I think so. Nazr is proving himself to be a talented, team-oriented, coachable big. Maybe he didn't get the coaching he needed in Atlanta. Or maybe he was just playing behind good centers, so had trouble earning his minutes. Either way, doesn't mean that he's only blossoming in NY because of Aguire.

Aguire's not the only low-post coach out there that would be making strides with Nazr, or w/ Sweet for that matter. I point this out not to dog Aguire, but because every time we evaluate a post player on this board, it seems like we assume we'll get more out of him than any other team has because of the Aguire magic touch. (See Curry, Kwame, and now Diop.) I don't doubt that Aguire's a good coach. But there are plenty of good coaches around. We can't count on every young big all of a sudden blossoming once they get to the Knicks.

s.t.f. up. Agwire proved that he is an excellent coach, and our young bigs are showing it. Give props where props are due.

Posted by bernard:

I think so. Nazr is proving himself to be a talented, team-oriented, coachable big. Maybe he didn't get the coaching he needed in Atlanta. Or maybe he was just playing behind good centers, so had trouble earning his minutes. Either way, doesn't mean that he's only blossoming in NY because of Aguire.

Aguire's not the only low-post coach out there that would be making strides with Nazr, or w/ Sweet for that matter. I point this out not to dog Aguire, but because every time we evaluate a post player on this board, it seems like we assume we'll get more out of him than any other team has because of the Aguire magic touch. (See Curry, Kwame, and now Diop.) I don't doubt that Aguire's a good coach. But there are plenty of good coaches around. We can't count on every young big all of a sudden blossoming once they get to the Knicks.

I am sorry, it is very unlike me to write like that, but I am disgusted by these fans who don't value hard workers like JYD. This man has shed his blood for our team, but instead of seing what he brings and capitalize from it, they much rather have or want Houston in the starting lineup as our SF. hOUSTON IS 6'6" and he would be guarding taller and bigger players at that position. If Houston was knowned to be a defender a la Maggette, I wouldn't mind, but he is not known for D.

Posted by Andrew:

Posted by diderotn:

s.t.f. up.

diderotn... not the type of conversation we are expecting in this forum. Clean it up.

Posted by diderotn:

I am sorry, it is very unlike me to write like that, but I am disgusted by these fans who don't value hard workers like JYD. This man has shed his blood for our team, but instead of seing what he brings and capitalize from it, they much rather have or want Houston in the starting lineup as our SF. hOUSTON IS 6'6" and he would be guarding taller and bigger players at that position. If Houston was knowned to be a defender a la Maggette, I wouldn't mind, but he is not known for D.

Posted by Andrew:

Posted by diderotn:

s.t.f. up.

diderotn... not the type of conversation we are expecting in this forum. Clean it up.

It's all good Andrew. I never seen him type like that since I've been here. He's just a little emotional today.

I am too......the Knicks are right there as far as being elite.....that's without making a trade for some big name talent.

It starts with defense which is coming along.

Tim Thomas is the guy that is in the way of progress. A couple of times he closed in on defense and made some good team plays, but he is totally screwing the Knicks over on offense.

With that being said, yes, Aguirre is overrated. He needs to be working with Timmy. Nazr is just playing to his potential. Sweetney is still learning how to stay on the floor. Sweets was doing the same stuff he does now in college. Timmy is the guy that Aguirre should be working with.

with JYD not only will not be a good defensive team we won't be a good offensive team either. It's be the Layden-Chaney era Knicks all over again. With Allan at least we'll have a dominate offense with the luxury of bringing in a stopper like JYD in spurts. You are severely overrating JYD man. Probably because he had a great game yesterday with 12pts & 7rebs.

fOR YOUR INFO, I HAVE BEEN WATCHING JYD FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS. I KNOW WHAT THIS DUDE CAN AND CAN NOT DO. I WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK WITH HOUSTON AS SF.

Posted by gunsnewing:

with JYD not only will not be a good defensive team we won't be a good offensive team either. It's be the Layden-Chaney era Knicks all over again. With Allan at least we'll have a dominate offense with the luxury of bringing in a stopper like JYD in spurts. You are severely overrating JYD man. Probably because he had a great game yesterday with 12pts & 7rebs.

Totally missing the point, which is giving bulk of credit to the player, not the coach. Would be a moot point ... let them share the credit, whatever ... but if we make trades assuming Aguire can turn any lazy player with size and athleticism into a success like Nazr, we'll make some dumb moves. Nazr's not lazy. He's a good guy who would learn from any number of talented big-man coaches.

And btw, what does jyd vs. Houston have to do with this topic?

Posted by diderotn:

I am sorry, it is very unlike me to write like that, but I am disgusted by these fans who don't value hard workers like JYD. This man has shed his blood for our team, but instead of seing what he brings and capitalize from it, they much rather have or want Houston in the starting lineup as our SF. hOUSTON IS 6'6" and he would be guarding taller and bigger players at that position. If Houston was knowned to be a defender a la Maggette, I wouldn't mind, but he is not known for D.

Posted by Andrew:

Posted by diderotn:

s.t.f. up.

diderotn... not the type of conversation we are expecting in this forum. Clean it up.

I would take JYD on any team. The guy is all about what it should be. He plays for the love of playing. He plays the game the right way. He is perfect in his current role.

TT is a waste of space.

H20 cannot guard the 3, that is true, but did you see Craw trying to guard Jeff last night?

Oh and that reminds me. Is Jeff a Punk or what? I really do not like his on court attitude. He is a cry baby. I was very turned off by him last night. Also his pregame comments were pretty nasty too.

I would not trade Crawford for Vince. The only players I offer for Vince are: H20 and TT. IF they want Penny or Baker, oK. I would not trade JYD, Ariza or Sweetney, KT, Nazr, Marbury or Crawford for Vince.

allow me to shed some light on this. For one thing, Spree was never a SF for the Knicks. when he was in we played a 3 guard line up.

The reason you put Houston in and play 3 guards is it allows you put your best players together. As for Houston on defense he isnt as bad as people make him out. He's NOT a good 1-1 defender and never has been, but he is a good defender away from the ball and keep his man in front of him and he does a good job pushing his man to help. What Houston is on defense is smart and he plays hard. Houston is the only guard we have that actually fights under screen, rather than conceed the open jumper. Thats insane, but its true.

Houston forces mismatched on the other end as well, and he creates space for the other players to operate.

This team is still finding its identity. It will never be a defensive team. We do however have a lot of firepower and some guys like Nazr, JYD, Sweetney... with a nose for the ball. What you do is put your best scorers out there with a couple rebounders and force other teams to gun with you when you work the glass.

Considering our personel its a good system and will win us a lot of games. JYD has a lot of holes in his game. There is a reason he's a career backup. He's great in that role. Ask him to play starter minutes and those holes become a problem.

notice when guys get past him he still pushes them towards help. Houston was a part of some very good defensive teams because he knows what he can and cant do.. put he plays hard on that end.

Every game has mismatches.

what a joke, somebody said TT is 6 10" and his height alone would make him better at the 3. Obviously your not paying attention to this wuss. He would rather walk up the stairs to the top of the Empire State Buildind then to play anything remotely close to defense, he avoids contact like the plague. Iron Eagle and walt made some very good comments about TT any his ridiculous attitude.

The guy went up for a lay up between 3 defenders mis the bucket and the refs didn't call diddly squat because he avoided the contact and slither through the lane.

At 6 10" ( your right) all he has to do his put his hands up, but he does it with absolutely no effort, and boy o boy does this guy avoid contact. If a guy ( or even the man he's checking) penertrates baseline or in the paint, he kindly steps aside or gives you a lazy attempt promting the refs to either whistle him for a knick knack foul or the guy ends up scoring, either way he gives up something.

Houston at the 3 ( like fish said) at least knows where to be on D, he may not stop the guy, but he will force him do something else other then just taking it straight to him.

I personally, don't see the problem with him starting at sf, we are getting 15 minutes a night from TT at the 3 and it's resulting in nothing.

Whats even worse is that on offense TT as never been more pathetic. Even when they have mis-matches( which he should have almost on a nightly basis) he's thinking about everything, and gets called for Traveling, offensive foul, or forcing the issue. WHATS LEFT FOR THIS DUDE TO DO BUT come off the bench where he's always been productive in that role.