This team has some major work to do and questions to be answered, mostly centered around Stoudemire with his ability to stay healthy and ability to co-exist with Anthony. But for now, this team will only go as far as Melo and Chandler take it. As long as they are healthy, we will be a very good team. Probably win 50 games or better. We will have the best season we have had since the 90s. And then as the season ends we can evaluate where we are at. Hopefully Felton is the answer at PG. Hopefully Shumpert comes back healthy and resumes his starting role. Hopefully Kidd, Smith, Novak, Camby, etc solidify the bench moving forward. Hopefully Stoudemire becomes the 2nd socring option we need and fits into a role (starter, 6th man, etc.) If not, we can make adjustments. Stoudemire will only have 2 years left on his deal, someone will take a flyer on him. We will find a second scorer to replace him. Until then, let's assume that Anthony and Chandler will carry this team and the rest will fall into place and our many questions will be asnwered. I think this is a good team no matter what though. We saw it towards the end of last regular season, and i think with our improved depth we will pick up where we left off.

Knixkik wrote:With all the negativity on this board (the most i have ever seen) and hate towards Melo as a player, Melo trade, Lin etc, i really want to put a couple of things into perspective. When was the last time we had a top 5 offensive player and top 5 defensive player on this team? Have we ever? That is what both Melo and Chandler are. Other teams who have this: Miami (Lebron is both), LA Lakers (Kobe, Dwight), and OKC (Durant, Ibaka.) That's it, just 3 others teams.

This team has some major work to do and questions to be answered, mostly centered around Stoudemire with his ability to stay healthy and ability to co-exist with Anthony. But for now, this team will only go as far as Melo and Chandler take it. As long as they are healthy, we will be a very good team. Probably win 50 games or better. We will have the best season we have had since the 90s. And then as the season ends we can evaluate where we are at. Hopefully Felton is the answer at PG. Hopefully Shumpert comes back healthy and resumes his starting role. Hopefully Kidd, Smith, Novak, Camby, etc solidify the bench moving forward. Hopefully Stoudemire becomes the 2nd socring option we need and fits into a role (starter, 6th man, etc.) If not, we can make adjustments. Stoudemire will only have 2 years left on his deal, someone will take a flyer on him. We will find a second scorer to replace him. Until then, let's assume that Anthony and Chandler will carry this team and the rest will fall into place and our many questions will be asnwered. I think this is a good team no matter what though. We saw it towards the end of last regular season, and i think with our improved depth we will pick up where we left off.

DUDE, I am not trying to kill your positivity here but that doesn't matter.. when your so called top 5 offensive player is one of the worst defensive players at his position and the top 5 defensive player is one of the worst on offense at his position...

Stop with the top this and that.. that doesn't make a team.... You need to have a culture or winning and accountability.... guys who are leaders.... carmelo is not a leader.... he is a great streak scorer, nothing more...

Teams who win don't build around such flawed players.... they just don't... The best player on your team has to set the tone on both sides of the ball.. carmelo is busy talking about guys contracts....the dude is far from a leader... when we had Ewing, this team took on his mentality, tough, defensive minded, never quit attitude..

even when we had sprewell, Houston and a young camby,along with LJ, this team took on the mentality of the coach and guys Like LJ.. tough minded individuals, who absolutely "got it" when it came to playing this game..

this team doesn't have time to evaluate.. too old, no flexibility.. either win this year or star chopping it up bro... plain and simple..

IrishKnickFan wrote:

Knixkik wrote:With all the negativity on this board (the most i have ever seen) and hate towards Melo as a player, Melo trade, Lin etc, i really want to put a couple of things into perspective. When was the last time we had a top 5 offensive player and top 5 defensive player on this team? Have we ever? That is what both Melo and Chandler are. Other teams who have this: Miami (Lebron is both), LA Lakers (Kobe, Dwight), and OKC (Durant, Ibaka.) That's it, just 3 others teams.

This team has some major work to do and questions to be answered, mostly centered around Stoudemire with his ability to stay healthy and ability to co-exist with Anthony. But for now, this team will only go as far as Melo and Chandler take it. As long as they are healthy, we will be a very good team. Probably win 50 games or better. We will have the best season we have had since the 90s. And then as the season ends we can evaluate where we are at. Hopefully Felton is the answer at PG. Hopefully Shumpert comes back healthy and resumes his starting role. Hopefully Kidd, Smith, Novak, Camby, etc solidify the bench moving forward. Hopefully Stoudemire becomes the 2nd socring option we need and fits into a role (starter, 6th man, etc.) If not, we can make adjustments. Stoudemire will only have 2 years left on his deal, someone will take a flyer on him. We will find a second scorer to replace him. Until then, let's assume that Anthony and Chandler will carry this team and the rest will fall into place and our many questions will be asnwered. I think this is a good team no matter what though. We saw it towards the end of last regular season, and i think with our improved depth we will pick up where we left off.

Did we really nedd another why of these i hate melo/i love melo threads its getting old. In fact i havent seen much negativity about melo or tyson. Amare is getting most of it and its tough to blame people since the guy is always injured

Is this really a love melo thread? If it is my bad, i thought it was more love the knicks and support our players thread. The fact that the first two responses to this are this negative, very sad. Why respond?

tkf wrote:

Knixkik wrote:With all the negativity on this board (the most i have ever seen) and hate towards Melo as a player, Melo trade, Lin etc, i really want to put a couple of things into perspective. When was the last time we had a top 5 offensive player and top 5 defensive player on this team? Have we ever? That is what both Melo and Chandler are. Other teams who have this: Miami (Lebron is both), LA Lakers (Kobe, Dwight), and OKC (Durant, Ibaka.) That's it, just 3 others teams.

This team has some major work to do and questions to be answered, mostly centered around Stoudemire with his ability to stay healthy and ability to co-exist with Anthony. But for now, this team will only go as far as Melo and Chandler take it. As long as they are healthy, we will be a very good team. Probably win 50 games or better. We will have the best season we have had since the 90s. And then as the season ends we can evaluate where we are at. Hopefully Felton is the answer at PG. Hopefully Shumpert comes back healthy and resumes his starting role. Hopefully Kidd, Smith, Novak, Camby, etc solidify the bench moving forward. Hopefully Stoudemire becomes the 2nd socring option we need and fits into a role (starter, 6th man, etc.) If not, we can make adjustments. Stoudemire will only have 2 years left on his deal, someone will take a flyer on him. We will find a second scorer to replace him. Until then, let's assume that Anthony and Chandler will carry this team and the rest will fall into place and our many questions will be asnwered. I think this is a good team no matter what though. We saw it towards the end of last regular season, and i think with our improved depth we will pick up where we left off.

DUDE, I am not trying to kill your positivity here but that doesn't matter.. when your so called top 5 offensive player is one of the worst defensive players at his position and the top 5 defensive player is one of the worst on offense at his position...

Stop with the top this and that.. that doesn't make a team.... You need to have a culture or winning and accountability.... guys who are leaders.... carmelo is not a leader.... he is a great streak scorer, nothing more...

Teams who win don't build around such flawed players.... they just don't... The best player on your team has to set the tone on both sides of the ball.. carmelo is busy talking about guys contracts....the dude is far from a leader... when we had Ewing, this team took on his mentality, tough, defensive minded, never quit attitude..

even when we had sprewell, Houston and a young camby,along with LJ, this team took on the mentality of the coach and guys Like LJ.. tough minded individuals, who absolutely "got it" when it came to playing this game..

this team doesn't have time to evaluate.. too old, no flexibility.. either win this year or star chopping it up bro... plain and simple..

Chandler has taken the role of the leader. Dallas has built around Dirk for years, and one could argue he is equally as flawed as Melo on the defensive end of the floor. All the talk about his weaknesses just went away when he won a title, that's all.

Knixkik wrote:

tkf wrote:

Knixkik wrote:With all the negativity on this board (the most i have ever seen) and hate towards Melo as a player, Melo trade, Lin etc, i really want to put a couple of things into perspective. When was the last time we had a top 5 offensive player and top 5 defensive player on this team? Have we ever? That is what both Melo and Chandler are. Other teams who have this: Miami (Lebron is both), LA Lakers (Kobe, Dwight), and OKC (Durant, Ibaka.) That's it, just 3 others teams.

This team has some major work to do and questions to be answered, mostly centered around Stoudemire with his ability to stay healthy and ability to co-exist with Anthony. But for now, this team will only go as far as Melo and Chandler take it. As long as they are healthy, we will be a very good team. Probably win 50 games or better. We will have the best season we have had since the 90s. And then as the season ends we can evaluate where we are at. Hopefully Felton is the answer at PG. Hopefully Shumpert comes back healthy and resumes his starting role. Hopefully Kidd, Smith, Novak, Camby, etc solidify the bench moving forward. Hopefully Stoudemire becomes the 2nd socring option we need and fits into a role (starter, 6th man, etc.) If not, we can make adjustments. Stoudemire will only have 2 years left on his deal, someone will take a flyer on him. We will find a second scorer to replace him. Until then, let's assume that Anthony and Chandler will carry this team and the rest will fall into place and our many questions will be asnwered. I think this is a good team no matter what though. We saw it towards the end of last regular season, and i think with our improved depth we will pick up where we left off.

DUDE, I am not trying to kill your positivity here but that doesn't matter.. when your so called top 5 offensive player is one of the worst defensive players at his position and the top 5 defensive player is one of the worst on offense at his position...

Stop with the top this and that.. that doesn't make a team.... You need to have a culture or winning and accountability.... guys who are leaders.... carmelo is not a leader.... he is a great streak scorer, nothing more...

Teams who win don't build around such flawed players.... they just don't... The best player on your team has to set the tone on both sides of the ball.. carmelo is busy talking about guys contracts....the dude is far from a leader... when we had Ewing, this team took on his mentality, tough, defensive minded, never quit attitude..

even when we had sprewell, Houston and a young camby,along with LJ, this team took on the mentality of the coach and guys Like LJ.. tough minded individuals, who absolutely "got it" when it came to playing this game..

this team doesn't have time to evaluate.. too old, no flexibility.. either win this year or star chopping it up bro... plain and simple..

Chandler has taken the role of the leader. Dallas has built around Dirk for years, and one could argue he is equally as flawed as Melo on the defensive end of the floor. All the talk about his weaknesses just went away when he won a title, that's all.

You do remember Dirk got to the Finals without Tyson....was up 2-0 on Miami and then the refs kind of got involved like they did last year when Miami got roughed up some.

I recall most Knick fans running with the Mock Moniker referring to Wade as D-Whistle

Has Melo ever been to the Finals or won at least 1 game in the Finals?

Won't get into the Melo evaluations. I agree he's top 5 on offense, but it's more subjective, I'll admit. It's interesting to point out the combination and that so few other teams have it. Clearly up for debate whether it puts us right there as a top 5 team.

I hope so, but am a bit skeptical. I think our d will be as strong or stronger than last year, but our offensive efficiency might struggle. It's all about Amare being the legit number 2 scorer and a # 3 emerging.

holfresh wrote:All this positive love stuff...Where are u going with that...Even the dudes who claim to be positive are negative here...See above...I get what you are saying tho...I wish I can be as positive as your are...It all depends on Amare getting back healthy...Melo needs a second option...I'm not as high on Chandler as you are...He is great in a team defense sort of way..He offers nothing else really...JR will definitely help..He looks like he lost some weight as well...He can play defense and can get hot off the bench..Until Novak can hit a shot with a hand in his face a la Ray Allen, I'm not sold...People know how well he shoots from the three and won't let him take those open threes he hit so effortlessly...I have no faith in the old guys..This game is even more athletic now than it used to be..Look at the top teams..OKC and Miami have thoroughbreds..They want to run u off the court...Boston is adding youth..We went the other way...But let's see, our core is less than 30, so health is what's holding us back...I'm positive...Let's see..

Ibaka is a better defender than Tyson, a far better shot blocker and he can actually now hit the open shot which stretches the defense.

mrKnickShot wrote:

holfresh wrote:All this positive love stuff...Where are u going with that...Even the dudes who claim to be positive are negative here...See above...I get what you are saying tho...I wish I can be as positive as your are...It all depends on Amare getting back healthy...Melo needs a second option...I'm not as high on Chandler as you are...He is great in a team defense sort of way..He offers nothing else really...JR will definitely help..He looks like he lost some weight as well...He can play defense and can get hot off the bench..Until Novak can hit a shot with a hand in his face a la Ray Allen, I'm not sold...People know how well he shoots from the three and won't let him take those open threes he hit so effortlessly...I have no faith in the old guys..This game is even more athletic now than it used to be..Look at the top teams..OKC and Miami have thoroughbreds..They want to run u off the court...Boston is adding youth..We went the other way...But let's see, our core is less than 30, so health is what's holding us back...I'm positive...Let's see..

Ibaka is a better defender than Tyson, a far better shot blocker and he can actually now hit the open shot which stretches the defense.

Ibaka may block more shots but he is not a better defender. While going for blocks he often leaves his responsibilities and leaves opportunities for points and rebounds.

yellowboy90 wrote:

mrKnickShot wrote:

holfresh wrote:All this positive love stuff...Where are u going with that...Even the dudes who claim to be positive are negative here...See above...I get what you are saying tho...I wish I can be as positive as your are...It all depends on Amare getting back healthy...Melo needs a second option...I'm not as high on Chandler as you are...He is great in a team defense sort of way..He offers nothing else really...JR will definitely help..He looks like he lost some weight as well...He can play defense and can get hot off the bench..Until Novak can hit a shot with a hand in his face a la Ray Allen, I'm not sold...People know how well he shoots from the three and won't let him take those open threes he hit so effortlessly...I have no faith in the old guys..This game is even more athletic now than it used to be..Look at the top teams..OKC and Miami have thoroughbreds..They want to run u off the court...Boston is adding youth..We went the other way...But let's see, our core is less than 30, so health is what's holding us back...I'm positive...Let's see..

Ibaka is a better defender than Tyson, a far better shot blocker and he can actually now hit the open shot which stretches the defense.

Ibaka may block more shots but he is not a better defender. While going for blocks he often leaves his responsibilities and leaves opportunities for points and rebounds.

I agree with this... Ibaka is a good player and like holfresh said he has a ton of upside. However, Serge Ibaka is not the same type of on the ball defender as, say, Bruce Bowen was

holfresh wrote:

mrKnickShot wrote:

holfresh wrote:All this positive love stuff...Where are u going with that...Even the dudes who claim to be positive are negative here...See above...I get what you are saying tho...I wish I can be as positive as your are...It all depends on Amare getting back healthy...Melo needs a second option...I'm not as high on Chandler as you are...He is great in a team defense sort of way..He offers nothing else really...JR will definitely help..He looks like he lost some weight as well...He can play defense and can get hot off the bench..Until Novak can hit a shot with a hand in his face a la Ray Allen, I'm not sold...People know how well he shoots from the three and won't let him take those open threes he hit so effortlessly...I have no faith in the old guys..This game is even more athletic now than it used to be..Look at the top teams..OKC and Miami have thoroughbreds..They want to run u off the court...Boston is adding youth..We went the other way...But let's see, our core is less than 30, so health is what's holding us back...I'm positive...Let's see..

Ibaka is a better defender than Tyson, a far better shot blocker and he can actually now hit the open shot which stretches the defense.

I don't agree with u..Ibaka is a very good shot blocker but he hasn't change the way OKC plays defense...Chandler change the way Dallas played defense and he change the way NY play defense..It's why he won the award...I would prefer Ibaka because of his upside but attaining him isn't realistic...

Lebron and Ibaka led the All defensive team voting. Chandler did not even make the team.

Voting:

LeBron James, Miami (53)
Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City (47)
Dwight Howard, Orlando (41)
Chris Paul, L.A. Clippers 35
Tony Allen, Memphis (33)

Chandler is an excellent defender. I just think that Ibaka is better - shot blocking does help.

Chandler is more of a defensive leader though.

This guy is everything I want out of a New York Knick.