My point is, this is why coaching is so important. Woody deserves the lions share of the credit for working with everyone and having everyone buy in.

This also gives me hope that when Amar'e does come back we will see a much better meshing of his and Melo's talents when they're on the floor together. I still think he should come off the bench when he returns, but if he doesn't I feel good that they'll find a way.

MSG3 wrote:For the last several seasons people have been harping on the need to build chemistry and needing time to gel. To an extent, it is true that every team needs some time to come together. But what we're seeing thorugh 2 games is that the "time to gel" argument a lot of people used (myself included early on) was largely bogus. We had a ton of turnover AGAIN this season and have been able to come out strong with cohesion we haven't seen in a long time. Yes, much of this can be attributed to experienced ball handlers like Kidd and Felton (and Prigioni, but even he is an NBA rookie). But a lot of it is because DEFENSE has been the number one priority.

My point is, this is why coaching is so important. Woody deserves the lions share of the credit for working with everyone and having everyone buy in.

This also gives me hope that when Amar'e does come back we will see a much better meshing of his and Melo's talents when they're on the floor together. I still think he should come off the bench when he returns, but if he doesn't I feel good that they'll find a way.

Time to gel isn't an excuse- but sometimes the process is smoother if you have a PG who can pass and run things. Don't underestimate the impact JKidd is having (plus it helps we have 2 othe PGs in Felton and Prig). Last year we had none to start the season. We still need time to gel- we can get better, some of those alley oops were way off, plus we'll have to figure out how to integrate Amar'e, Shump and Camby. It's a long process, but smart players and good PG's really help in the meantime.

ChuckBuck wrote:Gel time don't mean crap when you got the 3 headed monster!

The funny thing is that I think the weak link here is Felton. Would love to see Pablo start and Felton as backup but we all know that will ruin the camaraderie. Felton does not want to be a bench player.

MSG3 wrote:For the last several seasons people have been harping on the need to build chemistry and needing time to gel. To an extent, it is true that every team needs some time to come together. But what we're seeing thorugh 2 games is that the "time to gel" argument a lot of people used (myself included early on) was largely bogus. We had a ton of turnover AGAIN this season and have been able to come out strong with cohesion we haven't seen in a long time. Yes, much of this can be attributed to experienced ball handlers like Kidd and Felton (and Prigioni, but even he is an NBA rookie). But a lot of it is because DEFENSE has been the number one priority.

My point is, this is why coaching is so important. Woody deserves the lions share of the credit for working with everyone and having everyone buy in.

This also gives me hope that when Amar'e does come back we will see a much better meshing of his and Melo's talents when they're on the floor together. I still think he should come off the bench when he returns, but if he doesn't I feel good that they'll find a way.

No **** Sherlock....anyway good post. Woody deserves some credit but it helps when players give EFFORT from THE DOOR or JUMP BALL...instead of pouting with an agenda and derailing any potential chemistry that can be built out the gate.

smackeddog wrote:

NYKBocker wrote:

ChuckBuck wrote:Gel time don't mean crap when you got the 3 headed monster!

The funny thing is that I think the weak link here is Felton. Would love to see Pablo start and Felton as backup but we all know that will ruin the camaraderie. Felton does not want to be a bench player.

I'd keep Felton as the starter- he's just inconsistent. Some days he looks awesome, some days... well, I get why people say he looks like he's playing drunk. He's tough though, and I'm rooting for him- you just have to accept that some nights he won't play so well.

How quick of a hook do you recommend?

NYKBocker wrote:

smackeddog wrote:

NYKBocker wrote:

ChuckBuck wrote:Gel time don't mean crap when you got the 3 headed monster!

The funny thing is that I think the weak link here is Felton. Would love to see Pablo start and Felton as backup but we all know that will ruin the camaraderie. Felton does not want to be a bench player.

I'd keep Felton as the starter- he's just inconsistent. Some days he looks awesome, some days... well, I get why people say he looks like he's playing drunk. He's tough though, and I'm rooting for him- you just have to accept that some nights he won't play so well.

How quick of a hook do you recommend?

Thing is you have to be careful with him- he turned against Nate really quickly because he yanked him out at the end of games (even though he was actually playing badly)- he's a proud guy so I wouldn't ever make a point of benching him.

The good thing is if you play Kidd at the same time, you can just make sure the ball goes through his hands instead of Feltons, if Felton isn't getting the job done. Besides which, Felton is the only PG we have that can drive to the basket.

Hopefully it won't be much of an issue and he'll have way more good games than bad.

misterearl wrote:HIt The Open Man

1. They're passing like crazy. Who can remember a Knicks team moving the ball around like this one has been doing? Raymond Felton, who has been at the center of this and is playing even better than he did when he was with the Knicks the last time, actually joked, "We've been passing the ball too much." Coach Mike Woodson yelled at J.R. Smith to shoot the ball (rather than restrain himself from strangling Smith after another twenty-foot fadeaway jumper, as we've all become accustomed). The plan to have veterans in the backcourt who trust each other and always try to make the extra pass is working. Jason Kidd is looking Yoda-ish out there, Smith and Steve Novak have some sort of kismet, Felton is dashing through the lane and whipping the ball around, and even Carmelo Anthony is finding the open man. The offense looks crisp and smart and, considering the last two years, baffling. - Wil Leitch, NYMag

ChuckBuck wrote:Gel time don't mean crap when you got the 3 headed monster!

Once rookie Pablo Prigioni learns the league and the refs get to learn him, watch out.

Hey Earl, Now that's beautiful basketball baby!!!

misterearl wrote:HIt The Open Man

1. They're passing like crazy. Who can remember a Knicks team moving the ball around like this one has been doing? Raymond Felton, who has been at the center of this and is playing even better than he did when he was with the Knicks the last time, actually joked, "We've been passing the ball too much." Coach Mike Woodson yelled at J.R. Smith to shoot the ball (rather than restrain himself from strangling Smith after another twenty-foot fadeaway jumper, as we've all become accustomed). The plan to have veterans in the backcourt who trust each other and always try to make the extra pass is working. Jason Kidd is looking Yoda-ish out there, Smith and Steve Novak have some sort of kismet, Felton is dashing through the lane and whipping the ball around, and even Carmelo Anthony is finding the open man. The offense looks crisp and smart and, considering the last two years, baffling. - Wil Leitch, NYMag

ChuckBuck wrote:Gel time don't mean crap when you got the 3 headed monster!

Once rookie Pablo Prigioni learns the league and the refs get to learn him, watch out.

Once that happens then the Knicks will be "streets ahead".