MILWAUKEE — Carmelo Anthony has a long way to go before ever receiving the compliment Mike D’Antoni bestowed recently on Tyson Chandler as the Knicks' “most irreplaceable player.’’
On the flip side, Anthony has looked more like their most replaceable player.
It showed in San Antonio on Wednesday when the Knicks looked like all the other defense-poor teams of years past without Chandler.
In games Anthony has played this season, discounting the first five minutes of the Utah win, the Knicks are 11-17. When Anthony has been out, the Knicks are 7-4.

The Knicks limp into Milwaukee tonight on a three-game losing streak, clinging to the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference at 18-21. Once the NBA’s Linderella story, Anthony’s Knicks have sunk back to mediocrity and likely face an 0-4 road trip if Chandler (hamstring, wrist) is out again tonight. The center is listed as questionable.
As feared, The Melo Effect has spoiled Linsanity.
D’Antoni has allowed the offense to revert to Anthony’s liking, where he controlled the flow in San Antonio with 24 shot attempts. Point guard Jeremy Lin did not make an impact as Anthony became chief decision-maker. Anthony’s lack of defensive instincts is also contributing to the losing as the club plays with less spirit on that end.
With the NBA trade deadline Thursday, the Knicks don’t need to add another player to their overcrowded rotation, but they could use a chemistry kit for D’Antoni.
If the Anthony/Lin combo doesn’t click into victories, owner James Dolan will have to sort out the Lin-Anthony-D’Antoni triangle this summer. Dolan will have to decide whether to seek trade offers for Anthony or just get rid of D’Antoni while figuring out if Lin, a free agent, is the starting point guard of the future or a product of D’Antoni’s speedball offense. It has become clear Anthony doesn’t agree with D’Antoni’s system and it’s become clearer D’Antoni is afraid of criticizing Anthony.
Dolan is not on the road trip, but Hank Ratner, the Garden’s CEO, and arena president Scott O’Neill were there when Anthony pouted after his six-point dud in Dallas. Ratner has more influence on Dolan than anyone in the organization.
Since Anthony’s return from a groin injury, the Knicks are 2-5. That came on the heels of the Knicks’ 8-1 surge that sent Lin onto the cover of Sports Illustrated two straight weeks.
D’Antoni talked out of both sides of his mouth Wednesday. One moment he preached a balanced attack with Lin making the decisions. The next moment, he suggested the Knicks need to find a way to get Anthony the most shots and points.
After the San Antonio loss, Amar’e Stoudemire sounded as if he was transported back to the losing ways of January when he spoke about spacing and ball movement.
“You watch San Antonio,” Stoudemire said. “They don’t have nearly enough talent to compete with us. Our talent level, personnel, is off the charts. But what they do well is they keep the floor spaced and make sure those guys execute the plays. That’s something we’ve got to do, keep the floor spaced and keep the ball moving and get everyone involved.’’
The biggest problem with Anthony is his belief the Knicks can’t win unless the ball is going through him. He complained about the adjustment of “waiting for the ball’’ in the Lin-directed offense. His increased lecturing of Lin on the court appears counter-productive. It has made Lin tentative and deferential.
After the San Antonio loss, Anthony was asked about his oncourt conversations with Lin and said he was just trying to “keep his confidence at a high level.’’
“My message to him is don’t try to put it all on your shoulders,’’ Anthony said. “It’s a learning process. It’s new for him. It’s new for us having him out there, too. We’re in this together.”
D’Antoni seems powerless in trying to get the best out of Lin while keeping Anthony happy.
“The team’s complexion did change in his absence,” D’Antoni said. “And you have to work through that. But there’s no reason why it can’t coexist. We just got to find that right balance of everybody getting into their spots. Just everybody’s got to be a little patient.’’
Anthony said D’Antoni will figure out how to blend his talents with Lin’s.
“It’s going to happen,’’ he said. “I’m not concerned about that. I believe in Coach and how smart he is as coach.’’

marc.berman@nypost.com

Uptown wrote:So, we give up 60 points in the paint on 54% shooting, not to mention 118 points, and Stat wants to talk about spacing the floor? Our priorities are ***-backwards and that starts with the coaching staff.

eViL wrote:

Uptown wrote:So, we give up 60 points in the paint on 54% shooting, not to mention 118 points, and Stat wants to talk about spacing the floor? Our priorities are ***-backwards and that starts with the coaching staff.

I agree that amare's defense is terrible, but I also think that both sides of the game are more connected than any of us regularly acknowlege. When you play good offense the opposing d has to work to keep up. When you pound the rock and take hero shots all game long, it gives the other team a breather on defense because they don't have to guard an entire play but rather just one player. When linsanity took hold, both our offense and defense improved. It was not coincidental.

Vmart wrote:Counter productive this article is an opinion not fact. Clearly an article to sensationalize since bashing Melo is the flavor of the day.

MDA in his passive aggressive coaching style has let Melo takeover knowing this team will implode if Melo runs the show. Melo gets what he wants, runs the team, team keeps losing. Melo becomes Starbury 2.0.

MDA needs Lin and visa versa. after the team doesn't even make the playoffs, Dolan who's ready to fire D'Antoni at this point, is met by Lin (whose essentially a cash cow for Dolan) says keep this coach.

MarburyAnd1Crossover wrote:

SlimChin wrote:how's this for a conspiracy theory:

MDA in his passive aggressive coaching style has let Melo takeover knowing this team will implode if Melo runs the show. Melo gets what he wants, runs the team, team keeps losing. Melo becomes Starbury 2.0.

MDA needs Lin and visa versa. after the team doesn't even make the playoffs, Dolan who's ready to fire D'Antoni at this point, is met by Lin (whose essentially a cash cow for Dolan) says keep this coach.

I disagree with calling MDA passive aggressive! Let me explain why!

Passive aggressive means that he will be like a woman; on the surface he will give you the smile and behind the back he will stab you with ugly words!

This is not MDA!

MDA does not give a ****. Beh-lee-dat! MDA sees clearly that there is no future under Dolan. MDA is finishing up his contract, collecting his check, and staying true to his philosophy until the end!

MDA is a coach that coaches men and he will not be bothered to baby little bitches! He gives you a lot of freedom but with freedom there is great responsibility! MDA, rightfully, does not bother himself with these petty things. He will coach again, he will win a lot again.

It is not on the shoulders of a coach to teach youngsters about life, although if he wants to do this, like Phil Jaxballs, he is welcome to do it. But I would not do it, I do not care enough. It is likely MDA does not care enough; a very comfortable living he has.

IT IS NOT TOO MUCH TO ASK FOR ADULT PRO BALLERS TO ACT LIKE GROWN MEN! THIS SHOULD BE A GIVEN, NOT SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE IMPARTED BY THE TOUGH HAND OF A COACH. PERIOD!

I agree and disagree. I think Lin not only saved D'Antoni's job but brought him back to life because he was executing D'Antoni's vision. But now that Melo is back and it aint working, he doesn't care anymore.

KnicksFE wrote:

JCrusher wrote:

eViL wrote:

Uptown wrote:So, we give up 60 points in the paint on 54% shooting, not to mention 118 points, and Stat wants to talk about spacing the floor? Our priorities are ***-backwards and that starts with the coaching staff.

I agree that amare's defense is terrible, but I also think that both sides of the game are more connected than any of us regularly acknowlege. When you play good offense the opposing d has to work to keep up. When you pound the rock and take hero shots all game long, it gives the other team a breather on defense because they don't have to guard an entire play but rather just one player. When linsanity took hold, both our offense and defense improved. It was not coincidental.

I agree evil but unfortunetly there are a few people who dont wnat to hear the truth lol

Sure because MDA was the one who shot 7 from 20 against the Heat, 8 from 21 against Boston and 2 from 12 against Dallas. It’s all MDA.

Everytime I post about defense, somehow you guys always manage to flip it back around to offense. 8-21 against Boston was more than enough, not to mention 2 key baskets down the stretch. The game was in hand, up 3 with 19 seconds to go and no timeouts for the opposing team. MDA continued to allow the defense to switch and Pierce got a clean look at a 3 over a smaller guard. Could have instucted his team to foul, but "Thats not how he does things."

eViL wrote:

Uptown wrote:So, we give up 60 points in the paint on 54% shooting, not to mention 118 points, and Stat wants to talk about spacing the floor? Our priorities are ***-backwards and that starts with the coaching staff.

I agree that amare's defense is terrible, but I also think that both sides of the game are more connected than any of us regularly acknowlege. When you play good offense the opposing d has to work to keep up. When you pound the rock and take hero shots all game long, it gives the other team a breather on defense because they don't have to guard an entire play but rather just one player. When linsanity took hold, both our offense and defense improved. It was not coincidental.

Offense can effect the overall team morale on the floor at times, but I was always taught that offense can and will be inconsistant but defense should always be consistant, regardless. How many times have watched our own Knicks look like dog-sh%% on offense back in the 90's when defense matters and still come out with a W on the backs of the D. Even this era's Bulls teams run a simple offense with one consistant offensive weapon. They go through stretches offensively where they look like Rec-league ballers, but there constant effort on D and a tremedous defensive system always keeps them in games. Their bad offense never seems to interfere with how they perform defensively.

Same with the Celts. Pierce and Ray Allen was never known as defensive players until KG and especially Thibbs showed up with his defeinsive principals. I think this switching philosophy has lost us many-a-game and the lack of defensive accountablity has hurt the overall defensive development of this team.

Uptown wrote:

JCrusher wrote:

Uptown wrote:

KnicksFE wrote:

JCrusher wrote:

eViL wrote:

Uptown wrote:So, we give up 60 points in the paint on 54% shooting, not to mention 118 points, and Stat wants to talk about spacing the floor? Our priorities are ***-backwards and that starts with the coaching staff.

I agree that amare's defense is terrible, but I also think that both sides of the game are more connected than any of us regularly acknowlege. When you play good offense the opposing d has to work to keep up. When you pound the rock and take hero shots all game long, it gives the other team a breather on defense because they don't have to guard an entire play but rather just one player. When linsanity took hold, both our offense and defense improved. It was not coincidental.

I agree evil but unfortunetly there are a few people who dont wnat to hear the truth lol

Sure because MDA was the one who shot 7 from 20 against the Heat, 8 from 21 against Boston and 2 from 12 against Dallas. It’s all MDA.

Everytime I post about defense, somehow you guys always manage to flip it back around to offense. 8-21 against Boston was more than enough, not to mention 2 key baskets down the stretch. The game was in hand, up 3 with 19 seconds to go and no timeouts for the opposing team. MDA continued to allow the defense to switch and Pierce got a clean look at a 3 over a smaller guard. Could have instucted his team to foul, but "Thats not how he does things."

Uptown i want your honest opinion is melo a good defender? Im not blaming him because amare is the worst i just wonder what you think

I think he gives good effort in spurts and but consistantly through the whole game. So, no. But thats on the coach. If he's not playing good defense, MDA shoue sit his butt on the bench, but our coach does not hold players aacountable on a consistant basis on the defensive end.

JCrusher wrote:

Uptown wrote:

JCrusher wrote:

Uptown wrote:

KnicksFE wrote:

JCrusher wrote:

eViL wrote:

Uptown wrote:So, we give up 60 points in the paint on 54% shooting, not to mention 118 points, and Stat wants to talk about spacing the floor? Our priorities are ***-backwards and that starts with the coaching staff.

I agree that amare's defense is terrible, but I also think that both sides of the game are more connected than any of us regularly acknowlege. When you play good offense the opposing d has to work to keep up. When you pound the rock and take hero shots all game long, it gives the other team a breather on defense because they don't have to guard an entire play but rather just one player. When linsanity took hold, both our offense and defense improved. It was not coincidental.

I agree evil but unfortunetly there are a few people who dont wnat to hear the truth lol

Sure because MDA was the one who shot 7 from 20 against the Heat, 8 from 21 against Boston and 2 from 12 against Dallas. It’s all MDA.

Everytime I post about defense, somehow you guys always manage to flip it back around to offense. 8-21 against Boston was more than enough, not to mention 2 key baskets down the stretch. The game was in hand, up 3 with 19 seconds to go and no timeouts for the opposing team. MDA continued to allow the defense to switch and Pierce got a clean look at a 3 over a smaller guard. Could have instucted his team to foul, but "Thats not how he does things."

Uptown i want your honest opinion is melo a good defender? Im not blaming him because amare is the worst i just wonder what you think

I think he gives good effort in spurts and but consistantly through the whole game. So, no. But thats on the coach. If he's not playing good defense, MDA shoue sit his butt on the bench, but our coach does not hold players aacountable on a consistant basis on the defensive end.

well i think you started off honest but you cant blame the coach. I mean i played basketball my whole life and if i got beaten on a play i never blamed the coach nor should i have i get the blame

Where did I say its MDA's fault for Melo getting beat on defense? I said, if Melo or any player on the team gives sub par effort on D or is consistantly getting beat, the Coach has the authority to bench 'said' player.

I played HS and Junior college ball, pg no less which is perhaps the toughest spot to guard as you are exposed above the top of the key all by your lonesome with the job of keeping a ultra quick, ball-handling/crossover machine in front of you. I've been embarrassed several times trying to stop the opposition, as was my coach and as was the scoreboard. To relive the embarrassment, my coach relieved me of my duties for a while, and I sat lonely at the end of the bench. My coach wouldn't have been doing his job if he didn't either yank me out, or swicth me off to someone else. Its the coaches job to win the game. No? and if helping the teamwin means you ave to bench a liablity, so be it. coaches are paid millions to make these decisions.