Knicks Morning News (2014.08.25)

[New York Times] Bavetta Looks Back on a Lifetime in Basketball (Mon, 25 Aug 2014 07:35:52 GMT)

Dick Bavetta never missed a game.

[New York Times] Sports Briefing | Pro Basketball: Dream Defeat Sky to Tie W.N.B.A. Series (Mon, 25 Aug 2014 04:39:12 GMT)

Angel McCoughtry scored a career-high 39 points, and the visiting Atlanta Dream beat the Chicago Sky, 92-83, to even their W.N.B.A. playoff series at one game apiece.

[New York Times] LeBron James’s Representative Completes His Own Journey (Mon, 25 Aug 2014 01:34:42 GMT)

At the heart of LeBron James’s homecoming is a promise made 12 years ago between a teenage basketball phenomenon and a self-made businessman selling throwback jerseys out of his car.

10 comments on “Knicks Morning News (2014.08.25)”

Brian Cronin August 25, 2014 at 2:04 pm

Knicks have decent odds to win the Eastern Conference. Just 25 to 1. The same as Charlotte and Toronto. Interesting.

johnlocke August 25, 2014 at 2:33 pm

25 to 1 is decent odds??

Brian Cronin August 25, 2014 at 2:37 pm

25 to 1 is decent odds??

For this team? I’d say so. Same odds as Toronto!

johnlocke August 25, 2014 at 4:45 pm

I think the upper range of where we’d place is 4th (that would be a homerun), I think we probably place 6th (a single), no playoffs (would be very Knicksy)

Kahnzy August 25, 2014 at 5:08 pm

What’re you guys so pessimistic for? We have the best Center since Bill Russel for pennies on the dollar. If I’m Cole Aldrich, I’m already clearing a place on my mantle for my Finals MVP trophy.

Cole Aldrich's Second Cousin's Best Friend's Boyfriend August 26, 2014 at 10:08 am

Hey, the Spurs got the best SF drafted since Durant for pennies on the dollar, and look how that turned out.

; )

Frank O. August 26, 2014 at 10:20 am

WSJ has a story today on how a hedge fund is trying to play a more active role in the management of the Knicks. The hedge fund would be number 3 among the share owners.
Of course, Dolan won’t ever give up control, so it’s just a wicked tease.

http://blogs.wsj.com/moneybeat/2014/08/25/could-the-knicks-be-an-activist-play-at-madison-square-garden/?KEYWORDS=knicks

Frank O. August 26, 2014 at 10:22 am

I actually bought the NBA package again. Glutton for punishment.
I think the Knicks are still a few moves from the start of a new season.
I kind of will be surprised if Shump is still with us.
I also have a feeling somehow that Bargs may get moved, bad contract and all. It’s stupid, I know.
probably wishful thinking.
But Shump…I think he’s done as a Knick.

Mike Kurylo Post authorAugust 26, 2014 at 10:55 am

Some good Thad Young reading:

http://www.libertyballers.com/2013/1/8/3851262/thaddeus-youngs-newfound-identity
http://www.libertyballers.com/2013/10/11/4826130/19-days-thaddeus-young-three-point-shot

Some highlights:

Ethan Strauss @SherwoodStrauss
“In college, Thad Young shot .419 on threes. But Doug Collins loves long 2’s, so he was forced to stop”
5:48 PM – 15 Dec 2012

My point in that article (the TL;DR version*, if you will): I was okay with Thad ditching the three pointer, as most of his threes came at the expense of his elite finishing ability at the rim**. The trade-off was mostly worth it, and while shooting threes at the expense of long twos were fine, Thaddeus Young created more value overall by being stationed closer to the rim more often than he did when he parked behind the three point line as an undersized power forward.

However, he’s back to shooting threes now, attempting 6 in two preseason games. While preseason is time for experimentation, I imagine that the front office’s request that he work on his long jumper combined with the in-game attempts means that the three pointer may be back in his arsenal.

And despite my previous reservations, I’m actually very excited for it.

So, why the change of heart? Well, I don’t suppose it’s a change of heart as much as it is a change in the circumstances surrounding both the team and Thad himself. For one, while people around the team (including myself) have brought up the potential of Thad as a starting perimeter player, he seems firmly entrenched as the 4 next to Spencer Hawes’s 5 to start the season and for the near future. He’ll be playing a lot in the pick-and-roll and against larger players, where he has been successful throughout his career, and he should still be around the rim a ton as the only rim-runner on the court when the season starts.

Besides, it’s not like we’ll have Hawes close to the rim all…

Mike Kurylo Post authorAugust 26, 2014 at 11:03 am

Personally I’m of the Thibodeau mind, willingly taking a long two is the Achillies heel of every NBA offense. So I don’t agree with Collins’ philosophy. Maybe Young needed to take more inside shots, but replacing his three point shot with a 20 footer doesn’t make much sense. Previous to Thad giving up the three, he was a decent 3p shooter (~34%). Why take it away?

His drop last year seems to be a higher usage (24.1 – the highest of his career), lower ftrate (.178), and serious drop in efficiency. It wasn’t so much he was Josh Smithing, as he was Ariza Rocketing.

Comments are closed.