We've talked about how important the loss of IHart is going to be next season. He was very good for us on offense and defense.
How could Thibs could replace his production on both side of the floor? I think it's not necessary the same player that could do offense and defense.
On defense Precious and other defensive minded players could do that or a 70% version of what IHart brought on the defensive end. IHart defensive ws was elite but having good enough defensive minded players could help.
On offense Randle could be the passer and facilitator IHart was last year. When he's locked in, Randle can be a good passer and could function as a sort of hub with the added bonus of his triple menace capability.
What do you think?
In the end as much as I loved I Hart, a center can be replaced. He was great for us, no doubt about it. I am not going to speculate cause I don't know enough about basketball to say anything intelligent. Yet, can Simms improve a notch on offense and defense to be a good back up, I think it's possible. Can Precious improves some on offense, I think so. Can Mitch play fewer minutes and make it to 65 games or more, I think so. Can Hukporti make an impact in his time, I think so. And if it's needed to add a center that's been bought out, cut or via trade, I think so. Leon hasn't really let us down so far.
We will eventually trade for Walker Kessler or another Center
1. Small Ball
2. Jericho/Huk-tuah
3. Trade later on
Mitch is a better defender than IHart, so really we just need Mitch to stay healthy. Sims and Precious should be able to hold it down until the Knicks can trade for a serviceable backup at the trade deadline. Dallas got two centers at the deadline last year for pennies on the dollar. There will be guys available in 3 months.
The defense side is not the one that worries me. I doubt we will be able to trade for a good defensive center with passing chops and a small floater. That's why I was alluding to changing the offense and using Randle in the role of IHart.
The offensive part of IHart's game will be filled by Randle. I am hoping they put Julius in a lot of PnR situations and a lot of high post situations. The defensive part will be covered by our slew of backup Cs
NYKBocker wrote:The offensive part of IHart's game will be filled by Randle. I am hoping they put Julius in a lot of PnR situations and a lot of high post situations. The defensive part will be covered by our slew of backup Cs
We’re going to have to wait and see how much banging Randle is going to do with that shoulder. For all we know Randle could be a volume 22% perimeter shooter until he gets enough confidence in the shoulder without a new contract….just saying, it’s also a business and business men make business decisions
Rookie wrote:NYKBocker wrote:The offensive part of IHart's game will be filled by Randle. I am hoping they put Julius in a lot of PnR situations and a lot of high post situations. The defensive part will be covered by our slew of backup Cs
We’re going to have to wait and see how much banging Randle is going to do with that shoulder. For all we know Randle could be a volume 22% perimeter shooter until he gets enough confidence in the shoulder without a new contract….just saying, it’s also a business and business men make business decisions
If plays scared with that shoulder, let him walk. Nobody will want him either. Just business.
The banging is not the hard part. Its reaching for rebounds. Going to the rim, and getting tangled up going for the ball.
Nalod wrote:Rookie wrote:NYKBocker wrote:The offensive part of IHart's game will be filled by Randle. I am hoping they put Julius in a lot of PnR situations and a lot of high post situations. The defensive part will be covered by our slew of backup Cs
We’re going to have to wait and see how much banging Randle is going to do with that shoulder. For all we know Randle could be a volume 22% perimeter shooter until he gets enough confidence in the shoulder without a new contract….just saying, it’s also a business and business men make business decisions
If plays scared with that shoulder, let him walk. Nobody will want him either. Just business.
The banging is not the hard part. Its reaching for rebounds. Going to the rim, and getting tangled up going for the ball.
I dont believe Randle will be gun shy. But it could very well take him until the all-star break to get through the after-efects of surgery. It takes most older veterans until January to play at peak performance, could take Randle a couple of months more. Wouldnt surprise me if his ankle needs time to loosen up as well. Serious ankle injuries tend to linger. Especially around 30.
The good news is that the team is so stacked that Thibs doesnt have to use him in the offense like seasons past. Bring Randle along gradually. Give some of those minutes he usually gets to Precious. Especially if Precious is making good use of them.
I think okc overpaid
We have more than enough with mitch
I think we possibly trade for Kessler at some point as I think the coach likes him
When did Hartenstein become Hakeem Olajuwon?
Philc1 wrote:When did Hartenstein become Hakeem Olajuwon?
Hartenstein was a first rate glue guy for us. No superstar, but we need someone to fill his shoes.
GustavBahler wrote:Philc1 wrote:When did Hartenstein become Hakeem Olajuwon?
Hartenstein was a first rate glue guy for us. No superstar, but we need someone to fill his shoes.
iHart's impact was phenomenal. Our IQ shot up every time he took the floor.
And how many times did he bail us out by being in the right spot, and casually hitting that automatic floater?
A lot of times. The answer is a lot of times.
WE'RE DOOMED!!!
Kidding but not really.
By the way team hasn't lost all its Heart cause we still go Josh Hart. Things will be fine !!! Teams in the upper echelon always make deal or get lucky. How did Milwaukee get GTjr on the vet min ? How did Phoenix get T Jones on the vet min ? We will see something like that come up. We will snag a player for less then market value despite lack of picks cause it will just work out that way. We are a good team and that happens to good teams. And it's about time
the thing that I see has hard to replace is the space he occupied on the floor - he was a big, beefy guy. He was a combo of Ewing and Oakly in one body - big, imposing.
His #s were not anything amazing. I mean, basically 8 points and 8 boards a game in 25 minutes.
His first year was middling- would anyone have been upset if we had traded him?
But - his per 100 #s- what he did in a system and with everyone else is where he excelled.
We have to hope that Bridges can provide a spark, we have to hope that OG can stay healthy- and everyone else, especially Randle and Mitch.
For as amazing as Brunson is - we could probably hold our own over 20 games with him out vs. Randle or Mitch. Crazy?
shinmen wrote:We've talked about how important the loss of IHart is going to be next season. He was very good for us on offense and defense.
How could Thibs could replace his production on both side of the floor? I think it's not necessary the same player that could do offense and defense.On defense Precious and other defensive minded players could do that or a 70% version of what IHart brought on the defensive end. IHart defensive ws was elite but having good enough defensive minded players could help.
On offense Randle could be the passer and facilitator IHart was last year. When he's locked in, Randle can be a good passer and could function as a sort of hub with the added bonus of his triple menace capability.
What do you think?
I don't know if you've heard, but he didn't have much impact and are a dime a dozen out there.
Hukporti I think has some IHart in him. His float game around the basket on rolls is pretty impressive. I don't know about his passing skills. Need more eval
NYKBocker wrote:Hukporti I think has some IHart in him. His float game around the basket on rolls is pretty impressive. I don't know about his passing skills. Need more eval
Mitch and iHart bought out the dog in each other. iHart, who got a massive deal really evolved after mitch went down. I think we forget his window of his intense contribution was the peroid he became a starter after game 27! he missed two games in January, one vs. BKN and the other where knicks blew out at home an tired Denver team by 38!
Make no bones about it, his defense will be missed. His offensive board work will be missed. The passing and floater as well.
As structured a lot of weight is on mitch. Back up? First up is simm who is playing for his career now. He could rise up and be a serviceable back up, or fall into the oblivion where 26 year old players with no contract and little results go. He has the physical tools no doubt. Not sure about his motor, or his IQ. He makes mistakes on defense and Thibs is relentless about that. The fouls.......Oye!!!!
Huk? Can he play defense like Thibs wants? He has a big body around the rim at 7 foot but he is 22, played down under were they play just 28 regular season games.
Good backup avg. 18min a game. Im assuming they play 40min games? Played two years there and has nice per 36 and if translates he could be a keeper.
Issue becomes if Mitch misses 20-30 games? Well there in lies the rub and the fun part.
All the talk about Randle and his neutral value becomes valid. If his trade value is limited, if his extension offer is not to his expectation and he walk, then we lose him and a trade chip no matter how limited his value is.
Leon tends to not get fucked over and while I don't want this to be a "randle trade thread", the fact might be he could be the key on or off the court either as a part time 5, a chip, or cap space in another dimension I can't see.
GustavBahler wrote:Philc1 wrote:When did Hartenstein become Hakeem Olajuwon?
Hartenstein was a first rate glue guy for us. No superstar, but we need someone to fill his shoes.
He’s a good role player at Center. Mitch is better defensively. Hart is a good passer for a Center and he has one move around the basket on offense otherwise all his points come on put backs just like Mitch.
