Knicks · Moke give Knicks an A- in his offseason grades (page 1)

CrushAlot @ 8/14/2013 2:17 PM
New York Knicks – (54-28)

Key Additions: Andrea Bargnani, Metta World Peace, Beno Udrih, Tim Hardaway, Jr.

Key Subtractions: Jason Kidd, Steve Novak, Chris Copeland

Offensively, Andrea Bargnani should provide the Knicks with a pick-and-pop option that can help keep their offense spaced, and even at this late stage in his career, Metta World Peace is still a very productive low-post defender. Beno Udrih is a very capable point guard who should fill in nicely with this team’s strong bench scorers.

Although Jason Kidd played very well for the Knicks when they got off to a blistering 18-5 start last season, Bargnani, World Peace and Udrih are a net-plus when compared to Kidd, Novak and Copeland.

Copeland showed promise in the Knicks’ second-round loss against the Indiana Pacers, but the sting of his departure is softened by the franchise’s re-signing of both J.R. Smith and Kenyon Martin.

A fair question to anyone who sees the Knicks’ offseason as anything less than super productive and yet another step in the right direction should be asked what more the team could have done in its quest to overthrow Miami.

Glen Grunwald has played the hand he has been dealt, and he has played it quite well.

GRADE: A -

Read more at http://www.hoopsworld.com/nba-offseason-grades-eastern-conference#bJCpwgeezm8P27EF.99
http://www.hoopsworld.com/nba-offseason-...

ChuckBuck @ 8/14/2013 2:21 PM
C- Melo is still on the team...

CrushAlot @ 8/14/2013 2:23 PM
ChuckBuck wrote:C- Melo is still on the team...

This:
A fair question to anyone who sees the Knicks’ offseason as anything less than super productive and yet another step in the right direction should be asked what more the team could have done in its quest to overthrow Miami.
nixluva @ 8/14/2013 2:24 PM
I gave the Knicks the same grade. I think it's all too easy to just look down on the moves the Knicks made, but in truth based on what they had to begin the off season, they made some good moves and resigned key players. They made the most of what little resources they had. They've still got one more roster spot to fill, so it's been a pretty good summer.
smackeddog @ 8/14/2013 2:25 PM
A generous grade- I won't complain! Didn't Chad Ford give us a D- or something? Doesn't mention Hardaway JR or Tyler, which hopefully are nice pickups, or re-signing Pablo.

I'd give us a B. nice job by Grunnie especially considering he had nothing to use.

CrushAlot @ 8/14/2013 2:31 PM
smackeddog wrote:A generous grade- I won't complain! Didn't Chad Ford give us a D- or something? Doesn't mention Hardaway JR or Tyler, which hopefully are nice pickups, or re-signing Pablo.

I'd give us a B. nice job by Grunnie especially considering he had nothing to use.

I think Ford is really down on Bargs but I could be wrong.

knicks1248 @ 8/14/2013 2:32 PM
with what we had to work with a A- is good..

My question is how is woodson going to use the rotation, becaase he has 10 guys that are absoluetly not bench warmers..there's no KT, no old rookies, and no old ass veterans..we have quality players that need PT.

ChuckBuck @ 8/14/2013 2:33 PM
CrushAlot wrote:
ChuckBuck wrote:C- Melo is still on the team...

This:
A fair question to anyone who sees the Knicks’ offseason as anything less than super productive and yet another step in the right direction should be asked what more the team could have done in its quest to overthrow Miami.

Just messing Crush, I'm not one of the Somberites!

I think every move makes sense, and was a hell of job by Grunwald considering the cap situation. I give it a B/B+. If we could somehow land Ivan Johnson(is he signed?) then I'd bump it up to A-. Still need to add that experienced vet for PF/C, because we can't expect Tyler to pick things up right away.

smackeddog @ 8/14/2013 2:47 PM
knicks1248 wrote:with what we had to work with a A- is good..

My question is how is woodson going to use the rotation, becaase he has 10 guys that are absoluetly not bench warmers..there's no KT, no old rookies, and no old ass veterans..we have quality players that need PT.

One thing I've learnt from the past few seasons, is never underestimate our ability to get injured!

CrushAlot @ 8/14/2013 2:48 PM
ChuckBuck wrote:
CrushAlot wrote:
ChuckBuck wrote:C- Melo is still on the team...

This:
A fair question to anyone who sees the Knicks’ offseason as anything less than super productive and yet another step in the right direction should be asked what more the team could have done in its quest to overthrow Miami.

Just messing Crush, I'm not one of the Somberites!

I think every move makes sense, and was a hell of job by Grunwald considering the cap situation. I give it a B/B+. If we could somehow land Ivan Johnson(is he signed?) then I'd bump it up to A-. Still need to add that experienced vet for PF/C, because we can't expect Tyler to pick things up right away.

I know. I was rereading his article and thought that was a great quote.
knicks1248 @ 8/14/2013 4:34 PM
smackeddog wrote:
knicks1248 wrote:with what we had to work with a A- is good..

My question is how is woodson going to use the rotation, becaase he has 10 guys that are absoluetly not bench warmers..there's no KT, no old rookies, and no old ass veterans..we have quality players that need PT.

One thing I've learnt from the past few seasons, is never underestimate our ability to get injured!

who you telling!!!

Sangfroid @ 8/14/2013 4:51 PM
Still need to add that experienced vet for PF/C, because we can't expect Tyler to pick things up right away.

I'm hoping that Woodson takes a page from San Antonio's playbook and sends Tyler, Leslie and THJ to the D-league for seasoning. They're not going to play right away, and we can call them up when needed. They need to be playing, not sitting around in suits.

CrushAlot @ 8/14/2013 4:54 PM
Sangfroid wrote:
Still need to add that experienced vet for PF/C, because we can't expect Tyler to pick things up right away.

I'm hoping that Woodson takes a page from San Antonio's playbook and sends Tyler, Leslie and THJ to the D-league for seasoning. They're not going to play right away, and we can call them up when needed. They need to be playing, not sitting around in suits.

I agree. He can only send two. Leslie definitely needs to go.
Sangfroid @ 8/14/2013 7:04 PM
CrushAlot wrote:
Sangfroid wrote:
Still need to add that experienced vet for PF/C, because we can't expect Tyler to pick things up right away.

I'm hoping that Woodson takes a page from San Antonio's playbook and sends Tyler, Leslie and THJ to the D-league for seasoning. They're not going to play right away, and we can call them up when needed. They need to be playing, not sitting around in suits.

I agree. He can only send two. Leslie definitely needs to go.

Depending on that 15th contract, maybe we could rotate them. Send 'em two at a time

IronWillGiroud @ 8/14/2013 7:30 PM
no doubt the team improved, no doubt in my mind--- damn the bonn stats,

the thing is that last year's team drastically overachieved, so a lower win total this year does not necessarily mean a step back.

dk7th @ 8/14/2013 7:50 PM
overachieved... gosh i feel the exact opposite.

also this guy is using criteria that is irrelevant-- the essence of how to grade a team's off-season moves is how well the team has done compared to how well its rivals have done. he is a moron for not taking this tack. it's second-rate thinking.

the most relevant rivals are the heat and the pacers since it is almost a given that that is who the east goes through. the nets and chicago are of secondary interest.

the heat are bad if lebron goes down with injury. if that happened that would be a shame for basketball but the east would be up for grabs.

CrushAlot @ 8/14/2013 8:18 PM
dk7th wrote:overachieved... gosh i feel the exact opposite.

also this guy is using criteria that is irrelevant-- the essence of how to grade a team's off-season moves is how well the team has done compared to how well its rivals have done. he is a moron for not taking this tack. it's second-rate thinking.

the most relevant rivals are the heat and the pacers since it is almost a given that that is who the east goes through. the nets and chicago are of secondary interest.

the heat are bad if lebron goes down with injury. if that happened that would be a shame for basketball but the east would be up for grabs.

He graded it based on what the Knicks could do under the circumstances they were in. I believe he said, Grunwald played the hand that was given to him.
dk7th @ 8/14/2013 10:34 PM
CrushAlot wrote:
dk7th wrote:overachieved... gosh i feel the exact opposite.

also this guy is using criteria that is irrelevant-- the essence of how to grade a team's off-season moves is how well the team has done compared to how well its rivals have done. he is a moron for not taking this tack. it's second-rate thinking.

the most relevant rivals are the heat and the pacers since it is almost a given that that is who the east goes through. the nets and chicago are of secondary interest.

the heat are bad if lebron goes down with injury. if that happened that would be a shame for basketball but the east would be up for grabs.

He graded it based on what the Knicks could do under the circumstances they were in. I believe he said, Grunwald played the hand that was given to him.

how did we get these cinrcumstances. he wants to erase the history and base grades on pressing an unmentioned reset button.

homey don't play dat

nixluva @ 8/14/2013 10:40 PM
You have to at least measure the value of the players Grunwald added for practically nothing. The players brought in are an upgrade over the players being replaced. They don't negatively impact the future and should give the team a boost over the next 2 years. I wonder exactly what were peoples expectations before the summer that would make these moves a disappointment? Were people expecting some big time FA being added with no money to offer? We kept a winning team mostly in tact and added to that talent in a meaningful way.
Bonn1997 @ 8/14/2013 10:53 PM
CrushAlot wrote:
ChuckBuck wrote:C- Melo is still on the team...

This:
A fair question to anyone who sees the Knicks’ offseason as anything less than super productive and yet another step in the right direction should be asked what more the team could have done in its quest to overthrow Miami.

Use the best available advanced stats to actually upgrade rather than downgrade the roster.
Or admit that this is not going to be a championship contending team and start over.
Finestrg @ 8/14/2013 11:59 PM
A- sounds about right. We really had an excellent offseason considering what we had to work with.

Personally, I'd give it a solid A if we made these last minute alterations:

Cut Tyler and Leslie. With these 2 spots now open + the one that's been open (3 total), add Earl Barron, Luke Babbit and Toure Murry.

Not sure of the exact rotation (Smith might still be hurt to start, THJ could be elevated in the rotation, I kinda prefer Barron ahead of K-Mart and STAT at his normal position, etc.) but this would be my 15 man:

5 - Chandler
4 - Bargnani
3 - Anthony
2 - Shumpert
1 - Felton
-----------------
5 - Stoudemire/Barron
4 - Martin/Stoudemire
3 - Artest
2 - Smith
1 - Udrih
-----------------
Barron/Martin
Prigioni
Babbitt
Hardaway Jr.
Murry

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