Third quarter we let the game slip almost, but then fantastic play from Randle, Thomas, O'Quinn and Holiday helped us seal the game.

I really like this team outside of Melo and Noah. The two biggest problems early on in the season were Melo's high usage rate low pasing rate (Which is why Phil said what he has many times) and Noah's inept play on offense.

Rose had a bad game but we need a starting point guard. There is no way Randle or Baker can start full time. You won't find a starting point guard cheap, so I'm open to virtually any PG (including Rose) who is good at driving and making shots inside while also being able to recogize the open man. The Rose/KP chemistry has improved considerably from midseason.

We need to draft more athletic clay, get some more defensive talent in free agency. Forget offense. We need an on the ball defender. Maybe Tony Allen, Thabo Sefolosha or someone like that IF they have some gas left in the tank (I don't watch either this season but I know they are free agents).Trade Melo for youth and athleticism. Austin Rivers and some capspace with a pick is fine for me.

Team needs to compete every night. Loved tonight's effort. Keep it up.

The only ?? I have is who starts at PG next year if we let Rose walk. Holiday will command $100+ million over 4 years. Plus he may not choose us. Then there's Paul and Curry who will not come. What's left out there? Darren Collison? He's getting up there in age. I don't really have a solution at PG unless we draft Lonzo or Fultz. I am not a big fan of Dennis Smith or NC point guards.

So either 3 of the best coaches of the last 20 years and in Phil's case top 2 with Popovic are all wrong about Melo, or maybe the problem is Melo's style of play? He plays completely different as a Knick than he does when he's playing on teams where he isn't viewing himself as the man. My criticism on him is harsh because he can be a much better impact player if he isolated less, if he took more spot ups and if he moved the ball to the open teammate more often. He stalls the offense and he hurts team chemistry. This is not debatable. This is what D'Antoni, Karl and Phil have all but implied.

But at this point, whatever. It's clear you don't see that this team should be in the playoffs and isn't becuase the veteran star talent (Rose, Melo) on the team underperformed greatly. You only call out coaching. I've admitted the coaching was bad on D and Horny needed to have a stronger tighter least on vets. You can't admit Melo has been bad for the Knicks this season -4.9 on net impact and 5th worst shooter in the league in 4th Q.

Ironic without Melo the team closes the 4th quarter brilliantly on offense. Oh but the Triangle and Hornachek sucks .... 110 points without Melo. Melo should focus on being a spot up in the offense created by system or point guard and to give max effort on defense. Looking for the open man. Point forward type of play. Defensively max effort. Even if it means foul trouble (which he is never in for a reason). We'll see less points but a better impact. He has all the talent to do it and play that way. It's just not how he sees himself playing as a Knick.

nyknickzingis wrote:crazy - Melo's decine began before Phil came. The season Phil came that team missed the playoffs and was doing pretty bad. He also had some loaded teams. You're blaming the Triangle for Melo's decline and style of play? lol Go ask George Karl about Melo. Or D'Antoni.

So either 3 of the best coaches of the last 20 years and in Phil's case top 2 with Popovic are all wrong about Melo, or maybe the problem is Melo's style of play? He plays completely different as a Knick than he does when he's playing on teams where he isn't viewing himself as the man. My criticism on him is harsh because he can be a much better impact player if he isolated less, if he took more spot ups and if he moved the ball to the open teammate more often. He stalls the offense and he hurts team chemistry. This is not debatable. This is what D'Antoni, Karl and Phil have all but implied.

But at this point, whatever. It's clear you don't see that this team should be in the playoffs and isn't becuase the veteran star talent (Rose, Melo) on the team underperformed greatly. You only call out coaching. I've admitted the coaching was bad on D and Horny needed to have a stronger tighter least on vets. You can't admit Melo has been bad for the Knicks this season -4.9 on net impact and 5th worst shooter in the league in 4th Q.

Ironic without Melo the team closes the 4th quarter brilliantly on offense. Oh but the Triangle and Hornachek sucks .... 110 points

Again you using a win over a tanking Orlando team missing its best big man. That's just kinda sad. The Knicks gave up 38pts in the third quarter and Orlando ran out of gas after losing a close one to Washington last night and had no big man to guard KOQ when KOQ came in after Willy got a black eye.

Phil hasn't coached Melo. He's "coaching from the 10th row", very much to the team's detriment. To call Karl a top 3 coach of any era is quite a bold statement. Same with MDA. Mike D'Antoni needs a very particular type of roster to win, particularly he needs a pick and roll PG. Melo is not a pick and roll PG. Melo's made it just as far as your supposed top 3 coaches D'Antoni and Karl have - the Western Conference finals. Where do Rick Carlisle, Erik Spoelstra, Larry Brown, Doc Rivers, Steve Kerr stand?

I've said many times that Melo has been bad this season and that it is time to move on. The part I don't agree with is pinning this all on him. It's time to rebuild... I'm just not sure I believe Phil and Rambis and Hornacek will take us to the promised land... or even the playoffs. Time will tell. But it's a little old that Knicks fans like to blame their best player. This used to happen with Ewing for years, and when the Knicks finally traded him it was a terrible trade and the team stank for years and years. I question your judgment because you have said Rose should be re-signed... which is just a terrible idea. Dude was -23 tonight. I mean, he's good for the tank, but not if you want to win bball games. Guy doesn't defend at all. My guess is you'll be blaming him for things next year if the Knicks sign him and trade Melo.

Ideally we draft a point guard that is starting level and let Rose walk. I just don't think it will be easy to do that. Additionally I only want him back at certain contract that is movable in trade. You won't see me want to see him stay for 100+ million. If he's willing to take 60-70$M in guaranteed money with a team option after that, I am open to it because the starters do need an attacking guard. Rose has bad games but he also has many good games. We can't rely on Randle/Baker every night.

I'd love to get Holiday but he will be expensive and has a big injury history as well. He may not come either. Same with George Hill very expensive and not coming most likely. Curry/Paul definitely not coming. Not many options unless we want to overpay Darren Collison or someone like that. It's easy to say lets get rid of Rose or cut him now, but who do we sign in free agency to be the starting 1 if we can't draft a NBA ready starting 1 (or we like someone better with more talent at another position, because you always draft best player available)? I'm all ears.

nixluva wrote:

meloshouldgo wrote:What i miss today guys? Melo wad out? Is he hurt or did they just sit him? Can't beleive I misded Randles first game was really wanting to see him. KOQ had a good game it looks like and the magic suck

I believe Melo did actually tweak his knee in the GS game.

Randle was great. Just did the little things. Shows what a difference it makes to have a Triangle saavy PG. He looked calm and confident. Looked right at home.

90sKnicks wrote:I was hoping all game that O'Quinn wasn't going to play because i felt that this is the type of game where his grit and toughness would help us to a win. Putting him together on the floor with Lance who always plays 110% and Randle who was actually playing defense i knew would be trouble for the tank. The irony is if Melo and Rose played that fourth quarter, we likely lose.

Yeah... it was nice to see Chasson play well, but I winced when KOQ came in. He was playing against his old team, you knew he'd do well. Every win hurts right now. It sucks to be in that position, but they're essentially doubling the pain of this terrible season by winning these games.

Tweet was deleted or there was problem with the URL:

https://twitter.com/TommyBeer/status/838515606978707457

knicks1248 wrote:

smackeddog wrote:If we lose this we have a shot at the 4th or 5th pick in the draft. If we win we fall back to the 11th pick.

I will leave it to your individual consciences whether you want to to route for victory in this game or not...

suppose we win the next 6, where would we be then?

Out of the playoffs but with a worse draft pick