Answering your NBA questions: No love for Knicks?

As a huge Knicks fan (yes, some of us still exist), I didn't think there was any way we'd be able to keep David Lee and Nate Robinson after the seasons they just had. But no one seems to want them. What gives? Is it because no one has dough to offer? Or is it that they just aren't that good? — Charley Middleton, St. Louis

For sure, money is in shorter supply than it has been in recent seasons — and both Lee and Robinson have demanded paydays either approaching or surpassing $10 million per.

Nate Robinson and David Lee aren't enjoying free agency as much as they hoped. (Nathaniel S. Butler / Getty Images)

Even so, both of these guys have large holes in their respective games.

Let's start with Lee: He always hustles and relentlessly attacks both boards. But he can't shoot. His offense consists of elementary drop-steps. And he can't defend.

Also, the Knicks' barely controlled chaos generates more scoring opportunities for Lee than he'd find on a more disciplined ball club. For him to be a starter with a legitimate team, Lee would need to play beside a shot-blocking big man who would also need to be double-teamed whenever he received the ball in the pivot.

In other words, Lee is strictly a very limited role player. A 20-minute-a-game player off the bench for an excellent team. As such, he's not nearly worth the humongous contract that he has been seeking.

Robinson, on the other hand, is a freakish player who, barely 5-foot-8, can create makeable shots against virtually any defender. His range is outstanding, and he can sometimes single-handedly rally a team from a deep deficit.

But, like Lee, he plays inferior defense. And, despite his diminutive stature he's absolutely incapable of not only running an offense, but also of executing plays under pressure. In truth, he's a grossly undersized shooting guard.

Bad shots. Either silly- or non-passes. And a total focus on his own numbers. That's what's wrong with Robinson.

Not to mention that his foolish adolescent behavior on and off the court routinely alienates his teammates.

I take exception to your recent article that brands Chris Paul as being overrated. Also, how can you claim that Slater Martin was the last "pipsqueak" point guard to lead his team to a championship? What about Avery Johnson and Isiah Thomas? — Versal Mason III, Durham, N.C.

 

You're absolutely right about Avery Johnson. My bad.

But Zeke was another story altogether.

Thomas was at least two inches taller and 10 pounds heavier than Paul — so Zeke could not be characterized as a pipsqueak. In any event, he also played much better defense and his offensive skills were more diverse and effective than are CP3's.

When Paul truly learns to run an offense, when he can play adequate straight-up defense, when he doesn't require the help of a screen/roll to get good shots, then I'll remove him from this category.

It looked to me as though Derek Fisher lost his legs in the last four months of the season. Is he done? An if he is, who do you think should start at the Lakers point guard spot next year? — Aaron, Beverly Hills, CA

Throughout his career, Fisher has never been accused of being a speed merchant. In fact, he's so naturally slow that it's hard to tell if he's really lost a step or not.

In any case, he's still smart enough to draw charges, and play excellent team defense. On offense, he reads the triangle to perfection so he can still put himself into position to take (and make) open shots in critical situations.

He averaged slightly less than 30 minutes per game last season, and at age 34 he should be able to do the same again.

The question of his eventual successor remains to be answered. Jordan Farmar shows flashes of being able to take over, but still makes too many mistakes at both ends. Shannon Brown is another viable candidate. Brown has yet to prove that he can shoot well on the move, totally absorb the offense, cut down on his mistakes, and play a slightly higher grade of defense.

If I'm not mistaken, Vince Carter was once compared to Kobe and even to Michael Jordan early in his career. What exactly happened to Carter that changed his career so dramatically? — Aaron Ju

He always had, and still does, the same type of outlandish skills and athleticism as Kobe and MJ. But it took a while for VC's lack of heart to become irrefutably evident. He mostly avoids hard contact in the paint, makes frequent mistakes in the clutch, and doesn't play hard all the time.

Too bad.

Lamar Odom is good, and that's not a left-handed compliment. (Jesse D. Garrabrant / Getty Images)

You said that being left-handed is a big advantage for Lamar Odom. Why? — Reuel Vidal, Antipolo, Philippines

Only because virtually every right-handed hooper who ever played the game at any level can't help himself from instinctively biting for a right-handed fake. Guys will stay mindful that an opponent is indeed lefty for a while, but as the intensity of any given game increases even the most veteran players tend to lose their mindfulness and make automatic reactions to certain moves and suggestions.

For the same reasons, most defenders are much more comfortable pushing off with their right (power) foot and sliding to their left than vice versa.

Plus, the scouting report on the vast majority of NBA right-handers is that they'll drive right and pull left. This is a pattern that borders on being automatic — and conditions defenders to believe they can challenge most leftward-bound jump shots without giving up too much ground. Which means they're apt to be leaning forward just a bit when their opponent does go left, and subsequently they can be easily turned.

Charley, you compared Magic Johnson and Oscar Robertson. What about the real best point guard of all-time, John Stockton? — Pete Jackson, Logan, UT

There's no question that Stockton was one of the best PGs ever. He was a deadly open shooter, could also pull-and-make off his dribble. He was likewise adept at changing speeds and drawing fouls. His decision making was unparalleled, and he was also very effective going back door on the give-and-go.

Of course, his screen/rolls in tandem with Karl Malone were exemplary. And it should be noted that he did more for Malone's game than the Mailman ever did for his.

Despite his lack of bulk — 6-1, 175 — Stockton was eager to set screens for his teammates. Most of these were back-screens. He was a hard-nosed guy, who many opponents believed was borderline dirty.

On defense, his primary weapon was his anticipation. But he always had difficulty defending wing screen/rolls against quick opponents. And, when helping on defense, he frequently over committed to ball penetration. Stockton was also a serial flopper. However, I feel that because of their size and strength both Oscar Robertson and Magic Johnson created more radical matchup problems for opponents than did Stockton.

There is also a significant mitigating circumstance behind the fact that Stockton is the league's all-time assist leader. Longevity.

Here are the numbers:

Stockton played in 1,504 regular season games in 19 years, and averaged 10.5 assists per outing.

 Oscar appeared in 1,040 games during his 14-year career and registered 9.5 assists per game. It should again be noted that Oscar had more scoring responsibilities than either Stockton or Magic.

In his 13 years with the Lakers, Magic averaged 11.2 assists over a total of only 906 games. How about Stockton as the third-best PG in NBA history? Source