Vmart wrote:

VDesai wrote:The offseason, where we hang on every word. Why didn't the report when me, or the 1 billion other people who follow basketball to some degree said the same thing about the Knicks?

Thisis reality, its a process, and I think Phil has even come out as much and said that this is expected to be a transition season. There's only about 5-6 teams out there that should expect to be able to make a finals appearance.

We are expect the Knicks to be somewhat competitive. But the statements that bothers me are the ones that pertain to the roster. Yes I get that the Knicks need a second star. What is to stop what is on this current team from stepping up. If Amare turns back the clock and becomes 20-8 again or JR Smith gets his head on straight and going for 18-20 a night. Or THJ getting better and taking his game to a higher level. This statement hurts the team concept, because sometimes stars are made, you don't necessarily have to get one from another team.

“Next year we will have enough money to spend within the salary cap. But this year it is important to take the necessary steps towards those who will in the next year. I want to concentrate on building what we want from this year.“

What Dirk and Timmy did is very reasonable. Spent whole careers in one place and have a situation that they very much like.

knicks1248 wrote:

gunsnewing wrote:Exactly had he signed for $115m it would've made all the difference. You could sign Marc Gasol or Milsap and a really good 3rd player. Although Melo and Gasol would make a for disable playoff team they are not sure fire championship contenders certaintly not sustainable when you are going up against Cleveland and the west. Going to draft really well. If and when we draft a Kobe he won't be ready until year 3-5. Melo will be 33-35 and declining. We could get lucky one year like Dallas did but real stars win in this league. We will see and judge 5yrs from now. We've been awful for 15 what's another 5?

Here's where so wrong, he could have sign for the vet min, and that doesnt guaranty he'll win a ring, or the star play may mesh well.

When he came here to begin with, Amare was nice and healthy avg 25 points(a 2nd star) oh waht a diffference a yr makes. If he took 15 mill to play with rose, you risk that guy getting injured, and your no closer to ring if your playing for free.

Taking less money gives you a little flexibilty, but hypothetically speaking if we had sign Paul george in june to be melo's side kick, how close would he be to a championship this year after taking a 10 million paycut.

Okay you can't have it both ways

You can't sign for all cheese on the trap and say

I had to, because who knows what will happen to me and the potential free agents healthwise

While in the same breath say I believe in Phil and our 2015 cap space

We'll win a chip down the road

If I sign for near full Super Max team stays healthy

If I give too much of the Super Max back team won't be healthy

chuckles galore

This is double talk squared

I personally don't find it controversial when an athlete diverts from the "were going for a chip" next season no matter how unrealistic that statement is. It's such a boilerplate statement and makes for a slow news day beat writer snoozefest article.

I just don't buy that everyone on the team next season is going to play like crap cause Melo verbalized what everyone knows.

IMO even this years team has a chance to be better than many predict. Last year there was no plan. They made crazy last minute moves before the season and the entire thing was a mess from get go with Chris Smith and JR with his surgery and missed games. It just went on and on. The dysfunction was rampant. This year there's a different air about the team. There's an air of professionalism right now. Phil has dignity as does Fish. They exude that confidence that makes the players be at ease and that matters. IMO Players can smell fear and doubt on a coach. I think they smelled that on Woody last year. He wasn't sure of himself and the players had to feel that.

We can see that players are heeding he words of Phil already. I think they're all coming in with a better attitude. The plan is clear and roles will be clear and defined. This will also make the players better and more confident. We have some players that haven't reached their full potential yet and I think this environment will be more conducive to them getting more out of their talents. This is what Phil is known for and I expect that to some extent that will happen here too.