Regardless of whether this was good trade for us (time will tell), Denver certainly looks much better now. It could be that they were not playing as well before due to all the chaos.

Felton together with lawson playing together are from the fastest back courts I have ever seen.

I still think we needed to make the move and put all our chips in the middle and Billups play - 20 FT against Orlando!!!!! - makes it alot less painful. He is a true playoff pg who has the control and poise when all is on the line.

mreinman wrote:
Would love to get JVG back as knicks coach!!! I can only dream.

Dude quit on us and helped trigger our slide into oblivion. He couldn't take a team with T Mac and Yao to the finals. I love JVG but he burned his bridge here.

orangeblobman wrote:

OasisBU wrote:

mreinman wrote:
Would love to get JVG back as knicks coach!!! I can only dream.

Dude quit on us and helped trigger our slide into oblivion. He couldn't take a team with T Mac and Yao to the finals. I love JVG but he burned his bridge here.

I don't know how much of that is true. He quit, but I don't think he quit on us. There might have been some behind the scenes garbage at the Garden at the time that rubbed him and his bald head the wrong way.

And T-Mac and Yao? Between T-Mac's lazy eye and crappy attitude and Yao's fragile feet, God couldn't have taken those Rockets to the Finals.

You can look at it any way you want but he quit - and it looked an awful lot like he thought the team couldn't win as constructed so he bolted.

We wentthrough a series of coaches after that, which also led to roster overhauls etc. While JVG wasn't the only catalyst his departure certainly did not help.

Ok maybe the rockets couldn't make it to the finals but did they even win a playoff series? Come on - blaming it on a lazy eye and foot problems - you're better than that - Yao and T Mac were both extremely talented and good players when JVG was coachin them. They should have made more noise.

I think JVG legacy here is over rated because he stepped in and kept the Knicks competitive after Riley left. But he ran for the exits when the franchise started to lose.

OasisBU wrote:

orangeblobman wrote:

OasisBU wrote:

mreinman wrote:
Would love to get JVG back as knicks coach!!! I can only dream.

Dude quit on us and helped trigger our slide into oblivion. He couldn't take a team with T Mac and Yao to the finals. I love JVG but he burned his bridge here.

I don't know how much of that is true. He quit, but I don't think he quit on us. There might have been some behind the scenes garbage at the Garden at the time that rubbed him and his bald head the wrong way.

And T-Mac and Yao? Between T-Mac's lazy eye and crappy attitude and Yao's fragile feet, God couldn't have taken those Rockets to the Finals.

You can look at it any way you want but he quit - and it looked an awful lot like he thought the team couldn't win as constructed so he bolted.

We wentthrough a series of coaches after that, which also led to roster overhauls etc. While JVG wasn't the only catalyst his departure certainly did not help.

Ok maybe the rockets couldn't make it to the finals but did they even win a playoff series? Come on - blaming it on a lazy eye and foot problems - you're better than that - Yao and T Mac were both extremely talented and good players when JVG was coachin them. They should have made more noise.

I think JVG legacy here is over rated because he stepped in and kept the Knicks competitive after Riley left. But he ran for the exits when the franchise started to lose.

He did leave, that's fact. But to tie him to the Knicks eventual slide into garbage as a causative agent is inaccurate and unfair. The Knicks were going to crumble with or without JVG and his Civic. The collapse was the result of inept management, not coaching.

I don't know if I can blame him for wanting out when he did, the Knicks were already showing signs of failure.

And the Rockets, I don't know if JVG ever had the opportunity to coach a fully healthy team there. It was always one or the other of those two being out, this and that, always something going on. Flawed foundation. That Rockets team never had a shot.

Getting Felton really allows them to push the tempo and there defense is also better at every position. They are a dangerous team and as dangerous as anyone. Our big problem was size and a backup point guard they have plenty of both and JR Smith is more efficient than Anthony.

Obvioulsy there parts are easier to mess with but rarley to you win in this league with one on one players that don't play defense.

They have a team that can get as far in the playoffs as their old team with Melo, so they really did not lose anything at all.

I wish the Knicks were in as good shape.

Paladin55 wrote:Watched a good portion of the game yesterday. They look like more of an MDA team on offensive that our MDA team.

They all play defense and they have a lot of quickness.

Don't see why this team can't continue winning, but as the saying goes, you are never as good as when things are going great, or as bad as when you are in a slump.

They seem to have a lot of weapons on offense, and enough depth to have a defense which can play hard for most of the game. They also have some decent size.

They also have a good coach who can communicate with players and motivate them.

Thats the big difference right there....They have a good coach. A coach that knows how to get the best out of their players, versus trying to force them into a system that might not fit their skill set.

Also, George Carl, and several other coaches will actually play their guys, instead of letting potential talent rot on the bench.

But don't forget one thing....Those guys we sent over was the best guys on our team, minus STAT. Denver already had a better team than us....Take Melo from them, and STAT from us.....Denver had the better team.

Now take our best and add to Denver, minus Melo and Billups, and it's obvious why they are playing better....Team basketball is always better than 1 or 2 superstars. Now if they add a legit star, look out!!!!! I bet MDA and Walsh are sick to their stomach watching that potential play for another team....Especially MDA....if only he opened his rotation to utilize that deep talent we had!

Since they HAD to get rid of a stat, they did it and did great for themselves but at the end of the day, the stars are the toughest parts of the pie to acquire - you'd rather kept Anthony.

waly01 wrote:Denver did very well for themselves in this trade but I will garuntee you that if you went to them right now and gave them the choice to unwind the trade and keep an extended Melo, they wouldnt even think twice about it.

Since they HAD to get rid of a stat, they did it and did great for themselves but at the end of the day, the stars are the toughest parts of the pie to acquire - you'd rather kept Anthony.

If the Knicks offered me the package I gave them for Melo back(for Melo and Billups) I would drop the phone laughing. there is no way Denver would take that back. They know it and while both teams should have success--its Denver IMHO thats in a better position. If it wasnt for a missed FT--Denver would be 5-0 since the trade. And they get to ad gallo back in about a week. Like i said its not the star but the cumulative talent. Also Im not sure a star is a guy who goes 10-23 every other game.