Balkman playing really well for the PR national team who...

[shadowx]

Hi Balkman is a new addition in the Puerto Rico national team, who is he? The NBA page shows he is not playing any minutes with you guys.

From what I have seen he can defend and is a really good rebounder, but I have only seen him play 4 times.

http://www.fibaamericas.com/torneos_ros ... Rico&c=PUR

[JRMelo15]

Him is a bench warmer for the Nuggets that doesn't get any playing time. Decent defender, can hustle when he wants to.

[shadowx]

He looks undersized for the NBA.

[Nutty Nats Fan]

He looks undersized for the NBA.

Two years ago when he filled in for an injured Kmart and got to start, he averaged close to a double-double. He is a hustle defender, good rebounder, and brings a lot of energy. Can't shoot though.

[shadowx]

Tnx!!! he play well today also, tomorrow Puerto Rico is playing for the Gold and he's been the best rebounder defender in the post for our team.

[el loco]

He looks undersized for the NBA.

Two years ago when he filled in for an injured Kmart and got to start, he averaged close to a double-double. He is a hustle defender, good rebounder, and brings a lot of energy. Can't shoot though.

He can't shoot for ****, but if he has a pg that will hit the open man, he does seem to find openings for easy lay ups (he moves well without the ball).

[Nutty Nats Fan]

He looks undersized for the NBA.

Two years ago when he filled in for an injured Kmart and got to start, he averaged close to a double-double. He is a hustle defender, good rebounder, and brings a lot of energy. Can't shoot though.

He can't shoot for ****, but if he has a pg that will hit the open man, he does seem to find openings for easy lay ups (he moves well without the ball).

Yeah, he does. And that was really baffling. Denver needed more player movement, hustle, rebounding, all things Balkman can provide, yet GK glued him to the bench. Yeah he can't shoot, but that didn't stop GK from playing AC or DJ.

[TheBigBoss]

I neer knew Balkman was of Puert Rican heritage, thats pretty cool. BTW, how has Peter Ramos been playing?

[shadowx]

Balkman played great! Puerto Rico won Gold, and Balkman got a spot on the team for the CentroAmerican games and the World Tournament in Turkey. Great rebounder!!!

Video;

http://www.elnuevodia.com/videos-encasa ... 66225.html

[Luv those Knicks]

Cool to see this thread.


We LOVED Balkman when he was on the Knicks. He was a nifty defender, a good shot blocker and he got a number of steals and obviously, a gifted rebounder too. He took risks, but fans like that in a player. He was aggressive and wirey and he used to annoy Lebron when he guarded him. (I'm not saying he stopped Lebron, but he tried) - Bron got mad at him a few times.

There was also a game against the Rockets when Yao was making the Knicks look silly - scoring at will, and isiah switched Balkman on Yao, and balkman didn't do a half bad job guarding the 7 and a half footer. He got 2 or 3 steals and he probably did a better job covering Yao than any of our PFs or undersized Centers did.

His 2nd year in NY wasn't as impressive as his rookie year and a many fans were disappointed in that. We thought he was a budding star, but he took a step backwards.

That off season, Isiah was out, Dantoni was in, and Balkman wasn't a Dantoni player and NY had 16 guys competing for 15 spots on the roster, and Dantoni liked Guard Anthony Roberson (nobody else liked him, but Dantoni did), so NY moved Balkman to Denver for a 2nd round pick (Many fans were very upset).


One of the guys on the Knicks Board met Balkman at Steve and Barry's, and he talked to him a bit. He asked why Balkman shopped at Steve and Barry's when he'd signed a first round pick / guaranteed contract and Balkman said something like "I'm from the hood" - don't quote me on that, but that's what I remember.

He said that Balkman was really easy going and down to earth. Very relaxed (he seemed like somebody who smoked pot before breakfast) - that kind of guy. - perhaps too relaxed for a professional athlete, but that he was a really nice guy and down to earth, the way he'd talk to somebody who just walked up to him.

He also said that Balkman had mad skinny arms - which is interesting when you think about how physical a player he is, but he's thin and wirey, not sure how strong he is, though he did manage 9 bench presses in the NBA pre-draft thing, which isn't to bad.

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Ren ... lkman-588/

very long warms, (7'1 wingspan, just 6'5.25 height without shoes) and 4.9% bodyfat which is on the low side.


We used to say he was like a young Dennis Rodman, but he never really earned that title, though, as a rook, he looked like he might get there. Balkman was so exciting as a rookie that for that year, we didn't care about passing over Rondo or the guy everybody wanted - Marcus Williams.

When the Knicks drafted Balkman over Marcus Williams, the Boos in MSG could be heard as far as a mile a way. It's an annual event for NY fans to boo whoever the Knicks draft (unless it's Patrick Ewing), but the Balkman draft may have been the loudest any draft pick has ever been booed at MSG, perhaps even louder than the Frederick Weiss pick.

The fan reaction to balkman being drafted was one of outrage and bewilderment. He wasn't even listed as a 2nd rounder in many mocks and I don't think he was a first round projection in any, but, people from that draft class who had played against him had good things to say about Balkman.


He remains to this day, a fan favorite.

[The Rebel]

If Balkman would smoke a little less weed, and focus on practice he would be a great guy off the bench, but unfortunately that does not seem to be an option for him.

[shadowx]

I neer knew Balkman was of Puert Rican heritage, thats pretty cool. BTW, how has Peter Ramos been playing?

Ramos offense is great but he still can't defend even if his live depended on it.

[shadowx]

Balkman again played great in the Centroamericanos 2010, PR won Gold again. He is winning the starting spot on the team, and will be a huge factor in Turkey.



http://www.mayaguez2010.com/results/ENG ... er=495.htm

Carmelo was watching the game.

[shadowx]

[eathb_au]

thanks for update.

[almost famous]

Who's Balkman??

lol gotta love the T-Mobile advertisement on the jerseys. Only a matter of time before that hits the NBA.

[shadowx]

PR team will play some games in NY to train for the Worlds hope its with team USA. They always play some friendlies to train.

[PeTBuLL]

ATÔMICO, is that you?

[tugs]

no Arroyo?

[shadowx]

Balkman did not play today in the frendlly against Germany does he have any injury?