martin wrote:I think BlueSeats or someone mentioned it during the GameThread last night: Melo as a PointForward would be very nice. I think it could work.

Melo is a good passer IMHO. Willing passer and decision making (when NOT to shoot) for long stretches is something he would have to work out.

Perhaps he could be a Hedo/Kukoc with better finishing skills type dude.

I think it was misterearl.

It's a thought.

Amare is hurting now. Can't run the game through him at the moment.

As bad as Billups has been running the point, I wonder if we shouldn't put TD at the 1, Billups at the 2, and just let Billups and Melo run amok scoring, playing the two man game, with Amare focusing on rebounding and finishing.

martin wrote:I think BlueSeats or someone mentioned it during the GameThread last night: Melo as a PointForward would be very nice. I think it could work.

Melo is a good passer IMHO. Willing passer and decision making (when NOT to shoot) for long stretches is something he would have to work out.

Perhaps he could be a Hedo/Kukoc with better finishing skills type dude.

i don’t think this team can afford to have melo thinking pass first. we're too desperate for his scoring if we’re gonna win. i'd get the ball in his hands, have him thinking score first but also looking for the cutter, like he did last night, or the spot-up shooter.

he was constantly referred to by people who didn’t want him as a one-dimensional high-scoring volume-shooter. well i don’t really see this team having much of a chance if we don’t take full advantage of the one dimension that he's truly world-class in.

Marv wrote:

martin wrote:I think BlueSeats or someone mentioned it during the GameThread last night: Melo as a PointForward would be very nice. I think it could work.

Melo is a good passer IMHO. Willing passer and decision making (when NOT to shoot) for long stretches is something he would have to work out.

Perhaps he could be a Hedo/Kukoc with better finishing skills type dude.

i don’t think this team can afford to have melo thinking pass first. we're too desperate for his scoring if we’re gonna win. i'd get the ball in his hands, have him thinking score first but also looking for the cutter, like he did last night, or the spot-up shooter.

he was constantly referred to by people who didn’t want him as a one-dimensional high-scoring volume-shooter. well i don’t really see this team having much of a chance if we don’t take full advantage of the one dimension that he's truly world-class in.

Yeah, one of the advantages of having him was insurance against Amare going down or burning out. Now would be a great time to be getting 30 ppg from Melo.

martin wrote:I think BlueSeats or someone mentioned it during the GameThread last night: Melo as a PointForward would be very nice. I think it could work.

Melo is a good passer IMHO. Willing passer and decision making (when NOT to shoot) for long stretches is something he would have to work out.

Perhaps he could be a Hedo/Kukoc with better finishing skills type dude.

melo being point-forward brings is a good idea. there were plenty of times last night that i saw melo make great passes setting up guys for wide-open shots. i do remember two instances that after a made basket by orlando that melo brought the ball up, just totally disregarding chauncey, both times though he found guys for wide-open shots - think they were both 3's too.

Marv wrote:

martin wrote:I think BlueSeats or someone mentioned it during the GameThread last night: Melo as a PointForward would be very nice. I think it could work.

Melo is a good passer IMHO. Willing passer and decision making (when NOT to shoot) for long stretches is something he would have to work out.

Perhaps he could be a Hedo/Kukoc with better finishing skills type dude.

i don’t think this team can afford to have melo thinking pass first. we're too desperate for his scoring if we’re gonna win. i'd get the ball in his hands, have him thinking score first but also looking for the cutter, like he did last night, or the spot-up shooter.

he was constantly referred to by people who didn’t want him as a one-dimensional high-scoring volume-shooter. well i don’t really see this team having much of a chance if we don’t take full advantage of the one dimension that he's truly world-class in.

How about this take: This year it's not happening. No way no how.

But next year the Knicks have a big decision to make on what to do with Billups. Don't keep him and you prob aren't going to be able to sign a Felton quality starter and you are left with TD, perhaps draft pick and/or lower-level starting PG.

Either keep Billups at $14.3 and perhaps buyout and extend at lower cost, and IF he and TD are more scoring PGs, then perhaps facilitate through Melo?

There is a case to be made for having a player who can operate effectively on the left block. Our point forward Carmelo is heavily right handed in his floor sweet spot. Cool. Like The Answer Man said, "Carmelo gets to advance the ball against token pressure."

There is some great news in the 9 points that Ronny Turiaf scored last night. With the defensive respect for Carmelo at the right arc, Turiaf found himself smack in the middle of the free throw line with plenty of space to operate. After Turiaf hit just a few baskets, guess what happened? The left side of the lane parted like the Red Sea for Amare. His shot was there all night. Unfortunately, all he could manufacture were bricks. Cool. That can be fixed too.

We know the Magic are not known for their defense but the episode is used to demonstrate how the Knicks can dominate the halfcourt by simply having a fifth player to contribute.

Having a center who can catch in traffic, and make decisive moves, will make the NYK offense a thing of beauty. Just hit Landry Fields running the backdoor or the baseline for a layup. Right now we are running 4 on 5 and that math does not add up. Turiaf only played a grand total of 19 minutes, but he was 4 of 5 from the field. Imagine 40 minutes of productivity from the center spot. Nothing fancy, just 12-14 points and 7-8 rebounds. Maybe a blocked shot (1.4 per game) every now and then. Is that asking too much?

The best part is that if the offense runs smoothly, and with total trust, the quadrangle offense does NOT need to run at a frantic pace to be effective.

The signs were there for better days to come.