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Chandler Benefitting from Space

by Tommy Dee on December 14th, 2010 at 11:03 am

Wilson Chandler is a scorer. He can make shots from a ton of spots on the floor. I talk to scouts all the time who say one of the most important things about identifying scorers are where they can get their shot from. Chandler is particularly adept at knocking down off wing 3s, which is a skill not often found from players 6’8.

We’ve often talked about how D’Antoni-type players can stretch the defense and shoot near 50% from the field. Chandler is at 47% for the season and is shooting a career-best 37% from 3. Now, there are times where Will takes ill advised shots (or Will advised shots) and that often affects his percentages.

Will gets his three point looks in transition, and off of the pick and roll. It’s simple, Raymond Felton and Amar’e Stoudemire simply get more people open. Here’s a clip from a David Lee/Chris Duhon pick and roll.

How many times did we see this? But take notice…who else was open? No one. That happened often over the last two years where Duhon wouldn’t have any other options BUT Lee.

Just another example of how the system benefits a player who can take advantage of space when it’s created for them. It maybe THE biggest reason why the team has had so much success offensively early.

  • itzyung1

    Whats the biggest surprise of the season? Ray’s G Play? Amar’e's Shotblocking ability? Or Landry Fields?

  • itzyung1

    I meant to put “Ray’s PG Play?”

  • JeffM729

    I’m very happily surprised at Wilson Chandler’s play this season. We really don’t talk enough about his improvements on both ends of the court. He was always the first guy mentioned in trade talks and derided for his low BB IQ. He still doesn’t get respect for fiercely guarding taller, stronger players and his willingness to take and hit important shots.

    He has started and come off the bench, got two teeth knocked out and didn’t miss a minute, make the most bizarre, cryptic tweets, and always plays hard. Big props to Will!

  • TobyKnight

    I’d love to retain Chandler as the 6th man.
    Gallo (who I like) AR + Curry + two 2nd round pics for Melo. if we need to trade AR to Houston for a pick.

    Is Denver really going to do better than that if Melo refuses to sign an extension with any other team?
    How much is someone willing to give up for a half year rental?

    Felton
    Fields
    Melo
    Amare
    Turiaf

    Bench
    Chandler
    TD
    Williams
    Walker
    Mozgov
    New PF
    Rautins

    Not sure I’d be willing to trade Chandler for Mayo. Chandler is more versatile.

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  • JeffM729

    Good luck getting Denver to trade Melo for that package. Curry and Randolph aren’t even in the rotation, two second round picks that are hit or miss, and the only real asset, Gallo, who is in the third year of his rookie contract. I’m sure that Denver could do better than that even for a rental. It’s basically Gallo for Melo, great for us, awful for Denver.

    The fantasy that Melo will only sign with us is just that.

  • BK_Grande

    The most interesting question now is if we need Melo more than we need a solid center. I know that Melo is great and he would improve our team as the starting SF but would he have a bigger impact than a solid center?

    If you could choose between Melo at the SF and say Ben Wallace (circa 2004) at the center, what would you choose?

  • BK_Grande

    fyi – keeping in mind that Melo would be a Max guy and a Wallace wouldn’t be…

  • BluEandOrange

    Chandler needs a nickname. Wil The Thrill has been used already and Ill Will just doesn’t fit the mold.

    If only Gus Johnson was still here. Wilson probably would have had a nickname already.

    Just imagine Gus calling that three from Chandler against the Nuggets in the fourth quarter.

  • EwingStarksOak

    When Amare joined you figured our other players would get better looks and improve their stats. Felton and Chandler seem to be taking advantage of that the most of all of the Knicks.

    Wilson had a tough stretch early on where he was forcing it and not letting the game come to him but since then he has been taking much better shots. Wilson improved as a player from last season AND he is getting more open looks due to teams keying on Amare. Combine those 2 factors and you have a great season so far for him.

    I was looking for that 3 against Denver that won the game. He was wide open. Unrelated to what i am saying about his play but figured i would just drop this here

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Em4kigIcV9g

  • Richporter

    Sebastion Telfair might b available..

    What u guys think about him as a back up point??
    I think he is good back up point guard

  • EwingStarksOak

    better off with TD. If we are going to sign a PG we need to make sure he isnt a downgrade from having TD run the point.

  • diggs

    TD’s not bad as an off guard, but it doesn’t get much worse than him running the point

  • EwingStarksOak

    I dunno, maybe i am biased against telfair because of his cousin.

    I would rather they give Alston a workout.

    If we do not get a backup PG i would like to see TD bring the ball up and give it to Fields/Gallo to run a PnR with Fields/Gallo and Amare.

  • TobyKnight

    If we were able to get a decent backup PG, would it make sense to offer TD in a package for Melo?

    Gallo, TD, AR (or a #1 pick), Curry’s contract, + 2 second rounders

  • diggs

    I hear ya about telfair, I just can’t stand seeing TD with the ball in his hands. He doesn’t know how to not shoot.

  • gianthinker

    How about “goner”?

  • gianthinker

    Telfair isn’t good.

  • Mal

    IMHO a HUGE upgrade to Will’s game is he is driving to the basket a WHOLE lot more. In the early part of the year I thought Will had regressed but he has prove me wrong and I like what he is doing.

    Also HE ISNT 6’8, I hate when I read that 6’6 stuff lol Ill might be 6’7 or 6’6 1/2, McGrady was noticeably taller than Will.

    Nothing personal but just say to no to Bassy and Skip to my Lou.

  • TobyKnight

    I beg to disagree. Denver said they want three things:
    1) Good young talent (Gallo)
    2) Draft picks (Trade AR for a 1 and add two 2s)
    3) Cap relief/saving$ (Curry’s contract – mainly paid off already, off the books at end of year)

    They were demanding even more earlier, but that was before Melo asserted himself. If Melo prefers to go to another team, fine. We will survive without him, but he seems dead set on coming to NYK and the above is likely the best they are going to do.
    Tell me who is going to offer a better deal for a half year rental of Melo.
    You think NJ will offer Favors and two #1s for a rental?
    You think Chicago will give up anything of real value? Deng and Gibson? You think Denver wants Deng’s contract?
    Who is Dallas going to give up and will Dirk and Melo mesh?
    The Bobcats? Who do they have to trade, whose contract Denver would want?
    NJ can offer them the best deal, but no way do they do it without the extension.
    Maybe Denver can squeeze the Knicks for TD or another future pick.

  • Tigers R H3re

    There are only two back up PG’s that won’t take much begging for a team to get depending on the package prresented to them. Ramon Sessions on CLE and Ronnie Price. CLE if they continually lose will want cap relief and young players to help rebuild so if we can present that to them they might bite. George Hill maybe will have to take to take scheming to get from SA but i think because of TP’s extension they would a couple role players to help their championship run.

  • Tigers R H3re

    The problem with Chandler is not that he isn’t a good player because he is could even blossom into a potential potent on a championship team. But he plays the same position as the player we are going after and no one knows what his market value is how much money is he gonna demand? Honestly I say keep chandler but if Donnie can rob a team for Chandler and bring in a top flight big man you have to pull the trigger because his position can be replaced.

  • sdot

    Off topic but I guess we still treat our old timers like crap…right….
    Naulls will get to meet Stoudemire next month. Naulls has been invited by the Knicks to their game in L.A. against the Lakers on Jan. 9. Naulls still has one record from UCLA – single-game rebounding mark of 28 that even the former Lew Alcinder and Bill Walton did not touch.

    AND knicks doing vote for best knick of the 2000s

  • Richporter

    i am really surprise rafer Alston is not with a team right now. He was incredible with orlando. Plus he is great guard. He can

    shoot
    has a nice floater
    good at p&r
    see the floor well
    hes really cheap..

  • TobyKnight

    I like Sessions. Wanted to sign him last year, but we couldn’t because of the cap issues.
    He makes 4mil a year and has 2 years remaining after this one.
    Can we make that happen and still get Melo?
    Who would Cleveland want for him?

  • Jayo

    TKB, the place where people only want to trade players when they are doing bad.. Lol

  • TobyKnight

    What about Chandler for Mayo and Thabeet?
    I know Hasheem has sucked so far, but if all we need him to do is defend and rebound, it might be worth the gamble. Hate to get rid of Chandler, but if we got Mayo then we could package Gallo, Fields and Curry’s contract + a couple 2s to Denver for Melo.

    Felton
    Mayo
    Melo
    Amare
    Thabeet/Turiaf/Mozgov

    Hire Ewing to work with Hasheem and let him develop.

  • KenTheAnimalBannister

    ohhhh thats cold….

  • Amareisreal

    A lot of you posters seem to forget that we HAVE a center in moz and turiaf.
    IF melo were to come with our current team intact, then amare gets to play his natural position as well as melo and felton. You have three proven scorers on the floor that the other teams MUST respect. Moz is good enough to hit open shots if he is allowed to and maybe evan a slam of two.
    He WILL come along with those three on the court at once. Rebounds included.
    the guy just needs less pressure and more playing time and having melo stat and ray on the floor will give him that. Most definitely.

    The knicks have peices. Don’t let dantoni rotations blind you guys.

    One
    A.

  • chito31

    I think you’re looking at a trade the wrong way. This trade is going to be really complicated and involve three or four teams. I really doubt any of our players end up in Denver. Look at teams like Sacramento, Philly, Memphis who have talent they want to move or Cleveland and Toronto who have have big trade exceptions and draft picks.

  • chito31

    Also…. it’s not just about expiring contracts. Denver wants to reduce there luxury tax bill, so you have to figure out how they can trade more salary then they receive (it doesn’t matter if they are expiring). I doubt Curry will end up in Denver, most likely will end up on a third-party team who are well under luxury tax threshold. Instead, look at Azubuke who is a freebie because his salary is almost entirely covered by NBA insurance fund due to his injury.

  • chito31

    Also… don’t be surprised for a Elton Brand Carmelo Anthony one-for-one trade. Philly may be that desperate just to get rid of his contract…. I’d do it if I was them.

  • Jeff C

    Chandler is turning into the perfect compliment to the felton/amare 1-2 punch, where as Galo is has taken a seat as the 4th option; a useful roll player. Chandler is excelling as the more reps he gets the better he will be. He is literally perfect ‘for this system.’ It’s an overused phrase but this time it’s true.

    So yea galo would have to go for melo, def. not will. I guess that’s why i worry a little about melo. I think we would be better off bringing in great players who will improve what we are already doing, not drastically change it. Melo can’t be a ‘compliment.’ Now 20% of those pick and roll posessions will be eliminated in favor of a Melo ISO.

  • Old Knick

    I cant see the vid.

  • Jeff C

    mozgov is not NBA ready he is clueless, and turiaf is a useful body to throw around in the paint but is he really a center? And can he play big minutes, or start?

    Amare will stay at the 5 until we get a different center who is good enough.

  • Jeff C

    but in the end i guess if you can get carmelo anthony on your team you kind of just have to.. so whatever. ill still be slightly worried about it but obviously if they and the coach can figure it out we will be awesome.

  • Old Knick

    Ray…. No doubt.
    I always thought he would be good, Just good and I even thought maybe a little better in this offense but, he has far exceeded all my expectations. I say sign before the 2 years is up. What has surprised me the most is his ability to hit the jumper and the 3 pointer and his layups. Basically I did not think he was this good of a scorer. I really did NOT think he would be #2 scorer on this Knicks team!!!

    :) oh so :)

  • KenTheAnimalBannister

    Rather take a shot on Jamaal Tinsley, or Skip to my Lou than go for Telfair.

  • Old Knick

    Yup real cold
    :(

  • KenTheAnimalBannister

    Or if their too old take a peek and see if Marcus Williams is any kind of B-ball shape.

  • Old Knick

    “When Amare joined you figured our other players would get better looks and improve their stats. Felton and Chandler seem to be taking advantage of that the most of all of the Knicks.”

    U r so right and the main reason I was dissapointed in vanilla. I mean I thought from July that he among all the other players would benefit the most from Amare being here. And it really hasnt been that way. I still maintain that if he could just hit those open shots this team would be so hard to beat. That is really all he has to do. If he hits those shots consistantly, of course his average will go up, teams will have to get up on him close. That will help him and Amare. If they go up close on him Amare will be basically 1-on-1. All gallo has to do is hit those open shots.

  • EwingStarksOak

    +1

  • Old Knick

    Fields CANNOT go period. He is the glue. He must stay!

  • Old Knick

    +1

  • Old Knick

    Attitude stinks and teams have decided to stay away. More and more players are realizing that teams are not going to buy your services if u have attitude problems. They would rather take a less skilled guy who gets along well with others. Problem with Alston is he thinks he is better than he is and has always thought that!

  • Old Knick

    No shots but mozgof cant even catch a soft pass or pick up a ball on the ground without it slipping out his hands. Big but Soft and Cuddly!

  • Old Knick

    Sadly that is true!
    I also wish Amare could just play the 4.

  • ceej989

    More NY and Melo hate from Kelly Dwyer on yahoo sports:

    http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/Carmelo-Anthony-wants-to-play-for-the-Knicks?urn=nba-295446

    I wish he would just shut up. But I do worry about Melo and the “volume shooting” he takes. Will he step up his defense? Will he accept not taking all the shots in the game? Will he buy into the system?

    And how come no one here worries about the fact that he does have injuries and problems with his knee? So there will be times where he will be out for certain stretches (almost a guarantee). Don’t get me wrong, it’d be great to have a shooter like Melo on the team, but I don’t want it to throw us back into the dark ages in terms of soaking up large contracts and sitting on them. But Donnie has played all this out well, so we shall see.

  • TobyKnight

    I keep coming back to this same question. How does Melo change this team and how it will impact on Stat and Felton’s game?

    If we are willing to give up Gallo, AR, and possibly Fields, who else could we possibly get that would be potentially more complimentary?

    Relatedly, to what degree can Melo adjust his game to optimize his effectiveness in SSOL?

    I’d like to get Dalembert on the team. What do you think it would take to get him from the Kings? He is an expiring, so he wouldn’t impact our cap for Melo in the offseason. And if we traded for Melo, we could go over the cap to sign Dalembert, correct?

  • Amareisreal

    that’s something else i noticed from reading old posts to new posts, you guys dont give anyone a good time frame to improve.

    you guys absolutely HATED my man felton.

    past tense.

    those who ignore the past are doomed to repeat it. learn the lesson and let these kids show you what they’ve got after a while.

    ONE.
    A.

  • Amareisreal

    that young brother will surprise you yet.

    if he gets a chance.

  • bob go knicks

    i take Tyson Chandler a free agent next summer.The Knicks are already the #2 offense in the league,why do we need Melo?we could use a starting legit big,and a backup point much more.And if they are good defensively,its as good as getting more offense …NO?

  • Tigers R H3re

    I say we do AZ expiring, Bill Walker and TD for Sessions and either a first or Anthony Parker. CLE gets cap space and solid back up and the Knicks get the true back up PG that we need and a SG to take Walker’s spot who is expiring.

  • Tigers R H3re

    Nah the only package that truly makes sense for the Knicks is EC, Gallo, AR, Walker and a first rounder thats it. A third team may have to be brought in the mix that has a star player but may just be looking for salary cap room a la Golden State Monta Ellis. I think Ellis, Gallo, AR and a first rd pick is more than enough compensation for Melo.

  • Tigers R H3re

    Honestly there is nothing the Knicks can offer the Kings because he makes too much like 13 mil+ all we have is Curry’s contract and with Cousins dealing with issues I am not exactly sure they want Curry to be his role model. Only way to get him is thru free agency.

  • Tigers R H3re

    I truly feel Chandler’s game is “improving” is because his free agency is coming up and he wants a fat contract and wants he gets it he will go back from being ill will to inwill (inconsistent) thats why u rob a team now for him instead of waiting for the season to be over.

  • Johnny Mac

    Chandler has definitely benefitted from space; I wonder how Melo would benefit. 1 weakness in D’Antonis system is he’s not a great long range shooter. Naturally, he does have plently of strengths to make up for, but his percentages are of concern. Not knowing the other trades out there, as of today I want him as a Knick but with some reservation. This article is definitely an interesting read from someone who seems to have seen and studied him a lot:

    http://www.roundballminingcompany.com/2010/10/19/carmelo-anthony-efficient/

  • moderatethis

    MOZ is total trash

  • Brookdon

    Very interesting but the guy named Shareef made a good point.

    “You forgot to add all the trips to the foul line, and the great FT% and the minutes missed by opposing front courts due to foul trouble. And the value drawing double teams has to increasing the amount of open shots for his teammates”

    This is why lots of us want him so badly on our team Gallo and Chandler don’t do this for us.

  • HaS

    Finally a Chandler post.

    He deserved some “love”, he has been the unsung hero of the young season. He’s been the consummate professional guarding anyone from the 2-5 on any given night (with mixed results) and has even had some very clutch blocks at the end of games, culminating with a dagger 3 point shot in the last game.

    Hope he continues to improve and hopefully as a Knick.

  • http://www.nomoreonionbags.com trenttucker

    Chandler is playing well, and a lot better, especially in terms of shot selection and not barging into stationary defenders. His passing could improve, but his scoring and D are pretty solid. He also seems eminently coachable.

    It seems to me that Chandler and Melo are an either/or for next year. Right now, the Knicks are at $42m without Chandler. If they pick up the qualifying for him at $3m, that would leave about $16m for Melo, but nothing for the real holes on the roster (SG, backup PG).

    Obviously, that could change if anyone (Randolph, Gallo) is traded, or if the CBA shakes things up. But at this point, I would lean toward extending Chandler (and getting other players) over signing Melo. What would Chandler cost? $7m per? More? It’s hard to see him taking less than what Travis fricking Outlaw got.

  • JeffM729

    When did Melo ever assert himself? The comments he has made said he hadn’t made up his mind. If you want to believe anonymous sources on the web, go ahead. So many people here were convinced last year that LeBron was coming. All you have to do is change the name and the thoughts are the same.

    As far as the trade, Melo is an expiring contract. Sending Eddy Curry doesn’t give them any cap relief. Second round draft picks aren’t worth much and we don’t have any to trade until 2012 and no first rounders until 2014. Gallo is a restricted free agent in 2012. So again, Denver is getting very little in that trade.

  • Brookdon

    I think he will get tons of offers around the league.

  • eduardo

    I think we will still see that from him . If I am not mistaken he was still wearing that wrist brace against Denver . He is healing up slowly , but he is healing up . I don’t think that I have to tell you how a bad wrist can affect your outside shot. When he is healed up and gets his touch right with the way he has elevated his game to the hoop this year and getting to the line I think you will see the things you expected and more .

    Also if I remember correctly and am not having a senior moment I believe that he was way more effective last year in the second half of the year than the first.

  • moderatethis

    Yea its just space he hasnt gotten better at all

  • Upstate Knick Fan

    Felton

  • Mucha

    +1000 HaS

  • TobyKnight

    That very well could be and it will make for very interesting couch GMing.
    Any thoughts on what some of the players involved could be?

  • TobyKnight

    Why would Denver want Brand’s contract if they are trying to cuts costs? With Nene and the Birdman, I don’t see Brand adding as much value as a possible replacement for Melo.

  • Mucha

    “Now 20% of those pick and roll posessions will be eliminated in favor of a Melo ISO”

    Not necessarily because the Knicks run the pick-and-roll early regardless – the Knicks isolate Stoudemire very often when opposing defenses block the pick-and-roll. And Carmelo’s almost unstoppable one-on-one. But I agree with the idea that he shouldn’t be given carte blanche on offense in New York – he will have to make some adjustments in terms of ball-movement. The Knicks should use his ability to beat defenders one-on-one though.

  • Old Knick

    +1000 on everything u said ed. Well I hope so and well maybe before he gets traded ya think???

    ;)

  • Old Knick

    Love Will and at this point if the choice (and this was hard for me)is between him and galinari, I say keep Chandler. He does so many things for us that are good just like Fields.

  • Mucha

    Dalembert’s work ethic is (reportedly) questionable and his body language is awful – don’t bring players with little motivation.

  • TobyKnight

    I think there is a difference between LBJ and Melo. The latter appears much more motivated to play in MSG than the “Chosen One”. Your generalization does not seem accurate, IMHO.

    Curry gives them savings this season, as his salary is mostly paid out already. He also enables Denver to take back a high salary player that won’t impact their cap. As chito mentions, there’s a good chance Curry goes to another team in a multi-team trade scenario, but if it was a straight up deal with Denver, Curry’s contract as filler, used perhaps to also take another contract off of Denver’s hands, would be valuable.

    “Second round draft picks aren’t worth much and we don’t have any to trade until 2012 and no first rounders until 2014.”

    We have Golden State’s 2nd round pick in 2011 and if we trade AR to Houston, we will have our 2012 pick back and can trade our 2011 pick to Denver.

    As for 2nd round picks -Landry Fields? Gilbert Arenas? Monte Ellis? Dennis Rodman, Mark Price, Rashard Lewis, Manu, Michael Redd, Carlos Boozer, Toni Kukoc, Anthony Mason, PJ Brown, Antonio Davis, Paul Milsap, Anderson Varejo, Cliff Robinson, Steve Kerr?

    :-)

  • 94th st.

    It”s time for the Knicks to take a page from the class act organizations of the League (Lakers and Spurs) and build from within and make the best trade for the long haul. Carmelo is just not the answer. If we have to get rid of all of our assets for one guy who won’t get us over the top this year; We will be making the same mistakes we’ve made over the pass ten years. I’m so tired of our team being taken advantage of in trades because we are in a panic mode. This is the first time in a long time that we have no off the court drama and bad basketball on the court. We have a team. Let’s just establish some stability around here and go from there.

  • Dave the Rave

    Knix need lots of things. Quality centers are rare these days. Really, how many true centers are there? Howard, Hibbard and who?

  • Dave the Rave

    I don’t care if he gets a catchy nickname, but if he keeps scoring 20-30 ppg he is not going anywhere. He is blossoming right before our eyes into a killer small forward. He’s only guarding the other team’s power forward because Gallo and Amar’e are too weak to do it.

  • Dave the Rave

    Mayo is not as good as Chandler and Thabeet is garbage.

  • Dave the Rave

    Why didn’t Hasheem do that this summer? He can afford it. It’s his career.

  • Dave the Rave

    Dolan is the culprit. When did he first get interested in the Knix anyway? He seems to have no respect for the history of this team.

  • Dave the Rave

    +100 Jeff

  • Dave the Rave

    Moz needs 3 yrs minimum to develop. He is weak timid, inexperienced and too young to be a rotation player. He’ll be on the bench for 2 or 3 more years.

  • Dave the Rave

    uh huh…he’s only motivated by money

    ???

  • PickNY

    Folks who are scared to bring Melo in is due to our recent winning streak! Let’s keep it real, how long will this streak continued, and would folks be ready to dog out Will when he gets in a funk?

    Too much hypocrisy going on when things are great, until it goes South:( I’m gonna support whatever DW decides and quit wasting time SPECULATING!