The Pups... and The Purp

sol537 · Post #1 » by **sol537** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:45 pm

This thread is about Landry Fields, Toney Douglas, Iman Shumpert, and Shawne Williams.

These players are the antithesis of most of the 90's star and role players we had on this team. These guys are young, athletic, hungry, they battle on defense, and they all have shown that they know what it means to be a good teammate, a good Knickerbocker.

I give the front office a HUGE amount of credit for finding these diamonds in the rough using non-lottery picks or resources.

A great team, a winning team, a championship-caliber team needs great role-players who defend *and* who can knock down the 3-point shot consistently when their superstar teammates are doubled or tripled. All these guys have potential to be effective 3-point shooters in addition to the other aspects they bring to the team. (as an aside, you can never have enough 3-point shooting surrounding your stars like Glen Rice, Fisher, Fox around Shaq or the shooters around Howard or Jordan back in the day and that's why the Bibby signing for peanuts can only help and that's why we must lock up Shawne).

Landry Fields is a high IQ player. He had a great first year for a rookie. We can't forget that he was a rookie. He rebounds, he scraps, he plays within himself. What more can you ask for? It's easy to get down on him after his 2nd half struggles, but that would be a mistake. He is in the mold of a Shane Battier. Smart, savvy... will help you win games. Look at the +/-. Watch him play this year--watch him closely. He's a winning player and winning players don't grow and trees and you certainly don't trade them for a losing player like Crawford. You know what else winning players do? They work on their game and their weaknesses. They wow you as they continue to pick up new tricks to help you win. They rarely let you down.

Toney Douglas is similar in a lot of ways. You don't get DPOY in college for not getting after it. You think he's happy with the way things went down against Boston? He can score and he can defend. He made plenty of mistakes, but for a second year guy, he was solid more times than not. And you know what? He's not gonna quit on you or the team so don't quit on him. Decision-making and passing are his weaknesses but how many smalls had those weaknesses coming into the league? Not all of them improved those weaknesses, but not all of them had TD's spirit.

Iman Shumpert is an NBA unknown except for the fact that he has an NBA physique and athleticism already and that he's impressed most who have watched him play. Those two facts alone are great signs for a #17 pick. Add to that the fact that he was one of the best defenders in college and that he gives intelligent interviews and you can't help but be bullish on this kid.

Shawne Williams did something that 99% of former NBA players have never done... he made it back to the league. I don't mean signing 10-day contracts here or there after being sent to purgatory... I mean coming back all the way where you command multi-year contracts from several teams. He did it with his 3-point shot first-and-foremost and with his defense even while having to guard bigger opponents. How many big shots did he hit for us and how many games did he help us win with his offense or defense? I count at least a dozen where he played his role to perfection, leading to wins.

If Shawne gets a 3-year $12 mil deal from some team and takes it over our 2-year $5 mil or vet min deal, I would not blame him in the least. You can't leave that much money on the table. You just can't. If the Knicks don't do everything they can to keep this kid, and he leaves because we're not budging from the vet minimum, then I would blame them. I would also be surprised because the Knicks, since Donnie took over and even after he left, have made, more times than not, wise basketball decisions in bringing in winning players at value.

-Sol537

CoolKids · Post #2 » by **CoolKids** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:51 pm

I agree its impresive what the knicks have done with later picks. If only they could capitalize on lotto picks who knows what the team would look like. But we have melo and amare now so no need for hindsight criticisms.

JVGDietCoke · Post #3 » by **JVGDietCoke** » Wed Dec 14, 2011 12:26 am

Time to give Purp the room exception. The man earned it and will be a big asset off the bench. Time to start being loyal to contributors on this roster and build a true team.

sol537 · Post #4 » by **sol537** » Wed Dec 14, 2011 4:25 pm

JVGDietCoke wrote:Time to give Purp the room exception. The man earned it and will be a big asset off the bench. Time to start being loyal to contributors on this roster and build a true team.

agreed

denterprise · Post #5 » by **denterprise** » Wed Dec 14, 2011 4:40 pm

JVGDietCoke wrote:Time to give Purp the room exception. The man earned it and will be a big asset off the bench. Time to start being loyal to contributors on this roster and build a true team.

I hope the only reason for the holdup is they are working on keeping him and our core intact and bring in extra help. Other than that, sign the man and let’s get started building team chemistry.