An Answer, I believe, is in DC

by Tommy Dee on December 18th, 2009 at 5:32 pm


When looking at the Knicks, there are two things that stand out as reasons the team has struggled with consistency. First and foremost, Mike D’Antoni’s offense is predicated on space and open shots. If you create space, you get open shots. You have to make them.

Other than Danilo Gallinari, the Knicks don’t have consistent perimeter shooters. Career numbers always tell the truth, and here are the career 3-point percentages of the Knicks perimeter players currently in the rotation:

Larry Hughes – 31 percent
Al Harrington – 36
Wilson Chandler – 32
Chris Duhon – 36

Even if left wide open in good rhythm, the odds are that it’s a low percentage shot for whichever Knick is taking it. Now, that’s not to say that this system can’t produce great things. It can. Because if players continue to get good looks, those percentages should rise. But other than Larry Hughes, none of these players is shooting at a higher clip.

To me, it’s the reason why Grant Hill was attractive over the summer. Despite a putrid career 3-point shooting percentage, Hill had a breakout year last season from behind the arc while playing with Steve Nash. In addition, Hill is a near 50-percent career shooter from the field. Sure, Knicks brass wanted fans to believe that the interest in Hill had more to do with “locker-room” qualities, but Hill has been revitalized with space. He could have been a real help in New York if he didn’t have to ultimately choose between Duhon and Nash.

But over the past few weeks, the players seemed to be in sync and the ball was moving around well. Why? Because you have to get the defense to “react.”

So, what does this mean? Simple. If the ball is going to the basket, you have to make a defender leave his man to stop you. Then the decision is to pass to an open man who has to prove he can knock down that now-open shot or create a defensive rotation that gets another player open.

If Duhon can’t get past his man then who else can? Harrington is decent, but, at 6-foot-9, it’s not his game. Gallinari struggles, and if Chandler does drive, then he usually settles for a pull up contested shot. And Hughes has been better, but it’s not his specialty either.

That’s the second problem. Yes, occasionally these players can cause the defense to react, but far too often they don’t and it hampers the systems offensive flow.

The solution? Well, it should be fixed with roster and financial flexibility that comes this summer. In the meantime, Donnie Walsh should be seriously working the phones to acquire a player who is a handful off the dribble but has the smarts not to just commit to the drive. It’s why he has to have interest in Charlotte’s D.J. Augustin or more of a fit is Washington’s Randy Foye. more.

I’ve been thinking about this all day on Twitter. Foye is the perfect fit. He’s strong and can get past his man, but can also be a spot shooter if he gives the ball up. Plus he is an above average defender.  This is not to say that Augustin can’t be acquired too, but I have to get on the phone and see if the Wizards have any interest in Larry Hughes.

Foye isn’t getting much run and no he’s not all that sexy of a name, but I appreciate strong, catch and shoot type players who can get past his defender.

Last year with the Wolves, Foye had 30 games of 5 assists or more…
  • Cheech

    I think foye would be a good addition, especiall since he can play the one or two and since he has good size…

    wats his contract like? its still his rookie deal right?

  • http://theKnicksBlog.com Tommy Dee

    Q offer after this year…

  • bartnyk

    Larry Hughes

    and

    Tony Douglas

    for

    Mike Miller

    and

    Randy Foye

  • bartnyk

    I think I would rather Augustin though because Foye seems to be more shoot first but im not sure.

  • joetheknick

    Tommy D: Foye and Augustin are good choices. Why can’t we get it done. Is it that we have an unrealistic view of the value of our trading pieces. Jeffries is a defensive specialist. Robinson is an offensive sparkplug. Curry is an imposing offensive center. Why are we unable to change this roster for equal value???

  • Heri

    I hear what you’re saying Dee, but I believe Walsh is looking to drive the ball out of the park and thinking much bigger.

  • Magik_Trick

    I like Foye, coming out of college, he got compared to Billups, and I think he’ll have a similar story

    As in, he’ll bounce around the league a bit, and with age he’ll get better, and become more productive, ala Billups

  • Heri

    I believe biggie is right, this season doesn’t mean anything. Walsh is looking to address the cap room and Rubio.

  • Heri

    Walsh may settle for what you’re talking about, but only if he can’t hit the home run. He is waiting patiently, and it isn’t for anything small.

  • Heri

    2010 is a lot closer than we realize. It’s not about making the playoffs, it’s about winning a ring.

  • Thall99

    Heri,

    If the season does not mean anything and Walsh has grand plans, then why not play the young players to see what we have and to allow them to develop.

    Every other team is doing this even those that are contending for a playoff spot.

    Face it, Walsh has a grand plan like Isiah did. Do you recall Indiana executing those grand plans under Walsh to win a ring?

    The only thing grand is your delusion!

  • Pops221

    Rubio is obviously the target, but Donnie cannot wait for Rubio in spite of other opportunities. He and we need to be realistic. If we cannot get Rubio by June, Donnie needs to look elsewhere. I think Foye is an interesting target and a realistic acquisition.

    I know the goal has been two max free agents in 2010, but how about LeBron and a mid-level type player (say Foye for 5 seasons at $7m/season) in 2010, and then save some space for 2011?

    We’ve waited for over a decade for cap space, so why cash all our chips in one summer?

  • bartnyk

    Rubio is obviously the target wahhhhh how is that obvious?

  • Thall99

    D-a-m-n, I registered for this blog and they didn’t send me any weed like some of ya must have gotten.

    Lebron and mid level player and that’s being realistic?

    If we are luuuuuucky, we might get Tracy McGrady and Andre Miller!

    If we are really lucky, we might get rid of D’Antoni!

  • Mucha

    Foye would be a nice addition but he’s overrated – I’d much rather have DJ Augustin who would be a long-term asset considering the fact that he’ll still be in his rookie contract in 2010-2011. He’s a young, lightning quick point guard and his trade value is low.

    Donnie Walsh needs to make a significant trade regardless, but I think the answer is in CHARLOTTE.

    I’ve been pro-Bayless since last year but Pritchard closed the window after his career-high. The Knicks HAVE to make a move for Augustin. PERIOD.

  • BiggieSmalls

    Whbat an awful awful trade that would be for Washington.. less than 1/3rd into the season they will have essentially traded the NUMBER FIVE overall pick for…. Larry Hughes?

    I dont think they pull the plug on their season just yet.. Remember they were supposed to compete.. and traded out of the Five pick for Foye and Miller (who they call their “glue guy”)

    I tweeted this earlier.. What about Rip Hamilton from Detroit?> Surely with Gordon on board Detroit may want to move the 31 year old guard and the 4 years left on his deal…. Maybe JJ and Lee gets it done.. or a larger deal including something else (nate for Kwami?)

    Rip would be a sure thing second fiddle to a big time Max player..

    we are not getting two max deals next year under any circumstances 00 and I really DONT think there are two “MAX PLAYERS” on the market..

    Tell me who you are giving the second MAX DEAL to.. besides Lebron.. forget about Wade.

  • Jeff Cykiert

    We need to make a move, and would love to make a move for augustine, but we have to keep in mind we have the least to offer out of any team in the league. Yea, we have a lot of expiring contracts, but those are only considered valuable as cap space, which means to trade them we would need to be getting back 2010 salary. We don’t have the assets to pick up young promising players who are on the block like randolph, or even augustine IMO.

    We have to remmeber that we are still digging out of the biggest hole that any bball franchise has ever been in, ever… we knew it was going to take patience, and now we will start to see who has it and who doesn’t.

    Fortunately this blog doesn’t matter, and all that does matter is that our management doesn’t lose their patience.

    We would really love to go after augustine, but it’s much harder than u think

  • blackwood

    Derozan is playing on y.e.s and Jennings will be on TNT and Gordon will be crushing our guards tonight!!! See all the guys I just mentioned notice how I did not say I cant wait to see Hill get run tonight!!!

  • Jeff Cykiert

    on another note, i wonder if MD is actually planning on playing 6 players again… that would be crazy…

    I don’t think he realizes that the less he plays douglas (and hill for that matter) the more out of the loop they will become, so that when they DO ever come in, whatever chemistry the small rotation has going will be out the window.

    We develop this good chemistry with a small group but as a consequence our unused bench players lose their value to us. Pretty soon, if we don’t have another great win streak, donnie will demand hill gets playing time. But for the time being, if he thinks he can win, let him try.

  • blackwood

    JEFF….If you have that much faith in donnie and what he does then we should have what it takes to get Randolph. Hill do any of us know what his worth is around the league seeing as he has not played a lick in the NBA.

    Let me ask you guys this would you trade Gallo Harrington Nate Hill and JJ for Bosh & Derozan? Of course only if Bosh agrees to an extension that is.
    Just wondering how you guys would feel about that because I think the whole league knows Bosh is leaving so why lose him for nothing.

  • Heri

    The village idiot should know that Walsh and -D may not be on the same page. -D tries to win now, but Walsh will trade any type chemistry away.

  • Mucha

    It doesn’t matter who you give it to as long as it entices LeBron to come here.

    I’d give it to Adam Morrison if it allows the Knicks to sign LeBron, real talk.

  • Mucha

    The Knicks have some assets. Not many. But we do have some assets.

  • blackwood

    So let me get this right…..Bender has not played in years but gets run but our LOTTERY PICK

  • blackwood

    cant get any run!?!?!

  • thebossandbenji76

    How about Chandler, Hughes and Jefferies for Foye, Mike Miller and Mike James? The big move here is Jefferies for James’s expiring contract.

  • bob go knicks

    TOMMY Is this your idea,or have you heard rumors?

  • bob go knicks

    bigger is not always better

  • bob go knicks

    KOO-KOO KOO-KOO KOO-KOO

  • bob go knicks

    HERI=POPS221

  • bob go knicks

    “rubio is obviously the target” MORE DRUGS PLEASE!