Acy and the Knicks

[Capn'O]

No green font. He is addition by subtraction.

Shump can't play 48 mpg for 82 games. Neither can Timmy and he's arguably the weakest on defense at the 2 spot. Cleanthony is not a SG and either way, he's too green. We still need JR.

Sorry, but it's too early in the year to assume that getting rid of JR is addition by subtraction. Unless you can honestly name me free agent SG-SF's who are available for minimum salary who are truly better than JR, we're probably better off riding it out with him.

Timmy has had a rough, rough preseason.

[Pharmcat]

why isn't a good sign JR is getting praised?

a productive JR = better for the team outcome

He shouldn't be given much of any role. Invest in Shumpert.

there is nothing to invest shumpert, he is what he is: role player in a SG rotation, can provide decent D, cant finish at rim, unreliable jumper

[AmazingJason]

Acy's the best starting PF we've had since Wilson Chandler.

[stuporman]

Acy might start just so the rotation is balanced, not that he's better than JSmith.

I know that most want to see the forward rotation like this:
Dally/JSmith
Cole/Acy
Melo/Early

...with Amar'e and Barg gone...

Even though Jax tried he probably couldn't get rid of them without losing assets or taking back future salary so in long term plans dealing with those two on the roster for one season more is going to frustrating as fans to watch it.

So get used to seeing:
Dally/JSmith/Barg
Acy/Amar'e/Barg
Melo/Acy

With Cole and Early riding.....

Unless injuries or a trade happens.

[MetaKnick13]

Acy might start just so the rotation is balanced, not that he's better than JSmith.

I know that most want to see the forward rotation like this:
Dally/JSmith
Cole/Acy
Melo/Early

...with Amar'e and Barg gone...

Even though Jax tried he probably couldn't get rid of them without losing assets or taking back future salary so in long term plans dealing with those two on the roster for one season more is going to frustrating as fans to watch it.

So get used to seeing:
Dally/JSmith/Barg
Acy/Amar'e/Barg
Melo/Acy

With Cole and Early riding.....

Unless injuries or a trade happens.

I'm definitely perplexed by Aldrich's place on this team. I think in the latter half of the year, he clearly showed potential (and insight into why he was a lottery pick). He's a solid defender, big body, fairly agile, definitely a force down low of some sort (right now of low impact but showing potential).

Is the plan that Phil pitched to him that they see him as a guy on this team for a long time? Was there foreshadowing that this year would be a learning year, and that with guys like Amare/Bargs definitely gone after the year, he will get more minutes down the road?

Right now it almost seems like a waste from his point of view. I'm sure he could've gotten a contract for another team but he chose to re-sign here for a reason. I'm not saying he was blown away by offers but he could get a minimum contract from alot of teams.

[ctorres]

I'm definitely perplexed by Aldrich's place on this team. I think in the latter half of the year, he clearly showed potential (and insight into why he was a lottery pick). He's a solid defender, big body, fairly agile, definitely a force down low of some sort (right now of low impact but showing potential).

Is the plan that Phil pitched to him that they see him as a guy on this team for a long time? Was there foreshadowing that this year would be a learning year, and that with guys like Amare/Bargs definitely gone after the year, he will get more minutes down the road?

Right now it almost seems like a waste from his point of view. I'm sure he could've gotten a contract for another team but he chose to re-sign here for a reason. I'm not saying he was blown away by offers but he could get a minimum contract from alot of teams.

Cole Aldrich knows his place. He's a 3rd string center worth minimum salary. Samuel Dalembert and Jason Smith are better than him. If either of those two go down, then Aldrich gets minutes at center. Therefore, he's not a waste.

[K_ick_God]

Let's not kid ourselves that JR is an effective defender. He's a negative there too.

[ctorres]

Let's not kid ourselves that JR is an effective defender. He's a negative there too.

Find me a better option on offense and defense currently available at minimum salary who can play the SG and SF spots. There are more than plenty of veteran posters here who are well aware of JR's flaws, so what's your motive here?

While no one expects JR to be great, he's still not the utter trash that you seem to be implying he is.

[moocow007]

Let's not kid ourselves that JR is an effective defender. He's a negative there too.

Oh that's just silly and over the top. JR Smith is a knucklehead, he's not a negative defender.

[K_ick_God]

Let's not kid ourselves that JR is an effective defender. He's a negative there too.

Oh that's just silly and over the top. JR Smith is a knucklehead, he's not a negative defender.

Misses assignments and gets lost easily. Often low energy and lacks confidence. Remember him looking scared to defend Jamal Crawford. Backed off him. Low IQ on defense too. No he's not a good defender.

[GardenFaith]

For all JR's faults, Defence is right near the bottom of the list.

[LifeLongKNICK]

Acy's the best starting PF we've had since Wilson Chandler.

cmon. is everybody drunk? wilson chandler is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay better then acy.

look. i like acy. hes personable. hes a grinder. he works on his game. he's good at social media.

BUT CMON. first off, he isnt a starter. 2ndly he isnt in chandlers universe in terms of raw skill/talent.

i hope im wrong.PLEASE ACY.PROVE ME WRONG! i want acy to be better then wilson chandler. but this over rating guys who havent shown themselves to be nothing but good teamates and solid bench guys as something they arent is at epidemic proportions around here.

[LifeLongKNICK]

Yeah - I think JR deserves a fair shake. To be judged on the merits on what he does under this regime. If for nothing else, because Carmelo and others on the team seem to like JR. There's no reason to be punitive. Especially if the Fishman wants to employ some small lineups there will be use for him.

That said - Shumpert all but looks to be wrapping up the starting spot. He's been a terrific bright spot so far with his awareness and leadership. We may need him at the 1 some which, again, underscores our need for more guards.


Now - if JR gets too into his funny business he needs to sit.

i agree. every player deserves a fair shake and a fresh start. under woodson, we constantly made the same dumb mistakes. jr constantly made the same stupid mistakes/plays. woodson held no one accountable. those mistakes add up.THEY COST US GAMES, and gauging the preseason ive already seen jr and stat jack up shots well outside the framework of what fish and zen are asking this team to do/buy into.

jr and stat will soon be riding pine if zen master and fish are serious about accountability. i hope they both buy in. it appears shump has, and so has melo who publicly stated his scoring numbers will be down this season.

team ball.accountability.a system...would you bet even a $1 on jr buying in? i dunno if even id make that best.

[ctorres]

Misses assignments and gets lost easily. Often low energy and lacks confidence. Remember him looking scared to defend Jamal Crawford. Backed off him. Low IQ on defense too. No he's not a good defender.

Most of us haven't even been calling him a good defender. Are you even listening to yourself?!?!?

You're drinking some serious haterade man. It's like your sense of objectivity has gone out the window.

One of the more unfortunate things to see on a forum is when you start seeing a poster, one who has historically had insightful things to say, start going off the deep end. Don't let this become you, KnicksGod.

[Mr_Perfect]

Let's not kid ourselves that JR is an effective defender. He's a negative there too.

Oh that's just silly and over the top. JR Smith is a knucklehead, he's not a negative defender.

Misses assignments and gets lost easily. Often low energy and lacks confidence. Remember him looking scared to defend Jamal Crawford. Backed off him. Low IQ on defense too. No he's not a good defender.

You have to remember that you're talking to people who were once staunch defenders of Mike Woodson, Glen Grunwald, Raymond Felton, Isiah Thomas, Stephon Marbury, Eddy Curry, etc. The list is endless.

When they're wrong they never acknowledge it but they're quick to take a crap on your present-day opinion and act like are basketball geniuses when in fact they are anything but.

[gavran]

Acy's the best starting PF we've had since Wilson Chandler.

cmon. is everybody drunk? wilson chandler is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay better then acy.

look. i like acy. hes personable. hes a grinder. he works on his game. he's good at social media.

BUT CMON. first off, he isnt a starter. 2ndly he isnt in chandlers universe in terms of raw skill/talent.

i hope im wrong.PLEASE ACY.PROVE ME WRONG! i want acy to be better then wilson chandler. but this over rating guys who havent shown themselves to be nothing but good teamates and solid bench guys as something they arent is at epidemic proportions around here.

Why are you arguing something that was never said?

[Dr. Detfink]

Defense is a mindset. Don't remember BJ Armstrong, Flava Flav, Cartwright, Pacson, Stacy King, and Wil Purdue getting individual awards when the Bulls D was tops.

The question really is, who is willing to sacrifice on the Knicks to take the charge, get the rebound, fight to prevent an easy bucket?

We'll find out who is willing to step forward.

[brooklynoxy]

why isn't a good sign JR is getting praised?

a productive JR = better for the team outcome

He shouldn't be given much of any role. Invest in Shumpert.

Shumpert is what he is going to be and when the cap goes up, he will be a distant memory of a good management decision to not have made the move to re-up Iman.

Despite the hate on JR, he is, as another poster stated, the second best player on the Knicks, is on an extremely friendly contract, and is obviously worth the praise he has been receiving from Fish.

How much more should Iman Shumpert make? As the years go by, the returns are diminishing. In my humble opinion.

Phil should not invest in Shump, unless it is a precursor to something better for this season or 2015.

[thebuzzardman]

Most of us haven't even been calling him a good defender. Are you even listening to yourself?!?!?

You're drinking some serious haterade man. It's like your sense of objectivity has gone out the window.

One of the more unfortunate things to see on a forum is when you start seeing a poster, one who has historically had insightful things to say, start going off the deep end. Don't let this become you, KnicksGod.

Also Known As "TKF Syndrome"

[Greenie]

Let's not kid ourselves that JR is an effective defender. He's a negative there too.

Find me a better option on offense and defense currently available at minimum salary who can play the SG and SF spots. There are more than plenty of veteran posters here who are well aware of JR's flaws, so what's your motive here?

While no one expects JR to be great, he's still not the utter trash that you seem to be implying he is.

Mentally he can be and sometimes that spills over to the court in his antics and performance. If it's not one thing it's another with him. From the knee, to suspension, to hideous play, to lace gate, to another suspension, to more poor play to finally decent play(and that was just one year).

Getting rid of JR should be a priority, but only through trade where we net back at least a low level prospect on a rookie deal if at all possible. Maybe JR comes in this year looking focused and we can get more for him.