(Thursday, May 09, 2019 4:44:02 PM)
While Knicks head coach David Fizdale didn’t name the Duke forward specifically, he made it clear during an appearance this week on The Dan Patrick Show that if his team lands the No. 1 overall pick in next week’s draft lottery, Zion Williamson will be the choice. “If we win the lottery, do we know […]
(Friday, May 10, 2019 12:55:52 AM)
Kyrie Irving’s godfather Rod Strickland, a former Knick, spoke to SNY Thursday about his godson’s future.
(Thursday, May 09, 2019 9:05:02 PM)
Perhaps the Kevin Durant-Kyrie Irving package deal isn’t as certain as some have thought. SNY’s NBA Insider Ian Begley shares the latest on the Knicks’ thinking heading into a big summer.
(Thursday, May 09, 2019 8:41:51 PM)
Celtics star Kyrie Irving can be a free agent after the season, and the idea that he could team up with fellow free agent Kevin Durant on the Knicks this summer has picked up steam since the Kristaps Porzingis trade cleared two max slots for New York. Here are the latest rumors…
(Thursday, May 09, 2019 3:50:17 PM)
Warriors star Kevin Durant can be a free agent after the season, and the idea that he could team up with fellow free agent Kyrie Irving on the Knicks this summer has picked up steam since the Kristaps Porzingis trade cleared two max slots for New York. Here are the latest rumors…
[NYTimes] Keeping Score: Golden State’s ‘Giants’ to be Tested After Injury to Kevin Durant (Friday, May 10, 2019 4:30:04 AM)
The Rockets are in a strong position, and Durant’s calf injury could tip the series in their favor. Could regular-season rest be the key to a dynasty’s survival?
[NYTimes] Adam Silver Calls for More Gender Diversity in N.B.A. Officiating and Coaching (Thursday, May 09, 2019 11:37:36 PM)
In a talk in Washington, the N.B.A. commissioner also said that the Golden State Warriors were “not ideal” for the competitive balance of the league.
[NYTimes] On Pro Basketball: With Durant Hurt, the Warriors Dynasty Could Suddenly Be Reeling (Thursday, May 09, 2019 10:48:40 PM)
Golden State has seized a 3-2 lead, but there can be no further promises after a Kevin Durant injury scare.
[NYTimes] Kevin Durant Pulled From Game 5 Against Rockets With Leg Injury (Thursday, May 09, 2019 8:09:28 PM)
Durant left the game in the second half with what at first appeared to be an Achilles’ tendon injury. The Warriors later said it was a calf strain.
(Thursday, May 09, 2019 10:04:08 PM)
Legendary Syracuse basketball coach Jim Boeheim said he never has seen, in his 43 seasons, as scary a college player as Duke’s 6-foot-7 power forward Zion Williamson. The Hall of Fame coach, however, held off calling Williamson a potential NBA superstar. In an appearance Thursday on MSG Network’s “MSG 150’’ Boeheim said Williamson is a…
(Thursday, May 09, 2019 2:40:10 PM)
On the surface, the Celtics’ second-round flameout to Milwaukee is good news for the Knicks, paving the way for Kyrie Irving to bail on a dysfunctional situation. However, Irving’s nosedive in the Milwaukee series and off-kilter season with the Celtics causes concern if he’s the right guy at the right time for the young Knicks….
(Thursday, May 09, 2019 11:36:17 AM)
The exhale is louder in New York than it is in California. Kevin Durant has a mild strain of his right calf, ESPN first reported Thursday, after the alarms-ringing non-contact injury he suffered in Golden State’s 104-99 Game 5 victory the night prior. The superstar forward will be re-evaluated next week, meaning he will miss…
(Thursday, May 09, 2019 10:52:32 AM)
The strongest defense of Kyrie Irving came after he likely left for good. Irving did not speak to reporters after his exit meeting Thursday, but several teammates came to his defense as the calls blaming him for Boston’s demise steadily rose throughout their 4-1 series dismantling at the hands of the Bucks. Celtics forward Marcus…
102 replies on “Knicks Morning News (2019.05.10)”
I was obviously wrong when I said that Horford and the Celtics were Giannis’s kryptonite so I went back and watched part of game 1 again. The Bucks have their point guard get the ball up court, and pass it to Giannis at the top of the key. That was their plan, and it didn’t work because he either passed it back to a perimeter player, or dribbled a couple of times into two Celtics players at the free throw line, and was unable to do anything positive there.
Starting in Game 2, the plan changed and Giannis had the ball much earlier, either at his basket or at mid court. From there he dashed into the paint before the defense could set itself up, or had enough momentum to get to the rim and score or go to the free throw line.
I’m not trying to go back to the argument whether he’s at young LeBron’s level or not. Just wanted to understand what happened. I also wonder how come boy genius didn’t send anyone to stop Giannis’s dribble before he could get into the paint.
I’m a little conflicted about Woodson as a coach.
I definitely wouldn’t call him a “good” coach, and maybe he was forced into the 2 PG Melo at 4 lineup, but he did actually do it.
His tenure here will forever be marked by one fateful decision – to go big to match up against Hibbert instead of playing Hibbert off the floor by going small. The worst part of that is that the Knicks did exactly that in the regular season game against the Pacers when Chris Copeland had a huge game and Hibbert was awful. And of course we don’t know what role Woodson had in the fateful Bargnani trade – “the east is big”.
That said – he was one of the first coaches to try to get all 6’8″- 6’9″ guys and switch everything when he was coaching Atlanta with Josh Smith, Marvin Williams, Joe Johnson, etc. That was thought to be really dumb by people at the time but he was ahead of his time there.
I don’t think that would be a terrible hire by the Lakers. Not exactly an inspired choice, but I would definitely take Woodson over guys that have continuously failed like Hollins, or a guy who will obviously get run over by Lebron in Vogel.
You make a good suggestion about the Lakers and Woodson. He is used to dealing with an aggressive press from his time in New York, and, as I recall, he seemed to get along with the players. The next Lakers coach will have a tough and maybe impossible job unless the Lakers get really lucky in the off season. The new coaches people skills are going to be much more important than his x’s and o’s. I’d certainly go with Woodson over Vogel.
Clarke, Hunter, Garland or (yikes) Reddish if we get stuck with the 5th pick? I am leaning toward Clarke or Garland. Kyrie’s baggage is exhausting – Kemba and KD would be the most fun combination.
As of today
Zion (duh)
Morant (no shit)
Barrett
Garland
Clarke
He also refused to go back to a 2pg lineup ever again.
Kyrie has feuded with players throughout his career. First Dion Waiters, then Lebron, then just didn’t mesh with the Celtics.
Assuming KD does decide to sign with the Knicks, who should we be hoping for as his Robin? I really don’t like KI. Too many red flags, but I don’t really like anyone else either with a max contract.
Maybe the Lakers should call LeBron’s buddy Mr. Blatt!
Is Garland really that good? It sounds from reports like he’s a shoot-first point guard… a Steve Francis type. I’d love to be corrected!
My list as of now:
1. Zion
2. Ja
3. Culver
4. Barrett
5. Hunter
6. Clarke
Not feeling Reddish and I don’t have enough info on Garland. I’m not clear on whether he’s any more of a prospect than DSJ.
In general I’d like to avoid small shoot-first PGs that will get targeted in the playoffs. Wait, did I just describe Kyrie and Kemba?
I’m sure he’ll get along fine with Durant who has gotten along with everyone he’s ever played with.
If the front office knows beyond a shadow of a doubt that both KD and Kyrie are coming here as a package deal, would you still rank the players in that order? Zion’s obviously number one. I think Ja is so much better than Barrett that I’d still take him second, and either trade him or design a 2-PG offense. (Though Durant’s reported desire to be the primary ballhandler would make that an odd fit.) But I’d probably prioritize wings and bigs beyond him? DSJ, Frank, Kadeem, etc. shouldn’t influence any decisions we make on the draft, though Smith would be a useful rotation player if we had a Kyrie/Ja backcourt.
He’s supposed to be a shoot from anywhere PG, like Steph Curry and Trae Young. The league is moving more towards that than guys like Morant, who is seen as a PG cut from the Westbrook mold.
@13
If Kyrie is guaranteed to come, with Durant, then yes, if we get the 2nd overall pick I’d be totally up to trade it, either trade down to target a guy like Clarke or another wing deeper down in the draft if the other assets we receive are worthwhile. I don’t think Morant is a player we should expect to be good right away, he will probably look a bit like De’Aaron Fox’s first year in the league, and while I think he’ll eventually figure it out, drafting him to put him off the ball is not the ideal situation.
I would take most the people on that list and Garland over RJ Barrett or at least place on par with him. RJ Barrett did not play that well in the NCAA. He can pass, but didn’t really show any other skills. He’s getting drafted based on “frame” and his high school ranking.
I think:
3. Clarke
4. Garland
5. Hunter
6/7. Culver or RJ Barrett
I’d argue this is a decent draft talent-wise, we just need to look at the right metrics and right players.
For all the shitting on Cam Reddish, he could become a decent defender in the NBA and the college season is short enough to tell us very little about 3pt shooting ability. He’s still way overrated at 5, but getting into the middle of the draft you could do worse than a player with a high steal rate and the potential to hit a lot of 3’s.
Actually my feeling is that assuming KD+sidekick are coming, if we don’t get a top 2-ish pick, we’re trading whoever it is for veteran help. So it doesn’t really matter.
Re Garland: While the sample size is tiny, 3.7 assists/ 4.3 turnovers per 40 doesn’t exactly scream elite point guard prospect. Dude can shoot but I’m not sure he’s a better prospect than Coby White who put up better playmaking numbers (5.7/3.7 per 40) despite being recruited as a two. He also has a nice blend of size/athleticism. My guess is Garland has the higher ceiling but a lower floor- even if White turns out to be more of a combo guard than a pure one, he got the size and a good enough jumper that he could be a solid starter at the two whereas Garland is either a starter quality point or Seth Curry (which isn’t bad but not worth a top five pick).
If we expect to sign Durant and Kyrie, the pick is most likely a trade chip. I’d like Clarke and Garland over Barrett if I were keeping the pick, but if I’m trading it, Barrett should be a lot more valuable than either.
If KD + KI is a sure thing I’d still take Ja second as the chances that either of the masters of disgruntlement are here after two years is real slim.
If we get #2 I would call New Orleans immediately to try and get them to take it as the centerpiece of an AD trade. If they’re high on Morant, it’s not crazy that they would prefer a Knicks package over Boston and LA, both of whose assets are recently devalued.
Morant as the backup to Kyrie on a win-now team is a waste of assets.
If we get #2 and Phoenix gets like #4, they might pay a lot to move up for Ja. Could we get Mikal, Melton, the #4 pick, and a 2020 Top 8 protected pick for the #2? Mikal would fit well as a role player. Phoenix is also poorly managed so a future pick from them could end up being pretty good.
Yeah, I was saying this the other day. The idea that Boston is going to have the best package is now as stale as a three-day-old bagel. Ja Morant with 4 years on a rookie deal is going to have more trade value that Jayson Tatum this summer.
If we get Ja Morant, I think we should keep him. PG and C are cornerstones of a basketball team, having him (well, if he turns out good) and Mitchell would guarantee a very long time of being very good. Think about Conley and Gasol keeping Memphis in the playoffs for very long. Then you can add free agents.
I have sorely missed having a good PG in the team, and we only addressed that when we run 2 PG lineups in 2013.
Yeah, if we’re drafting to trade we really ought to have a deal in place before the pick. In which case, whatever is fine.
Really, I’ll call it a win if we don’t take Cam. The non-top-2 are all pretty close to me with Clarke being the favorite.
Reddish does not have the makings of a varsity athlete
But you’ve gotta consider, a one year rental to find out that AD doesn’t like playing with the infinite happiness duo is probably worth a seriously good PG prospect. Those come along all the time.
I am trading Morant in a second for AD as long as he agrees to an extension. How does that work exactly? Can we lock the extension in before acquiring him?
Up in the morning at six o’clock
Head for the city
Turn on the music, the radio
Nobody’s hurrying (nobody’s hurrying)
Day after day
Slaving away, yeah
Punching the time
I’m late again
Sneak in the back way
I count the hours, minutes too
So glad it’s Friday (so glad it’s Friday)
Jump in my ride
It’s Friday night
Livin’ it up, livin’ it up
Oh, yeah, Friday night
Livin’ it up, livin’ it up at last
Living it up, livin’ it up
Oh, yeah, Friday night
Livin’ it up, livin’ it up at last
Only on a Friday
Never on a Sunday
Never on a Monday
Same situation every day
Some kind of voodoo (some kind of voodoo)
Same complications
Stand in the way
Nowhere to run to (nowhere to run to)
My mind is dreaming
I’m somewhere else
Can’t seem to shake it (can’t seem to shake it)
I miss the feeling
Having fun
No way to fake it (no way to fake it)
Everyone says the Triangle is dead but every time I see the Warriors play the same principles are used in their offensive half court sets possession after possession again.
We shouldn’t be using Capela as an aspirational comp for Mitch. Mitch would not be stepping aside and letting Shaun Livingston dunk in his face
Let’s hope Fiz isn’t. Take that for data
I’m dumb. Nobody’s doing that and the data is on Mitch’s side
I’ve rarely been so certain that a favorite is going to lose a game as I am with the Rockets tonight. They will find a way to botch this. It’s hilarious and sad at the same time.
I don’t know what Steph Curry’s problem is but he needs to get his head from out of his ass. The guy has been in absentia for much of these playoffs and the Warriors could really use him coming up big now.
yeah, I’m having a hard time believing houston can win this game…
the rockets just seem more uptight than desperate…the game just looks easier for the warriors…
rooting for a rockets series win…
Houston just crumbled into a heap in the fourth quarter.
They’re not that good. They can’t get a stop when they need one, and that’s not a good formula for winning a champtionship
I have a friend who is a nice guy but the most irritating sports fan friend ever. He roots for the Patriots, Red Sox and Warriors.
He always talks shit about Durant, about how the Warriors don’t need him, that Steph is the real star of the team and that Durant is basically a dog and they could win without him.
Might have to stay off Facebook for a few days.
What a hilarious loss for the Rockets. They have to be so embarrassed .
You should screenshot his rants and @ them to Durant on Twitter.
Has Scott Van Pelt always been this insufferable? I haven’t watched ESPN in years, probably a decade. Is he always this bad?
Haters can’t even argue Curry got easy points at the line to boost his total because they needed those FTs as Houston were shaving points off the lead with every 3pointer they hit.
Awesome game buy Curry and it started mid to late 3rd then erupted in the 4th.
That was a HOF 4th Q by Steph. His final 3 was just ridiculous. Great, great offensive player.
I think Houston just blew their best shot to beat the Warriors, at least in both teams’ current makeup.
Houston might as well pack it up and break up their core. They will never beat the Warriors so long as that Green/Curry/Thompson core coexists with capable help.
This win only reinforces that idea that KD needs the Warriors, they don’t need him.
Was there any question that the Warriors can without Durant? They went 73-9 without him last time they played a season without him.
3 years is a long time to a pro athlete
These Rockets remind me of the 90s Knicks— as good as they can be, but never quite good enough to get past the best team of their respective eras.
These games were all close. And a significant injury to one of the Warriors come next April levels the playing field a lot. They rockets should only “break it up” if they can put better players in their place. Being bridesmaids is better than being in rebuild hell.
The Rockets have some fugly Chris Paul salary on their roster, his age 34, 35 and 36 seasons at $38M, $41M and $44M.
Looking at Chris Paul’s history and age I think the Rockets are the ones more likely to have the major injury that puts them out of commission.
In retrospect, it was the 1990s Knicks which influenced my thinking on this subject. Don Nelson was essentially fired from his position as the team’s head coach for trying to move the offense away from the Pat Riley era Ewing post up-Isolation offense which wasn’t enough to put us over the hump as Patrick got older. I always thought the franchise should’ve cut bait on Patrick sooner rather than earlier and took Nelson’s advice about how his skills were on the decline.
Curry – zero points in the first half and 33 in the second half, many of those with a high degree of difficulty. That is plain balling out, epic game from him. Klay also hit some very big shots, particularly in the first half. The GS bench finally showed up too. I can see why a lot of folks hate them, but I enjoy watching the beautiful basketball they play, very skillful and entertaining all around.
Yeah it’s pretty obvious the Warriors don’t need Durant as much as he needs them. Hopefully that leads to him signing with our favorite team. It’s also quite clear the Warriors have the Rockets number. The higher the stakes, the more the gap shows between the two teams.
I am bracing for the #5 pick to be bestowed on NY next wee because Knicks
i spend waaaaaay too much time on espn…SVP most definitely has both an ingratiating and grating demeanor…hard to blame him though – dude’s got a very cool job…him and his co-host were the first ones to hit the gambling aspect hard on their network – bad beats is what they call the segment…
at least he’s not olbermann…
i will say, after watching these playoffs – no doubt i prefer espn’s announcing crews a whole lot more than tnt’s…however, tnt’s studio crew is emmy level good…
As good as Curry was, Harden just blew it, especially with the late turnovers. CP3 had one of his better games — he might still have another good year left in the tank. They could’ve used Ariza in this series. That and a shot-blocker. I love watching Jokic, but a Portland/GS series would be pretty fun this year.
I guess you can take that asterisk away from last year what with CP3 going down…
I think D’Antoni is the Buck Showalter of basketball.
This is an awful loss for HOU. Epically so! Like Charles Smith stuff. Excruciating for their fans. But their style of play is awful to watch and it’s good for NBA fans to have an unselfish team move on.
Curry’s left hand has affected his play. It was throbbing last night. Still he found a way to get it done. Just remarkable. If there were a word stronger than remarkable I’d use it. He’s one of my favorite Americans.
HOU needs to trade CP3. Him and Harden duplicate each other and take turns doing the same thing. They might find a sucker. Maybe Steve Mills picks up the phone…
I think Kyrie is just damaged enough goods where he might be ready to embrace coming to NYK. They need to “buy low” if there’s a window. I still can’t see KD coming. Just horse sense…
I would almost trade real outcomes in my own life for a chance to draft Zion.
So much for Karma
If the Pels allow us to talk to him we could get a handshake, which is worth the paper it’s printed on.
That’s an understatement. 🙂
Paul had some injury issues this year, but even when he got healthy he wasn’t consistent. Morey is going to have to be a magician to improve this team. The best thing they have going for them is that Durant may leave the Warriors. They still aren’t as good as the Warriors, but at least it will be closer.
Honestly, I knew the Rockets were done after game 1. It wasn’t that they lost. It’s that they became obsessed with the refereeing and used that as an excuse for losing. I knew they’d continue having trouble “closing” (which is a nice way of saying they aren’t mentally strong).
Bert Gordon:
“no trouble losing when you got a good excuse. Winning. That can be heavy on your back too, like a monkey. You’ll drop that load too when you got an excuse. All you gotta do is learn to feel sorry for yourself. One of the best indoor sports, feeling sorry for yourself. A sport enjoyed by all, especially the born losers”.
It wasn’t that difficult to predict that Curry and Thompson were going to have big games with Durant out. During the playoffs, Durant has been the #1 option. That doesn’t mean Curry and Klay (as the #3 option) can’t still score piles of points. It means they weren’t getting as many shot opportunities and into the flow of the game as well as they would with Durant out.
The team is still much better with Durant because then they can stagger the substitutions and always have 2 dynamite scorers on the court instead of one or none. But when Durant is out the usage shifts…and not in a terrible way when Curry and Klay are right behind him.
I kinda wish there was a plan B for the Knicks.
But we also know who the best players in the sport are. In tennis, you can’t expect Nalbandian to beat Djokovich.
Still, the Celtics are pretty good and will still be when Kyrie takes a year off to sail on a research vessel to the lip of the earth.
MIL has such nice depth + Giannis. Man, I hope KD can be 100% for that final.
I hope so too, KD might be one of the few guys in the league who can defend Giannis
I’m reading a lot of articles about this draft. I’m beginning to get the impression that some teams are actually HOPING to get the #2 pick. I suspect that Zion is NOT 1st on all draft boards, but teams will feel compelled to select him 1st or face the wrath of their fans. A couple of teams may have either Morant or Barrett as better pro prospects even though Zion was the much better college player.
Any team that doesn’t have Zion first on their board should fire their GM immediately
@63 Wow, that’s the first I heard anything like that. Imagine, Zion falling to someone.
I think he’s the real deal. He does things physically I have not seen. I was looking for a video of a play where he literally ran around a retreating PG to pick up a loose ball on the break. It was like an optical illusion.
I only pray there’s another impact player in this draft. I’m not sold on Morant or Barrett.
It is so hard to tell. We all thought Dallas did great to trade up and get Doncic, but now it’s looking like a reasonable deal for Atlanta.
come one. teams will say anything to try to get whoever is picking #1 to second guess themselves. its a smoke screen
If you get number one and don’t think he us as good as the hype, you can trade down. So I see no reason not to want number one.
If we get the #1 and don’t draft Zion it’s likely I’m in prison for homicide within a few weeks.
Zion is the surest thing since LeBron. He’s going to be an impact player by the end of November and he’s not only the best player in the NCAA but he’s (1) a genuinely likable, team-first, low-ego person and (2) a guarantee for home sellouts AS A ROOKIE.
He is so overwhelmingly the best pick since AD and possibly since LeBron that it would defy imagination to see him traded for. I wouldn’t accept three unprotected future firsts for him. Not even from a team destined to suck long-term like the Bulls.
I still think Atlanta made a mistake with that trade but I’ve always argued it was a reasonable deal.
At this point, it depends on how Atlanta uses that extra pick, and of course, which of the two players goes from promising rookie to actual superstar. I was off on the gap between the two, but I still take Doncic over Young and a pick. God help us if the Mavs jump up to a top pick and get someone like Clarke (who would be incredible to pair with KP in the paint on D — highly complementary).
If we agree to a trade in principle with the Pelicans, we can speak to AD, he can sign a supermax extension with New Orleans, then we can complete the trade with him on a long term contract.
He is publicly saying he won’t do this, but that’s probably just for the teams he doesn’t want to join. The Knicks and Lakers are his two top choices. He likely wouldn’t bully us out of trading for him, and there’s very little possibility that AD would be a rental (if he were part of a KD, Kyrie, big 3).
I think Zion is the best player in this draft, but it’s probably closer than people are letting on. The ball handler/distributor role is just so different from the finisher role, that it’s hard to really compare them. Barrett has gotten a lot better over the year and is still only 18. Everything really depends on him straightening out his shooting stroke at this point, and by all accounts, he’s a tremendous worker.
I’m high on the top 3 guys, but then it gets murky. I’m now convinced that Garland would be a good choice at #4, and I’d probably trade down at 5 because it’s mostly complimentary players after that. Of those players, Clarke is probably the safest option at 5 if we end up there.
The second round? I like this kid out of Yale, Miye Oni. Nice stroke, good size, and a live body at the sg spot.
Giannis Antetokoumpo.
Yeah, and Zion’s handle and passing is outstanding.
Comparing anyone else in the draft to Zion is just nonsense. Trading down would be ridiculous.
We aren’t getting him though so no use worrying about it.
That was a big time choke job last night. I feel bad for the Rockets but not really.
Both teams played great offense. I thought the difference was that Golden State got a couple of spectacular stops down the stretch.
The reason that Zion is considered a finisher is because he creates the very best looks you can get in the NCAA and then takes them with great success, especially with the legal zone and the wild fluctuations in player ability. I have never once considered him a ball hog though, especially when we did see some teams start to collapse on him to force his teammates to make their shots, which, haha, didn’t really happen all that much.
As noted before, he’s going to have a tougher time playing bully ball against monsters like Adams, Gobert and Boban, but he’s still going to be the most athletic person on the court most nights and those big guys will have zero chance against his post speed and the efficiency he brings when closing on the rim. I just don’t know of anyone in the NBA outside of Giannis and maybe Ben Simmons who closes the distance to the rim so quickly. And don’t forget that we still haven’t even seen him play the pick and roll. He’s got the handle to initiate, the burst and vertical to finish, and the vision to create a corner three on the short roll.
I have a lot of questions about where and how Zion is going to end up getting most of his points, and I’m terrified of him going to a team that tries to turn him into mid-career, pick-and-pop Blake Griffin while his legs are able to sustain 200 dunks a season. I have zero questions about whether he’ll be able to put up efficient points against virtually any NBA paint protector.
I love that Chris Paul is a nasty competitor on the court, short of condoning his testicular abuse. For people nostalgic for hateful 90s basketball, he should be appointment viewing. It also means that I have zero sympathy for him when he comes up short. He’s quite the enjoyable heel.
Old Man Chris Paul is still a pretty useful player, but the Rockets really needed Young Man Chris Paul.
Really? 7’3″ Rudy Gobert?
If his numbers come down anywhere (and they might not) it would be under the basket in the half court. Don’t get me wrong, I think the kid’s a future star, but he has to pull guys out of the paint with threes so that he can blow by them to the rim.
It is pretty amazing that he had the season he had without a pick and roll game. If he can add that with a good lead ball handler, he’ll be a force. And of course, that’s just the half court game. He’s already going to be murder on the break.
In short, I think his rebounding and inside shooting will suffer some, who knows how much. But he has room to improve his 3pt and midrange shooting.
The other concern is injury at his weight, even though it’s almost all muscle. The torque he must create is kind of scary and unprecedented – think a defensive tackle that acts like Scottie Pippen.
@82
Giannis has had no issues wrecking inside defenses that are trying to force him to take jumpers, and he doesn’t have a reliable 3 point shot. Obviously I have a very high opinion on Giannis and I think he’s a crazy talent, mega superstar level, and that’s a bit high of a ceiling to expect of Zion right away, but with the type of explosiveness he has I won’t doubt him.
Literally my only concern with Zion is that he goes to a garbage team that can’t utilize his talents properly and tries to force him into being a different player. Of course injuries too but those are a potential concern for most prospects anyway.
From the perspective of the whole GSW we didn’t need Durant anyway he’s just a title grabber narrative that seems to be somewhat driving his exit this post season literally could not have done better. GSW bearding Hou wo him and w great play by Curry and Thompson was a gift.
Stop negating my attraction, Owen.
If this were a league in which athletic freaks like Ben Simmons and Giannis couldn’t create quality looks despite being ineffective outside of 12 feet or so, I’d agree. Would it help? Absolutely. But it’s not like he’s a 20% shooter. A 34% shot is something to be encouraged by, even with the short stripe and low volume.
And Gobert is THE best interior defender in the league right now, hands down. I don’t think Zion is going to roast him as a rookie, but his speed, lateral movement and willingness to initiate contact will be a challenge to contain without getting into foul trouble.
Houston shouldn’t break up anything. If Durant leaves GS, the Rockets could w in the championship next year. Yesterday’s loss doesn’t mean they couldn’t beat a Durant-less Warriors team in a 7-game series. It’s one game.
I’m not convinced Zion isn’t the best ball handler in the draft. He looks like a 6’7″, 287lb Dwyane Wade. If I’m looking for a pg, I’d put Zion at pg over Morant. I have no idea what you’re smoking if you don’t have Zion #1, but I assume you’re missing most of your teeth.
And the narrative that the Warriors didn’t need Durant all along should really, really stop. It’s so damn stupid. He has carried them in the playoffs multiple times only this year, and the last time they actually didn’t have him they won 73 games and lost in the finals embarrassingly to a much lesser team, with their current core being 3 years younger.
They absolutely do need Durant and they will feel his absence a lot.
I would love for Durant to come to NY and play for the Knicks. I would love for us to get the #1 pick and draft Zion. I would love for the Knicks to find another player worthy of a max contract and get added to the team.
I do not want to mortgage our future for Anthony Davis. I think Mitch Robinson and Kevin Knox have a chance to be really good. I think we can add a couple of good pieces to the roster with those extra Dallas #1 picks. I want us to build a team that can provide sustained winning over the next few years.
I think Durant wants to come to the Knicks because it’s the largest fanbase and he wants to make the largest group of people he can affect as unhappy as he can possibly manage. Kyrie will be a perfect partner in this endeavor, pairing up KD’s penchant for unleavened moroseness with his own keenly felt desire to spread stress and confusion. Davis is just a distraction, a planted stooge keeping the crowd off-balance and antsy. It’ll all end in tears.
Refreshing myself with rookie-year hightlights. I see it. The genius touch at the rim, the body control. Obviously Barkley is the primo comparison but Big Wade is definitely viable. I think Zion just doesn’t look like a PG because of his downhill dribble drives.
I just wanted to check in to share in the schadenfreude of seeing that the Lakers franchise is even more fucked up than ours. Mike Vogel as head coach with Jason Kidd his assistant is a recipe for total disaster.
The over/under on years before Kidd convinces Jeannie Buss to fire Vogel is 1.5.
I’m sure everything is going to work out just fine for the lakers…ha, I just wanted to write that ridiculous crap down…
laker fans are riding in the fast lane to hell…
seems like phil may have had a hand in vogel’s hiring…
if ballmer can work things out with dolan and get the clips back in to the old/new forum – there may actually be a true basketball power transfer in la…
It really makes zero sense for me, but I’ve said it before, I really doubt there are many candidates looking forward to becoming the next Lakers coach, so maybe that’s the best they could have done after they alienated Lue with their offer.
there’s only 30 nba head coaching jobs available…I’m sure vogel is feeling pretty lucky right now…
even if there a real good chance he doesn’t make it though two full seasons…
can’t wait to see rambis back on the sidelines…
Wait, Phil Jackson has a voice in the Lakers again!? Wow, LeBron must love that.
As soon as I heard that Rambis was heavily involved with the Lakers, I knew Phil couldn’t be very far away. As much as I pity them for being involved with some of the least competent people in basketball, I’m so glad the Lakers are an actual mess. I just hope they don’t pull a Lakers and get something like AD + Kyrie, because that would be so annoying.
The Lakers have taken the throne from us
It’s truly amazing. What’s so great about Phil to me is that he’s out there ruining teams but he is so old that he can’t even be bothered to do it, like, as a real job. He’s a part-time team ruiner. It’s pretty hilarious.
There was an awesome story about how it was such a big deal in the Curry family that the Warriors won in six, as otherwise, Steph and Seth’s parents were going to have to split duties for Game 7 (with one parent going to Denver and the other going to Oakland). Now the parents can both be in Denver to support Seth (players still in the playoffs don’t go to other playoff games, right? So Steph won’t be there to support his brother, I imagine).