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Joakim Noah was inactive for the second straight game tonight and Jeff Hornacek made it seem as if Noah will remain inactive for the near future. Hornacek said it was possible to make Noah active and carry four healthy centers but added, "I'm not looking to do that right away." He spoke to Noah, who is in the second year of a $72 million deal, about the situation and said Noah is OK with it. "Jo's a team guy. He wants us to win. He sees how they're playing right now. He doesn't want to have to rock the boat but he is competitive and he wants to be out there to help us," Hornacek said. The coach also wants the NBA to abolish the inactive list. He said if there were no inactive list there could be opportunities to play Noah. |
Good win last night. 3rd game this year where the Knicks came down from double digits to win the game.
Couple Notes/Observations:
-Courtney Lee has a tweaked hamstring. I'd expect Dotson and McBuckets to get more burn tomorrow against Toronto.
-Hardaway with another good game. 26-6-6. His one area of improvement is he needs to have a better shot selection at times. The half court 3 at the end was unnecessary and stupid.
-KP with his second game in a row where he couldn't get into a rhythm early. Still managed another 20+ game, and a clutch 3 at the end. Keep an eye on this going forward, maybe his elbow is still bothering him
-Ntilikina showed more aggression in the 4th. Driving to the basket, taking the open shots. Hopefully this continues. Per usual, his defense completely changed the tone in the 4th. Guy is a gamer.
-I've said this every game so far this season, but can the Knicks f'kin stop being lazy on close outs and giving wide open 3s? Sluggish off the ball movement on defense is killing us. Seems every team has a field day from behind the arc.
All in all, Knicks could be 10-4 right now if not for giving up 2 20+ leads so far this year. Onto Toronto
"They tell me to be calm, and that I'm going to play," said Hernangomez. "But I want to play now, not sometime in the future, I like playing important minutes." Hernagomez added that he's not at the point where he'd request a trade and that Knicks' management have ensured him that they do indeed view him as a part of their future, but for now, he'll need to be patient.
I'd honestly send him to the G-League. Let him get some burn down there and tear it up. Worked for Dotson. Right now he is the 3rd best center. He's Kanter-lite.
Hornacek claimed he tweaked it, Lee says it was cramps and was limping because he got kneed in the back.
I'm pro playing Willy but he's been so bad out there that I don't think they are going to take minutes from KOQ and replace him with Willy. I don't think they trust Willy at the moment.
It's not a good situation to have one of our promising young pieces wasting away like this.
It's not a good situation to have one of our promising young pieces wasting away like this.
Lance Thomas is a far better defensive player than Willie.
I know this is beyond wishful thinking but hopefully you guys will entertain me. What are the chances the Knicks could go after Lebron and Paul George. All the rumors have them going to the Lakers, but the Knicks would be a far more attractive offer. They have an MVP candidate big man who can provide floor spacing and rim protection and a young defensive stopper at PG who can also stretch the floor/ play off ball. And the Knicks are in the East with a muchhh easier path to the Finals.
Why pick the Lakers? To play with Lonzo Ball and Ingram? That team even with Lebron and PG has not shot against the Warriors.
The salary cap next year projects to be around 102 million. The Knicks would have to dump Noah, Lee or THJ, stretch Baker/ Kuz, Thomas and maybe even Kanter. You would be left with a core of-
KP
Frank
THJ
Dotson
Willy
KOQ ( keep cap hold and resign going over cap)
Mcdermott ( keep cap hold and resign over cap)
Rolling out a starting 5 of KP, PG, Lebron, THJ, Frank is a very formidable 5. It would take serious cap maneuvering and atleast a 1st round pick to dump Noah, but they could get to 60 mill in cap space if they had to. I'm sure teams would take Lee or Kanter for free or even give up assets for them. Kanter may even opt out the way he's playing.
I love the way this team is playing but its fun to dream.Any scenario this happens?
Maybe he'd be invigorated by the challenge of winning in NY. Maybe he'd deliver a championship, maybe not. I just love the vibe of this young, energetic, no drama team right now. I'd rather keep building a team that can eventually beat whatever team Lebron is on in the playoffs.
I have my heart set on Klay Thompson in 2019. Klay will be 29 that year. Of course, we're still paying Joakim fucking Noah $19 million that year (unless some team feels like bailing the Knicks out of that one), and have to plan a big KP deal in the not too distant future.
But how money would Klay be (replacing Lee in the starting lineup) playing with KP, Frank and THJr?
not every athlete can handle new york and for melos faults he handled new york very very well..
Lance is a perfect example of a guy who should only shoot threes or layups.
i mentioned klay the other day, eventually 1 of thoae guys are going to leave and klay seems like the top one
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On this team
i mentioned klay the other day, eventually 1 of thoae guys are going to leave and klay seems like the top one
Add an enforcing center who lays the smack down underneath in the draft and I could see a powerhouse D with these guys plus Klay. Any Draymond types in the draft next year?
Lance Thomas should be absolutely forbidden from taking any shot that's not a wide open corner 3. In fact, he should just sit in the corner the whole time we our on offense....I never want to see him dribble the ball or try to drive to the hoop again.
As far as Lebron aging, he looks better than ever. And when he does lose a step he could easily become a dominant power forward. Look at what Tom brady is doing at 40- these guys are machines.
I also dream about Klay in 2019. I highly doubt that ownership is going to spend the astronomical cost to keep those 4. He would be perfect for the knicks or pretty much any team.
As far as Lebron aging, he looks better than ever. And when he does lose a step he could easily become a dominant power forward. Look at what Tom brady is doing at 40- these guys are machines.
I also dream about Klay in 2019. I highly doubt that ownership is going to spend the astronomical cost to keep those 4. He would be perfect for the knicks or pretty much any team.
i agree with you on lakers and agreed knicks are a better fit but lebron is not taking on that challenge at this ppint in his career...
going to la is stupid also, doesnt he hate lavar ball?
I understand that, but his other issues are still a show-stopper in my view, plus there's a salary cap and he would eat up a lot of it, meaning we'd lack the money to sign other players. I still say no thanks.
That's what you say now, Del. And I agree. But I have a feeling we might be singing a different tune if it happened :)))
Dougie Buckets D - ( New Window )
Dove on the floor to save the game yesterday. Lets keep him if possible. 4-20 seems fair.
Totally agree. Kanter/ Doug and likely a pick between 31-34 is a solid return.
But right now, the Knicks are better without Melo because it has put the focus on Porzingis who is better than Melo right now and because the two guys they got for Melo are solid players who play team basketball.