Knicks · Game thread: Westchester Knicks vs Greensboro Swarm.........Nalod report (page 1)

Got up to Greensboro to see the Hornets new Dleague team take on the Knicks.
The venue was an adjunct building on the campus of the 21,000 seat Greensboro Coliseum. The "field house" is a new venue built just for the "Swarm" that also houses their offices, gym, Weight rooms, etc. Greensboro is about 90 miles north of charlotte in an area called "The Triad" comprising of Winston Salem and High Point. About a million people population.

The venue is modest with capacity for 2500. Reminded me of the "Island Garden" and seeing my first professional basketball game I think was in 1971. Rick Barry played for the Nets and Lou Carnasecca was the coach. My dad had to cover my ears because we sat behind the nets bench and Lou was foul mouthed for my 9 year old ears!

Last rites attendance was 1300. They did sell out their first game on Saturday nite.
The food choices, beer and amenities was modest as was the scoreboard, but in a place so small they don't need any video. We paid $55 for a court side seat. Not necessary but it was fun. We sat in the corner basically with the Swarm bench. What strikes you is how young these guys are and they are all so close to the NBA, but yet so far.

Greensboro team is a new franchise and of course new players. 34 year old Damien Wilkens leads them and the man can still play. He had 17 puts and 10 rebs but was passing up shots to involve the team which struggled to a 22 pt deficit after the fist quarter. Knicks held on to win 117-115 in what turned out to be an exciting game down the stretch. IN the small venue that had great lighting and full professional staffing the place was loud and fun to be in! Xavier Munford of Rhode Island lead the swarm with 33pts and Rasheed Suliamon, former standout from Duke who finished his career at Maryland had 27pts. Mike Tobey, rookie center from Virginia had 20 points. It was Wilkins leadership that lead them back.

But we talking knicks right?

Chasson Randle in the first half was clearly the best player on the court in the first half seemingly having his way with the swarm. In the second half he lost his legs and struggled. Marshall Plumlee went for 10 and 10 and was fun to watch. His screens, picks, footwork, etc does not come natural to him but he makes up for it with solid fundamentals. He was very vocal on defense and seems to enjoy the game.

5'6 Jordan Crawford is a nate Robinson type player with incredible hops and good court sense. I don't think he is NBA caliber. As good as he is on defense he cannot defend against taller players as Nate did. Nate was much stronger as well. Fun to watch player as he has to compensate in other ways to succeed. He does.

Max Hooper did not get off the bench. Inglis is a big Boris Diaw type player and looked good. Knicks had good ball movement and with returning players from last year had better team play then Greensboro.

I'll get to few games over there as its easy and affordable. I spoke with the complex director and he thought the Swarm is a bit organizationally disorganized and just taking it game by game. They should have promoted the game more especially with Plumlee being an attraction to Duke Fans. Greensboro is 45 miles from Duke. Went to game with fellow ex NYer and knick fan. Mrs. Nalod was a bit sore at me as I did not ask her. My bad, I did not think she would be interested. I'll get her to a game soon enough!

cool man! nice write up

I'm planning to take my son to a few Westchester Knick games this year...Good stuff...

Randle is nice on offense. He is triangular, smart, and has a terrific shot. On defense, he loses his man and doesn't get through picks well. He is slight of build. I hope that his defense is good enough to make the jump. The guy he was guarding scored 30+ points last night.

reub wrote:Randle is nice on offense. He is triangular, smart, and has a terrific shot. On defense, he loses his man and doesn't get through picks well. He is slight of build. I hope that his defense is good enough to make the jump. The guy he was guarding scored 30+ points last night.

You see the game, or going by the box score?

Thanks Nolad

Great post, thanks Nalod! Been there with disappointing the Mrs! Haha

Andrew wrote:Thanks Nolad

I really hate these coded, inside jokes.

Thanks Nalod! You sound like you should get into NC politics or at least real estate development.
You didn't mention whether the Swarm's dancing ho's were hot? Maybe that's why the Mrs. Nalod was conveniently forgotten? LMAO

Chasson Randle - sounding very much like a very rich man's new Jimmer.

Wonder if Baker ends up going down to Westchester?

jrodmc wrote:

Andrew wrote:Thanks Nolad

I really hate these coded, inside jokes.

Thanks Nalod! You sound like you should get into NC politics or at least real estate development.
You didn't mention whether the Swarm's dancing ho's were hot? Maybe that's why the Mrs. Nalod was conveniently forgotten? LMAO

No dancers!!!
Do they have them in Westchester?

Looks like Randle can score. Nalod, what did you think of him as a PG?

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t was 41-19 after the first quarter. I was under the knicks basket in the second half and they were outscored by swarm 30-20.
Swarm rained in threes and they were contested. I can live with that.

I saw Jerian Grant play live twice in college and he was longer and as quick. Randle is good, and he can score around the basket, but this is not the NBA I saw last nite.

If you want my professional opinion, I can't give you one. Im not as astute as Briggs or others regarding being able to pick a guy that puts up numbers and extrapolate that to the next level.
Xavier Munford went for 33 pts, Is he nick young or lou williams? Lots of guys can score, its the other things.
Mike Toby had a little "Dirk" step back shot he used twice. He put up 20 but while 7 foot, and has a fluid game, he is not quick or strong enough at this time. Plumlee looked like a "Transformer" out there, solid fundamentals and strong, but not fluid. Plum can play in the NBA.

Damien Wilkens looked like an NBA player. He was like Igudala, in control. passing, and then down the stretch knew what to do. Its the little things. Chasson has the talent, but so many do.

Nalod wrote:Got up to Greensboro to see the Hornets new Dleague team take on the Knicks.
The venue was an adjunct building on the campus of the 21,000 seat Greensboro Coliseum. The "field house" is a new venue built just for the "Swarm" that also houses their offices, gym, Weight rooms, etc. Greensboro is about 90 miles north of charlotte in an area called "The Triad" comprising of Winston Salem and High Point. About a million people population.

The venue is modest with capacity for 2500. Reminded me of the "Island Garden" and seeing my first professional basketball game I think was in 1971. Rick Barry played for the Nets and Lou Carnasecca was the coach. My dad had to cover my ears because we sat behind the nets bench and Lou was foul mouthed for my 9 year old ears!

Last rites attendance was 1300. They did sell out their first game on Saturday nite.
The food choices, beer and amenities was modest as was the scoreboard, but in a place so small they don't need any video. We paid $55 for a court side seat. Not necessary but it was fun. We sat in the corner basically with the Swarm bench. What strikes you is how young these guys are and they are all so close to the NBA, but yet so far.

Greensboro team is a new franchise and of course new players. 34 year old Damien Wilkens leads them and the man can still play. He had 17 puts and 10 rebs but was passing up shots to involve the team which struggled to a 22 pt deficit after the fist quarter. Knicks held on to win 117-115 in what turned out to be an exciting game down the stretch. IN the small venue that had great lighting and full professional staffing the place was loud and fun to be in! Xavier Munford of Rhode Island lead the swarm with 33pts and Rasheed Suliamon, former standout from Duke who finished his career at Maryland had 27pts. Mike Tobey, rookie center from Virginia had 20 points. It was Wilkins leadership that lead them back.

But we talking knicks right?

Chasson Randle in the first half was clearly the best player on the court in the first half seemingly having his way with the swarm. In the second half he lost his legs and struggled. Marshall Plumlee went for 10 and 10 and was fun to watch. His screens, picks, footwork, etc does not come natural to him but he makes up for it with solid fundamentals. He was very vocal on defense and seems to enjoy the game.

5'6 Jordan Crawford is a nate Robinson type player with incredible hops and good court sense. I don't think he is NBA caliber. As good as he is on defense he cannot defend against taller players as Nate did. Nate was much stronger as well. Fun to watch player as he has to compensate in other ways to succeed. He does.

Max Hooper did not get off the bench. Inglis is a big Boris Diaw type player and looked good. Knicks had good ball movement and with returning players from last year had better team play then Greensboro.

I'll get to few games over there as its easy and affordable. I spoke with the complex director and he thought the Swarm is a bit organizationally disorganized and just taking it game by game. They should have promoted the game more especially with Plumlee being an attraction to Duke Fans. Greensboro is 45 miles from Duke. Went to game with fellow ex NYer and knick fan. Mrs. Nalod was a bit sore at me as I did not ask her. My bad, I did not think she would be interested. I'll get her to a game soon enough!

I was switching to the game last night whenever i had a chance to get away from the Knicks game like at commercials and halftime. On Direct tv the Knicks game is on MSG which is channel 634 and the WC Knicks game was one channel up on 635. The WC Knicks were killing them for pretty much the whole game but they made a huge comeback on us in the 4th quarter and it ended up being a really close game.

Nalod wrote:

reub wrote:Randle is nice on offense. He is triangular, smart, and has a terrific shot. On defense, he loses his man and doesn't get through picks well. He is slight of build. I hope that his defense is good enough to make the jump. The guy he was guarding scored 30+ points last night.

You see the game, or going by the box score?

I watched the whole game. I really like him offensively. He plays unselfishly and can help to spread any defense with his smarts and his outside shot. He had trouble fighting through the screens on defense and Munford scored more than 30 points against him. He is slight of build but talented.

The Knicks played Greensboro again today. I have only watched the first half so far but Plumlee has played well. Also, Damien Inglis looked really good before getting into foul trouble. He looks like he would play the 4 but also handles the ball really well. He looked a lot better than he did a year ago when he was in Westchester on assignment from the bucks.

CrushAlot wrote:The Knicks played Greensboro again today. I have only watched the first half so far but Plumlee has played well. Also, Damien Inglis looked really good before getting into foul trouble. He looks like he would play the 4 but also handles the ball really well. He looked a lot better than he did a year ago when he was in Westchester on assignment from the bucks.

Inglis is only 21 years old and this is his 5th professional season. His three point shot is excellent for such a big man. I believe that the Knicks have his rights.

reub wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:The Knicks played Greensboro again today. I have only watched the first half so far but Plumlee has played well. Also, Damien Inglis looked really good before getting into foul trouble. He looks like he would play the 4 but also handles the ball really well. He looked a lot better than he did a year ago when he was in Westchester on assignment from the bucks.

Inglis is only 21 years old and this is his 5th professional season. His three point shot is excellent for such a big man. I believe that the Knicks have his rights.

He was protected from the d league draft because he went to training camp with them but he is an nba free agent. I wasn't impressed with him at all last year when he was at westchester but I thought he looked great in the first half tonight.

reub wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:The Knicks played Greensboro again today. I have only watched the first half so far but Plumlee has played well. Also, Damien Inglis looked really good before getting into foul trouble. He looks like he would play the 4 but also handles the ball really well. He looked a lot better than he did a year ago when he was in Westchester on assignment from the bucks.

Inglis is only 21 years old and this is his 5th professional season. His three point shot is excellent for such a big man. I believe that the Knicks have his rights.

is that possible? 5th season at 21?

CrushAlot wrote:The Knicks played Greensboro again today. I have only watched the first half so far but Plumlee has played well. Also, Damien Inglis looked really good before getting into foul trouble. He looks like he would play the 4 but also handles the ball really well. He looked a lot better than he did a year ago when he was in Westchester on assignment from the bucks.

Thoughts on Baker, Randle?

Baker was smart and steady. His outside shot was falling after he missed his first one or two attempts. He had a bunch of steals too. He is an excellent passer and set up Plumlee for dunks numerous times.

Randle knows the triangle and is very unselfish. His outside shot is excellent. He is very smart and doesn't require the ball. He is slight of build and has trouble getting through picks.

The announcer was saying that Inglis started playing pro ball at age 16 in Europe. He moved to France at age 14 from French Guyana to pursue his dream of playing pro basketball. He is big and skilled. He has a great 3 point shot too.

Oh and Plumlee was an absolute beast last night.

^ cool thanks reub