I think Amare has a tough time adjusting to Melo and Tyson Chandler.
His weakness, flaws, and holes in his game is exposed, with his defense and choosing not to put a body on his man. However, it isn't fair to just blame Amare,
everyone has fault and seems to be in a funk. It is infectious, on a 10 point scale, we are playing at about 1-2 our of 10, prior to yesterdays game. While there are individual faults, there are team faults as well. The coaching staff and players must acknowledge this, point it out, and fix it. Each assistant coach should be keeping an eye on 2 players or so, ready to use film to illustrate it out while fi but our whole team has been exposed, the lack of skills, speed, penetration, and shooters to spread the floor consistently.
This is clearly a work in progress and when we play at our best, we are capable of competing with our best 5-7. However, we are not close to where we want to be
offensively and defensively. We have to keep our heads up, continue to work, continue to learn, and continue to play. Although defense is probably our stronger area
vs our recent offense, since our 4 game winning streak, they are clearly things that we do wrong, bad, and some could be changed.
We haven't adjusted to our weakness and answered the scouts/coaches. We are willing to shoot 30 3pointers and capable of only hitting 10 of them.
Our opponents are ready to counter this and score many points of the fast break, before the rest of our our defense and Tyson Chandler are set.
Lets start with our the play on both ends with our guards, or lack of. Our defense problems starts with our guards. In all fairness, the only guard
that stay in front of his man Iman. TD and Bibby are our 1st line of defense that breaks down too easily. I was very surprised Bibby got the start vs OKC but at his age.
He probably has a shot to guard a handful of players in the league. However, TD has no reason to play the defense he does, fail, and continue it on daily basis.
He should have learned by the summer at least, exactly the difference between the way he plays defense vs Anthony Carter. He is suppose to be a gym rat and all he
does is train in the gym. He has the heart, is missing that confidence, with the rest of our team right now. He has to figure out his role, fix the way he plays defense, and
continue to get back confidence in his game, especially with his shot. We are very much missing the the floor spacing and 3 point shooting, to go with that penetration.
It wasn't shown last year how missed Gallo, Wilson Chandler, and Felton's 3 point shooting because TD, Shawne Williams, to go with Melo, shot the ball extremely well.
When they got that sudden surge of confidence last year, TD was one of leagues best 3point shooters. TD, Shawne Williams, and Melo all stepped up big time,
for the loss of Gallo, Wilson Chandler, and Felton. TD was a big unexpected hero, he should continue that role and confidence he found in himself last year.
He lacks confidence in general, as he puts a lot of pressure on himself. Dantoni gave him the job at starting PG because he was the veteran in SSOL
and it was a clear mistake. Majority of us here knew from the start, it wasn't the strengths of his game. Now he has plays very limited minutes, mainly
because of his bad play of DEF, mixed with inability to penetrate or facilitate. Adjusting back to another role, while regaining that confidence, would be a
big difference maker for us but he has to tell the difference between a good shot and a bad one. He is a player that needs to get in rhythm before
he starts hoisting up those 3's. Getting a layup, or driving and getting an assist, or pulling up for a free throw shot. When he brings is A+ game,
he can be a great player of the bench. He has to continue to work on his strengths and weaknesses but he can be a vital player and has the skills to do it.
Playing the starting PG, was the completely opposite mindset, I hope the coaches and TD himself, realizes and adds to his arsenal.
With a consistent mid range pull up game, a floater, and after he starts hitting a couple of shots, defenders will come out and guard him.
It would help his game with penetration when his defenders are on their toes, catching them jumping, and forcing help defenders to help.
Fields still can not adapt to the ISO plays ,like Amare, is suffering from the lack of penetration, uptempo basketball, shooters to spread the floor, lack of ball movement and he has lost that confidence. He did well pre Melo because of the above reasons and he was the 5th option or 4th at best. The scouts, clearly know he doesn't have the ability to penetrate, like almost all of our players. If our opponents aren't guarding any of our team as if they can not penetrate, it really limits our moves.
Every time he gets the ball, he usually stands by the 3 point line, where he will pump fake. But NO ONE is falling for it, he just allows his defender to
come back to recover while standing close enough to jump out at him but not usually close enough so Fields can blow by his man. He is playing the same style that he once played
with the PRE Melo Knicks, without the cuts, and crashing the boards because he would limit Melo's moves, drawing an extra defender. He is unable to find his 3point shot, which
is very much needed to space the floor.
Of course he is missing the play of true PG to get him the ball where he wants, get him started, and rolling.
Amare does not use his body to box out, he always wants to JUMP for the rebound, but what happens when penetration comes to him or Tyson Chandler?
Amare does nothing if he has to leave his position where he feels he can jump for the rebound or majority of the time, Tyson Chandler helps.
When Tyson Chandler leaves his man, now 2 guys have position near the rim with no one with a body on them.
That is basketball 101, if scouts/coaches/players all know this, they will continue to use it against us.
Especially when TD and Bibby are in, our players and coach have to realize what our opponents are doing and teach them how to stop it.
Baron Davis could help us out a lot but in a lineup of
Baron Davis
Iman
Melo
Amare
Tyson Chandler
we do not have the shooters needed to spread the floor. Amare is not a post player and has been able to find his shot. I think we seriously have to consider making him our 6th man.
I think staring JJ would help our defense with Chandler, especially Amare plays defense. Or starting Jorts would give us a better identity, spacing, and system, as we would have 4 players capable of hitting the 3point shot.
Amare brought us back last year, however, Felton, Gallo, and Wilson Chandler, complimented Amare very well and deserves a lot more credit. We have no identity this year or partly because our players don't compliment each other well. If Melo is going to play that "Iso System", we should build the team more like the Sixers when Allen Iverson went to the finals.
With STRONG REBOUNDERS, great DEFENDERS/hustle players, and some tweaks. At the 4/5 we would probably do better with a combination of ELITE defenders, a slightly younger KG would
be perfect with Chandler.
Baron Davis
Delfino
Melo
KG
Chandler
Iman
Dooling/Pargo
Pietrus
Jorts
Ak47 / Camby
JJ
Balkman
