Jay10 wrote:How does Carter Jr. and Bamba help the Knicks, if it forces Kristaps to defend on the perimeter where he struggles, due to his horrible lateral quickness?
He didn't struggle because of poor lateral quickness. KP struggled with the perimeter because he constantly had to shift between protecting the paint, blocking shots and guarding opposing 4's. Kanter isn't a rim protector, nor is he known for his defense. Essentially KP dealt with the responsibilities of guarding his own man AND protecting the paint, while also carrying the offensive load on a talent-barred team. That takes a toll on anybody, yet he still managed to be one of the best rim protectors in the league.
Now imagine if he had an actual defensive presence behind him so he didn't have to block every single shot. He played well when he had a true center like Lopez next to him. I can't speak for Carters defense, but a guy like Bamba would make life so much easier for him.