Our interior defense is atrocious... the footwork around the rim is terrible. We have Amare who is great at blocking shots but always goes for the block and isn't big in the 'altered shots' column.

To be successful for the remainder of the season and to start winning games against quality competition we need to have a big that can protect the middle. Mosgov or AR need to step up. We can't expect Turiaf to all of a sudden fill that role, he provides great energy and defense but not for as long as we need.

But hats off to the Knicks for finally winning the close games we'd always lose in years past... we spent the past 10 years in the Raptor's position, losing close attainable games. Finally we're pulling them off.

Mray20 wrote:The Knicks really have to work on their defense , too many trading baskets late in the game but these are games the Knicks would have lost in the past. We're not a championship team but a playoff team for sure . I got chills when the fans starting chanting MVP when Amare got the ball for the second straight game, I haven't felt this proud to be a Knick fan since Allan Houston hit that game winner in 99 against Miami.

I got chills being at the game, and BEING one of those fans! The Knicks are not the **** product they'd been putting on the floor for ten years. You can get behind this team. Feels good.

BRIGGS wrote:

mythfaze wrote:I feel like we're the Jets right now... winning games and looking pretty decent but at the risk of being exposed in a big way.
(Wikileaks)

Our interior defense is atrocious... the footwork around the rim is terrible. We have Amare who is great at blocking shots but always goes for the block and isn't big in the 'altered shots' column.

To be successful for the remainder of the season and to start winning games against quality competition we need to have a big that can protect the middle. Mosgov or AR need to step up. We can't expect Turiaf to all of a sudden fill that role, he provides great energy and defense but not for as long as we need.

But hats off to the Knicks for finally winning the close games we'd always lose in years past... we spent the past 10 years in the Raptor's position, losing close attainable games. Finally we're pulling them off.

Since the Heat picked up Dampier they are a different team--he hasnt done much statistically but it seems that just the combo presence of BIG Z and Dampier in the middle on the D is a deterrent and making that team better. Why not use AR if hes here--just tell him to patrol the middle on the D and play the 4-1 post when Amare is out--he can handle playing o for 10-12 minutes in the paint. Just get me 2 easy baskets a block and 3-5 rebounds with some disruptions.

I'm absolutely positive that is what Mike is trying to do, but it's not that easy. This isn't how AR has played in the past and he's always prone to getting the itch to shoot or dribble the ball and then he messes up. Soon enough he'll be put back in the mix. For right now i'm glad that we're winning, but I get the sense that Mike is gonna go deeper when the competition warrants it.

BlueSeats wrote:maybe MDA is taking a page from JVG's Camby playbook and keeping AR under wraps until the playoffs, when he will unleash him on the opponent

Panos wrote:The frustrating thing about tonight's game against the Raps -- defense on Bargnani.
I feel like we should have been able to send somebody on this guy to keep a hand in his face.
Am I being naive? I feel like an AR type of player, just send him in, and tell him that's his job.
Its not gonna be STAT, Bargs too far from the rim. Rony not going to keep up on him. Need an agile
big to guard him. Chandler was on him a bit, and then too often I saw Felton on him.
I just thought if there was a time to bring in AR to do something useful, this was it.

Or if not AR, maybe they should have had Fields on him. But definitely whatever they were doing,
it wasn't working. This game should not have been that close. Bargs was the only guys scoring.
Needed to shut him down, and the game would have been MUCH easier win.

co-sign. the minutes amar'e played were scary long. throwing a long body at barg's would not have hurt.

fishmike wrote:

Childs2Dudley wrote:This is a game that the Knicks of old would lose. Great feeling to be on the other side of things for a change.

I am worried about the minutes being handed out by D'Antoni though. It's claear he is not going to play his bench much and is back to his old Phoenix ways that had many fans complaining about him. He's going to burn out our team by giving Felton and Amare 40+ minutes a game, plus playing the other starters close to the same minutes. We need more time from the bench to preserve our team.

he's afraid... its that simple, and he's admitted as much. If a core guy fails he's ok. If a bench guy struggle he acts like its HIS fault the team is losing. He just needs to trust his players more.

Check it out, Amar'e is averaging 37 minutes per game. He usually, in a healthy season, gets 36. No concern here.

Felton, career average 35, averaging 38 this year. No concern.

We'll eventually be able to reduce these minutes, but for now it's no big deal.

rvwink wrote:A fellow was playing doubles. He hit a ball right off the inside of the line for a winner. His partner complained that he shouldn't hit the ball so close to the lines because it made him nervous. That is what some of the complaints seem like to me.

"I am worried about the minutes being handed out by D'Antoni though."

This was a game that could very easily have gone ether way. D'Antoni in those situations, does what he has to do. The hope is that if the Knicks keep playing well, they may be able to have a few blowout games where the starters can get more rest.

"defense on Bargnani. I feel like we should have been able to send somebody on this guy to keep a hand in his face."

The guy is 7 feet tall and he is shooting out of his mind.... . D'Antoni's instincts are to keep his offense cooking and try and stay ahead. It worked. Putting in a defensive player that might stall the offense was just another option, but the rear view mirror shows that D'Antoni made a correct decision.

Good point. Whenever I looked, it didn't matter how many hands were in his face, he was hitting shots.
Typical NY fans. We could go 49 for the next f-ing 50 and people would still have this massive urge to pee on the charcoal.
Years of Isaiah time, ScottyLayden time have taken their toll...

His play now vs the first 10 games is astonishing!!!!!!

No, he is not nash, but Felton looks great out there and really creating space for his own shot.

MDA is a PG wizard! The footwork I saw last nite did remind me of nash!

Moz did not see the light of day. Amare shooting the jumper looked Ewing like a bit last nite!

Raptors have 3 losses to us this season. They played pretty good last nite.

Always room for improvement. There is also room for going backwards!

misterearl wrote:Steve Nash?

Comparing Raymond Felton to Steve Nash is a waste of valuable screen space.

Steve Nash has never directed a revival of a franchise mired in a decade of sketchy playing personality, or faced the expectations and scrutiny of New York. Steve Nash NEVER played so tough on defense as Ray Felton. Never.

The comparison is bogus, wack and outdated.

Ray Felton is WAY better than Steve Nash because he is doing it here and now for the New York Knicks

HA! Thought you were jumping on me for a comparision to a two time MVP!

Funny, but did AMare/MDA make Nash or Nash make them?

Last two years MDA caught hell for not having Nash. Sure Nash will continue to be Nash without MDA but I think the collaboration was very special. 2 MVP's Special!

Early it was said Amare really missed Nash. Felton seems to have embraced the formula and its a pleaure to hehold.