Comments on: Knicks 2009 Season Preview Part I

By: ronnie

ronnie — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 02:46:45 +0000

count zero-

Crawford essentially did everything you said he couldnt do in the last preseason game. He shot the ball well off of spot ups especially in transition.He found open players under the basket when he drove . I think its obvious hes at his best in the middle of the floor with the ball.

I think D’antoni will use him more at point when the season starts but the one thing I must say about Crawford is that you dont want to pigeon hole him into one spot in the backcourt.Hes essentially a playmaker that you can move around on the perimeter until you find a matchup in your favor.

By: Mel

Mel — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 21:25:43 +0000

its not hard to see who is going to benefit most from the new sys.

Lee
Crawford
Chandler
and of course nate

the problem is that only Crawford and maybe soon chandler would be a top 4-5 player on a decent team.

Lee is a 4 who has none of the strengths you need a 4 to have …how many 4′s in the league are considered starter quality when they aren’t standout defenders or not good enough on offense to draw consistent double teams…i dont think there are any really and if they are they are barely starters …which is why Lee wont be able to unseat Zach as long as he is here as a starter.

nate is 5’7 1/2 and a 2 guard …so his ceiling is basically 6th man.

Chandler is unproven but i think he will soon be a decent starter , as has been said many times , he is an inefficient scorer , but he does alot of things and his efficiency improved quite a bit over the course of his time last season and he’s done better in the preseason .

but there is one big issue i see…the free throw line the knicks bigs aren’t getting there enough at all.

marbury 147 min. 30 FTA 32 FGA
nate 179 min. 38 FTA 94 FGA
Crawford 199 min. 27 FTA 57 FGA
Collins 98 min 13 fta 28 fga
duhon 215 min. 8 fta 51 fga

and the frontcourt
zach 191 min. 18 fta 76 fga
DLee 186 min. 19 fta 59 fga
qrich 120 min. 2 fta 57 fga
chandler 141 min. 12 fta 68 fga
malik 92 min. 14 fta 20 fga
curry 55 min. 18 FTA 10 FGA

you have a team here who aren’t efficient enough shooters like D’Antoni had in phoenix, so they need to get to the line and only the guards (and curry) are really doing that…and curry might not even be in the rotation.

By: jon abbey

jon abbey — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 16:18:40 +0000

Jared Jeffries may be able to fill that role when he’s back in a month or so, otherwise it’s going to be uncontested layups all season long.

By: nj hoop

nj hoop — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 14:29:26 +0000

Having not seen the game last night (not on Comcast in my area) and reading the descriptions, I continue to be really concerned about our total lack of interior D (or any D for that matter). 60% shooting by an awful Nets team in the first half? That’s just not acceptable. I have no problem with D’Antoni’s up tempo style, but the problem is if we start missing 3′s and jumpers 7 seconds into the shot clock, we’re down 10-15 in a heartbeat because we stop no one at the other end. Boy, does this team need a shot blocker who can play 20-25 min. and at least challenge the other team when they waltz into the paint. I’m sure opposing coaches will tell their players before every game “Do NOT settle for jumpers, take it to the hole, the lane is WIDE open”

By: Ted Nelson

Ted Nelson — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 14:27:26 +0000

Just read the SI article. Agree about the anyone could google this stuff point, nothing at all insightful. Sadly, I can’t really say that anyone on the roster is obviously better than Marbury. Love this quote, “If you’re asking me whether Curry and Randolph can play together, my answer is yes. But they won’t win.”

I used to love season previews and “insider” predictions. I still irrationally love them, but don’t really see what the point is. For example, in last season’s first ESPN Power Rankings Marc Stein said that the Lakers had no chance of making the playoffs… I’m sure most scouts agreed.

By: jon abbey

jon abbey — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 14:25:34 +0000

“Is D’Antoni really going to be able to settle on a short rotation when he never knows what he’s going to get on a given night?”

I don’t think so, I said that here last week. it’s almost impossible to with our personnel, that was the first problem in the Larry Brown regime.

By: Ted Nelson

Ted Nelson — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 13:57:25 +0000

I’m not too worried about Jamal’s playing time. Coaches love the guy. I doubt he improves much, but I think he’ll find a way to play a lot of minutes. Just when I thought he was struggling he drops 30 points for a one game TS% of 81%. Unfortunately, it’s pretty hard for the coach of a losing team to sit a guy he knows could have a game or a quarter like that at any moment.
D’Antoni might at least have the balls to cut his minutes when he’s not playing within the offense and/or coasting on D (at least when he’s not on fire). That alone might give him the discipline to improve a bit.

What’s up with David Lee’s scoring efficiency? Anyone think he’s still injured?

This is such a bizarro preseason, Malik Rose and Mardy Collins are playing as well as just about anyone on the team. Is D’Antoni really going to be able to settle on a short rotation when he never knows what he’s going to get on a given night?

By: cwod

cwod — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 13:16:15 +0000

Did anyone see the game tonight? Why was Dlee 1-7. Was he hucking up jumpshots?

He missed two jumpers in the first half. He also had two or three shots blocked around the basket by Lopez.

He had a really terrible, overzealous attempt at an outlet pass that he threw down the court to Devin Harris.

Speaking of Harris, he walked to the hoop all night long.

Lopez looked good, but after reviewing the box score, he had an awful night shooting (4-13), and he only had five boards in 33 minutes.

By: Itsnask

Itsnask — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 12:29:52 +0000

The game last night was overall boring untill the end when they finally made some big clutch shots and got it down to 1.

Crawford had an excellent game, but, I cannot stand when Walt Clyde Frazier brags about how Crawford hit 7 clutch shots last season in situations like this.

First of all, the Knicks had a lot of close games last season…. and Crawford got the ball at the end of every game… and choked on most. so 7 times out of like 50 is horrible.

I cannot stand to see Crawford choke anymore… I hope D’Antoni can figure this out about Crawford – He can be an excellent player – but he chokes under pressure.

By: Z-man

Z-man — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 10:49:32 +0000

Did anyone see the game tonight? Why was Dlee 1-7. Was he hucking up jumpshots? What else happened. Looks like Crawford had a vintage effort. Did Collins earn that +16?

The chemistry was awful and the D was beyond terrible. It doesn’t help when Carter is being guarded by our guards.

Lopez looked really good. He’s a legit pro center.
Crawford was indeed hot.
Lee had most of his misses come on blocked shots from inside 8 feet. He also had another mediocre night defensively, but not as bad as others.
Duhon went to the hoop well.
Nate was not really a factor.
Nets shot 60% in first half.
Game was a blowout until 6 minutes left, then the scrubs went on a roll, led by PEJ, who had a nice corner 3 and 2 sensational dunks.
Roberson finally showed why they took a chance on him, hitting a couple of Eddie House-like 3′s.
Coach: Chandler’s athleticism was sorely missed.