nixluva wrote:Uptown wrote:nixluva wrote:This is a very strange set of issues. 1. I think Woody made it clear to Grunwald that he didn't feel Lin was the best PG for what he wanted to do.
If you remember Woody made several Disparaging remarks about Lin but walked those comments back. Woody is a LB disciple and the complete polar opposite of MDA.
2. Melo also tried to talk up Lin and make it seem like he was super supportive, but I think that was mostly because he saw how popular Lin was. I think Melo was actually really jealous of Lin and didn't like the MDA style which went thru Lin 1st and Melo 2nd. This gets back to Woody who I believe was brought in to be the future coach and Melo made sure that happened and pretty much was ELATED when MDA left and Woody started talking about going thru Melo.
3. Lin for his part probably saw the writing on the wall and did what was in his best interests. Why should Lin give up guaranteed money for the Knicks when Woody and Melo want to push him back to being serve it up to Melo and get out of the way PG? If i'm Lin I think i'd notice the diff between MDA and Woody in terms of support.
4. This is the right thing to do if you want to play a Pistons style of BB and not have a PG driven offense. All Woody knows is that Pistons style and he's seen it win so why would he want to do anything else??? Woody didn't want to play Teague in ATL and in much the same way he really didn't like Lin's game either. Woody has made a lot of pro Lin comments, but I've never really believed him. Also the way Grunwald built the team you can see that he was gearing it more towards Woody than MDA. That makes sense cuz i'm sure he heard from Dolan that MDA was not getting another extension. This is now a Ground n Pound team with a Ground n Pound Coach.
Talk about speculation!! Why the need to tear-down Woodson and Melo in order to prop Lin up? Everything Woodson and Melo have said about Lin has been positive yet you dont take them at there words and take the cynical approach.
What is your opinion on the first contract leaking and the Knicks making it clear that they would match? Then Lin fly's out to Vegas to renegotiate a new contract that Lin had to know would put the Knicks in a very tough Spot? Where was the loyality from Lin?
Yeah I pretty much don't believe Woody or Melo. I think they both had less love for Lin than they let on when Lin was the star of the show. As soon as MDA left Woody went right in on Lin's role and how he was gonna lean on Melo and STAT. Melo always says the right thing in public but his actions tell a different story. You know it's well documented how he dogged it for MDA and how he made disparaging remarks about MDA's offense. Soon as he gets Woody he's all in and goes ape nuts on D etc. You don't have to dig too deep to figure out how both men really feel about Lin.
Look the Knicks could decide to keep Lin, tho I doubt it, but I think Woody would prefer things the way they are with Kidd and Felton than Lin. He's NEVER liked PG's that play the way Lin does. He wants to play the way they did in Detroit and how he had things in ATL. That's fine if you want to go with a Melo Centric offense then you build towards that goal. What's the point of having Lin if you're going to shackle him and not let him be what he is, an attacking, ball dominant PG?
You make some valid points, but the master of that ground and pound style has even changed with The Spurs/Poppoavich.
The league has changed, the players have evolved, and we have the adapt to the league's players/coaching philosophies.
How many teams back then could put in 4 legit 3point shooters with the athleticism and guard skill set there is in todays game?
There are teams that could put 5 shooters and still have good length, size, athleticism, and versatility.
When you have that many shooters, it takes away the shot blocking ability from the bigs that cannot step out to the 3point line, or it gives them a wide open shot.
This opens up the lane to penetrate and post up 1v1 when you have a mismatch with players like Lebron, Dirk, Durant, Kobe, Wade, Harden, Westbrook, Deron, Joe Johson, etc...
How many agile bigs were there?
How many guards, form PG- SF's that have such size, athleticism, length, speed/quickness, and ability to take contract/finish over bigs?
7/15/2012 1:48 PM