Opening Tip: Utilizing Kidd, Prigioni

[still a fan]

I'm not as concerned with the slashing because the slashers will be back, eventually Iman will play be it Dec or Jan.
Brewer is a very good slasher and White is simply known for his slashing and dunking.
Also missing was Amare, Camby and Sheed who will give the low post some action and the last two will give loads of board help.

Camby will be huge there because we got killed on the boards like last yr and that seems to go overlooked.


I've always said when we got Kidd he is very good off the ball and this late in his career is more valuable there. Teams will not be able to press us with him and our PG and he can shoot the three if left open and he boards gread and is a tough defender.

I liked Pablo in the Olympics and like what I saw last night.

Today's Burning Question: Should Jason Kidd get more minutes at the two to allow Pablo Prigioni to play more backup point?

There was a key takeaway from the Knicks' preseason victory in Washington that can be extended throughout the early part of the season, until Iman Shumpert returns and puts more of a stamp on the shooting guard depth chart.

Currently, with Ronnie Brewer missing and James White hobbled, it's opened up the position. And what we witnessed at the Verizon Center is that Kidd has the ability to play off the ball, offensively and defensively. He has the build (6-4, 210), smarts, quick hands and long-range shooting ability. After all, he's third all-time in 3-point makes (1,874), behind Ray Allen and Reggie Miller.

Also evident from Thursday night is that Prigioni can be a solid backup point guard. He finished with 14 points, four assists and two steals in only 21 minutes. There was some offseason talk about how he would handle the faster pace of the NBA, as he has been used to more physical, halfcourt-style games after playing many years internationally. But he had no problem keeping up with the tempo on both ends of the floor, and he executed the pick-and-roll fluidly and knocked down four 3s.

Offensively, he should be able to run the team well, but he'll have to prove over time he can consistently guard the fastest and quickest position in basketball. Kidd and Prigioni staying healthy, being that they're in their late 30s, is obviously an important factor.

Positives aside, what's missing the most right now in the second unit is another slasher/facilitator from the wing to complement J.R. Smith. Consistent and balanced penetration from different angles into the paint (not just below the arc in pick-and-rolls) will enable the Knicks to have better opportunities to move the ball and get open shots.

The Knicks won't be 18-for-33 (54.5 percent) from downtown every night, so they'll need more of an attack off the bench. Shooting more 3s than free throws (28) is not always a good thing. But let's focus more on the good for now with one win under their belt.

Do you think Kidd should play more shooting guard, enabling Prigioni to play more backup point? Leave us your comments below.

[ewing]

That I don't like the fact that neither of those guys can take someone of the dribble in the 1/2 court and neither of them can finish on the drive. Unless Kidd can create tempo i see a team with those 2 in the back court becoming predictable. That even though i know he is not the J kidd of old it was special seeing him run up and down the floor in a knicks uni. I think that guy is the 2nd best point ever and he is a Knick. That's cool

[AI4]

Pablo-Kidd-J.R.-Novak-Camby

It will be raining 3's

[Kashmir13579]

I already thought Kidd would be playing at the 2, whether it be with Felton or Pablo. The question is, if Pablo is no joke, JR is knocking down shots, and Brewer playing lock down D, how is Woody going to distribute minutes when Iman gets back? That would be a great problem to have.

I really like Pablo. He makes simple passes look stylish and you can tell they are always on point.

[nycericanguy]

Pablo did well, even though many trashed the signing.

[Captain Moroni]

I was for the prigioni signing before it ever happened. This guy is a stud PG that can make the players around him better. That is something we sorely needed and he did not come here to ride the pine. We got very lucky picking this guy up....

[Kashmir13579]

I was for the prigioni signing before it ever happened. This guy is a stud PG that can make the players around him better. That is something we sorely needed and he did not come here to ride the pine. We got very lucky picking this guy up....

I love how he talks about being in the NBA as if its just something he's just curious about and wants to try. I don't think he's star struck at all. And why should he be, he's been running the point professionally for years.

[PJAF]

The Maestro!

[StarvingKnick22]

Will one of them be moved when Shumpert comes back or??

[meloman1592]

Will one of them be moved when Shumpert comes back or??

We'll need the depth coming down the stretch...i doubt anyone get's moved unless it's for a major upgrade that we simply can't turn down

[Busta]

I think Kidd will play a lot at the 2, especially until Shump gets back. Kidd looks to be in tremendous shape. He's said its the best shape he's been in in 5 years, and I kinda shook it off, but I've watched Kidd (huge fan) and he looks slimmer than he did finishing out his time with the Nets. He's still quick too, hopefully Shurna helps him raise that 3pt shot to what we saw during the Mavs title run in the playoffs.

Prigs deserves time, and we need 3pt shooting. Kidd can play D on swings better than he does on points, and getting the extra unselfish playmaker on the court makes ball movement better. I feel Prigs should be cut to about 10-15 min, but Kidd should see time at both the 1 and the 2. JR can certainly play the 3.

This team's versatility is coming together before our very eyes.

[AKAYaReal]

This is good because it allows them to ease Shump back into game form and not be forced to throw him in the shark tank mid season while he's getting his game back.

[Quietmoney]

Pablo needs to be the back point guard out there at least half of the time. He has more left in his tank than kid. But I do like the fact that we'll have Kid's experience out there to go along with his skip passes to open players. If we can get Raymond to be a pure facilitator and penetrator, we're gonna be in great shape! Melo, Amare, JR, Chandler, and Novak are gonna be so much more consistent this year because of the type of ball movement we'll have with our point guard rotation. Man, the Melo haters are gonna have a hard time hating on him too, he'll be getting the ball in position to score when he's off the ball. I'm telling you guys now, expect and MVP season from Melo.

[trout1627]

Pablo can shoot. So he can also take some time at the SG position. But my concern with him is that he has embraced the PG role so much that sometimes he does not take open shots. I was surprised he scored 14 in the preseason opener - hopefully he keeps on shooting when he is open.

[KnicksorBust]

Pablo is a short-term answer until we get healthy. I'm happy he played well but we'd be foolish to bank on a Pablo-Kidd backcourt taking us anywhere in the playoffs.