nixluva wrote:Guys like Scola don't really impact the way teams defend. Don't make the mistake that some guy who is efficient and productive in the middle of the game and in the regular season is more impactful than a lead guy who teams design a defensive scheme to try and stop. Some players can get the same numbers as a star player but still not make the impact for their team that a star does. It's easier for players that don't face double and triple teams to score and do what they do, because there's less focus on them and they don't have to shoulder the same load. Scola is a solid role player but that's all. Scola hasn't had the same pressure to perform that Bargnani has had. If he got the same level of attention from opposing teams he wouldn't put up the same numbers.
From the Novak resigned post......
nixluva wrote:Novak is worth it! We had almost no spacing, penetration or ball movement and that means that the Heat could just play their zone, which allows them to be within 2 steps of the paint and the 3 point line. The main reason is that Lebron and Wade are so fast that they can close off the paint and still get back to the 3pt line. However, we didn't even have any penetration to draw them away from Novak. They could just have someone stay right near him cuz our offense was too simple and predictable and it didn't force the D to adjust and cover the entire court. This year we'll have more penetration and spacing so Novak should be able to get open looks. Also we didn't set enough picks for Novak to get open or use him coming off curls. This is partly Woody's fault for going away from those plays that worked.
NixLuva, I am not trying to disrespect you in any way in this post
You are the supreme optimistic, and bias(many of us are) Knick's poster on the site
I agree with you on BOTH of your post's here (about Novak and AB), but truth is we DON"T KNOW how Woodson and AB (with the player's/media/analyst/fans and in the Garden) will be utilized/perform, and will we make more efforts to play as a team
But Novak's deal was a poor financial decision, he is a 1 dimensional player that was not utilized correctly for his *ability to shoot*, not maximizing his abilities and was used here as a spread option in which he could be easily contained 1v1 by his man
In theory, Copeland proved he was capable of doing the things that AB has done and some things Copeland even has done better than AB
But how many DNP and limited role/playing time/dog house treatment did Copeland receive anyway?
Copeland could spread the floor and play PF/C, shooting the 3pt shot in a efficient 40% number/getting his shot off with little room, put the ball in the floor when defended and taking it to the paint for easy baskets or kicking it back out to an open team mate, move well off the ball/set good screens for PnR plays, posting up and grabbing offensive boards in the end of the season with improved DEFENSE, played as a #1 option and even created for his team mates in lower roles, but when Melo was put back on the floor everything changes back to suit MELO and everyone has to play off MELO instead of a more balanced attack with the mismatch
Will we be playing a more TEAM EMPHASIS, using more plays as players are legit #1, #2, and #3 options, since we never had it in previous years with injuries?
Using picks on and off the ball, how Woodson changes his philosophies (or if he will stay stubborn after Vogul, Chandler/Iman's comments), get Melo to play OFF THE BALL *something he has been unwilling to do consistently*... , at SF, 1 of his strength's is STRENGTH, with the spacing we should have with the shooters we have now at SF, Melo should have the ability to grab OFFENSIVE BOARD's to help the team in other ways
AB is taller than Copeland but his defense/rebounding abilities is comparable or even worse than Copeland
How will we continue our players mesh with AB?
With all the talk about how AB and Melo would benefit from playing with each other
Will Melo even mesh with him AB, playing on and off each other's abilities, or will AB be utilized like Novak?
if Tyson Chandler would mesh would him (if Tyson Chandler can score on his man 1v1 especially when his man cheat's helps, it should "theoretically" work
AB is similar to Amare's weakness's and would we find a way to hide both their weakness's especially if they play together?
Copeland had a great connection with Pablo, hopefully it continues with AB's similar skills
But is AB really injury free?
Will AB be allowed to play regardless of his weakness's as STAT was able to play?
AB will most likely fit in with Pablo, Kmart (a mobile PF/C that moves very well for both OFF AND DEF), and if JR Smith is healthy *should open up JR's ability to penetrate to finish or find AB for a wide open shot*
I hope it works well but we simply don't know many of these problems, if Woodson will make changes to his philosophies and if the TEAM/PLAYER's is capable of correcting their poor habits, will players be okay with their EGO's and sacrifice for the BETTER of the team?
