Nate Robinson Is the Best Fit in Mike D’Antoni’s System
Nate the GreatThere are at least three good reasons why the Knicks didn’t need to sign Chris Duhon, none of which deal with the fact that their financial situation makes that of the American economy look good.
* Last year’s “missing the bus” incident, in which Duhon slept through his alarm hours after jumping up and down with his arm around fellow Blue Devil Jason Williams at the Duke/UNC game, was obviously unprofessional. But even beyond that, it showed a lack of pride. At a time when things weren’t going well for the Bulls and Duhon wasn’t seeing the burn he thought he deserved, he effectively thumbed his nose at the organization by missing his ride. What happens when things go downhill in New York and he finds himself on the bench again?
* In Mike D’Antoni’s system, it’s important to have a playmaking point guard who is willing to take risks with the ball. Duhon’s style of play is generally too conservative for this new system. It doesn’t help that he had six turnovers in the Knicks’ first preseason game against the Raptors.
* Most importantly, Nate Robinson is a much better fit with D’Antoni. He’s like a basketball version of Darren Sproles. He zooms up the floor faster than anyone else, bar none. And in traffic, he really has excellent vision. On NBA TV’s ‘Real Training Camp’ the other day, he made play after play, blowing past one defender and then making a quick, accurate dish for an easy bucket.
Plus, in the exhibition against the Raptors, he went for 16 points with ZERO turnovers, including a pretty nice baseline cram.
If things progress in this way, Stephon Marbury will take over Duhon’s starting spot by the end of November and Robinson will be the Knicks’ version of Leandro Barbosa off the bench.
October 10th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
control says:
Nate has too much of the angry little man syndrome in him to honestly be effective for long periods of time.
October 10th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Tobi says:
Check out Nate’s dunk against the Raptors (Oct8 2008):
http://www.squidoo.com/NateRobinson
October 10th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
Jason says:
Andre (column author) your hatred for Duke is sad and def affects your writing! So D’Antoni hand picked Duhon for his team but he won’t work well in his system??? Are you retarded…i’m sorry i mean slow? Duhon is a leader in the community and is an awesome team player! He slept through an alarm. He didn’t get a dui, get an a fight, beat his wife, etc. (all of which i have seen write numerous glowing articles for the guys who have done such) Here is your updated honest article…I hate Duke and know more about what Mike D’Antoni likes in HIS system then he does! Dime like to “keep it real”…then fire this guy!
October 10th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
fallinup says:
“In Mike D’Antoni’s system, it’s important to have a playmaking point guard who is willing to take risks with the ball.”
Since when was Nate a playmaking point guard? I think hes more an undersized, shoot first, point guard.
Nate’s more of a Barbosa type than a Steve Nash type. Duhon was clearly put in there act like Nash.
October 10th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
Three Stacks says:
@ Jason, if by “community” you mean gathering up folks to hit up a club, then yeah, Duhon is a leader. Is it really so bad to say Duhon might not be the best fit for D’antoni’s system? It’s just an opinion, you act like the guy wrote shit about your mom or something.
@ fallinup, the only way any of the NY point guards are even close to Nash is, New York isn’t that far from Canada.
Nate was actually drafted by the Phoenix Suns in ‘05-06, and everyone was saying what a good fit he was for that system. Then they traded him away to save money. I guess we’ll see if people were right or not.
October 10th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
dagwaller says:
Duhon was a bad/unnecessary signing, but I don’t think that Nate is the answer, either. Hate to say it, but skillset-wise, I think that Marbury is probably the best fit. Can dribble/around, score when asked to, and passes well? He can be Steve Nash lite at this point in his career (if he can keep his head straight).
Jason, it’ll all be ok once you understand that Duke sucks. And that Duhon could be a saint, but he’s an average NBA player at best.
October 10th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
Aaron says:
Didn’t the Suns under Mike trade away Nate due to him not being a good fit in his system? Mike doesn’t like guards that can’t show IE Rajon Rando as well.
October 10th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
Aaron says:
can’t shoot. You guys need an edit button.
October 10th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
SayItAintSo says:
Nate is a pretty solid jump-shooter and I’m not sure why you’d think otherwise. He’s obviously a little trigger happy for a point guard but I agree, he is still perfect for this system.
He’ll push the tempo more than anyone else and dude has RIDICULOUS handles (primarily because his natural dribble height is like a foot below everyone else’s).
Nate may not be the answer but he is for damn sure a better fit than Duhon. Jason up there is riding Duhon’s jock…making him out to be a Saint. I’m pretty sure I’d be more likely to run into him at a bar than volunteering at the local homeless shelter.
October 10th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
yallallreadyknow says:
chris duhon is a bum. he was overrated at duke and he has been nothing but a bum in the nba.
he really needs to be the backup pg for the spurs behind frenchy.
as for the bum ass knicks….mike d’antoni really doesnt have a system. he ran only 2 plays in phoenix…nash pick-n-roll with stoudamire and nash (cut) screen-n-roll with marion (where marion always slipped the screen). and thats it. other than that, he just allowed his ball handlers (nash, joe johnson, diaw, hill etc..)to create with the middle space open. that doesnt really qualify as a system to me (ala triangle offense).
October 10th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
Jason says:
@twos tackes…You completely make things up and try to pass it as tru..Here you go no stackes
http://www.nba.com/news/duhonaward_071205.html
Duhon winning an award from the league for his involvment in the community. On his ROOKIE DEAL he still gave up 100,000.00 to his HOMETOWN in LA to build courts for the youth after katrina. Nice try though bro.
October 10th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
Jason says:
I love all of you basketball geniuses!!! Mike D’Antonio is what NBA EXPERTS call an offensive genius. HE PICKED who he wanted to be HIS point guard. But you guys are right, you know better THAN HIM of who HE wants to be HIS point guard in HIS system…Laughable! Jeep flipping those burgers guys
October 10th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
Big V says:
Nate is actually a decent 3pt shooter. Yes he puts up dumb shots sometimes, but when he’s under control, his jumper is quite reliable.
October 10th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
chronically_ill says:
Imagine how ridiculously entertaining the Suns would have been had they kept Nate? Just imagining Nash throwing up oops to lil Nate on the break makes my head spin!