Built Ford Tough Posted October 14, 2009 Report Share Posted October 14, 2009 Do you think that Darko should start this season for the Knicks? I know that D'Antoni likes to push the pace and play a Run N Gun style and would rather have smaller, quick players which is why Lee started at center, but having Darko in the starting lineup gives them a guy with good size at center as well as a good defensive presence as well. He is athletic enough to get out and run the floor as well so that shouldn't be a problem. So do you think that the Knicks should start Darko and have a lineup of: C: DarkoPF: LeeSF: HarringtonSG: HughesPG: Duhon ??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poe Posted October 14, 2009 Report Share Posted October 14, 2009 I'd say the starting line up should be.. C: DarkoPF: LeeSF: GallinariSG: ChandlerPG: Duhon ..and leave Nate, Harrington, and Hughes to bring spark and energy off the bench. It would keep the starting line up solid and flowing, and create a very strong bench of: C: Curry (healthy?)PF: JeffriesSF: HarringtonSG: HughesPG: Robinson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owner Real Deal Posted October 15, 2009 Owner Report Share Posted October 15, 2009 Darko did show signs of improvement, and I don't mind the lineup except that Chandler has to start at the two. However, you said it in your original post: D'Antoni likes to run. I'm not sure if Darko does, even though he certainly has the ability to do so. It's the main reason why I think the Knicks should just go after Bosh in 2010. He would run with Lee, Chandler, Nate and the others, no doubt about it. Defense? Mike D'Antoni doesn't play defense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Cool Beas Posted October 16, 2009 Report Share Posted October 16, 2009 SMH...what does it say about a team that has 2 former lottery picks that can play the position...and both are under-achievers? The Knicks would trade Curry for a bag of donuts right now, (if they can get even that kind of offer), and intrigue is about the only argument you can give towards giving Darko the starting gig. I would look towards Jeffries or even Lee to start at Center. Both players are long, can defend the position against most...but I am not Mike D'Antoni and I agree, D'Antoni doesn't play defense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Built Ford Tough Posted October 16, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 16, 2009 SMH...what does it say about a team that has 2 former lottery picks that can play the position...and both are under-achievers? The Knicks would trade Curry for a bag of donuts right now, (if they can get even that kind of offer), and intrigue is about the only argument you can give towards giving Darko the starting gig. I would look towards Jeffries or even Lee to start at Center. Both players are long, can defend the position against most...but I am not Mike D'Antoni and I agree, D'Antoni doesn't play defense. No it isn't. You can use the very legitimate argument of Darko being the best interior defender on the team and a shot blocking presence down low as well. The Knicks don't have one big man that is capable of blocking shots and while Darko is no Dwight Howard when it comes to blocking shots, he is definitely an upgrade over players like David Lee or Eddy Curry on the defensive end of the floor. And neither Jeffries or Lee can defend centers. David Lee got absolutely abused by legit centers last season on the defensive end of the floor and Jeffries simply doesn't have the body type to defend centers either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Cool Beas Posted October 16, 2009 Report Share Posted October 16, 2009 (edited) No it isn't. You can use the very legitimate argument of Darko being the best interior defender on the team and a shot blocking presence down low as well. The Knicks don't have one big man that is capable of blocking shots and while Darko is no Dwight Howard when it comes to blocking shots, he is definitely an upgrade over players like David Lee or Eddy Curry on the defensive end of the floor. And neither Jeffries or Lee can defend centers. David Lee got absolutely abused by legit centers last season on the defensive end of the floor and Jeffries simply doesn't have the body type to defend centers either.David Lee is the team's best rebounder and Jeffries is the best shot blocker. Like I said, both guys are "long" players but can defend in the post. Exactly what makes you think otherwise? A farm animal is an upgrade over Eddy Curry period...but Darko isn't a better player than David Lee. The guy about 12 pts, 3 blocks, 9 boards last season...but he's not going to be on the floor in D'Antoni's offense for 36 minutes per. Edited October 16, 2009 by Super Cool Beas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owner Real Deal Posted October 16, 2009 Owner Report Share Posted October 16, 2009 Lee's defense needs a ton of work, and Jeffries is too thin to play the five. I would rather see Darko in there, but it's still a toss-up to me, because like we saw in Phoenix with Amare, I'm not sure if D'Antoni cares that Lee is playing center. Mike would sacrifice a basket just to have his players streaking up the court and scoring within seven seconds, which is why he'll never win a ring as a head coach. I do agree that Curry needs to come off the bench, though...but I would like to see Darko start. He's not the offensive player Lee is, but he's a better defender, and dropping Lee to the four gives you a stronger and more legit power forward than Al Harrington. In fact, just compare the situation to that in Los Angeles. Gasol would be the ideal choice at the five, but Bynum is a legit center, and even though Odom is a better overall player than Andrew, he'll be coming off the bench because of Bynum's defense and his physical presence, while Gasol plays his natural position. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Built Ford Tough Posted October 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2009 David Lee is the team's best rebounder and Jeffries is the best shot blocker. Like I said, both guys are "long" players but can defend in the post. Exactly what makes you think otherwise? A farm animal is an upgrade over Eddy Curry period...but Darko isn't a better player than David Lee. The guy about 12 pts, 3 blocks, 9 boards last season...but he's not going to be on the floor in D'Antoni's offense for 36 minutes per. Please point out to me where I said that Darko is a better player than David Lee? What exactly is your point about David Lee being the teams best rebounder either? Its not like I am saying that Lee should be benched or anything. I said that he should play at his naturaly position, which is the 4. I listed him as the starting 4. You do realize that Jared Jeffries averaged 0.6 bpg last season (a career high) and has a career average of of 0.5 bpg right? Jeffries averaged the 0.6 bpg in 23.4 mpg while Darko averaged 0.8 in 17 mpg. When Darko has been given around the same amount of minutes (23-24) he has averaged 1.8 and 1.6 bpg. Hell, he averaged 2.1 in only 20 minutes with Orlando after he was traded there during the 05/06 season. Oh yeah, Darko has a career average of 1.2 bpg as well. Darko is undoubtedly the teams best shot blocker. Put it this way, Darko has been in the league for 6 years compared to Jeffries 7 years and Darko has managed 414 blocks compared to Jefferies 204 despite playing 5 less minutes per game and 103 less games. As for you comments about Lee and Jeffries being "long" players, David Lee has a wingspan of 7'0 and Jeffries has a 7'1 wingspan. Darko has a wingspan of 7'5. So seeing how Darko has a longer wingspan and is a better interior defender than both of them (Lee is a better rebounder but Darko is a better defender), what exactly are you trying to argue about here? I just noticed this comment: Like I said, both guys are "long" players but can defend in the post. Exactly what makes you think otherwise? What makes me think otherwise is that I have seen David Lee get lit up by post players and attacked by perimeter players on a regular basis. The same can be said for Jeffries when he was put in at the 4 (he spent the majority of his time last year at the 3). All you have to do is have watched the 3 of these guys play enough to get a credible opinion on them to realize that Lee and Jeffries aren't as good interior defenders as Darko is. I'm not saying Darko is an elite defender or anything, but he is the best interior defender that the Knicks have on their roster. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I am not saying that Darko should be the starter or anything like that. I just made this thread to create discussion. If you don't believe that Darko should start, I can accept that opinion and see the reasoning behind it. The only reason why I responded to your post is that you saying the only reason to consider Darko for the starting job is curiousity is simply false. Darko brings things to the table that they do not have with David Lee at center and Al Harrington at power forward. One of the Knicks biggest problems last season was a lack of an interior presence defensively and Darko is their best interior presence defensively. That would be why you could argue for Darko to start. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Cool Beas Posted October 17, 2009 Report Share Posted October 17, 2009 You make a solid argument for Darko but because Al Harrington is such a good fit at the 4, David Lee will remain at center and Darko backing him up. Harrington has nay-sayers but his style fits in well with the running offense and he's got a great long range shot. I really feel like David Lee should of been an All-Star last season. The guy averaged 15.5 ppg, 11.5 rpg and 5 bpg last by the midway point of last season...predominantly at center. I see Lee as being the best offensive option for D'Antoni's system and as some have already point out, how much does D'Antoni value defense? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fish7718 Posted October 19, 2009 Report Share Posted October 19, 2009 (edited) I would love to see 1. Nate Robinson2. Wilson Chandler3. Danilo Gallinari4. Al Harrington5. David Lee but its probably going to be 1. Chris Duhon2. Wilson Chandler3. Al Harrington4. David Lee5. Darko Milicic Bench 1. Nate Robinson2. Larry Hughes3. Danilo Gallinari4. Jared Jeffries5. Eddy Curry but who knows D'antoni likes to work a 7/8 man rotation interesting to see how he will work I'd say the starting line up should be.. C: DarkoPF: LeeSF: GallinariSG: ChandlerPG: Duhon ..and leave Nate, Harrington, and Hughes to bring spark and energy off the bench. It would keep the starting line up solid and flowing, and create a very strong bench of: C: Curry (healthy?)PF: JeffriesSF: HarringtonSG: HughesPG: Robinson No way Harrington does not start Edited October 19, 2009 by Fish7718 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amare320 Posted October 21, 2009 Report Share Posted October 21, 2009 Hmm Darko to start, while Harrington dosen't. i don't think so! We know who's more deserving here but really it's a matter of who fits the best where, enabling this team to effective as possible! id like to see it as Duhon, Chandeee, AL, Lee and Darko at the 5. Nate belongs on the bench but where talking about the Knicks here.. still im thinking he should stick to being a 6th man. You also have Gallinari, Hughes, Jeffries and Curry coming off your bench, dosen't seem so bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeefUp Posted October 22, 2009 Report Share Posted October 22, 2009 Unless Harrington goes down or has a terrible start I don't see Darko starting for a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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