holfresh wrote:We just beat the Heat...WOW...Many things to comment on from this game...First and foremost, GREAT coaching...Woody started Brewer and had him defending Bron freeing up Melo to go all out on the offensive end and the Melo was relentless going to the hole...Kidd's role here...I would admit I freaked when we signed Jason Kidd..I didn't think he could give us extended minutes playing PG but Woody is using him differently...He started at the two and being a heady player, he made the extra pass when necessary...He took the open shot that has been there the last two years with Fields and knock them down..He rebounded well running to the basket when everyone is looking at the basket...Now I'm not saying we will always execute like that going forward but it's nice to see there was a plan and it was executed...Felton's defense on Wade...Our back court defended Wade and Bron...That means our front line can protect the rim...

Felton is balling again...As expressed in another thread, good outing for him...Best of all for me is the defense...He played good defense on Wade a couple instances and played well against Charlmers...Ray hit some big shots...Missed a few in the lane but that will come in a month or two when he finally gets him game legs...Brewer didn't seem to get the "we are all losing weight this summer memo"...But he was key with some timely rebounding and shots...He can guard Bron, as much as anyone can...

Melo had a good all around game...His shooting wasn't great but played a lot better when he let the game come to him...He really played great defense...He trusted his teammates last night...He had 10 boards, I take that with the attention he gets every night...Again, I'm encouraged to see Melo step back twice now, once in preseason, and in last night's game..he seem to recognize when he has been rushing/forcing things....I hope this is a sign of things to come...

Chandler set the defensive tone on the front line...Felton found him a few times for the dunk as well...He got into foul trouble as well last night but Camby will step in the back up role in a few weeks...KT and Sheed will sure up the front line with minimal minutes and both can hit that extended jumper..huge...

We are playing the same defense we played in the 18-6 run last year...We hit a lot of threes that you normally won't hit every night..But I'll say this, they were open good looks because we made the extra pass...Miami trapped us and we made the extra pass and knock down the open jumper...Miami has been doing that to us for two years now and we broke them last night...We frustrated them a little and they let up and maybe was discouraged...They will have to look at some video to see why we got so open...

Again, it's early..I love what I'm seeing..I think this team was built to compete against the Heat...Smart PG plays..Making the extra pass..Playing defense...We should win some games...I was really down in the dumps after hearing about Amare yet again...Last night is giving me some hope...Let's get Amare and Shrump healthy and put together a good run...Go Knicks!!!

I agree with you... the first thing that stuck out to me though was the ball movement. That was truly something special to watch. I think at first Felton deferred to Kidd and the movement was great. But when Kidd went out and came back in it was special because Felton played the point and Kidd was a secondary playmaker. the ball was just getting whipped around. it was great to watch

newyorknewyork wrote:If Amare would accept a backup role when he comes back then our depth would be used in all the right places.

Pablo and Amare featured in the PNR. Shump, Smith, Novakaine as there supporting cast. First unit you would have Melo with unlimited spacing and good ball movement. 2nd unit you would have Amare with unlimited spacing with good ball movement.

Also I think amar'e would play better alongside Camby than he does against Tyson, as Camby can actually shoot, so it creates a bit more space for him.

Plus, lately Melo seems to come out and have a red hot 1st Q, then disappears/shoots badly in the 2nd and 3rd, then reappears in the 4th. I'd like to see the offensive focus start with Melo in the 1st, then shift to Amar'e in the 2nd and 3rd. Maybe coming off the bench would help with that.

Anyways back to the thread topic- great, great win, hopefully the first of many.