I was wrong about these guys, I didn't have much faith in them in the start of the season but I can be gladly WRONG about this with their recent play
I hope they continue to get the opportunity to contribute with the play offs, especially Cope at the stretch 5, PF, and NOT many minutes at SF because of his lack of speed
I don't care who comes back with Chandler/Martin/Camby/Wallace/Amare, we have to find ways to utilize Cope at his strengths with the rest of the team
Anyone also notice how much Pablo is moving so much better the past couple of games
He has improved his conditioning, handle, speed/quickness, penetration, DEF, and most of all his confidence
His shot and ability to set up team has grown much as the season progressed but his conditioning/speed has affected all areas of the game
My biggest knock at the start of the season was his lack of speed/quickness with little ability to penetrate but he seems to have elevated this the past stretch
On the side note, get rid of Solomon Jones and even James White, for 2 players that will add to our depth and will also be used as 2nd year trade baits like Gadzuric's contract was used last summer
They are both garbage and there are plenty of players available that can still help us and use these last 2 games to GEL like Warrick and a PF/C
Priggy means so much to this team. Its not always about the numbers, he and Kidd keep the ball moving. If one of them is not on the court, the ball gets stuck and its just lots of ugly one on one.
Priggy also pretty pesky on the ball.
Copeland?? Geez who would have dreamed this. His outside shot is so damn good that teams must close hard on him. Then, he has such long smooth strides and finishes well around the basket. He will start seeing the help come and hit the corner for open 3's.
Cope also fought EXTREMELY hard and defense today while being outmatched/weighed by 30-60 pounds.
Pablo now 15-1 as a starter.
MaTT4281 wrote:Pablo now 15-1 as a starter.
He is our best PG imho.
Priceless to have a PG who understands the game. Kidd too especially with his steals and big rebounds.
I hate the I told you so replies, so I won't go there. Because you rarely find anybody on this site willing to acknowledge when they were wrong......I fall into the "overrating our knick players" category. So you know I was hyping them up early in the season.....
But I've liked Copeland and especially Pablo early on. With Pablo's pro experience, and even beating us in the Olympics (if I'm correct), I knew he would be a solid pass first pg with sound fundamentals, even at 35/ around my age. I'm playing against ex pros and overseas guys now off of two recent ankle surgeries....He's 5 yrs younger, with no major injuries. He should be solid right now.....at least for a few more years. I DIDN'T KNOW he would impact our defense or become a reliable shooter like that.
Same with Cope....I fell quick into the Melo-lite drama when he was on the summer squad. I was thinking, what better player to have right now than a cheap Melo-lite player off the bench. I was wondering what took so long to sign him. But even Cope has surpassed my expectations....I never thought he could stay positive and confident in his game so long with inconsistent minutes.....Remember he used to go weeks without playing some games.....But always came in killing "on offense" and at least trying on defense. I know with his situation and age, he will be hungry and take advantage of being a knick.
The issue for me is the same it was earlier in the season.....Can Woodson blend this talent together, when everybody becomes healthy during the playoffs?
Did You Say Yoots?
Rookie Pablo Prigioni has made believers out of the Steve Nash advocates for one huge reason... his defense is better.
Mike Woodson, like Red, does not trust rookies. He has made Copeland every minute he has received by demanding defensive tenacity. Cope's defensive performance against Hibbert was worthy of some respect. With Jason Kidd at the controls, and Earl Smith pushing the ball, our second shift brings better ball movement and scoring pop.
"When you add another guy that can give you 12 to 20 points that's not really accounted for on the scouting report, that's big for us." - Ray Felton
One is 35 and the other is 29. Neither will be intimidated by the playoff stage.
Kudos to cope and prig for being pieces of the puzzle but for anyone insinuating that prig is the best pg on the team you need your eyes checked. Truly.
Gotta give some credit to Grunwald and the scouts. The Knicks had no picks and no cap space and got both of these guys on rookie free agent minimum deals. Really happy for both of them that they have been so successful. I hope they are back next year after a great playoff run.
Kudos to Woodson for his tough love approach because Cope is battling defensively now. I think he deserves minutes but it may be hard to come. I do like that the other bigs are coming back because he has a tendency to be an every other day player which is fine for a rotation guy.
Remember back at the beginning of the season when we all thought Novak was valuable and Cope was trash? Funny how things change. Cope even seems like the more consistent shooter at this point.
+1 i was wrong about both of these guys too. I thought they both excelled in the preseason cuz thats what scrubs do
