ntilikina
2nd unit
Willy
Porzingis
Thomas
Dotson or Sasha
Baker or Randle
I like that team better than last year's. Think we can realistically win half of our games. Maybe even make the playoffs while developing young players like KP, Ntilikina, Willy, Dotson and Baker.