<div class="quote_poster">Quoting MrJ:</div><div class="quote_post">All of the players you named with the exception of Robinson can play at least two positions. Marbury, Francis, Crawford, and Collins can play point guard and shooting guard. Richardson can play the 2-3 while Rose can play 1-3. So our guards are versatile giving us more options.</div>Just cause they're versatile doesn't mean they don't have a mess of players in the backcourt. They still have a ton of guards on this team, so it's going to be difficult to find minutes at times, no matter how versatile some may be. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I would rather have Marcus Williams, but Balkman's defense and energy will have an impact next season. Besides, if they took Williams, then you would probably criticize them for having too many guards </div>No way would I have criticized this. When I saw him drop to them, I expected him to be picked actually. I think he'd have been good there and could have easily come in and started, that way you could move Marbury to the 2. And while you still think Balkman's energy and defense will have a huge impact, which I think it could, it still doesn't take away the fact that they could have gotten him at the end of the first round instead of Mardy Collins, if not then, then they could have easily gotten him in the 2nd round, and hell, there's a possibilty he could have dropped completely out of the draft board and be picked up as an unsigned rookie free agent. No matter what way you look at it and no matter how much you think his energy will be good for the team, he was still taken about 20 picks or so too high, and when the best point guard in the draft has fallen into your laps, you take that gift. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Their contracts don't have anything to do with how successful they will be next season.</div>But they do have everything to do with how easily they're moved. If they want to move some of those players, in specific, QRich, they're going to have a tough time finding a suitor. No one wants that bloated of a contract unless it's coming off the books that year. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">No depth in the front court? We have an improving David Lee and Channing Frye and Jared Jeffries and Eddy Curry. Those are 4 players who can play at least 20 minutes a game. That's not to mention Mo' Taylor, Malik Rose, and Jerome James. Those three are my least favorite Knicks, but they are valuable at times. The only "me-first" type of players on the Knicks are really Francis, Taylor, and maybe Nate Robinson, but other than that, no one else. People claim Marbury is selfish, but that has gotten old and he's been totally unselfis playing for the Knicks.</div>My bad on the frontcourt thing. You got a lot more depth than what I thought, however, most of them I really don't like. To be specific, Taylor, Rose, and James. I think all three of them have lost their usefulness in this league and they're all very overpaid as well. Personally, I only think Lee, Frye, Jeffries, and Curry are going to be seeing a significant amount of minutes this year anyways, unless one of those guys gets hurt.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Moo2K4:</div><div class="quote_post">Just cause they're versatile doesn't mean they don't have a mess of players in the backcourt. They still have a ton of guards on this team, so it's going to be difficult to find minutes at times, no matter how versatile some may be.</div> Their backcourt isn't as crowded as everyone thinks because just about all the guards are versatile enough to play at least two positions. The only players who I think will get inconsistent minutes are Collins and Robinson. Everyone else should be okay. Besides, only the best players will play and knowing this, everyone should want to play their hardest. Despite the "egos", everyone is very competitive, so the fact that everyone is figting for minutes could actually be a good thing. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">No way would I have criticized this. When I saw him drop to them, I expected him to be picked actually. I think he'd have been good there and could have easily come in and started, that way you could move Marbury to the 2. And while you still think Balkman's energy and defense will have a huge impact, which I think it could, it still doesn't take away the fact that they could have gotten him at the end of the first round instead of Mardy Collins, if not then, then they could have easily gotten him in the 2nd round, and hell, there's a possibilty he could have dropped completely out of the draft board and be picked up as an unsigned rookie free agent. No matter what way you look at it and no matter how much you think his energy will be good for the team, he was still taken about 20 picks or so too high, and when the best point guard in the draft has fallen into your laps, you take that gift.</div> But whether the Knicks messed up in the draft doesn't really matter. The fact still remains if Marcus Williams was a Knick, he would NOT log that many minutes. At least as many minutes a team that really needed him would. Balkman, similarly to Jerome Williams, has the energy, hustle, and defense which we NEED. Now, while I still would have taken Williams because of his potential down the road, Balkman, this season, will be more valuable to the Knicks than Williams would have been. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">But they do have everything to do with how easily they're moved. If they want to move some of those players, in specific, QRich, they're going to have a tough time finding a suitor. No one wants that bloated of a contract unless it's coming off the books that year.</div> True, but Q-Rich's immovability won't affect how many games the Knicks will win this season. It will affect the Knicks salary cap and their ability to sign free agents, but not how many games the Knicks will win <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">My bad on the frontcourt thing. You got a lot more depth than what I thought, however, most of them I really don't like. To be specific, Taylor, Rose, and James. I think all three of them have lost their usefulness in this league and they're all very overpaid as well. Personally, I only think Lee, Frye, Jeffries, and Curry are going to be seeing a significant amount of minutes this year anyways, unless one of those guys gets hurt.</div> Well, I don't like thise three either. With the exception of maybe James (for more size), I see them on the reserved list. Lee, Frye, Jeffries, and Curry is a very versatile frontcourt. Both Lee and Jeffries can handle the rock and pass well, Frye can shoot pretty much anywhere from 20 feet in and should be better bulking up to 260, and Curry, when in shape, should be better in the inside. I'm not saying we will be great or anything, however, our frontcourt looks to be solid.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting MrJ:</div><div class="quote_post">Their backcourt isn't as crowded as everyone thinks because just about all the guards are versatile enough to play at least two positions. The only players who I think will get inconsistent minutes are Collins and Robinson. Everyone else should be okay. Besides, only the best players will play and knowing this, everyone should want to play their hardest. Despite the "egos", everyone is very competitive, so the fact that everyone is figting for minutes could actually be a good thing.</div>Could be a bad thing too, though. If someone with a big ego starts to get his minutes docked, it could have a negative effect on his attitude. If someone starts having issues that affect the mood in the locker room, that's never good. You never want a disgruntled player on a team. It doesn't do anything for chemistry or team morale except bring it town. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">But whether the Knicks messed up in the draft doesn't really matter. The fact still remains if Marcus Williams was a Knick, he would NOT log that many minutes. At least as many minutes a team that really needed him would. Balkman, similarly to Jerome Williams, has the energy, hustle, and defense which we NEED. Now, while I still would have taken Williams because of his potential down the road, Balkman, this season, will be more valuable to the Knicks than Williams would have been.</div>What makes you think he wouldn't have been a factor? He's an NBA ready point guard that could have came in and produced immediately. Hell, he could have impressed so much that he could have gotten a starter job, moving Marbury over to the 2 and putting Francis on the bench, or maybe even trading him or one of their other guards. It's always possible. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">True, but Q-Rich's immovability won't affect how many games the Knicks will win this season. It will affect the Knicks salary cap and their ability to sign free agents, but not how many games the Knicks will win</div>You think that now until he starts complaining about playing time or until he becomes completely ineffective and you want to move him for someone that can come in and produce. That's when his contract will become a pain in the ass.
