To shoot 66%-74% (66% this season, 74% last season) jumpers at a usage rate of 20 and be an efficient scorer, you have to be a very good jump shooter. Maybe his jumper improves to that point down the road, but as long as it is not at that point (which it hasn’t been to date) why not take less jumpers and try to get to the basket more? That seemed to me to be what Chandler was doing during the successful stretch, with last night being a bit of an exception.

My problem with Chandler is not that he’s an inconsistent shooter, plenty of good NBA players are inconsistent jump shooters. My problem is that he’s a high usage, heavy jump shooting inconsistent jump shooter.

I would have preferred to see Chandler start his career as more of a slasher and then develop his jumper in time. He’s pretty much done the opposite, with poor results. I’d have liked to see him come out as a low usage player and shoot more as he earned it, but he came out firing and . I feel like he’s been misused, not sure if that’s initially his fault or the coaches. He’s done it with Isiah and D’Antoni, so I put some of it on him. The coach has to correct it at some point, though, which maybe D’Antoni is trying to do (not quite forcefully enough for my tastes). You can be patient without giving someone free reign.

“Everything I hear about the kid indicates that he is as dedicated and as coachable as anyone, so I just don’t get the skepticism about his future.”

This is just my observation, but a lot of medium-to-high usage, low efficiency players who sit around and shoot jumpers never become efficient, no matter how lovable they are. Crawford was loved by every coach he has in NY, but was still a bum in NY. He finally is efficient now, but needed a change of scenery and better talent around him to do it.
I have never said he can’t become a valuable piece. I think he can. I’ve just said that IF he continues to shoot a ton of long jumpers he will never be a valuable piece. He either has to pick his shots better, or just shoot less. Which I thought he was. The problem with chuckers, though, is that you think they get it but they rarely do. At this point I have labeled WC as a chucker, but I would love to see him prove me wrong.

T-Mac looks done, like Allan Houston after the microsurgery. There is absolutely no reason to bring on damaged goods when the team appears likely to make the playoffs in a crappy conference anyway. Unless we trade for cap-relief – which means Jeffries, since no team will take Curry, no chance, nohow. And while Jeffries is making a contribution, and trading him could cost us the playoffs (can’t believe I just said that), the cap room is infinitely more important.

Because…if we don’t trade Jeffries, we lose Lee next summer. No matter who the max FA we sign is.

And very juicy thread, a few wins definitely livens things up, I wish I had more time to wade in. One thing I will say about Chandler is that few people do less with a 50% fg% in terms of ts% than he does.

And very juicy thread, a few wins definitely livens things up, I wish I had more time to wade in. One thing I will say about Chandler is that few people do less with a 50% fg% in terms of ts% than he does.

I think the trade works due to our trade exceptions for Richardson, Roberson and Rose or theirs for Alston Francis and White.

Btw Knick fan here. Been lurking the blog since Isiah days.

“I say Donnie Walsh patiently waits them out until the realize at the trade deadline that they have no other options and agree to take Jeffries off our hands.”

The other option they have is not to trade Tracy McGrady at all.

I say Donnie Walsh patiently waits them out until the realize at the trade deadline that they have no other options and agree to take Jeffries off our hands.

Hey Jay, what team are you on? That trade only works for Houston, and its pretty much a wash for NYK (trading expiring contracts for expiring contracts). And it give Houston financial relief (Mobley’s contract is being paid by an insurance contract) and gets us nothing in return for that asset.

Now, do the Rockets have a first round pick…

Last night, he shot 10-20, which is 50% and can hardly be considered a bad shooting night. He has shot .505 from the field for the entire month of December, and .557 from inside the arc. The low FT attempts stat, while not a good thing, seems to indicate that he is taking a fair number of 10-20 footers, so it’s not like he’s either making lay-ups or missing. He is clearly on the right track lately, i.e. better shot selection, less 3-pt attempts, more driving to the rim.

Everything I hear about the kid indicates that he is as dedicated and as coachable as anyone, so I just don’t get the skepticism about his future. Many players improved their perimeter/3-pt shooting over time. Chandler has played less than 2 seasons worth of games, is 22 years old, and spent the entire summer recovering from ankle surgery. Developing range on one’s shot is something that can be worked on during the off-season (see David Lee) and shooting well from FT line bodes well for that kind of development. Drawing fouls can also be worked on, and even though he is still not getting to the line enough, he is making an effort to put himself in better position to draw contact.

Chandler may never be an all-star, but I think D’Antoni’s patience with him has been more than justified and I expect that he will continue to develop in all areas, including shooting.