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I’ve noticed two distinct reactions when reading and talking to people about Jonathan Bender’s 
performance Friday night against the Clip Show.
First, there is great respect (and frankly some shock) for the performance of a guy who hadn’t played an NBA game in 4 years.
When I first saw Bender in practice, I allowed myself not to recall the Bender of the past. I allowed myself to picture a 28-year-old veteran, and the man seemed like he could most certainly be a positive help because his outside shot is pretty pure. And when you figure that all he’s done, with the exception of build knee and leg strength, is work on his jumper it makes sense. Like Danilo Gallinari, Bender has a high release and at 7′0 will get clear looks to the basket, even if the offense isn’t getting the necessary space. He can shoot over people.
How long will it be before Bender’s legs get NBA strong enough to get to the rim? I don’t know, but in the immediate future what Bender does NOT help the team with is the ability to beat his man off the bounce. But with his stroke, he may not have to.
Secondly, I’ve heard a lot of groans that somehow Mike D’Antoni playing Bender is a knock on the abilities of Jordan Hill. Along the likes of “if they play a guy who’s been out of the NBA for this long, they must be REALLY be down on Hill.”
False.
The fact that Bender is here actually REMINDS Walsh how to handle big men. A source close to the GM’s thinking told me that Bender’s injury is one of Walsh’s pet peeves. Sometimes it takes time for young NBA bigs to gain the necessary leg strength to play sustainable minutes. In other words, a year of strength and conditioning and the pounding that comes from practice can do wonders for a player like Hill. That makes them that much more physically ready to come in next season when the opportunity is there. As it stands now, with the team needing to showcase Eddy Curry and Jared Jeffries, it makes little sense for Hill to get spotty minutes. I would hurt more than it will help.
Fans think actual game minutes are the most effective way for a young player to gain experience. Yes it helps, but it can be a deterrent if the leg strength isn’t there yet.
***********************************
So reports out of Cleveland are saying that the Cavs will be buyers as the trade deadline approaches. And they mention that the Cavs were in “extensive talks” to acquire Stephen Jackson. Really? My ears are hearing from around the league that Jax had no intention of playing for Cleveland because of the fact that Lebron has remained noncommittal, hence why he ended up with Charlotte. And the fact that Charlotte had the better offer I mean…
The names that the Cavs are talking about in include Golden State’s Anthony Randolph, Indiana’s Troy Murphy, and Washington’s Antawn Jamison, the latter two can be had straight up for the expiring contract of Cleveland (and Lebron) favorite Zydrunas Ilgauskas.
The Wizards have already said now that they aren’t ready to start to shake things up, and bringing in Big Z would make zero sense this season but his expiring would get them around $40 million dollars next year. But can they bring in a free agent who’s as talented as Jamison?
Would the Pacers help an in-division rival? Would Jamison or Murphy want to be in Cleveland long term?
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During this tough economic time, the Wizards making some trades for financial reasons make sense. Personally, I think Troy Murphy makes more sense in Cleveland than Jamison though and Indiana has the players to replace Murphy while the Wiz seem to have a real lack of depth in their front court.
So the rationale behind not playing Hill is so that his legs can get stronger for game time action next year? Seems like a stretch. Its not like we are talking about a 18-19 year old Jermaine O’neal or Jonathan Bender here. I’ve actually never heard this excuse prescribed to a player as old as Jordan HIll. The kid is 22 years old. Even Thabeet is at least playing 10.7 minutes in 22 games this year at the same age behind much better players in Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol. And Thabeet was considered a much more raw prospect.
People were saying during the draft workouts that Dallas was interested in trading with Washington for the 5th pick so that they could draft Hill because he was ready to contribute now. What happened since then?
I agree with you Knicks4life. The reason Hill isn’t playing is because MDA doesn’t like him or doesn’t have the patience to develop him. The thing that I do not understand about MDA is that he has all the patience in the world for Duhon, Gallinary and Huges when they struggle yet has little patience with TD, Hill and Nate. Even Phil Jackson, who is not fond of young players, find ways to develop rookies (like Farmar and Bynum); while, at the same time, tries to win games.
I like reading the news from Tommy D and Alan Hahn, but in terms of analisys? There seems to be a conflict of interest here. They need to have access to players and coaches for interviews and they usually come with excuses for bad decisions (Alan Hahn works for a news outlet that is owned by the same company that owns the Knicks). Do you really believe you get an honest and impartial comment from these guys? I enjoy reading the comments from you guys more than the ones coming from them.
Now, the Knicks are going to have to give talent away for free (Nate) because MDA has a personal vendetta against him. Coaches are suppose to help and develop players. MDA is doing the opposite of coaching right now.
fair point, but it’s okay to let a big player develop for one year.
he’s still a huge part of the future.
really as simple as that…anything else is reading too deep into it.
the point made was not about being “raw” but conditioning. thabeet is 7′3, 263lbs. jordan hill is 6′10, 235. how would be better suited to man the center position in the nba? hill needs to get stronger. as far as doing something in the game, hill is ahead of thabeet, but also more likely to get injured. we also dont NEED hill out here like the grizzlies NEED thabeet too.
ummmm Jordan Hill is TWENTY THREE Years old.. He isnt some 19 year old high school kid.. He played MAJOR minutes at a MAJOR school ..
Enough with this acclaimation time excuses.
He is sitting behind a player who hasnt seen a game in four years.. There should be minutes for your top ten first round pick.. no excuses.
I’m pretty sure he is 22 but you and I are in complete agreement. This has to be the most creative excuse I have ever read for not playing a high draft pick. Sorry I’m not buying it.
u know who is the coach rite?
bingo
Hey DaGawd….like I always ask you……what’s your point with that post?
my point is that the coach is the problem
he has no clue what he is doing
he has no clue at all.
no need for rookies with him as the coach donnie should of traded the pick
cuz of rite now it’s a waste pick for the knicks.
Umm Biggie Jordan Hill is 22 years old. He turned 22 this past summer
it doesnt mater if he is 22 or 23. what matters he was he was eigth pick in the draft and he should get some burn every night atleast that is mo.
curry and jeffries too fellas…curry and jeffries too.
But yes i think it’s wise to allow hill a year to develop. bender helps the team as a high release shooter.
they play different positions, but there is nothing wrong with what they are doing with hill.
sorry, he’s going to be here next year….the idea is to move curry and/or jeffries.
if the idea is to move curry….. why the hell doesn’t he play? you argue that hill needs time to get leg strength but the ONLY thing that is going to help eddy curry is playing time.
Obviously the biggest challenge for curry is to fit the system…players are looking for him too much. Curry also has to have an impact with his minutes, like more blocks like the one he had in Charlotte.
but tommy, when has eddy curry ever blocked shots. i mean clyde made a joke that ty chandler shot have taught curry defense and curry should have taught chandler offense. the bottom line is eddy curry will never be a good defensive player.
players should be looking for him, let him get some touches, hopefully some points, which will equate to some much needed confidence. imo the one big thing that the big guy really needs is some confidence.
he gets off the ground now…he should learn now that he needs to make an impact even when he’s not scoring…that will make him a better all around player.
So if he can’t score he can’t play??? come on. come in and do something on the other end too.
when curry is in the game, we begin to lose. IMMEDIATELY! he fouls people in his struggles to gain a position. and on his behalf, it seems no one can find him fast enough either! what would you rather have: currys stat line of 14 and 7 with a lose and slim chance of some GM going “hmmm…” or a win? IMO i want my team to WIN! ive seen them lose too much for too long!
Is one thing to say they are showcasing Curry/Jefferies but when you start to talk about the legs of a 22 yr old athletic PF your argument sounds ridiculous.
if they really want to move curry
give him 20+ minutes an 10 touches..
The way MDA is using Curry seems like he is showcasing to make it imposible to trade him. Either use him when he’s ready or don’t play him at all. Knicks are losing leads and getting out of sync when he enters the game.
that’s real talk.
i laughed when i read the first line.
it’s true though
Hill right now is in better shape then Bender Mike is down on him big time, he can play in the D league but not in the NBA ? His legs are fine Mike doesn’t want to play him he should be traded.
ridiculous….
yeah i doubt mike doesnt like hill….. if he didnt like him walsh wouldnt have drafted him. walsh is constantly trying to find players who fit mikes system and j hill does, it just is going to take time for him to develop. very few big men come in and dominant….. veryyyy few.
just like the coach doesnt like Nate but Walsh signed him anyway?
There seems to be a communications gap between the coach and GM.. just an observation..
22 or 23.. Hill played three years of ball at the NCAA level.. Im down with giving him some time in practice to get a handle on the pro game.. but this post reads like an excuse for him sitting out the whole year with minimal impact
Im down with giving him some time in practice to get a handle on the pro game.. ..
and do develop NBA leg strength also?
The proof is there Tommy even if u dont want to see it.
really? it’s not there in practice…he gets full runs and battles. it’s okay to let a big guy develop for 1 year even if you don’t want to see it bart.
Practice is Practice, its ok to make your Lottery pick sit on the bench for 1 yr ?? Really, there is no practice situation that is like the game he would develop more if he was PLAYING i.e. Wilson Chandler. Who is he developing with Darko, Jefferies, Curry?? Yea those guys will really help his game improve.
He should be playing IMO if you draft him instead of Jennings who is averaging 20pts 6ast hes not good enough to play over Harrington or Lee or even along side those guys for get Jefferies/Curry Hill could take some of Lees mins, he can’t because he has low bball I.Q. and Mike diesn’t trust him on the court.
lack of trust on the court isn’t all that rare for rookies…
jeff van gundy hated playing rookies…remember?
He foamed over playing Gallinari last year, I think he put him in the first game knowing his back wasn’t 100% so Mike doesn’t hate rookies he hates bad players and he thinks Jordan Hill isn’t that good. The D league is a possibility really?? LMAO
uh, help me out here with this reading comprehension thing here bart.
i said van gundy hated rookies. Gallo can shoot, can always get his shot off and stretch the defense with range. He’s a different player that hill.
Plus, again, if jeffries had sat, like i know you wanted him to, then he wouldn’t be raising his trade value which is FAR more important than hill playing 8 minutes one game and 0 the next.
and yes. fans think “D-league” equals “bust” for some reason, which i find equally hilarious.
did you stop laughing yet?
I don’t think Jefferies should sit at all he should play and raise his value as much as possible. I don’t know why you want to discredit the value of 8 mins of playing time over 0. Whats there to look at is desire and Mike has none to play Hill he played 6 guys the other night that would not happen with a healthy Gallo last year, and i say that because he was a rookie.
again bart, rookies come in different shapes and sizes. hill is really a 5 here so he’s playing behind Lee, Jeffries and Curry.
then he can slide jeffries to the 4 along side Lee but mostly Harrington, gallo and sometimes chandler get minutes together where one plays the 4.
So tell me where exactly are his minutes?
who sits?
tell me what the coach should be doing.
Why the hell didn’t they think about that before they drafted him??
What im saying is He should be traded this is hes not good enough to crack the rotation and if you send him to the D league he loses all value, maybe put him in a deal with Curry and move both.
Hill is a project most bigmen are. its like a qb in the NFL. it doesnt matter that he was a 3 year starter at USC, the pro game is a different level. for big men it is the same thing. the opponents are bigger, faster, stronger, smarter, more poilished. its a diffucult transition for a big man. hill was not drafted for this year. at least not the first half of the season. the first half of the season is about showcasing Jeffries and Curry and trying to move them. it is simply to early to judge hill accurately. he was brought in for next year and beyond. big men need a year of seasoning and conditioning. i guarentee he will play more in the second half of the year if/when we move one of curry/jeffries.
tell me what the coach should be doing.
how about playing more than SiX players form 40 plus minutes a game?
Is a nice tight Nine man rotation with most getting low 30’s and the 9th man getting 12 a game too much too ask for?
but they’ve won with that short rotation. guys know what to expect with a shorter rotation.
and that 6 man was just in chicago…he plays 7 and 8.
like van gundy used to do.
No its not. but again i think there are other things at play here. playing jeffries extended minutes is important. playing gallo extended minutes to get him stronger is important. playing curry a little more each game is important if we want to trade him. (but maybe they will give that one up). playing chandler to get him better. playing duhon, our only real pg. obviously lee and al are gonna get there minutes. and hughes has been really good so far. i agree he could lesson some ppls minutes inorder to get bender and douglas more minutes. but i dont think hill is ready yet. after the trade deadline when Jeffries is gone, hill will pick up some minutes. in my opinion. its is only the second month of his NBA career. big men take time and patience.
That was “no its not” in regards to is it a lot to ask to play 8 or 9 guys. but like tommy says. he does play 8 guys and its been working…
he plays 6 for 40 minutes and one or two other guys for under 10… that is a six man rotation and it is not sustainable for the full year 82 game schedule.
Its the caffeine rush / sugar high mentality.
It was only like that for a few games. obviously he will have to alter that to give those 7th and 8th men a few more minutes. and i think he will
didnt the coach learn anything from his burning out of Duhon (and Chandler for that matter) last year?
On friday nite he used 6 players with Bender getting 14 minutes as the 7th man and Douglas getting 11 minutes.. everyone else was well over 30- over 40 minutes..
Pet peeve with this coach,.,you aint gonna win a chip like that..
if you look at the NBA mpg leaders, none of the knicks are at the very top. All of the starters are in the top 100 and Gallo is #104.
Guys like bryant, lebron, mello, paul plus many others are all getting 37ish mpg.
So they can do it but knick players cant?
Yes – chicago was excessive. I think it was a bad day of coaching for MD.
The rotation is settling out and these guys are going to be fine.
LMAO
they drafted a player with 3 years spent in college
to develop him not only that but he was the 8th pick an can’t play.lmao..
lmao
lmao
the knicks will never be good until they get the rite g.m an coach.
yea the 2010 plan is going to make them better
but how much better with a weakass coach..
Big men develop slowly! im not saying that hill will be a great player but its ignorant to comment on how good he might be when he isnt playing yet. and he isnt playing yet bc hes not ready and bc there are guys that are in front of him for various reasons (some are better and some we are trying to showcase)…its kinda like a QB in football, it doesnt matter that he was a 3 year starter at USC, the pros are another level. and for big men, it is a huge adjustment bc the game is faster, the players are bigger, and they are more talented.
its different for big men then it is for guards
I can’t buy this legs excuse either. It’s not like we want him to play 36 minutes a night every night. The fact of the matter is that he’s not playing because he’s simply not good enough to crack the rotation on a bad team. I’m not saying it’s a hopeless case, but IMO we’d be close to a .500 team if we drafted TY Lawson. We wouldn’t have lost all those games when Duhon was in a coma.
Lawson had the best stats of any PG in the draft, fit the system fairly well, had experience at a major college and played extremely well under tournament fire.
It was idiotic to pass on him once Curry was gone. If they felt he was going to be around later, then they should have traded down.
People complain about not drafting Jennings, but at least that makes some sense. He wasn’t any good in Europe and came off like a future head case. So that would have been pure speculation (that could still turn into a head case scenario) to assume he was going to become a top PG. Lawson was close to a mortal lock to become a productive PG. He had already proved he had the skills.
In fairness I wouldn’t have taken Lawson at 8. I would have and advocated for trading down to pick him along with getting a 1st round pick next year.
I don’t understand Tommy isn’t Bender, even at 7ft a 4/5 tweener and Hill also a 4/5 tweener. How do they not play the same position?
bender is a wing player, always has been…in this system he can be a 3 point shooting 4…hill is a pick and roll/pop player.
I obviously liked lawson as much as the next guy but to assume that we would have won the games that duhon played poorly in is aggressive.
I don’t think anyone can say either way that this is true or false…
I’ve seen Lawson play several times with Denver. Every time he enters the game he makes a huge impact. The problem with picking Hill is that it was a position Knicks didn’t need. They certantly needed a point guard of Lawson ability and mental toughness.
We started 1-9 because Chandler and Duhon couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn. They weren’t a little off, they were horrible. It’s hard for me to believe that taking Duhon (who is below average at his best anyway) out and substituting a highly efficient player that’s making an impact in DENVER wouldn’t have won us a couple of those early games and perhaps another one here or there. Even if I’m overestimating, it was obvious to everyone BEFORE the season that at best Duhon is a very good backup. So why not take Lawson who was the highest rated PG in the draft off advanced stats studies and also had lot of great intangibles? To me, it was destined to be a large error unless Hill turned out to be something special – but Hill was rated poorly on advanced stats.
Hill should be fine… his lack of playing time right now says nothing about him or the coach, other than that he is just not ready, in the coaches eyes, to contribute consistently to this team the way it is constructed right now.
Or, i guess you could say that landry douglas and hill are all innocent victems of the coach’s evil personal agenda…
LOL, hill is very athletic, 6-10, has a big frame and a nice jumpshot. He’s only been playing ball since 11th grade in highschool and we all know how tough it is to make D’Antoni’s rotation, but until he develops for a while and eventually starts getting playing time you kind of have to reserve judgement on both sides. We are winning, so instead of looking for things to complain about, let’s focus on what is working.
why drafted at 8th to sit an try to develop a player
i guess the knicks are that good they can afford to do that.
lmao
lmao..
I think its simply there are TOO many PF’s on this team that have earned minutes over Jordan Hill.
It really doesn’t matter what ya’ll are “buying” or “not buying”…It doesn’t matter what Dantoni does with Hill….you’ll still be a Knick fan and Dantoni will still be the Knicks coach. If you don”t like it…to bad!!!
NY’ers are so impatient it’s rediculous sometimes.
We’re obviosuly on the right path to turning our franchise around and you guys want to argue with the coach, GM, players…anybody that will listen to your cries…..guess what? Your not the coach…your not the GM…and your not one of the players…
This is not high school basketball so stop acting like your Mr. or in some peoples here case….Mrs. Hill….your not his parents. If he can’t cut it in on the floor….Dantoni would know….NOT YOU.
I love what the organization is doing…we finally have a coach that is strict and doesn’t have favorites….like Isiah did. Let Nate and Curry sit on the bench and talk, giggle and smile all they want….
Great post Tommy…we’ll teach these guys basketball if it’s the last thing we do.
WHAT F***ING JACKASS!THIS IS A BLOG
Bob..if this is a blog..you sound like an idiot going off on a tangent using all capital letters…LOL
Get used to it….the more you people talk bad about Dantoni and our organization..the more I’ll continue to destroy you here.
Let’s Go Knicks!!!
In Donnie We Trust!!
destroy me?
your ignorance is showing.you have nothing t do with basketball
Can we change Bob go Knicks name to just Bob go?
I think Hill needs to get more experience and stronger.I think he has a better chance to make it than Thabeet.Why is nobody talking about the Gallo pick now which everyone called a bust and now is looking like a great pick,it took a year and guess what Gallo has to get stronger too.Hill IMO is going to take time it’s no excuse it’s a fact,if you think about the time he’s played ball he might need a little more but by next year he should be a force.Hill has a good shoot and he has timming for defense and he has wind and hustle I think he’s going to be allright he just needs to get sronger and a haircut,that hairdo has to go.Let’s talk about Gallo’s three steals,Donnie made a great pick in Gallo and for now has put the Gallo vs Gordan pick on ice clearly Gallo is the better pick,Gordan handle is terrible if Hughes would of played he would of had three steal from him.The fact we are showcaing JJ and Curry is also the biggest fact of all.why is that hard to understand,also now that N*8 is not playing guess what is easier to trade him now because we got his approval now good work DANT.
WHAT Gallo was injured thats why he was out last year Mike actually wanted played a hobbling Danilo Gallinari. He has NO interest in playing Hill
Can’t compare gallo…he can compete in the NBA because he has unlimited range.
just bc, as you said, the coach has “no interest in playing hill” means nothing even if it were true.
he’ll be playing major minutes next year and is still a huge part of the future.
“just bc, as you said, the coach has “no interest in playing hill” means nothing even if it were true.”
What?? I don’t get that, it doesnt matter that the coach doesn’t want to play the Lottery pick because he thinks hes not that good?
He’ll be playing major mins WHY lol because the coach is gonna like him a year later ?? He might dislike his game even more at least with Gallo you could see, Mike couldn’t wait to get him out there he would give his left ear to play Gallo last year, with Hill its not even close he doesn’t even look in the guys direction.
a year later he may very well have more opportunity to play more minutes man…seriously.
lee may be gone, jeffries, etc etc.
you with me?
Bosh/Amare/Lebron maybe here.
You with me?
amare and bosh??? yeah not sure about that.
moving jeffries is key…curry it’s a showcase. both players are ahead of Hill right now in terms of what the team needs to do.
anything else is fan agenda.
I’m not saying play him trade him to better the team by first trying to use him to dump Curry or Jefferies if not then get a good young PG.
I didn’t mean and Bosh. Amare or Bosh
And Honestly if he plays Hill alot this year proves that its not because he wants to.
Of course you don’t get it because youtr thinking from a players perspective…not the coaches.
What is so difficult to understand that Hill is not playing because we have to showcase Jeffries, Lee is a better player as is Gallo and Chandler. Benders one game was actually better than all of Hills minutes combined this year. He took the ball to the hole, hit a three, knew how to get to the line…all in all he just had a presense out there. Hill gets out there and looks lost. Where exactly would you want Dantoni to play Hill in our short rotation?
Like I said..stop thinking from the players perspective and start thinking from the coaches perspective. It’s about time we had a coach that puts his foot down on decisions and doesn’t listen to the people who think they know it all and really don’t know $hit.
In Donnie We Trust!
Im looking at it from a GM’s perspective, Hill isn’t playing and I really don’t see where we need him as much as we need to get more cap space or get a great PG.
The idea going into the draft from day 1 was get a guy that can help the team this year and going forward. Thus far Hill is not that guy but he is a asset that can be traded to better the team I would use him in that way.
atleast with gallo
it’s his friends SON
“The idea going into the draft from day 1 was get a guy that can help the team this year and going forward.”
Wait wait wait….who’s idea was that? Yours? I don’t recall Donnie or Dantoni coming out and saying that.
That’s your idea….not the organizations.
Looks to me like they chose to take someone that will help us going forward.
Stop making $hit up.
ARE U NUTS
Everyone knows that was the plan get someone who can help the team this year and going into 2010 pay attention.
Where did you get that from? Everyone where? Here?
Last time I checked…Walsh and Dantoni don’t listen to blogs.
This is their job and their doing a fine job.
Please provide a link that says we were looking for a player in the draft to help us this year.
Good luck searching………..
In Donnie We Trust!
let’s see ok his first move.
hiring danni boy i think dolan had a big say on that 1 cuz that was is first dumb move.
second-paid 12 million for duhon
donnies age showed alot on that signing.
the positives-2010 cap
but still no coach for a ring=losers again..
Once again..the only reply to your post would be …………….huh?
Degawd,you’d better shut up or DVJ will DESTROY YOU!!!!!!!!(and DVJ stands for darth vader junior)
lol
DVJ actually stands for Ya Mammas Side Piece….aka…the man your father loves to hate!!
In Donnie We trust!!
is that what you meant by destroy bob?
bob, i dont think you have to worry about anything from DVJ lol
Yeah, and if no one ever played at all, no one would get injured.
Ridiculous post.
Fair point Tommy. But sometimes you reach a point (I call it the Larry Brown Line) where you got to put a guy out there just to see if he can make something happen, especially with a tiring team. DJ Augustine and Gerald Henderson have passed it in Charlotte, Wayne Ellington in Minny is getting there.
Wow, sometimes people just expect way too much out of lottery picks right away. Everyone gets it, the Knicks messed up by not taking Jennings, so did 9 other teams as of right now(except for the Kings b/c Tyreke looks like the real deal.) Hill has talent, he is just extremely raw. Maybe he is a bust, maybe he’s a really good pick , but it is simply too soon to tell. Give the kid some time to develop, he has been playing basketball for like 4 years total now. To add to that, we have a glut at the 4, even though I think Dantoni kind of envisions Hill as a 5 in a similar mold to Amare(I am not saying he will be as good as Amare, although you never know). The kid is not ready yet, it is that simple. There is nothing else to read into it. That being said, I think he should without a doubt be playing 10 minutes a game now, but that is what Dantoni does. He finds his circle and he sticks with it. I certainly don’t agree with it, but it does not at all reflect anything on Hill other then he is not quite ready yet, or maybe even not that much but just Dantoni wants to play his veterans regardless.
Hill improved immensely every year at AZ under coaching changes. He’ sshown the ability to work on his game and get better. He came into AZ as a raw big man, and he left as one of the most dominant big men in college. If he were still in college, he would be up there with Greg Monroe and Solomon Alabi. Cole Aldrich is supposed to be soo good, yet Hill demolished him every time they played each other last year.
The funniest thing for me is that you Hill bashers fail to offer any other plausible solutions. I mean, “We should have drafted Brandon Jennings!”
Oh, really? The same Jennings who has shot over 50% from the field twice in his last 18 games, and whose 20 ppg average is merely a product of Scott Skiles letting him chuck at a 40% clip.. I mean he’s shooting 36% from the field in December. The same Jennings that said “f the KNicks” in an interview.” Spare me, please.
Draft Ty Lawson? That would have been the biggest reach ever at the time, and even Knick fans who argue that would have bashed the pick at the time.
How’s Terrence Williams, Earl Clark, Jeff Teague doing?
Imagine how much he would be averaging in this system where u can shoot 47 threes in a game and not play defense.
Jordan Hill is shooting 0% from the field in the last 18 games, we should have drafted Jennings he was a fast break pass first PG that could score, it wasn’t his talent that stopped him from being drafted it was Marbury which is ridiculous Walsh has said he dropped the ball on Jennings.
If jennings shot more three’s his average would probably go down. As a matter of fact, I believe his field goal percentage, for 2’s and 3’s, goes down from these levels by the end of the season. He’s on a nice run, but people will start to figure him out.
Who said Lawson at 8 would be a reach? ESPN, Draft Express? They are not the ones who make decisions and GM’s don’t make their draft decisions on what reporters or bloggers are thinking.
Like Donnie said earlier this season, you can’t run a franchise making decisions on what fans want. So if Donnie wanted Lawson at 8 then he should have drafted him at 8 regardless of what anyone says. Now if he felt Hill was the best player available at 8 that’s fine.
For the most part most fans on this blog agree that Hill has talent to play right now. There is no reason Hill can’t provide hustle minutes for this team, specially since we lack size and he is are only athletic big man.
um, scouts?
It’s been my experience in life that when everybody cannot figure out why a certain person is doing things, it usually means it’s because they have no idea themselves.
So if you take away all the emotion and just look at things logically you will find that there is NO logic behind D’ass and his decisions.
This man is a fraud. Granted he knows basketball, he would not be an NBA coach if he did not. I am talking about his ability as an NBA head coach, he’s incompetent. Same for Larry Brown, great BBall knowledge but a lousy head coach, I NEVER liked Brown. That’s why they hate to play rookies, it makes them have to teach, be more patient and really coach. A coach is also a teacher. Greg Popovich is the best head coach followed by Sloan. Action Jackson will only coach veteran teams with stars, he’s smart, same for Riley.
D’ass is a fraud who never won anything. Walsh is better at what he does but he never put a perennial winner together as a GM. Everybody loves D’ass because he’s a good guy and lets the players play. That is if they are world class all stars, sure he’s smart, he lets them play because they already know how. Does that make him a great coach?
When a coach is faced with adversity then you will find out who he really is………so far I’m not impressed with him in any way whatsoever. He has not handled any situation very well, in fact he has handled things very poorly going back to the Marbury situation. I don’t like Marbury but D’ass did not handle that well and so far every other situation was handled poorly by D’ass.
Name a situation that D’ass handled well. Too many whys with this coach and not enough credible logical answers.
You want us to listen to you when you call the coach D’Ass??
“D’ass is a fraud who never won anything. ”
We won the gold playing Dantoni’s system..your aware of that right?
What have you won?
“Walsh is better at what he does but he never put a perennial winner together as a GM”
You are aware that Walsh was in the playoffs with Indiana every year he was in charge right? Excluding the years Bird was calling the shots.
“I don’t like Marbury but D’ass did not handle that well and so far every other situation was handled poorly by D’ass.”
Marbury was a cancer in the locker room. There was only one way to get rid of him..the seperation wasn’t going to be pretty based off the fact that Marbury is a idiot. That’s a fact…if you don’t believe me why don’t you go take a look at his youtube videos.
I don’t write things because I want you to listen to me. If I wanted people to listen to me then I would write things they want to hear.
I write what I see………not what I feel, what I see with my own eyes.
Like I said Walsh is better. He did put together some pretty good teams, good not great.
What gold are you talking about, he was not the head coach? He was part of the staff.
Marbury was a cancer I agree but there were better ways to handle it. He did not handle that well as he did not handle the whole Nate thing well either.
He doesn’t want young players, he wants veterans who he does not have to teach to play. It makes it a lot easier. D’ass is about his own ego and to prove to the world his way will win a championship, guess what D’ass it won’t. It never has, just ask Paul Wesphal and Don Nelson.
Larry Brown loves to teach, your comment is ridiculous!
All this crying over D’antoni during a rebuilding season is rendering this comments section unreadable. As if we’d be a .700 team with Mark Jackson. With the exception of a select few, there is absolutely no balance to any commentary here. God forbid we both commend MD for things like key defensive adjustments and criticize MD for things like Nate handling. No, it’s all or nothing. D’antoni is either the savior or the anti-christ and there is no middle-ground and there is no wait and see. It’s like I’m watching election coverage on FOXNews and MSNBC at the same time and it’s nauseating.
Wake me up when people start enjoying basketball again instead of rattling off inane pontifications about how 1 coach is magically responsible for the success or failure of an entire franchise.
Mark Jackson would at least demand defense, but i still like Mike D and what he brings.
I never understood why people say Jackson would have demanded defense? When did Jax ever play any D?
If you listen to him when he calls games for espn TNT you know what he wants from players as a coach.
If mark jackson really wants to be a coach he should be an assistant somewhere instead of yapping and trading jokes with jeff van gundy on the sidelines.
Tommy: good blog. Bender is a nice surprise. Hopefully his health holds up. The Hill bashers are ridiculous as usual.None of them are suggesting this team would be much improved with him getting significant minutes. We have a lot invested in Hill and he is being handled with care. My trade of the day is to send Nate and Curry to Timberwolves for Sessions, Wilkens and Blount. Anyone in favor of such a move??
Why would the Wolves want Curry when they already have Love and Jefferson?
Only a veteran playoff team in need of a post scorer would actually consider trading for curry
I’ll let you all in a little secret. No one want curry, not even the team that has him right now.
Best case and realistic scenario is that we trade curry next year for a really good player with a long contract
Problem is that if it was crowded before, it’s more crowded now. Knicks need to make a move or at least send someone to the D league.
The Knicks don’t need to do anything. Their doing what they want to do and their moving at their own pace. Stay patient and the results will show themselves soon.
Its hilarious how some commenters use the most convoluted logic I have ever seen to bash Dantoni. You say Phil Jackson is the best coach in the league??? What does he do? He installs his triangle offense, does little to no teaching of young guys, plays games with his players through the media, and almost never calls timeouts when most people think he should. DOes that sound familiar to anyone we know? The difference between the 2 is that Phil has Kobe, Pau, Artest, Bynum, and Odom. Dantoni has Hughes, Buckets, Gallo, Chandler, and Lee. Tell me which coach has the better players. Damn, Dantoni hasn’t won anything in this league???? Are you kidding me? The guy was a perennial playoff contender who won more then 50 games in every year with the Suns, who would have won the title most years if not for some team from San Antonio with just some scrubs like Duncan, Ginobli, and Parker. Just try using the same standards sometimes. It might help some of your arguments.
The Knicks need to trade Nate.
Try asking Curry if he would go down to the D league and play nore minutes to get himself back up to speed.
I love how the Brandon Jennings bashers throw out his shooting percentages and how he shoots so much. Did nobody think the league was going to adjust to him? If you focus your entire defense on a 19 yr old rookie of course he’s going to struggle.
Other teams are letting Hakim Warrick, Ersan Ilyasova, Charlie Bell, and Luke Ridnour beat them. And it hasn’t worked. Don’t you think on a better team where he wouldn’t have to shoot so much?
Don’t you think if he had guys on his team who could make shots and finish at the basket, he not only wouldn’t have to shoot so much, but he’d have a much higher field goal percentage?
He may be struggling now, but he’s the reason why the Bucks have a better record than the Knicks. He’s a difference maker. That team was picked by EVERYONE to finish dead last this year.
He’s the reason they beat Denver, Detroit, Toronto, and BLEW THE KNICKS OUT in Milwaukee. And why it took a miracle shot by Kobe to beat his Bucks team in O.T. And why his team full of fringe NBA players is taking teams like Cleveland, the Lakers, and San Antonio down to the wire.
Even when he doesn’t have a great shooting game, so much attention is paid to him that his teammates find a way to keep them in games. Lately he’s been doing it with his passing and his defense. He’s made his teammates better.
Period.
He’s making an impact as a 19 yr old rookie. If anyone needs a year off to build “leg strength” it’s Brandon Jennings. He could use it, and while we’re at it, some upper body strength as well. But the difference between him and Jordan Hill is he knows how to play.
He’s a factor in games. And guess what? He’s only going to get better. The future is bright for his team because they now have a piece to build around.
This argument that Jordan Hill isn’t playing because he needs to build leg strength is ridiculous. He needs to build leg strength, but Jonathan Bender a guy who hasn’t played in 4 years, and has had numerous leg and ankle injuries, and chronic pain in his joints doesn’t?
If anything, the Knicks should be doing the opposite. Play Hill and let Bender workout with the team, get himself stronger, and then sign him to their summer league squad.
And I don’t buy this argument of showcasing Jared Jeffries. He’s been around the NBA long enough where teams no what he can do. Which is not much. There is no team in the NBA dumb enough to trade for Jared Jeffries. Especially when they’re a little over 5 months away from one of the biggest free agent summers in history.
I’d love to be there when a GM tells his season ticket holders that the reason they had to use up 6 million dollars of their valuable cap space and don’t have enough money to sign a star is because they needed Jared Jeffries. It’s even worse with Eddy Curry.
But go ahead Kool-Aid drinkers. Everything’s going to be alright. We’re in great hands with Donnie Walsh and Mike D’Antoni. Thank God we don’t have a first round pick in next year’s draft for them to screw up.
That may have been the worst post in the history of this blog.
1) Jennings was late to his own draft.
2) He wasn’t smart enough to go to college so he went overseas. He didn’t go because he wanted to mature…he went because he wanted to play ball and he couldn’t play in college.
3) Jennings went on youtube and said “f the knicks” after we left him dead in the water at the draft…he wasn’t even in the building when we picked…he was still on his way to the draft lol.
4) He was just fined $7,500 for tweeting right after a game when it clearly states a player isn’t supposed to.
The list goes on and on but I don’t feel like bashing the kid into oblivion. He’s not a Knick and never will be…get over it.
You can’t bash him because you don’t make sense
He was late to his own draft?? His ageent didnt get a commitment from a team so he didn’t want him sitting in the green room waiting for his name to be called.
He said “f the knicks” because they stupidly didn’t draft him and he wanted to be a Knick.
Well who’s his agent? HAS???
What player do you know doesn’t go to the draft?
So are you saying his agent thought it was a possibility that his client wouldn’t get drafted?
I wonder why that is……
Even 2nd rounders were at the draft.
Keep talking moron..it just shows how dumb you are when it comes to basketball related topics.
LMAO!!!
Your so dumb dude you think every player that gets drafted is at the draft, teams were unsure on Jennings so his agent didnt want him waiting a long time in the Green room.
leave that kid alone
STUPIDITY IS A DISEASE
No..what your sister gave my friend is a disease………..
Bring it on baby!!!
In Donnie We Trust!!
there is no way you have a friend
Yours has to be the dumbest post I’ve ever read. And around here that’s saying alot. Late to his own draft? All the points I made and you’re talking about how he’s “late to his own draft?” Who cares?
Why not talk about how the Knicks F’d up yet another draft? Donnie Walsh can admit he screwed up, and throws his scouting department under bus by missing out on a franchise PG, but you’re worried about him not going to the draft?
He was upset the Knicks didn’t draft him. Big deal. He TWEETED?
ROFLMAO!!!!
Imagine if Donnie Walsh tried to use your “logic” on trying to justify passing on Jennings”
Walsh: “Well he was late to his own draft. He couldn’t get into college.”
Media: “Neither could Monta Ellis, Kevin Garnett, Tracy McGrady or countless other star players. Derrick Rose couldn’t get into college so he got someone to take his SAT for him, and now Memphis has to forfeit his Final Four appearance and his program’s now on probation. What college did Danilo Gallinari go to? What college did your big 2010 free agent target go to?”
Walsh: “Bbbbbut he tweeted after his team beat the Portland Trailblazers, a team WAY more talented than his!!”
Media: “Are you joking?” That is the dumbest shit I’ve ever heard.”
James Dolan: Get the hell outta here Donnie, you’re fired! Not even Isiah would have the nerve to say half the shit you just said!!”
“Neither could Monta Ellis, Kevin Garnett, Tracy McGrady or countless other star players.”
You sure about that?
KG couldn’t get into college? T-Mac neither?
Do you want me to shut you down with proof?
Let me know before I post the links and make you look like a moron.
LMAO – I’m about to call the cops on myself for the ass whupping I’m giving you. If you have any respect for your own ass whatsoever I’d advise you to just shut up.
Links?
I’ll save you the trouble moron:
http://www.answers.com/topic/kevin-garnett
“There was one problem with the logical and traditional next step into college, however: Garnett was not a top-notch student. While several college programs wrestled with the question of whether to accept this marginal student with remarkable basketball skills, Garnett wrestled repeatedly with the ACT entrance exam. The question became moot when he failed for the fourth time to gain a score which would allow him to play basketball as a freshman, and he declared himself eligible for the NBA draft.
Garnett’s move from South Carolina to Chicago had generated a bit of controversy in the basketball world, but nothing compared to his decision to jump from high school to the pros. Everyone seemed to have an opinion as to whether Garnett was ready, physically or emotionally, to make the big step. Of the three players who had previously done so, Moses Malone had unqualified success, Darryl Dawkins had some success, and Bill Willoughby had limited success. The most recent of those players had entered the league 20 years before Garnett; another player, Shawn Kemp, skipped college basketball but did attend college for a year. Many basketball people questioned whether any 19-year old was mature enough to avoid the pitfalls of the NBA’s spotlight. They also thought that if he could handle the attention and forego the temptations, however, his physical assets would make him a potential superstar for years to come.”
What about T-Mac and Monta Ellis?
Did you forget about them?
T-Mac
When you’re happy with the way the image looks, click the ‘Accept’ button. If you need to make any other changes to your image, now’d be a good time; otherwise, you can click the ‘Return to Book’ button and continue your design.
Monta Ellis
Monta Ellis (2005) – At the time he was a relatively unknown Mississippi high school stud, but that was enough to get Ellis an offer at Mississippi State to play college ball. In choosing the NBA instead he had a bit of a rough road as a second round pick, but redeemed himself in the 2007-2008 NBA season.
I guess they couldn’t go to college either huh?
T-Mac
Tracy McGrady (1997) – Several websites, including t-mac.com and tracymcrady.org, state that McGrady was all set to commit to Kentucky but had a stellar adidas ABCD camp and decided to ride that momentum in the NBA. Imagine, if you will, a Kentucky team anchored by O’Neal and McGrady, supplanted by guys like Scott Padgett, Nazr Mohammed, and Jamal Magloire. Not a bad little group is it?
Just so you know….
Jennings is no KG.
Who’s next on my a$$ whipping list?
Yea Those players actually had chances Jennings blew his by cheating on the SAT….
Dude you’re a moron. Straight up. You shouldn’t be on here talking basketball you should be reading a book.
You’re clueless. Wilson Chandler laughs at your basketball IQ. If they hung you for saying smart shit, they’d be hanging an innocent man.
Lebron James said he was picking between Ohio State and UNC but he chose to go to The NBA instead.
late to his own draft?? that has to be the largest mis statement of fact ever on this site..
Is the insinuation that he wanted to get there and sit in the green room without a committeemen but could not get up on time or got lost?
very very funny..
Do nothing with Nate or Curry and we may be in for a soap opera to take place.
The arguing here is as bad as the Middle East situation. Hard-headed, frustrated ego maniac babies.
Tommy, your comments usually all make sense to me, but I have no idea what you mean here:
“The fact that Bender is here actually REMINDS Walsh how to handle big men.”
How does or should Walsh hand big men? Doesn’t D’A do that?
“A source close to the GM’s thinking told me that Bender’s injury is one of Walsh’s pet peeves.”
Please explain. He’s upset that Bender got injured 4 years ago?
Dave
“A source close to the GM’s thinking told me that Bender’s injury is one of Walsh’s pet peeves.”
I didnt get that either
It’s a pet peeve that he wants to redeem himself for that draft pick. He’d like everyone in the league to see what he saw and justify his thinking in picking of him and speaking so highly of him. Reports even said he was ready to sign him at the beginning of the year. Which would explain the holding of an empty roster spot for so long if making a trade wasn’t the idea.
Won’t playing Hill in the D league help to develop him over practice?
Not at all Heri. The logic here is that he’s going to get better by watching Eddy Curry, Jared Jeffries, and Jonathan Bender play. What better way to learn how to not rebound or block shots, and get hurt?
lmao
Now that’s funny.
It’s logical too, why sit and watch these guys. To learn what not to do??? he should be learning by doing, playing against the best players to learn that he must do certain things to be successful. It’s the hard lesson of the child playing with men. You have to practice and work on the things that will get you by. The little things and techniques. You DO NOT learn them by watching and in practice.
In boxing you go through a period of fighting guys not as good as you. Then you must step up and take your lumps. Those punches that floored guys now, when you hit a top fighter with the same punch he looks at you without even a response. That is a scary feeling.
You have to learn that these players are better than you and if you want to compete you need to work hard, play hard and play smart. You cannot learn that on the bench.
Jeff, DVJ and ds24, good post!
the jets suck.
indeed.
Shoveling snow, Jets losing… I really need a Knick victory tonight.
LMAO! Beloved Jets have been killing me for 40 years : ) Losing to Altanta!?! Ugghhhh….lights out.
how bout those jets
sanchez is a bust with a weak arm.
jets wasted mad picks on him it’s said like the knicks
I see I have been missing the action here while watching the Jets!
DVJ you are a very arrogant and disrespectful one today with your all knowing azz! I mean its cool to have your views without robbing other of the same right and insulting people! The fact that you resort to that shows your not comfortable in your own view or you just think your better then others! As to you cosigning the nonsense that our LOTTERY PICK needs to get stronger is proof you have no idea what the point of being in the LOTTERY is. Your looking to draft an IMPACT player in the LOTTERY not a project.
Every time this crap comes up I ask the same question but none of you donnie zombies including Tommy want to answer “Show me which of Hills fellow healthy LOTTERY PICKS is not getting any mins?” none!! Gallo was and is a scrawny 6′10 toothpick but would off played every game under MD. Even now he takes arm shots rather then shoot using his legs half the time will only drive once every 10 touches if that and shies away from contact which is classic euro ball. So he can damn sure use time to get stronger and better but we know we can use the skill sets he has to be a better team as he becomes a better player.
I say Hill is better as a chip then a player at this point and fingers crossed donnie does not let his alzheimer’s cloud common sense. If we can use him to get rid of JJ that will be the best move we could make seeing as it would allow us to get an all star rather then hoping on a bust pick to become something he is not.
I don’t recall who was the fellow knick fan who in his mind saw Gallo close the door on the Gallo over Gordon pick but i would love to understand how you came away with that. They both ended the game with 14pts and had bad games but Gordon did not try to force shots he knew he was off so he did what a good guard does he took it to the hole going 9 for 10 from the line. How many free throws did gallo take that game? 2!! A 6′10 guy who I’m told can handle the ball drive and kick but only took jumper after jumper and drove only once. I don’t take anything away from what Gallo does do well but they both had a bad game so it was a push in my view.
All in all DM has done some good things some bad things! Don’t tell me he does not have a like and dislike list because duhon on any other team would ride the bench a lot more then he does with all the errors he makes, silly turnovers getting beat on D to lose the game shots well past the 3 pt stripe etc. but he gets run so if he can Nate can if anything for the sake of keeping our teams legs fresh and taking advantage of his obvious skill set and that is to shoot and drive.
There are good and bad points on both sides of this debate but calling people names and things like that just water down your points (the valid ones) and steals away from what could be a very good and fun debate.
FYI Tommy helps make my Gordon point when he got in to what is wrong with the knicks pick and roll.
Thank you blackwood. You’re the voice of reason around here. I won’t be wasting any more time responding to his posts.
DAMN IT JETS!! oh well better we lose and get a better draft pick but damn Stankchez!!
Two Things Its Sanchize and what the hell do the Jets draft?
We just need to get rid of Schottenheimer he has a curse on QB’s…
schott has sucked sack forever!! but damn that last pick he threw was the worst!!! And thanks The_guy i try lol
Schott’s problem is he tries to outsmart himself making him do dumb things like pass the ball 30 times with a rookie QB..
If we would of had a Offensive Coordinator like Josh Mccdaniels. The Jets would be leading the division right now.
Biggie,
maybe you’re right and i hope you”re right that N8 will not be out the league.
However, right now there’s no interest in N8 at all from what’s been reported.
If he lands in another team and it’s the same garbage with him, then he’ll be a complete unwanted man. Too bad, with all the talent & energy.
Blackwood, we always argue about this but not all lottery picks are drafted to be impact players right away. Many are drafted on the basis of their very large upside and potential. We both agree that DW screwed this one up, but it is too early to say Hill is better as a trading chip then a future player. As far as other picks not playing, Griffin has yet to step on a court although I know thats because of an injury. Thabeet is playing extremely limited minutes. And there are no other big men to really compare Hill too. Its a known fact that big men take much longer to develop then guards, especially particularly raw ones like Hill who have only played basketball for a few years. Ideally, Hill should and could be playing 10 minutes a game, but for whatever reason Dantoni does not feel comfortable with that. I certainly don’t understand it, but don’t think it really reflects that poorly on Hill. Give him a year or 2 before you dismiss him, I would hate to think what would happen to guys like Dirk, Kendrick Perkins, Bynum, and many others if people just gave up on them after their first year or 2.
Oh, and about the Gallo not getting foul shots thats kind of unfair. Anyone watching that game saw he should have gotten at least 6 free throws but couldn’t get a call. And Eric Gordon had Chris Duhon guarding him, who gets beat by everyone. Not saying anything about who was the better draft pick, I think they will both be very good to great players, but I would probably give the edge in that game to Gallo, considering he also drew the game winning charge.
“DVJ you are a very arrogant and disrespectful one today with your all knowing azz!”
Thanks man, I appreciate that…FYI…when it comes to basketball…I do know it all. Truth hurts I know….
“I mean its cool to have your views without robbing other of the same right and insulting people! ”
You mean like bloggers insult Dantoni? Insult me back if you want….in my household growing up, you had to have thick skin…if you can’t take the heat…….(you know the rest)
“The fact that you resort to that shows your not comfortable in your own view or you just think your better then others!”
When it comes to basketball..I do think I’m better than others..especially when it’s dealing with behind the scenes and not on the court. Don’t get it twisted..I’ll still $hit on you on the hardwood anyday….I’m just saying.
“As to you cosigning the nonsense that our LOTTERY PICK needs to get stronger is proof you have no idea what the point of being in the LOTTERY is. ”
Read my post Big Back….I don’t co-sign that. I co-sign him not getting any minutes because he’s not better than Lee, Chandler or Gallo and we’re trying to move Jeffries. Where exactly will he get his minutes from? Go back to watching your sucky Jets and come back on after we beat The Cats tonight.
“Even now he takes arm shots rather then shoot using his legs half the time will only drive once every 10 touches if that and shies away from contact which is classic euro ball.”
You forgot to mention he’s the best 3 point shooter in the league. Might want to throw that in next time you disrespect his jump shot.
COME ON DVJ!!! I agreed with you why you gotta insult My Jets for man?
Sorry man…I actually would rather cheer for the Jets than the Giants. The Jets will be fine as they have a QB for the future. Not sure why they traded for Braylon but hey…
Leon was a big loss !!!
Or you can sit back and watch my Broncos wrap up the AFC wild card today….they might wrap it up next week….but we’ll be in the playoffs!!
I don’t think the Jets will…as a matter of fact…I know they won’t.
The Knicks should have drafted Brandon Jennings and they didn’t. It is what it is. The Brandon Jennings fans need to GET OVER IT and ROOT FOR HILL and the Donnie Walsh apologists need to accept the fact that he made the WRONG decision because Jennings is a flat-out stud. Period.
The only things we – Knicks fans – can complain about is Hill’s lack of playing time. The fact that the 8th pick in the draft – who had a tremedous junior season in Arizona – can’t play is absolutely RIDICULOUS.
And I disagree with you here Tommy. The Knicks needed size against Kaman in the 1st half against the Clippers, Jordan Hill was the guy the Knicks needed. Both Jared Jeffries and David Lee played 40 minutes against the Bulls. You can’t tell me that D’Antoni couldn’t find 10 minutes for Jordan Hill. You just can’t. Man even Taj Gibson played for the Bulls. Hill’s lack of playing time can only affect his self-confidence and motivation – the fact that Knicks fans and beat writers keep talking about Jennings reinforces the fact that his self-confidence has been put to the test. Mike D’Antoni’s coaching is irresponsible from that perspective (Hill’s situation) in my opinion.
“The only things we – Knicks fans – can complain about is Hill’s lack of playing time. The fact that the 8th pick in the draft – who had a tremedous junior season in Arizona – can’t play is absolutely RIDICULOUS”
Why is it rediculous Mucha?
Who would you like for us to bench so we can play Hill?
Chandler? Gallo? Lee? Jeffries? In one breath you say you want to trade Jeffries then you want to give Hill minutes….can’t have it both ways homey.
Did you read the whole post? Maybe you missed the Bulls game but both Lee and Jeffries played more than 40 minutes (oh yeah, back-to-back games). Taj Gibson isn’t exactly Shawn Kemp or Karl Malone, don’t tell me Hill couldn’t play against him and give either Lee or Jeffries some rest.
That’s why Dantoni gets the big bucks.
He makes those decisions…..nobody else…not even Walsh.
Let the man coach the way he wants to coach.
Would you rather him do like he did last year and have a 10-11 man rotation and lose all the time or would you rather have a 6-7 man rotation that’s produced a 6-4 record in the last 10 games.
Get over it Mucha….
By the way….I love Anthony Randolphs game.
According to realgm..he’s averaging like 12 points and almost 7 boards in less than 24 minutes of action.
WOW!
6-7 man rotation + Jordan Hill doesn’t = 10-11 man rotation.
6-7 + 1 = 7-8
Right?
I think before we can say whether we should or shouldn’t play J Hill is smart or not we have to decide what we want.
If we want to compete for a Playoff Spot then Hill minutes are going to vary but if we want to rebuild this year than Hill should be playing..
Simple As That.
The problem is, we want to compete for a playoff spot but Hill’s minute are not “varying” right now! You see? I would love to see his minutes vary, but he’s not even playing!
Just give him 10 minutes per game.
Mucha..your actually one of the few bloggers here that I like so I won’t get all crazy on you.”
“6-7 man rotation + Jordan Hill doesn’t = 10-11 man rotation.
6-7 + 1 = 7-8
Right?”
6-7 man rotation + Jordan Hill doesn’t equal a 6-7 man rotation.
Danotoni is running with a 6-7 man rotation.
Is Hill the only one out of the rotation?
Hill
Nate
Darko
Curry
Their all out of the rotation.
I couldn’t care less about Darko, Curry and – to a lesser extent – Robinson – but Hill should be included in the rotation.
So if you put Hill in the rotation, you go from a 6-7 man rotation to a 7-8 man rotation. 10 minutes per game doesn’t make a big difference but it allows Hill to gain some confidence.
Thanks for the shout-out though.
I think Sporadic would of been a better word. There is still a lot of Basketball to be played hopefully J Hill can get in somehow.
Reason why Toney has cracked it a lil bit is because of a injury.
Thumbs up. Thanks for the breath of fresh air Mucha.
Real recognize real
Why is everyone over reacting??? OKay Jordan Hill is 22 not 23 and it really doesn’t matter, agreed but there have been many players who haven”t played much in their rookie year who have gone on to be very good ball players. Hill and Bender play two completely different positions. Hill os going to be a down low in the box type player who can hit the outsode shot. Bender is a wing pplayer who can go inside and play down low at times.