Report Card: Nate Robinson

by Tommy Dee on December 29th, 2008 at 5:31 pm

The offensive spark of this team without question is Nate Robinson. He’s by far the team’s best athlete, and may be the best pound for pound athlete in the game, and it’s why he fits so well in this system.

It’s good or bad with Nate, for me, because he’s a scorer and that often can stifle the ball movement D’Antoni likes in his system. The whole gym knows when Nate’s about to pull the trigger.

Defensively, he should get 2 steals a game so you take the 1.5 he’s getting, but he often gets under screens and allows for open looks for the bigger guards he’s trying to check.

Donnie Walsh needs to make a decision on Nate, but for now he’s arguable been the team’s best player. Is he a starter in the NBA? To me maybe, but I would say not on a good team. He’s a great bench player who can provide instant energy.

But is there a team willing to give him starter’s money? Say in that 6-8 million range? And if there isn’t shouldn’t that tell us something?

What grade do you give Nate Robinson?


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  • Michael Powell

    Nate is almost weirdly uncoachable. I say weird because he so clearly seems to love hoops and to enjoy playing. But, as your blog as so smartly diagnosted, his near-Crawfordian aversion to going over picks is far too revealing of his mindset.

    Playing tough defense is all about team over self, and will. Does anyone believe that Nate could not go over a pick if he wanted to? I love little guys, I love the energy, but there’s no way I hold onto Nate as anything other than a sixth man on hallucinogens.

  • bob knick slave

    I DONT GET IT!after reading all your report cards,it seems everyone gets a B+ or better,if this is so,than shouldnt the knicks record be like 20-8?

  • Michael Powell

    Well, yeah, but keep in mind Nate is maybe the best of this sorry bunch.

    D. Lee gets a B-minus, Duhon gets a B plus and then? Richardson c-plus, Harrington B-minus, T-Thomas D-minus and so on and on

  • http://theKnicksBlog.com Tommy Dee

    Ask the fans I guess…

  • http://theKnicksBlog.com Tommy Dee

    People understand there are pieces and that they’ve played hard… I think they realize the team has been undermanned and don’t blame them.

  • Michael Powell

    That’s a good point, by Tommy Dee. The grades also reflect the best that these players are capable of … For that reason, maybe David Lee deserves better than I suggested

  • chrischilds

    Slave, your logic is inherently flawed. A person who votes Chris Duhon an A is not saying that Chris Duhon is an A point guard in the NBA. In fact in comparison to Chris Paul, Deron Williams, and the other elite point guards in the league, Duhon is probably nothing more than a C. Still, Chris Duhon is having an excellent season by his standards and is doing everything he is asked and then some. Duhon, Lee, and Robinson all deserve to be commended for their efforts as they have played to the best of their ability and given their all night in and night out.