I understand what YOU are saying, I just don’t think has ever really been the case.

He always says the right things when interviewed. I see him cheering good plays etc… He’s not Turiaf emotional, but he cheers and gets into it.

I have NEVER EVER heard a first hand report that he was dogging in practice or not working hard. That has always been speculation because a lot of people can’t understand why the best rebounder and shot blocker on the team can’t get selective minutes on a team that can’t rebuond or defend.

The only negative thing I have heard about him came from Hahn. He said AR is a project on offense. But we all knew that to begin with. The counter was that he was never a perimiter shooter for GS and scored OK. His outside shooting spiked when he came to NY and was played as a wing on the perimeter where D’Antoni wants players to shoot.

One thing that people have to understand is that he is NOT a ROOKIE.

Rautins and Mozgov are just happy to be in the NBA. Williams is happy to not be in jail, let alone in the NBA.

AR went from being a player that dominated summer league, was one of the hottest prospects in the NBA, and was a sometimes starter and major cog at GS to not even being able to crack the rotation in NY. We’ve seen repeatedly that when players that go from being “in” to “out” they react WAY WORSE than rookies that are just trying earn any minutes at all.

As long as he’s working hard, stays ready, and is not being disruptive in the locker room, he’s entitled to be frustrated with his position and disagree with the coach. I know I would be happier with a different coach for a whole variety of reasons despite the fact that I started out as happy as a pig in shit when we first got him.

First six games – 79 mins:
13 turnovers (5.9 per 36) – 10 rebs (4.6 per 36) – fts 3-8 (37.5%)
Last 18 games – 289 mins:
17 turnovers (2.1 per 36) – 72 rebs (9.0 per 36) – fts 23-30 (76.7%)

He is still turnover prone and only an average rebounder but he is alot better than his numbers and not just in this recent resurgence.

The big improvement in this recent stretch of games is his shooting. He was actually okay in those first six (10-17) then seemed to lose his confidence and was horrible in the next 14 (12-42) before finding it again in the last four games (15-26). That is actually the big thing I am worried about. Can he keep up the solid shooting? His rebounding and turnovers have been fine over the last 18 games but is this recent stretch of good shooting an abberation or simply renewed confidence.

As for AR I really would love to see alot more of him too. I’m worried we’re giving him away in the Carmelo trade not because we need to include him, in which case I would, but because we’re not valuing him high enough.

I’ve gotta say that I take the complete opposite stance on him doing that. Rautins and Mozgov, even when they put in dreadful garbage time minutes, still leap up and run to the front and congratulate the rest of the team. I’ve had no sympathy for Randolph because his attitude is terrible. I’ve thought from the beginning he could be a great player, but that doesn’t excuse him from not being a team player first.

Of course, there’s no way for me to verify this, but my theory is that Dantoni never ‘freed’ Randolph because his attitude during practice and the games never justified it enough. But that’s just me guessing.

http://espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/playoffodds

Totally agree, however, if the NYK got a do-over, I’d take him in a heartbeat over Frye.

Anyone catch Hollinger’s playoff odds? He has the Knicks at 91% making the playoffs. A little too bullish imo. Maybe he’s banking on the Knicks getting Melo.

As Mozgov was walking off the court after getting his 6th foul and the crowd was cheering for him, Randolph just shook his head and looked totally frustrated.

It was like he was saying to himself, “I could give the team 10-11 boards, 2-3 blocks, and foul out without scoring every night too and I’m a pariah around here. WTF does a guy have to do to get on the good side of this idiotic coach? Doesn’t he know I used to score and run the court for GS?”

I feel sorry for the kid.

I’m torn. I think he has excellent upside and is going to be a borderline all star or better someday if he works hard and focuses on improving and learning. Part of me wants him to remain a Knick, but part of me wants him to get traded so he can play, develop, and have the career he deserves. Then he can eventually kill the Knicks a few times in the future just to demonstrate that D’Antoni is an idiot savant. lol

More likely AR gets shipped out before it happens.