fishmike wrote:coach Fizdale wrote:“I think the most important thing I was trying to get out of it was culturally you’ve got to earn it. I don’t think Kevin got to the point where he earned it more than Frank,” Fizdale said. “But there were some good things for Kevin and I was really happy with him having to go through highs and lows early on. He had the two double doubles early and then he hit a wall. That’s just a learning opportunity for him. I don’t want to reward that yet. I do think Frank consistently throughout the preseason, no matter where I put him, he got the job done. So for our culture that’s more important.”
It's all standard "media talk"
Nothing anyone says out of a pro sports franchise really means anything other than factual occurrences. If a player is signed, cut or traded, then that's a fact and there's no wiggle room to that. Everything else is just fluff to keep the media at bay and do due diligence to league media requirements.
There's every incentive to start veteran players with some history already with the team. That can change later as some don't produce. Easier that way. New guys have no right to demand to start. If Fizdale benches THJr, it puts a negative light on the decision to sign him in the first place, why broker that tension with Steve Mills now? Also the Knicks don't have enough talent to not start THJr
If the Knicks are hoping to trade someone soon or at the deadline, odds are they will start them. Low odds Kanter, Lee and THJr will move, but it's still the best move.
Vonleh IMHO is the best of the veteran pick ups and will make the most overall impact of the new guys. If Kanters contract status was different, there's a decent chance he'd start instead.
There is really no ideal lineup with this roster. Kanter and Burke in the same unit is going to be hell defensively.
