KP is 7-3, 240lb
Rudy Gobert who everyone must admit is a very competent 5 is 7-1, 245lb
KAT is 7-0, 244lb
Noah is 6-11, 230lb
With the way the league is playing today, KP should be playing center. Few centers nowadays are pounding the paint with brutal strengh a la Shaq.
Yes, he lacks strengh. It will be difficult against the likes of Howard, Whiteside, Cousins but it's already difficult for Noah.
During his encounters against Okafor, he held his grounds. He blocked the entry pass, he used his size. Okafor is a big butt with excellent post moves. KP is a far better stretch 5 than stretch 4.
On the other side of the court, I would very much enjoy watching the Whiteside, Howard, etc. try to defend him.
Plus, it would enable Melo to play his best position : the stretch 4.
Here are the current 4 in the opposing starting lineup according to http://basketball.realgm.com/nba/depth-c...:
Paul Millsap
Amir Johnson
Trevor Booker
M. Williams
Taj Gibson
Kevin Love
H. Barnes
W. Chandler
Jon Leuer
Draymond Green
Ryan Anderson
Thaddeus Young
L. Mbah a Moute
Julius Randle
JaMychal Green
Luke Babbitt
Jabari Parker
Gorgui Dieng
D. Cunningham
Domas Sabonis
Serge Ibaka
Joel Embiid
M. Chriss
A. Aminu
D. Cousins
L. Aldridge
Pascal Siakam
Derrick Favors
M. Morris
Except for a few matchups, I don't see Melo suffering physically against any PFs. Melo doesn't lack size and strengh for a PF. Yesterday's SF are today's PF.
On offense however, the opposition would suffer with Melo as he has shown in the past.
It would move Holiday or Thomas(if he comes back to form) at SF. We would see a better defense and the guys could run more on offense.
I don't see a downside here.
If you look at the stats by position on 82games, Melo is mediocre at SF and KP is really bad at C. They're both at their best by far at PF. So it's no win situation. I think there's more of a chance for KP to improve at C than Melo to improve are SF though. So I would be OK with trying this.
KP is actually very good at PF. Melo is the real conundrum. He is still a great streak scorer and when on still dominant. However at 3, he makes us slow defensively and for whatever reason simply refuses to see that his team is much better this year and that they need more defensive effort from him as well better higher percentage shots. We have many shot creators this year.
A spade is a spade. Can't see Melo changing his colours at this point.
Oakley and Ewing worked because Oakley can hold his own on defense against PFs or centers.
Melo and KP are a nightmare on defense. And this team allows their defensive deficiencies to affect their offense. Plus if melo plays PF with KP, then melo has to use more energy on defense, helping out KP, which will affect his legs and energy on his jumper.
Melo at PF works next to Noah.....I've said this b4, KP off the bench allows the knicks to play melo at PF, and gives KP the green light and makes him a focal point on offense, instead of deferring to melo. KP and KOQ would be similar to Oakley and Ewing, as far as defense. KOQ has the strength to help KP down low.
The knicks will never do this now, but since day one of KPs career, I was hoping they would since KPs position isn't defined yet.
KP's in a suit playing the 4. You imagine him playing the 5 and being more resilient?
Melo ends up getting injured quicker at the 4 because his "please hit me, the refs won't call anything" policy means getting hit harder by opposing PF's.
Noah is not getting 75 of Dolan's millions to come off the bench. Also makes Phil look like an idiot.
wow, someone actually talking about the unicorn going to the bench. Interesting.
I totally see KP holding his own and being at least as resilient as now. I think we have this image at the back of our head that PF and C today are rugged monsters of muscle. This is not the case anymore. PF are shooting mid range and shooting 3's. I don't see Melo being mugged on defense any more than at SF. Center is tougher but not every team play a Drummond, D Jordan.
I've seen many here saying that we should make the opposing team adjust to us instead of us adapting to them.
Who do you think has the advantage between Drummond and KP in term of balance offense/defense?
Maybe I'm wrong but I would say KP. I don't see a mismatch in the other team favor.
Same for Melo.
unfortunately, I think the only reason is that Melo wants to play the 3 and not the 4
Never gonna happen but I think the best solution would be Melo comming off the bench.
Im not saying this, but its a long standing theme that needs to be respected:
http://nypost.com/2017/01/02/nba-scout-r...
That concept, and then adding him to bang it out in the paint would put more stress on a young body.
KP is a project still. One with an incredible ceiling but it must be respected and not rushed. To do so might jeopardize the unicorn.
We as fans can't fathom holding a kid back, but we as fans can't see the hazards either.
In my book, KP has exceeded my expectations and his postential is fun to behold. He is agile, quick and is learning.
He can play some at a "Stretch 5" but Im not so quick to pigeon hole him because of his height.
They can switch positions at any point in a game if you see it as advantage, that's what good coaches do. Start traditional, then make adjustments..
shinmen wrote:KP is 7-3, 240lb
Rudy Gobert who everyone must admit is a very competent 5 is 7-1, 245lb
KAT is 7-0, 244lb
Noah is 6-11, 230lbWith the way the league is playing today, KP should be playing center. Few centers nowadays are pounding the paint with brutal strengh a la Shaq.
Yes, he lacks strengh. It will be difficult against the likes of Howard, Whiteside, Cousins but it's already difficult for Noah.
During his encounters against Okafor, he held his grounds. He blocked the entry pass, he used his size. Okafor is a big butt with excellent post moves. KP is a far better stretch 5 than stretch 4.
On the other side of the court, I would very much enjoy watching the Whiteside, Howard, etc. try to defend him.
Plus, it would enable Melo to play his best position : the stretch 4.
Here are the current 4 in the opposing starting lineup according to http://basketball.realgm.com/nba/depth-c...:
Paul Millsap
Amir Johnson
Trevor Booker
M. Williams
Taj Gibson
Kevin Love
H. Barnes
W. Chandler
Jon Leuer
Draymond Green
Ryan Anderson
Thaddeus Young
L. Mbah a Moute
Julius Randle
JaMychal Green
Luke Babbitt
Jabari Parker
Gorgui Dieng
D. Cunningham
Domas Sabonis
Serge Ibaka
Joel Embiid
M. Chriss
A. Aminu
D. Cousins
L. Aldridge
Pascal Siakam
Derrick Favors
M. Morris
Except for a few matchups, I don't see Melo suffering physically against any PFs. Melo doesn't lack size and strengh for a PF. Yesterday's SF are today's PF.
On offense however, the opposition would suffer with Melo as he has shown in the past.
It would move Holiday or Thomas(if he comes back to form) at SF. We would see a better defense and the guys could run more on offense.
I don't see a downside here.
Because (at least currently) playing the 5 doesn't fit KP's skill set or maximize his potential.
I didn't see this in any of the other threads... but maybe missed it... I've been a big supporter of Melo over the years but this is bullshit and has to stop
It doesn't matter which position each of them plays, it matters who they play with. In a perfect world, you have a players alongside Melo and KP in the frontcourt who can guard multiple positions and stretch the floor. Noah, for the toughness and energy he brings, isn't a versatile defender. And even though he's a good passer, he's such a liability overall on offense that he hurts Melo and KP. Eventually, we are going to have to find a player who brings a little more athletic ability, better shooting ability, and can defend inside and out.
Knixkik wrote:It doesn't matter which position each of them plays, it matters who they play with. In a perfect world, you have a players alongside Melo and KP in the frontcourt who can guard multiple positions and stretch the floor. Noah, for the toughness and energy he brings, isn't a versatile defender. And even though he's a good passer, he's such a liability overall on offense that he hurts Melo and KP. Eventually, we are going to have to find a player who brings a little more athletic ability, better shooting ability, and can defend inside and out.
BTW, Tyler Lydon, OG Anunoby, Miles Bridges, and Ivan Rabb. There's 4 guys likely to go in the late lottery-mid 1st round who all have the potential to fill that type of role as 2-way combo forwards. In this strong draft, these types of guys don't have star potential so they probably don't go top half of the lottery, but are potential stud role players.
I think rebounding is the main reason.
