Bill Walker's play with the Knicks...(merged)

[PosImpos]

(This is the Bill Walker Fan Thread, right?)

Knicks record when Billy scores 20+:  2-2
Billy < 20:  2-5

Clearly, the offensive wizardry of future all-star Bill Walker is the key to any success the Knicks have this year.  He is their building block for the future.

Ever heard of a "small sample size"?

[snively]

Im glad Bill Walker has put up a few 20 point games on a team that is playing meaningless games with nothing to loose. Ill take the playoffs over the lottery anyday.

well, I see what you're saying, but I don't think Bill Walker was holding us back, and it's notlike Nate Robinson has catapulted us over the brink.

True but Robinson fills a role/need for this team. We already had Tony and Quis at Walkers position...I agree that Doc should had given him some playing time and that he has potential. I mean hes getting his chance to show his skills, which is good for him, but then again its on the Knicks...Put him on a different contending team, does he make the rotation?

No, but isn't it more fun to watch a young hungry player but his butt for 32 mins in a loss than it is to watch old cynical players bust their butt for 2 and a half quarters than give up in a loss?

If you watch Billy play for the Knicks, you won't see his butt being busted.  Like his teammates, he doesn't exert much energy, physical or mental, on D, and on offense, he mostly spots up and takes 3s or posts-up a mismatch.  The only time you see him hustling is a fast break.

[jdpapa3]

Just watched his play in the Mavericks game and he was drilling 3's from like 4 feet behind the 3 pt line. Who knew he had that kind of range? He did a lot of his work in garbage time, though, so I'm not 100% sold yet.

I am sold that Doc screwed up with him by not giving him any extended looks in real games. He decided that Scal was a better option to play SF when we had injuries. Or that it was a better idea to play Ray into the ground.

[Chief]

I took time to watch the entire Knicks/Mavs game the other night. I was really impressed with Walker. The kid was shooting 2 steps behind the 3 point line with ease. Also, he had to guard Dirk most of the time on defense and did a good job.

[indeedproceed]

Im glad Bill Walker has put up a few 20 point games on a team that is playing meaningless games with nothing to loose. Ill take the playoffs over the lottery anyday.

well, I see what you're saying, but I don't think Bill Walker was holding us back, and it's notlike Nate Robinson has catapulted us over the brink.

True but Robinson fills a role/need for this team. We already had Tony and Quis at Walkers position...I agree that Doc should had given him some playing time and that he has potential. I mean hes getting his chance to show his skills, which is good for him, but then again its on the Knicks...Put him on a different contending team, does he make the rotation?

No, but isn't it more fun to watch a young hungry player but his butt for 32 mins in a loss than it is to watch old cynical players bust their butt for 2 and a half quarters than give up in a loss?

If you watch Billy play for the Knicks, you won't see his butt being busted.  Like his teammates, he doesn't exert much energy, physical or mental, on D, and on offense, he mostly spots up and takes 3s or posts-up a mismatch.  The only time you see him hustling is a fast break.

Sighing contentedly.......

Remember fast breaks?

[Andy Jick]

I feel a Joe Johnson/Rodney Rodgers situation might be happening.

wow...talk about a stretch here, huh?  let's not go THAT far just yet...

[guava_wrench]

Just watched his play in the Mavericks game and he was drilling 3's from like 4 feet behind the 3 pt line. Who knew he had that kind of range? He did a lot of his work in garbage time, though, so I'm not 100% sold yet.

I am sold that Doc screwed up with him by not giving him any extended looks in real games. He decided that Scal was a better option to play SF when we had injuries. Or that it was a better idea to play Ray into the ground.

He was hitting the 3 nicely in the dev league.

[PosImpos]

on offense, he mostly spots up and takes 3s or posts-up a mismatch. 

Well, he supposedly is trying to play like Paul Pierce...if so, that sounds a lot like Paul Pierce (of this year anyway)

[Bossco]

Quote from: Bossco on Yesterday at 12:08:05 am
The Bill Walker Fan club is growing with each game! He was 5/8 from 3 tonight, and is 9/15 in his last 4 games.

The Knicks totally destroyed the hottest team in the league at Dallas holding them to 94 points and had a lead of 37 points in the game.

I am not sure, but after each Bill Walker 20+ performance I don't think that his coach is too worried about his lack of D. I wouldn't be either.

It is simple - doc can't evaluate young players very well.

Bill Walker's current play should be a defining moment for doc.

It is embarrassing. Maybe Bill will be another Gerald, time will tell. Doc never gave him the chance to see what he could do. We are seeing now though, and it's tough to watch from this Celtics fan's point of view.


The most important part of your post - "his lack of D." We're supposed to be a defensive team, so you basically just summarized why he couldn't really crack the rotation here.

Furthermore, we're talking about a team that is completely run & gun, no sense of direction whatsoever. I said it before and I'll say it again, if you can't crack the rotation for a team as hapless as the Knicks are right now, you just may not be NBA quality.

As far as Doc not knowing how to evaluate young player - Glen Davis was once a young player, Leon Powe was a young player, Delonte West was a young'n, Rajon Rondo was a young player. But those guys have gained respect as being smart players - players with high basketball I.Q. I'm not saying that Walker and Giddens weren't, but with a team built to win now you're gonna lean towards the guys who clearly "get it" right away, as opposed to the ones who are incredibly athletic but opt to make the highlight play instead of the fundamentally sound play.


We traded for Nate Robinson = are you telling me that we got him because of his defense?

I guess NY is not so hapless. Think we can beat Dallas by 34 on the road these days?

doc did play Delonte - he was his binky. doc gave Davis minutes but he was late in identifying Leon as a player. He only made the team at the last second (I remember doc saying in the papers that Leon looked lost on the floor) and had tons of dnpcds (even in our championship year) doc also wasn't sold on Rajon either. I can remember a game where he called a time out just so he could go ballistic on him during the whole time out. Danny made sure that doc had no choice but to play Rondo by trading Telfair and West and not signing alien ears until the end of the season.

There are plenty of NBA teams that are winning NOW using young athletic players.

[clover]

Just watched his play in the Mavericks game and he was drilling 3's from like 4 feet behind the 3 pt line. Who knew he had that kind of range? He did a lot of his work in garbage time, though, so I'm not 100% sold yet.

I am sold that Doc screwed up with him by not giving him any extended looks in real games. He decided that Scal was a better option to play SF when we had injuries. Or that it was a better idea to play Ray into the ground.

He impressed last year as a 21yo rookie who had missed time with injuries.  Listen to any of his interviews and you know he's a bright basketball player.  He's going to end up as the poster child for how the C's screwed their next 5 years chasing after the team they had 2 years ago.

[gar]

Given Marquis's play lately has to make you wonder. Would rather have Walker over TA any day. Would rather have Walker over Finley. People also seem to be leaving House out of the question. This was a big part of our second unit. So far Robinson has replaced Houses streak scoring and hustle, but not much else. Was a weak trade when it was made and will not amount to much either way.

[ssspence]

Im glad Bill Walker has put up a few 20 point games on a team that is playing meaningless games with nothing to loose. Ill take the playoffs over the lottery anyday.

well, I see what you're saying, but I don't think Bill Walker was holding us back, and it's notlike Nate Robinson has catapulted us over the brink.

True but Robinson fills a role/need for this team. We already had Tony and Quis at Walkers position...I agree that Doc should had given him some playing time and that he has potential. I mean hes getting his chance to show his skills, which is good for him, but then again its on the Knicks...Put him on a different contending team, does he make the rotation?

No, but isn't it more fun to watch a young hungry player but his butt for 32 mins in a loss than it is to watch old cynical players bust their butt for 2 and a half quarters than give up in a loss?

If you watch Billy play for the Knicks, you won't see his butt being busted.  Like his teammates, he doesn't exert much energy, physical or mental, on D, and on offense, he mostly spots up and takes 3s or posts-up a mismatch.  The only time you see him hustling is a fast break.

Sighing contentedly.......

Remember fast breaks?

Seriously. The Cs had one yesterday where Rondo dished a bounce pass to Williams coming in from the wing, who was fouled and went to the line. I thought for a moment I was dreaming -- had to pinch myself. There wasn't even any wild, ugly dribbling or reckless, desparate passing involved!

[PLamb]

Watched some of the Knicks game before the C's game started

Bill Walker got TORCHED in the first half by Willie Green

Didn't see the second half but his stats don't look like they changed much

[Andy Jick]

Where are all the Walker-ites tonight?

I'm only askin' since some of you like to play this game.

More personal fouls than points tonight...Someone hurry and take that jersey down from the MSG rafters...

[PLamb]

Where are all the Walker-ites tonight?

I'm only askin' since some of you like to play this game.

More personal fouls than points tonight...Someone hurry and take that jersey down from the MSG rafters...

That first half of his defensively was horrible