<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Renaldo Balkman's NBA career started in much the same way as his collegiate career began -- with an all-or-nothing standout performance in front of the right people in Orlando, Fla. In summer 2002, Balkman was playing with the Tallahassee Wildcats in the Amateur Athletic Union national championships. South Carolina coach Dave Odom watched in the stands. "I saw this guy out there, and I saw him jump, and I saw him dunk, and I saw him run, so I punched (assistant coach) Barry (Sanderson) and I said 'Who's that?"' Odom recalled Wednesday at a joint news conference with Balkman, who was drafted by the New York Knicks with the 20th pick in June. "I said 'That's who we need, that guy right there. Find out who he is,"' Odom recalled. This spring, Balkman led the Gamecocks to a second-straight NIT championship, and then did what many thought unimaginable for the streaky, unorthodox forward. He declared himself eligible for the draft, ended his college career by hiring an agent, and wound up a first-round draft pick of the New York Knicks, a team the Staten Island, N.Y., native had dreamed of playing for since he was 8. Much like his performance three years earlier, Balkman had entered this year's pre-draft camp in Orlando a relatively unknown commodity. But Balkman, playing in the same arena where Odom noticed him, caught the eye of Knicks coach Isiah Thomas, who sought out the South Carolina coach for a nearly hour-long conversation about Balkman. Odom says he knew then Thomas was serious about drafting Balkman, though he never imagined the team would use its first draft pick on him. "In a sense his Carolina career began in that building, when I saw him," Odom said. "His Carolina career ended in that building, when he played so very well, in front of the NBA scouts. Had he not played well in that, I'm sure he would not have been drafted." After hearing reviews of his performance in Orlando, Balkman fully committed to his professional dreams by hiring an agent, a move that made him ineligible to return for his senior season with the Gamecocks. But Balkman says he didn't know the Knicks were interested in him. "They didn't show no interest," he said Wednesday. "It was like, all right, see you later. "It was shocking when they called my name... When Number 20 came, I was eating a plate of food, and I dropped it all on the floor." The Knicks will pay Balkman more than $2 million over two years. But the 6-8 forward still has plenty to prove to New York fans who booed his selection during the draft at Madison Square Garden as well as the local media, who have called Thomas' move "bizarre." "Yeah, they killed me. I was so tired after I talked to the media in New York," Balkman said. "It's a lot of doubters up there saying I'm not gonna be this and I'm not gonna be that, but when I step on the court, they're gonna second-guess themselves." Balkman said he has received no assurances from the Knicks about what his role will be with the team, and Thomas has simply told him to work hard. Balkman averaged only about 10 points a game in his junior year with South Carolina, and New York coaches have said he needs to work on his jump shot and taking shots off the dribble. But for the time being, Balkman talks as though he is still on a draft-night high. "I woke up the next day and I just sat there, and I felt like, man, I just won the lottery," he reflected. "I got picked in the NBA. Number 20. Wow." </div> link: http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AnPh...ov=ap&type=lgns
Do you really have to remind us that the Knicks used their first rounder on a second round talent? Do you enjoy poking fun at us Brian? Isiah Thomas is an idiot, we get it. There's no need to constantly torture us with every idiotic move he makes. Anyway I think Isiah Thomas should be fired.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Tribute to H2O:</div><div class="quote_post">Do you really have to remind us that the Knicks used their first rounder on a second round talent? Do you enjoy poking fun at us Brian? Isiah Thomas is an idiot, we get it. There's no need to constantly torture us with every idiotic move he makes.</div> Well, it is a positive article
When it comes to Isiah's boneheaded-ness at coaching or gm-ing, it's probably a good idea not to post any articles about Renaldo what's-his-name. It's like reminding cubs fans of this guy three years ago.
I was so pissed on draft night man. Even if Isiah chose someone bad who I heard of at #20, it wouldn't have been so bad. But I never even heard of the guy. But we'll see what Blackman brings to the table. Not even David Stern heard of the guy before.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting MrJ:</div><div class="quote_post">I was so pissed on draft night man. Even if Isiah chose someone bad who I heard of at #20, it wouldn't have been so bad. But I never even heard of the guy. But we'll see what Blackman brings to the table. Not even David Stern heard of the guy before. </div> I guess you didn't get to watch the NIT in which Balkman dominated...look, I'm a celtics fan, and I laughed for about 10 minutes straight when they picked him, because rondo and m.williams were still on the board, and a legit point guard was what you needed since you don't have any good ones (marbury needs to go, he's a cancer to your team). HOWEVER, if you had taken balkman in the second round i would have been like, "man they're getting the exact kind of player they need", he's a guy who hustles, works his ass off, dives for loose balls, plays good defense, everything that nobody on your team is willing to do because they are all <strike>bitches</strike>...so stop complaining, you'll be pleasantly surprised by this kid, and you can't change the past, so just deal with it. Watch the language - J
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting bengcord3:</div><div class="quote_post">I guess you didn't get to watch the NIT in which Balkman dominated...look, I'm a celtics fan, and I laughed for about 10 minutes straight when they picked him, because rondo and m.williams were still on the board, and a legit point guard was what you needed since you don't have any good ones (marbury needs to go, he's a cancer to your team). HOWEVER, if you had taken balkman in the second round i would have been like, "man they're getting the exact kind of player they need", he's a guy who hustles, works his ass off, dives for loose balls, plays good defense, everything that nobody on your team is willing to do because they are all bitches...so stop complaining, you'll be pleasantly surprised by this kid, and you can't change the past, so just deal with it.</div> Love what you're doing here, but keep the language down. I know it's an isolated incident, but just keep it that way.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting bengcord3:</div><div class="quote_post">I guess you didn't get to watch the NIT in which Balkman dominated...look, I'm a celtics fan, and I laughed for about 10 minutes straight when they picked him, because rondo and m.williams were still on the board, and a legit point guard was what you needed since you don't have any good ones (marbury needs to go, he's a cancer to your team). HOWEVER, if you had taken balkman in the second round i would have been like, "man they're getting the exact kind of player they need", he's a guy who hustles, works his ass off, dives for loose balls, plays good defense, everything that nobody on your team is willing to do because they are all bitches...so stop complaining, you'll be pleasantly surprised by this kid, and you can't change the past, so just deal with it.</div> Okay, you called Marbury a cancer and say he needs to go. If this is the case, then it would have been incredibly foolish for us to pass on someone like Marcus Williams, a player slated to go in the lottery by many. You also said you were laughing for 10 minutes and what not after the Knicks chose Balkman. So why the hell are you supporting this second rounder (even by your own admission). I don?t care, even if Balkman turns out to be a stud, we could have had him AND Marcus Williams on the team. Pleasantly surprised? Please. Let?s be real here. I liked what I saw from Balkman in the summer league in terms of hustle and defense, but he has no offensive game and shows little potential for one. We basically passed up on a point guard with all-star potential to draft a player deemed as a second rounder by most. Does that even make sense to you? Of course we can?t change the past and if I?m still a Knick fan obviously I am dealing with it. But that doesn?t mean we can?t discuss a stupid move that happened less than a month ago. And by the way, don?t come up to this forum and talk all recklessly!
I watched Balkman play this past season. He's got a great game!! Will it have an impact this season? Who knows. Isiah is a bunhole. He's could play though, coach, nope, manage, nope. Maybe he should go fishing or flirt with some strippers.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting custodianrules2:</div><div class="quote_post">When it comes to Isiah's boneheaded-ness at coaching or gm-ing, it's probably a good idea not to post any articles about Renaldo what's-his-name. It's like reminding cubs fans of this guy three years ago.
MrJ you should all the optimism in the world for this kid. Sure you got shafted because of Isiah but still. Better to look forward than back, y'know?
I'm a big fan of Renaldo Balkman. I first saw him play in the Great Alaska Shootout against Marquette and I was very impressed w/ his versatility. He is extremely active, he is a great interior passer, he has above average handle that helps him lead the break, he finishes well around the basket, and he grabs meaningful rebounds. His jump shot is extremely suspect but the intangibles and his high basketball IQ allow for him to be effective despite the fact that his offensive game isn't refined. I was disappointed when he put his name in the draft b/c I was telling other people that he would have been one of the best players in the country next season. A true diamond in the rough I believed he would be. I was absolutely shocked that the Knicks picked him w/ the 20th pick but I guarantee that he will have a better pro career than some players that were picked before him (ie. Quincy Douby, Patrick O'Bryant). Renaldo Balkman in my opinion has a chance to be a better version of Jerome "Junk Yard Dog" Williams. He is a guy that you can't help but notice on the court b/c he is active as he is. The only way I look at him as being a serious bust is if he doesn't play w/ consistent desire. The knock on him in college was that he'd play well on national TV games but disappear in games that didn't garner a ton of attention. Again I don't think that he should have been selected at pick #20 and I know that Isiah went on record to say that he selected him there b/c Phoenix wanted him at pick #21 but I do not think that NY fans really know Balkman's strengths. He is no Ron Artest nor is he Dennis Rodman but what he can do is pick up the level of his teammates play w/ his intensity and his zest for the game. In short I'm pulling hard for the kid b/c I think that he has unwarrantly taken a ton of criticism when all he wants to do is be a contributor to an NBA team. He'll have his chance soon enough.
Trust me, I think everyone knows how much of a Knick fan I am and obviously I do want Balkman to succeed. However, I still have a hard time defending Isiah on this one. Better prospects like Marcus Williams, Shannon Brown, Maurice Ager, and a few others were available at #20 and if Isiah really wanted Balkman, he could have chose him at #29. Or make a trade for a second rounder or possibly sign him as an undrafted free agent. Iron Shiek, I also do see some Jerome Williams comparisons and as much as I love JYD, I would much rather have a pure point guard with all-star potential over Jerome Williams. But we'll just have to wait and see. Believe me, I hope I am wrong and Balkman turns out to be a great pick at #20 and a steal like some of you are suggesting. We'll just have to wait and see.
I think Balkman will do fine. He does address a few Knick needs--energy, rebounding, defense and hustle. It's not like this was some lottery pick. It was in the high 20s. He'll be someone NY can depend upon night in and night out. They don't have too many players like that, if any.
