Don't Listen to ESPN: Knicks are Fine.

[H.ayes]

I'd like to just make a few quick statements for you Knicks fans and anyone else who would care to listen.

Obviously you guys might be frustrated with the path that your beloved franchise has taken in recent years, but honestly don't be too worried.

I'm going to be one of the few to come out and say I LOVED the Balkman pick. Did anyone actually watch this guy play in the NIT last year? Any college basketball fan knows that he had a huge coming out party in the tournament. Honestly, it's quite a similar situation to Tyrus Thomas. His numbers for the whole year are decent, but his performance in the games that mattered is what really sets him apart.

His ability to take a team that wasn't supposed to win, fail to reach the tournament, and still salvage what was left of the season is something that the Knicks really could use. Not to mention, grabbing Mardy Collins (projected to be a lottery pick last year) was a great acquisition as well.

So, if Balkman fails and proves me wrong, feel free to cite this post as hard evidence that I'm on crack. However, I do believe you'll all be pleasantly surprised with his play this coming season and in seasons to come. Let's just consider him this year's Charlie Villanueva.

Thanks, and good luck this season.

-H.

 

[TORaptors bb4]

HAHAHAHAHA to compare Renaldo Balkman to Charlie Villanueva is a big joke. Villanueva has an offensive game ten times better than Balkmans will ever be, can shoot 3's which Balkman can't at all, and was a McDonalds all american and one of the top recruits in the nation when he went to UConn. Balkman is known as being a hustle player, while Villanueva was criticized as being a LAZY player. To compare those two is completely stupid.

 

[H.ayes]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TORaptors bb4:</div><div class="quote_post">HAHAHAHAHA to compare Renaldo Balkman to Charlie Villanueva is a big joke. Villanueva has an offensive game ten times better than Balkmans will ever be, can shoot 3's which Balkman can't at all, and was a McDonalds all american and one of the top recruits in the nation when he went to UConn. Balkman is known as being a hustle player, while Villanueva was criticized as being a LAZY player. To compare those two is completely stupid.</div>

I believe you misunderstood me, no need to be an ass about it. They're completely different in style of play, yet each of them were criticized as not being deserving of their position in the draft. Charlie later proved that he was worthy of his position, and I believe Balkman will as well.

 

[ChicagoSportsFan]

I see how adding a CV type player to the knicks helps them. But hes no CV!!!!

The only way the knicks do well this season is if Isaiah Suites up and starts as PG.

GL NY!

 

[Beat]

He never said Balkman was like CV, He said Balkman is the CV of the draft as in he was picked earlier than he should have been but may turn out to be as good someone would be at that pick.

 

[H.ayes]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Beat:</div><div class="quote_post">He never said Balkman was like CV, He said Balkman is the CV of the draft as in he was picked earlier than he should have been but may turn out to be as good someone would be at that pick.</div>

Thanks, haha. I was wondering when someone was going to figure that out.

 

[giftedvisionz]

He won't be this year's CV. The difference is Villanueva was expected to be drafted in the late teens and early 20's, and ended up in the lottery. Balkman was expected to be a 2nd round player, and Isiah wasted the 20th pick when he could have drafted him with the 29th, while also drafting a quality playmaker in Marcus Williams. Even if Balkman becomes an outstanding player, it won't excuse the fact that Isiah made a terrible decision in drafting him with the 20th pick.

 

[Mr. J]

We'll see. That's all I have to say. I'm not going to knock the guy because honestly, I haven't seen him play. I never really paid too much attention to some of the guys at ESPN. They were the same people labeling Frye and Nate busts. His first game is on Friday at 3:00, so we'll see him a bit. Still, summer league doesn't measure a player's ability at all. Frye struggled during the summer league and Nikoloz Tsisvihili (sp?) won the MVP. Mardy Collins was a very good pick and his versatility and defense makes him able to play many roles on this team. Still, I would rather have Marcus Williams as my point guard for the future.

But like I said in the beginning, we'll just have to see.

 

[Shapecity]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting H.ayes:</div><div class="quote_post">Thanks, haha. I was wondering when someone was going to figure that out.</div>

Do you see him starting this year H.ayes?

Balkman had a great tournament, but for all the energy and hustle he brings to the court, you would figure Balkman would be more productive in the stat category. He only averaged 6 boards a game on the season.

I don't think selecting Balkman was a bad choice, but where the Knicks selected him made no sense. I'm more inclined to belive the Suns didn't want Balkman at 21. They traded out of the draft because they have enough young talent and their priority this offseason is to save money.

Maybe all the criticism motivates Balkman, and he turns out to be a solid pick, and Marcus Williams struggles.

 

[H.ayes]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Bill Simmons:</div><div class="quote_post">
B. They desperately want a point guard ... unfortunately, there are no sure things in this draft. The closest is Marcus Williams, who could end up being a lefty version of Mark Jackson with his passing and playmaking skills. Unfortunately, he has a few things working against him: the incredible laptop scandal (Red Flag No. 1); UConn's stunning exit in the NCAAs (Red Flag No. 2); the whole "I have no problem being overweight and out-of-shape for these pre-draft workouts" (Red Flag No. 3); major questions about his outside shot (Red Flag No. 4); his defensive ability (Red Flag No. 5); and his attitude (Red Flag No. 6). In other words, just call him Six Flags. I can't imagine the Celtics taking him after finally assembling a team of good chemistry guys after the Davis/Blount trade.</div>

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story...=simmons/060628

 

[durvasa]

I've never seen Balkman play, but his stats look pretty good to me. Very good with the steals and blocks.

Yeah, he *only* averaged 10 points, 6 boards a game, but he also only played 25 minutes a game on a very slow-paced team.

 

[Courtking]

Please, don't try to make Knicks fans feel better. People were saying that the Suns were interested in Balkman but by the looks of things, the Suns weren't interested in any player in the draft. They could have had the top point guard in the draft if they wanted to but they passed Marcus up as well.

I've seen Balkman play a number of times this season but on every other board he was in the second round. We, at JBB, didn't even have him in the draft. But HEY you never know. Balkman has the potential to be a gritty player that does the dirty work, exactly what the Knicks need.

 

[B.e.]

Its not that Balkman is a bad player, its that the Knicks could have picked better players then him at that pick.

 

[Chutney]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting H.ayes:</div><div class="quote_post">So, if Balkman fails and proves me wrong, feel free to cite this post as hard evidence that I'm on crack. However, I do believe you'll all be pleasantly surprised with his play this coming season and in seasons to come. Let's just consider him this year's Charlie Villanueva.</div>
While we're creating comparisons to former Raptors draft picks, he's really reminding me of Rafael Araujo. Balkman's college coach has come out saying that he's skeptical about his move to the NBA, something Araujo's BYU coach also came out and did. Also, there was front office turmoil with both teams prior to the pick, that may have impacted the scouting. And both were considered major reaches that were taken over more widely touted prospects. I really haven't seen him play, so I can't really dispute your opinion on his game. But, it's not just ESPN that is blasting the pick. I have yet to read one favourable review (outside of yours) on the Knicks' draft.

 

[H.ayes]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Chutney:</div><div class="quote_post">While we're creating comparisons to former Raptors draft picks, he's really reminding me of Rafael Araujo. Balkman's college coach has come out saying that he's skeptical about his move to the NBA, something Araujo's BYU coach also came out and did. Also, there was front office turmoil with both teams prior to the pick, that may have impacted the scouting. And both were considered major reaches that were taken over more widely touted prospects. I really haven't seen him play, so I can't really dispute your opinion on his game. But, it's not just ESPN that is blasting the pick. I have yet to read one favourable review (outside of yours) on the Knicks' draft.</div>

Yeah, but at the end of every unfavorable review they simply add "although I haven't seen him play that much." The thing is, I have. Balkman is entirely NBA ready and I'm willing to bet that if he sees minutes everyone is going to shut up real fast. If I were to compare him to a current NBA player I'd go with a (very) poor-man's combination of Ron Artest and Josh Howard. He's not a superb shooter, but Balkman is great in transition, can get to the rim with ease and plays excellent defense no matter where he is on the court.

It's so easy to just come out and be like "yEa da 'nicks SUCKZ EHLOHEL!!!11ONE!!". I'm here to say that everyone who simply hasn't heard of Balkman due to pre-draft ignorance could find themselves to be extremely wrong.

 

[H.ayes]

<div class="quote_poster">H.ayes Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I'd like to just make a few quick statements for you Knicks fans and anyone else who would care to listen.

Obviously you guys might be frustrated with the path that your beloved franchise has taken in recent years, but honestly don't be too worried.

I'm going to be one of the few to come out and say I LOVED the Balkman pick. Did anyone actually watch this guy play in the NIT last year? Any college basketball fan knows that he had a huge coming out party in the tournament. Honestly, it's quite a similar situation to Tyrus Thomas. His numbers for the whole year are decent, but his performance in the games that mattered is what really sets him apart.

His ability to take a team that wasn't supposed to win, fail to reach the tournament, and still salvage what was left of the season is something that the Knicks really could use. Not to mention, grabbing Mardy Collins (projected to be a lottery pick last year) was a great acquisition as well.

So, if Balkman fails and proves me wrong, feel free to cite this post as hard evidence that I'm on crack. However, I do believe you'll all be pleasantly surprised with his play this coming season and in seasons to come. Let's just consider him this year's Charlie Villanueva.

Thanks, and good luck this season.

-H.</div>


I'd just like to bring this post back up.

You're welcome.