IronWillGiroud wrote:I can't tell you anything today, but I can tell you that I will be able to tell you something by how they come out of this slump.

I can't be mad at a guy or team for having a little slump, we all slump at times in life, it's a process, but I can be mad at a guy and a team if this slump ends up derailing the season. I want my 50 or more wins and I want a Second Round, at least!!!!

Good
The Knicks will get the Chicago Bulls in the 2nd round.
& maybe a Derrick Rose sighting.

Last year when I said that the real improvement in D was really Tyson people said No it was Woody doing something special. Before Woody took over the team was top 10 in defense and the team took off defensively with a sudden surge when Woody took over, but it was really just increased effort from Melo, Tyson etc. Woody didn't really have any special sauce he was using and now this year we see that if Tyson doesn't play with the same effort level or Melo etc. the defense doesn't look so special. It's about the players being able to sustain a high effort level.

This team is older and minus Felton and Shump our guards are literally ancient. We can't defend at the same level as Chicago with more young players on their squad. I think once we get Felton and Shump going that should help, but we also miss Sheed's D and Tyson isn't playing as hard as he did last year. Woody has a lot of work to do on not only D, but Offense too. Woody's weakness has been the teams strength this year. This team MUST score at a high level to win. That's what they did early in the year and they've got to get that back and tighten up the D too.

GodSaveTheKnicks wrote:

nixluva wrote:I wanna know what happened to all the post offense we were supposed to see? What happened to player and ball movement? Curls, screens and back door plays. There's more to offense than ISO or PnR. This team is getting lazy and really the biggest myth is that this was a great defensive team. I thought that was Woody's calling card! This team was really winning with a top level offense and decent D. Now if the offense struggles there's no D to back it up. This team is #20 in the league in defense!!! People would be absolutely KILLING MDA if the team was playing this kind of D!!!

Last year when I said that the real improvement in D was really Tyson people said No it was Woody doing something special. Before Woody took over the team was top 10 in defense and the team took off defensively with a sudden surge when Woody took over, but it was really just increased effort from Melo, Tyson etc. Woody didn't really have any special sauce he was using and now this year we see that if Tyson doesn't play with the same effort level or Melo etc. the defense doesn't look so special. It's about the players being able to sustain a high effort level.

This team is older and minus Felton and Shump our guards are literally ancient. We can't defend at the same level as Chicago with more young players on their squad. I think once we get Felton and Shump going that should help, but we also miss Sheed's D and Tyson isn't playing as hard as he did last year. Woody has a lot of work to do on not only D, but Offense too. Woody's weakness has been the teams strength this year. This team MUST score at a high level to win. That's what they did early in the year and they've got to get that back and tighten up the D too.

I think Woody's biggest accomplishment as a coach was getting Melo to commit to defending and getting through to JR. Recently though it seems as if Melo is slipping a bit on D.

Examples:

1) Against the Cs Melo looked like he was getting back into the habit of not fighting over screens and simply pointing at his teammates to switch. That's why he ended up guarding KG so much when KG plays center for the celts. Dunno if this is part of Woody's scheme or Melo trying to save his energy for scoring or what.

2) Further strengthening my belief that Melo's focus on D is slipping was getting repeatedly BURNED by Luol Deng against the bulls.

It's a long ass 82 game season. I know players get bored/lose focus/etc. It doesn't mean Melo is the antichrist or anything. Maybe Woody just needs a few practices to get the whole team in line again.

This quote really makes it sound like Woody's attitude regarding offense is similar to MDA's on defense:

"We've just got to get back to where we were," he said. "I don't like to say we need to beat up on each other, but we need to get in the gym where we mix it up a little bit, and if it becomes out of control -- because I'm going to force that issue. ... It ain't about trying to outscore teams, which we've been struggling in that area as of late. It's about trying to defend, rebound and then we'll figure out the offense once we get the ball."

okay big ups for woodson here for getting to the heart of the matter. uninspired defense will lead to selfish and disjointed offense. and as prigioni said after the spurs game, if they make genuine effort on defense that will force the offense to remain focussed and coherent.

defense first will help the offense--- NEVER the other way around!

nixluva wrote:I wanna know what happened to all the post offense we were supposed to see? What happened to player and ball movement? Curls, screens and back door plays. There's more to offense than ISO or PnR. This team is getting lazy and really the biggest myth is that this was a great defensive team. I thought that was Woody's calling card! This team was really winning with a top level offense and decent D. Now if the offense struggles there's no D to back it up. This team is #20 in the league in defense!!! People would be absolutely KILLING MDA if the team was playing this kind of D!!!

Last year when I said that the real improvement in D was really Tyson people said No it was Woody doing something special. Before Woody took over the team was top 10 in defense and the team took off defensively with a sudden surge when Woody took over, but it was really just increased effort from Melo, Tyson etc. Woody didn't really have any special sauce he was using and now this year we see that if Tyson doesn't play with the same effort level or Melo etc. the defense doesn't look so special. It's about the players being able to sustain a high effort level.

This team is older and minus Felton and Shump our guards are literally ancient. We can't defend at the same level as Chicago with more young players on their squad. I think once we get Felton and Shump going that should help, but we also miss Sheed's D and Tyson isn't playing as hard as he did last year. Woody has a lot of work to do on not only D, but Offense too. Woody's weakness has been the teams strength this year. This team MUST score at a high level to win. That's what they did early in the year and they've got to get that back and tighten up the D too.

<< if MDA folks be killing him>>
Gotta agree with nixluva here,
that is intent of the post on Coach Woody whom got deserved praised for nyk record last yr and great start

however he talks of holding folks accountable well the DJ is holding Woodson accountable & I dont want to hear squat about whom
aint here or yes the poor PG play without Felton (agreed) however this is pro hoops and NBA & you suck it up!

My point is well stated by Alan Hahn on today radio/Espn halftime show of NYK vs NO where hahn says that while Knicks were getting
their doors blown out by Rockets/Lin at MSG wks ago, then the other recent game vs BULLS blowout Hahn noted I.Shumpert on the bench
steaming glare on his face regarding the guards abuse of both Rockets & Bulls and no resistance nor ability to fight on defense.

That is well said !
You on the bench and see & cant wait to get after a problem Knicks players has which is guarding as a team OR as indiv. position play. With Woodson whom encourages the 3's as much as MDA as you see today Hornets vs Knicks, The Knicks has no other plan or
adjustment when the 3's aren't falling down.

If this was Pat Riley coaching the Knicks, while you try to fix offense Riley would tell his players if "You dont play D' man up"
or help switching contest shots " You're gonna have a fat seat on the bench.

I dont think Woodson practices what he used to preach on D' and from his post game praise of the other teams whipping NY he is
constantly talking about the offense and getting it going. Right we know it! however you still got to defend eh ?

We need a bunch of Shumperts OR the aged-Rasheed whom will not allow the kind of follies & easiest scoring opportunities we've
seen in Knick losses. Like I say I dont mind losing NY isnt going to win em' all & we know that but when you're losses are
getting you wasted down by 20pts, in last month or so repeatively it shows that Knicks are trying to win with Offense & 3's
which we seen mainly by Melo and J.R Smith, less than stellar play past wk. or so.

The reason BULLs are better right now is they get after peoples assess on D' cause coach Tom Thibodeau won't allow anything else
is reason BULLs winning record without allstar D.Rose. Cannot be blind to that.