the team for sure. Also its always fun to see a new coach and how he handles rotations and things like that. Especially when our former coach seemed so horrible at it.
Obviously just hoping for a split to open the season, but more importantly i just want to see the team look competitive, its a long season so being 0-2 against the two best teams in the east isnt a big deal.
Obviously, most forecasts have them sucking, barely on the border of making the 8th playoff spot. 538 has them winning 32 games. And yet, just 2 seasons ago, they were 54-28, an might even have beaten Indiana in the second round of the playoffs, if Chandler had been fully healthy (which wasn't that likely).
So, what do they have this year compared to two years ago?Position by position:
Center: That year we still had the pretty good Chandler, when healthy, a second-team all-star with 10.7 RPG and a .637 field goal percentage. He deteriorated toward the end of the season and in the playoffs with illness and injury. Dalembert isn't equal to that. Backup center sucked that year except for the short time Martin was healthy. This year, there are a lot of guys who can play backup better than that, but not by a whole lot.
Power forward: Well, that was mostly Melo, with some decent backup from Amar'e. This year is a mish-mash, depending upon how well and how much Amar'e plays, and how well Smith contributes. Bargnani is a proverbial black hole. And there is Acy, undersized but a decent rebounder and defender who seems to be shooting better than he used to. Not a strength.
Small forward: Now, of course, that's Melo, possibly in his best shape in many years. That's a big improvement vs. 2 years ago. Backup is messy--Early, one of the shooting guards--but it was messy back then as well, with Smith and Shump playing out of position. Does Acy play some 3?
Shooting guard: THjr. plus the two carry-overs from 2 years ago should be somewhat better than then, IF Smith can get his head out of his ass. Maybe a lot better if THjr can play some D. Shump had a poor shooting year, except that he shot .411 from the three.
PG. Better than then if Calderon is healthy, but by how much? Felton was way better than the succeding year, and scored 14.2 points. I'm hoping Larking provides a kick, although the Knicks apparently don;t like him enough to extend him, with a Friday deadline.
Then you add in better coaching/the triangle, and better overall depth.
I would be pretty shocked if 538 is right, but how do we compare to two years ago?
that will be fine, but how are they going to stop anyone? The only above-average defender they have is Shumpert. Melo is better than many give him credit for, but the rest range from below average to downright dreadful.
Calderon, for example, is a fantastic shooter, but defensively, he'll make Ray Felton look like Gary Payton in his prime.
then play better in the 2nd half of the season as they get used to the triangle
But I still think we're barely a playoff contender. Manh george is right above - 2 years ago we had a still-strong Chandler who covered up a lot of the rest of the steaming pile on defense...this team isn't as good as 2 years ago
Still excited for the Jax era, would love for the turnaround to happen sooner!!
by enough to get to .500 plus a little and into the playoffs.
Comparing Chandler to two years ago, and the lack of his ability to back up the defense is clear. Compared to last year, though, the collection headed by Dalembert isn't any worse. The one and two are better than last year, and we swapped the strong four for a strong three with Anthony moving.
Btw, Calderon is weak on d, but he isn't any worse than the fat, sloppy, depressed Felton was last year, and the team defensive concept has to be better than the Woodson conga (1-2-3-switch).
And then there are the 4-6 games Woodson lost for the team last year in the fourth quarter. Just add back those, and they're around 42-40 with no other improvement.
they could be better than last year, Calderon is so far superior to fatso at getting a team into it's offense sets it's scary. Sure his D sucks, but Felton's D was a special kind of suck that is hard to be matched. How quick we gel as a unit and pick up the new system can't be predicted. The big variable is how much better or worse do the other teams in the conference get? Washington/Toronto probably go up a bit, Indiana losses a ton, the Heat take at least somewhat of a step back, the Bulls probably go forward and The Cavs sky rocket forward. How this all meshes together and affects us is a big question. One thing you can take to Vegas- god the sixers suck.
You could make an argument that everyone in the east got better. And miami should still be a playoff team replacing lebron with an above average player in deng.
I hope im wrong but i definitely see 8 teams i like more than the knicks this season on paper in the east. But injuries will happen, and the nba's middle class can sometimes be unpredictable. Id bet against a playoff spot but not with a high degree of certainty
Washington got better unless Otto Porter steps forward and plays major minutes at the 3. I think Pierce from Ariza is a downgrade.
thats arguable. But youre also failing to account for expected jumps in play from wall and beal (when he returns), both still very young and shy of their peaks, and now with playoff experience under their belt.
The wild card for the Knicks is - do they make a trade?
I honestly don't care who's on the team or how many games they win. My only goals...
- least amount of wear & tear on Melo as possible
- development of THJ into a top 7 player in rotation of a very good team
- Larkin can develop into something useful (I'm skeptical)
RE: I've never been less emotionally invested in a Knicks season.
I honestly don't care who's on the team or how many games they win. My only goals...
- least amount of wear & tear on Melo as possible
- development of THJ into a top 7 player in rotation of a very good team
- Larkin can develop into something useful (I'm skeptical)
That's because you were a huge Woodson fan and he's gone(thank god).
I honestly don't care who's on the team or how many games they win. My only goals...
- least amount of wear & tear on Melo as possible
- development of THJ into a top 7 player in rotation of a very good team
- Larkin can develop into something useful (I'm skeptical)
That's because you were a huge Woodson fan and he's gone(thank god).
You're right... I should be like you awaiting the true heir to Willis Reed and Patrick Ewing in Samuel Dalembert.
this pre-game show on ESPN may rank up there with the shittiest thing they ever did. Honest question.... when people watch someone sing, are they on their phone nonstop taking worthless pictures/videos that you will see maybe once or twice for the rest of your life?
All hail Big Chief Triangle
Obviously just hoping for a split to open the season, but more importantly i just want to see the team look competitive, its a long season so being 0-2 against the two best teams in the east isnt a big deal.
oh, well ... still looking forward to it.
Link - ( New Window )
JD & the Straight Shot - ( New Window )
So, what do they have this year compared to two years ago?Position by position:
Center: That year we still had the pretty good Chandler, when healthy, a second-team all-star with 10.7 RPG and a .637 field goal percentage. He deteriorated toward the end of the season and in the playoffs with illness and injury. Dalembert isn't equal to that. Backup center sucked that year except for the short time Martin was healthy. This year, there are a lot of guys who can play backup better than that, but not by a whole lot.
Power forward: Well, that was mostly Melo, with some decent backup from Amar'e. This year is a mish-mash, depending upon how well and how much Amar'e plays, and how well Smith contributes. Bargnani is a proverbial black hole. And there is Acy, undersized but a decent rebounder and defender who seems to be shooting better than he used to. Not a strength.
Small forward: Now, of course, that's Melo, possibly in his best shape in many years. That's a big improvement vs. 2 years ago. Backup is messy--Early, one of the shooting guards--but it was messy back then as well, with Smith and Shump playing out of position. Does Acy play some 3?
Shooting guard: THjr. plus the two carry-overs from 2 years ago should be somewhat better than then, IF Smith can get his head out of his ass. Maybe a lot better if THjr can play some D. Shump had a poor shooting year, except that he shot .411 from the three.
PG. Better than then if Calderon is healthy, but by how much? Felton was way better than the succeding year, and scored 14.2 points. I'm hoping Larking provides a kick, although the Knicks apparently don;t like him enough to extend him, with a Friday deadline.
Then you add in better coaching/the triangle, and better overall depth.
I would be pretty shocked if 538 is right, but how do we compare to two years ago?
Return of Rose.
Reminds me of W. Might be a great guy to hang around with, have a drink with. Noone you want running things.
Calderon, for example, is a fantastic shooter, but defensively, he'll make Ray Felton look like Gary Payton in his prime.
Return of Rose.
oh, well ... still looking forward to it.
Link - ( New Window )
I wonder how they think the Knicks will be worse than last year.
oh, well ... still looking forward to it.
Link - ( New Window )
on the bright side, this is one of those rare years where we actually have our first rounder!
Biggest disappointment in NY sports.
lol no.. just posted that for dep
But I still think we're barely a playoff contender. Manh george is right above - 2 years ago we had a still-strong Chandler who covered up a lot of the rest of the steaming pile on defense...this team isn't as good as 2 years ago
Still excited for the Jax era, would love for the turnaround to happen sooner!!
Haha. That's a great pic.
And if we make the playoffs, that's good too.
Comparing Chandler to two years ago, and the lack of his ability to back up the defense is clear. Compared to last year, though, the collection headed by Dalembert isn't any worse. The one and two are better than last year, and we swapped the strong four for a strong three with Anthony moving.
Btw, Calderon is weak on d, but he isn't any worse than the fat, sloppy, depressed Felton was last year, and the team defensive concept has to be better than the Woodson conga (1-2-3-switch).
And then there are the 4-6 games Woodson lost for the team last year in the fourth quarter. Just add back those, and they're around 42-40 with no other improvement.
Next year hopefully we can have some bigger expectations.
I hope im wrong but i definitely see 8 teams i like more than the knicks this season on paper in the east. But injuries will happen, and the nba's middle class can sometimes be unpredictable. Id bet against a playoff spot but not with a high degree of certainty
It's a shame. While I'm excited that the Jackson/Fisher era is beginning tonight I just don't see them contending for anything this year or next.
thats arguable. But youre also failing to account for expected jumps in play from wall and beal (when he returns), both still very young and shy of their peaks, and now with playoff experience under their belt.
- least amount of wear & tear on Melo as possible
- development of THJ into a top 7 player in rotation of a very good team
- Larkin can develop into something useful (I'm skeptical)
- least amount of wear & tear on Melo as possible
- development of THJ into a top 7 player in rotation of a very good team
- Larkin can develop into something useful (I'm skeptical)
That's because you were a huge Woodson fan and he's gone(thank god).
Shump
Melo
Amare
Dalembert
Quote:
I honestly don't care who's on the team or how many games they win. My only goals...
- least amount of wear & tear on Melo as possible
- development of THJ into a top 7 player in rotation of a very good team
- Larkin can develop into something useful (I'm skeptical)
That's because you were a huge Woodson fan and he's gone(thank god).
You're right... I should be like you awaiting the true heir to Willis Reed and Patrick Ewing in Samuel Dalembert.
If that happens, I'll set my Mike Woodson Halloween goatee on fire. Hehhe.
But with Hinrich most likely starting, it will make sure Shump is on Rose to start.