fishmike wrote:

BlueSeats wrote:

fishmike wrote:

BlueSeats wrote:

Killa4luv wrote:if there is one flaw in D'antoni's system it is this. when the jumpers are not falling what is the plan b?

This.

And the defense can't be as capricious as the jumpers. Some nights the D is acceptable, others not. You can't count on you're players being hot offensively but defense s something that needs to be count-on-able.

Plus we're paper thin, especially up front. Never should have given up both Randolph and Mosgov. Neither are defensive stalwarts, but jeez, they can rebound and foul.

Amare is a below average rebounder. Melo is decent, neither players are very good defensively so if we are built around these two guys whats the plan?

For this to work it's going to require that Amare and Melo become above average defenders. No two ways abut it. But the same would hold true of Amare + Gallo/Chandler. Some of it they're going to be responsible for bringing themselves, the rest is going to have to come from coaching, the system, and the support cast.

I don't begrudge anyone who feels otherwise, but I'm okay with Billups, Fields, Melo and Amare at the 1-4 if we can come up with a viable 5 and bench rotation.

But while many analysts say Mosgov couldn't be a deal-breaker I disagree. Or let Denver be the one's making that determination. We needed a big more than them, plus, if nothing else, we need him as a trade chip. And if you do give him up then retain draft picks. All in all, the organization seemed rather patient throughout the negotiations up until Dolan got involved, then we caved precipitously.

We're not built for this year, I don't know the solution; Donnie's got his work cut out for him, assuming he's re-signed.

Meanwhile, I'm looking for some heart - floor-burns is always a good place to start. You hear that Melo/Fields/Douglas/Williams/Mason/et al? Floor burns.

thats a bad plan.. and I'm not taking a shot at you, I agree, but asking 2 NBA all star players to start doing things they havent done at this point in their careers to be successful sounds shaky. Who is going to hold them to that? I dont think MDA or any coach has that clout.

We have two of the top 5(ish) scorers in the NBA. How do you build around that? Neither are elite rebounders, defenders or playmakers... it will be interesting to say the least

Not all plans work out, but that's the plan. Those two are our core. They have to adapt, and management has to surround them with the right pieces. Is it a long shot that it will all come together? Of course, just like it was before the trade.

TMS wrote:

AnubisADL wrote:The Knicks are Amare, Melo, old Billups, and role players. Now the problem is our role players shouldnt be starting and cant be depended on game to game.

i think that's bunk, no offense... the role players we have are easily capable of playing the type of defense we need to win these games against teams like the Pacers & Cavs... they've already proven they can beat teams like the Heat, Hawks, Hornets, Grizzlies, Jazz, all teams with better than .500 records... the question is why aren't they on a consistent basis against lesser teams? why are we consistently taking lesser teams for granted & letting our effort level slip so much in these games? is it really the players who are just not motivating themselves to do so or can some of the blame be placed on the coaches for not doing their jobs in getting the team prepared to play mentally against these lesser teams? i think part of the blame has to go on all parties involved... to think that the coaches bear no responsibility in preparing their teams to play at a high level & that these types of performances are all simply due to our lack of depth is oversimplification at its best... any team with Melo, STAT & Chauncey as their top 3 should be able to beat the Pacers or Cavs i don't care if the rest of the team around them are D-Leaguers.

Waddup TMS. Welcome back buddy.

TymeLessKnicks wrote:Is the ship sinking? these knicks are looking very boring and pedestrian of late.

I can hear the violinist playing Bach out on the deck while the women and children are being discharged to safety.