[ IMAGES: Images ON turn off | ACCOUNT: User Status is LOCKED why? ]

Itme to discuss expectations and predictions.
Author Thread
gunsnewing
Posts: 55076
Alba Posts: 5
Joined: 2/24/2002
Member: #215
USA
12/20/2011  8:51 AM
Miami's big three will be gased come playoff time
AUTOADVERT
Bonn1997
Posts: 58654
Alba Posts: 2
Joined: 2/2/2004
Member: #581
USA
12/20/2011  9:38 AM    LAST EDITED: 12/20/2011  9:41 AM
fishmike wrote:36-30? Really?

Where are all these losses coming from? I guess until our chemistry kicks in those teams like Phili, NJ, the Bucks, the Pacers, Toronto, Cle, Detroit, Pacers, Bobcats, Wizards, Rockets, Hornets, Wolves, Jazz, Golden State, suns, Kings... we will be lucky to win those HOME games right? As for last year's playoff teams? Man... hopefully we play .400 right?

Has anyone actually looked at the Knicks roster? It actually pretty good

BECAUSE of Chemistry we go 42-20

As far as playoffs, lets see who's healthy. Knicks have the talent to beat anyone and the matchups. Lets see who is healthy and playing well come spring. We have the pieces we need. Depth, size, defense, scoring, coaching... its all there. Just need time to let it gel


A) A lot of people are not as high on Melo as you are. I'm not saying he's a bad player; he's good overall but it concerns me when he takes so many contested jump-shots rather than trying to setup teammates.
B) Many here probably have more concerns about team injuries than you do.
C) Until Baron comes back (and even then we don't know if he'll be healthy), we have no NBA-level point guards.

The team has a lot of strengths too. It's not like anyone is predicting a .400 season.

AnubisADL
Posts: 27382
Alba Posts: 13
Joined: 6/29/2009
Member: #2771
USA
12/20/2011  9:49 AM    LAST EDITED: 12/20/2011  9:49 AM
66-0

Anything less is complete failure.

NY Knicks - Retirement home for players and GMs
MarburyAnd1Crossover
Posts: 23120
Alba Posts: 1
Joined: 10/24/2011
Member: #3650

12/20/2011  9:54 AM
40-26

and THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP!

Carmelo Anthony is ANTI-BASKETBALL
NYKBocker
Posts: 38411
Alba Posts: 474
Joined: 1/14/2003
Member: #377
USA
12/20/2011  10:35 AM
gunsnewing wrote:45-21

+1

fishmike
Posts: 53829
Alba Posts: 1
Joined: 7/19/2002
Member: #298
USA
12/20/2011  12:20 PM
Bonn1997 wrote:
fishmike wrote:36-30? Really?

Where are all these losses coming from? I guess until our chemistry kicks in those teams like Phili, NJ, the Bucks, the Pacers, Toronto, Cle, Detroit, Pacers, Bobcats, Wizards, Rockets, Hornets, Wolves, Jazz, Golden State, suns, Kings... we will be lucky to win those HOME games right? As for last year's playoff teams? Man... hopefully we play .400 right?

Has anyone actually looked at the Knicks roster? It actually pretty good

BECAUSE of Chemistry we go 42-20

As far as playoffs, lets see who's healthy. Knicks have the talent to beat anyone and the matchups. Lets see who is healthy and playing well come spring. We have the pieces we need. Depth, size, defense, scoring, coaching... its all there. Just need time to let it gel


A) A lot of people are not as high on Melo as you are. I'm not saying he's a bad player; he's good overall but it concerns me when he takes so many contested jump-shots rather than trying to setup teammates.
B) Many here probably have more concerns about team injuries than you do.
C) Until Baron comes back (and even then we don't know if he'll be healthy), we have no NBA-level point guards.

The team has a lot of strengths too. It's not like anyone is predicting a .400 season.

have you not watched yet? Melo has been doing very well looking for his teammates.

How high on Melo am I? Im just happy he's going to be asked to do what he he does best.

How about this... what team is better equipped to win more games than the Knicks this year? Since you have us picked 36-30, a minor improvement over last year's 42-40

Im not nearly has high on this team as you think. Im just calling it like I see it. This isnt a good frontcourt, its the best in the NBA, a league where size dominates.

The xfactors are the same every team has to deal with. I fail to see how the issues (chemistry, health, depth) that people here believe will slow the Knicks are somehow going to be a bigger or deciding factor for the Knicks than other teams.

Last year the Knicks were 4-2 Douglas played PG, but you would think around here thats a given 0-6 if Amare, Melo or Chandler misses a 10 day stretch

"winning is more fun... then fun is fun" -Thibs
franco12
Posts: 34069
Alba Posts: 4
Joined: 2/19/2004
Member: #599
USA
12/20/2011  12:23 PM
fishmike wrote:
Nalod wrote:
fishmike wrote:36-30? Really?

Where are all these losses coming from? I guess until our chemistry kicks in those teams like Phili, NJ, the Bucks, the Pacers, Toronto, Cle, Detroit, Pacers, Bobcats, Wizards, Rockets, Hornets, Wolves, Jazz, Golden State, suns, Kings... we will be lucky to win those HOME games right? As for last year's playoff teams? Man... hopefully we play .400 right?

Has anyone actually looked at the Knicks roster? It actually pretty good

BECAUSE of Chemistry we go 42-20

As far as playoffs, lets see who's healthy. Knicks have the talent to beat anyone and the matchups. Lets see who is healthy and playing well come spring. We have the pieces we need. Depth, size, defense, scoring, coaching... its all there. Just need time to let it gel

IM factoring in injuries. We are not a deep team in my opinion.

Chemistry is a question I can't see right out of the gate. Only Two preseason games against a Net team that is up in the air is not a good test. The Second unit is a huge bench factor and a very important hole to fill at the 4 spot. This is where you like to have a Channing Frye, or near starting quality player come off the bench when Amare is nicked up or in foul trouble. A big that can play the 4-5 with offensive ability is what we need. Tyson-Jorts-JJ3 won't give us much FG production. Tyson gets in foul trouble early we gotta go small. I don't know how that works either with out line up.

The jury is not in on Fields and where to place him. The game the other nite I hope is no indication. He looked to be pressing his shot instead of getting the ball in the flow.

Is Shump going to start mid season? Or is he the spark plug off the bench?

A lot of chemistry questions sill need worked out. Not that its a problem, just unresolved at this moment of Itme.

There are other teams with lessor talent that either have an established core or other teams that COULD get it together sooner than ours. No doubt we have the talent. Im thinking SSOL takes Itme to become instinctive. When it does its great fun to watch! That is why I objected to the Melo trade. The chemistry was good. We moved on and time to create a new version with better talent.

Because of Chemistry I am 36-30. My hope is that it comes sooner than later and your call of 42 wins is accurate.

sure.. but our small ball team will be Douglas/Shumpert/Fields/Melo/JJ which can run you up and down the court ragged. Then we can rest Melo and go big with Amare/Chandler

This will be for MDA to fix, but we no longer have one big gun we have to lean on with Amare. We have 3, and if you remember Baron torching us last year you can make it 4 with Davis.

hey.. time will tell. I just look at the overall makup of the Knicks roster vs. the rest of the league and we are in a good spot. We have a lot of size and interchangable parts.

every year, we always seem to think we're going to do better than we end up doing, that we're going to out score teams or whatever.

I hope this is the year we're actually a front runner.

But as long as I've been a knick fan, its never been easy. Even when we were good with Riley and Ewing, we won so many grind them out games. We simply never overpowered anyone, ever.

I think we're a team with a win total in the mid to high 30s = 36-38 or so.

MarburyAnd1Crossover
Posts: 23120
Alba Posts: 1
Joined: 10/24/2011
Member: #3650

12/20/2011  12:51 PM
The difference this year is that we have a set roster. Sure, there might be some signings here and there, but the core is set and there are no question marks hanging over the team. You can say the job is done, the Knicks going into the season is the Knicks you will see ending the season; this statement has not been true since the 90s; so it is not a problem this year if we dare dream a little with our predictions.
Carmelo Anthony is ANTI-BASKETBALL
fishmike
Posts: 53829
Alba Posts: 1
Joined: 7/19/2002
Member: #298
USA
12/20/2011  12:52 PM
franco12 wrote:
fishmike wrote:
Nalod wrote:
fishmike wrote:36-30? Really?

Where are all these losses coming from? I guess until our chemistry kicks in those teams like Phili, NJ, the Bucks, the Pacers, Toronto, Cle, Detroit, Pacers, Bobcats, Wizards, Rockets, Hornets, Wolves, Jazz, Golden State, suns, Kings... we will be lucky to win those HOME games right? As for last year's playoff teams? Man... hopefully we play .400 right?

Has anyone actually looked at the Knicks roster? It actually pretty good

BECAUSE of Chemistry we go 42-20

As far as playoffs, lets see who's healthy. Knicks have the talent to beat anyone and the matchups. Lets see who is healthy and playing well come spring. We have the pieces we need. Depth, size, defense, scoring, coaching... its all there. Just need time to let it gel

IM factoring in injuries. We are not a deep team in my opinion.

Chemistry is a question I can't see right out of the gate. Only Two preseason games against a Net team that is up in the air is not a good test. The Second unit is a huge bench factor and a very important hole to fill at the 4 spot. This is where you like to have a Channing Frye, or near starting quality player come off the bench when Amare is nicked up or in foul trouble. A big that can play the 4-5 with offensive ability is what we need. Tyson-Jorts-JJ3 won't give us much FG production. Tyson gets in foul trouble early we gotta go small. I don't know how that works either with out line up.

The jury is not in on Fields and where to place him. The game the other nite I hope is no indication. He looked to be pressing his shot instead of getting the ball in the flow.

Is Shump going to start mid season? Or is he the spark plug off the bench?

A lot of chemistry questions sill need worked out. Not that its a problem, just unresolved at this moment of Itme.

There are other teams with lessor talent that either have an established core or other teams that COULD get it together sooner than ours. No doubt we have the talent. Im thinking SSOL takes Itme to become instinctive. When it does its great fun to watch! That is why I objected to the Melo trade. The chemistry was good. We moved on and time to create a new version with better talent.

Because of Chemistry I am 36-30. My hope is that it comes sooner than later and your call of 42 wins is accurate.

sure.. but our small ball team will be Douglas/Shumpert/Fields/Melo/JJ which can run you up and down the court ragged. Then we can rest Melo and go big with Amare/Chandler

This will be for MDA to fix, but we no longer have one big gun we have to lean on with Amare. We have 3, and if you remember Baron torching us last year you can make it 4 with Davis.

hey.. time will tell. I just look at the overall makup of the Knicks roster vs. the rest of the league and we are in a good spot. We have a lot of size and interchangable parts.

every year, we always seem to think we're going to do better than we end up doing, that we're going to out score teams or whatever.

I hope this is the year we're actually a front runner.

But as long as I've been a knick fan, its never been easy. Even when we were good with Riley and Ewing, we won so many grind them out games. We simply never overpowered anyone, ever.

I think we're a team with a win total in the mid to high 30s = 36-38 or so.

I know... Im one of the doom and gloom guys. A decade does that to you, but on your post: honestly, thats why I think this team wins more games than many are predicting around here. We have the size and skill and grind out wins, certainly against teams that are not the elite. Also with Chandler/Amare/Melo you can really play a lot of styles with those guys. They can slow down in the half court but they can all also run like deer and destroy you in the open court... also with Chandler here to start and Amare here to start the leadership is better. This is the core... yes it will be tweaked, but I also think knowing that this isnt going to be a pump and dump for CP3 will also have this team playing much better. These guys all know that this season is going to be a major grind. I see this as a positive as well
"winning is more fun... then fun is fun" -Thibs
Bonn1997
Posts: 58654
Alba Posts: 2
Joined: 2/2/2004
Member: #581
USA
12/20/2011  12:56 PM
fishmike wrote:
Bonn1997 wrote:
fishmike wrote:36-30? Really?

Where are all these losses coming from? I guess until our chemistry kicks in those teams like Phili, NJ, the Bucks, the Pacers, Toronto, Cle, Detroit, Pacers, Bobcats, Wizards, Rockets, Hornets, Wolves, Jazz, Golden State, suns, Kings... we will be lucky to win those HOME games right? As for last year's playoff teams? Man... hopefully we play .400 right?

Has anyone actually looked at the Knicks roster? It actually pretty good

BECAUSE of Chemistry we go 42-20

As far as playoffs, lets see who's healthy. Knicks have the talent to beat anyone and the matchups. Lets see who is healthy and playing well come spring. We have the pieces we need. Depth, size, defense, scoring, coaching... its all there. Just need time to let it gel


A) A lot of people are not as high on Melo as you are. I'm not saying he's a bad player; he's good overall but it concerns me when he takes so many contested jump-shots rather than trying to setup teammates.
B) Many here probably have more concerns about team injuries than you do.
C) Until Baron comes back (and even then we don't know if he'll be healthy), we have no NBA-level point guards.

The team has a lot of strengths too. It's not like anyone is predicting a .400 season.

have you not watched yet? Melo has been doing very well looking for his teammates.

How high on Melo am I? Im just happy he's going to be asked to do what he he does best.

How about this... what team is better equipped to win more games than the Knicks this year? Since you have us picked 36-30, a minor improvement over last year's 42-40

Im not nearly has high on this team as you think. Im just calling it like I see it. This isnt a good frontcourt, its the best in the NBA, a league where size dominates.

The xfactors are the same every team has to deal with. I fail to see how the issues (chemistry, health, depth) that people here believe will slow the Knicks are somehow going to be a bigger or deciding factor for the Knicks than other teams.

Last year the Knicks were 4-2 Douglas played PG, but you would think around here thats a given 0-6 if Amare, Melo or Chandler misses a 10 day stretch


They were 14-18 post-Melo trade. So 36-30 would be a significant improvement. Have I been watching Carmelo? I've watched him his whole career and am more positive about him than most Denver fans. My assessment is based on a much bigger sample of games than most posters' here. Carmelo has played well above his career #s here and I'm hoping that will continue. For us to achieve anything meaningful, it has to. If he scores with the efficiency this year that he did post-trade last year, we likely will be better than 36-30.
fishmike
Posts: 53829
Alba Posts: 1
Joined: 7/19/2002
Member: #298
USA
12/20/2011  1:13 PM
Bonn1997 wrote:
fishmike wrote:
Bonn1997 wrote:
fishmike wrote:36-30? Really?

Where are all these losses coming from? I guess until our chemistry kicks in those teams like Phili, NJ, the Bucks, the Pacers, Toronto, Cle, Detroit, Pacers, Bobcats, Wizards, Rockets, Hornets, Wolves, Jazz, Golden State, suns, Kings... we will be lucky to win those HOME games right? As for last year's playoff teams? Man... hopefully we play .400 right?

Has anyone actually looked at the Knicks roster? It actually pretty good

BECAUSE of Chemistry we go 42-20

As far as playoffs, lets see who's healthy. Knicks have the talent to beat anyone and the matchups. Lets see who is healthy and playing well come spring. We have the pieces we need. Depth, size, defense, scoring, coaching... its all there. Just need time to let it gel


A) A lot of people are not as high on Melo as you are. I'm not saying he's a bad player; he's good overall but it concerns me when he takes so many contested jump-shots rather than trying to setup teammates.
B) Many here probably have more concerns about team injuries than you do.
C) Until Baron comes back (and even then we don't know if he'll be healthy), we have no NBA-level point guards.

The team has a lot of strengths too. It's not like anyone is predicting a .400 season.

have you not watched yet? Melo has been doing very well looking for his teammates.

How high on Melo am I? Im just happy he's going to be asked to do what he he does best.

How about this... what team is better equipped to win more games than the Knicks this year? Since you have us picked 36-30, a minor improvement over last year's 42-40

Im not nearly has high on this team as you think. Im just calling it like I see it. This isnt a good frontcourt, its the best in the NBA, a league where size dominates.

The xfactors are the same every team has to deal with. I fail to see how the issues (chemistry, health, depth) that people here believe will slow the Knicks are somehow going to be a bigger or deciding factor for the Knicks than other teams.

Last year the Knicks were 4-2 Douglas played PG, but you would think around here thats a given 0-6 if Amare, Melo or Chandler misses a 10 day stretch


They were 14-18 post-Melo trade. So 36-30 would be a significant improvement. Have I been watching Carmelo? I've watched him his whole career and am more positive about him than most Denver fans. My assessment is based on a much bigger sample of games than most posters' here. Carmelo has played well above his career #s here and I'm hoping that will continue. For us to achieve anything meaningful, it has to. If he scores with the efficiency this year that he did post-trade last year, we likely will be better than 36-30.
oh.. youve watched Melo his whole career? So why are you predicting his current team will have lower winning % than all his other teams? Is it because Amare/Chandler/everyone else is clearly inferior to the Denver teams Melo played on? You arguement is fine, but your #s are off. 7 years as Nugget Melo's teams averaged .590 winning % and .639 over the last 3 years. So... same question. Who are these teams we will be losing to 30+ times?

We have seen teams overachieve (most of the NBA) and underachive (last 10 years for Knicks) 42-24 is about right. Time will tell

"winning is more fun... then fun is fun" -Thibs
jrodmc
Posts: 32927
Alba Posts: 50
Joined: 11/24/2004
Member: #805
USA
12/20/2011  1:22 PM
4 games over .500 and we lose to the Texas Rangers in the first round.

Threads like these make me miss the lockout.

fishmike
Posts: 53829
Alba Posts: 1
Joined: 7/19/2002
Member: #298
USA
12/20/2011  1:27 PM
jrodmc wrote:4 games over .500 and we lose to the Texas Rangers in the first round.

Threads like these make me miss the lockout.

right.. its like saying the Clippers will be 4 games over .500 because they are... the Clippers.
"winning is more fun... then fun is fun" -Thibs
nixluva
Posts: 56258
Alba Posts: 0
Joined: 10/5/2004
Member: #758
USA
12/20/2011  1:36 PM
Bonn1997 wrote:They were 14-18 post-Melo trade. So 36-30 would be a significant improvement. Have I been watching Carmelo? I've watched him his whole career and am more positive about him than most Denver fans. My assessment is based on a much bigger sample of games than most posters' here. Carmelo has played well above his career #s here and I'm hoping that will continue. For us to achieve anything meaningful, it has to. If he scores with the efficiency this year that he did post-trade last year, we likely will be better than 36-30.

You keep bringing up the past as if it makes no difference that this team has an improved roster. Before you go spouting off that i'm just being overly optimistic how about taking into account my reasoning for being bullish on this team:

They said we needed to draft well this year. We drafted well again and it seems like our kids can contribute as have our other draft picks. Iman for sure looks like a young player that can have an impact.
They said we needed a defensive coach. We added Woodson to help out and get the team focused on D.
They said we needed a center. Well we went and got the best one we could get, not Kwame Brown, but Tyson Chandler!
They said we needed a PG upgrade and so we bring in Bibby and Davis. That's 2 vets that at least have proven skills. Davis is the only real question mark in that scenario, but my feeling is the Knicks know that he's not as bad as they claimed.
We still have the Room Exception to bring in more help. If things don't seem to be as finished as they like the team can still add some help to the team.

This isn't just about Melo being efficient or not. This is about this team having a great fit for a change. All the parts are starting to make sense. There are always unforeseen issues that come up, but this is a good team. This team could be literally one role player away from title contention. The MAIN cogs are in place. That's all we can do. There are no guarantees. The Sports Illustrated preseason Power Rankings have the Knicks at 9.

New York Knicks (42-40)
Tyson Chandler was the perfect free-agent acquisition, a mobile, defense-first big man for a team that was wretched at stopping opponents after obtaining Carmelo Anthony last season. Anthony, Chandler and Amar'e Stoudemire are a championship-worthy frontcourt, but the Knicks are woefully thin after that. At point guard, Toney Douglas is a quality defender who takes care of the ball relatively well, but he can't be relied on for much playmaking -- and aging Mike Bibby is the backup with mercurial Baron Davis waiting in the wings. Last year's rookie surprise, glue guy Landry Fields, will share the backcourt with Douglas, but unless New York again struck gold on draft day with Iman Shumpert, the drop-off is steep from Fields.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/britt_robson/12/20/preseason.power.rankings/index.html#ixzz1h6LT7dQP
Bonn1997
Posts: 58654
Alba Posts: 2
Joined: 2/2/2004
Member: #581
USA
12/20/2011  1:43 PM
fishmike wrote:
Bonn1997 wrote:
fishmike wrote:
Bonn1997 wrote:
fishmike wrote:36-30? Really?

Where are all these losses coming from? I guess until our chemistry kicks in those teams like Phili, NJ, the Bucks, the Pacers, Toronto, Cle, Detroit, Pacers, Bobcats, Wizards, Rockets, Hornets, Wolves, Jazz, Golden State, suns, Kings... we will be lucky to win those HOME games right? As for last year's playoff teams? Man... hopefully we play .400 right?

Has anyone actually looked at the Knicks roster? It actually pretty good

BECAUSE of Chemistry we go 42-20

As far as playoffs, lets see who's healthy. Knicks have the talent to beat anyone and the matchups. Lets see who is healthy and playing well come spring. We have the pieces we need. Depth, size, defense, scoring, coaching... its all there. Just need time to let it gel


A) A lot of people are not as high on Melo as you are. I'm not saying he's a bad player; he's good overall but it concerns me when he takes so many contested jump-shots rather than trying to setup teammates.
B) Many here probably have more concerns about team injuries than you do.
C) Until Baron comes back (and even then we don't know if he'll be healthy), we have no NBA-level point guards.

The team has a lot of strengths too. It's not like anyone is predicting a .400 season.

have you not watched yet? Melo has been doing very well looking for his teammates.

How high on Melo am I? Im just happy he's going to be asked to do what he he does best.

How about this... what team is better equipped to win more games than the Knicks this year? Since you have us picked 36-30, a minor improvement over last year's 42-40

Im not nearly has high on this team as you think. Im just calling it like I see it. This isnt a good frontcourt, its the best in the NBA, a league where size dominates.

The xfactors are the same every team has to deal with. I fail to see how the issues (chemistry, health, depth) that people here believe will slow the Knicks are somehow going to be a bigger or deciding factor for the Knicks than other teams.

Last year the Knicks were 4-2 Douglas played PG, but you would think around here thats a given 0-6 if Amare, Melo or Chandler misses a 10 day stretch


They were 14-18 post-Melo trade. So 36-30 would be a significant improvement. Have I been watching Carmelo? I've watched him his whole career and am more positive about him than most Denver fans. My assessment is based on a much bigger sample of games than most posters' here. Carmelo has played well above his career #s here and I'm hoping that will continue. For us to achieve anything meaningful, it has to. If he scores with the efficiency this year that he did post-trade last year, we likely will be better than 36-30.
oh.. youve watched Melo his whole career? So why are you predicting his current team will have lower winning % than all his other teams? Is it because Amare/Chandler/everyone else is clearly inferior to the Denver teams Melo played on? You arguement is fine, but your #s are off. 7 years as Nugget Melo's teams averaged .590 winning % and .639 over the last 3 years. So... same question. Who are these teams we will be losing to 30+ times?

We have seen teams overachieve (most of the NBA) and underachive (last 10 years for Knicks) 42-24 is about right. Time will tell


It's impossible to compare this team to the Nuggets team because there's a crazy number of health uncertainties. Your predictions in the low 40s make sense if you expect that Carmelo will keep up the play he had as a Knick last year and Amare, Chandler, and Davis will all be healthy. If you assume a worst case scenario, the team would be a major disappointment. I was picking something in the middle. I'll admit after reading your replies, I'm beginning to think 38 might be a more reasonable, middle of the road prediction.
Bonn1997
Posts: 58654
Alba Posts: 2
Joined: 2/2/2004
Member: #581
USA
12/20/2011  1:46 PM
nixluva wrote:
Bonn1997 wrote:They were 14-18 post-Melo trade. So 36-30 would be a significant improvement. Have I been watching Carmelo? I've watched him his whole career and am more positive about him than most Denver fans. My assessment is based on a much bigger sample of games than most posters' here. Carmelo has played well above his career #s here and I'm hoping that will continue. For us to achieve anything meaningful, it has to. If he scores with the efficiency this year that he did post-trade last year, we likely will be better than 36-30.

You keep bringing up the past as if it makes no difference that this team has an improved roster. Before you go spouting off that i'm just being overly optimistic how about taking into account my reasoning for being bullish on this team:

They said we needed to draft well this year. We drafted well again and it seems like our kids can contribute as have our other draft picks. Iman for sure looks like a young player that can have an impact.
They said we needed a defensive coach. We added Woodson to help out and get the team focused on D.
They said we needed a center. Well we went and got the best one we could get, not Kwame Brown, but Tyson Chandler!
They said we needed a PG upgrade and so we bring in Bibby and Davis. That's 2 vets that at least have proven skills. Davis is the only real question mark in that scenario, but my feeling is the Knicks know that he's not as bad as they claimed.
We still have the Room Exception to bring in more help. If things don't seem to be as finished as they like the team can still add some help to the team.

This isn't just about Melo being efficient or not. This is about this team having a great fit for a change. All the parts are starting to make sense. There are always unforeseen issues that come up, but this is a good team. This team could be literally one role player away from title contention. The MAIN cogs are in place. That's all we can do. There are no guarantees. The Sports Illustrated preseason Power Rankings have the Knicks at 9.

New York Knicks (42-40)
Tyson Chandler was the perfect free-agent acquisition, a mobile, defense-first big man for a team that was wretched at stopping opponents after obtaining Carmelo Anthony last season. Anthony, Chandler and Amar'e Stoudemire are a championship-worthy frontcourt, but the Knicks are woefully thin after that. At point guard, Toney Douglas is a quality defender who takes care of the ball relatively well, but he can't be relied on for much playmaking -- and aging Mike Bibby is the backup with mercurial Baron Davis waiting in the wings. Last year's rookie surprise, glue guy Landry Fields, will share the backcourt with Douglas, but unless New York again struck gold on draft day with Iman Shumpert, the drop-off is steep from Fields.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/britt_robson/12/20/preseason.power.rankings/index.html#ixzz1h6LT7dQP

Fish first brought up the teams' past performance and I replied. I think we made a major upgrade at center from last year. Depending on Baron's health, though, we made anywhere from a huge downgrade at PG (if no Baron) to a small downgrade (Baron healthy).
Nalod
Posts: 71159
Alba Posts: 155
Joined: 12/24/2003
Member: #508
USA
12/20/2011  1:51 PM
Fish......Its the chemistry man!

IF they have it they will do really really well and win 42+

Its about momentum. When the ball stopped last year after the trade (I don't blame Melo BTW, its was chemistry), Fields stopped being effective.

When Amare lost Mozzy, it wore him down.

Lets assume everyone is healthy, I see the chemistry taking time because:

Only two preseason games
Short training camp
Not every one in camp (JJ3 started late)
Baron ( big piece ) comes in When?
TD as point will needs to learn where everyone likes the ball
Fields gets into the flow
Rotation

Granted every team will have similar issues but many teams don't have as much new core. AMare and Melo did not really gel last year and with Tyson they have to try again but its got to be full commitment to SSOL.

I can see Miami running out quick, ATL has an established core, Philly has a core, and Boston. Indy, Milwaukee and Chicago are pretty much in place. Im not saying these teams are "better", but they have different dynamics in the short term.

That puts us 5th or six seed. if we don't finish first in he division. We should, but once Baron enters the picture its a whole new adjustment period but one with a huge upside!

fishmike
Posts: 53829
Alba Posts: 1
Joined: 7/19/2002
Member: #298
USA
12/20/2011  2:00 PM
Nalod wrote:Fish......Its the chemistry man!

IF they have it they will do really really well and win 42+

Its about momentum. When the ball stopped last year after the trade (I don't blame Melo BTW, its was chemistry), Fields stopped being effective.

When Amare lost Mozzy, it wore him down.

Lets assume everyone is healthy, I see the chemistry taking time because:

Only two preseason games
Short training camp
Not every one in camp (JJ3 started late)
Baron ( big piece ) comes in When?
TD as point will needs to learn where everyone likes the ball
Fields gets into the flow
Rotation

Granted every team will have similar issues but many teams don't have as much new core. AMare and Melo did not really gel last year and with Tyson they have to try again but its got to be full commitment to SSOL.

I can see Miami running out quick, ATL has an established core, Philly has a core, and Boston. Indy, Milwaukee and Chicago are pretty much in place. Im not saying these teams are "better", but they have different dynamics in the short term.

That puts us 5th or six seed. if we don't finish first in he division. We should, but once Baron enters the picture its a whole new adjustment period but one with a huge upside!

chemistry come playoffs... but do you really think Amare/Melo/Chandler/Douglas/Fields/Shump/JJ/etc type rotation wont be able to figure out how to beat the NBA's bottom half?

The Heat really struggled with this also, but they cleaned up on the bad teams. Thats my expectation. Knicks will struggle against the better teams, but we simply have too much star power not to beat up on inferior talent. That star power is backed by SIZE.

Im NOT assuming everyone is healthy. Im asssuming we wont lose Melo/Amare/Chandler to anything epic, but I expect those 3 to miss some games.

"winning is more fun... then fun is fun" -Thibs
nixluva
Posts: 56258
Alba Posts: 0
Joined: 10/5/2004
Member: #758
USA
12/20/2011  2:14 PM
I think the Knicks have a great shot to win the Atlantic. The Celtics have the experience and chemistry on us, which is the only reason i'm hedging on whether we win the Division or not. I do feel we have the talent to win the Div. How fast it all comes together is the question. The thing is that this team should be able to win even before it fully develops good chemistry.
Nalod
Posts: 71159
Alba Posts: 155
Joined: 12/24/2003
Member: #508
USA
12/20/2011  2:16 PM
fishmike wrote:
Nalod wrote:Fish......Its the chemistry man!

IF they have it they will do really really well and win 42+

Its about momentum. When the ball stopped last year after the trade (I don't blame Melo BTW, its was chemistry), Fields stopped being effective.

When Amare lost Mozzy, it wore him down.

Lets assume everyone is healthy, I see the chemistry taking time because:

Only two preseason games
Short training camp
Not every one in camp (JJ3 started late)
Baron ( big piece ) comes in When?
TD as point will needs to learn where everyone likes the ball
Fields gets into the flow
Rotation

Granted every team will have similar issues but many teams don't have as much new core. AMare and Melo did not really gel last year and with Tyson they have to try again but its got to be full commitment to SSOL.

I can see Miami running out quick, ATL has an established core, Philly has a core, and Boston. Indy, Milwaukee and Chicago are pretty much in place. Im not saying these teams are "better", but they have different dynamics in the short term.

That puts us 5th or six seed. if we don't finish first in he division. We should, but once Baron enters the picture its a whole new adjustment period but one with a huge upside!

chemistry come playoffs... but do you really think Amare/Melo/Chandler/Douglas/Fields/Shump/JJ/etc type rotation wont be able to figure out how to beat the NBA's bottom half?

The Heat really struggled with this also, but they cleaned up on the bad teams. Thats my expectation. Knicks will struggle against the better teams, but we simply have too much star power not to beat up on inferior talent. That star power is backed by SIZE.

Im NOT assuming everyone is healthy. Im asssuming we wont lose Melo/Amare/Chandler to anything epic, but I expect those 3 to miss some games.

Im not looking at other teams. Im looking at the team and what has to happen for it to click. On paper the individual talent is better than most teams and they should win. If we win on talent alone we are not going far in playoffs.

If chemstry gets you 1+1=3 then the team could be top 4 in the east. ON paper we are better than Boston and LATER IN THE SEASON WE SHOUULD ROLL!

Sooner the better.

When it happens? Fish, I really don't know. Your logic is sound.

Itme to discuss expectations and predictions.

©2001-2025 ultimateknicks.comm All rights reserved. About Us.
This site is not affiliated with the NY Knicks or the National Basketball Association in any way.
You may visit the official NY Knicks web site by clicking here.

All times (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time.

Terms of Use and Privacy Policy