SB Nation New York Editor's Pick
How Kwame Brown could help the Knicks.
by Robert Curre on Sep 16, 2011 2:48 PM EDT
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It is not a secret to anyone who has been following the Knicks at all over the last few months that the Knicks primary target in free agency is a veteran center who can be signed cheaply. Now the Knicks have a list of guys they intend to pursue as soon as the lockout is over. Kwame Brown heads the list that includes guys like Kurt Thomas, Tony Battie, Nazr Mohammed etc. Kwame is the Knicks primary target for several reasons, he is the youngest of the group, the biggest of the group, and the most athletic.
Now normally I would be opposed to the idea of Kwame Brown getting anywhere near the Knicks but strangely I believe that Brown could provide serious value and help this team far more than his career advanced stats may suggest. At the risk of sounding totally nuts let me explain.
At a listed 6'11 and 270 lbs (Although the fact is he is actually 7"0 1/4 in shoes and closer to 285 lbs), Kwame is certainly big enough, strong enough and athletic enough to guard any center in the NBA. Kwame is also exceptionally quick for such a big man and therefore is quick enough to guard all but the most fleet footed power forwards. Kwame also has proven himself to be a decent one on one defender when his head is on straight although he has lapses in team defense. However his lapses are no more frequent or egregious than say Andrew Bynum's and the Lakers won two titles with him playing center.
Brown's ability to guard 4's as well as 5's means that he can take the other teams best scoring big and allow Amar'e to take the weaker offensive player most games. This benefits the Knicks in two ways. First Amar'e is a below average one on one defender, but has shown decent ability as a weak-side help defender. The more that Amar'e can serve as a help defender rather than a primary defender the less of a liability he becomes at that end of the floor. Secondly by Brown taking the more difficult offensive match up he helps to keep Amar'e out of foul trouble.
Brown is not a great rebounder but has shown when he gets consistent minutes he can be solid. He has proven that when motivated he can consistently go out and get 9 rebounds a game. For example Brown averaged 9 rebounds a game over Charlottes last 50 games last season. He did the same a few seasons ago for the Lakers. If he can do that here, then he helps the Knicks be better able to compete on the boards. Last season when the Knicks were able to break even or have a slight advantage in the rebounding battle their record even against playoff teams was very good (.714 winning percentage). So the more Brown helps us get to at least even on the boards the better the chances of this team having a really good record.
Brown also can have an impact offensively. Brown has never played with another big as offensively productive as Amar'e Stoudemire. This means that Amar'e draws a lot of attention from opposing defenses when he has the ball as well as he usually draws the other team's best defending big. Both situations will create opportunities for Brown to be useful in the offense. Now while Kwame is certainly no Hakeem or a young Tim Duncan in the low post, he can score some when he gets the ball down there. Picture this, the Knicks are playing Miami, Joel Anthony and Chris Bosh are on the floor for the Heat. Which one is guarding Amar'e? That's right Anthony. That means that Bosh will be on Kwame. Now Bosh will be giving up a couple of inches in height and about 40-50lbs in weight and a bunch of strength to Kwame. Get Kwame the ball 6-8 feet from the basket against Bosh and he should be able to just over power Bosh to the hoop at will down there. Seriously folks get Bosh on Brown that close to the hoop and you might as well be throwing the ball to Dwight Howard, cause Bosh isn't stopping either guy. Now more important than his points in these situations is that fact that the ability to go to Brown in the post against guys like Bosh, Boozer, Brand, Aldridge etc. puts these guys at risk of picking up fouls guarding him down there, thus limiting those teams ability to keep key offensive personnel on the floor against the Knicks. Now there is an example of offense helping defense. I still say the easiest way to guard any player in the NBA is to have him on the bench sitting next to his coach for large stretches of the game.
Also the attention Amar'e draws when he has the ball should also create situations where Kwame may be turned loose on the boards giving him a few cheap buckets on put backs.
For these reasons even if Kwame only averaged 8 pts and say 7 rebounds a game, he could be a far bigger pick up than his stats. Fans and the media are fairly ignorant sometimes. If the Knicks do sign Brown there will be people all over the media and the fan base blasting the move. That is understandable as the media and fans focus on the who a player is rather than what he can do. I just gave you three areas where what Brown can do could make the Knicks a better team, whether he is a better player or not.
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I had actually pondered this a while back.
No one has ever doubted Kwame’s size, strength, and athleticism. Those are the reasons he was drafted early and dubbed the ‘next great big man." Kwame’s problems have always been mental/motivational/too much pressure from high expectations type problems.
That’s why I say pass. New York is exactly the wrong place for a player with those problems. The bright lights will only exacerbate the situation and cause him to wilt further. He doesn’t have the psyche or work ethic to play for the Knicks. Sorry.
SPEND ON BIGS
by StarksMiddleFinger on Sep 16, 2011 4:02 PM EDT reply actions
I don't think he's still under the pressure that he was when he was drafted #1 overall.
Nowhere near that actually. I don’t think that will be a problem.
Fields, on the follow!
Everyone is under that pressure in New York.
Stainer of mountaintops.
by Chairman Meow on Sep 16, 2011 5:19 PM EDT up reply actions
pressure exists everywhere.
I think it was Bobby V who said: "You are never as good as you are when you are at your best, and you are not as bad as when you are at your worst."
Like the really funny uncle with a healthy bourbon habit who matches every brilliant Thanksgiving story with one or two ill-advised racist jokes or boob grabs, we’re stuck with Melo. So we might as well learn to love him — quirks and all. http://knickerblogger.net/2011-report-card-carmelo-anthony/
He also has scrub like tendencies on offense
And small hands which are other problems he’s had
But I wouldnt be too opposed to Kwame
Anxiously awaiting the day my username will be appropriate
Yeah his problems are his tiny baby hands
and the fact that Michael Jordan destroyed his confidence immediately after drafting him
yea man jordan is a dickwad
but kwame was born a fumbler
/// aighttho.com \/// twitter.com/aighttho \
I can't argue that at various stops Kwame has been a head case, but that is pretty much water
under the bridge, he has been a solid citizen for the last 4 years now. Some of the psyche issues I believe were really more the fact that Kwame was immature and couldn’t handle that he was not going to be the big star he and frankly everyone else thought when he came into the league. Jordan still gets clowned for taking the guy, but really who wouldn’t have. If Kwame came out in the draft this year with the same size and athletic ability and the Knicks had the number one pick, we would have blown a gasket around here if the Knicks passed on him.
As for work ethic, I will say this, Kwame apparently gets himself in shape every year which is something we could not say about other big men whoo were supposed to be the answer for the knicks.
Lastly, the guy is not going to be under any pressure so I don’t buy that. He is going to be one of a group of guys D’Antoni will use at center. He might play 40 minutes if he plays well, he might play 5 minutes. Either way I doubt anyone is going to be looking at Kwame Brown’s numbers and going off if they are not stellar. His job regardless of how many minutes he plays will be to play physical defense and help on the boards. These are two things the guy has proven he can do. If he averages 20 and 10 a game great, if he averages 5 and 4 a game great as long as those numbers are helping the team win games. Really it will be the same with all our bigs. D’Antoni plans to play 3 guys there. So if Kwame is signed and he has say 5 rebounds, Turiaf has 5, and Jordan or Jorts whichever wins the 3rd job has 8 in a game, that is 18 rebounds from the Center position, which would go along way to helping win the rebound battle in a game.
by Robert Curre on Sep 20, 2011 1:12 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
I think you're likely giving him too much credit
I’m not opposed to Kwame, I’d take him, but if he were as athletic and capable/servicable as you make him out to be, there’d likely be many more teams calling him up than there are.
I’d personally rather have Nazr, who while not as athletic or big as Kwame, he’s been more consistent throughout the years, played on bigger stages, and has some veteran experience that he can teach to Jorts and Jordan
As of right now here are the teams interested in Kwame
Charlotte, Boston, Miami, San Antonio, and the Lakers. In fact we may not get him at all because one of these teams might actually outbid us for his services. So apparently there are people interested. It is not like if we do not sign him that the guy is gonna be on the street. If your 7 feet 270lbs and in shape, even if you suck some team will sign you because there are few teams in this league that cannot use another big body especially if it is an inexpensive on on their bench. Hell the new CBA may actually be a great thing for guys like Kwame, because alot of teams will be forced to look at bargain basement types of players like him.
by Robert Curre on Sep 20, 2011 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions
Hell yeah
To be honest, you didn’t say much more than “Kwame Brown can do things that you expect a center to do”, but I completely agree..K\wame Brown can most certainly defend large players, rebound the ball, and score some points/draw some fouls in the post.
About his motivation..I think Kwame would be very happy to be given the opportunity to play for the Knicks. I think Kwame understands that the Knicks are currently being meticulously constructed and all of the Knicks’ focus this offseason will be on the center position, so he should be honored to be selected as our center.
Depends on Dollars
I think it’ll come down to how much he wants. If we can get Kwame for under $7M, for a one-year deal, I say pull the trigger. Would be great to get some size off the bench and if he’s motivated (doubtful, but still…) could be a great pick-up on D. That said, I feel like the pressure of NY will get to him — so in the end, it is all about (as mentioned above) money.
Have you heard? The Big East is overrated. And doesn't deserve a BCS bid. And is too bloated in basketball.
Seven million dollars for Kwame Brown?
Please, for the love of God, no.
Guys, this was a great post. But he’s still, at the end of the day, Kwame Brown. He’s a much worse version of Joel Anthony.
Seriously. Come on.
joel anthony vs. kwame brown (hubie brown voice)
ok, joel anthony is gonna average you 5 points, 7 rebounds and 3 blocks per 36 minutes a game, ok. and he’s gonna do this while shooting just under 50% from the field and 66% from the line. he’s 29 years old, and has basically never gotten better or worse his entire nba career, i mean come on. but what we know about joel anthony is that he’s long, athletic and willing to do all of the dirty work for his team.
now, kwame brown is also 29 years of age, but has been in the league for nearly twice the amount of time as anthony! ok? so his numbers are little better per 36 minutes of play. he’s gonna give you 11 points, 9 rebounds, and a block. and the shooting percentages are about the same. with kwame being a little more erratic from the free throw line area. and what do we know kwame’s a capable post defender, and a big body, and he’s going to work hard for you, but he’s also going to have lapses here and there, ok?
/// aighttho.com \/// twitter.com/aighttho \
by stingy d on Sep 18, 2011 9:41 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
no, they are looking at one year and vets min. So let's not panic.
And you are right, Kwame is not even close to being a good player. But we need size and do not have cap room. Kwame is big and we may be able to sign him cheap those are the only reasons they are looking at him. Now as I pointed out, Kwame can do some things we need a center to do. At the end of the day, he will be one of 4 guys we can run out there at center in the hope that we can get enough defense and rebounds out of that group to help us win games.
by Robert Curre on Sep 19, 2011 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Says a lot about the Knicks' current state
that we’re looking to Kwame Brown to fill glaring needs. Uh-oh.
"But when he saw it, he just put his hands up and they couldn’t give it to him. It just fell to the ground, I-I don’t, you know … So, that showed me he had great experience..." - Jeff Van Gundy
by Anthony Bonner's Subpoena on Sep 17, 2011 10:39 AM EDT reply actions
He came home and is getting 83 milion to boot.
As a result, the knicks need to shop to fill other needs in the bargain basement. It says alot about the Knicks current salary cap state more so than the organization. But like I said it is doubtful that they are looking for Kwame to play 40 minutes a night. He will be used in conjunction with the other bigs the Knicks now have. If he plays well he will get more minutes, if others play better they will get the minutes. The idea is to have enough size on the floor. The Knicks are looking at kwame as what he is not who he is.
We want better defense and rebounding and I agree with Donnie Walsh in order for that to get better we need to play bigger, that is why we are bringing in Jerome Jordan, he probably sucks but he’s big, when D’Antoni talked about Harrellson’s skillset and how it is what the team needs he was referring to the fact that the kid has a wide 275 lbs frame and apparently knows how to use it. Hell the Knicks only decided they wanted Jorts after watching him Bully Vucevic all over the court. He apparently also had a second work out were he pushed Biyombo around as well. Since both of those guys were surefire first round picks the Knicks decided Jorts might be okay. Same with Kwame, say what you want about him but the list of NBA centers who can claim they have pushed Kwame around on the court is not that long.
by Robert Curre on Sep 19, 2011 2:08 PM EDT up reply actions
No i know what mean
Kwame may be our guy. Surely we can’t afford a guy significantly better. The whole thing just puts our cap situation in perspective.
"But when he saw it, he just put his hands up and they couldn’t give it to him. It just fell to the ground, I-I don’t, you know … So, that showed me he had great experience..." - Jeff Van Gundy
by Anthony Bonner's Subpoena on Sep 19, 2011 7:09 PM EDT up reply actions
Jesus
A good albeit somewhat hyperbolic post and every response is doom and gloom. Yes, center is going to be a key hole to fill, but it’s not like we are counting on 24/13 from the position. Hell, I would take 6/9 considering we’re gonna be paying vet minimum for the position. I highly doubt that Kwame will have trouble putting up those numbers, and Safari will still be around to come in and contribute for 15-20 mins per.
Also, enough with this pressure pf NY shit. Every fan base in every sport is highly critical and reactionary, just as much as we are. It’s the arrogance of NY fans that instills this belief in being the harshest and most unforgiving, along with many other cliches. Kwame has played in over 700 NBA games. I don’t think he’ll buckle under the pressure of having to grab a few rebounds that fall into his lap, and dunking a ball that only Jared Jeffriex would be too afraid to do.
by MetsKnicksRutgers on Sep 17, 2011 1:19 PM EDT reply actions
Most people only look at stats when assessing a player
KB is not a good stat stuffer, but he could be a good piece in the right system. A team with a clear pecking order (run by MAC ((Melo, Amare, Chauncy))) could be the kind of foundation to keep him motivated on teh D end and on Boards.
He is almost like Mozzie in a way.
As long as the money is right, I would be very happy if Brown was on our team next season.
I think it was Bobby V who said: "You are never as good as you are when you are at your best, and you are not as bad as when you are at your worst."
Like the really funny uncle with a healthy bourbon habit who matches every brilliant Thanksgiving story with one or two ill-advised racist jokes or boob grabs, we’re stuck with Melo. So we might as well learn to love him — quirks and all. http://knickerblogger.net/2011-report-card-carmelo-anthony/
M.Gasol The Answer
Just sign M.Gasol to play the middle between Stoudemire and Anthony.
Next year Billups comes off the books.
Next year D’Antoni will be gone and his system.
Then M.Gasol would be perfect between Stoudemire and Anthony.
The guy knows how to pass out of the low post along with rebounding and most important and hit the free throw when foul.
K.Brown is a low IQ basketball player that just does not fit with us once Billups and D’Antoni are out the door.
fail.
I think it was Bobby V who said: "You are never as good as you are when you are at your best, and you are not as bad as when you are at your worst."
Like the really funny uncle with a healthy bourbon habit who matches every brilliant Thanksgiving story with one or two ill-advised racist jokes or boob grabs, we’re stuck with Melo. So we might as well learn to love him — quirks and all. http://knickerblogger.net/2011-report-card-carmelo-anthony/
you're right about gasol.
but you’re completely unaware of what our actual options will be. so you’re completely wrong.
/// aighttho.com \\/// twitter.com/aighttho \\
Oh Well
One is always wrong with you.
Stoudemire/Gasol/Anthony as the front line.
Schawne Williams/J.Harrilson/L.Fields as the second unit front line.
2012/FA D.Williams or R.Felton as PG with O.J.Mayo SG
Second unit T.Douglas and I. Shumpert
I am aware that we are not going to win NBA Championships with just Stoudemire/Anthony.
The Knicks Need
The ghost of W. Chamberlain. For Championships, of course, and also the basketball enjoyment of true Knicks Fans.
maybe we can get kobe to play the 2
just as likely as us getting Gasol.
I think it was Bobby V who said: "You are never as good as you are when you are at your best, and you are not as bad as when you are at your worst."
Like the really funny uncle with a healthy bourbon habit who matches every brilliant Thanksgiving story with one or two ill-advised racist jokes or boob grabs, we’re stuck with Melo. So we might as well learn to love him — quirks and all. http://knickerblogger.net/2011-report-card-carmelo-anthony/
do you understand how salary caps work?
"Rooting for the Yankees is like rooting for Steve Jobs to win the lotto." - Chris Rock
The NBA - Where 2012 doesn't happen
Patrick Ewing - The NBA's all-time leader in rushing yards
by Taylor Made on Sep 19, 2011 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions
Dizzy I like Marc Gasol as much as you do.
Before the Melo trade became a fact, I even wrote a post here suggesting that the Knicks should consider trying to sign Gasol rather than going after Carmelo, because I felt they could live with Chandler and Gallinari at forward but they couldn’t live with having Amar’e continue to get beaten up at Center. But the Carmelo trade when it became real meant that Gasol was out of the picture. Now there will be a season this year don’t believe the hype. That means Gasol is out of the picture as we can’t afford him. So please stop with the Marc Gasol is the answer on virtually ever post man, we can’t afford him and frankly it sounds silly.
by Robert Curre on Sep 19, 2011 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions
OK Stop
The answer of having Stoudemire/Anthony both making 18+million is not the answe rto a NBA Championship either.
The union needs to be broken before we can take back the prison from the prisioners.
the NBA is not a prison
it is a business/sport.
They are run differently.
I think it was Bobby V who said: "You are never as good as you are when you are at your best, and you are not as bad as when you are at your worst."
Like the really funny uncle with a healthy bourbon habit who matches every brilliant Thanksgiving story with one or two ill-advised racist jokes or boob grabs, we’re stuck with Melo. So we might as well learn to love him — quirks and all. http://knickerblogger.net/2011-report-card-carmelo-anthony/
i'd rather have joel przybilla
or aaron gray or krylylo fesenko
/// aighttho.com \\\/// twitter.com/aighttho \\\
What happened to that massive white dude we drafted
From Princeton? Do we still have his rights? Is he approaching McCilvaine/Dudley status? Ifnso, he would suffice for our C
by MetsKnicksRutgers on Sep 18, 2011 1:57 PM EDT up reply actions
Maybe it was dartmouth
I remember him having an ameerican sounding name… Almost positive he was in the ivy league… Ring any bells?
by MetsKnicksRutgers on Sep 19, 2011 9:32 AM EDT up reply actions
He and Ryan Wittman both signed with Zastal Zielona Góra
is that an iranian folk band?
I found Carmen SanDiego! Guess Where? Go Ahead...That's Right..SanDiego.
www.indiscriminateswag.blogspot.com
by Lord Smackington on Sep 21, 2011 6:44 PM EDT up reply actions
You are talking about the kid from Cornell a couple of years ago. We didn't draft him
He was an undrafted free agent. We offered him a chance to play for us in the summer league last year, but he got a contract offer to play in Europe and went with the sure money.
by Robert Curre on Sep 19, 2011 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions
Gray is on the list but he likely will cost more money and will want a multi-year deal.
Fesenko is big and cheap, which is why Utah will keep him, plus the addition of Kanter means that the jazz will probably look to shop the injury prone Okur, who is owed over 10 mil and is an expiring contract. So since Kanter will probably start and ply big minutes off the bat they will look to keep the big but very stiff Russian as a back up and move the expensive veteran. As for Przybilla, before his injury I would agree with you but dude is still not healthy, and couldn’t start over Kwame last season. Kwame is durable and that is a big factor as we already have Turiaf who we have to expect is gonna miss some games even in a 50 game season, so the last thing we need is a guy who is gonna come up lame every 3rd game with knee swelling and soreness to add to the guy we already have with that problem. The Knicks want a veteran big as insurance for when Turiaf goes down so that they are not left in a position of having to throw a rookie out there for major minutes. Now if they play better than expected, one of the rookies may even end up starting, but the Knicks don’t want to go into a season with that plan.
by Robert Curre on Sep 19, 2011 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions
Excellent post
In terms of Brown, it looks like he’s been a pretty decent rebounder per minute for his whole career. If you put him on the Knicks, with their big men of questionable rebounding prowess, he may experience a big bump up.
One thing I don’t like about him is that he’s a bad to mediocre foul shooter. But getting to the line doesn’t seem like a big part of his game. Based on looking at stats, he looks like a good fit, and Coach D’antoni has a way of figuring out how to best use guys. On the other hand, coach has no use for those with questionable b-ball IQ, and I think Kwame may be one of those guys. I don’t know if he has the smarts to play a Tyson Chandler role, but Chandler kind of blossomed late in that regard and maybe Kwame can too.
Get The Frickin' Rebound
Folks thanks, for the comments
No one and certainly not the Knicks are promoting Kwame Brown as a saviour. At best he will be another big body added to a group of big bodies they are collecting. The Knicks do not have the money to spend on one really good or even serviceable center, they are looking to bring a big body in on a veteran’s minimum or as close to it as they can get. D’Antoni’s plan to combat the problems at center and to keep Amar’e from having to play 40 minutes a night there, is to get enough big bodies and use them to hopefully get enough interior defense and rebounding on the floor.
Kwame would be another guy thrown into the mix with Turiaf, Harrellson, and Jordan. As long as Kwame does the things he has shown he can do he will help the team be better than last year. Kwame is a decent one on one defender when motivated, he can rebound some, and when given the right match up can score a little in the low post. He will not be an all star nor does he need to be, as long as he bangs with other big bodies, rebounds, and generally uses his fouls to protect Amar’e on the defensive end of the floor the Knicks will be satisfied. He will be part of a committee. D’Antoni has already said he is looking to play 3 guys at center a game, and that if they have 4 bigs that all 4 will probably end up playing significant minutes during the season.
the Knicks are going to be center by committee
Brown would just add to the list of JJ (if the Knicks bring him back), Safari, She-Will, Jorts, et al.
"Rooting for the Yankees is like rooting for Steve Jobs to win the lotto." - Chris Rock
The NBA - Where 2012 doesn't happen
Patrick Ewing - The NBA's all-time leader in rushing yards
i actually
really hope we bring back She-Will. Im still baffled why Dantoni stopped playing him the last few games, and subsequently not playing him a single minute against Boston. Everytime he got some burn he looked impressive to me… At least compared to the rest of our center rotation
by MetsKnicksRutgers on Sep 20, 2011 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions
I am pretty sure he got injured in one of the later games, maybe it was against Chicago or something.
Considering our “depth” chart (or should I say, our “lack of depth” chart), he definitely deserved some burn
Anxiously awaiting the day my username will be appropriate
She-Will is like 6'8"
we need some actual NBA center-sized human beings ASAP
that's a plus in my book
I found Carmen SanDiego! Guess Where? Go Ahead...That's Right..SanDiego.
www.indiscriminateswag.blogspot.com
by Lord Smackington on Sep 21, 2011 6:45 PM EDT up reply actions
To clarify
She’will’s got a 7’4" wingspan, but somehow only an 8’ 8" standing reach. So what he’s got is tremendously wide shoulders and dino-arms.
Get The Frickin' Rebound
nah, it's that huge cranium of his at it again
his shoulders are situated low proportional to his height to make room for it
fun fact: Because of his giraffe neck, even though he is over an inch taller and has a wing span that is two inches longer, Chris Bosh’s standing reach is less than half an inch higher than Amar’e’s.
Anxiously awaiting the day my username will be appropriate
Excellent point
How could I forget about the cranium? But he does also have wide shoulders. In any case, 8’8" is a low reach for a guy playing the 5.
Get The Frickin' Rebound
I said this is an earlier post
But we don’t need him to necessarily play the 5. If he took a minimum deal, he’d be great backup at the 4, because outside of Amar’e, Extra E is the only guy we have who plays there, and he’s a stretch 4.
Or we could even just keep him as insurance of sorts, say a few of our big men go down, he’s a guy that can shake the dust off and give you 15 minutes when you desperately need it. If anything, I think he’s more valuable than Jeffries
I actually think Jorts
is going to be our backup at the 4. His standing reach is only a half inch more than She-will’s.
Preferring to be irrationally optimistic, I see logjam at the 4 due to Jorts being pretty good. However, even my most irrationally optimistic self has a hard time believing that Jerome Jordan will be good enough to get in the rotation, or that Turiaf will stay on the floor.
Get The Frickin' Rebound
Ronny Turiaf
at only 6"9" with a 6’10.5" standing reach is not exactly enormous himself.
This goes back to what Currence said about why Kwame Brown, who is at least the size of a real NBA center and easily more fit to play than Jerome Jordan, is a somewhat attractive option.
But honestly at any given time we can get away with Amar’e + one other more or less big and burly person, be it Turiaf, Jorts, She-Will, Kwame Brown, Kurt Thomas or whoever as long as that person can defend the tougher frontcourt match-up, rebound like a beast and stay on the floor. It’s the Amar’e/Jeffries/Melo or Amar’e/Extra E/Melo lineups where we are going to just get brutalized inside because Amar’e simply cannot be our most intimidating frontcourt defender.
Jorts is 6'10 and 275lbs
That is enough size and certainly enough bulk to play center. Remember folks that on this team 4 and 5 are really figurative terms. Who ever plays “5” when Amare is on the floor will probably have to spend sometime guarding 4’s depending on the match ups. Remember the best way to improve the defense is to accept the fact that Amar’e is not a good on the ball defender, and because he is quick and can block shots is better suited as help defense. Therefore he should spend as little time guarding the number 1 front court offensive option as possible. So there will be games where if Jorts is on the floor with Amar’e he will have to guard the 4 and other games where he will guard the 5.
by Robert Curre on Sep 26, 2011 3:00 PM EDT up reply actions
Jeffries has more value that Shelden because he is a more versatile
defender. In a pinch you can throw Jeffries on the floor and have him guard any opposing player on it. That is an extremely high value, because you get depth at multiple positions and only have to use one roster spot. Shelly is a 4 who can sometimes play 5 and that is it. And on the Knicks roster Shelly’s value is at the 5, since the Knicks will have a few guys who can play 4. And as a 5 he is really an option of last resort. He may be brought back but probably if the Knicks strike out in their attempts to land slightly larger bodies. Remember we only have a 15 man roster, so we can only stack up so much as we actually already have 12 players assuming that Balkman is not bought out.
by Robert Curre on Sep 26, 2011 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions
Once upon a time Jeffries was that defender
Last year I don’t recall him really doing a good job on anyone. His length is nice on the perimeter, but he’s not really quick enough to continuously stop players from getting by him. Also, considering his height, length and mobility, he is not that great of a shot-blocker. To me, his highest value is his willingess to draw charges and his ability to creat second possessions by tapping balls out.
Shelden’s position is a little more difficult to fit in, but you said yourself that the “4” and the “5” are figurative terms. I’d rather have the guy who’s just as willing to sacrifice his body, is a better rebounder, a better big man defender, and has the ability to hit the baby jumper or finish a layup
And unfortunately that is not Shelden
You also unestimate the importance of team defense. There is documented evidence of the impact Jeffries has on defense not only on his man but virtually his ability to cover up mistakes for every other teammate on the floor. I don’t know how to attach the link. But if you go on YOutube and type jared Jeffries seven seconds or mess you will get an excellent video that highlights Jeffries value as a defender.
I understand however, you like Shelly more than Jared and that is your right. But I personally would rather have Jeffries if I am planning on playing team defense and get a bigger body that a 6’8 Shelly to play along side Amar’e
by Robert Curre on Sep 27, 2011 4:00 PM EDT up reply actions
He injured his ankle in the last game of the season and was not available in the playoffs
The problem with Shelden is that he is undersized and we are not trying to go with undersized if we can get full size at center.
by Robert Curre on Sep 21, 2011 9:19 AM EDT up reply actions
oh, Jerome Jordan, too
"Rooting for the Yankees is like rooting for Steve Jobs to win the lotto." - Chris Rock
The NBA - Where 2012 doesn't happen
Patrick Ewing - The NBA's all-time leader in rushing yards
all we really need is
someone 6’10" (or larger) that can stay in shape, not turn the ball over , is cheap and can foul (actual defense would be nice but I aint greedy)
I found Carmen SanDiego! Guess Where? Go Ahead...That's Right..SanDiego.
www.indiscriminateswag.blogspot.com
by Lord Smackington on Sep 21, 2011 6:48 PM EDT reply actions
kwame and turiaf at the center is high hustle high energy. i could live with that. granted it might mean less minutes for extra E but i could live with that.
Why would Extra E get less minutes?
He is a SF/PF player not a center, our lack of depth last year forced him to play there sometimes, but really he is a 3/4 so presumably with a couple of bigger bodies in the rotation, he will not be playing 5 so he will get his minutes backing up his more natural positions.
by Robert Curre on Sep 26, 2011 2:46 PM EDT up reply actions
i guess if MDA were to spread out melo and amare’s rest times then E would be able to fill in for both. either way i’m excited for the new team to mesh and kick some ass.
Personally if the goal is to get better and more consistent defense
I would play Extra E at the 3 and Jeffries at the 4 when Carmelo and Amar’e go to the bench. Shawne has the quickness to play SF’s and the size and strength to give them problems. He proved to be a willing defender last year, but he was often facing a disadvantage in his match ups. Playing him at 3 would put him in positions where he would have more favorable physical match ups and thus improve the quality of his defense. That would mean playing him over Walker, but if D’Antoni is serious about defense he has to consider that. Walker in addition to being a poor defender was often indifferent on the defensive end last year. He wasn’t just bad most of the time, far too many times he wasn’t even trying. And he is not a consistent enough a scorer to warrant being on the floor and the coach just living with what he gives up. He has a role, but more of an offensive specialist. When the team maybe needs a spark on offense you can put Walker in to see if he can get things going on that end.
Jeffries is 6’11 and his length makes him a more natural match up for power forwards than Shawne.
by Robert Curre on Sep 27, 2011 4:09 PM EDT up reply actions
Kwame "bitchass" Brown. That's what I used to call him back in Washington...
I don’t think we should go that route. If we do, then Hopefully he would use all his energy on defense and the boards. That would be great for somebody to take up space and at least make a layup now and then – yes offense JJ and Rony…
The refs are the reason we lost the Finals in 94...
by I Hate Olajuwon on Sep 29, 2011 10:59 PM EDT reply actions
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