A nice turn of phrase, Kiid.
Am I the only one who remembers who the Dashing Don (that goes out to you, BoD) basically crippled Allan Houston, coming off of surgery, by playing him for 50+ Minutes against Kobe as I recall. Allan was just hitting his stride as an all-around 2-guard, but Don was in survival mode. Alas.
Speaking of alas...
Why hasn't Dennis Smith been allowed to get his mojo back in Westchester. He needs minutes as the bell cow.
While I am sure Fizz meant well, more or less, the Knicks have done Dennis no favors byt hanging him out to dry.
Am I the only one who remembers Smith's initial buzz as a Knick last season, when he was a dynamic penetrator. Whatever his deficiencies as an out side shooter, he seemingly got to the glass at will.
You could SEE HIM THINKING every time he even thought about a penetration, and when he did get to the rack his first thought was not to finish, but to dish, a noble sentiment for sure, but, oh, man...poor kid.
The Knicks are submarining his confidence. And Thursday night against Dallas could get nasty.
PS: Julius Randle has won me over with his effort, but the notion of him being a facilitating point forward is, how shall we say, flawed. Not that he isn't an excellent and willing passer. But, I have to believe, that if we had him, from time to time, camped out in the post, ready to receive a pass from a penetrator, and thus to make a quick, DECISIVE move to the rack--instead of his trademark dribble into a triple team move, shades of Melo--he'd have more success.
PPS: Thought? How about Mitchell starting at center, Morris at PF and RJ at SF, with Randle first off the bench at C/PF, Taj and Knox at PF-SF, and let's get Dot and AT in to some sort of rhythm. As for the PG spot, well, your guess is as good as mine.
PPPS: Every time I saw Coby got the ball in the fourth quarter, I shuddered. A long honored Knicks trad of allowing three-point shooters to get in rhythm and go totally unconscious.