The game changed in the 2nd half when Orlando started making their outside shots and QRich (I hate saying this) took over defending Melo. Howard only scored 9 points in the 2nd half, yet Orlando won the half by 18!

Obviously the final nail to the game was Nelson going off on Billups or whoever else tried to stop him.

So while everyone will point to lack of size, it really came down to the perimeter defense last night. Leaving guys wide open for 3's and not stopping dribble penetration. I am not saying that having a big, tough 5 would not help because it would. It would allow for the team to play more straight up D and not leave the shooters outside wide open. That is what NY did in the first half, they allowed Howard to go off but shut down everyone else. They should have stuck with that plan for the 2nd half too.

Getting Jeffries will help as the D will be better when Turiaf is not in the game. I would imagine they will split time at the 5 from now on, with STAT maybe getting some time there depending on match-ups.

As for the perimeter D, that needs to come mostly from Billups, TD, Fields, Walker and Melo. They need to stay with their shooters

Right now, TD looks lost on both ends and Williams cannot hit a 3 to save his life.

Oh and can we not see Sheldon Williams suit up again this year, please? Putrid.

Q. Knicksfan - Was Sheldon that bad?

A. Yes.

franco12 - too bad we just up and waived corey brewer.

Corey Brewer wanted guaranteed minutes. Donnie got back on the phone.

GoNyGoNyGo wrote:
The game changed in the 2nd half when Orlando started making their outside shots and QRich (I hate saying this) took over defending Melo. Howard only scored 9 points in the 2nd half, yet Orlando won the half by 18!

Actually, having a rebounding center who can defend would have prevented that. We were getting out rebounded and because of this, perimeter players started crashing the boards and helping out on Dwight because he was taking Shawne for a ride down low.

UKDad wrote:Knicks need a big man.. Now define "big man.". Would think this means a 250+, 7' + Mobile, hostile defender. Didn't we just trade away one?

You know Denver isnt even using Mosgov. We could really use that length.

misterearl wrote:

JohnWallace44 wrote:By the time the playoffs roll around we're going to be damn near impossible to beat. You notice little things improving each game that the other top teams in the East can't be happy with.

All of our shooters are having a really hard time since the trade, but you notice last night that the spacing was a lot better. The next step, that will only come with practice, is hitting them with passes in rhythm instead of having to catch, collect yourself and then shoot.

Spacing and having shooters in a ready position to put up shots is what makes D'Antoni wing players shoot a much higher percentage. We're getting close to having Fields, TD, Walker and Williams comfortable and we're close to having Chauncey and Melo comfortable passing to them.

Once we get there, we'll be extremely tough to beat, center or no center.

Excellent point JW44. Noticed the spacing was better. Shawne Williams baseline dunk was a good sign of him gaining confidence. He deserves a Medal of Honor for taking on the assignment to defend Howard. It does not matter who takes the shot so long as it goes in the hoop.

Shooting 37 per cent will not beat anyone.

I agree also. We have 2 pretty spot up shooters right now in Shawne and Billy Walker. They just need to hit them where they are comfortable. Shawne at the corner 3s and Billy at the elbow 3s specially in the left side for Billy.

AnubisADL wrote:Howard is the only dominating center in the East. You aren't going to get anyone who can contain him.

Amare shouldn't be guarding Howard though because he will pick up quick fouls and be relegated to the bench.

Yeah, but you need someone to at least make him work a little harder. Make him get tired.

You man up DHoward with the men we have and he kills you. You drop other defenders on him, and you watch the outside shots fall. He scored 21 points without strong helpside D in the first half, and if you didn't change your D, you could have defended the outside shot better and then you still lose by 10 because then he scores 40 instead of 30.

The only alternative is a big 5 who wears him down by the 4th quarter so we aren't forced to watch Jameer Nelson have a career quarter. Brokeback Turiaf and Benchwarmer Jeffries are not the answer. We need a big fat aircraft carrier butt with a nice motor who doesn't need alot of touches to stay involved, who will make DHoward expend energy on the D side = Get the Big Baby from the Celts

6 - Shawne Williams is having a solid year for being the last to make the final roster cuts in November
7 - Ronny Turiaf shaves his dreads next
8 - Anthony Carter
9 - Bill Walker can stick around
10 - what can Derrick Brown do for you?

12 - please, anybody but Shelden Williams