nixluva wrote:It's not every game, but many of our games this team has been putrid in the 3rd qtr. It was a symptom from last year too. I really don't know why but this team has had a problem with coming out playing hard in the 3rd qtr of games. I think it is the mentality of the starters. In 4 of the last 5 losses the 3rd qtr was where we lost the game.

	1	2	3	4 	T
PHI	22	29	38	17	106
NY	24	25	24	21	94
	1	2	3	4 	T
NY	34	31	18	31	114
MIL	36	25	32	26	119
	1	2	3	4 	T
NY	15	29	19	22	85
DAL	27	23	27	18	95
	1	2	3	4	OT 	T
NY	29	27	16	31	8	111
BOS	27	24	29	23	12	115

If they can somehow make a change that will solve this problem this team may just have a chance.

you're probably 100% correct

Since I'm a kungfu man 'Fu-shenging'

Knicks 3rd quarter of Death
also more like 5 Fingers of Death, 5 Men, 5 Starters dead & out at end of games

In the 3rd quarter Wish we can chop'socky some energy into the team starters!

Uptown wrote:

nixluva wrote:

Uptown wrote:

nixluva wrote:

Rookie wrote:The team is also slow to start games...the only constant is that the same personnel are on the floor in both the beginning of the 1st and 3rd qtrs

YUP! Some people around here don't want to accept the truth. The main difference between this team when it was winning and all the losing now is the presence of STAT and Melo. They dominate the 1st and 3rd qtrs and lo and behold we lose the 3rd qtr of games constantly. If this team is gonna win, they either have to step up their effort in the 3rd qtr or we have to make a change coming out for the 3rd qtr of games. Or perhaps make a quicker rotation change in the 3rd before we lose it completely.

Nix, with the exception of Dallas, we either had the lead or were within a few points in the first Quarter of every game. Why is it that Amare and Melo get all the blame for our 3rd quarter collapses but no mention of the 1st when we are still in it? And why do you absolve all blame from MDA for falling apart after halftime when the coach is supposed to be making adjustments based on what transpired over the first half?

What you're describing is the fact that STAT and Melo give more effort to start games but come out only looking to score in the 3rd qtr. STAT and Melo are in the 1st unit and are the stars of the team. If they play well there's no way this team falters in 4 out of 5, 3rd qtrs. The majority of the burden has to go to the stars and leaders of the team. Also many times it's the bench that brings the team back. What do you think MDA is only coaching the bench and not the starters? The bench does it mostly with increased effort!!!

As I said, you put all the blame on Melo and Stat and not the coach who is responsible to view the 1st half and make adjustments accordingly. Certainly the other coach is making adjustments at halftime. So again, MDA gets no blame whatsoever for the 3rd quarters?

ChuckBuck wrote:Please no 3rd Quarter of Death Tonight!

4th Quarter of Death

nixluva wrote:This was a game where hopefully they can point out some huge issues. If no one pulls STAT aside and points out that he was USELESS on the boards tonight then I guess we'll never see this team learn.

Good effort most of the night, but the Bulls are basically a pure hustle team. If you can raise your level of hustle to their level, you can beat them cuz they aren't that great offensively. Rose just breaks teams down and the other guys crash the offensive boards.

Woulda been nice to have a coach at some level to teach him how to use his ass - and not Jerry Sandusky!