If Melo buys in, how does he fit into this offense? It is PNR heavy with Lin and Chandler. Will he play the roll that Joe J. played in PHX? He definitely we be getting fewer touches. It will be very interesting to see how MDA designs offensive plays that fit him and puts him in a position to help the "team" without affecting what Lin/Chandler are doing.

Amare? Will he be the primary PNR guy or will it be Chandler? I think (mostly) Chandler because of his length and how he's clicked with Lin. So, how will Amare fit in? Last year his jumper was automatic. If he gets that back, which I think he will, that can be where he contributes mostly. Of course he will still get his basket attack moments but far fewer.

I see Amare fitting in better than Melo but I still think and hope that Melo will work out. It will NOT be an easy task for MDA to figure out how to make it all work and keep the diva's happy. If MDA succeeds with this, that will show a lot about his as a coach.

MDA did not have this luxury/problem in PHX. It was primarily a 2 star team with Nash/Amare and secondaries such as JJ and Richardson. This, is turning into a 4 star team which is much tougher for a coach.

We will need both Amare and Melo if we want to be the anti-Denver and go far into the playoffs.

Gonna be interesting ...

mrKnickShot wrote:Many believe that Melo does not fit and is a ball hog. He definitely will have to allow the offense to run through Lin based on Lin's monumental results. Will he? I hope so. Can he. He certainly can.

If Melo buys in, how does he fit into this offense? It is PNR heavy with Lin and Chandler. Will he play the roll that Joe J. played in PHX? He definitely we be getting fewer touches. It will be very interesting to see how MDA designs offensive plays that fit him and puts him in a position to help the "team" without affecting what Lin/Chandler are doing.

Amare? Will he be the primary PNR guy or will it be Chandler? I think (mostly) Chandler because of his length and how he's clicked with Lin. So, how will Amare fit in? Last year his jumper was automatic. If he gets that back, which I think he will, that can be where he contributes mostly. Of course he will still get his basket attack moments but far fewer.

I see Amare fitting in better than Melo but I still think and hope that Melo will work out. It will NOT be an easy task for MDA to figure out how to make it all work and keep the diva's happy. If MDA succeeds with this, that will show a lot about his as a coach.

MDA did not have this luxury/problem in PHX. It was primarily a 2 star team with Nash/Amare and secondaries such as JJ and Richardson. This, is turning into a 4 star team which is much tougher for a coach.

Gonna be interesting ...

They have no choice, but to buy in. The teammates have bought into Lin. Chandler the spiritual "Captain" has bought in. If the Knicks somehow beat the Lakers on Friday, they will be forced to play team ball, or feel the wrath from the Garden crowd and the media. They're Pros so they'll both make the adjustment, but Melo more than Amare will be tested more. I'm so excited for the potential of this team at full strength...the addition of Baron and maybe JR Smith is downright scary in the playoffs!

ChuckBuck wrote:

mrKnickShot wrote:Many believe that Melo does not fit and is a ball hog. He definitely will have to allow the offense to run through Lin based on Lin's monumental results. Will he? I hope so. Can he. He certainly can.

If Melo buys in, how does he fit into this offense? It is PNR heavy with Lin and Chandler. Will he play the roll that Joe J. played in PHX? He definitely we be getting fewer touches. It will be very interesting to see how MDA designs offensive plays that fit him and puts him in a position to help the "team" without affecting what Lin/Chandler are doing.

Amare? Will he be the primary PNR guy or will it be Chandler? I think (mostly) Chandler because of his length and how he's clicked with Lin. So, how will Amare fit in? Last year his jumper was automatic. If he gets that back, which I think he will, that can be where he contributes mostly. Of course he will still get his basket attack moments but far fewer.

I see Amare fitting in better than Melo but I still think and hope that Melo will work out. It will NOT be an easy task for MDA to figure out how to make it all work and keep the diva's happy. If MDA succeeds with this, that will show a lot about his as a coach.

MDA did not have this luxury/problem in PHX. It was primarily a 2 star team with Nash/Amare and secondaries such as JJ and Richardson. This, is turning into a 4 star team which is much tougher for a coach.

Gonna be interesting ...

They have no choice, but to buy in. The teammates have bought into Lin. Chandler the spiritual "Captain" has bought in. If the Knicks somehow beat the Lakers on Friday, they will be forced to play team ball, or feel the wrath from the Garden crowd and the media. They're Pros so they'll both make the adjustment, but Melo more than Amare will be tested more. I'm so excited for the potential of this team at full strength...the addition of Baron and maybe JR Smith is downright scary in the playoffs!

The biggest problem I'm having is how they will find a way to design plays for Melo that don't take away from what Lin is doing. Or, maybe Lin's game will be sacrificed a bit as well. He might by default get 16-18 pts per instead of 23-28 that he had without the amare/melo.

It's Melo that will need to swallow a pretty large pill, a mega-dose of reality. It's going to require a radical change in the way he sees the world to mesh with this system.

If basketball was played with two balls and three baskets, I would say no problem. Unfortunately for Melo, there is only one ball to go around.

nixluva wrote:Amar'e is a primary option and he also has a jumper, so you really don't have to change much. it's just another PnR option for Lin out there and another finisher, whereas JJ can't finish, Amar'e in the same role will. Melo will get more wide open shots and less traffic with teams having to worry about Lin so much. That's how the offense is designed. If Lin and Tyson are drawing the D, then STAT and Melo will be open. Teams will not be able to stop all of our players and that's why over the years this has been a top offense in terms of efficiency. You end up with so many point blank shots.

With Lin actually naturally playing as an aggressive PG, in a system that is DESIGNED for an aggressive PG, it's really not gonna matter who is on the floor so long as they play their roles. You replace JJ for STAT and Melo for Walker and it can only get better cuz those guys can shoot and finish.

Nixluva, that sounds great and as usual very optimistic but this is and will be an extremely difficult task. 4 stars in this offense, divas, ...

Nice problem(s) to have though.

OasisBU wrote:I personally do not think its going to be that hard. I think the front court has been overcompensating for an abysmal back court - now Lin can run the team and be creative because he ha proven that he can, he is a threat, and with Tyson, Stat, and Melo on the floor our opponents will have to respect all 4 instead of focusing on quadrupling Melo or forcing Stat to take low percentage jumpers.

Lin will provide the movement, spacing, and creativity the team needs - I have no doubt.

Ahh the beauty of a PG...makes everyone's jobs easier

Melo, on the other hand....

But u need melos ISO plays to close out games and during the playoffs, when good team shut down the pnr.

Nalod wrote:Life with Lin could be much easier for Melo to get his points.

Melo if he can work off the ball more will be deadly!

Amare knows what having a PG is like in the system. That Nash fella integrated Amare pretty good!

Melo: We all know he could be great with Lin if he buys in - will he?

Amare: Yes, he played with Nash as the primary beneficiary of the PNR. Here, it looks like Chandler is more cut out for that roll. His Jumper will be critical and needs to get back to last years deadly consistency.

MDA will have his hands full to make this all work. We are all rooting for him.