RunningJumper
Super Moderator
It's an interesting case. Amar'e may have the "impact" that Lee usually doesn't have, even with similar numbers, but Lee is more consistent. He's a much better ball handler, better passer, arguably a better rebounder, and better at creating his own shot imo.Renaldo Balkman hustles, Jared Jefferies hustles, Reggie Evans hustles, but what does that equate to?
Hustle players are valuable, and please don't read my post as disrespect to D Lee, I love the guy and really do pull for G-State due to he and Mark Jackson (when not playing The Knicks of course) yet, for all his hustle, David Lee is still a pretty bad defender in his own right, he'll grab 3 more rebounds than Stat, but will block less shots and get scored on just as easily!
David Lee will get you 20 and 14 against Sac or Detroit, but how does he fair against the elite players at his position? Is David Lee a leader? Can David Lee take over a game? Do oppossing teams zero in on him?
Again, put David Lee on last year's team and we are a 33-35 win team at best!
Felton
Feilds
Gallo
Chandler
Lee
outside of playoffs in weak East
Add Stat to G-State's roster last year......
Curry
Ellis
Wright (I guess)
Amare
Biendris
Playoff team in the tough West
Remember, Lee was good with all the PGs he was with. Put Felton with him and they Knicks might have had a shot at the Playoffs. Lee also would have meant more capspace.
Amar'e may have that impact Lee doesn't have when he's on, but Lee brings it a lot more often than Amar'e does, and while Amar'e may need a PG to be great, a case can be made Lee has made PGs better. You cannot tell me Lee would have been having the games Stoudemire has been having this season.
Amar'e's dominance may very well kick in again this season, it happened his first season here.