airchibundo507 wrote:what happens when Chalmers/Cole pressure Lin while he's bringing the ball up?

Are you happy when Lin turns the ball over, because you somehow feel this satisfies your argument pro-Melo?

Im asking this very serious, because I did try to be happy about Melos first missed layup in the Portland game. But see, I couldnt stay negative on him when I've seen his effort on defense, his sharing the ball on offense and the total no-iso game the whole team played that game and since then.

I still think it was a sucker move how he got MDA out. I still have the fear these lost games will hurt us in the hunt for the Atlantic Title. But: I cant be mad for his play for to long, since, well: Im a Knicks fan first and foremost. The coaching chance was a good thing, since Woodson is getting everything from his players MDA couldnt.

Right now I am very happy about the fact that the whole team is giving effort 48 minutes, and a big part of our success is, in my point of view, that we have someone like Tayshaun Prince playing SF for this team. An lockdown defender, who is doing all the little things like rebounding, passing, saving loose balls and so on, while being offensively limited to mediocre.

But I am very happy to have a Melo playing in Prince mode until he gets his body (conditioning and injuries) back. And I am looking forward to see him next season: In shape, which in turn will limit his small injuries, and playing full trottle on both ends of the court. When he gets that, you have what he always could have been: a player thats at least as dangerous as Lebron James in the first 40 minutes, and infinitly more dangerous when the game is on the line. Smiling assassin? Hated it before as he was not givnig 110%. Right now he just cant smile since hes totally gassed, but thats a good thing. Because it can change.

Yes, its a turning point in his career, and for that, a turning point for the Knicks. If he continues doing what he does right now and gets healthy/fit to improve from here, we have a future thats looking as good as it gets. All is in place, now execute! Win every game for the remaining season, win every playoff game and the title! Will it happen? Probably not, but this team right now could do it! They are that good!

airchibundo507 wrote:Defense is the easiest way to contention in basket, plain and simple.

Two-way players with un-guardable offensive productivity are what have repeatedly garnered championships.

Your stance is as laughable as 'it's da soopa-stawz dat win!."

Why have solely defensive-minded players fallen to the draft bottom?

Oh, and do you dislike Shump? Afterall, he is the Knicks best perimeter defender, and Mike D'Antoni's say is what finalized his choice.

Bonn1997 wrote:

SlimChin wrote:i was hating on melo during the losing streak and the resigning of MDA. but i see him trying out there on both ends of the court. personally i don't care about the points, i want to see rebounding and defense—effort.

have you noticed he is looking worn out during practice/post game interviews? could be the pressure or the fact that he's playing both ends of the court now?

I'm hoping that this is a turning pt in his career where this is going to transition him into a well rounded player like it did for Paul Pierce.

we shall see.

It may not get better this year. He looks like he CAN'T put the ball in the basket effectively. He may need the entire off-season to get in better shape.

I give credit to Melo for giving more effort on the defensive end and doing the little things; however, I also care about his points being that Melo is not an elite defender, nor is he a great passer, he is a great scorer though, and I believe that’s going to determine whether we can be threat in the playoffs or not. We will see.

nehemiah wrote:

MozelGovCocktail wrote:

airchibundo507 wrote:Defense is the easiest way to contention in basket, plain and simple.

That's a lazy stance and arguable, at best.

Two-way players with un-guardable offensive productivity are what have repeatedly garnered championships.

Your stance is as laughable as 'it's da soopa-stawz dat win!."

Why have solely defensive-minded players fallen to the draft bottom?

Oh, and do you dislike Shump? Afterall, he is the Knicks best perimeter defender, and Mike D'Antoni's say is what finalized his choice.

This is a trait shared by the poster and the player he champions. It's difficult to see if you're a Knick fan 1st, why making excuses would be the priority for a player no where near to where he should be playing.

And let me add the constructive part to this criticism. Until Melo regains some of his shooting touch, he should be looking to pass more rather than to score -- yes, he has done better with his passes recently -- I'd like for him to make it more of a 1st option for him.

Bonn1997 wrote:

nehemiah wrote:

MozelGovCocktail wrote:

airchibundo507 wrote:Defense is the easiest way to contention in basket, plain and simple.

That's a lazy stance and arguable, at best.

Two-way players with un-guardable offensive productivity are what have repeatedly garnered championships.

Your stance is as laughable as 'it's da soopa-stawz dat win!."

Why have solely defensive-minded players fallen to the draft bottom?

Oh, and do you dislike Shump? Afterall, he is the Knicks best perimeter defender, and Mike D'Antoni's say is what finalized his choice.

This is a trait shared by the poster and the player he champions. It's difficult to see if you're a Knick fan 1st, why making excuses would be the priority for a player no where near to where he should be playing.

And let me add the constructive part to this criticism. Until Melo regains some of his shooting touch, he should be looking to pass more rather than to score -- yes, he has done better with his passes recently -- I'd like for him to make it more of a 1st option for him.

Exactly; if he can't score, I'd like to see him put up Igguodala-like #s.

This is true, however since when did we trade half a team for a better Richard Jefferson?

Like I said before, I give Melo credit for giving more effort, but my expectations for him are much higher, remember he is suppose to be our main building block. Let’s hope that he recovers for good, time will tell.

KnicksFE wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:

SlimChin wrote:i was hating on melo during the losing streak and the resigning of MDA. but i see him trying out there on both ends of the court. personally i don't care about the points, i want to see rebounding and defense—effort.

have you noticed he is looking worn out during practice/post game interviews? could be the pressure or the fact that he's playing both ends of the court now?

I'm hoping that this is a turning pt in his career where this is going to transition him into a well rounded player like it did for Paul Pierce.

we shall see.

It may not get better this year. He looks like he CAN'T put the ball in the basket effectively. He may need the entire off-season to get in better shape.

I give credit to Melo for giving more effort on the defensive end and doing the little things; however, I also care about his points being that Melo is not an elite defender, nor is he a great passer, he is a great scorer though, and I believe that’s going to determine whether we can be threat in the playoffs or not. We will see.

actually i think he is a great passer. he's not an elite defender but i think he can be. He can have a all the atributes of a "superstar" if he wants to.

fishmike wrote:no. If he was hurt he would say he was hurting.

The star forward indicated he’s not 100 percent. Occasionally a trainer will spend time flexing his wrist before a game in the locker room.

You could look it up.

Bonn1997 wrote:

SlimChin wrote:

KnicksFE wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:

SlimChin wrote:i was hating on melo during the losing streak and the resigning of MDA. but i see him trying out there on both ends of the court. personally i don't care about the points, i want to see rebounding and defense—effort.

have you noticed he is looking worn out during practice/post game interviews? could be the pressure or the fact that he's playing both ends of the court now?

I'm hoping that this is a turning pt in his career where this is going to transition him into a well rounded player like it did for Paul Pierce.

we shall see.

It may not get better this year. He looks like he CAN'T put the ball in the basket effectively. He may need the entire off-season to get in better shape.

I give credit to Melo for giving more effort on the defensive end and doing the little things; however, I also care about his points being that Melo is not an elite defender, nor is he a great passer, he is a great scorer though, and I believe that’s going to determine whether we can be threat in the playoffs or not. We will see.

actually i think he is a great passer. he's not an elite defender but i think he can be. He can have a all the atributes of a "superstar" if he wants to.

He makes some great passes. He's not a great passer though. Great passers don't have 1:1 career assist turnover ratios. Below average decision-makers do.

Agree, Melo has the ability, but no way on earth a career 3 APG with 3 TO can be consider a great passer.