Comments on: 2008-9 Game Thread: Knicks vs Cavaliers

By: Caleb

Caleb — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 01:18:38 +0000

I do think there are serious questions at this point about whether Lee can be the third best player on a championship-level team

That’s not quite the same as “one of the three key players on the team.”

It HAS been a disappointing year for Lee-watchers, but I think that just says a lot about our epectations. In 30 minutes a game, playing out of position, he’s still averaging 12 points and 8 boards on 55 percent shooting (57% TS). As a full-time starter that would be 15 & 10.

But it doesn’t look like his impact on defense is changing – for me, that’s the biggest disappointment.

By: jon abbey

jon abbey — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 01:00:20 +0000

dunno if it’s the same thing as he’s saying, but I do think there are serious questions at this point about whether Lee can be the third best player on a championship-level team. on the other hand, LeBron makes everyone around him look pretty damn good.

Cleveland up 56-23 right now on the former Sonics right now, they’re on a mission now if they weren’t before. go Celtics! (hard to even type without vomiting a little)

By: Ted Nelson

Ted Nelson — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 00:46:43 +0000

IS,

You make ludicrous statements on a regular basis and then personally insult my character for disagreeing with you? Fuck you.

By: caleb

caleb — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 00:34:55 +0000

Lee hasn’t shown enough improvment this season for me to believe he’s ever going to be one of the 3 key players on the team.

Just curious - who is more of a key player on the team right now?

By: jon abbey

jon abbey — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 23:24:29 +0000

the real problem with the team right now is that it’s a guard-driven system and we’re quite thin at guard right now without Mobley and Nate. tonight’s going to be ugly.

By: Italian Stallion

Italian Stallion — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 21:40:52 +0000

I’m not putting much weight on last night’s game because I do realize they were a player short, haven’t practiced much together, and were playing a very good team. I just think we got off to a good start because the schedule was weak. Now, IMO, we took a small step backwards in both these trades. So my expectations are very low at this point. Like I said before, I wouldn’t even mind that much because I get a lot of pleasure from watching young talent develop. I just don’t see much of it on the Knicks at this point other than Chandler and Gallinari (and the latter is an enigma).

By: Z

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 20:24:42 +0000

I agree with jon. I think that our record when all is said and done will be at least as good as, if not better than, our record would have been had Jamal and Randolph stayed.

But that record is still going to be pretty bad, which should get us one last lottery pick before the Summer of LeBron…

By: jon abbey

jon abbey — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 19:44:08 +0000

don’t take too much from last night, Cleveland is one of the best three teams in the league. if we’re at full strength (not counting Gallinari), meaning Mobley, Nate, Jeffries are all good to go, we’re about as good as before the deals, once everyone gets settled into their new roles. teams with quality height should crush us, but everyone else we should be somewhat competitive with.

By: Italian Stallion

Italian Stallion — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 18:51:08 +0000

IMO, we are clearly the worst team in the east. It’s going to be tough for me to even find a reason to watch the games. I was looking forward to some combination of competitive basketball and watching some of our young players develop, but we are going to be less competitive now after the trades and there’s not much development to watch.

1. Lee hasn’t shown enough improvment this season for me to believe he’s ever going to be one of the 3 key players on the team. He’s a bit more willing to take (and hit) an outside shot, but he’s still limited offensively, marginal defensively, and IMO will end up being either a solid role player or top notch 6th man type. I don’t think there’s much more upside.

2. Gallinari is out of action. So I can’t get enthusiastic about watching his development.

3. Robinson is a terrific “off the bench” spark plug, but that’s as far as he’s going to get.

4. IMO, Chandler has the overall talent to develop into a key player, but it’s going to take time for him to improve his shot selection and consistency. Watching him and hoping he develops is about the only reason I can find to watch this team now. Even that gets a bit frustrating because even though he’s very good most nights, he has some really dreadful nights mixed in where he can’t hit a shot at all and is taking tons of them.

By: mase

mase — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 16:18:18 +0000

i guess cavs fans can see the writing on the wall for 2010!