There are a lot of things to like about Joakim Noah. He plays with fire, has a lot of energy and is all about the team. He is a pass-first type of player which in the NBA puts you in a 1% category of all players. But on this Knick team as currently configured, he is not a good fit.
The basic problem is that when he is on the court with Porzingis, he plays the 5 and KP is at the 4. So, on defense, Porzingis has to run all over the court and picks up fouls against smaller and more mobile players. At the 5, he can help out more as a rim protector and given the lack of big-time post players in the NBA, he rarely has to cover scorers at that position. The other problem is that on offense, with Melo, KP and Noah on the court, there is just not a lot of ball movement and things get clogged up.
Noah can be traded starting tomorrow (I believe free agents who were signed in the off-season can be moved starting December 15th), and some team will see value in him. SU says make a move and while you’re at it, maybe some team would like Carmelo.
Last night, Hornacek put in some odd line up of bench players and Porzingis in the 4th quarter and they went on a 19-4 run to take the lead. Rookie Ron Baker was playing the point and, of course, the ball moved, the players ran the court and KP was the focal point of the offense. This dude is just so good and so versatile. Unfortunately, he got into foul trouble as the guards could not keep Bledsoe out of the paint. Btw, Bledoe is really good.
Anyway, 4 minutes left in the game, and you knew what was going to happen. You knew it. Anthony, who was having a bad game, and shot 3 for 15 overall, became the focal point of the offense and the ball stopped moving, they broke out the Mike Woodson offense, and eventually lost in OT. SU was impressed with Phoenix which down the stretch double-teamed Melo when he got the ball. I do not understand why other teams don’t do this as he is not a willing passer. I know, I know – he’s a “great passer.” Only when he wants to be and he doesn’t want to be one most of the time.
It’s just a loss on a long West Coast road trip. Rose was out with back spasms again (not a good sign by the way and needs watching) but every night you see how good Porzingis can be and he is entertaining. Build around him and put a roster together that takes advantage of his skills. SU sounds like a broken record but the Knicks will never become an elite team until you move Anthony and change the style. This team has some nice pieces and is fun to watch in stretches. O’Quinn is a nice player off the bench and should get more minutes. Note to Phil Jackson: we are all waiting.
The Jim Harbaugh rumors to the LA Rams just do not make any sense. He is already paid a lot at Michigan and the reality is that he will have an NFL job waiting for him whenever he wants to go back. At least a third of coaches get fired every off season. Harbaugh who is unfiltered told his team that “this talk is coming from our enemies”, and said there are three coaches who are telling recruits that he is leaving to help them land those athletes. SU is guessing it’s: Michigan State; Ohio State; and Penn State but I could be wrong. He does make it interesting. He won’t leave until he wins something like a Big Ten championship. He hasn’t won anything yet and is coaching the LA Rams the dream job?
Sports Update Intergalactic 
I listened to the Knicks go on their run on the radio. Basketball never sounded more exciting on the radio. Then I caught the end of the 4th and OT on TV. It was clear that the offense stalled late in the game when Anthony came in. The offense was slow, boring and predictable. Anthony made a couple shots but took way too many, particularly while double teamed. It just doesn’t make any sense.
Noah was not on the court at the end of the game so I didn’t see his effect other than that Porzingis was in foul trouble and then got his 6th in OT. I’m not sure who would want Noah at a high price with years left but maybe. I can’t see anyone trading for Anthony. He would make any team worse. I think the league knows that. (I think the league knew that when he signed his last contract. There was no real interest in the market and the Knicks could get a “deal” paying him a couple dollars below the max.) Unless we can get Isaiah Thomas to take the helm at some other team, Anthony is here to stay.
I mean where is Isiah Thomas when we need him? I can’t think of another professional sports team executive who had such a long-lasting negative impact on the team.
I don’t think Noah is tradeable. – 4 years/$72m is an albatross of a contract.
There are too many other team trying to trade centers who are either better or on better contracts (or both).
ORL – Vucevic
MIL – Monroe
DAL – Bogut
DEN – Faried
NO – Asik
Evan, I think there is a market for Noah but he would have to be traded for a player on a similar contract. He brings a lot of intangibles and a playoff caliber type team might see value. Now, I don’t know who that might be. Btw, I am very excited about Lin back in action with the Nets. I can see he will make a big difference when he is on the court.
I thought the Harbaugh rumor was ridiculous and I think JH is right on saying it was started by folks looking to get a recruiting advantage. He’s getting paid as much as an NFL coach right now, has the ability to bring in great players every year (as opposed to a few each year via the NFL draft), and I don’t think has any plan to leave until he brings at least a college playoff berth and probably a national title to Michigan.