Lin and Baron are good PG's and they can actually play well together too. Baron is getting better and better and as he does it only makes this team more dangerous. Lin looked like his old self last night. Hopefully he can carry that aggressiveness forward.

Jorts is coming along and helps our bigman depth. Jorts is a solid defender even if he isn't a shot blocker. He gets rebounds and he actually plays good team Ball. As his wrist heals he'll be a good asset.

STAT and Melo aren't doing much else, but they seem to have gotten their offensive games going. STAT absolutely stunk on help D, but at least he made an effort last night. Hopefully he realizes that he has to give a bigger effort from now on.

MDA has more lineups he can go to that we see work well. This is a process for the coach as much as the players. MDA has had a tough time figuring out how to use all these guys. He's starting to figure it out which is a good sign.

The team isn't giving up! It may seem odd to state this after a big losing road trip, but this team still believes it will get it going. I can see how this team could easily get on a roll with a key win against the Sixers. If they come out focused they can get that win and regain confidence. There's still a long way to go even tho it seems that they're running out of time.

It's still in the Knicks hands. They've got 2 against the Sixers coming up. They've got Boston going on a massive 8 game road trip with back to backs. It's up to them to take advantage of their remaining opportunities.

Way I see it, it's time for a rebuild. The sooner we rebuild the better.

smackeddog wrote:Agree nixluva- this team has many positives- good pg tandem, centre, deep bench- that's why it's so frustrating to see them suck. Plus i like most of the team- they're good guys who are easy to root for.

I know they need time and I know they can be great, but the problem is we're quickly running out of time

You could have said the same thing about Marbury.

"Look, uh, you got Marbury, who's a great point guard, you got Francis, Eddy Curry he can really become so awesome" etc., etc.,

Not gonna work. End of story.

His system is about sharing the ball and moving on offense to gain easy scoring opportunities. It's about playing with pace so that you attack the defense before it's completely set.

WHen this team was winning it was doing all of those things and defending at a high level!!! So what are you suggesting he should change about what he's been teaching the team to do? MDA isn't having the players do things that aren't about winning. The players have to continue to execute. So if STAT is told how to defend a PnR, which is what they do in practice every day, but STAT basically ignores this and instead steps away and allows an easy score, how does that lead to Mike should change his system? If Melo goes brain dead and doesn't blockout for a rebound how is that MDA's fault, when you know they've been going over these things day after day? Woodson was brought in and you know he's been talking to these guys so really it's not about the coaches anymore. This is really on the players, in particular STAT and Melo!!! If they actually exert themselves on both ends this team will win. So far they've yet to do it for a complete game let alone a season!!!

nixluva wrote:

Uptown wrote:One positive I saw last night was that MDA and the coaching staff finally made an adjustment from the switch the high-pick and roll to the high double-team-trap of the point guard. I've been calling for this since the 2nd week of the season. Didn't work aswell as it will work once we get Jeffries and Chandler back who are both very good help defenders.

Once Jeffries and Chandler return, when Stat traps out high, Jeffries will have the quicks to rotate over from the weakside to help with penetration. Its questionable whether Stat can/will rotate and cover the paint if Chandler is the one trapping out high.

Thing is they used it alot before STAT and Melo came back. If you go and watch the games during the streak you'll see much more aggressive defense on opposing guards. More traps and full court pressure. It seems everything got out of synch when we started adding in all the guys STAT, Melo, Baron & JR.

Not all the way true. They actually trapped the pick and roll some during the Christmas game vs. the Celts then went away from it afterwards. They also full court pressed some in that game with Douglas, but it seemed to go into the cooler for a while.

JCrusher wrote:

Uptown wrote:

nixluva wrote:

Uptown wrote:One positive I saw last night was that MDA and the coaching staff finally made an adjustment from the switch the high-pick and roll to the high double-team-trap of the point guard. I've been calling for this since the 2nd week of the season. Didn't work aswell as it will work once we get Jeffries and Chandler back who are both very good help defenders.

Once Jeffries and Chandler return, when Stat traps out high, Jeffries will have the quicks to rotate over from the weakside to help with penetration. Its questionable whether Stat can/will rotate and cover the paint if Chandler is the one trapping out high.

Thing is they used it alot before STAT and Melo came back. If you go and watch the games during the streak you'll see much more aggressive defense on opposing guards. More traps and full court pressure. It seems everything got out of synch when we started adding in all the guys STAT, Melo, Baron & JR.

Not all the way true. They actually trapped the pick and roll some during the Christmas game vs. the Celts then went away from it afterwards. They also full court pressed some in that game with Douglas, but it seemed to go into the cooler for a while.

There is a tiny bit of info you are forgetting. Pierece dint play and Pierce has owned us so i wouldnt take that game as an example man lol

What the hell does trapping Rondo off the pick-n-roll have to do with Pierce? Its not about who's on the floor, its about defensive philosophy and principles....

nixluva wrote:JLin can play with anyone really

Let's not get too crazy nixluva. Deron Williams, Tony Parker and Rajon Rondo took Lin very personal. Before we crown him Beastmaster of The Point Guards let us remember our Jeremy has yet to face Derrick Rose.

misterearl wrote:Jeremy Lin Plays Beautiful Basketball

nixluva wrote:JLin can play with anyone really

Let's not get too crazy nixluva. Deron Williams, Tony Parker and Rajon Rondo took Lin very personal. Before we crown him Beastmaster of The Point Guards let us remember our Jeremy has yet to face Derrick Rose.

I am one of the biggest Jeremy Lin fans out there. That being said, the reason I am a big fan of his is that he is an overachiever. Clearly, he lacks the physical abilities of most NBA point guards. It is his unabashed relentlessness and team play that attracts me to this type of player. However, that isn't enough. He also has the ability to take his game to another level during clutch time. There cannot be enough said about this trait. Fact is...although he never says it...he most definitely has a chip on his shoulder, which serves him well.

Lin, however, is below average on D. Not because of his effort, but because of his lack of natural athletic ability. No matter how much a fan of Lin you are, you cannot deny that he simply doesn't match up in athleticism. On the bright side, Steve Nash and Stockton weren't super athletes either, and they are going to the Hall of Fame.

What makes me so mad about guys like Melo is that he has God given abilities, but in my opinion doesn't become all that he can be.