Would rather have Burks come off the bench bc of his versatility. Quickly does well with that first unit and could very well be our point guard of the future. Also allows Randle play his point forward role which helps his overall game.
I'd love it.
We all know the importance of IQs impact off the bench for our 2nd unit. But he's already proven his worth to receive opportunities to start games @ PG for our Knicks. You can't keep him on the bench forever ala James Harden @ OKC.
Not only would starting IQ @ PG give our entire starting 5 more electricity but it'll give other kids like Grimes and Duece a chance to impact off the bench and become our next IQ type of impactful role player.
C: Mitchell Robinson.
PF: Julius Randle.
SF: R.J. Barrett.
SG: Evan Fournier (he won me over tonight).
PG: Immanuel Quickley.
Probably won't happen but at least wishful thinking.
C: Nerlens Noel/Taj Gibson.
PF: Obi Toppin.
SF: Alec Burks.
SG: Quentin Grimes.
PG: Deuce McBride (until Kemba and Rose return).
That's still a firepower bench but I.Q. would give our starting PG position position both youth and electricity; while giving us a chance to tap into his untapped potential as a future starting PG.
The one thing I do keep reading - and Thibs reiterated it last night - was that he likes keeping the second unit together because of the way they play so well together.
I view things like this: Thibs is doing his best to give guys like IQ more touches, opportunity, and responsibility and by keeping him in that lead role off the bench and then meshing him with the SL guys later, and he accomplishes that.
IQ gets to play with the SL to finish games if he is excelling. He gets the best of both worlds so why change that? It's hard to flip flop from bench to SL and why put that extra layer on IQ?
+1
IQ's doing fine coming off the bench. IMHO, this "start IQ!" smacks of a Fizdale-type coaching approach. We saw how great that worked out with Knox.
martin - on a side note; you're handling of the Wallylowe thing is admirable. 
Using your pain for the good of the team.
Well we need to do something because we start games atrociously and can’t keep coming back from large deficits. Why not try it and YES give Grimes & McBride the opportunity to be that spark off the bench.
TLover wrote:Would rather have Burks come off the bench bc of his versatility. Quickly does well with that first unit and could very well be our point guard of the future. Also allows Randle play his point forward role which helps his overall game.
Nope..
I'm with THIBS, that bench unit plays too well together
martin wrote:The one thing I do keep reading - and Thibs reiterated it last night - was that he likes keeping the second unit together because of the way they play so well together.I view things like this: Thibs is doing his best to give guys like IQ more touches, opportunity, and responsibility and by keeping him in that lead role off the bench and then meshing him with the SL guys later, and he accomplishes that.
IQ gets to play with the SL to finish games if he is excelling. He gets the best of both worlds so why change that? It's hard to flip flop from bench to SL and why put that extra layer on IQ?
Agree. We all saw how Burks is a different player as a starter. Grimes couldn’t find the rim. McBride looked like a second rounder when he started. Rose even said he loves coming off the bench and he’s a former mvp. But starting puts a lot of mental pressure on you. Off the bench u can just let your game dictate your play. U have more freedom to just play and not worry about if Randle or RJ or EF are getting their touches. That’s the role of a veteran PG. IQ right now is better as a free flowing type player.
Thibs is old school. When something isn’t broken, why mess with it. He loves the chemistry in that second unit, just like we all do. Thibs goal is to fix the SL without messing with the young bench players like IQ. I like how thibs is playing IQ with the starters. It’s giving the analytics guys more data to chew on come next season or during the playoffs if we get in. Or if we trade Kemba.
But he already moved Kemba back into rotation and Kemba can only play 1 position. Right now starting Kemba or Burks who are vets and they don’t take it personal when they start or come off the bench. At least that’s the case with Burks. Sometimes young players can’t handle that promotion and demotion. Vets can.
Thibs is determined to fix the starting unit first, before dismantling the second unit. IQ is the engine in that second unit. What thibs is doing is playing iq with starters without messing with the chemistry in the second unit. Best of both worlds as Martin said.
I would add:
I don't know if this is the case necessarily but is Thibs and staff actively trying to develop IQ and one of the ways they are doing that is with his unit off the bench? I mean, that's a good thing by all accounts.
When IQ rolls, he plays more minutes. It's all on him to increase his playing time. Whatever the threshold is with minutes, IQ clearly is over that hump and Obi is not (plus he is behind Julius).
What is the benefit that is above and beyond not only the cohesiveness of being on the second unit but also the opportunity to get more chances to run the team that we would want to see IQ in the starting lineup? That is the question for me.
IQ is a streaky, energy player. Kind of the definition of a 6th man type. His role is optimal at the moment.
How about we never have to watch Burks start at pg ever again? It’s making me nauseous
TLover wrote:Well we need to do something because we start games atrociously and can’t keep coming back from large deficits. Why not try it and YES give Grimes & McBride the opportunity to be that spark off the bench.
We need to start McBride at pg until Kemba is back
Burks starting at pg is killing our season
Philc1 wrote:TLover wrote:Well we need to do something because we start games atrociously and can’t keep coming back from large deficits. Why not try it and YES give Grimes & McBride the opportunity to be that spark off the bench.
We need to start McBride at pg until Kemba is back
Burks starting at pg is killing our season
McBride was worse than Burkes when he started, we need to make a trade
I didn’t watch most of the 2nd half. But I thought IQ looked good in the 1st half.
blkexec wrote:I didn’t watch most of the 2nd half. But I thought IQ looked good in the 1st half.
IQ is better than the alternatives but worse than a sensible solution.
He's better off the bench.
His shot. Man he just heaves that ball from the other county. League is catching up to him.
Keep Quick starting, at least see with Fournier back.. Burks is so much better off the bench
blkexec wrote:I didn’t watch most of the 2nd half. But I thought IQ looked good in the 1st half.
I thought IQ looked good as a scorer. He has a long way to go as a PG but I'd welcome some other feedback
martin wrote:blkexec wrote:I didn’t watch most of the 2nd half. But I thought IQ looked good in the 1st half.
I thought IQ looked good as a scorer. He has a long way to go as a PG but I'd welcome some other feedback
I can see IQ as a starter for this team. We don’t run a traditional offense, plus we have other players like pt forward Randle and playmaking RJ to consume some of those point guard duties. I think IQ and EF is a better combination than Burks. And Burks is better off the bench. But when Rose or Kemba comes back, they will jump ahead of IQ. When thibs took IQ out for RJ, it’s like the team changed with Burks running the point. RJ was off and Burks looked like a bench player. Burks is better coming off the bench. But IQ and EF will open up the offense and allow RJ and Randle to kill while Mitch is the cleanup man. I can see this working.
http://www.ultimateknicks.com/outerlink....
Let’s hopefully see Quickly & Fournier start together in the backcourt next game. Burks rotating off the bench with Fournier & RJ seems be the right move; with Kemba/Rose/Deuce in whichever order rotating with Quick.
HoustonSprewell84 wrote:Philc1 wrote:TLover wrote:Well we need to do something because we start games atrociously and can’t keep coming back from large deficits. Why not try it and YES give Grimes & McBride the opportunity to be that spark off the bench.
We need to start McBride at pg until Kemba is back
Burks starting at pg is killing our season
McBride was worse than Burkes when he started, we need to make a trade
McBride has barely played. Burks has basically been the starting pg since 11/27 except for a 5 game stretch when Kemba was allowed to play. Enough
IQ should have been starting since last year. Period.
…but yeah “let’s keep the bench unit together” like that’s really a thing.
Problem with starting Burks/IQ at PG is
1) neither is really a pg
2) their shooting goes to sh t
