Down two-and-a-half games with 8 to go is not yet time to wave the white kerchief, but if you're desperate enough to want to believe in something as this Knicks season winds down, believe that the primo burn rookies such as Renaldo Balkman and Mardy Collins are getting lately is great for their development.
Balkman is giving you exactly what you love to have off the bench -- an energy guy who is not afraid to throw his maple tree body into the forest of oaks and grab rebounds and finish breaks -- and Collins is starting to show some confidence in his offense, especially with his ability to get into the paint and score. Both guys, we've already known, can defend.
But what about Randolph Morris? We know very little about him or his potential other than what we've seen while watching him work after practice with Mark Aguirre, whom I have quickly learned is an outstanding teacher of the low-post game.
Morris has a nice touch and has strength to bang. But he's probably not much more than 6-foot-9, which means power forward at best. Another one. Let's see, Morris, David Lee and Channing Frye. Which one won't be here in the fall?
After two years of watching Lee and Frye, we can list their strengths and weaknesses. Lee hasn't proven he can hit the 15-to-20 footer, but that's something he can develop with off-season work. His rebounding ability and his less-heralded but equally important ability to pass the ball and keep an offense in-flow are things you can't teach or develop over a summer. And that's what Frye is lacking, not to mention instincts as a help-defender. But Frye has a killer J. He makes the net splash. At his height, he is difficult to guard on the perimeter and I'd like to see the Knicks develop a way to utilize him on the weak side, especially if Eddy Curry is double-teamed by two bigs. A quick pass out to Frye on the weak-side perimeter would destroy that type of defense.
That doesn't help, however, if down at the other end neither he nor Eddy can do anything with penetrating guards. Two guys that are 6-11 and neither can block shots. Makes a coach not want to play them together.
And that brings us to Morris. We've seen his low-post moves. Good footwork. Nice soft touch. Strong on the post. He can hit the 15-to-20 footer. But can he rebound and defend? Can he read a play and slide over to help and maybe change a shot? Can he make up for Curry's slow instincts?
We don't know. And we probably won't know until the summer, because Isiah Thomas doesn't seem to want to play the kid right now as the Knicks playoff hopes are on life support. We asked Isiah how Morris is progressing today.
"He's gonna be great in the summer league," he replied.
I still think he could be a trading chip. Let's start the rumor mill now. If Jermaine O'Neal does wish to leave Indiana after this season, what better fit for him is there than here with the Knicks?
Here's your starting lineup: Marbury-Crawford-Richardson-O'Neal-Curry. Off the bench: Lee, Balkman, Collins.
Thoughts?
Comments (3)
so i am gathering that Frye, Nate, Morris and/or a pick are going to INdi for Oneil? I can see them taking that. Its gives them a good BIG in Frye with room to develop...Scoring off the bench (nate) and a could've been lottery pick in Morris. It would still be nice to have any insurance policy, no pun intended, for Richardson when he goes down again. None of the bench guys mentioned can match his 3 pt accuracy. But i guess you can't have everything. I don't know what would happen between Curry and Oneil...who would be declared as the go-to guy? Whos team would it be? remember, Oneal already belittled Curry's stats once this season..hard feelings? Maybe. Oneal is used to being the MAN in Indi and would have to dethrone Curry...which he probably would do. But then you have to contend with Curry's crying. Or perhaps his mellow personality will make him simply slide over and let Oneal take over. Either way, it'd be a situation to watch. Also, I question Oneal's leadership abilities..even with better teams in INdi he failed to win anything. Hopefully, Marbury continues on with his maturity development and can provide guidance for the team.
Hey Jessie. Now now Jerome. Yes. O-E-O-E-O.
Nice reference
Too much love?? Come on. At the start of the season, all scribes were damning Isiah & the low attendance at the Garden. Sure the Knicks have weaknesses, but clearly this team has promise. The development of Crawford & Lee alone merit postive attention. Add to that Marbury's maturity (we need to seem him display it again next year) and Curry's health and the '08 season is worth looking forward to. I am most concerned about Frye. For a number 8 pick, he lacks dominance and commitment. The Knicks need to think long & hard about whether he will develop into a prominent piece. Nate needs to be sent elsewhere to mature & understand what playing at this level demands. Isiah has goofed on James & Jeffries, but he drafts well. Perhaps he can find another diamond in the rough like Balkman in the upcoming draft. Keep the giving Knicks love, they may not always deserve it but we all know when t rip them. It's not now.