Last 9 games, he's averaging:
12ppg on 49% shooting
Not exactly world beating - but that's solid offense off the bench for this team.
And he's playing good defense, guarding everyone from Rondo to Wiggins to Harden.
Never seems to get rebounds or assists or any ancillary stats whatsoever...
But he's playing good D and has seemingly found his niche on offense off the bench.
I've never been a huge fan, but he's playing really well.
Our most improve and best defensive player thus far
He has been great! What a gift.
a real pro. I cant even say I suported his signing, but I did say I understood. You need guys the coach and trust, know the system, good lockerroom guys... those are important soldiers. I never expected him to expand his game this way but its a thing of beauty. Best way to improve the team is always from within.
Is this part of the culture of players getting better Phil talked about? Early on he mentioned making this a destination where players could get better and learn and be coached even if they arent the core guys are long term parts of the team? I thought that was telling early on... about making this a destination that is a desirable culture for ALL players.. not just stars, but role guys can come in here and become better basketball players
He has gone from a fringe NBA player who has stuck on the roster because he works hard and is a great influence in the locker room, to a rotation glue guy who can do a little bit on both ends of the floor. A very nice surprise for us.
Knixkik wrote:He has gone from a fringe NBA player who has stuck on the roster because he works hard and is a great influence in the locker room, to a rotation glue guy who can do a little bit on both ends of the floor. A very nice surprise for us.
And never would have happened if the tam followed its fan's 'advice' :-)
Thomas has played well but he is an enigma, he is a hustle player without any of the hustle stats. He plays decent defense but doesn't get any box score stats in that area either. He has size and athleticism but He rebounds, ast, and stls, like a poor defensive player. It is very odd to me.
HE is basically another Arron Afflalo right now.
fishmike wrote:Is this part of the culture of players getting better Phil talked about? Early on he mentioned making this a destination where players could get better and learn and be coached even if they arent the core guys are long term parts of the team? I thought that was telling early on... about making this a destination that is a desirable culture for ALL players.. not just stars, but role guys can come in here and become better basketball players
I'd love this to be the case (since my only interest in the Knicks is because of Phil Jackson and the Triangle culture).
But we'll have to see whether the city of New York will put up with it . . . if the team is not winning a lot real soon.
Jackson might actually be a better fit for Brooklyn, if you think about it.
I know it's a LONG time ago . . . but the relationship that fans in Brooklyn had with the old Dodgers would be the fan equivalent of what Jackson is trying to do with the Knicks.
Probably impossible in this day and age . . . but who knows (?)
crzymdups wrote:Last 9 games, he's averaging:12ppg on 49% shooting
Not exactly world beating - but that's solid offense off the bench for this team.
And he's playing good defense, guarding everyone from Rondo to Wiggins to Harden.
Never seems to get rebounds or assists or any ancillary stats whatsoever...
But he's playing good D and has seemingly found his niche on offense off the bench.
I've never been a huge fan, but he's playing really well.
Best case interpretation is that he is an example of how a player can develop personally in the Jackson-Triangle culture.
If every player on the team developed his own unique gifts in some similar way . . . we'd really have something worth following.
So, let's do our part by being patient . . . and see, I guess.
not only hustle states, he's a little bit of a coach on the floor too
at times he telling Dwill and others where to go to establish triangle
it's also good for the rest of the culture. Guys who want more minutes can look to Thomas and say to earn minutes you need to do the little things too
crzymdups wrote:Last 9 games, he's averaging:12ppg on 49% shooting
Not exactly world beating - but that's solid offense off the bench for this team.
And he's playing good defense, guarding everyone from Rondo to Wiggins to Harden.
Never seems to get rebounds or assists or any ancillary stats whatsoever...
But he's playing good D and has seemingly found his niche on offense off the bench.
I've never been a huge fan, but he's playing really well.
How can you not be a fan of this guy?? I love this kid and love what he brings to our team and from what they say his locker room presence and bench presence is great but we don't get to see that.
bigbasketballs wrote:Knixkik wrote:He has gone from a fringe NBA player who has stuck on the roster because he works hard and is a great influence in the locker room, to a rotation glue guy who can do a little bit on both ends of the floor. A very nice surprise for us.
And never would have happened if the tam followed its fan's 'advice' :-)
Not all the fans maybe but myself and a few others had this kids back since he came here.
newyorker4ever wrote:crzymdups wrote:Last 9 games, he's averaging:12ppg on 49% shooting
Not exactly world beating - but that's solid offense off the bench for this team.
And he's playing good defense, guarding everyone from Rondo to Wiggins to Harden.
Never seems to get rebounds or assists or any ancillary stats whatsoever...
But he's playing good D and has seemingly found his niche on offense off the bench.
I've never been a huge fan, but he's playing really well.
How can you not be a fan of this guy?? I love this kid and love what he brings to our team and from what they say his locker room presence and bench presence is great but we don't get to see that.
I defended the decision to re-sign him because his work ethic is apparent and the fact that he listens to the coach and runs the offense and tries on defense is all apparent. I used to cringe whenever he shot the ball though - now I kinda like the shots he takes.
He's always given the effort, but I think he's actually found his niche and the shots he should take in this offense lately. He seems more comfortable shooting and it is showing in his percentage.
you dont just decide "to work on your shot" and go from being a bad shooter to a very good one over a summer. I suspect Lance always had these skills, but were enough below the NBA level that he didnt really use them and instead focused on what he was asked to do... defend and play the blue collar role.
There is doubt that he was told there would be shots in this system for him and Lance put the work in to make sure he was ready for them. Once you hit a few, the confidence soars and a player goes from fringe bench to solid rotation. Good story
fishmike wrote:you dont just decide "to work on your shot" and go from being a bad shooter to a very good one over a summer. I suspect Lance always had these skills, but were enough below the NBA level that he didnt really use them and instead focused on what he was asked to do... defend and play the blue collar role.There is doubt that he was told there would be shots in this system for him and Lance put the work in to make sure he was ready for them. Once you hit a few, the confidence soars and a player goes from fringe bench to solid rotation. Good story
I think some of it is confidence and some of it is just knowing when and where his spots are in the offense. He's been playing the Triangle for about a full year at this point. Also gives me hope that other guys will figure out their spots in the offense a little better as we go along.
I think he has enough value to be a trade asset
knicks1248 wrote:I think he has enough value to be a trade asset
because of some weird contract thing, LT has a no-trade clause, as does Amundson.
knicks1248 wrote:I think he has enough value to be a trade asset
Or enough value to be a good player for a team that needs good players.
fishmike wrote:you dont just decide "to work on your shot" and go from being a bad shooter to a very good one over a summer. I suspect Lance always had these skills, but were enough below the NBA level that he didnt really use them and instead focused on what he was asked to do... defend and play the blue collar role.There is doubt that he was told there would be shots in this system for him and Lance put the work in to make sure he was ready for them. Once you hit a few, the confidence soars and a player goes from fringe bench to solid rotation. Good story
Well he did say that he worked on his shot so sounds to me like he worked on his shot.....just sayin.
