Great to see David Lee playing so well again – this week apparently in 4 games averaged 22.8 pts on 60.6% FG, 12.5 reb, 2.8 assists, 1 stl. 7 straight 20-10 games per Sam Amick. Still think it was probably the right move to basically trade him for Amare — I don’t necessarily think Melo pushes as hard to come to NYC with David Lee being the headliner, and in turn I don’t think Tyson and then the rest come after that.

You know I disagree on the Chandler thing, but the interesting thing to me is how little Melo seems to give a shit about Amar’e. I thought that they were really good friends and I agreed at the time that Amar’e being really good friends with Melo (and others) was a plus with Amar’e over Lee. But since Melo has gotten here, they’ve barely seemed like good friends at all. It is weird.

and it’s hard to take your relative rankings seriously when you insisted for a couple of years that Landry Fields was better than Melo. still sticking by that nugget of insight? :)

The Honorable Cock Jowles: It’s not 2007 anymore.

2007?

Guy had a .615 TS on 28 % usage and .181 ws/48 in 2010.

Put up a .589 TS in 2010 playoffs while facing Camby/Aldridge, McDyess/Duncan, Gasol/Bynum.

Last year he had a higher fg% at rim than in all but one of his previous five seasons.

When you actually go back and watch Amar’e from 2010, arguably still the best offensive power forward in basketball, you realize that he had about as much explosion as he did when he finally lost the extra 20 pounds last season, and he’s still more explosive, agile and skilled than 90-95% of the bigs in the league.

All the numbers from the last two seasons point to the fact that Amar’e is still Amar’e when there is either penetration or a pnr pg beside him, and when his usage isn’t above 30% (an indicator that he’s taking far too many isolation shots).

All of the pieces are in place for Ama’re to have great year. The only question, as it is with Melo and Chandler, is how long can he stay healthy?

If all three of those guys stay healthy all year, they’ll be the best froncourt in the NBA, easily.

ruruland: He just can’t porivde nearly as much value as a healthy and not overweight Amar’e will provide in these circumstances.

It’s not 2007 anymore.

The Honorable Cock Jowles: I think that Brewer and Amar’e play totally different positions, so I’d hope that Amar’e can get more than 2.1 ORB/48, which is what Brewer does. (That’s 1 more than the average SF.) Brewer also has 28 steals and only 8 TO. He’s a possession creator. You might fail to see value in a player who doesn’t “create shots,” but I see it.

What does that matter when Amar’e is replacing Brewer in the lineup?

Makes no sense.

There is plenty of value in a guy who gets steals and doesn’t turn the ball over and plays better than average defense. I loved the Brewer signing as we all did, and even though he hasn’t been his normal self in transition and defense, he’s a quality role player and should get better as his knee improves.

He just can’t porivde nearly as much value as a healthy and not overweight Amar’e will provide in these circumstances.

bockadoo: You don’t think Amar’e will easily surpass Brewer’s 4.8 orb % and .483 efg and .480 ts% %???

I think that Brewer and Amar’e play totally different positions, so I’d hope that Amar’e can get more than 2.1 ORB/48, which is what Brewer does. (That’s 1 more than the average SF.) Brewer also has 28 steals and only 8 TO. He’s a possession creator. You might fail to see value in a player who doesn’t “create shots,” but I see it.

The Honorable Cock Jowles: What could be historic is that the two “starters” aren’t as good as the “bench” players who have taken their minutes. And when Amar’e and Shumpert come back and put up their woeful numbers, the media will talk about “gel” and “chemistry” instead of “eFG%” and “ORB%”.

You don’t think Amar’e will easily surpass Brewer’s 4.8 orb % and .483 efg and .480 ts% %???

Why don’t we do another one of those friendly bets on those 3 numbers for Amar’e, like we did for Melo and the Knicks as a team?

Shumpert isn’t going to start over Kidd. Amar’e is a big upgrade over Brewer, as he’s currently playing. Though I can’t see either Shumpert or Amar’e taking Brewer completely out of the rotation.

d-mar: I’ll be at the game and will give him a well deserved ovation. He saved our season last year, and there should be no hard feelings about Lin chasing the big bucks just like every other pro athlete would have.

I’ll be there too giving him a huge ovation. One thing I’ll add is that he didn’t exactly chase the big bucks. The Knicks didn’t make a lesser offer, they made no offer.

(Of course, once the game starts, I hope Felton slices and dices him!)