Wow, BD is a surprise- anyways, from the media at the Knick practice today:
Al Iannazzone @Al_Iannazzone
No Carmelo tomorrow, but D'Antoni said JR Smith and Baron Davis may be available.
D'Antoni said Melo maybe for Monday. Knicks should have everyone other than Harrellson available Wednesday vs. Atlanta.
Baron Davis is playing 3 on 3 now.
Jr Smith won't have had any practice time, and I doubt he has ajusted to changing time zones- not sure if playing him would be a good idea. BD seems to have been playing 3 on 3 latel, but I don't think any 5 on 5- strange that he's suddenly possibly available to play.
Looks like Melo is serious about not returning unitl he's 100%.
JR don't adjust to time zones......
Time zones adjust to him!
I will be shocked if BDiddy plays but I guess it's gotta be soon if he is going to contribute. Question is, if he can really play does Lin keep the starting job? The turnovers concern me.
OasisBU wrote:I will be shocked if BDiddy plays but I guess it's gotta be soon if he is going to contribute. Question is, if he can really play does Lin keep the starting job? The turnovers concern me.
ARE YOU JOKING?!?!?!
BDIDDY << LIN
LIN IS OUR GUY FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS, DON'T BRING THAT IN THE HOUSE HERE, WIPE YOUR FEET!
But, seriously, Baron Davis at this point is a good back-up.
His future isn't certain here, we don't know if he will come back next season. His back is a question mark.
There is almost no chance of him regaining his 20/9 form.
Baron's best role here is to learn Lin something and sit down quietly on the bench, in a reserve role.
OasisBU wrote:I will be shocked if BDiddy plays but I guess it's gotta be soon if he is going to contribute. Question is, if he can really play does Lin keep the starting job? The turnovers concern me.
I don't think you put BDiddy in as a starter after not playing for, what, 6 months? He'll be worked back slowly, off the bench. I think that makes sense.
martin wrote:OasisBU wrote:I will be shocked if BDiddy plays but I guess it's gotta be soon if he is going to contribute. Question is, if he can really play does Lin keep the starting job? The turnovers concern me.
I don't think you put BDiddy in as a starter after not playing for, what, 6 months? He'll be worked back slowly, off the bench. I think that makes sense.
I agree. Not to mention that while the turnovers are a concern Lin is still playing very well. If not for him we arent winning 7 of the last eight
OasisBU wrote:I will be shocked if BDiddy plays but I guess it's gotta be soon if he is going to contribute. Question is, if he can really play does Lin keep the starting job? The turnovers concern me.
BDiddy is excellent for the bench both now and for later. Why now? The guy is returning from injury and a long layoff. If the guy can spell Lin for 15 minutes, that is great for us. Why for later? Because the bench needs a scoring punch. It remains to be seen if J.R. will join the starting lineup later on or not, but whether that happens, the bench needs offense. Baron, a solid point guard who can pass but can also rock the ball, will be probably our main weapon off the bench.
If it is true, then this is awesome. Right now J.R. would have to immediately join the starting rotation at SF because he is really a better option than Walker with Melo still out.
Can't wait to see Davis playing in orange and blue.
Knicksfan wrote:If it is true, then this is awesome. Right now J.R. would have to immediately join the starting rotation at SF because he is really a better option than Walker with Melo still out.Can't wait to see Davis playing in orange and blue.
Perhaps JR is a better individual talent, but he hasn't even had a practice with team or anything. Dude won't start, no way.
martin wrote:Knicksfan wrote:If it is true, then this is awesome. Right now J.R. would have to immediately join the starting rotation at SF because he is really a better option than Walker with Melo still out.Can't wait to see Davis playing in orange and blue.
Perhaps JR is a better individual talent, but he hasn't even had a practice with team or anything. Dude won't start, no way.
True that
Though I'd rather start Shump AND Fields before starting Walker. I've liked his enthusiasm on defense, but Bill is a huge liability scoring. He's looked terribly.
martin wrote:Knicksfan wrote:If it is true, then this is awesome. Right now J.R. would have to immediately join the starting rotation at SF because he is really a better option than Walker with Melo still out.Can't wait to see Davis playing in orange and blue.
Perhaps JR is a better individual talent, but he hasn't even had a practice with team or anything. Dude won't start, no way.
Agreed. Also, Baron won't and shouldn't start either. He would have to really outplay Lin over a stretch to justify it. I'm definitely pumped to finally see him get in there. If all works out, it's a better than average 2nd unit.
BD seems determined to get some minutes of game action before the All star break:
Steve Popper @StevePoppe
The Baron Davis news is real now - he said he expects to play limited minutes before the All-Star break to test his back.
This is all good news even if it's not this game, but one of the next few before the break. This team getting healthy and deeper at MUCH needed positions. We started with no PG's and now will have 2 very good ones!!! We'll add a very high quality SG with experience which we also needed very much. I'm very pleased with these developments and hope Baron can stay healthy and get his game back over the remainder of the season. This could make for a VERY potent team by playoff time.
Unfortunately in this shorten season game time is practice time. If Davis is back and gets back to form I think Shump should start at the two since he is no longer needed as pg for the second unit. If not starting he should come in earlier in the 1st quarter than he has been.
yellowboy90 wrote:Unfortunately in this shorten season game time is practice time. If Davis is back and gets back to form I think Shump should start at the two since he is no longer needed as pg for the second unit. If not starting he should come in earlier in the 1st quarter than he has been.
this is odd for me. What has Fields done to deserve losing starting position or Shump done to earn it?
martin wrote:yellowboy90 wrote:Unfortunately in this shorten season game time is practice time. If Davis is back and gets back to form I think Shump should start at the two since he is no longer needed as pg for the second unit. If not starting he should come in earlier in the 1st quarter than he has been.
this is odd for me. What has Fields done to deserve losing starting position or Shump done to earn it?
Add JR Smith to that equation and we have a little pickle
Baron's right on time with his initial 8-10 week prognosis, but I hope he's not being rushed.
Baron/JR/Melo certainly going to bring some much needed fire power.
Both Lin and Melo have better chemistry with Tyson on the P&R. Hope Baron can get going with STAT on a regular basis.
Baron Davis will be perfect running the 2nd unit.
Lin and Smith both should start. Though it will take a couple games with Smith as I feel if he plays with Melo and Amare and Chandler he will be held in check more. If he plays with a 2nd unit as its best player he will revert to chucking as he won't trust his teammates as much.
And Lin should start as he is the future and his development is more important then anything else. Him developing chemistry with Melo, Amare and Chandler is critical.
