Comments on: The Knicks’ Defensive Stopper Dilemma

By: Robert Dyson

Robert Dyson — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 02:43:48 +0000

All of the inconsistent play is really hard to take. One night this teams plays hard and looks like they might can make up the four game gap and then they let teams whom they should beat. The fact is we need a win streak and we need one bad in order to make things very interesting. Yes I know we are not true contenders but I think we can at least position ourselves to be in the mix.

We need defense, offense and a healthy consistent dose of both night in and night out.

I am going to bed I am so upset about getting beat by Charolett that I am can’t sleep. One thing for sure I can’t count wins to go to sleep.

By: jon abbey

jon abbey — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 00:26:52 +0000

I’ll buy one if it’s even semi-attractive. maybe a pic of him behind bars, throw Balkman in there also… :)

Phoenix doing to Washington pretty much what Miami did to us last night, 41-20 after 1. tomorrow night is going to be brutal.

By: Owen

Owen — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 23:56:20 +0000

Can anyone tell how to get a Free David Lee T-Shirt, or do I need to go make some myself…

By: Ted Nelson

Ted Nelson — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 18:23:17 +0000

I think Balkman has got to get some more minutes because he’s clearly the Knicks’ best defender and he brings an infectious energy on the court with him. Not to mention that Jared Jeffries looks ridiculous on quicker 6-5 wings all night: I think his biggest value as a defender lies in his ability to guard quicker bigmen and provide a longer option to throw at wings.

One thing I don’t see mentioned here is that the Knicks appear to be a much better offensive team with Jeffries on the court. I realize that he hasn’t played many games, but according to 82games the Knicks’ offensive efficiency is +7.8 with Jeffries on the court. The only Knick even close to that is Lee at 7.7. People seem to get hung up on the fact that these guys don’t score and label them as bad offensive players. While, in fact, on a team that already has so many guys who can get (if you’re Crawford that doesn’t mean make) shots at will these two guys with relatively high basketball IQs who understand spacing and play within the offense and hit the offensive glass seem to be very valuable. (If either of them could add a perimeter, or at least mid-range, shot next season it would be very nice.)

By: Gfreeze

Gfreeze — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 02:18:12 +0000

It’s ridiculous to say that Jeffries would be a better player if he had a better center to back him up… that he is somehow “under-utilised” because of… Eddy Curry. Jeffries was brought in as a defensive stopper… he’s supposed to be the well from which help to other players springs. The logic of this talk is: ‘he would be a good defensive stopper, if only he had a defensive stopper to help him.” Jeffries was a bad signing, full stop. As a Wizards fan who watched his sorry, overrated, zero-offense game for years, I am thrilled to watch my team flourish with Deshawn Stevenson at 20 per cent the cost and twice the game. As for alleged ‘upside’, Jeffries has none. He’s been in the league for years. His one talent, effort, speed and pestering on the perimeter, will only decline with age. His offfensive game will not all of a sudden materialise. It’s as ugly as it’s been since he first joined the league and found he had to play men his own size. It is ineffective at best, downright aimless, clueless, reckless and useless at worst… always aesthetically painful. At some point, we pay hard-earned money to watch the beauty of the game, and Jeffries’ offensive game is downright ugly. It will wear on you after a year, it it hasn’t already. Do you really think he will suddenly ‘blossom’? For that money, you could get some real help… could’ve kept your young center, could get a young big, get a defensive player who actuallly plays… defense. The real issue, of course, is not Jeffries, but Thomas for paying so much for him. Do you really have to wait until the end of the year to dump him? Dolan said he had a year to turn things around, but when is this season a write-off and a failure? New York needs class management – it’s good for the league. Do it a favour and move on! the NBA needs a great New York team.

By: confucius

confucius — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 02:01:16 +0000

we need defensive players

By: Seth

Seth — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 01:30:36 +0000

ummmm…

By: Brian Cronin

Brian Cronin — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 01:26:00 +0000

so officially, no Wade/no Shaq tonight, this is a must-win now no matter how Marbury actually feels (I?m guessing we?re going to see more of Nate again starting tonight). don?t give Kapono any space ever, that dude is deadly.

Hehe... Gotta laugh to keep from crying. ;)

By: TDM

TDM — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 00:53:01 +0000

. . . and judging by the early score, its not going to matter.

By: TDM

TDM — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 00:37:48 +0000

It looks like O’Neal and Wade are both out tonight.