Miles Davis
Prince of Darkness
For some reason 2k can't animate melo for shyt dude
Phil's Drunk Messin' With The Association Save Again: Knicks 2015-2016 Tryout / Off Season Thread
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No news is good news
Miles Davis
Prince of Darkness
Nope and the shyt is killing me, can't wait till the season start
Knicksman20
Superstar
How will Knicks acclimate Robin Lopez into their offense?
Entering this offseason, both LaMarcus Aldridge and Greg Monroe were seemingly big time targets for the Knicks. Though Aldridge had some positive talks with Carmelo Anthony, he soon after cancelled his free agent meeting with New York after learning they wanted him to play center.
And while Monroe would have been more comfortable playing the five in the triangle offense than Aldridge, he instead opted to sign with the Bucks.
The Knicks responded by signing Robin Lopez to a lucrative $54 million over the next four seasons. Though he arrives with the team needing a defensive anchor down low, that doesn’t mean he’ll be able to take it easy on the offensive end.
Over the last two seasons, the Knicks have struggled to figure out where their offensive production comes from beyond Carmelo. Though J.R. Smith boasts the ability to score in bunches and catch hot, he was also inconsistent. Like many others last season, Smith struggled to find his way in the triangle. Even so, when Anthony found himself sidelined with an injury and Smith was shipped out of town, scoring was difficult to come by.
With Anthony returning and Arron Afflalo ready to step up as his right-hand man, New York is already off to a good start. But Lopez’s presence will surely add some versatility to the group. Much like Tyson Chandler, another former Knick, Lopez is aggressive around the offensive glass and can create secondary scoring opportunities for his teammates via some tip-back rebounds. What’s more, he’s also component with his back to the basket, which means he can post up defenders for scoring opportunities of his own, or at the very least, draw them inside so that he can dish out the ball to teammates around the perimeter.
Because Lopez is in fact more known for his defense, it remains to be seen if he can improve even more on the other end of the floor. His potential ability to find success in the pick and roll will be imperative to opening things up.
That said, while his execution with the ball in his hands may need some work, Lopez is a savvy veteran with good instincts. He plays well off the ball, knowing full when to crash the boards, or when to lay back a bit and provide his power forward teammate with a bit of space around the basket in order to score. The likes of Anthony, Derrick Williams, and others are surely to play well off of him when slotted at the four.
It’d be nice to see Lopez step his game up offensively as the Knicks search for that necessary third option when the season begins. That said, even if he’s not as assertive regarding his own scoring opportunities, having a knowledgeable and experienced veteran manning the middle will go a long way for New York.
Entering this offseason, both LaMarcus Aldridge and Greg Monroe were seemingly big time targets for the Knicks. Though Aldridge had some positive talks with Carmelo Anthony, he soon after cancelled his free agent meeting with New York after learning they wanted him to play center.
And while Monroe would have been more comfortable playing the five in the triangle offense than Aldridge, he instead opted to sign with the Bucks.
The Knicks responded by signing Robin Lopez to a lucrative $54 million over the next four seasons. Though he arrives with the team needing a defensive anchor down low, that doesn’t mean he’ll be able to take it easy on the offensive end.
Over the last two seasons, the Knicks have struggled to figure out where their offensive production comes from beyond Carmelo. Though J.R. Smith boasts the ability to score in bunches and catch hot, he was also inconsistent. Like many others last season, Smith struggled to find his way in the triangle. Even so, when Anthony found himself sidelined with an injury and Smith was shipped out of town, scoring was difficult to come by.
With Anthony returning and Arron Afflalo ready to step up as his right-hand man, New York is already off to a good start. But Lopez’s presence will surely add some versatility to the group. Much like Tyson Chandler, another former Knick, Lopez is aggressive around the offensive glass and can create secondary scoring opportunities for his teammates via some tip-back rebounds. What’s more, he’s also component with his back to the basket, which means he can post up defenders for scoring opportunities of his own, or at the very least, draw them inside so that he can dish out the ball to teammates around the perimeter.
Because Lopez is in fact more known for his defense, it remains to be seen if he can improve even more on the other end of the floor. His potential ability to find success in the pick and roll will be imperative to opening things up.
That said, while his execution with the ball in his hands may need some work, Lopez is a savvy veteran with good instincts. He plays well off the ball, knowing full when to crash the boards, or when to lay back a bit and provide his power forward teammate with a bit of space around the basket in order to score. The likes of Anthony, Derrick Williams, and others are surely to play well off of him when slotted at the four.
It’d be nice to see Lopez step his game up offensively as the Knicks search for that necessary third option when the season begins. That said, even if he’s not as assertive regarding his own scoring opportunities, having a knowledgeable and experienced veteran manning the middle will go a long way for New York.
Knicksman20
Superstar
30 Teams, 30 Days: Knicks at crossroads
Who's gone: Quincy Acy, Cole Aldrich, Andrea Bargnani, Tim Hardaway, Jr., Shane Larkin, Jason Smith, Alexey Shved
Who's new: Arron Afflalo, Jerian Grant, Robin Lopez, Kyle O'Quinn, Kristaps Porzingis, Kevin Seraphin, Sasha Vujacic, Derrick Williams
The lowdown: Phil Jackson was hired to run the Knicks despite having no front office experience, which feeds the suspicion that owner Jim Dolan was star-struck. Dolan likes big names -- which is why he interfered and pushed the Carmelo Anthony trade through four years ago -- and he figured Jackson would fetch more.
Well, "Kristaps Porzingis" does have 17 letters.
The reality is the Knicks are in a conflicting state because they still lack another star, even a borderline one, to team up with 'Melo. Ordinarily, this wouldn't be cause for concern; lots of teams have this problem. But 'Melo is into his 30s and coming off surgery and could be a losing season away from wanting out. Therefore, in a way, the Knicks are in an urgent situation. As long as they keep 'Melo, they must try to win while he's in his prime.
Jackson did not have a bad summer; he refused to panic and splurge lavishly on so-so players when the "big names" (LaMarcus Aldridge, Marc Gasol) didn't give the Knicks much thought in free agency. Had he done that, the Knicks would've been ruined. Afflalo, Lopez and O'Quinn are hardly difference-makers and you could make the case that neither would be starters on playoff teams.
Afflalo? He carved a reputation as a tough defender in Denver and then was a surprisingly effective scorer (18.2 points) two seasons ago in Orlando and who was mentioned for the All-Star game. But last season in Portland he shot 41 percent and averaged 10 points and came up flat when the Blazers needed him after Wesley Matthews went down.
Lopez? He's not as polished as his twin brother, Brook, and often disappears but works hard and hustles on defense, which makes up for his lack of pure skills.
O'Quinn? He's the wild card in the bunch. Either he was a smart pickup by Jackson or an over-reach, because he still hasn't had a breakout season.
Essentially, Jackson kept the Knicks payroll in a manageable state, but did he add any big assets? Not really.
There will be two developments worth watching in 2015-16, then: Will 'Melo's bottom lip touch the court when he pouts, and can Porzingis give the Knicks a glimmer of hope?
About Porzingis: His Summer League was rather decent and as a 19-year-old he could have his moments this season. He isn't afraid to mix it up; he'll go for blocks and can shoot with range. But the kid is built like a licorice stick and rugged players will try to snap him over their knee. He could be an asset in time, but 'Melo doesn't have that luxury.
So you see, that's the riddle facing the Knicks. Afflalo, Porzingis and the rest aren't win-now players, more like win-later.
Next season, the Knicks should win at least enough to be mildly interesting if only because they play in the East. In a best-case situation, 'Melo is a top-five scorer again, Afflalo, Lopez and O'Quinn are reliable veterans and the supporting help keeps the Knicks from falling far. Such a scenario would play well in, say, Philadelphia. But New York? After the entire city has been through with its stagnant franchise?
Really, then, the issue lies with the Knicks' fan base and whether it can stay patient. That's asking a lot from customers who pay high prices and haven't witnessed a title contender since the late 1990s. Since then, the Knicks were turned over to a big-name in Isiah Thomas and suffered. Donnie Walsh then took control and moved mountains to give the Knicks salary-cap space, but Dolan stripped Walsh of authority.
Jackson entered the picture and has tried to use the triangle offense and big-city trappings to make the Knicks attractive. He'll have to search for a free-agent prize next summer although the A-listers such as Kevin Durant don't appear to have the Knicks on their radar. If that's the case, Jackson needs to build through trades and the Draft. Only problem: The Knicks don't own all of their future No. 1 picks and currently lack plentiful assets to trade. Jackson will need to be creative and also hope that Porzingis and fellow first-round pick Jerian Grant are the real deal. Was drafting Porzingis over Emmanuel Mudiay, for example, the right decision?
In their current state, the Knicks can't afford to make a big mistake and take a few steps backward. They don't have that luxury. If that happens, that creates a reasonable scenario where Anthony leaves. And then Phil Jackson follows him out the door.
Who's gone: Quincy Acy, Cole Aldrich, Andrea Bargnani, Tim Hardaway, Jr., Shane Larkin, Jason Smith, Alexey Shved
Who's new: Arron Afflalo, Jerian Grant, Robin Lopez, Kyle O'Quinn, Kristaps Porzingis, Kevin Seraphin, Sasha Vujacic, Derrick Williams
The lowdown: Phil Jackson was hired to run the Knicks despite having no front office experience, which feeds the suspicion that owner Jim Dolan was star-struck. Dolan likes big names -- which is why he interfered and pushed the Carmelo Anthony trade through four years ago -- and he figured Jackson would fetch more.
Well, "Kristaps Porzingis" does have 17 letters.
The reality is the Knicks are in a conflicting state because they still lack another star, even a borderline one, to team up with 'Melo. Ordinarily, this wouldn't be cause for concern; lots of teams have this problem. But 'Melo is into his 30s and coming off surgery and could be a losing season away from wanting out. Therefore, in a way, the Knicks are in an urgent situation. As long as they keep 'Melo, they must try to win while he's in his prime.
Jackson did not have a bad summer; he refused to panic and splurge lavishly on so-so players when the "big names" (LaMarcus Aldridge, Marc Gasol) didn't give the Knicks much thought in free agency. Had he done that, the Knicks would've been ruined. Afflalo, Lopez and O'Quinn are hardly difference-makers and you could make the case that neither would be starters on playoff teams.
Afflalo? He carved a reputation as a tough defender in Denver and then was a surprisingly effective scorer (18.2 points) two seasons ago in Orlando and who was mentioned for the All-Star game. But last season in Portland he shot 41 percent and averaged 10 points and came up flat when the Blazers needed him after Wesley Matthews went down.
Lopez? He's not as polished as his twin brother, Brook, and often disappears but works hard and hustles on defense, which makes up for his lack of pure skills.
O'Quinn? He's the wild card in the bunch. Either he was a smart pickup by Jackson or an over-reach, because he still hasn't had a breakout season.
Essentially, Jackson kept the Knicks payroll in a manageable state, but did he add any big assets? Not really.
There will be two developments worth watching in 2015-16, then: Will 'Melo's bottom lip touch the court when he pouts, and can Porzingis give the Knicks a glimmer of hope?
About Porzingis: His Summer League was rather decent and as a 19-year-old he could have his moments this season. He isn't afraid to mix it up; he'll go for blocks and can shoot with range. But the kid is built like a licorice stick and rugged players will try to snap him over their knee. He could be an asset in time, but 'Melo doesn't have that luxury.
So you see, that's the riddle facing the Knicks. Afflalo, Porzingis and the rest aren't win-now players, more like win-later.
Next season, the Knicks should win at least enough to be mildly interesting if only because they play in the East. In a best-case situation, 'Melo is a top-five scorer again, Afflalo, Lopez and O'Quinn are reliable veterans and the supporting help keeps the Knicks from falling far. Such a scenario would play well in, say, Philadelphia. But New York? After the entire city has been through with its stagnant franchise?
Really, then, the issue lies with the Knicks' fan base and whether it can stay patient. That's asking a lot from customers who pay high prices and haven't witnessed a title contender since the late 1990s. Since then, the Knicks were turned over to a big-name in Isiah Thomas and suffered. Donnie Walsh then took control and moved mountains to give the Knicks salary-cap space, but Dolan stripped Walsh of authority.
Jackson entered the picture and has tried to use the triangle offense and big-city trappings to make the Knicks attractive. He'll have to search for a free-agent prize next summer although the A-listers such as Kevin Durant don't appear to have the Knicks on their radar. If that's the case, Jackson needs to build through trades and the Draft. Only problem: The Knicks don't own all of their future No. 1 picks and currently lack plentiful assets to trade. Jackson will need to be creative and also hope that Porzingis and fellow first-round pick Jerian Grant are the real deal. Was drafting Porzingis over Emmanuel Mudiay, for example, the right decision?
In their current state, the Knicks can't afford to make a big mistake and take a few steps backward. They don't have that luxury. If that happens, that creates a reasonable scenario where Anthony leaves. And then Phil Jackson follows him out the door.
Knicksman20
Superstar
Best New York Knicks camp battle: Langston Galloway vs. Jerian Grant - New York Knicks Blog - ESPN
With training camp set to begin near the end of this month, let's take a look at what might be the [URL='http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/ny/new-york-knicks']New York Knicks' best training camp battle to come: Langston Galloway versus Jerian Grant.
Phil Jackson even predicted as much in his long chat with friend Charley Rosen.
"I anticipate his competing with Langston Galloway for playing time," Jackson said.
Jose Calderon is expected to be the starting point guard, provided he can stay healthy. Galloway and Grant will be vying for minutes as the backup and both could also see minutes at shooting guard since the triangle offense utilizes combo guards.
Galloway is more of a point guard out of the two but his edge is that he has a year in the system under his belt. Galloway is a fighter who had to work hard to get to where he is. Taking advantage of the playing time once the roster was stripped down, Galloway played in 45 games last season, averaging 11.8 points, 3.3 assists and 4.2 rebounds in 32.4 minutes a game.
He scored 20 or more points on five different occasions, displaying an ability to get to the rim and score.
But Galloway won't play as many minutes this season with the Knicks' additions in the offseason. And the Knicks will want to see what they got in Grant, one of their two first-round picks.
The Notre Dame point guard has explosive leaping ability and can shoot although he can be a streaky shooter.
"He knows the game and has a certain flair for it," Jackson said. "He's quick, has 3-point range, knows how to pass, can break a defense down with his handle, knows how to get through screens and is comfortable getting people involved on offense."
The Knicks and Jackson also love Grant's pedigree and mentality. Grant is the son of former Bullet Harvey Grant and nephew of former Bull Horace Grant. So he grew up around pro basketball. And he comes to the Knicks as NBA-ready as any player in the draft since he came out as a senior.
While Galloway may have the initial edge in experience in the triangle and in the NBA, Grant has the advantage in height at 6-foot-5 to Galloway's 6-2 stature.
Grant is a more dynamic and offensively explosive player and could see minutes at shooting guard if needed. But even if Uncle Horace won titles in the triangle and can provide invaluable knowledge, Grant will need time to digest the offense and it could take a while. That benefits Galloway.
During summer league in Vegas, Derek Fisher played Galloway an average of 31.3 minutes a game while Grant logged 27.4 minutes per game. Grant, though, played in five games while Galloway appeared in four.
Grant averaged 11.8 points, 4.8 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 1.6 steals. He also shot 39.1 percent overall and made 50 percent of his 3-point attempts.
Galloway did not shoot as well, making 32.3 percent of his shots and just 25 percent from behind the arc. But he rebounded better with an average of 5.5 boards to go with 9.8 points, 1.5 assists and 1.0 steals a game.
We'll have to see what both can do defensively. If Grant can stay in front of point guards and shooting guards, that would be big. The Knicks clearly are looking to take a major leap forward defensively this season.
Their numbers were close in summer league. And things might be pretty close between them in camp in what should be the best camp battle for the Knicks and Fisher this fall.
In the end, the Knicks will want to see what they have in Grant. They simply have more invested in Grant, and Jackson will want to see what he has in the future of his franchise and make sure that his prospects are developed correctly and properly.
But Galloway showed some moxie last season and got a taste of what he can do with opportunity. He won't back down from this challenge and neither will Grant.
It should be an interesting Knicks camp.[/URL]
With training camp set to begin near the end of this month, let's take a look at what might be the [URL='http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/ny/new-york-knicks']New York Knicks' best training camp battle to come: Langston Galloway versus Jerian Grant.
Phil Jackson even predicted as much in his long chat with friend Charley Rosen.
"I anticipate his competing with Langston Galloway for playing time," Jackson said.
Jose Calderon is expected to be the starting point guard, provided he can stay healthy. Galloway and Grant will be vying for minutes as the backup and both could also see minutes at shooting guard since the triangle offense utilizes combo guards.
Galloway is more of a point guard out of the two but his edge is that he has a year in the system under his belt. Galloway is a fighter who had to work hard to get to where he is. Taking advantage of the playing time once the roster was stripped down, Galloway played in 45 games last season, averaging 11.8 points, 3.3 assists and 4.2 rebounds in 32.4 minutes a game.
He scored 20 or more points on five different occasions, displaying an ability to get to the rim and score.
But Galloway won't play as many minutes this season with the Knicks' additions in the offseason. And the Knicks will want to see what they got in Grant, one of their two first-round picks.
The Notre Dame point guard has explosive leaping ability and can shoot although he can be a streaky shooter.
"He knows the game and has a certain flair for it," Jackson said. "He's quick, has 3-point range, knows how to pass, can break a defense down with his handle, knows how to get through screens and is comfortable getting people involved on offense."
The Knicks and Jackson also love Grant's pedigree and mentality. Grant is the son of former Bullet Harvey Grant and nephew of former Bull Horace Grant. So he grew up around pro basketball. And he comes to the Knicks as NBA-ready as any player in the draft since he came out as a senior.
While Galloway may have the initial edge in experience in the triangle and in the NBA, Grant has the advantage in height at 6-foot-5 to Galloway's 6-2 stature.
Grant is a more dynamic and offensively explosive player and could see minutes at shooting guard if needed. But even if Uncle Horace won titles in the triangle and can provide invaluable knowledge, Grant will need time to digest the offense and it could take a while. That benefits Galloway.
During summer league in Vegas, Derek Fisher played Galloway an average of 31.3 minutes a game while Grant logged 27.4 minutes per game. Grant, though, played in five games while Galloway appeared in four.
Grant averaged 11.8 points, 4.8 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 1.6 steals. He also shot 39.1 percent overall and made 50 percent of his 3-point attempts.
Galloway did not shoot as well, making 32.3 percent of his shots and just 25 percent from behind the arc. But he rebounded better with an average of 5.5 boards to go with 9.8 points, 1.5 assists and 1.0 steals a game.
We'll have to see what both can do defensively. If Grant can stay in front of point guards and shooting guards, that would be big. The Knicks clearly are looking to take a major leap forward defensively this season.
Their numbers were close in summer league. And things might be pretty close between them in camp in what should be the best camp battle for the Knicks and Fisher this fall.
In the end, the Knicks will want to see what they have in Grant. They simply have more invested in Grant, and Jackson will want to see what he has in the future of his franchise and make sure that his prospects are developed correctly and properly.
But Galloway showed some moxie last season and got a taste of what he can do with opportunity. He won't back down from this challenge and neither will Grant.
It should be an interesting Knicks camp.[/URL]
No news is good news
Or we can @ and summon
Yogurt
Sausage
Buddy
If it's getting too quiet in here...
:earljr:
USSInsiders
Banned
Think he'll come n/h back home with a great tan. It would be a dream to puff on a couple of pre-embargo Bolivars with donkmelo tanning in the sun 
pause, don't even mean it in a gay way, i think caramelo would be a cool guy to chill with
Wargames
One Of The Last Real Ones To Do It
Somebody should probably make a new Pre Season thread and then Grandfather that shyt into the regular season thread.
We need to vote on a thread title.
Knicksman20
Superstar
Will Derrick Williams start or come off the bench for Knicks?
The Knicks failed (or opted not, depending on which way one looks at it) to reel in any marquee names this summer. Among the players they did acquire however, Robin Lopez is heralded as a potential defensive anchor. Arron Afflalo is expected to be Carmelo Anthony‘s right-hand man on offense, and the likes of Kyle O’Quinn and Kevin Seraphin are bargain big men potentially primed for breakouts seasons.
Another addition, Derrick Williams is arguably the one free agent signee that went under the radar. Initial reaction was that the Knicks overpaid for the 2011 NBA Draft bust with a $10 million, two-year deal. While Williams hasn’t lived up to the usual reputation of a former No. 2 overall pick, he’s still developed into a reliable role player in The Association. What’s more, the pact is a very small/reasonable one, which means his salary won’t burden his new team financially, even with Williams holding a player option for the 2016-17 season.
Regardless, the still youthful 24-year-old stands to play a big role and make an impact for New York. Able to confidently score in bunches, some believe the Knicks will use Williams as a small forward off the bench to come in and provide relief on the offensive end when Anthony and others are sitting.
That said, Williams starting more than just a handful of games shouldn’t be considered out of the realm of possibility, either.
Unless the Knicks decide to slot Anthony at the four, the power forward position appears to be the most open in the starting five. 2015 No. 4 overall draft pick Kristaps Porzingis isn’t expected to make a meaningful impact right away, let alone start. When the season begins, perhaps O’Quinn will start alongside Anthony and Lopez in the front court.
Williams has struggled on the defensive end in recent years, which is exactly where O’Quinn tends to shine. But the Knicks are also hoping to get more offensively out of him as well, whereas the same expectation for Williams on defense might not necessarily be there. The two appear to complement each other nicely, but the Knicks will assumedly be in need of more offense while searching for secondary scorers behind Anthony. Should O’Quinn not be able to perform, Williams will be receiving more minutes.
The former Kings forward is not necessarily a one-dimensional player, despite his defensive struggles. He rebounds the ball well, knows how to box out and fight opposing players under the glass.
Because of his ability to play the three and four, Williams will receive starts based on different matchups. Given the way the Knicks have struggled to find reliable scorers, there’s certainly potential for Williams to average double-figures, which is something he hasn’t done since the 2012-13 season. Still, that same potential to do so may be just enough to keep him on the floor longer than his front-court counterparts.
The Knicks failed (or opted not, depending on which way one looks at it) to reel in any marquee names this summer. Among the players they did acquire however, Robin Lopez is heralded as a potential defensive anchor. Arron Afflalo is expected to be Carmelo Anthony‘s right-hand man on offense, and the likes of Kyle O’Quinn and Kevin Seraphin are bargain big men potentially primed for breakouts seasons.
Another addition, Derrick Williams is arguably the one free agent signee that went under the radar. Initial reaction was that the Knicks overpaid for the 2011 NBA Draft bust with a $10 million, two-year deal. While Williams hasn’t lived up to the usual reputation of a former No. 2 overall pick, he’s still developed into a reliable role player in The Association. What’s more, the pact is a very small/reasonable one, which means his salary won’t burden his new team financially, even with Williams holding a player option for the 2016-17 season.
Regardless, the still youthful 24-year-old stands to play a big role and make an impact for New York. Able to confidently score in bunches, some believe the Knicks will use Williams as a small forward off the bench to come in and provide relief on the offensive end when Anthony and others are sitting.
That said, Williams starting more than just a handful of games shouldn’t be considered out of the realm of possibility, either.
Unless the Knicks decide to slot Anthony at the four, the power forward position appears to be the most open in the starting five. 2015 No. 4 overall draft pick Kristaps Porzingis isn’t expected to make a meaningful impact right away, let alone start. When the season begins, perhaps O’Quinn will start alongside Anthony and Lopez in the front court.
Williams has struggled on the defensive end in recent years, which is exactly where O’Quinn tends to shine. But the Knicks are also hoping to get more offensively out of him as well, whereas the same expectation for Williams on defense might not necessarily be there. The two appear to complement each other nicely, but the Knicks will assumedly be in need of more offense while searching for secondary scorers behind Anthony. Should O’Quinn not be able to perform, Williams will be receiving more minutes.
The former Kings forward is not necessarily a one-dimensional player, despite his defensive struggles. He rebounds the ball well, knows how to box out and fight opposing players under the glass.
Because of his ability to play the three and four, Williams will receive starts based on different matchups. Given the way the Knicks have struggled to find reliable scorers, there’s certainly potential for Williams to average double-figures, which is something he hasn’t done since the 2012-13 season. Still, that same potential to do so may be just enough to keep him on the floor longer than his front-court counterparts.
