I think he played the guys that worked hard in practice. That showed they wanted to be part of the team… and to hell with everyone else.

I was all for the nate benching. I have a feeling there is WAY more that happened behind the scenes then we know. I always felt that something happened on the bus, or in the locker room and Nate was punished.

These are things that will help the young guys. Tony D, Gallo, and IllWil know that they need to work hard and play for the team to play. It wont matter who is paid the most, but rather who wants to be on the team that will garner playing time.

First, the F grade for D’Antoni seems right, for all the reasons Mike Kurylo stated, though a clear headed analysis of his over valuing of Gallo could easily drop his rating to an F-. Gallo is a 7th man on a decent team, a 12-15 minute guy at best. He has heart but only one skill, shooting an uncontested spot-up three. Though advertised as a Tony Kukoc type of creator, he doesn’t have clearly lacks the quickness, vision, and passing skills to justify that comparison. The excessive playing time Gallo received accounts most for the poor rebounding and contributed massively to the poor defense. Gallo hustles, is tough and willing but simply lacks the athleticism and anticipatory skills to be a good defender. The truth is that Gallo is a tweener–not strong enough to guard PF on the block and two slow to guard either stretch PF and SF on the perimeter. In other words, defensive liability.

It’s amazing that in Gallo’s defense folks point to his chronological age. What’s important is not his twenty-one years of age, but his years as a professional basketball player. He played a few years for junior squads and 2-3 years at the professional level before joining the Knicks. He is only a few months younger than Wilson Chandler but has been a professional player maybe 2-3 more years. From my perspective, Chandler is not only by far the more talented basketball player, but given their ages and professional experience also has the most upside.

Are the Knicks determined to become the first Euroleague team in the NBA? Move up to draft Greivis Vazquez? Trade Chandler for Rudy Fernandez? Neither of those guys would ever start or be a productive sixth man on a decent NBA team. Fernandez can score but would give it and more back on the defensive end. It’s this type of strategy that will cost the Knick LBJ. Because Bosh wants to be the Man, we may have a chance to get him, but other than that ego driven desire, what sane max-level player would want to join a team that’s building for the Euroleague championship. This is clearly MD’s plan.

Surely it’s not Donnie Walsh’s.

Perhaps after the free debacle, they will eat MD’s contact and hire a coach that committed to competing in the NBA, not the Euroleague.

The point guard the Knicks need is Shawn Livingston. He available for a portion of the mid-level exemption.

You have a point about Fernandez being able to help out Douglas handle and distribute. My point was on defense, I’m not sure he’s capable of guarding the point. I once heard somebody compare Fernandez to Ginobili. I’m positive he can’t defend like him, but I do agree that he shouldn’t have a problem playing in (not boring) New York, in (a not boring) D’Antoni’s system where he’ll be a bigger part of the offense (Roy, Webster, Batum, and Bayless played at the 2 and 3 along with Fernandez. In New York, he’d be sharing floor time with Walker, Gallo, and hopefully LeBron/Wade). The whole point was trading Douglas for Fernandez wouldn’t be too smart defensively. I’m sure Fernandez and Douglas would work out fine.

Why is Chandler more valuable? I’d say the opposite. Rudy has been more productive, has a less common skill set, actually finishes extremely well just rarely ever goes to the basket, and has an extra year at rookie scale.

I also don’t see why Portland would want WC.

@80

I don’t think Rudy can play PG, but he wouldn’t be the worst guy to help take some ball handling/playmaking pressure off Douglas (also not the best).

Bill Waker has like 200 minutes of NBA action, huge holes in his game, and a history of knee problems… I don’t think he’s getting you Rudy and a 2nd… More like just a 2nd. (Portland’s owner, Paul Allen, was Bill Gates’ partner and is one of the richest men in the world… Cash is not a big motivator for their franchise: they just paid $2 mill to move up 10 spots in the 2nd round and have been buying picks for years…)

Was: Bron, Arenas, Wall, and…Blatche?