Knight Move

[Ecophiloso@aol.com]

For those who believe Knight's stats don't command the kind of $ he's about
to get, I offer some highly opinionated food for thought:

- -The Chief's #'s @ GS were not indicative of how he would produce as a key
player, 3-time champ & all-star in Boston.

- -Aside from the Bulls, who are an anomaly (because MJ is an anomaly), no one
has won a championship w/o a real center since the 70's.  Bird needed The
Chief, Dr. J needed Moses, Isaiah needed Edwards, LA had Jabbar and Houston
has The Dream.  We'll probably need someone other than Knight to play the
pivot in order to win #17 but Baker and McDyess are far less realistic
options than he.  Knight is w/o a doubt a legit off the bench 4/5 (a la
McHale in the best of all possible futures...)

- -There are only a few legit centers in the entire league (Olajuwon, Robinson,
O'Neal & Ewing; Mourning, Mutombo, Seikaly, Smits & Divac on the next tier)
and three of the best are in the other conference.  None of them are
available.  We need someone to battle the above mentioned eastern conference
centers along with Muresan, Johnson, Montross.  There's just no one else out
there who comes close.

- -Congrats to Wesley and best wishes to him, Cowens & co.  But I'd rather the
C's pay $22m over 7 yrs. to a pseudo-center vs. a capable PG anyday.

- -Knight is not going to be the #1, #2 or even #3 option.  He'll crash the
boards, get some cheap put-backs, run a decent pick & roll, set solid screens
and play with enthusiasm.  Hopefully, he'll play smart defense (make people
fight for position, use his lower body, box out) and other centers will have
to work for their 20p/10r.
I don't mind when Ewing gets his numbers, I just hate having him light us up
effortlessly.

- -Knight fits the style of play Pitino dictates.  Can anyone see Stanley
Roberts doing the same?  Oliver Miller?  Big Country?

Go Green,
Daniel