BRIGGS wrote:We need the froncourt players to stay relatively healthy and for Bargs and Amare to score well/yet also defend their positions the best they have in their careres
We need the three intermediate wings Iman Shumpert THJ and J R Smith to be at their best and make nightly impacts JR can do it he's proven he can. The others need to prove
We need to reduce PT on Melo but still expect 23-24 points with 4-5 assists and 6-7 rebounds.
The PG group needs to help facilitate and make their shots--Larkin can be a spark athletic PG type off the bench.

Things I think the Knicks need to do to be successful ( in relative terms and playing winning basketball )

1) The Knicks need to be more efficient shooting free throws. If you can squeeze out 3-5 more free throws a night that you formerly would miss as team, that's huge across the bottom line and across an entire season. A lot of free throw shooting is mental, but a lot of it is just putting in the time and work to improve. The Knicks might have issues with raw talent in some areas, but they should never ever get beat for raw effort.

2) The Knicks need to limit their turnovers. Again, even shaving 2-3 turnovers a night against their typical average will reap huge benefits across a game and across a season. Those kind of situations are literally point swings ( i.e. a four or five point turnaround potential when you don't surrender a fast break layup but instead work efficiently and use that possession to take a high percentage shot)

3)The Knicks need to commit to winning the offensive rebounding battle each and every night. Again, some of this is a talent issue, but again, some of it is purely an effort issue. How badly do you want it? Look at Patrick Beverley of the Rockets, not the most talented guy in the league, but he wants it, he will bleed for it, he will fight for it each night, he will never give up, never surrender and no matter the score, he will keep coming at you, Terminator style, until you relent or shoot him in the head. Offensive rebounds means second chances, more opportunities, putting pressure on the other teams D, causing havoc and putting yourself in a good position to take high percentage 2nd and 3rd shot chances.

4) The Knicks must play their rookies and young players. The only way Hardaway Jr, Shumpert, Early, Aldrich, Larkin and Older Antelope are going to get better is if you give them minutes. You have to commit to eating their growing pains.

5) The Knicks need to commit to leaving Bargnani to rot on the bench. He will only be taking minutes away from more efficient or younger players and he offers very little upside. He won't even give you six hard fouls off the bench as a big.

6) Like the Spurs, the Knicks need to be a league leader in number of passes before shot attempts per game and across the season. When you don't have superior talent, you can help yourself with good ball movement. Basic Basketball 101, if you have more than one guy who is ball dominant as a dribbler, your offense is going to suck. Watching Melo and/or JR Smith burn 10 seconds off the shot clock and take 9-12 dribbles before a shot jack is not efficiency. If you can't find a good shot and/or not open, in a couple of dribbles, keep the ball moving.

7) The Knicks should aspire to having 6-7-8 guys scoring in double digits each night. Having a couple of 20 point plus scorers each night isn't as efficient as having 8 guys with 10-12 points each. Having a lot of guys in low double digits in scoring means you are passing the ball, moving the ball, looking for the open man and the high percentage shot.

High percentage shots = Maximizing possessions

Winning teams make every single possession count.

8) The Knicks should aspire to have every single one of their better three point shooters to shoot X percentage above league average as a goal. Every single good three point shooter should be getting open corner three looks during a game based on good team play and high percentage shots and passing. The focal point of the offense needs to run not through Melo as an iso/hero ball option, but through trying to get open three point looks. Hit enough triples and you can compete with anyone in the NBA.

9) The Knicks should aspire to be near the top of the league in transition defense. The Knicks are not suited to defend the rim nor are they suited for basic half court playoff style defense. However transition defense is, again, a lot about raw effort. Danny Green is not the most talented guy in the NBA, but just on raw hard work and sheer desire and determination, his plus transition defense helped hurt the Heat enough to push the Spurs over the top in that category. Doing the "little things" go a big way towards winning.

10) JR Smith is the teams best hope for a talented two way player who can produce at an All Star level. At some point, the guy needs to buy in and buy in hard for playing team ball, improved shot selection and committing to defense. The talent has always been there, but the kid needs to get his head right and buy in to the team concept.

11) The Knicks need to rebuild Iman Shumpert as a player and as a future potential asset, either for the team long term or as a trade piece. The kid is a good defender and has a good defensive mindset. He's too young and too talented not to have hope that a new regime can tap into his potential and give him a chance to produce.

12) The Knicks need a practical team defense and system that does a better job of hiding the players individual liabilities. The constant switching and wave of double teaming just doesn't work. In that regard, the team needs Dalembert to really step up and commit to anchoring a thankless job of holding the pivot down and sacrificing offense for defensive intensity and output.

The Knicks need a swift kick in the butt about some basic fundamental basketball. Solid team ball can help you win games. Even if you aren't winning games, good solid team ball and strong fundamentals keep you competitive and moving in the right direction.

H1AND1 wrote:Let's face it, the 2014-2015 roster is much closer to the lottery team from last year than it is to a team that will be a top eastern conference playoff team. We lost Tyson, got some yoots, and traded Felton for Calderon. A small uptick in wins shouldn't be too surprising. But that's not the point really this is a transitional season anyway.

If the Knicks do well next season, awesome, that means they have some talent that was heretofore misused hadn't blossomed or was not developed properly.

If they Knicks don't do well next season, awesome, that means we get to add a lottery pick to Melo, and 20 million in cap space.

The thing to take away from this season is how Melo and Jr look in the triangle. If they look phenomenal then the rest will take care of itself regardless of how the season turned out.

With their additions and developments core if healthy

Elfrid Payton as a sleeper ROY candidate if they make some noise and play well this season

BRIGGS wrote:We need the froncourt players to stay relatively healthy and for Bargs and Amare to score well/yet also defend their positions the best they have in their careres
We need the three intermediate wings Iman Shumpert THJ and J R Smith to be at their best and make nightly impacts JR can do it he's proven he can. The others need to prove
We need to reduce PT on Melo but still expect 23-24 points with 4-5 assists and 6-7 rebounds.
The PG group needs to help facilitate and make their shots--Larkin can be a spark athletic PG type off the bench.

Bargs and Amare to score well/yet also defend their positions the best they have in their careres, wouldnt both have to defend centers then? Is there minutes for that? I'm still trying to figure out how the Knicks can give both of these guys 20+ minutes and still field a team that can win. Im not sure thats possible

H1AND1 wrote:

Jmpasq wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:We need the froncourt players to stay relatively healthy and for Bargs and Amare to score well/yet also defend their positions the best they have in their careres
We need the three intermediate wings Iman Shumpert THJ and J R Smith to be at their best and make nightly impacts JR can do it he's proven he can. The others need to prove
We need to reduce PT on Melo but still expect 23-24 points with 4-5 assists and 6-7 rebounds.
The PG group needs to help facilitate and make their shots--Larkin can be a spark athletic PG type off the bench.

Bargs and Amare to score well/yet also defend their positions the best they have in their careres, wouldnt both have to defend centers then? Is there minutes for that? I'm still trying to figure out how the Knicks can give both of these guys 20+ minutes and still field a team that can win. Im not sure thats possible

Bargs has been a net negative his entire career, even the seasons he scored 20+ PPG. Im not holding my breath and he should get 0 minutes per game barring a Zen master induced miracle on the court.

3	C. Anthony | A. Bargnani | R. Felton | K. Martin | I. Shumpert	  145:51    +7.0
6	C. Anthony | A. Bargnani | R. Felton | I. Shumpert | J. Smith	  126:11    +10.8

Even when Phil Jackson had a YOUNG and DOMINANT Duo of SHAQ and KOBE
He required a couple of years of them learning how to play effectively together in the system along with collecting talent/role players as their core continued to improve and develop leaders on and off the court, LOCKER ROOM as well

Can't remember and get confused with the Shaq and Gasol/Bynum era

Ron Harper
Horry
Fisher

Their PF's from

AC Green, Chris Mihmn, Kwame Brown, and some 1/2 year wonders

Odom

Walton
Shannon Brown

Pau Gasol
Bynum
Ariza

This team will be better than people think.

gunsnewing wrote:Toronto will come back down to earth. Nets will miss the playoffs

we're winning the division.