Felton averaging 18.7 ppg
Chandler averaging 17.3 ppg
Gallo averaging 15.5 ppg

And if you confine those numbers to our most recent winning streak the numbers are all better than that.

How often do you see teams with 4 guys averaging over 15 ppg? And the way I see it Chandler and Gallo are getting better at what they do every day and are starting to get their own shots. Look at what Gallo was able to do off the dribble last night.

I don't see a 2nd scorer as being the issue. We do lack depth on the bench, but a big part of that is inexperience and youth. I see the biggest need as another body inside to grab boards. What was disheartening against Boston was guys getting into the lane and getting easy shots, or, getting easy putbacks inside.

AnubisADL wrote:

VDesai wrote:Put Melo aside for a 2nd. I hear a lot of people talking about the Knicks need for a 2nd scorer, but lets just throw this out for a second.

Felton averaging 18.7 ppg
Chandler averaging 17.3 ppg
Gallo averaging 15.5 ppg

And if you confine those numbers to our most recent winning streak the numbers are all better than that.

How often do you see teams with 4 guys averaging over 15 ppg? And the way I see it Chandler and Gallo are getting better at what they do every day and are starting to get their own shots. Look at what Gallo was able to do off the dribble last night.

I don't see a 2nd scorer as being the issue. We do lack depth on the bench, but a big part of that is inexperience and youth. I see the biggest need as another body inside to grab boards. What was disheartening against Boston was guys getting into the lane and getting easy shots, or, getting easy putbacks inside.

They are playing dam near 40 minutes a game man what do you expect them to put up.

Starting players playing those kinds of minutes is not something new to the NBA. THe numbers are impressive. I don't have the feeling down the stretch that we can't score the ball. Felton can create his own shot and get to the line. Amare is obviously a go to guy. I just don't see this as what we're missing. I wouldn't kick a Carmelo Anthony or someone of that ilk out- but that's because Melo is just as good a scorer as Amare if not better. But in terms of running mates or 2nd or 3rd options, it seems to me like we have a few.

orangeblobman wrote:No, they don't. We have so many bananas right now, this is the most balanced attack in the L. Just need relief for the Amar'e and Felton, that's all. You have to remember Gallinari will continue developing and he has superstar potential.

Papabear Says

Amar'e and Felton will burn out before the playoffs. Gallo may be a year or two from becoming a star. Chandler will arrive by next year. We need another star like Carmelo and a Big stop center and a stronger bench with a point guard who can back up Felton. If Amear goes down we are sunk and that should not be. We should have players ready to step up. If D'antoni continue to play 7 players we are doomed. We need to get Randolph in the game and see if he could help. If not trade him. We had such high hope for that kid. We give up on our young players too quick.

iSergio wrote:It's not just about how many ppg Wilson Chandler and Danilo Gallinari. It's how and when those ppg happen. We don't have a legit 2nd go-to-scorer who can get his own shot or draw a foul in a close game. Last night when Amar'e Stoudemire went out of the game, we lost two leads. That doesn't happen if we have Carmelo Anthony. And in the final five minutes, we don't have a player who you can isolate on the perimeter.

Last night KG took people in the post multiple times and got HIS OWN rebound and put it back. That doesn't happen if we have someone to guard him or rebound.

Look, I'm not saying what you're saying is incorrect but the above is also true no?

It seems like what you're saying is that without having a Joe Johnson/Melo type to iso in the final 5 minutes you can't win close games. Is that what you're saying? I don't want to put words in your mouth.

Papabear wrote:

orangeblobman wrote:No, they don't. We have so many bananas right now, this is the most balanced attack in the L. Just need relief for the Amar'e and Felton, that's all. You have to remember Gallinari will continue developing and he has superstar potential.

Papabear Says

Amar'e and Felton will burn out before the playoffs. Gallo may be a year or two from becoming a star. Chandler will arrive by next year. We need another star like Carmelo and a Big stop center and a stronger bench with a point guard who can back up Felton. If Amear goes down we a sunk and that should not be. We should have players ready to step up. If D'antoni continue to play 7 players we are doomed. We need to get Randolph in the game and see if he could help. If not trade him. We had such high hope for that kid. We give up on our young players too quick.

So I'm not sure I get your logic. If you're worried about good players burning out and one player needing time to develop, then wouldn't your argument be for more depth now? Especially if you believed the roster as currently constituted has long-term viability.

Melo certainly would make you stronger now, but he's gotta make you a title contender now and for the next 3 years. The argument is go for broker and take Melo now and hope he and Amare make the term long term viable, or keep the guys you have right now and retain the flexibility to add more depth and hope that scenario is more long term viable. I'm leaning towards the latter right now based on what I've seen this year.

There's no feel good way to do it--we're going to have to bid farewell to players we've come to love, but as much as I adore this team as currently constituted, sometimes it feels like we're built on a house of cards.

iSergio wrote:

VDesai wrote:Do you not consider Felton as a 2nd scorer. Felton has a great ability to get into the lane and either get a layup or draw a foul. He's been getting his own shot at will. He actually drew a huge foul last night when we needed it- it just wasn't called

Raymond Felton is current our best option for that role but I don't think he's good enough for that role long term.

But why not? He's very effective doing it right now. The best way to preserve him for the long term is by getting him a viable backup that can spell him for 10-12 minutes a night. Steve Nash developed into that guy for Phoenix and looks like Felton is doing it for the Knicks right now. The great thing about having a PG who gets into the lane is that not only does he become a scoring option, but he's gonna have the knack for setting someone else up too. I'm not seeing the "hole" in the lineup at crunch time right now.

iSergio wrote:

GodSaveTheKnicks wrote:

iSergio wrote:It's not just about how many ppg Wilson Chandler and Danilo Gallinari. It's how and when those ppg happen. We don't have a legit 2nd go-to-scorer who can get his own shot or draw a foul in a close game. Last night when Amar'e Stoudemire went out of the game, we lost two leads. That doesn't happen if we have Carmelo Anthony. And in the final five minutes, we don't have a player who you can isolate on the perimeter.

Last night KG took people in the post multiple times and got HIS OWN rebound and put it back. That doesn't happen if we have someone to guard him or rebound.

Look, I'm not saying what you're saying is incorrect but the above is also true no?

It seems like what you're saying is that without having a Joe Johnson/Melo type to iso in the final 5 minutes you can't win close games. Is that what you're saying? I don't want to put words in your mouth.

Of course we need more size.

And yes, you need an elite wing scorer to win close games. Look at all of the elite teams ...

Lakers - Kobe
Celtics - Paul Pierce
Magic - Vince Carter
Heat - LeCon, Dwyane Wade
Mavericks - Dirk Nowitzki
Thunder - Kevin Durant

You need a player who you can isolate in the final 5 minutes or when the shot clock is running out imo. We don't have that.

Uhh Hello, Amar'e...

The more I look at it, the more I realize that Chandler and Gallo are becoming closer and closer to second tier scorers. They are becoming that much more reliable and yes, you can go to them in the clutch. To me, we don't NEED Melo as of this point. WE NEED to stock up our front court. If you think we need Melo and that's going to carry us into elitness, I'm going to have to disagree. Our frontcourt is going to get destroyed in the playoffs in seconds, especially against Boston and Orlando. Adding Melo and subtracting our good young players will not change that and we'll be a second round team for a very long time if this is the case. We wont win a championship.