Well, Carmelo Anthony is going to start for the Knicks.

After that, figure Tyson Chandler and Raymond Felton are certainties.

But beyond those, you’ll just have to wait for training camp like everybody else.

“That will all play its way out. That's what we use camp for. I have no idea who is going to start,” Knicks coach Mike Woodson said at a Garden of Dream function for kids at the team’s Greenburgh training facility today. “I know Melo will be in the starting lineup, he and Tyson and Raymond.

“But I don't know who is going to start. We'll figure that out in camp. Camp should be pretty competitive based on the talent that we fielded and that’s how it should be,” Woodson added. “So only time will tell.”

Woodson was asked specifically about the starting status of one guy: Iman Shumpert. And basically, Woodson, who led the Knicks to 54 victories, an Atlantic Division title and a first round playoff series victory over Boston, stayed firm with his response.

Which was basically that Shumpert is not named Anthony or Chandler or Felton.

“We don't know, we've got to see. You've got to go in there and you've got to earn a spot is kind of how I look at it,” Woodson said.

The coach reiterated how pleased he was with the offseason moves, maneuverings that had to be made because he forecasts the Eastern Conference as “a bear” this season. One addition, though, Andrea Bargnani, is cause for concern. The former No. 1 pick is ailing big time.

“He’s caught pneumonia. I mean we’ve got to be cautious of that and make sure we nurse him back before we put him back out on the basketball floor. He’s just on the mend right now,” Woodson said.

And signing Beno Udrih was a “major” get by the team, Woodson said.

“We needed a third point guard. And Beno’s got playoff experience. He’s won a couple titles under Pop (Gregg Popovich with the Spurs). I like him because he’s not afraid to make plays. He can run a basketball team and if he’s got to make a big shot, he’s capable of doing that. He’ll be a great addition to our ball club and with Raymond and Pablo at the other two point spots, camp should be pretty competitive.”

Clean wrote:In my opinion our starters change depends on who we are playing. If we are playing a physical team like the pacers we go big, with Bargs playing the stretch 4. If we play a small team then melo at the 4 and MWP at the 3, with a switch on D.

I can understand the idea of this adjustment but I don't know that it's really going to be necessary to change your starting lineup per team. IMO you play the way you are best. Teams will always try to get you to play another style other than what you do best. I don't think that's a good idea. For certain stretches you might make a matchup change, but that's different than basically trashing your strongest lineup just to matchup with another team to start the game.

Felton
Shump
Melo
Bargs
Tyson

Or

Felton
Beno
Melo
Bargs
Tyson

No matter what, you're going to have a strong bench. I think the SL with Shump really helps to keep some defense in there to start. If Beno is in there then you're going with a stronger offensive unit.

toad wrote:I really don't see how Felton is a lock like Melo and Tyson. I'd say he starts most likely, but he's not so good that it's completely out of the question he'd come off the bench.

woodson-- stubborn, narrow-minded woodson-- has his mind made up so there will be no open competition as who can best balance accommodating melo but keeping others involved as well, especially tyson chandler.

during the knicks abbreviated playoff run we kept hearing that the team "will go as far as felton will take them."

the coach must be able to put the most cohesive unit out there based on the point guard who is the best distributor-- pure and simple. is felton that guy? not on my block. prigioni is much better at that. maybe he is being pre-emptive so as not to destroy felton's psyche. strike one on woodson.

i believe it is axiomatic that cohesion leads to resilience/adaptability, resilience/adaptability lead to deeper playoff runs.

whoever provides that the best of the three point guards should start!

colorfl1 wrote:You can't have both Amare and Bargs coming off the bench; it is a defensive nightmare.
One of them will have to start at PF.

That means Carmello at SF.

I feel Woodson is going to start Felton & JR at the guards.

those two in the backcourt is strike 2.

skeng wrote:

dk7th wrote:

colorfl1 wrote:You can't have both Amare and Bargs coming off the bench; it is a defensive nightmare.
One of them will have to start at PF.

That means Carmello at SF.

I feel Woodson is going to start Felton & JR at the guards.

those two in the backcourt is strike 2.

I wonder what would be our worst defensive line-up?

Something like?

C - Bargso
Pf - STATO
Sf - Melo
Sg - Pablo
Pg - Beno

Center
===============
all 3 of our Centers and PF/C's by altering starting lineups vs matchups

Chandler
AB
Kmart

STAT *don't think he should even considered to be a starter with a 20min restriction per game*

Tyler/Barron will not be starters without injuries to 2 of the above players

PG
==========
Our 3 headed PG

Udrih *he has the most balance of all 3 of our PG's*
Pablo
Felton

SG
======

JR
Iman, depending on JR's health and NBA shape, on top of how much Iman has improved this year with a summer to work on his game with his great work ethic, with that said, he is far from JR's handle/ability to penetrate and finish/ facilitate/ and last season showed he could hit the wide open shot in a TEAM offense, but we just have to wait and see how much Iman improves on top of JR's conditioning

2nd PG if Woodson feels it is best for the team
Tim Hardway JR *likely won't see any PT unless JR is not healthy*

SF/PF PF
==============

Melo is one no matter what or his flaws or

Artest

STAT *again, not worth starting and is closer to a 9th-10th man with his 20min restriction*

Would really like to cut CJ Leslie for, think we could only use 1 roster spot to develop between Tyler and CJ Leslie and Leslie will take at least 1 year to fill out his body, signing him to the D League would be beneficial for him till he can add more weight/develop his skills

James Johnson (2 year deal non guaranteed or partial guaranteed vet min deal)

or

Shawnee Williams on a non guaranteed deal because of his injury history
Stephen Jackson on a vet min deal
Damien Wilkins, Malcolm Thomas, Hakeem Warrick, Corey Maggette, Mickael Pietrus, Raja Bell, Sonny Weems, Dominic McGuire all on non guaranteed deal

Other team moves
======================

While sending Tyler and Tim Hardaway JR (if JR SMITH is healthy enough to be in the start of the season) to the D League early after some practices with Knick's and development coaches giving them areas to work on

For our last roster spot, it should be going to a LEGIT Center
===================================================================

Earl Barron/Hiddaddi/ Darko *always have liked Darko and think he can be a solid skilled Center on the bench with all round abilities, The Euro LITH BIG

or undersized PF/C like

Ivan Johnson 1-2 year guaranteed deal
Jeffries/ Drew Gooden/ Troy Murphy *all gets a non guaranteed deals*

or a PG/Combo guard that can be mentored by both Udrih/Pablo

Tourre Murry or Darius Morris on 2 year team options
They would have the best DEFENSE and could grow in time towards the middle of the season, with the ability to defend 2 positions especially applying pressure on opponents PG's that our 3 headed PG with Felton/Pablo/Udrih have trouble staying in front of opponents PG's

Amare and a possible injury exemption
=============================================

If Amare break's down again and has another surgery, I hope he considers medical retirement in which would give us an injury exemption to use that is worth HALF of his 22-23m salary
It would open up a roster spot for us and give us financial flexibility
That could give us 3 roster spots, 1 spot still open, 1 by cutting CJ Leslie or Tyler, and Amare if he gets hurt again and requires surgery *I don't wish anything injury upon anyone but with STAT's recent medical/injury history, it is a very possible scenario

Metta Peace is on the downside. Woody will try to keep him healthy so we don't lose him midway through the season.

Provided Shump doesn't key Woody's car every day, he's starting with Ray.

Tyson
Bargs
Melo
Shump
Felton

RonRon wrote:I don't like the idea of Woodson already giving Felton and even Chandler guaranteed starting spots
his stubbornness and inability to make the proper rotations/starting lineups destroyed us last year in the play offs, was hoping he would have learned from it
From the 3 starters with Melo, Felton, Chandler, it seems like Woodson is going back to Melo initiating our offense with ISO, without much offensive talent around him and players that are less than average defenders at best

RonRon - two players destroyed the Knicks. lance Stephenson and Roy Hibbert. It was not Mike Woodsons stubbornness. If any coach sticks to his plan then he is called decisive or a leader of men. When he does not stick to his plan he is labelled as soft or too malleable. Without a set strategy.

Mike Woodson preaches defense first. Is that really a problem?

Proper starting lineups against the Pacers would have matched exactly who against Hibbert?

You ever think that Jason Kidd shooting 12 per cent has something to do with it?