The difference he makes on both ends is invaluable. Of course, the glow of Linning and Winning makes everyone look better, but the evidence is clear. Instead of Stoudemire forcing offensive fouls, Jeffries DRAWS offensive charges. He rebounds. He gets out on defending the perimeter and sets the tone for the Knicks defense in the same manner Line dictates the offense.

He is even making his layups with an astounding frequency. Who saw THAT coming?

and we win 4 in a row?

No Amare.....

No Melo.....

Novack......

No problem!

He plays competent defense against quality big men, and he has a way of drawing the timely charge, destroying the momentum of the opposing team.

I have to say that I was kind of charmed when he hit the jumper in the first half against the Lakers. He's gaining more confidence, he's getting support to take the WIIIIIIDDDDDEEEE open shot.

Let's be honest, we'll ALWAYS be annoyed that the smallest of bumps seem to throw him off balance... and that he doesn't have the balance/coordination to ever finish the way we want him to consistently. But I think finally NYers are finally warming up to the idea that this flopper always give his 110% and his body to make players to try to win us games. The effort is always there... and that should buy him some slack from the fans.

Bonn1997 wrote:Well there is a precedent for teams looking better without Melo. I still didn't think they'd win these games though.

This is NOT about Melo. Please stop making Anthony the whipping boy for everything that was wrong. Carmelo is injured and will return better. Jeffries is filling the roles at BOTH forward positions. He is playing with more passion than ever. If his effort demonstrates anything, it is that one can contribute without being a scorer. Shots may come and go...

Effort is forever.

"We've built a lot of camaraderie, man," Jeffries said. "Tyson does a great job of talking and it's easy for me to go out there and play with a guy like him, and play at that level. It's fun right now. We're all having fun and we're just riding the wave of what Jeremy and Tyson are doing for us."

"I love having Jared on my side," Chandler said. "His communication, coming in and out of timeouts, telling me what he's seeing out there. I know he's somebody that I can rely on. Also, I don't have to help as much. When I can key in, like tonight, on Bynum and that's it, I'm going to shut people down. When I get in trouble is when I have to help other people a lot, and I come over and my guy already has the ball in scoring position."

Jeffries should continue to get major minutes.

"Lin is now a headline around the world, even beyond sports, but any story he's in, it should definitely include Chandler and Jeffries. Because without them, Lin would be just another surprising scorer. Not a winner, which the Knicks, New York and sports are all about." (ESPN)

If Stoudemire is unable to give the same defensive effort and effectiveness for 30+ minutes, D'Antoni may need to be more selective with his shifts.

Bonn1997 wrote:

misterearl wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:Well there is a precedent for teams looking better without Melo. I still didn't think they'd win these games though.

This is NOT about Melo. Please stop making Anthony the whipping boy for everything that was wrong. Carmelo is injured and will return better. Jeffries is filling the roles at BOTH forward positions. He is playing with more passion than ever. If his effort demonstrates anything, it is that one can contribute without being a scorer. Shots may come and go...

Effort is forever.

If you've read my posts the last few days, you would know it's not just about Melo to me. I don't think anyone has given Chandler and Lin more praise than I have. (And you're right about jeffries too.)

Bonn1997 wrote:That said, I'm still disappointed Balkman doesn't get any PT. I'm not convinced Jeffries is better than him.

It is not about being "better" whatever that means. It is who fits best next to Tyson Chandler in defending. Jeffries at 6'11 has an advantage over Balkman in that he can match up with a player like Gasol, or jump out on the perimeter. Put Balkman on Gasol and you have burnt toast.

Balkman is entertaining. Jeffries is strange.

And I like it.

Bonn1997 wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:

misterearl wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:Well there is a precedent for teams looking better without Melo. I still didn't think they'd win these games though.

This is NOT about Melo. Please stop making Anthony the whipping boy for everything that was wrong. Carmelo is injured and will return better. Jeffries is filling the roles at BOTH forward positions. He is playing with more passion than ever. If his effort demonstrates anything, it is that one can contribute without being a scorer. Shots may come and go...

Effort is forever.

If you've read my posts the last few days, you would know it's not just about Melo to me. I don't think anyone has given Chandler and Lin more praise than I have. (And you're right about jeffries too.)

That said, I'm still disappointed Balkman doesn't get any PT. I'm not convinced Jeffries is better than him.

Bonnie wow.

There is a WORLD of difference between those guys. One constantly breaks down his own team's defense and the other sets the standard by which team defense is played.

One has defensive bball iq off the charts and the other still trying to remember where he put the defensive playbook in his locker, the one he was given 10 minutes ago.

martin wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:

martin wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:

misterearl wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:Well there is a precedent for teams looking better without Melo. I still didn't think they'd win these games though.

This is NOT about Melo. Please stop making Anthony the whipping boy for everything that was wrong. Carmelo is injured and will return better. Jeffries is filling the roles at BOTH forward positions. He is playing with more passion than ever. If his effort demonstrates anything, it is that one can contribute without being a scorer. Shots may come and go...

Effort is forever.

If you've read my posts the last few days, you would know it's not just about Melo to me. I don't think anyone has given Chandler and Lin more praise than I have. (And you're right about jeffries too.)

That said, I'm still disappointed Balkman doesn't get any PT. I'm not convinced Jeffries is better than him.

Bonnie wow.

There is a WORLD of difference between those guys. One constantly breaks down his own team's defense and the other sets the standard by which team defense is played.

One has defensive bball iq off the charts and the other still trying to remember where he put the defensive playbook in his locker, the one he was given 10 minutes ago.

That's probably true. It's hard to overlook how small Jeffries statistical contributions are but I think he is one of the very rare players who can have a positive impact while looking bad in the box score.

he's a different type of Ben Wallace.