BRIGGS wrote:

jazz74 wrote:uh, we need another superstar, back up pg, defensive big man ( turiaf is good in only spurts) and a garbage man perimeter defender ( though landry could soon fit that bill) from being a title contender.

How can you watch this team as say we need another superstar? Quality big man YES--but we score more than enough points--we have a superstar and many good players with a few that border on all star level. Im looking forward to playing a very good big team on the road --want to see the results

because there will be a point where amare will have a bad night or another team will have a good defensive scheme against amare and he will depend on other. ray has the ability and might develop into that other star but we have to wait and see. look, i love gallo and chandler just as much as anyone but they dont consistently take over, not right now in their careers. we will get a taste of that in the playoffs when play is much tighter and teams will have defensive schemes aimed at reducing amare's touches.

BRIGGS wrote:

jazz74 wrote:uh, we need another superstar, back up pg, defensive big man ( turiaf is good in only spurts) and a garbage man perimeter defender ( though landry could soon fit that bill) from being a title contender.

How can you watch this team as say we need another superstar? Quality big man YES--but we score more than enough points--we have a superstar and many good players with a few that border on all star level. Im looking forward to playing a very good big team on the road --want to see the results

What happened when Miami began overplaying STAT in that game at the Garden? They took him right out of the game in that 2nd half for the most part from what I remember (using Joel Anthony and whoever else to double--they didn't even have Udonis Haslem available) and then patted themselves on the back afterward..That's the strategy against us that will be implemented in the playoffs by superior teams..Who's prepared to take over games against top teams when that happens? Ray? Chandler? Perhaps..They're capable on any given night and have certainly been showing their worth this year..But we need more; I'm not prepared to say we couldn't use another top player, a star..I think we definitely could in order to take the next step..I just don't feel Gallo's that guy (go back to that same game against the Heat @ MSG --- Gallo had a 20 pt 1st half from what I remember but when it counted, 'Bron & co. took him right out of the game) I just don't see Danilo Gallinari EVER getting the better of a Lebron James, a Paul Pierce, a Joe Johnson or whatever other standout SF type on a good team he would match up against in a big spot--let alone multiple times in a playoff series..

If I can get Carmelo Anthony for Gallinari, AR, maybe TD (I'd have to have another PG option in place) and a pick or 2, I do the deal..Gallo may not even be missed all that much the next couple of weeks (we'll have to see how we operate w/o him), AR doesn't play here at all but still has some nice value around the league I gotta believe, TD would be a nice backup to Ty Lawson eventually post Billups, and they want picks (I'd be OK including a future pick or two--maybe a 2012 & 2014 1 in the deal, plus maybe a future 2nd rounder or two)..They can even have Mozgov if they want--no way Mozgov is a dealbreaker in a deal for Melo...I think that's reasonable compensation (and definitely something I could live with) to bring Carmelo Anthony here if he continues to refuse to sign that Jersey deal..Hey maybe we can get him for even less than that somehow eventually, we'll have to see, but if push came to shove, I make that deal right now..That's equal or better compensation than Memphis got for Pau Gasol..Better probably..

holfresh wrote:No team is beating the Heat, Lakers or Boston in the playoffs without a second star...

I tend to agree with that fresh..

This is just wishful thinking.

Finestrg wrote:

babyKnicks wrote:

SupremeCommander wrote:I disagree... the team surrounding Amar'e and Felton is still growing. It would be foolish to go all in now. The best deal out there would be Curry and the 2nds for Camby, but that prevents us from buying during UFA. We're a third of the way through a successful season, but there's still a lot of basketball to be played. Foolish to make our move based on such a small sample size. The young guys have earned their roles and relying on them to perform is part of the reason they have grown so much this season.

The team definitely needs to make a move, yes, but I'd prefer to patient and find value. The team only has one move to make, given the cap flexibility and the first round draft pick situation.

Seconded

Let me ask you this (perhaps I should ask it again in a couple of weeks after we find out if we can survive w/o Gallinari--I think we could) -----> is a trade of Gallo, AR, TD, Moz and a future pick or 2 (along w/ Fat Eddy's expiring contract too much to give up? To a desperate Nugget team that might face taking that package or losing him for nothing? That's a trade I could see happening if Melo continues to refuse to sign on the bottom line in New Jersey..Think about that -- it's fairly significant value going to DEN yet players we can all do without (we'd keep Fields and somehow find out a way to keep Chandler as well)..I think that's a nice trade that makes us a lot better myself..If anyone has a problem surrendering that specific package, tell me why.

His team preparation is such that his 3pt shooters are very capable of consistently shooting a high %. It's very likely to me that Williams, Walker etc. will be capable of shooting 3's like they are now. More important is that the team is adjusting to the way teams are overplaying Amare to try and stop him. Felton, Chan, Gallo and Fields in particular have been getting better at slashing and driving by defenders that try to deny Amar'e.

We've been overcoming the lack of rebounding so far this year and it's possible that we could do the same in the playoffs so long as we at least get solid TEAM effort on the boards. Adding a player to the rotation isn't really realistic. What we're really saying is that a new player would be replacing someone. The most likely guy is Turiaf. Love his D, but he's not really a great rebounder and isn't a very good offensive player. His spot is where the improvement would come.

iSergio wrote:

TMS wrote:Nene is the missing piece to our championship puzzle... sorry, i don't buy it.

It's crazy isn't it? It's like BRIGGS has never seen the Chicago Bulls in the 90s or the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs in the 00s and has no clue what a championship team looks like. We are a good team. We should win 43, 45 games this year and be the 6th seed and should give Chicago a good series. But we are far away from being a 60 win and title contending team. We need another TRUE Star. Not some wannabe Star like Wilson Chandler or a neverbe Star like Danilo Gallinari. We also need a COUPLE of big men. Not just one. We also need to improve defensively but that will happen when we give Amar'e Stoudemire some help in the frontcourt.

Also, our defense has been great these last 20 or so games. The team has jelled and plays all-out D.

"We're not the Suns East, not at all," Stoudemire said away from the phalanx of Phoenix cameras at yesterday's morning shootaround. "We're the New York Knicks and we're playing great defensively. We're going to take that momentum on the defensive end throughout the rest of the year.

"I do feel the system Mike D'Antoni created is something special. And the fact now he has in New York players that are willing to play defense from point guard to center position, we'll make the best of it."

BRIGGS wrote:

jazz74 wrote:uh, we need another superstar, back up pg, defensive big man ( turiaf is good in only spurts) and a garbage man perimeter defender ( though landry could soon fit that bill) from being a title contender.

How can you watch this team as say we need another superstar? Quality big man YES--but we score more than enough points--we have a superstar and many good players with a few that border on all star level. Im looking forward to playing a very good big team on the road --want to see the results

We'll need another superstar to get calls in the 4th quarter in the playoffs against the likes of Boston, Miami and Orlando.

On the Nene subject --- if we have nothing Denver wants for Melo --- why would you think we have what they want for Nene? When Melo leaves Nene becomes their # 1 asset and he is young enough to continue to build around.

While I agree about the notion of needing a quality big man I think that last nights game is a glaring example of why they typically don't fit in this system. You have NY and PHX with a bunch of 7 footers (Lopez, Gortot, Turiaf, Moz -- even through in Randolph if you want) and combined they all barely get in the game. If the big guy can't spread the floor he creates an issue in this system.

Do you create issues on the offensive end in order to add size, rebounding and shot blocking on the defensive end.

To date --- it would appear that coaches in this system tend to go with the guys that make the offense more effecient becaue they feel that gives them the best chance to win.

I want a big man -- but it will have to be a very good player or very good role player to come in and get minutes and NOT blank up what we have going.