http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-knicks/post/_/id/66028/as-losing-continues-jeff-hornacek-considers-starting-kristaps-porzingis-at-center
Thank god ! I was getting tired of watching KP outta position guarding 4s outside.... this guy is a block party waiting to happen at the 5 . He gets to solidify the paint something he is already dominant at... and melo stays at the 4 his evolved natural position.
KP,Noah
Melo,oquinn
Kuz,holiday
Baker,Lee
Rose,Jennings
That should be our lineup for the rest of the season with out a doubt. Jennings wants a more consistent rotation well this is it!
Good, Its overdue. This lineup can be a problem. And it can be even better with a different PG.
I hope this happens, it's something I think can help make this team more competitive. I know some are concerned with KP banging with bigger C's but I think they'll have just as hard of a time dealing with his speed. He'll eventually adjust how he defends bigger players IMO. Rather than trying to bang he can look to deny the entry pass with his length and NOT let them get into his body. That's the trick that Bargnani used against Centers. He wouldn't body up, but rather only use his hand and stay back so that they couldn't feel which way his weight was leaning.
Good - I think this needs to happen.
I made a thread a few days ago that Noah and Lee should be benched. I guess Horny listened. 
crzymdups wrote:Good - I think this needs to happen. I made a thread a few days ago that Noah and Lee should be benched. I guess Horny listened.
If he did you're a GENIUS for convincing him! 
This could potentially be the start of a new season. I think the team will do significantly better.
Bonn1997 wrote:This could potentially be the start of a new season. I think the team will do significantly better.
We all know this where KP was headed last year. It's what was so head scratching about the Noah signing . Although I do like Noah off the bench
fitzfarm wrote:Bonn1997 wrote:This could potentially be the start of a new season. I think the team will do significantly better.
We all know this where KP was headed last year. It's what was so head scratching about the Noah signing . Although I do like Noah off the bench
Exactly. Noah was aging and didn't play well last year and interferes with our best PF/C combo (Melo/KP). There were so many reasons the signing didn't make sense. It's nothing against Noah. He's better than the average backup C. But that's not worth $70 mil.
This will certainly help spacing in lane...But I hope there are additional offensive plays added to enhance this move..Melo running more pick and rolls with KP and others with a clear lane..Melo and Rose taking advantage of a less crowed lane...There was value with Noah cleaning up put backs on Rose misses...But there will be less interference with his drives if KP hangs out at the three on a few plays...
Baker in the starting lineup can add ball movement and he can hit the open three...Lee, Noah and Jennings off the bench can help bench production...Let's see...
Defense is our problem tho...When do we address that...
holfresh wrote:This will certainly help spacing in lane...But I hope there are additional offensive plays added to enhance this move..Melo running more pick and rolls with KP and others with a clear lane..Melo and Rose taking advantage of a less crowed lane...There was value with Noah cleaning up put backs on Rose misses...But there will be less interference with his drives if KP hangs out at the three on a few plays...
Baker in the starting lineup can add ball movement and he can hit the open three...Lee, Noah and Jennings off the bench can help bench production...Let's see...
Defense is our problem tho...When do we address that...
I don't think they can with this roster. They're just going to have to outscore opponents.
holfresh wrote:This will certainly help spacing in lane...But I hope there are additional offensive plays added to enhance this move..Melo running more pick and rolls with KP and others with a clear lane..Melo and Rose taking advantage of a less crowed lane...There was value with Noah cleaning up put backs on Rose misses...But there will be less interference with his drives if KP hangs out at the three on a few plays...
Baker in the starting lineup can add ball movement and he can hit the open three...Lee, Noah and Jennings off the bench can help bench production...Let's see...
Defense is our problem tho...When do we address that...
In the draft and free agency. Anunoby or Miles Bridges in the draft. PJ Tucker in free agency. A few SF options to improve defense next to Melo and KP. Kuz as 6th man.
Bonn1997 wrote:fitzfarm wrote:Bonn1997 wrote:This could potentially be the start of a new season. I think the team will do significantly better.
We all know this where KP was headed last year. It's what was so head scratching about the Noah signing . Although I do like Noah off the bench
Exactly. Noah was aging and didn't play well last year and interferes with our best PF/C combo (Melo/KP). There were so many reasons the signing didn't make sense. It's nothing against Noah. He's better than the average backup C. But that's not worth $70 mil.
If you look at the second unit defense should be the strength
Noah :former dpoy
Oquinn :hustle shot blocker
Lee :hopefully improves on both ends of the floor being a scoring option he is not with the starting unit
Holiday: good defender who needs to be more aggressive
Jennings: jennings needs be the reckless energy scoring machine we saw when he was with Detroit I hate seeing him just on the outside not attacking: talk about a guy that used to get to the line at will and used to shoot a lot more ... the guy is just as talented as bostons Isaiah Thomas I hate that he only turns it on when he gets benched or fed up with passing ... horny needs to give him the keys to that second unit . He is the talent that can take that second unit to the next level ... he needs to start playing the way we know he can.
i hope not in all games, because KP will get in foul trouble very quickly with bigs like Howard, drummond and others, i do not KP is ready for full time center
Gudris wrote:i hope not in all games, because KP will get in foul trouble very quickly with bigs like Howard, drummond and others, i do not KP is ready for full time center
Starting at center is the change. Increasing his minutes at center with Melo at the 4 is the goal. But he will not exclusively play center. He should still share the court with Noah and O'Quinn, especially against the handful of bigger, stronger centers.
KP worked at PF when Lopez was playing Center. He made things a lot easier for the rookie. They were one of the best defensive tandems (in the paint) in the league. Those days are gone for Noah as a starter.
When the prospect of bringing Noah here came up before the trade, I replied only as a bench player. Sorry it took this long for that to happen, if this story is true. I understand Hornacek giving someone who plays as hard as Noah, a respected veteran, a fair chance to keep the job.
As much as Im impressed with the season Willy is having, we need someone a bit more dynamic, who can help take some of the load not just on offense, but defense as well for the next few years.
Next season, by free agency, or the draft, we need another big man who will help provide a one-two punch on both ends of the court. O'Quinn is turning out to be a great investment, but in the playoffs, Im getting the feeling that his height, and lack of vertical will be a problem against some of the larger, more dynamic bigs out there.
KP needs to go to Olajuwon's camp this summer. He can be a great C. His instincts on D are good.
GustavBahler wrote:KP worked at PF when Lopez was playing Center. He made things a lot easier for the rookie. They were one of the best defensive tandems (in the paint) in the league. Those days are gone for Noah as a starter. When the prospect of bringing Noah here came up before the trade, I replied only as a bench player. Sorry it took this long for that to happen, if this story is true. I understand Hornacek giving someone who plays as hard as Noah, a respected veteran, a fair chance to keep the job.
As much as Im impressed with the season Willy is having, we need someone a bit more dynamic, who can help take some of the load not just on offense, but defense as well for the next few years.
Next season, by free agency, or the draft, we need another big man who will help provide a one-two punch on both ends of the court. O'Quinn is turning out to be a great investment, but in the playoffs, Im getting the feeling that his height, and lack of vertical will be a problem against some of the larger, more dynamic bigs out there.
It worked last year, but might not work as well this year. More teams have fully adopted small-ball/stretch 4s. It has slowly been trending over the years, but there was definitely a huge spike this year. Only a few teams left who still play with multiple bigs at the same time.
GoNyGoNyGo wrote:KP needs to go to Olajuwon's camp this summer. He can be a great C. His instincts on D are good.
Yes I think KP will bring the knicks a chip as long as he is healthy. He has the ability to be the face of the NBA and one of the greatest centers in the history of the game. His time to be the starting center is now ... I can't imagine how great he will be at 25, probably completely unstoppable!
Melo is a good piece as our starting PF
Kuz might turn into a more versatile paja as our dead eye who also has great ball IQ .
Baker is the ultimate glue player to complement the stars and is a lockdown defender .
I thought since the season started rose is the best pg the knicks have had since Clyde ... as he might be the most talented player on the roster . If he wants to much $$$$$$$! We should move on and give the keys to Jennings and draft a pg for the future if we get a top 15 pick .
Knixkik wrote:GustavBahler wrote:KP worked at PF when Lopez was playing Center. He made things a lot easier for the rookie. They were one of the best defensive tandems (in the paint) in the league. Those days are gone for Noah as a starter. When the prospect of bringing Noah here came up before the trade, I replied only as a bench player. Sorry it took this long for that to happen, if this story is true. I understand Hornacek giving someone who plays as hard as Noah, a respected veteran, a fair chance to keep the job.
As much as Im impressed with the season Willy is having, we need someone a bit more dynamic, who can help take some of the load not just on offense, but defense as well for the next few years.
Next season, by free agency, or the draft, we need another big man who will help provide a one-two punch on both ends of the court. O'Quinn is turning out to be a great investment, but in the playoffs, Im getting the feeling that his height, and lack of vertical will be a problem against some of the larger, more dynamic bigs out there.
It worked last year, but might not work as well this year. More teams have fully adopted small-ball/stretch 4s. It has slowly been trending over the years, but there was definitely a huge spike this year. Only a few teams left who still play with multiple bigs at the same time.
Thats not the point I was making. Lopez is one of the best defensive big men in the league, has been for years, he wasnt your run of the mill center, defensively anyway. Did have some big games on offense, when he was given the opportunity. We dont have anyone like that now so its right to move KP to the 5.
I believe most teams would have 7fters on their front line if they were up to the job, mobile enough. Its a guard's league right now, the game is faster. More bigs are showing they can keep the pace. Thats what we need.
KP has to learn how to play against bigger and more physical Centers. There's a method to doing that. KP isn't the 1st skinny big to have to try and defend stronger players. He'll have to learn how to adapt his defense to being more of a pest on the entry and keeping the bigger guys away from his body by extending his arm enough to keep some distance and just use his length.
I don't see a problem with bigger centers. They need to teach him how to front a post up player. That's how you neutralize a post up player and give him help on the backside. Also, how many post up centers are there in the nba that can dominate him? Not a lot
