holfresh wrote:misterearl wrote:colombian0725 wrote:holfresh wrote:Come on guys...I understand the guys who don't really watch the Knicks play every game, but have to write the articles anyway to make a living, come up with stuff like this...But the guys here who watch every ebb and flow, I'm surprised...Amare's production has everything to do with a PG being able to run the pick and roll...I was shocked along with many others here to see Billups unable to run the pick and roll...Not so coincidentally, Felton left when Carmelo came...This isn't about Carmelo and Amare...It's about a PG on this roster being able to adequately run the pick and roll...My proof?, glad u asked...Last year Amare was also not as productive as this year when Felton had trouble running the pick and roll..The moment Felton picked it up Amare exploded...It's not like everyone who watches the Knicks everyday doesn't know this...
So when we signed Amare to that 100 million dollars it should have said "Warning cannot create own shot. PG required."
holfresh - scoring is only ONE aspect of making a contribution to a team. Damn a guard who can run a pick and roll. If Amar'e is NOT scoring, why shouldn't he be EXPECTED to compensate with solid contributions in other aspects of the game?
If Amar'e cannot bring other high-level skills to the floor, as ANY superstar is EXPECTED, (rebounding, defending, set a savage pick, passing) then, on THIS roster - with THIS coach, he is barely more serviceable than Jared Jeffries.
Yeah, I said it.
Amare has played for a coach who never asked him to play defense his entire career...I'll go one further...It's was his coaches strategy the his players play no defense to save themselves to keep up the pace on the offensive end...I submit to you, it is impossible to learn to play defense in 12 games after 8 years of not playing it...Last year, there was a stretch that Amare played decent defense but he couldn't keep up the pace...
I'm shocked given what AMARE has done for this franchise that it's come to this...He has made this team relevant again by himself...Not with Gallo...Not with Moz...Not with Will Chan...It was all about Amare last year...Here we are trying to gel again and the doubters rare their heads..Amazing..
Excuses Are For Chumps
The only thing Amar'e did for the franchise was attract more media attention and make the franchise appear cool again. To give Amar'e all the credit for performances last season completely ignores the toughness contribution of Felton, the defense of Wilson Chandler, the confident shooting of Gallo, the surprise that was Mozgov and the rest of the supporting cast. Amar'es most significant contribution was the air of confidence. It was NOT ALL about Amar'e. The hype was important to the franchise to signal change but the most SIGNIFICANT change was that they ENJOYED playing together.
We could feel the team coming together and it was NOT a one man show.
Carmelo brings another shot of stardom. Whether his talent(s) will mesh with Stoudemire, remains to be seen.
It's cool when two guys get on the same page as we learned with Clyde and The Pearl. But NEVER think that Clyde and Pearl were so one-dimensional to think they were the entire show. Or that it was only about them simply getting their points. The entire cast of the 73 Championship Knicks was engaged and worked as one. You had the intellectually accurate three point shooter (before there was a three point shot) Jerry Lucas, Dave DeBusschere, Bill Bradley and a better than average bench.
They were not superstars but they enjoyed playing together.
Paraphrasing the lyrics of Janet Jackson, "What have Amar'e and Carmelo done for you lately?"
1/16/2012 8:31 AM