http://disciplesofclyde.com/?p=1186

Complete the following steps to save your season:

1. Recognize that Toney Douglas and Ray Felton are very good NBA players who play defense, play hard, and score well. Also recognize, however, that each of these players pounding the ball is part of the reason that the offense is not working. Felton certainly puts up good assist numbers, but more in the mold of the assists compiled by Stephon Marbury in a drive-and-kick system. D’Antoni needs motion offense, not stationary targets for a penetrating point guard. Personally, I think Felton has it in him but he needs to be better coached. As for Douglas, he needs to understand that his albeit impressive shot-making from isolations on the perimeter must not be the identity of a good team; it has never worked for teams employing Ben Gordon and it will not work for the Knicks. A “system” point guard might be necessary, even at the expense of minutes for Felton or Douglas.

2. Recognize that Danillo Gallinari is being completely marginalized by the domination of the ball by the point guards and Wilson Chandler. When Felton or Douglas is working like a madman to penetrate and dish, then Gallo can only get in the way. Instead, how about Gallo initiating the pick and roll with Stoudemire fifteen feet from the basket? In order to stop the Rooster from draining short jump shots in rhythm the defense will have to bail on Stoudemire; Steve Nash’s shooting prowess was always a big part of the pick and roll success in Pheonix. Gallo’s size and precision shot could be the tonic for Amare to get going as well. Check tapes of Gallinari playing in Italy and you will see a point forward who handled the ball often. I’d rather see Felton and Douglas waiting patiently on the perimeter than the Italian kid that Donnie Walsh drafted because of his potential to be an all-around superstar. The only way to generate hope for the future of this team is to cultivate Gallinari’s all around game; otherwise, the team’s ceiling is average at best until they sign a star free-agent two years from now. I don’t feel like waiting, do you?

3. Do not let Amare Stoudemire get discouraged. His professionalism, effort, and intensity are important to the future of the team. Just because the offense sucks right now does not negate the intangibles that he brought to the team over the summer and in training camp. In fact, if Stoudemire’s outlook and leadership can weather the storm until the offense improves then he still has time to assemble the dark-horse MVP season that some of us predicted in training camp. Even if it does not happen this year, his approach to rebounding and defense now will inform how the subsequent four seasons on his contract will play out. The biggest impression I got from Stoudemire in training camp was that he was eager to step out of Steve Nash’s leadership shadow and lead his own team; right now the Knicks need that leadership desperately. Stoudemire’s poise during this stretch of losing is vital.

4. Kindly remind Wilson Chandler of the radical jump in efficiency that he experienced last season when he decided to stop shooting three pointers. Chandler’s identity is important to this team because one version of Chandler (the inefficient scorer) hurts the team while another version (the versatile role player) fills gaps on an incomplete roster. I do think that Chandler is more poised and confident than at any other time in his career, but rebounds and slashing need to be his focus, not jump shooting. Chandler’s PER is an admirable 18.1 right now because of his emerging all around game, not his middling jump shooting.

5. Tie Wilson Chandler and Anthony Randolph to chairs and force them to watch tapes of Lamar Odom playing his best basketball (any game from this season will do). Having an offensively skilled perimeter guy so completely throw himself into dirty work is infinitely more valuable than a guy who is only effective when his perimeter jump shot is dropping. Chandler and Randolph’s identities should be that of role players who happen to have offensive ability instead of offensive players who happen to be able to rebound and play defense. That mental distinction is important not just for those players, but for the entire team.

6. Trade for another big man. We all like Ronny Turiaf, but he gets hurt every year and has never played the starter’s minutes that this team needs from him. We all like Anthony Randolph, but he is better suited as the perimeter player who can rebound and block shots than as the too skinny cog in the big man rotation. Timofey Mozgov has promise, but he can’t stay on the floor. In my mind Anderson Varejao is a slam dunk trade target. We know that winning teams are built on a foundation of big men like Varejao and Kendrick Perkins and he just might be undervalued by his team right now. A PF/C rotation of Stoudemire/Varejao/Turiaf could probably prevent Kevin Love’s next thirty rebound performance. If the Cavs want cap relief then give it to them; how about an offer of Anthony Randolph, Eddy Curry and Bill Walker for Varejao and Ramon Sessions? Who says no?

7. Reward Landry Fields’ slashing game with more minutes. He has the second best true shooting percentage on the team and his aggressive approach needs to be a model for the other perimeter players. Give Bill Walker the same opportunity; his pump-fake a three pointer and then drive in for a dunk move is a fantastic weapon.

2. Recognize that Danillo Gallinari is being completely marginalized by the domination of the ball by the point guards and Wilson Chandler. When Felton or Douglas is working like a madman to penetrate and dish, then Gallo can only get in the way. Instead, how about Gallo initiating the pick and roll with Stoudemire fifteen feet from the basket? In order to stop the Rooster from draining short jump shots in rhythm the defense will have to bail on Stoudemire; Steve Nash’s shooting prowess was always a big part of the pick and roll success in Pheonix. Gallo’s size and precision shot could be the tonic for Amare to get going as well. Check tapes of Gallinari playing in Italy and you will see a point forward who handled the ball often. I’d rather see Felton and Douglas waiting patiently on the perimeter than the Italian kid that Donnie Walsh drafted because of his potential to be an all-around superstar. The only way to generate hope for the future of this team is to cultivate Gallinari’s all around game; otherwise, the team’s ceiling is average at best until they sign a star free-agent two years from now. I don’t feel like waiting, do you?

^^ This is the most absurd paragraph I have ever read.

If I read it correctly, the writer is suggesting that Gallinari will be able to be the primary ball-handler at the NBA level when he has shown no such ability thus far, based on his Italian-league play, while Raymond Felton and Toney Douglas spot up. Recipe for more turnovers.

How about this instead: Have the point guards run the pick and roll to set up 15 foot jumpers for Gallinari? That would make a lot more sense. Gallinari would be taking much higher percentage shots, thus making him far more effective because it would be hard to block a 6'10" guy. Then if the defense has to rush at Gallinari, it opens up the paint area for Stoudemire.

That is common sense.

oohah

GustavBahler wrote:Is he really saying that the guards shouldn't penetrate and dish (which they aren't doing enough of) because it might hurt Gallo's game?? Really?

It appears that is what he is saying.

oohah