[quote name='GArenas' post='426322' date='Jul 25 2007, 09:28 PM']Defensively the Knicks are weak, they struggle when it comes to post-defense because Curry and Randolph do not stand strong in the post like other quality big-men. However, when you look at the Eastern Conference, most teams are either weak offensively or defensively. We know that Washington can't stop a three, Cleveland struggles scoring in offensive sets, Chicago lacks post prescence, Orlando lacked a solid perimiter game last season, and New Jersey, similar to Chicago, only scoring big-men is Nenand Krstic. Lacking certain neccesities that seperate a good team from a great team is very common in the Eastern Conference.[/quote]While you are right that alot of teams have problems with stuff, these teams have shown the ability to play through it, or play at a pace as to where this won't hurt them. While Chicago does not have a solid post scoring option, they have four players the can combine to score major points on the wings, as well as players that are solid offensive rebounders and can help contribute offensively. New Jersey and Washington played at a pace where their lack of solid defense would not hurt them to much, so they were able to get away with not being to good at defense. The Cavaliers played at a slow enough pace, to where their defense took over, and Lebron James was able to score enough to cause problems. The Magic improved this year in what hurt them last year, as well as played at a slow enough pace to where their defense helped them and the other teams could not score to much on them. So all of those teams did stuff to mask what they were bad at.The Knicks however will be bad defensively, and will not be able to play at a fast pace with both Curry and Randolp. Both are fat, and slow, and won't be able to cover up for their defense being so terrible. Not only are they terrible defensively in the post, they are terrible defensively on the perimeter also. That is a major problem, for a team that plays a slower paced game, and will play even slower this year with two slow big men like that.
I do agree that he does take too many shots, but his game is not simply banging in the post, you do see Randolph take mid-range jumpers so 46% is understandable.
There are plenty of other people that take alot of mid-range shots, and don't shoot that kind of percentage. Elton Brand shoots mid range alot and doesn't do that, Amare Stoudemire took alot more mid range shots this year, and shot a good percentage, Pau Gasol shoots the mid range a decent amount, and doesn't have that kind of percentage. So his 46% is still not understandable to me, for a low post scoring option.
Shaq averages 3.5 turnovers per game, pair that with Wade who averages 5.75 and they combine for a large amount of turnovers.
That is completely different, as that is a guard and a center combining for that much. That is not a power forward averaging 3.2 turnovers per game, and a center who averages nearly four a game. That is combined 6 turnovers per game last year, from the post alone that is going to be in the same lineup this year. Then you factor in that sometimes Stephon Marbury and Jamal Crawford are not the best of decision makers and this could be a very rockey team with turnovers this year.
Isiah Thomas has said himself that the Knicks will be a very post oriented team on offense. The three pointers, which the Knicks struggled with last season shooting 34%, will be shot less. This could work out well or be a disaster, however as I said before Randolph will likely take more mid-range jumpers this season.
Even if they shoot less three pointers per game, it's still going to hurt not being a 3 point shooting team. Without any three point shooting, the other teams can switch to zone, making it harder to get the ball down low to Randolph and Curry, much the way teams did to the Magic this past season. That will result in even more turnovers, which is a good reason why the Magic were at the top of the league in turnovers per game. So they need three point shooting, just to open up more lanes to get the ball inside to the big men. This was an area that was desperately needed, and ignored by the Knicks.
