David Stern
Anyway, there were plenty of question marks in Thursday night’s draft, but my favorite was the Knicks’ selection of Iman Shumpert. We can talk all we want about how New York’s backcourt rotatation needed to be bolstered or how Shumpert’s shot looked far stronger than expected at draft workouts to go with his 40″ vertical. The truth of the matter is that the Knicks were in a difficult situation.
But when your superstars need rest (Amar’e Stoudemire played over 500 minutes during one two-week span, I believe), having a talent like Chris Singleton balance some of the offensive loss with defensive intensity that comes with a better catch-and-shoot game then you expected is imperative, isn’t it? Mike D’Antoni might be able to figure out a use for Singleton in the half court, even if it’s Phil Jackson’s solution for Ron Artest (go stand in the corner)! You have to take Singleton there, right? And when the guy can take on the burden of defending any first option at the 2-3-4 positions (leaving that much more focus on the offensive end for YOUR elite scorers, you have to take that, right?
Of course, it’s impossible to talk about the Knicks’ pick without talking about Derrick Favors. Those who didn’t follow college basketball particularly closely looked at Favors’ college stats, and were vastly underwhelmed. A look closer revealed the Georgia Tech’s guard rotation was so poor, Gani Lawal (the team’s elder statesman big man) was needed in the low post while Favors was relegated to the high post (he preferred the low post … and another reason why the Favors/Kanter rotation could be so intimidating) to space the floor. Their guard rotation was so poor, teams simply collapsed on Favors and dared the backcourt to shoot.
Why is this significant? Because one of those guys was Shumpert! But for all that, maybe he’s grown to the point where he’s worth that pick. But with the crowd chanting “Singleton!” I wouldn’t tell THEM that. Did they make the right pick? What’s your take?
Hopefully by now, everyone has checked out Sebastian Pruiti’s take on Jan Vesely. This article turned me around, and should give you more of an idea of where he fits in the halfcourt. Normally I’d have more for you, but there’s really not much I can say that Pruiti doesn’t. Check it out if you haven’t already.
