1) Melo may have been playing on adrenaline, on a high, and felt relieved and good about himself.
New York became infatuated with Melo, making him feel special and believing he could turn the franchise around.
He instantly gained confidence in his 3point shot and looked like a player light years above Gallo/Wilson Chandler.
Not only did the energy/confidence help his game, the fans, his team mates, and infected the play of everyone.
He looked unstoppable last year, scoring 30pts on many occasions. He is a great rebounder, he often cheats, by not guarding his man, and leaving his man open for a 3point shot. But this year, he actually is playing pretty good defense, and is attempting to defend the shots. IF his man doesn't hit the shot and we grab the rebound, it works out for us, but it can kill us if it doesn't.

2) Amare was still feeling good about himself and not long before the trade, received MVP chants and consideration, turning this franchise around.
He was still hitting his shot and had shooters to space him out. With Billups, TD, Shawne Williams, Melo, and even Walker hitting the 3point shot.
Most importantly, he played many minutes at Center, where he had the advantage on the offensive end. Limited minutes were given to Shelden Williams at times.
With minutes going to JJ, Turiaf, Shawne Williams, and even Melo at the 4.
At the 5, he was a horrible man to man defender and gave up many points/boards to the center, but was a good help defender, making many crucial stops when needed.

3) Billups might not have been a facilitating, PnR PG or capable defend quicker guards.
But he shot the ball with confidence, hitting many big shots, and showed no fear of taking any shot, while being the 2nd/3rd option.
He has the balls to shoot the ball himself contested or not and made our opponents come out of their comfort zone to guard him, allowing him to penetrate at times.
He is a very smart player, with the ability to hit the shot ANYWHERE from way beyond the 3point line, drawing fouls and being one of the best free throw shooters.
He isn't a rookie, he has the respect and doesn't resort to giving Melo the ball 1v1 whenever Melo wants it. Especially at the 3point line, which allows Melo to post up much more, where he is efficient at. He might not be able to penetrate as much but he doesn't TO the ball and make poor decisions like TD.

4) This year, Amare, is a step slower, but no longer has the spacing needed to create his own shots. With Tyson Chandler taking up a lot room and his unwillingness to be a free throw distance threat. Creating more mismatches, while starting off with an advantage to begin with. Playing the PnR at the Center with Melo, Billups/TD at the PG/SG, with Shawne WIlliams and Walker being spot up shooters to spread the floor.

5) Amare's defense, NO ONE expects him to be able to guard a Center, but they didn't ALWAYS finish on him either. Regardless, it was more or less expected vs this year he is EXPOSED, playing the PF with his HORRIBLE DEFENSE. He does not box out, fight for position, and doesn't help many times, relying on Tyson Chandler to do the shot blocking. But if Tyson Chandler leaves his man to block the shot, he loses position for the RB, even if he deflects the shot, and having Amare not fight for rebounds HURTS. Everyone in the league knows Tyson Chandler is a good rebounder and will try to grab the offensive RB, so they always put a body on him, making it tougher for him. Also putting a body on Amare, knowing he won't give much effort to fight for it.

6) Melo actually moves the ball much more and better this year up until this bad streak, where he lost all faith in his team mates. With Fields inability to hit the wide open corner 3s, TD constantly being predictable, and unable to find his shot with Bibby majority of the plays. How many times, have we seen Melo give up the ball early, only to receive it back, with 7 seconds or less, to get his shot off, further away from his comfort zone.

7) TD and Shawne Williams instantly became unexpected heroes, to go with Billups, Melo, and Amare. Since everyone was hitting their shot, it opened up the game for TD
to occasionally penetrate to the basket. And we all know, good things happen when this happens, even if he misses. It allows Amare, Melo, or whoever to grab the offensive rebound and score get fouled. While whether its Billups or TD penetrating, with the same result, the shooters are not getting squared up for the GOOD 3pt Shot on top of it.

8) Turiaf, AC, JJ, Shawne Williams and Shelden Williams played okay to good defense at times. While Amare was the mismatch on center, we would occasionally be able to play the passing lanes enough so our opponents to think twice about it. Turiaf, JJ, Shelden Williams, and Shawne Williams vs this year Amare playing the DEF on PF
is comparable to TD and Bibby, playing DEF on the PG compared to AC or Shumpert. Enough said, it should be understood.

9) Offense was focused more last year, while he were clicking, and we exploited the mismatches when Shawne Williams or Melo played the PF to space the floor.
We are predicatable this year, vs good spacing last year, and our ability to move the ball, hitting the 3point shot. Yes, our DEF is somewhat improved, especially in the paint, but we were actually quicker last year as a team. When we did switch last year, we were quicker, to defend the PnR, vs this year we are slower, and Chandler is or Amare is often guarding a guard, where a guard is guarding a big man, which is 2 mismatches.

10) The schedule, doesn't allow our coaching to correctly analyze and coach/teach with practice. Yes, PRACTICE, its very important.
I don't have the answer, like Dantoni says, it not 1 player or 1 reason, why we are playing so bad. There is a bunch of stuff, that needs to be corrected.
We are in a total FUNK right now, while we are trying to fix it, but we have almost reverted back to our losing ways in the Isiah era, expecting to lose, and not being able to come back.

11) Even when Baron Davis comes back, in the end, we will still need to be able to hit the 3point shot, and spread the floor. We are clearly missing a PG but also a forward that Shawne Williams provided, especially with his 3point shot. Jort's is a Center, he isn't a PF, he will also have the become a legit post presence for us.
Turiaf, Shelden Williams, and Shawne Williams are not great post up players, but they were able to give us easy points with their post up abilities. Outside of Melo we have 0 post players at all. If Tyson Chandler is posting up which he isn't even good at, we won't have even one person to try to get offensive boards. Amare's defense has to improve, with TD, and some minutes to Lin. Amare has to post up, I am not asking him to back his man down constantly and score but he has the be able to initiate post position, rather than turning around after, and trying to dribble in the the DEF, being predictable, and TO or missing badly.

I hope I make sense and we can get it together, because we won't be getting any good value, and it will hurt our players confidence even more with trade rumors now.
Not one team, GM, many players likes the Knicks as they come out to beat on us, not taking us lightly, with all the attention we get. They are gaining confidence vs us, using our HOME COURT to their advantage, exploiting our weakness with Amare and our lack of speed in our guards guards, our inability to spread the floor, our inability to penetrate as a threat outside of melo, our inability to post up outside of melo, especially our willingness to create more mismatches with the switch on picks, and our players being so predictable with our inability to counter it. Team's know once we get down, we start playing 1v1 basketball and taking bad shots, and start questioning everyone and everything about us. Even if the Thunder, Chicago, Memphis, Spurs, and whoever, is down 15-20, they will come out and believe they can come back while we just no longer believe. Players are coming out on FIRE, lighting it up on us. GM's are laughing at us and will not make a trade with us to make us better without making getting some greater in return....

RonRon wrote:Instead of just bashing the team and pointing out our weaknesses,
I have been thinking, analyzing, and retracking what the difference was last year vs our horrible play this year.
Last year, AFTER the Melo deal, even though we loss some games we shouldn't have, especially to Cleveland.
We beat Miami and a couple tough teams, while we didn't run SSOL.
The effort was there last year and even this year, but we have loss confidence in ourselves, individually, and as a team, especially at home.
So may I ask you what is the difference this year?

1) Melo may have been playing on adrenaline, on a high, and felt relieved and good about himself.
New York became infatuated with Melo, making him feel special and believing he could turn the franchise around.
He instantly gained confidence in his 3point shot and looked like a player light years above Gallo/Wilson Chandler.
Not only did the energy/confidence help his game, the fans, his team mates, and infected the play of everyone.
He looked unstoppable last year, scoring 30pts on many occasions. He is a great rebounder, he often cheats, by not guarding his man, and leaving his man open for a 3point shot. But this year, he actually is playing pretty good defense, and is attempting to defend the shots. IF his man doesn't hit the shot and we grab the rebound, it works out for us, but it can kill us if it doesn't.

2) Amare was still feeling good about himself and not long before the trade, received MVP chants and consideration, turning this franchise around.
He was still hitting his shot and had shooters to space him out. With Billups, TD, Shawne Williams, Melo, and even Walker hitting the 3point shot.
Most importantly, he played many minutes at Center, where he had the advantage on the offensive end. Limited minutes were given to Shelden Williams at times.
With minutes going to JJ, Turiaf, Shawne Williams, and even Melo at the 4.
At the 5, he was a horrible man to man defender and gave up many points/boards to the center, but was a good help defender, making many crucial stops when needed.

3) Billups might not have been a facilitating, PnR PG or capable defend quicker guards.
But he shot the ball with confidence, hitting many big shots, and showed no fear of taking any shot, while being the 2nd/3rd option.
He has the balls to shoot the ball himself contested or not and made our opponents come out of their comfort zone to guard him, allowing him to penetrate at times.
He is a very smart player, with the ability to hit the shot ANYWHERE from way beyond the 3point line, drawing fouls and being one of the best free throw shooters.
He isn't a rookie, he has the respect and doesn't resort to giving Melo the ball 1v1 whenever Melo wants it. Especially at the 3point line, which allows Melo to post up much more, where he is efficient at. He might not be able to penetrate as much but he doesn't TO the ball and make poor decisions like TD.

4) This year, Amare, is a step slower, but no longer has the spacing needed to create his own shots. With Tyson Chandler taking up a lot room and his unwillingness to be a free throw distance threat. Creating more mismatches, while starting off with an advantage to begin with. Playing the PnR at the Center with Melo, Billups/TD at the PG/SG, with Shawne WIlliams and Walker being spot up shooters to spread the floor.

5) Amare's defense, NO ONE expects him to be able to guard a Center, but they didn't ALWAYS finish on him either. Regardless, it was more or less expected vs this year he is EXPOSED, playing the PF with his HORRIBLE DEFENSE. He does not box out, fight for position, and doesn't help many times, relying on Tyson Chandler to do the shot blocking. But if Tyson Chandler leaves his man to block the shot, he loses position for the RB, even if he deflects the shot, and having Amare not fight for rebounds HURTS. Everyone in the league knows Tyson Chandler is a good rebounder and will try to grab the offensive RB, so they always put a body on him, making it tougher for him. Also putting a body on Amare, knowing he won't give much effort to fight for it.

6) Melo actually moves the ball much more and better this year up until this bad streak, where he lost all faith in his team mates. With Fields inability to hit the wide open corner 3s, TD constantly being predictable, and unable to find his shot with Bibby majority of the plays. How many times, have we seen Melo give up the ball early, only to receive it back, with 7 seconds or less, to get his shot off, further away from his comfort zone.

7) TD and Shawne Williams instantly became unexpected heroes, to go with Billups, Melo, and Amare. Since everyone was hitting their shot, it opened up the game for TD
to occasionally penetrate to the basket. And we all know, good things happen when this happens, even if he misses. It allows Amare, Melo, or whoever to grab the offensive rebound and score get fouled. While whether its Billups or TD penetrating, with the same result, the shooters are not getting squared up for the GOOD 3pt Shot on top of it.

8) Turiaf, AC, JJ, Shawne Williams and Shelden Williams played okay to good defense at times. While Amare was the mismatch on center, we would occasionally be able to play the passing lanes enough so our opponents to think twice about it. Turiaf, JJ, Shelden Williams, and Shawne Williams vs this year Amare playing the DEF on PF
is comparable to TD and Bibby, playing DEF on the PG compared to AC or Shumpert. Enough said, it should be understood.

9) Offense was focused more last year, while he were clicking, and we exploited the mismatches when Shawne Williams or Melo played the PF to space the floor.
We are predicatable this year, vs good spacing last year, and our ability to move the ball, hitting the 3point shot. Yes, our DEF is somewhat improved, especially in the paint, but we were actually quicker last year as a team. When we did switch last year, we were quicker, to defend the PnR, vs this year we are slower, and Chandler is or Amare is often guarding a guard, where a guard is guarding a big man, which is 2 mismatches.

10) The schedule, doesn't allow our coaching to correctly analyze and coach/teach with practice. Yes, PRACTICE, its very important.
I don't have the answer, like Dantoni says, it not 1 player or 1 reason, why we are playing so bad. There is a bunch of stuff, that needs to be corrected.
We are in a total FUNK right now, while we are trying to fix it, but we have almost reverted back to our losing ways in the Isiah era, expecting to lose, and not being able to come back.

11) Even when Baron Davis comes back, in the end, we will still need to be able to hit the 3point shot, and spread the floor. We are clearly missing a PG but also a forward that Shawne Williams provided, especially with his 3point shot. Jort's is a Center, he isn't a PF, he will also have the become a legit post presence for us.
Turiaf, Shelden Williams, and Shawne Williams are not great post up players, but they were able to give us easy points with their post up abilities. Outside of Melo we have 0 post players at all. If Tyson Chandler is posting up which he isn't even good at, we won't have even one person to try to get offensive boards. Amare's defense has to improve, with TD, and some minutes to Lin. Amare has to post up, I am not asking him to back his man down constantly and score but he has the be able to initiate post position, rather than turning around after, and trying to dribble in the the DEF, being predictable, and TO or missing badly.

I hope I make sense and we can get it together, because we won't be getting any good value, and it will hurt our players confidence even more with trade rumors now.
Not one team, GM, many players likes the Knicks as they come out to beat on us, not taking us lightly, with all the attention we get. They are gaining confidence vs us, using our HOME COURT to their advantage, exploiting our weakness with Amare and our lack of speed in our guards guards, our inability to spread the floor, our inability to penetrate as a threat outside of melo, our inability to post up outside of melo, especially our willingness to create more mismatches with the switch on picks, and our players being so predictable with our inability to counter it. Team's know once we get down, we start playing 1v1 basketball and taking bad shots, and start questioning everyone and everything about us. Even if the Thunder, Chicago, Memphis, Spurs, and whoever, is down 15-20, they will come out and believe they can come back while we just no longer believe. Players are coming out on FIRE, lighting it up on us. GM's are laughing at us and will not make a trade with us to make us better without making getting some greater in return....

do I make any sense? I know I write super long threats/posts, but once I start typing, I have trouble stopping...LOL
Would appreciate any thoughts, comments, and opinions. I just want to win or at very least be able put our Knick's back to the right path!
I just wouldn't even toss anyone in trades offers right now, I don't feel we will get any good value, as they will look to strip us and buy low.
Maybe a Fields/TD trade, but not our big Tyson, Amare, or Melo playing this way.
Fields is a trying very hard, playing a lot better, but he just isn't good shooter, and I think that's part of the problem.
Without the ability to create for himself, hit a wide open 3 point shot consistently, the quickness to penetrate, and the quickness to defend guards.
We have a hole, after Iman, and a healthy Davis, to fill. While Fields is a RFA, needing our MLE to retain, he might provide some value for teams looking to save money with TD, team option, if they can fill some of our holes...

RonRon wrote:

RonRon wrote:Instead of just bashing the team and pointing out our weaknesses,
I have been thinking, analyzing, and retracking what the difference was last year vs our horrible play this year.
Last year, AFTER the Melo deal, even though we loss some games we shouldn't have, especially to Cleveland.
We beat Miami and a couple tough teams, while we didn't run SSOL.
The effort was there last year and even this year, but we have loss confidence in ourselves, individually, and as a team, especially at home.
So may I ask you what is the difference this year?

1) Melo may have been playing on adrenaline, on a high, and felt relieved and good about himself.
New York became infatuated with Melo, making him feel special and believing he could turn the franchise around.
He instantly gained confidence in his 3point shot and looked like a player light years above Gallo/Wilson Chandler.
Not only did the energy/confidence help his game, the fans, his team mates, and infected the play of everyone.
He looked unstoppable last year, scoring 30pts on many occasions. He is a great rebounder, he often cheats, by not guarding his man, and leaving his man open for a 3point shot. But this year, he actually is playing pretty good defense, and is attempting to defend the shots. IF his man doesn't hit the shot and we grab the rebound, it works out for us, but it can kill us if it doesn't.

2) Amare was still feeling good about himself and not long before the trade, received MVP chants and consideration, turning this franchise around.
He was still hitting his shot and had shooters to space him out. With Billups, TD, Shawne Williams, Melo, and even Walker hitting the 3point shot.
Most importantly, he played many minutes at Center, where he had the advantage on the offensive end. Limited minutes were given to Shelden Williams at times.
With minutes going to JJ, Turiaf, Shawne Williams, and even Melo at the 4.
At the 5, he was a horrible man to man defender and gave up many points/boards to the center, but was a good help defender, making many crucial stops when needed.

3) Billups might not have been a facilitating, PnR PG or capable defend quicker guards.
But he shot the ball with confidence, hitting many big shots, and showed no fear of taking any shot, while being the 2nd/3rd option.
He has the balls to shoot the ball himself contested or not and made our opponents come out of their comfort zone to guard him, allowing him to penetrate at times.
He is a very smart player, with the ability to hit the shot ANYWHERE from way beyond the 3point line, drawing fouls and being one of the best free throw shooters.
He isn't a rookie, he has the respect and doesn't resort to giving Melo the ball 1v1 whenever Melo wants it. Especially at the 3point line, which allows Melo to post up much more, where he is efficient at. He might not be able to penetrate as much but he doesn't TO the ball and make poor decisions like TD.

4) This year, Amare, is a step slower, but no longer has the spacing needed to create his own shots. With Tyson Chandler taking up a lot room and his unwillingness to be a free throw distance threat. Creating more mismatches, while starting off with an advantage to begin with. Playing the PnR at the Center with Melo, Billups/TD at the PG/SG, with Shawne WIlliams and Walker being spot up shooters to spread the floor.

5) Amare's defense, NO ONE expects him to be able to guard a Center, but they didn't ALWAYS finish on him either. Regardless, it was more or less expected vs this year he is EXPOSED, playing the PF with his HORRIBLE DEFENSE. He does not box out, fight for position, and doesn't help many times, relying on Tyson Chandler to do the shot blocking. But if Tyson Chandler leaves his man to block the shot, he loses position for the RB, even if he deflects the shot, and having Amare not fight for rebounds HURTS. Everyone in the league knows Tyson Chandler is a good rebounder and will try to grab the offensive RB, so they always put a body on him, making it tougher for him. Also putting a body on Amare, knowing he won't give much effort to fight for it.

6) Melo actually moves the ball much more and better this year up until this bad streak, where he lost all faith in his team mates. With Fields inability to hit the wide open corner 3s, TD constantly being predictable, and unable to find his shot with Bibby majority of the plays. How many times, have we seen Melo give up the ball early, only to receive it back, with 7 seconds or less, to get his shot off, further away from his comfort zone.

7) TD and Shawne Williams instantly became unexpected heroes, to go with Billups, Melo, and Amare. Since everyone was hitting their shot, it opened up the game for TD
to occasionally penetrate to the basket. And we all know, good things happen when this happens, even if he misses. It allows Amare, Melo, or whoever to grab the offensive rebound and score get fouled. While whether its Billups or TD penetrating, with the same result, the shooters are not getting squared up for the GOOD 3pt Shot on top of it.

8) Turiaf, AC, JJ, Shawne Williams and Shelden Williams played okay to good defense at times. While Amare was the mismatch on center, we would occasionally be able to play the passing lanes enough so our opponents to think twice about it. Turiaf, JJ, Shelden Williams, and Shawne Williams vs this year Amare playing the DEF on PF
is comparable to TD and Bibby, playing DEF on the PG compared to AC or Shumpert. Enough said, it should be understood.

9) Offense was focused more last year, while he were clicking, and we exploited the mismatches when Shawne Williams or Melo played the PF to space the floor.
We are predicatable this year, vs good spacing last year, and our ability to move the ball, hitting the 3point shot. Yes, our DEF is somewhat improved, especially in the paint, but we were actually quicker last year as a team. When we did switch last year, we were quicker, to defend the PnR, vs this year we are slower, and Chandler is or Amare is often guarding a guard, where a guard is guarding a big man, which is 2 mismatches.

10) The schedule, doesn't allow our coaching to correctly analyze and coach/teach with practice. Yes, PRACTICE, its very important.
I don't have the answer, like Dantoni says, it not 1 player or 1 reason, why we are playing so bad. There is a bunch of stuff, that needs to be corrected.
We are in a total FUNK right now, while we are trying to fix it, but we have almost reverted back to our losing ways in the Isiah era, expecting to lose, and not being able to come back.

11) Even when Baron Davis comes back, in the end, we will still need to be able to hit the 3point shot, and spread the floor. We are clearly missing a PG but also a forward that Shawne Williams provided, especially with his 3point shot. Jort's is a Center, he isn't a PF, he will also have the become a legit post presence for us.
Turiaf, Shelden Williams, and Shawne Williams are not great post up players, but they were able to give us easy points with their post up abilities. Outside of Melo we have 0 post players at all. If Tyson Chandler is posting up which he isn't even good at, we won't have even one person to try to get offensive boards. Amare's defense has to improve, with TD, and some minutes to Lin. Amare has to post up, I am not asking him to back his man down constantly and score but he has the be able to initiate post position, rather than turning around after, and trying to dribble in the the DEF, being predictable, and TO or missing badly.

I hope I make sense and we can get it together, because we won't be getting any good value, and it will hurt our players confidence even more with trade rumors now.
Not one team, GM, many players likes the Knicks as they come out to beat on us, not taking us lightly, with all the attention we get. They are gaining confidence vs us, using our HOME COURT to their advantage, exploiting our weakness with Amare and our lack of speed in our guards guards, our inability to spread the floor, our inability to penetrate as a threat outside of melo, our inability to post up outside of melo, especially our willingness to create more mismatches with the switch on picks, and our players being so predictable with our inability to counter it. Team's know once we get down, we start playing 1v1 basketball and taking bad shots, and start questioning everyone and everything about us. Even if the Thunder, Chicago, Memphis, Spurs, and whoever, is down 15-20, they will come out and believe they can come back while we just no longer believe. Players are coming out on FIRE, lighting it up on us. GM's are laughing at us and will not make a trade with us to make us better without making getting some greater in return....

do I make any sense? I know I write super long threats/posts, but once I start typing, I have trouble stopping...LOL
Would appreciate any thoughts, comments, and opinions. I just want to win or at very least be able put our Knick's back to the right path!
I just wouldn't even toss anyone in trades offers right now, I don't feel we will get any good value, as they will look to strip us and buy low.
Maybe a Fields/TD trade, but not our big Tyson, Amare, or Melo playing this way.
Fields is a trying very hard, playing a lot better, but he just isn't good shooter, and I think that's part of the problem.
Without the ability to create for himself, hit a wide open 3 point shot consistently, the quickness to penetrate, and the quickness to defend guards.
We have a hole, after Iman, and a healthy Davis, to fill. While Fields is a RFA, needing our MLE to retain, he might provide some value for teams looking to save money with TD, team option, if they can fill some of our holes...

You make good pts again

But D'Antoni had some say in this team recently with departures of Donnie Walsh and even when Donnie was here.

To me to lose Billups (I like Chandler) but to go in NBA season with PGs, Shumpert,Toney D, Bibby and last sec. signing of Baron Davis
is absurd.

To me to go in NBA season for D'Antoni to boast after celtic win opening day "We have rivalry" and teams need to be aware of Knicks
to compete with Elite is absurd for Coach Mike D' especially when this coach doesnt have a "bench" one of nba worst bench and the
Knicks ignore it.

For Knicks to not even have backup PFs or Forwards to rookies such as Harrellson, and newbies on Knicks is absurd.
Dont get me wrong Knick starting 5 isnt bad though we have no real PG. Shumpert is best coming off the bench as rookie.

We'll see what Knicks do at trade deadline to improve the roster bench roles/players

RonRon wrote:Instead of just bashing the team and pointing out our weaknesses,
I have been thinking, analyzing, and retracking what the difference was last year vs our horrible play this year.
Last year, AFTER the Melo deal, even though we loss some games we shouldn't have, especially to Cleveland.
We beat Miami and a couple tough teams, while we didn't run SSOL.
The effort was there last year and even this year, but we have loss confidence in ourselves, individually, and as a team, especially at home.
So may I ask you what is the difference this year?

1) Melo may have been playing on adrenaline, on a high, and felt relieved and good about himself.
New York became infatuated with Melo, making him feel special and believing he could turn the franchise around.
He instantly gained confidence in his 3point shot and looked like a player light years above Gallo/Wilson Chandler.
Not only did the energy/confidence help his game, the fans, his team mates, and infected the play of everyone.
He looked unstoppable last year, scoring 30pts on many occasions. He is a great rebounder, he often cheats, by not guarding his man, and leaving his man open for a 3point shot. But this year, he actually is playing pretty good defense, and is attempting to defend the shots. IF his man doesn't hit the shot and we grab the rebound, it works out for us, but it can kill us if it doesn't.

2) Amare was still feeling good about himself and not long before the trade, received MVP chants and consideration, turning this franchise around.
He was still hitting his shot and had shooters to space him out. With Billups, TD, Shawne Williams, Melo, and even Walker hitting the 3point shot.
Most importantly, he played many minutes at Center, where he had the advantage on the offensive end. Limited minutes were given to Shelden Williams at times.
With minutes going to JJ, Turiaf, Shawne Williams, and even Melo at the 4.
At the 5, he was a horrible man to man defender and gave up many points/boards to the center, but was a good help defender, making many crucial stops when needed.

3) Billups might not have been a facilitating, PnR PG or capable defend quicker guards.
But he shot the ball with confidence, hitting many big shots, and showed no fear of taking any shot, while being the 2nd/3rd option.
He has the balls to shoot the ball himself contested or not and made our opponents come out of their comfort zone to guard him, allowing him to penetrate at times.
He is a very smart player, with the ability to hit the shot ANYWHERE from way beyond the 3point line, drawing fouls and being one of the best free throw shooters.
He isn't a rookie, he has the respect and doesn't resort to giving Melo the ball 1v1 whenever Melo wants it. Especially at the 3point line, which allows Melo to post up much more, where he is efficient at. He might not be able to penetrate as much but he doesn't TO the ball and make poor decisions like TD.

4) This year, Amare, is a step slower, but no longer has the spacing needed to create his own shots. With Tyson Chandler taking up a lot room and his unwillingness to be a free throw distance threat. Creating more mismatches, while starting off with an advantage to begin with. Playing the PnR at the Center with Melo, Billups/TD at the PG/SG, with Shawne WIlliams and Walker being spot up shooters to spread the floor.

5) Amare's defense, NO ONE expects him to be able to guard a Center, but they didn't ALWAYS finish on him either. Regardless, it was more or less expected vs this year he is EXPOSED, playing the PF with his HORRIBLE DEFENSE. He does not box out, fight for position, and doesn't help many times, relying on Tyson Chandler to do the shot blocking. But if Tyson Chandler leaves his man to block the shot, he loses position for the RB, even if he deflects the shot, and having Amare not fight for rebounds HURTS. Everyone in the league knows Tyson Chandler is a good rebounder and will try to grab the offensive RB, so they always put a body on him, making it tougher for him. Also putting a body on Amare, knowing he won't give much effort to fight for it.

6) Melo actually moves the ball much more and better this year up until this bad streak, where he lost all faith in his team mates. With Fields inability to hit the wide open corner 3s, TD constantly being predictable, and unable to find his shot with Bibby majority of the plays. How many times, have we seen Melo give up the ball early, only to receive it back, with 7 seconds or less, to get his shot off, further away from his comfort zone.

7) TD and Shawne Williams instantly became unexpected heroes, to go with Billups, Melo, and Amare. Since everyone was hitting their shot, it opened up the game for TD
to occasionally penetrate to the basket. And we all know, good things happen when this happens, even if he misses. It allows Amare, Melo, or whoever to grab the offensive rebound and score get fouled. While whether its Billups or TD penetrating, with the same result, the shooters are not getting squared up for the GOOD 3pt Shot on top of it.

8) Turiaf, AC, JJ, Shawne Williams and Shelden Williams played okay to good defense at times. While Amare was the mismatch on center, we would occasionally be able to play the passing lanes enough so our opponents to think twice about it. Turiaf, JJ, Shelden Williams, and Shawne Williams vs this year Amare playing the DEF on PF
is comparable to TD and Bibby, playing DEF on the PG compared to AC or Shumpert. Enough said, it should be understood.

9) Offense was focused more last year, while he were clicking, and we exploited the mismatches when Shawne Williams or Melo played the PF to space the floor.
We are predicatable this year, vs good spacing last year, and our ability to move the ball, hitting the 3point shot. Yes, our DEF is somewhat improved, especially in the paint, but we were actually quicker last year as a team. When we did switch last year, we were quicker, to defend the PnR, vs this year we are slower, and Chandler is or Amare is often guarding a guard, where a guard is guarding a big man, which is 2 mismatches.

10) The schedule, doesn't allow our coaching to correctly analyze and coach/teach with practice. Yes, PRACTICE, its very important.
I don't have the answer, like Dantoni says, it not 1 player or 1 reason, why we are playing so bad. There is a bunch of stuff, that needs to be corrected.
We are in a total FUNK right now, while we are trying to fix it, but we have almost reverted back to our losing ways in the Isiah era, expecting to lose, and not being able to come back.

11) Even when Baron Davis comes back, in the end, we will still need to be able to hit the 3point shot, and spread the floor. We are clearly missing a PG but also a forward that Shawne Williams provided, especially with his 3point shot. Jort's is a Center, he isn't a PF, he will also have the become a legit post presence for us.
Turiaf, Shelden Williams, and Shawne Williams are not great post up players, but they were able to give us easy points with their post up abilities. Outside of Melo we have 0 post players at all. If Tyson Chandler is posting up which he isn't even good at, we won't have even one person to try to get offensive boards. Amare's defense has to improve, with TD, and some minutes to Lin. Amare has to post up, I am not asking him to back his man down constantly and score but he has the be able to initiate post position, rather than turning around after, and trying to dribble in the the DEF, being predictable, and TO or missing badly.

I hope I make sense and we can get it together, because we won't be getting any good value, and it will hurt our players confidence even more with trade rumors now.
Not one team, GM, many players likes the Knicks as they come out to beat on us, not taking us lightly, with all the attention we get. They are gaining confidence vs us, using our HOME COURT to their advantage, exploiting our weakness with Amare and our lack of speed in our guards guards, our inability to spread the floor, our inability to penetrate as a threat outside of melo, our inability to post up outside of melo, especially our willingness to create more mismatches with the switch on picks, and our players being so predictable with our inability to counter it. Team's know once we get down, we start playing 1v1 basketball and taking bad shots, and start questioning everyone and everything about us. Even if the Thunder, Chicago, Memphis, Spurs, and whoever, is down 15-20, they will come out and believe they can come back while we just no longer believe. Players are coming out on FIRE, lighting it up on us. GM's are laughing at us and will not make a trade with us to make us better without making getting some greater in return....

Man... this a one biiiiiiiiiiiiiiggggggggg post.
You should write a book "Knicks Blown By the Wind"