2020 NBA Draft: NYK target a PG

[pat]

Thanks for your explanation of BB IQ. The game situation with the PG is very interesting. First of all, it looks like your team was out matched at the all five positions. Whoever was running your PG didn't do anything to take advance of a non-athletic PG. There was no adjustment on your team part at the end of the quarters or half. As for seeing plays before they unfold would only apply if you didn't know the team. That not the case most time unless you are talking about pick up games. Your team must have been weak offensively to let that PG leave his man on defense and close gaps in their defense. Sound like he had 4 very good players to get the ball to and you guys had no answer. He knew his team and your team.

Thanks again for explaining BB IQ and the game scenario. Some food to think about.

We went deep into the playoffs that year and no, we were not mismatched at all. It was something you used to see from Kidd before he had a jumper, or Mark Jackson, Avery Johnson, to some degree Stockton. Being able to orchestrate like that is a form of art and takes dedication, practice and a certain kind of talent that you cannot teach. I saw that from Hayes.

[Dark Raider]

We went deep into the playoffs that year and no, we were not mismatched at all. It was something you used to see from Kidd before he had a jumper, or Mark Jackson, Avery Johnson, to some degree Stockton. Being able to orchestrate like that is a form of art and takes dedication, practice and a certain kind of talent that you cannot teach. I saw that from Hayes.

Again, thanks for explaining it to me. The non-athletic PG is staying with me and it doesn't fit Kidd, Jackson, Johnson(who I saw play at SU) and Stockton. Not sure of the whole scenario when it comes to the league and playoff. Then you guys knew this team and didn't push this non-athletic PG out of his comfort zone(which should have been very limited). Freak game that you guys was suppose to win??

[mafra]

https://www.sny.tv/knicks/news/nbl-a...lent/313478572

Ian Begley, SNY.tv | Twitter |

If you want to gain insight about LaMelo Ball's season in Australia, you talk to Corey 'Homicide' Williams. As an analyst for the National Basketball League, Williams watched Ball closely last season. He spent time around the Ball's team and the teams and coaches competing against the 18-year-old.

And Williams' basketball opinions are informed.

This isn't like asking Bob Costas to break down a players' strengths and weaknesses. (No disrespect intended to Bob Costas).

Williams won NBL MVP in 2010, played for several NBA teams in Summer League and preseason and is a New York City streetball legend (Ron Artest listed Williams as one of the best players he's faced).

So Williams' perspective on Ball's play in Australia is instructive.

Initially, Williams thought Ball's NBL stint wouldn't work out well.

"I was not a believer. As a New Yorker, we don't believe in highlights, we don't believe in fluff. We don't care who you are, where you're from or what walk of life. Prove it to us. If we don't see it, we don't believe it," Williams said in a phone interview.

"And on top of that, I was turned off by LaVar. For me, he talks too much. And it became distasteful. I'm all for parents pushing their kids. ... However, at some point, you've got to turn the s--t off and let the kids play. So the more he talked, and treated it, I felt, like AAU -- that's when it started to become a little bit too much and it turned everybody off. But I'm going to talk about me.

"As a straight shooter, sometimes this country (Australia) gets tired of me. And I'm nowhere near LaVar. So I'm thinking that if the baby is coming over here -- LaMelo -- and the dad is coming, no way this is going to work. I don't want to hear his mouth and the whole country doesn't want to hear his mouth. It would have been an epic fail."

But Williams changed his mind after seeing LaMelo Ball play in a game early on against the Perth Wildcats and guard Damian Martin, a six-time NBL defensive player of the year.

"That's the benchmark for me," Williams said of Perth. "Any import point guard who thinks they're good, all we say is this: let's see what he does against Perth and Damian Martin. They're physical, they play extremely hard and they're picking you up full court…. (But) Damian Martin couldn't do anything with (Ball). They began doubling him, getting the ball out of his hand. Never seen that, ever."

Ball had 19 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists in the preseason game. He hit four 3-pointers. Williams, and the dozens of NBA scouts/front office personnel in attendance, came away impressed.

"I said then, that's the No. 1 pick in the draft. This was (September)."

Ball had previously been pegged as a late first-round pick in some mock drafts. But after playing 12 regular-season games for the Illawarra Hawks, Ball is a consensus top-five pick.

The Knicks have him rated as the top point guard in the draft. Most NBA teams probably do. LaVar Ball would like to see his son in New York. Others in LaMelo's camp -- outside of LaVar -- would also like to see the 6-7 guard in New York, per SNY sources.



Of course, we won't know if the Knicks can land Ball until we get to the NBA Lottery. (New York currently has the league's sixth-worst record).

But Williams, who earned fame as a streetball phenom in New York City and has NBA experience, believes Ball can handle the Big Apple spotlight with ease.

"This kid's got New York written all over him. It wouldn't be nothing (he couldn't) handle," Williams said. "He's always been in the spotlight. He's famous like a Kardashian but he actually has talent."

Williams cited Ball's donation to Australian wildfire relief when talking about his mentality and ability to thrive in the spotlight . He also cited Ball's experience with fame (he has 5.3 million Instagram followers) as evidence that he can handle all the attention that would come with playing in a big market.

"He's grown up in it. so you ain't gotta worry about him blowing (money) or losing his f----g mind," Williams said. "This is a NBA franchise's dream. We don't have to worry about this kid with newfound fame? He grew up in it. He ain't no different than Kylie Jenner or Kendall Jenner."

Williams sees the same flaws in Ball's game as other evaluators (outside shooting, shot selection and defense). But Williams also saw Ball's work-ethic first-hand. He credited Ball's manager and mentor, Jermaine Jackson, for the 19-year-old's professional approach to his craft.

"For him to come over (to Australia) with Jermaine Jackson, that was the best thing that could have ever happened. (Jackson) understands the culture of international basketball, he understands how to be a pro, how to carry yourself, the do's and don'ts. The unwritten rules and laws of this," Williams said of Jackson, an NBA role player (including a stint with the Knicks) who had a strong international career.

"All of these things that he's learned and he's seen, he's implemented it all into this young fella. If it was not for Jermaine Jackson, the season wouldn't have went for LaMelo the way it did.

"One game, there was defensive lapses early in the season. Even though they won the game, Jermaine had him in the beach in the sandpit working. "He wants to get better (defensively). And I saw him get better."

Ball finished the season averaging 17 points, 7.8 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game. He shot 38 percent from the field and 25 percent from beyond the arc.

It's logical to question Ball's NBA readiness based on those numbers, but Williams' confidence in Ball stems from the progression he saw over the course of the season.

"This was his first time having to play real defense and be held accountable," Williams said. "To look at it from that perspective and to where he's come during his NBL season, he's come a long way. He's still got a long way to go but it's effort, wanting to get better. And that's there."

Williams believes Ball's assist numbers would be higher if he were surrounded by NBA-quality shooters and big men who can finish.

"I believe that because of the team that he had, he's giving them the ball in the right places (to score and they weren't converting) and he got bored. I believe he got bored," Williams said.

There will certainly be scrutiny around LaMelo Ball if he ends up in New York. Media and fans will be dissecting everything about LaMelo and wondering if LaVar Ball will become a distraction for the club. Based on what he's seen over the past few months, Williams doesn't think any of that would derail Ball's path to stardom in in the city.

"As a native New Yorker, I know talent -- and I know what I saw," Williams said. "You're not going to find a kid his age with a basketball IQ like that, you're just not. And I know he's just going to keep getting better."

[Dark Raider]

Questions:
1. If PG is the #1 need then why wasn't it address in last year draft?
2. Did PG become #1 priority this year?
Now these are the questions that all Knick fans should be asking themselves.
*** The moment that KP was traded did PF become the most important need for the Knicks? 7'3", Transformative Player!!
When did the Knicks replace him? With WHO?? (J.Randle)
***Who comes close to KP in this draft? Answer -- Wiseman:
END OF DISCUSSION!!

[htr10]

Looking at the numbers, we look like we are most likely to pick 7th or 8th in the draft. Seems kind of crazy because of how bad we were again this year, but that’s how the odds play out.

We have around a 50% chance of picking 7th or 8th. We have a 9% chance of the 1st pick. We have about a 37% chance of moving into the top 4. We have a little less than a 4% chance of moving down to 9th or 10th. The remaining 8 to 9% is our small chance of moving up to the 6th pick.

If we pick 7th or 8th, is Tyrese Haliburton still on the board? I’d imagine our other potential targets are gone.

How do people feel about maybe Devin Vassell at 7 or 8?

[tiger0330]

Looking at the numbers, we look like we are most likely to pick 7th or 8th in the draft. Seems kind of crazy because of how bad we were again this year, but that’s how the odds play out.

We have around a 50% chance of picking 7th or 8th. We have a 9% chance of the 1st pick. We have about a 37% chance of moving into the top 4. We have a little less than a 4% chance of moving down to 9th or 10th. The remaining 8 to 9% is our small chance of moving up to the 6th pick.

If we pick 7th or 8th, is Tyrese Haliburton still on the board? I’d imagine our other potential targets are gone.

How do people feel about maybe Devin Vassell at 7 or 8?

He’s not a PG, so he’d be a poor pick if the Knicks identify PG as their most important need. We also have plenty of guys with what he could bring to the table like a Dotson, RJ etc. I don’t think he’ll be anything special at the next level, plenty of guys with his level of athleticism, shooting, ball handling in the league. Surprised me he’s a 41% 3 pt shooter, that’s elite and if he can shoot like that in the NBA I’ll eat crow but Monk had the same rep and I think he has higher upside than Vassel.

[Dark Raider]

​Are we bring back MM??

[mafra]

1985 was the last time NYK moved up in the lottery. After 34 drafts without moving up even 1 spot.... I suspect we are due, and it figures it would be the year after Zion...

I predict we jump up to 2nd!

[Kiyaman]

Questions:
1. If PG is the #1 need then why wasn't it address in last year draft?
2. Did PG become #1 priority this year?
Now these are the questions that all Knick fans should be asking themselves.
*** The moment that KP was traded did PF become the most important need for the Knicks? 7'3", Transformative Player!!
When did the Knicks replace him? With WHO?? (J.Randle)
***Who comes close to KP in this draft? Answer -- Wiseman:
END OF DISCUSSION!!

Wiseman should be the Knicks first choice in the 2020 draft.

Frank and MitchRob are in dire need of Wiseman's 2-Way performance in their lineup to be more competitive in their Growth as a young-core group.

The Grizz PG- Ja Morrant has PF-Jaren Jackson Jr., and Center Jonas Valanciunas to make there lineup competitive.

The Pelicans PG-Lonzo Ball has SF- Zion Williamson, and PF-Derrick Favors to make there lineup competitive.

The Knicks GM Perry are clueless on building a competitive NBA team !!!

[htr10]

Wiseman should be the Knicks first choice in the 2020 draft.

Frank and MitchRob are in dire need of Wiseman's 2-Way performance in their lineup to be more competitive in their Growth as a young-core group.

The Grizz PG- Ja Morrant has PF-Jaren Jackson Jr., and Center Jonas Valanciunas to make there lineup competitive.

The Pelicans PG-Lonzo Ball has SF- Zion Williamson, and PF-Derrick Favors to make there lineup competitive.

The Knicks GM Perry are clueless on building a competitive NBA team !!!

If we move up to a top 4 pick, Wiseman definitely has to be a major target. Odds are that instead we are picking 7th or 8th and Wiseman is already off the board.

[Kiyaman]

If we move up to a top 4 pick, Wiseman definitely has to be a major target. Odds are that instead we are picking 7th or 8th and Wiseman is already off the board.

No ifs .... The Knicks (Rose) has to prove he is the MAN for the job, especially on draft night by moving-up in the draft to select Wiseman .. And sign two veteran head-coaches before the draft (Mark Jackson or Kidd), plus sign a confident G.M..
Knicks fans does not deserve a bench-player performance Randle to be in the starter & finisher line-up. The Knicks previous trio of Mills & Perry & Fizdale were a pure NBA JOKE .. Randle's a reserve !!!

[NickThick]

Is Melo just kryptonite right now?

I still think someone is going to benefit from that chino hills pace that he could bring despite the shaky shooting that normally doesnt bode well for PGs.

[NickThick]

This draft could be massive. Look what happened to Doncic with the Mavs. (forget KP!)

He took them from lottery to playoffs with comps to Lebron, and not many saw that coming!


With their efficiency in this broken season they have a chance against everyone apart from the Clippers and the Lakers.

[Dark Raider]

This draft is very important because of the mistake made in last year draft. Wiseman and Edwards must be our picks some way... Somehow!!

Let's rid ourselves of the mistakes of year draft. You will come to know just how smart and knowledgeable L. Rose and Co. are in the coming months. They have already shown a lack of knowledge by waiving Trier. I for one don't have my hope up for them doing the right things(Wiseman & Edwards). I'm going to reserve judgement on Thib hiring for now. I want Woodson but who in the hell cares what I want. Lets hope for the best of all the moves and draft picks. If what I see is correct then looks marginal success for the next 3-5 years. I hope I'm wrong!!!

[SSj4Wingzero]

I think Edwards and Wiseman are probably the best talents in the draft but that's a moot point if they're not there for us to select.

What do you all think about Devin Vassell? I know he's not a PG but he can play defense and shoot. We don't have any shooters on this team and we desperately need one. I'd rather take the best available player than focus on a PG and end up taking a guy who isn't anything special. We're not winning this coming season anyways PG or not