Around the NBA part 4

[K_ick_God]

Nothing will ever approach the levels of disappointment that I felt than when we lost against Boston. And then having Melo make an ass of himself. It was embarrassing.

I want to see how we play Oklahoma City and maybe the Nuggets one more time before I make any statements on where this team really is at.

Gallo is not efficient though. Building a team around him and Amar'e was never going to get it done.

Lin on the other hand ....

Gallo is more efficient than Lin.

I wasn't saying that Lin is efficient. I was merely responding to the idea that we could've had an efficient team had we kept Gallo.

Lin is not efficient yet. But he's a point guard.

[GONYK]

I wasn't saying that Lin is efficient. I was merely responding to the idea that we could've had an efficient team had we kept Gallo.

Lin is not efficient yet. But he's a point guard.

Not one you can build around at this stage in his career though

[K_ick_God]

I wasn't saying that Lin is efficient. I was merely responding to the idea that we could've had an efficient team had we kept Gallo.

Lin is not efficient yet. But he's a point guard.

Not one you can build around at this stage in his career though

I don't know what you mean by "build around" but as much as Felton's effort and heart impress me and I appreciate his hard work, Lin is a better player and would give us the potential for something special that Felton doesn't bring.

[GONYK]

I wasn't saying that Lin is efficient. I was merely responding to the idea that we could've had an efficient team had we kept Gallo.

Lin is not efficient yet. But he's a point guard.

Not one you can build around at this stage in his career though

I don't know what you mean by "build around" but as much as Felton's effort and heart impress me and I appreciate his hard work, Lin is a better player and would give us the potential for something special that Felton doesn't bring.

Eh, it's debatable whether Lin is the better player. It's certainly debatable whether Lin is a better fit for the team as it is currently constructed.

It truly depends on what aspect of the game you are talking about. They are different types of players.

At the same time though, we could have had them both, so it is what it is.

[21shumpshumpst]

I don't know what you mean by "build around" but as much as Felton's effort and heart impress me and I appreciate his hard work, Lin is a better player and would give us the potential for something special that Felton doesn't bring.

Eh, it's debatable whether Lin is the better player. It's certainly debatable whether Lin is a better fit for the team as it is currently constructed.

It truly depends on what aspect of the game you are talking about. They are different types of players.

At the same time though, we could have had them both, so it is what it is.

I don't think this is true. Felton was not coming here unless he was the starter. Look at how he pouted in Denver. I SERIOUSLY doubt he would have been ok being the backup to an unproven player like Lin.

[GONYK]

I don't know what you mean by "build around" but as much as Felton's effort and heart impress me and I appreciate his hard work, Lin is a better player and would give us the potential for something special that Felton doesn't bring.

Eh, it's debatable whether Lin is the better player. It's certainly debatable whether Lin is a better fit for the team as it is currently constructed.

It truly depends on what aspect of the game you are talking about. They are different types of players.

At the same time though, we could have had them both, so it is what it is.

I don't think this is true. Felton was not coming here unless he was the starter. Look at how he pouted in Denver. I SERIOUSLY doubt he would have been ok being the backup to an unproven player like Lin.

I think he would have. Where else was Felton going to go after the season he had?

Start them both. Jason Kidd is our starting SG right now.

I do think that Felton would have won the starting job though if it came to that. The distraction that would have caused from the media would have been absurd however.

[K_ick_God]

The only thing Felton does better is shoot 3's. Arguably with this team he defers to Melo more than Lin could've/would've. But I think we needed to become a team that changes its style. Melo would need to be Paul Pierce like. Amar'e would need more P&R action. JR and Novak would need to become spot-up shooters, reliable from game to game, and both would be getting better looks in a Lin-centric offense.

Melo is having a productive year to say the least. But the style is not a championship one IMO.

[Rasho Brezec]

Felton is the better player and a better fit for this team. Grunnie screwed up because he got nothing for Lin when his value was high.

[GONYK]

The only thing Felton does better is shoot 3's. Arguably with this team he defers to Melo more than Lin could've/would've. But I think we needed to become a team that changes its style. Melo would need to be Paul Pierce like. Amar'e would need more P&R action. JR and Novak would need to become spot-up shooters, reliable from game to game, and both would be getting better looks in a Lin-centric offense.

Melo is having a productive year to say the least. But the style is not a championship one IMO.

We were never going to have a Lin-centric offense, even if we kept him.

[AllanHoustonFan]

Felton is the better player and a better fit for this team. Grunnie screwed up because he got nothing for Lin when his value was high.

This. That is my only beef with letting Lin go.

[GONYK]

Felton is the better player and a better fit for this team. Grunnie screwed up because he got nothing for Lin when his value was high.

He couldn't S&T Lin, so what could he realistically do?

It was really either keep Jeremy, or don't.

[AllanHoustonFan]

The only thing Felton does better is shoot 3's. Arguably with this team he defers to Melo more than Lin could've/would've. But I think we needed to become a team that changes its style. Melo would need to be Paul Pierce like. Amar'e would need more P&R action. JR and Novak would need to become spot-up shooters, reliable from game to game, and both would be getting better looks in a Lin-centric offense.

Melo is having a productive year to say the least. But the style is not a championship one IMO.

Wait so why do you hate Mike D'Antoni so much? You're basically an advocate for some of the key principles in his system.

[j4remi]

Felton is the better player and a better fit for this team. Grunnie screwed up because he got nothing for Lin when his value was high.

This...I do feel Lin will be the better player two years from now...but we didn't have the luxury of waiting.

[K_ick_God]

The only thing Felton does better is shoot 3's. Arguably with this team he defers to Melo more than Lin could've/would've. But I think we needed to become a team that changes its style. Melo would need to be Paul Pierce like. Amar'e would need more P&R action. JR and Novak would need to become spot-up shooters, reliable from game to game, and both would be getting better looks in a Lin-centric offense.

Melo is having a productive year to say the least. But the style is not a championship one IMO.

Wait so why do you hate Mike D'Antoni so much? You're basically an advocate for some of the principles in his system.

Well I've always said I think style is overrated. It's competence, not ideology, when it comes to coaching. I never had a problem with a PG-centered offense or playing uptempo. But you must preach/teach defense and attention to detail too.

I don't really care about 7SOL, I care about the fact that Mike D'Antoni is a clueless fool who was lax and didn't practice/demand the right things.

Lin-centric offense doesn't mean Lin is the main man. It means that you let him create. The Celtics were not Rondo's team when they won a title. But he had the ball and he made plays and he quarterbacked, and he had the IQ to do it. So does Lin.

Ironically, Lin does not have that in Houston either. Harden has the ball most of the time. So I think Lin is having a pretty good year considering how young he is and how he is a much better player if the ball is in his hand at the top and he's allowed to create.

Lin would be within shouting distance of the Linsanity level if he was on a team that he actually ran as a playmaker. But alas, we let what we needed go and the Rockets got Harden to essentially make Lin at least 50% less relevant.

[GONYK]

Felton is the better player and a better fit for this team. Grunnie screwed up because he got nothing for Lin when his value was high.

This...I do feel Lin will be the better player two years from now...but we didn't have the luxury of waiting.

Knick management basically said the same thing.

I remember that when the whole Lin thing happened some unnamed exec said something to the effect of

"Lin will be the better player in 4 years, but our moment is now and Ray is the better player now"

[yaboynyp]

Wait people still think Lin is better than Felton??? Wow guess he must of just had a couple good games….

[AllanHoustonFan]

Felton is the better player and a better fit for this team. Grunnie screwed up because he got nothing for Lin when his value was high.

This...I do feel Lin will be the better player two years from now...but we didn't have the luxury of waiting.

Knick management basically said the same thing.

I remember that when the whole Lin thing happened some unnamed exec said something to the effect of

"Lin will be the better player in 4 years, but our moment is now and Ray is the better player now"

I don't think anyone can dispute that quote.

[K_ick_God]

Felton is the better player and a better fit for this team. Grunnie screwed up because he got nothing for Lin when his value was high.

What can I say other than I think you're quite wrong. And I don't think you're that confident because if he was the better player, all you'd have to say is "Felton is the better player." Period. The "and a better fit for this team" qualification makes me think you're not so sure about the first part of your statement.

Anyway, it's neither here nor there.

Felton is definitely not better than Lin. He's a better fit, I've already acknowledged, for a team that wants Melo to have full freedom on offense. But that's not the route to a title.

And the one thing that Felton does better -- shoot from deep -- Felton is not too good in that one area that he beats Lin. Felton's jumper is unreliable at best. The 37% from 3 is good but skewed up by a hot streak early. He is a pretty mediocre (and I'm being generous) shooter. The guy is barely above the Mendoza line at 40%.

Again, not trying to knock Felton. Decent sense of tempo, not a bad passer though sloppy at times, but he's just quite limited -- not a good jumper and not particularly quick, poor jumping lift, though he makes up for it with good strength. And his defense is horrendous I might add.

But Felton is having a relatively (relative to last year) good season and his effort is there. He played his ass off against the Clippers. But he's not good enough.

[Rasho Brezec]

Felton is the better player.

[K_ick_God]

Wait people still think Lin is better than Felton??? Wow….

He absolutely is. He's also better than Dragic and now I'd move him ahead of Jennings.

Lin is the real deal. His production is not great this year, but that's because Harden is there.

Put Lin on the Knicks, had we matched, and he's at 16 and 8 ... no problema ... with clutch play and timely plays ... as well as the steal machine that he's become. His 3-ball would still be low, he's not a great shooter, but that's really not such a big issue. He'd elevate Amar'e, Novak and J.R. Melo would have to adjust but I think he could've made the leap.

I do think it's ironic that Lin is a much better defender than Felton. Much.