Ahh, so much love from you all today.
I don't mind some of you taking me on about my thoughts about Randolph Morris' game. In fact, I encourage it. But you have to keep in mind I'm not comparing him to what he did against mediocre talent in an NBA Summer League game. I'm watching his game looking for what he can do with real NBA competition in mind.
It's like when earlier in the day I was watching Glen "Big Baby" Davis play for the Celtics. He looked quick and agile. He had good hands. But his game was decidedly below the rim on just about every occasion. For a 6-8, 290-pound power forward, that can be a concern. Obviously Charles Oakley mostly played below the rim, so it's not like one can't survive. But Oakley was an exceptional rebounder.
I don't recall saying Morris was awful. He didn't look lost or overmatched or anything. And, yes, I'm aware that big men don't normally see the ball in summer league games that tend to get sloppy and become all about transition. But I also know the Knicks are running their offense and are using the summer league to see what their young players can do.
Some of you just can't get so sensitive when a writer takes a critical view of things. Especially one who has played the game and seen enough of the game to know what coaches look for.
Here's what I saw in Morris' game: The usual soft touch and hands. His blocks on Durant were good plays, but, again, I don't think Durant was at full speed; he was slow and didn't look as if he wanted to engage much. Morris also was in position for rebounds.
But he moves like a 6-11, 7-foot center. Not much spring from block to block and not much athleticism from one end of the court to the other. Not much emotion in his game, very similar to Tim Duncan, actually. But he's not as tall as Tim Duncan and doesn't get at the rim anything like Tim Duncan.
I talked to him after the game. A good kid who I liked chatting with late in the season. He said he felt he made the right decision to sign with the Knicks. Does he think he would have been a lottery pick if he had been draft-eligible? "Nah," he said, "I wouldn't even know."
I wanted to make sure he didn't have anything nagging him, like a sore leg or groin or ankle, which can happen when you start playing full court after doing mostly working out for a few months. But Morris said he was 100 percent.
With Zach Randolph and David Lee on the team, Morris probably won't see much time anyway. I have no doubt Mark Aguirre will spend a lot of time developing Morris' post game. But, again, it's not his moves or his touch that I question (though it's not as if he's got dominant skills), it's the physical side of things. But, you're right, he's young.
Speaking of young, I wasn't taking any shots at Wilson Chandler! (Man, you guys were just really sensitive after that last post). I just said it was quiet. He played well. Again, consider the level of competition.
It's not like these guys made the crowd buzz, which is what Golden State's Marco Bellinelli seems to be doing. Talk about a shooter. Whoa. And Detroit's Rodney Stuckey is built like a running back, is mad quick and clearly will be a solid defender in the NBA.
The Knicks play Team China tonight at 10 p.m. Eastern. I'll file another report after the game and I promise to continue to be point-blank honest with my observations.
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* - So E! Online had a report that says Quentin Richardson was seen hanging out with his ex-wife, Brandy, at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino's nightclub. The report suggested the two appeared to be reuniting as a couple, but a Knicks spokesman said they were just hanging out. Brandy was nowhere to be seen at the Knicks-Sonics game last night.
* - Gotta give credit where it's due: Good get today by the Post, who yesterday stalked Ron Artest poolside at his hotel here while he was playing with his kids. Ron said he wanted to remain a King and even suspiciously said he didn't plan on opting out of his contract to become a free agent (his agent must have loved to hear that). Geoff Petrie told all of us in the New York media he had no plans in trading him. So, clearly, it seems inevitable that Artest is eventually going to be traded, right?
But seriously, in our business, sometimes you lose a race. I'd been emailing Ron for a few days trying to hook up. He told me he was in Vegas and would be willing to chat, but before I got the chance to get him, someone else did. So it goes. Tip the hat.
Comments (28)
Yo Alan, way to man up and give props to bermin. Stalking him while he was with his kids? Dang. Ever been bit by a dog protecting her pups? I wouldn't have taken the chance. Pool + Artest + his kids + nosy reporter = Possible reporter drowning?
Plus, I agree. Those posts were on the sensitive side. Considering the comp, Morris game was good but nothing that would warrant him playing ahead of DLee off the bench.
Nice of you Alan, to give Berman some credit but he is not in your league as a reporter or basketball expert. Generally, he makes up rumors and then later on finds someone to deny the rumors. Your writing and blog are by far the best in NY when it comes to Knick coverage.
On to the game, I agree that Morris looked like a career back up center, but big men can take years to develop.
What was exciting about last night's game was what Chandler and Nichols showed. Chandler is athletic, has a nose for the ball, moves well with and without the ball, and seems to have a decent outside shot. Nichols was more aggressive than I thought he'd be, is clearly a dead eye shooter, and is really big. So for a late first round pick and a late second, these guys seem to be finds.
Knicks still need a superstar though if they are going to move into the top echelon of the NBA. . . and neither Randolph or Curry are currently superstars because they don't play defense.
Alan, I think the Knicks should sign you considering your bigger then half their team and have more heart then half of them too. LETS GO ISLANDERS
Morris will be a good practice player, if he makes the cut.
If Brandy takes back Q, watch out for a monster season from him! hahahaha
Great blog, Alan. Keep up the great work. You're the best Knicks beat writer e got!
I don't expect Randolph Morris to get very much playing time either but I also don't think it's fair to hold it against him because the talent in summer league is not that of the NBA regular season. I mean what if he played bad or not so well with inferior competition? Then everyone would be all over him and Isiah. give him props for having a great game ... note 2 blocks and 2 steals ... and wait and see what he does (if he gets the chance) during the reg season.
But Alan I don't think you were excessively and irritatingly negative like some these people that call themselves Knick writers.
Nice retraction…. Better yet back peddling.
A few thoughts CLEARLY it is against summer league competition, and clearly this is not the middle of the NBA regular season. I think what you are forgetting is that there are a lot of us out "here" with knowledge of the game and of how things work. We too are commenting on things based on what is going on here, and we have the basic understanding that a double double here may not translate to a double double during the regular season. It certainly is better than coming out and under performing during the summer leagues which a number of "bigger name" players have done. Not just this year but throughout the year.
So no, a summer league game is not the "end all beat all" measuring stick but if it meant nothing then there would not be summer leagues. Teams would just practice and do things in house. Simply put summer league games have value, and that is why they exist. Morris coming out and playing as well as he did bodes well.
As to Wilson Chandler you dismissed an amazing performance by a young player in his summer league debut. His numbers and performance were anything but quiet. You termed it "quietly decent. Nothing overly-impressive". Pretty much everyone else I talked to and just about every other article I read gave this kid the praise he deserved for coming out and making a difference for the Knicks summer league team. Nate may have lead the way, but as a third year player in a contract year fighting for a roster spot I should hope he would be able to leave a mark. The sad thing was he also looked sloppy and reckless at times. I saw none of that in Chandler who put up great numbers.
He went five for ten from the floor, hit both of his free throws, four rebounds, two assist, two steals, and twelve points. He did what a young kid is supposed to do in a summer league game. He showcased his talents while playing good team basketball and displayed a great mix of basketball IQ and physical ability. I dare say that is pretty impressive.
I will say again the people who posted in response to your article took offense to the negative comments you made because despite you saying you were there it seems like you did not comment on what actually happened during the game. Also please do not assume we do not know the difference between the summer league and the regular season, doing so is an insult. There are thousands of people out here who have played the game, follow the game, and understand the game. Just because you blog about it does not make you the only voice. So please try to avoid dismissing us as having less knowledge than you do about the subject.
New Yorkers tend to dislike that sort of thing.
ALAN:
As a basketball junkie, I heard a lot of good things about you....more objective, more balance, etc... I can see that some of my blog buddies at Berman and Isola's are here as well. Keep it up dude.
I can't find the 'mailbag,' I want to ask you a question.
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