Congrats to the Crusaders; Lee Getting Defensive

No way he comes back as a 5. And I really don’t think he should come back as a 4 either. Lets face it, his numbers are inflated a little because he is playing the 5 on O, often being quicker than his opponent and since he is not a post up player, he won’t really gain any advantages playing the 4.

And on a good team he doesn’t avg 20-10. So if he commands more than 8 or 9 million, its not worth it.

I wonder how Lee would have played defensively if Darko had gotten at least 20 minutes a game. While Darko is not exactly Bill Russell out there, at least he’s a big body who can block shots.

Ty Thomas would not work with Lee, since Ty is an athletic but undersized. If we keep Lee at PF we need actual size on this team whether it’s Haywood as a free agent or perphaps seeing if Thabeet is available for a trade.

D’antoni is going to have to adjust and learn to actually use a legit C

Pairings are EVERYTHING at the 4/5 slots. You need Shot Blocking..Floor Rotation…and Physicality—It doesn’t need to come from just one guy. Usually, it’s gonna be a Rotation of 3 main players—David Lee plus a Shot Blocker and a Physical Space Eater is the difference between this team winning 25-30 games versus winning 40 Right now!….50 with a bit more at PG.

Bosh plus Lee is a Major Starting Point—I’d love Ben Wallace in that mix—Perfect. Doesn’t need the ball. A Varajo….a Bird Man Anderson…a Greg Foster…a younger Najera would work as a third…

This team can make a major POP next year with JUST 1 FA…and they’d be a Champ contender inside of 3 years.

Bosh and a Banger and a competent Rotation Point Next Year.

Mello or CP 3 in Year 2?…..wow…

62 points in the paint without Bosh. Thats just not acceptable basketball. Everytime Lee rotates and gets caught out on the perimeter he gets torched as well. They had him switching and were burying jumpers in his face all night. David Lee has to pack his bags and take this act somewhere else.

If the knicks want to see what Lee’s worth is then they should add a big to the roster now and see how he plays at the 4 spot. I dont make excusses for non effort but how many pf in the league can play the 5 for 82 games . Lee’s body type is similar to guys like Dirk . If Dirk was Lee’s hight would he defend the 5 spot well. I just wanna see him at that 4 spot for a while so there would be noexcuses. The knock on him at the 4 was that he couldn’t shoot now he can move him over to the 4 and see what you got and if he can’t hold it down then you know he isn;t worth the knicks money.

Lee can’t play the four in this system on offense hasn’t that always been the problem.

The four under D’Antoni has to be able to stretch the floor from the 3pt line and in and Lee can’t do that. That is why Shaq/Amare didn’t work under D’Antoni and clogged up the lane for Nash’s penetration to the rim. You can’t run the pick and roll with one of your bigs standing under the hoop.

It is why Jeffries was launching all those stupid threes when he started at the four and Harrington does the same now.

Sorry TD and TKBers if the Knicks sign a legit 5, Lee’s a goner and Wil or Gallo play the four (as they should).

“A lot of times I’m playing a guy 5 inches bigger than I am and 50 pounds heavier.”

A LOT OF TIMES? Lee give it a rest. You’re a p**** and everyone is starting to realize it.

he gets torched off a switch from a pick where he has to guard guards. The coache’s game plan on D is to not fight through but instead switch which always causes problems for the knicks and imo is part to why they go down early in the 1st. The coach needs to see how teams defend his team on the PnR and take notes.

“Lee give it a rest. You’re a p**** and everyone is starting to realize it.”

That really holds a lot of weight coming from someone that hides behind a screen name.

If gallo doesnt bulk up he will be worst guarding the 4 than Lee and Gallo would get killed on the boards and the team would be terrible . If the coach can’t do it with a 4 that can hit the mid range the way Lee does then he shouldn’t be coaching. Only Lebron is the Ideal 4 in D’antoni ‘s system . If lee played some tough D he would be a perfect 4 for any team.

HaS even you have to admit that Lee did do a better jod on D when ge played the 4 under Larry and it was Curry that was the liability. Im not saying it would work but I wanna see what he can do at the 4 on O and D. Then the knicks can see if he is a fit for the future. What if he left and teamed up with Lopez and plated well at the 4 in NJ at 10-11 mil ? You would be wishing we still had the guy.

I mean seriously, how many 7’2″ 300 lb. Centers is Lee facing?

Lee is 250 lbs.

Bogut is 260 lbs.

Lopez is 265 lbs.

Howard is 265 lbs.

Haywood 263 lbs.

J. O’Neal 255 lbs.

Dalembert 250 lbs.

Bargnani 250 lbs.

Horford 245 lbs.

Noah 232 lbs.

And all of them are 7′ or under.

Get in the gym p****.

There’s no denying that David Lee’s a good basketball player, and that’s why the Knicks can’t afford to lose him for nothing.

But he just doesn’t WANT to play defense. “I’m doing MY BEST down there at 6-9 to contest shots” are you kidding me??? David Lee is a fraud in my opinion, I mean I understand that he’s not Anthony Mason or Charles Oakley but he looks like “one big p*ssy, waitin to get f*cked” (50) everynight!! Can’t he just play AVERAGE D?

I think what the Knicks will do with David Lee will ultimately shape the future of this franchise.

No excuse for the lack of effort on contesting shots of guys who are 6 inches shorter and 75 pounds less than him. It goes both ways David…you would get more respect if you put someone half your size on the floor once or just put your body on an opposing center to box him out. And stop wrestling rebounds from your teammates, it happened at least 3 times last night. And now he realizes he has to improve….what the hell is he thinking? This didn’t occur to him when he got dominated by Drew Gooden? or Ben Wallace? Both those guys are similar sizes to him. Too little and too late at this point. I would take him back as a 4 for 7 million a year, but that would mean Gallo would have to be a 3 and guessing Chandler/Gallo would come off the bench if we got a free agent too. There’s just no room for him anymore in my opinion.

Curry was under the spotlight and Lee was just a young overachieving player – that’s part of the reason why nobody used to talk about Lee’s defense. And he was quicker back then, Scola TORHCED David Lee in Houston he couldn’t guard him. I can’t imagine what a Josh Smith would do to him.

Having Lee at the 5 is like having Bird at the 5 it just wont work. He can hit the Gym all night it wont change his natrual athleticism. He might get stronger but not intimidatindg. As a ball player myself if i saw a guy like Lee in the middle I would look to attack and dunk on that dude. He even plays like a 4 ,grabing boards, hitting mid range junpers and stuff like that but he is just not the guy thats gonna protect the rim. I wopuld be hapy if he could just hold his own with his position which should be the 4.

I was one of the first to say I don’t want Lee to return to the Knicks but I am fair enough to wanna see him at the 4 before i send him packiong in a Sign and trade. If he sucks at that spot and can’t defend is man he is history.

“There’s no denying that David Lee’s a good basketball player, and that’s why the Knicks can’t afford to lose him for nothing.”

Exactly why Walsh should have traded him last year. Sell high! If the Knicks lose 10 more games, so what “2010 is the plan” and you have your draft pick. Stephen Curry?

“But he just doesn’t WANT to play defense.”

Clearly.

I guess playing defense is not as glamourous as a “double double” though.

Yeah that’s why Luis Scola raped him.

I just don’t want to imagine what a Josh Smith or Rashard Lewis – let alone Dirk Nowitzki LOL – would do to him.

He’s just a TERRIBLE defender, period.

And what about the guards floating gracefully through the lane on a nightly basis?

Yes, DVJ that’s what I’m doing. I’m hiding DVJ, I’m hiding.

Good luck with that rule you and Tissues thought up.

“NBA will get back to its original form once there is a rule to have atleast two white people per team.”

Classic.

Scola plays center and when he played the 4 he got rape dby the 4′s that you mentioned. Like you said you can imagine but you don;t know. After playing the 5 for so long it might just be easier for him to guard the 4 spot. the guys you named cant evn guard each other. But it’s just too easy when the dude is guarding the 5 and when he is the last line od defense. Would the knicks not win more games if we had sat Hayewood at the 5 and Lee at the 4 this year?Would Lee not seem as exposed? I dont know and niether does anyone else.

And what about the guards floating gracefully through the lane on a nightly basis?

That’s not just Lee’s fault, if you knew the game of basketball more than just Lee is not to blame on that. But yet you still point your finger at Lee. Yes, he could step in more to try to do something but on every play our guards, forwards, and Lee get burnt so to just pick ONE player out means you secretly like him and hate the way hes playing OR you just like arguing cuz you have nothing better to do.

Even Najera is a good defender on pf’s but at the 5 he will get abused. Why? He is too small!

Hey, dont give DVJ credit to my rule and I dont know why you’re hating on it.

I speak the truth and pretty soon that boring A$$ sport NHL might actually beat the NBA in ratings.

I think it was 27 million Americans watched USA lose to Canada in the Olympics not sure NBA would get that at this rate.

I never saw that rule.
It’s ridiculous.
Should be at least 3 honkeys on every team.

Didnt Dantoni say that Chandler is his prototypical power forward? Sounds good to me.

“That’s not just Lee’s fault, if you knew the game of basketball more than just Lee is not to blame on that. But yet you still point your finger at Lee. Yes, he could step in more to try to do something but on every play our guards, forwards, and Lee get burnt so to just pick ONE player out means you secretly like him and hate the way hes playing OR you just like arguing cuz you have nothing better to do.”

I’ve been posting here for a little while now and it is no secret I was a fan of Lee and was pulling for him as a player. There is a thin line between love and hate.

His double talk (claiming he would take a discount to stay with the franchise then proceeding to seek a 10-12 million dollar contract from Memphis, a team he turned down a trade to just months earlier), his absolute horrendous play on the defensive end and his unearned label as a “blue collar” “hustle” player when he is the exact opposite have more than soured me on _avi_.

Why do playing defense and double-double have to be mutually exclusive?

PG
T-Mac
Chandler
Lee
Bosh

Off the bench
Gallo
Walker
Camby?
Curry (until traded for a PG)
Douglas
House?

Would you rather have Lee or Gallo at the 4?

Anyone know how exactly a Lee for Bosh trade would work and how is it to our advantage to make such a trade?

Oh and now his new excuse that he’s guarding guys FIFTY pounds heavier than he is?

Isola writes: According to a league source, the Raptors believe that if Bosh doesn’t return they would consider using him in a sign-and-trade. In fact, any deal with the Knicks would likely have to include free-agent-to-be David Lee.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/knicks/2010/03/06/2010-03-06_chris_bosh_has_chance_to_leave_toronto_raptors_this_summer_new_york_knicks_may_l.html#ixzz0hQQrbQ1w

Why wouldn’t the Knicks just sign him outright?
How would the money match up? i.e., who else would the Knicks have to package to Toronto to get Bosh?
What is in it for the Knicks to do the sign and trade?
Does Bosh have any say in the matter?
If he were to go to the Knicks, why would he want to make them weaker?

Please help me understand what Isola is talking about.

thanks

“does”

You listen to the media? Categorizing Lee as a blue collar type of player is so that they can somehow relate him to the everyday NY worker so that people buy tickets. It’s all MARKETING.

“You listen to the media? Categorizing Lee as a blue collar type of player is so that they can somehow relate him to the everyday NY worker so that people buy tickets. It’s all MARKETING.”

I work in Advertising. I know what it is, but it doesn’t help me endear me to him. It actually accomplishes the opposite.

I am thinking the same thing. Zach Randolph is a perfect example. Zach has a legit center in Gasol. With Gasol at his side Zach does not have to be a great defender. If He would of played Milicic, the paint would not be open to easy layups. Milicic is ten times better than David Lee as a center. That is why I will always blame D’Antoni and his system. He was selfish not to adjust to the talent he put on the floor. He attempted to make duhon into Steve Nash. That is a Joke.

lmao! I wrote extensively about this last year in the Post and somewhat on this blog weeks ago too!

Some people like to complain they don’t care what color a person is and for the most part that is true but they surely don’t mind having someone look like them that excels on the court.

We sure can’t blame the fans because over the years, Knicks Fans have supported this team regardless of the make up!

Yet, this topic is like taboo to some!

I surely don’t mind our Knicks marketing Lee but at least put in a coach to make this dude play some defense…especially at center.

I’m sure even most whities are tired of seeing the donut hole defense.

Lee is as SOFT as Tissue.

I dont care how a guard gets passed his defender but when he comes down the lane in the late minutes of the 4th qtr. You send that dude to the foul line and make sure he feels that foul. I have seen lee not be in foul trouble and still watch a guy drive to the basket and not even attempt to put a hand up. He is the worst defender i have ever seen in a Knick uniform.

lol You mean *Tissues* ?

LOL

Don’t understand why all the criticism is aimed at Lee. Harrington threw up bricks all night. Harrington played no defense. With few exceptions there was little or no perimeter defense. The Raptors are a weak team without Bosh. Unfortunately Knicks were no better. D’Antoni needs to put a team on the floor that will defend. Nothing less will do.

“If he were to go to the Knicks, why would he want to make them weaker?”

Losing Lee wouldn’t make the team weaker. He has difficulty guarding players fifty fifteen pounds heavier than him. It might even be addition by subtraction.

White people should be embarrassed by Lee’s defense.

“Would you rather have Lee or Gallo at the 4?”

I would rather have Earl Boykins (at least he’d try) at the 4 than Lee, so yeah I’m gonna go with Gallinari on this one.

I’m doing my best down there at 6-9 to contest shots,” Lee said. “I’m going to try to do better, control the paint better.

That is a Bunch of BULL!!!
Is this guy serious? Does he watch film of himself? Does the coach even review film and point these flaws out? This dude has got to go next year. I dont care how good of an offensive player he is. At 6-9 Kurt Thomas looked like Mutumbo compared to Lee when he protected the paint. LEEisSOFT.com

Scola is 6’9″ 245 lbs.

Lee is 6’9″ 250 lbs.

He is neither FIFTY POUNDS heavier than Lee nor is he FIVE INCHES taller than _avi_.

Give the _avi_ and Goliath story a rest Lee. Man up.

“Why wouldn’t the Knicks just sign him outright?”

I think NY would be a great destination for Bosh considering that they wouldn’t be left empty-handed. He doesn’t leave for nothing in a sign-and-trade scenario and I think it’s a good thing considering that he respects the Raptors organization.

“How would the money match up? i.e., who else would the Knicks have to package to Toronto to get Bosh?”

The Knicks can absorb Bosh’s contract under the salary cap. No need to make the numbers match (CORRECT ME IF I’M WRONG).

“If he were to go to the Knicks, why would he want to make them weaker?”

What are you talking about?

Because we all assume that Harrington won’t be a Knick in 2010-2011.

EXACTLY.

Thank you.

Bosh and Lee would each have to agree to it. The players can sign for an extra year on their contract and I believe they may also qualify for higher raises each year. I’m not sure if the Knicks can use a sign and trade to get over the cap at this point. Maybe by trading someone with bird rights? I have no idea.

For the Knicks I’m not sure how much a sign and trade helps them. Bosh may force them into it. Toronto would also have to benefit to make it worth their while. I’m not sure what we can give them. We can’t give any picks to Toronto until 2014?…is that right?….well anyway, It could get complicated.

Yes, luckily Harrington is so bad that there is no risk that he will return…..perfect lol

David Lee used to be a blue collar player a few years back .. i remember him sacrificing his body after rebounds … always being on the floor.. and a monster on the O boards … not so much no more .. hes become a different, softer player.

I would switch chandler and Gallo at sf/pf spot depending on what team they face. This will allow the knicks to at least try to match up to other teams. Like Carmelo, lebron, A.I, granger, durant, and etc, should be chandler assignment. everything else should be Gallo.

I’m wondering why no one is focusing on this Lee quote:

Hahn asked Lee if he ever considered putting a stop to the green line down the lane by offering up a hard foul early in a game to send somewhat of a message — not only to the opponent but to his own teammates who are letting people by.

“I guess one of us could do that,” he said. “You got a Charles Oakley think going there or something? I don’t know what to say to that. Then we get two or three fouls on me and then we have 6-7 playing the five, and they continue driving the ball.

Way back, I wondered if some of Lee’s “softness” was ordered by the staff to keep him in the game. Y’know, back off, we need you on the floor and not on the bench. His rationale or the coach’s? Coaches have to make that decision when they, rightly or wrongly, don’t have confidence in the bench.

or

Should he have just played D, and if the fouls mounted is it the staff’s problem as to who they put in and how they cover the loss of points and rebounds?

Is Lee know getting hung out to dry by Coach to cover for making the decision to have Lee back off? Or is this a decision made unilaterally by Lee to play this way?

Just wondering.

ya’ll taking like are talking like he is the worst in the league & he is playing bums granted that he dont play defense but name me 1 person that does on the knicks this yr ( on a nightly basis) and i dere ya’ll say Gallo like he wasnt the 1 holding the GUARDS all night Harrington doesnt even try chandler tries but gets a eye jammer every time mcgrady cant get through screens house is 2 small 4 the 2 position

then ya’ll talking about lee getting his @ss bust by scola like he not 1 of the better bigs in the league this yr remember him busting pau bynum &odom @ss in the playoffs last yr & all 3 of them is bigger then him but scola couldnt stop them either imma ask ya’ll again who is playing outta position this yr at the center position that is killing the league defensively

I have heard D’Antoni say on his show that he did not want his players making foolish fouls. Furthermore no matter how he tries Lee is not going to be a Charles Oakley (who had Patrick Ewing beside him). Every night the defense is lacking from the entire team. Without Jared Jeffries it is worse than ever. I am hoping the team’s defense improves by the end of the season. Spoken like a fan who should know better.

Lol.

One will have difficulty guarding anybody if one doesn’t even try.

Who cares about what color the guy is? Lee’s defense has to improve-plain and simple.

Do you really believe those figures? Yeah like Curry was 300 pounds, more like 370 pounds and Noah is 232 pounds, yeah right, he’s much more than that I bet close to 270 pounds.

Those guys are close to 7 feet tall and have larger frames. If those weights were correct they would all look like twigs.

5 inches taller? really?

giving up 50 pounds? really?

How many SEVEN FOOT TWO 300 plus pound centers are in the league? Maybe one?

what a crock of BS..

Im just hoping that Donnie didnt gut this roster, trade away the 8th pick in the 2009 draft, agree to a conditional swap of first in 2011 (top pick protected — joke)AND give up a 2012 first top five protected so that he can resign David Lee!!

I brought this up and everyone got on me like that would NEVER happen.

It is completely UNACCEPTABLE to build this team around a marshmellow like David Lee.

Let him go to NJ and lose 50 games every year.. No F-ing way i went thru two years of this and gave up all that future for DAVID PANSY LEE

You listen to the media? Categorizing Lee as a blue collar type of player is so that they can somehow relate him to the everyday NY worker so that people buy tickets. It’s all MARKETING.

that’s why Lee is a FRAUD!

David Lee is a fraud in my opinion,

ha ha .. thank you Mucha.. I got scotched the other day for saying that.

“Who cares about what color the guy is? Lee’s defense has to improve-plain and simple.”

It was a joke.

a fraud.