Also, I think a lot of people noticed how much the defense suffered without Melo, too.

This is why keeping Melo really helps KP's development. He's not ready to be a #1 option - Melo's pressence immeasurably helps KP's game in all faucets.

In any case there is no doubt who the motor on this team is. He's the main cog, and until we have a guard who can really break defenses we will really struggle when Melo isnt playing. Thats what a star player is supposed to do... make it easier on everyone else and impose his will on the games. We really needed that last night. DWill had some moments but doesnt have the versatility to adjust when the defense does. He also doesnt defend or move the ball anywhere close to Melo. Hey.. thats why the guy is a max player. Sounds like we get him back Sat. The squad needs a couple days off

ChuckBuck wrote:2nd game of a back to back after a grueling game against the physical Celtics. KP didn't have it from the jump ball, but neither did most of the team, except DWill and some flashes from Jose and RoLo.

Knicks came out of dead flat in the first quarter. Even without Melo, this game was winnable at the end. The Nets are the 3rd worst team in the league. This loss is more attributed to Fisher reverting back to NOOB clueless rotation Fisher getting out coached by a first time coach Tony Brown, whose team wanted to win badly after Hollins got shyt canned.

This loss had more to do with dead legs/dead coaching than any presence of almighty Carmelo or any Nets strategy. It was a 1 possesion game with like a 2 minutes left!!!

Last time the teams played the Knicks were up by 20 after 5 minutes. And the Knicks weren't even playing well back then.

ChuckBuck wrote:

crzymdups wrote:

ChuckBuck wrote:2nd game of a back to back after a grueling game against the physical Celtics. KP didn't have it from the jump ball, but neither did most of the team, except DWill and some flashes from Jose and RoLo.

Knicks came out of dead flat in the first quarter. Even without Melo, this game was winnable at the end. The Nets are the 3rd worst team in the league. This loss is more attributed to Fisher reverting back to NOOB clueless rotation Fisher getting out coached by a first time coach Tony Brown, whose team wanted to win badly after Hollins got shyt canned.

This loss had more to do with dead legs/dead coaching than any presence of almighty Carmelo or any Nets strategy. It was a 1 possesion game with like a 2 minutes left!!!

Last time the teams played the Knicks were up by 20 after 5 minutes. And the Knicks weren't even playing well back then.

You simply don't go to an 8 man rotation on a back to back and play KP 40 minutes when he's blowing dunks and laboring like the rest of the team.

Fisher got out coached by first timer Tony Brown, simple as that. That and the remnants of "ISO" Joe Johnson playing closer for the first time in 5 years.

There were plenty of reasons they lost. Fisher's coaching had a lot to do with it.

This thread is not about why they lost - it's about the quality of shots KP got with Melo out last night. He got maybe 2 or 3 open looks the whole night. The rest were contested, high degree of difficulty shots.

Loss to Nets shows how important Carmelo Anthony is to Kristaps Porzingis

NEW YORK -- Kristaps Porzingis has inspired a wave of optimism among Knicks fans. And rightfully so.

Based on what Porzingis has shown so far, it's easy to imagine a Knicks future centered on the rookie.

Anyone who has paid attention to the NBA knows Porzingis has knocked down 3-pointers, converted put-back dunks and blocked shots at rates that aren't normal for 7-foot-3 20-year-olds.

But on Wednesday, Porzingis struggled in a loss to the Brooklyn Nets. He missed 12 of 17 shots, finishing with only 12 points in 37 minutes.

In a big-picture sense, the loss shouldn't be a cause for alarm for the Knicks. The club was playing the second game of a back-to-back and was without Carmelo Anthony, sidelined because of a sprained right ankle.

But if there's one takeaway from Wednesday, it's this: Anthony has been an underrated and important factor in Porzingis' early season success.

Consider the following numbers, per the NBA's media site:

1. With Porzingis and Anthony on the floor, the Knicks have a net rating of +4.3. With Porzingis on the court without Anthony, New York's net rating is -11.3.

2. Overall, the Knicks have outscored opponents by 99 points in 923 minutes with Anthony and Porzingis on the court. With only Porzingis on the court, the Knicks have been outscored by 42 in 225 mintues.

3. Porzingis' free throw rate -- or the number of free throws he attempts per shot -- is .276 with Anthony on the court and .184 when Anthony's on the bench.

4. Porzingis has made 35 percent of his above-the-break 3-point attempts with Anthony on the court and 28 percent of them when Anthony's on the bench.

None of this is to suggest Porzingis can't survive without Anthony. Two of the rookie's best games this season have come with Anthony sidelined (24 points, 14 rebounds, 7 blocks vs. Houston and 23 points, 13 rebounds and 4 assists vs. Cleveland).

But on Wednesday, Anthony's absence allowed Brooklyn to focus its defense on Porzingis.

"I could feel the pressure from the beginning," he said afterward. "They were really getting into my jersey and playing tighter defense."

Thaddeus Young wouldn't leave the rookie alone. With Anthony out, Young -- and the rest of the Nets' front line -- didn't have to.

Thirteen of Porzingis' 17 shots were taken with a defender within 3.5 feet of him Wednesday, per NBA.com. (For perspective here, 55 percent of Porzingis' attempts this season have been taken with a defender at least within four feet of him).

Would things have been different if Anthony were out there? Probably.

"He kind of creates a lot of situations for us. He has the ball. He's getting the defense to be tighter and we can get wide-open shots," Porzingis said. "... I could tell the difference between when Melo's on the court and when I'm by myself or with Arron [Afflalo] or Derrick [Williams]. I got to be ready for that."

The truth is, Porzingis doesn't really have to be ready for that. Anthony probably will be back on the court Saturday against Memphis. And, if the Knicks are lucky, the star forward will be relatively healthy for the rest of the season.

So Porzingis doesn't have to get used to life without Anthony just yet. Nights like Tuesday show just how much the rookie needs him.

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-knicks/post/_/id/63872/loss-to-nets-shows-how-important-carmelo-is-to-porzingis

KP simply doesn't blow dunks. Dude and the team was tired, and coach didn't adjust.

ChuckBuck wrote:

crzymdups wrote:

ChuckBuck wrote:2nd game of a back to back after a grueling game against the physical Celtics. KP didn't have it from the jump ball, but neither did most of the team, except DWill and some flashes from Jose and RoLo.

Knicks came out of dead flat in the first quarter. Even without Melo, this game was winnable at the end. The Nets are the 3rd worst team in the league. This loss is more attributed to Fisher reverting back to NOOB clueless rotation Fisher getting out coached by a first time coach Tony Brown, whose team wanted to win badly after Hollins got shyt canned.

This loss had more to do with dead legs/dead coaching than any presence of almighty Carmelo or any Nets strategy. It was a 1 possesion game with like a 2 minutes left!!!

Last time the teams played the Knicks were up by 20 after 5 minutes. And the Knicks weren't even playing well back then.

You simply don't go to an 8 man rotation on a back to back and play KP 40 minutes when he's blowing dunks and laboring like the rest of the team.

Fisher got out coached by first timer Tony Brown, simple as that. That and the remnants of "ISO" Joe Johnson playing closer for the first time in 5 years.

That's absolutely ridiculous but also the kind of posts i expect on here these days.

ChuckBuck wrote:This is the end of this thread:

KP simply doesn't blow dunks. Dude and the team was tired, and coach didn't adjust.

newyorker4ever wrote:

crzymdups wrote:Melo creates so much space and takes so much attention off KP. When the Nets played the Knicks at the Garden, they had to put Thad Young, their best defender, on Melo. Melo out? KP gets the other team's best defender and gets no space to operate.

Also, I think a lot of people noticed how much the defense suffered without Melo, too.

This is why keeping Melo really helps KP's development. He's not ready to be a #1 option - Melo's pressence immeasurably helps KP's game in all faucets.

Good thread cause people were definitely starting the "this is KP's team" way too early. Without Melo we're back to being a average team.

Everyone with a brain and eyes sees what Melo means to KP. Some just cant cope. Its bizarre but not my problem. Looking forward to Saturday.

crzymdups wrote:

ChuckBuck wrote:This is the end of this thread:

KP simply doesn't blow dunks. Dude and the team was tired, and coach didn't adjust.

This is going to be hard for you to watch. I apologize. From a week ago -

Tweet was deleted or there was problem with the URL:

https://twitter.com/realgm/status/684911699758039040

I sense a trend. The Miami game was also a 2nd game of a back to back for KP.

Fortunately Fisher used 10 guys that game. The Nets game, Fisher blew it.

End thread.

gunsnewing wrote:

newyorker4ever wrote:

crzymdups wrote:Melo creates so much space and takes so much attention off KP. When the Nets played the Knicks at the Garden, they had to put Thad Young, their best defender, on Melo. Melo out? KP gets the other team's best defender and gets no space to operate.

Also, I think a lot of people noticed how much the defense suffered without Melo, too.

This is why keeping Melo really helps KP's development. He's not ready to be a #1 option - Melo's pressence immeasurably helps KP's game in all faucets.

Good thread cause people were definitely starting the "this is KP's team" way too early. Without Melo we're back to being a average team.

That was ONE person not people.

MELO does get KP better looks especially the way he is playing now. And I agree the team was tired and we should've played more than 8 guys.

That's absurd. Coach has to know this going in but Fisher is still learning on the job. Pops would've sat the starters for the entire game vs the worst team in a back to back. We are not the Spurs but we can go 10-12 deep some nights. Fisher needs to understand that. You have to coach and make adjustments based on situations. First he was playing 12 guys every night and now he plays 8 in the 2nd game of a back to back. Fisher has to find that middle ground and it's all situational.

Someone gets it. WE all know Melo helps KP. But the Knicks are more than just 1 guy.

Attributing this loss to Melo's absense is just absurd. Coach didn't make adjustments on a back to back, and SHORTENED the rotation when he should've EXTENDED it. 9 guys is fine on a regular night, but you have to play 10-11 guys when your dude's are spent.