If you are the PG in the PnR, you must be a legit threat to either drive all the way or pull up for a jumper. CB and also TD don't make a hard cut with speed off the PnR. They go wide and don't present a threat, so the defense never commits and this means no open lane for STAT. This has more repercussions, cuz then the defense is able to stay home with everyone else ie. Fields, Melo etc. That means the offense goes nowhere and you end up with a 3pt shot from CB or TD or an ISO to Melo or STAT. This is a HUGE problem.

The timing has to also be just right. IF you watch Nash or CP3 run a PnR, you'll see how much more aggressively they come off the pick and this either gives them the open pull up or they continue on with the drive and force a defensive reaction which of course with a spread floor can lead to any number of shots.

Also CB isn't taking control of the positioning of the players. It's gotta be that he really doesn't now where they should be, cuz too often he starts to run a play and guys are too close to each other or just plain in the way. On top of all this, CB isn't shooting like he was and that is really killing us. Some of it is poor shot selection, which you never want from your PG. CB's poor play puts us back at square one despite having Melo. I wish TD was better, but he's only really good when he's able to score and he's not the guy you want running the point in crunchtime. TD just takes too many bad shots. CB was supposed to help us to stop taking poor 4th qtr shots, but he's been a big culprit himself. He's just not comfortable and IMO has NO IDEA how to run this offense yet. He may need a full training camp and more to get the hang of this and he may not get it.

CB is shooting 40% and 33% with 4.6 assists and 3.1 TO's in March!!! All his stats are bad this month. The unfortunate thing is that this impacts the rest of the team negatively.

RESULT	 MIN	     FGM-FGA	     FG%	3PM-3PA	3P%      FTM-FTA	FT%	REB	AST	BLK	STL	PF	TO   PTS
W 120-99  29	     5-9	    .556	2-4	.500	      6-6	1.000	0	8	0	2	5	1    18

No way to expect that kind of performance every game, but those are the kind of numbers you can put up as a PG in this system. The 8 assists and only 1 TO is the big number that stands out. That should be the goal on most nights. but 8-2 or 11-3 is just as acceptable for a PG handling the ball a lot in this offense. If the PG isn't a threat to score then it's just a lot of running around going nowhere.

Juice wrote:Not going to get on a player too hard who's played about 14gms and maybe half of them hurt especially if I'm someone who's been making excuses for the team and coach for yrs. I would feel hypocritical if I did so.

I'd pick up his option and use him as a 15 million dollar trade chip.

Billups is more Derek Fisher now.

AnubisADL wrote:The guy looks finished. I was expecting big things from him but he isnt playing with any fire or desire.

I'd pick up his option and use him as a 15 million dollar trade chip.

Billups is more Derek Fisher now.

Honestly he never looked giddy during the press conference. He even used the term...."bitter sweet".....I'm sure he was fine in Denver win or lose because it was HOME.

Meanwhile have Melo or Amar'e grabbed those 15-20rebbies Melo talked about during his press conference in any of these games since the trade?

So many players we could observe and analyze since the trade

nixluva wrote:

nykshaknbake wrote:Billups may be tanking it. He knows the system isn't a good one for him or the team and that the coach doesn't know any other way. He's probably hoping to get released and sign with a contender. If so shame on him.

That would make no sense. I know Mike's system and his system has even more halfcourt plays than pure SSOL fullcourt high speed plays. There would be no sense in doing that. Besides he came out and said he wanted to sign an extension here. I think it's more likely that he's hurt and is trying to play thru it. Or that in addition to not really grasping the system, he's also playing hurt and doesn't have his usual leg support. I don't know, but the way he's playing now is a detriment to the entire team.

CrushAlot wrote:

nykshaknbake wrote:Billups may be tanking it. He knows the system isn't a good one for him or the team and that the coach doesn't know any other way. He's probably hoping to get released and sign with a contender. If so shame on him.

I don't know if he is tanking it but I agree about everything else. I think he is a guy that commits heart and soul to team goals and leads a team. I think he must realize that D'Antoni is not committed to the extent that he needs to be for his team to be successful in the playoffs and that frustrates him. The Knicks can't win with this coach and I am sure Billups knows that. He is a finals mvp. He knows how tough it is to get to the finals and how important defense and game planning are for a team to be successful. Days off, walk throughs, film sessions explaining a basic zone defense have to get old for a guy that has won a championship and knows that it is a waste of time.

Not to mention he's been in a situation where he didn't particularly care playing for a certain coach but busted his balls playing for him in LB. Speaks volumes about D'AnToni. I think Billups knows this trade wasn't really about him.

Basketball is a team game and the dominoes are more fragile that you may want to admit. The trade affected everyone, from top to bottom.

As a result of the trade Even Dolan got greedy and raised ticket prices.

I miss Raymond Felton.

misterearl wrote:nixluva - Billups is just one small part of the problem.

Basketball is a team game and the dominoes are more fragile that you may want to admit. The trade affected everyone, from top to bottom.

As a result of the trade Even Dolan got greedy and raised ticket prices.

I miss Raymond Felton.

Papabear Says

We should not pick up Billups contract next season. He is now showing why he was not the starting point guard for Denver. Yes he started the first games with us with energy. Now he has become a chucker throwing up bricks. He can't defend on these young point guards. he is done. This deal that we made for Carmelo will make other player think twice before they team up as superstars. It does not work all the time.Carmelo should have waited but the money was more important than a ring. If Carmelo do not show his worth with the Knicks this will be his biggest payday ever. And no ring or hall of fame.

Quick PGs kill him. Boston, Chicago, Orlando, would all kill him; those are 3 possible matchups for first round (if Knicks make it, Miami is other team).