Recap: Heat 111 Knicks 98

by Tommy Dee on April 11th, 2010 at 9:06 pm

BOX SCORE

Let me first say this, I really like Earl Barron. The question becomes, as it often has over Mike D’Antoni’s shortish rotation, where does Barron fit on this team moving forward. As a scout or an executive, you have to respect a player who’s playing for his NBA life, but how does that guarantee you he’ll do it next season. How do you know that the guy may not get a contract, then expect minutes and not prepare the same way?

Again, we talk about stars and leadership and players who WANT to wear the jersey. Who wants to restore the pride and respectability?

Barron looks an awful lot like Nazr Mohammed minus the shot blocking, to me. They are virtually the same build and possess the same gate. Earl shoots it better mid range. Naz had a better back-to-the-basket game. But it’s the lack of flex in their game that makes them so similar.

These are decisions an executive must think about. I like the guy, but he’s low on the priority list. The Knicks need second shots and rebounding throughout the course of the game, and if Barron can deliver 20 active minutes, he’s a keeper. He may just be a keeper either way from a depth perspective. I wonder why no Miami fans are screaming at Pat Riley for letting him go.
  • LB2NYplz

    barron should definitely be brought back as a legitimate center off the bench and to be honest with you id rather keep barron on the cheap then sign a jermaine oneal or marcus camby for 5million + whom are on they last legs in this league

    if anything the knicks need to target Darren Collison from the Hornets

  • DatNewYorker

    Camby is on another level buddy. You will immediately feel his presence on the floor. We need that presence more than anything right now. What is the use of offense if you can’t stop anyone?

    Tommy Dee
    Yes, I agree that he does look a lot like Nazr Muhammed. We can use this guy because he is quick for seven footer and that is what you need when you are running in D’Antoni’s system.

    Now about this game against D Wade. What the Hell was Gallo doing guarding Wade. I know that the kid asked to guard the best offensive player on the opposing team but how many coaches would of granted Gallos wish. That was the one of most ridiculous things I have seen from the man with the ridiculous mustache this year. Just as useless as it was when Jared Jeffries was guarding the Point guards at the end of a close game. This coach is clueless. Also he is still starting Duhon and I don’t care if Duhon had 30 points tonight. He will not be here and Tony needs every minute he can get. I’m glad this soon will be over. I can’t bear to watch this idiot coach anymore

  • ds2488

    Tough game tonight, it wasn’t pretty. Gallo was bad, Lee was worse(defensively), Tmac was the same as always, No one did a sufficient job as point guard. Basically, just the usual, except Gallo had been playing much better recently. Too many settled jumpers, but a lot of them were open and he just had an off night. I guess that tends to happen when you are also being asked to guard the best player on the other team, who is twice as fast as you. Its crazy that Gallo is the only player who can guard other teams best perimeter players…I don’t blame the coach or Gallo, who else is going to guard the guys…Bill Walker?

  • onemoretime

    I think a defensive minded assistant would be soooo beneficial for this team. Someone who can implement a system that would enable this team to get the most out of its players at that end of the court. I always wondered why D’Antoni is so opposed to it. Is the reason that he has such disdain for defense the thought of an assistant to help him with it makes him ill? Could it be that he feels working on defense in practice would take time away from his precious offensive tutorials? Does he feel playing tough , tenacious defense drain his players’ stamina thus adversely affecting their play on offense, thus forcing him to go to a 10 man rotation? You would think a coach would be willing to do anything to improve his teams’ chances of winning. Is the guy really that ego maniacal, insecure? I just don’t get it.

  • boomshanka

    The fact that D’antoni is willing to use gimicky defensive matchups rather than coach team defense is a pretty damning indictment of his methods.

  • paulempson

    why worry bout E Barron now. He can certainly be a rotation player and help us at the 5 .

    Now with T-Dot out and Bosh certainly cemented to bolt , its time to start really looking at who.

    Lebron I think will announce his resigning any day now with Cavs. Reason I think this happens is to give the team confidence as they go into the playoffs as the team with the best record

    Back in the day when it was he wot talk about it till season is over …..well, season is over now . Leaving now with the best record would look even worse for his loyalty to his home state

    I expect a 3 year deal with a a PO after 2 .

    Please tell me no one wants to see JJ and Gay here.

    We need a solid 1,2 & 4.

  • boomshanka

    I say that because of his use of Jeffries too. But to be fair you could argue that letting Gallo guard the best players will help his development at both ends of the court.

  • jaknicksfan

    I like Barron, hes a good player for a cheap number next season. we Really still need a player like Marcus Camby, even at 36 he will have a huge impact on this team next season, between his rebounding and shotblocking it would be great. plus he truly loves nyc. as far as the rest we will have to wait and see but no matter what we will be a lot better next season.

  • TrentMotherTucker

    If he can be the Barron of the Bench then sure. Camby does well when he gets consistent minutes. With D’Antoni’s rotation, Camby could get consistent minutes or he couldn’t depending if D’Antoni got a good nights rest.

  • Mucha

    The fact that Gallinari guarding Wade was not necessarily a bad thing – it didn’t help us tonight but I think it will help Gallinari in the long run. He’ll be very effective defensively in 2 or 3 years if he knows how to guard smaller/quicker players off the P&R for example. I really like the move. He didn’t play well tonight though.

    Earl Barron is a great addition if the Knicks sign him for the MINIMUM. I wouldn’t be surprised if he becomes lazy after getting his contract.

  • Jeff C

    I don’t care if Gallo didn’t have such a great game. He is a new player out there. We have literally watched him transform throughout the season, and now that he’s trying to take over and not deferring, he’s proving how good and versatile he can be. I used to cringe at every step he took, but now he is an active, aggressive, long body on both ends of the court.

    If we miss out on LeBron and even bosh, than that will suck, but if we add some lower level guys and become a playoff team (with max room plus more going into ’11 and ’12, i don’t think we can really complain. There’s one problem though. If we don’t get lebron, and settle for bosh, or amare, or gay, or johnson or any combination of the two (as long as the price is right), we will still be in DIRE need of a PG. If we don’t get LeBron, I’m not going to say ‘epic failure,’ but than we are going to have to find a true PG.

  • MVM

    its the end of the season, who cares if gallo was guarding wade, it’ll give him experience for next year, and barron is definitely a keeper, sign him for cheap as a backup center & sign camby, I don’t like jermaine o neal, it seems he’s gotten worse after coming to miami

  • johneco

    Have you seen Earl Barron’s stats while with Miami? That’s why Miami fans aren’t sad to see him go.

    It does look like he’s picked up his game from what we’ve seen of him here so far. If we can get him for the minimum, I’d be happy.