fishmike wrote:Knixkik wrote:Panos wrote:fishmike wrote:fail. Swap Melo with Iggy, Gallo, Paul Pierce... any good 3 and we are still 3-0Im glad we are winning games rather than losing but we spanked Phili who doesnt have their franchise player and the Heat who didnt want to be there.
Let just be realistic
Hey Fishy,
I'm normally with you, your posts are usually a voice of reason around here between the haters and the dreamers, but I have to disagree with you here. This team could not have done what it has over the last 3 games without a dominant scorer. Carmelo has been a huge part of the current run. When he's out, you can see the drop off on the offensive floor. Paul Pierce, maybe. But the other two you mentioned would not have had the offensive juice to give us that firepower.
Melo has become one of the most dangerous scorers in the post area. He draws the defense like few other players can. Teams prepare to defend him, not the other players mentioned above.
100% correct. I could not agree more. So why is he taking 6 threes a game? Because he's LAZY. Same players as always been. Talent is there, but so is the Antoine Walker shot selection.We are winning because the Knicks share the ball, take care of the ball and are defending great. Melo has certainly been a part of that. I predicted this team would win 50 games. The problem is this formula wont win in the playoffs. Never does.
Take away Melo's 3 and he's shooting 50% and with his rebounding and early commitment to defense he would be playing at an MVP level. Shot selection matters its the weak link in this guys game. Look at his FG%s in the playoffs. He shoots his teams out of games all the time. Heat game is perfect example... totally dominat first qtr and Melo shoots 4-18 the rest of the game. Thats the scoring we ride in the playoffs? There is a reason his teams always lose in the first round.
Look Im happy we are winning, but Phili looked awful, Mia didnt want to play and Melo is the same he always is. We have seen a spirited effort on defense before. His teams usually win about 50 games. Its what happens after that is a reason skeptical folks such as myself hope to see a different blue print. 3 games doesnt erase 10 years of getting **** on by this team!
i see the same frustrating pattern and i don't see lazy, i see a lack of poise, patience, and craftiness. he gets all jacked up-- the broadcasters called them "adrenaline shots"-- with his short-term success and decides to throw his game and the game out the window.
but look we can all agree that he's attacking and finishing better, he is playing some honest defense, and he is making hustle plays... so i give him credit for that. but come playoff time he has got to cut down completely on the adrenaline shots and be prepared to pass out of whatever double teams come his way and every time. dirk did it and look what happened.
no question his shot selection has been his achilles heel, among other things, his entire career. i look at his mediocre TS% as a clear manifestation of this. dude has to not take more than 2 of these 3-pointers a game while driving and getting to the line more. people don't want to admit it but melo's footwork as he tries to get to the basket is not good. jab step is not footwork. taking two "power dribbles" and trying to finish is not footwork either. and i am not talking about back to the basket post stuff either, which frankly he is not bad at. it's the stuff we see with him going iso from 22 feet where his footwork leaves a lot to be desired.
still i admit i am pleased somewhat with his first three games but everything i see with him and this team is through a filter in the form of the question "does melo and does this team play like an ECF team?"
knicks win 38-43 games in 16-17. rose MUST shoot no more than 14 shots per game, defer to kp6 + melo, and have a usage rate of less than 25%
