yellowboy90 wrote:Also, are Magic and Hines Ward the only athletes that can smile and get away with it?

They were also diks! Zeke smiled alot too

Shades of Ewing with Starks during the Reggie headbutt game.

He looks a lot more in shape and not seriously overweight like he did in the beginning of the season.
I hope he considers going through serious training this summer, during the off season.
Depending on if he is going to play PF, or a consistent SF, or/and Point Forward, it would completely change his routine/training.
Something I think the Knicks management, coaching staff, and training staff should inform Melo so he can have an idea on what to work on.
He is entering the 30s, many stars/players have trouble adjusting the NBA game, as their lose their physical abilities, something he should take very seriously.
Also a nutritionist, it has done wonders for Nash, I am sure Melo wants get another contract after this one, whether he opts out the following year or not.

Training that Wade does vs what Lin's did was a lot tougher.
Then again, Lin's body is totally different from Wades, so it should adjust to each players body build, position, and their style of games.
If Lin actually did the same things Wade did, he would probably get too big and lose some abilities, which we wouldn't want for his position and body type.
Although physical build, genes, and God given talents, all contribute to it, Wade puts a lot of hard word in to it.
Dedicating his body, mind, and preparing himself during the off season, are added to his god given talents, its NOT all God himself.
Many people believe it was just natural, but do not credit the dedication/time he puts in to training, to continue his dominance and elevate his game.

After Linsanity, I believe many players, PRO athletes, will give Sports Science/training, a lot more credit and dedication this summer.
Amare, Chandler, Fields, Jeffries and many Knicks should both work on their foot work and hands as well.
TD needs to work on his brain and hand eye coordination drills, with foot work, balance, thinking/analyzing at the same time.

Players within the same positions

Can work on many drills together and motivate each other

We have to find cheap talents and good deal, it would be nice if we can somehow add a MLE type player if we don't have to use it to keep Lin, some team can give him an offer while we just match it? not sure how that would work....

A PG like the Earl Watson type, like Gaines *Nets*, Dooling, Delonte West
G/F Our own Thabo Sefolosha, Ariza, Tony Allen type...Alzozo Gee
Add 1-2 Centers like Omar Asik, Hamed Haddadi, Greg Stiemsma, Aaron Gray, Fesenko KG* at his career, center makes sense ,MLE, would fit nice to what we are doing*
PF/C like Speights, Kenyon Martin, Ryan Hollins, Anthony Randolph, Anthony Tolliver, Samardo Samuels, Mahimi, Brandon Wright

Look at the defensive makeup of teams like Memphis, Bulls, Thunder

Could use Wilson Chandler type player, that can fill in for F, versatile, shoot the ball, and PLAY GREAT D, allowing us to play some minutes for Amare at Center.
Ak47, Jamison, Taj Gibson

Shooters *a replacement for Novak* we could always use shooters....
Kapono
Delfino
Anthony Parker
Redd
Danny Green
Houston??
a stretch 4 would be nice, like Ilyasova/Ryan Anderson *MLE at the very least though*

There are things that each athlete should work more on.
Drills to build on their weaknesses and strengths to their games. as well.
But in general, it NBA pro athletes should train for endurance with extra repetitions vs weight isn't recommended.
Working on the core is highly recommended, using their own version of Px90 or w/e training...
I am sure, all Pro athletes go through some sort of training, but I am not sure how hard and motivated they each are.
After all, they are human too, as they need to relax with their only chance, being the off season.
But they must need to stay in shape and dedicate a month or 2 of intense conditioning drills, mixed with bball drills, and stretching.

Looking at Dwight Howard, I always though he was a SUPER BEAST.
However, aside from this year, he just doesn't look as lean/muscular to me.
It is possible he was hurt for awhile and/or loss some motivation to train during the lock out, attributing to the possibility of injury.

Players like Ben Wallace and even someone like Juwan Howard, does some serious work outs throughout their careers, to be playing at their age.
Although they aren't the same players anymore, they are in really good shape for their age, and not many players in this league can endure that many years.

I would love Iman and Lin to reach out to the rest of the Knicks with the support of AmareTysonMel to conduct work outs/drills together.
Lin and Iman both worked out this summer, so they have an understanding of some of these drills.
ATM are out "leaders" and should lead by example, take it to the next step.
Just like how Durant/Westbrook /Harden/ Sefolosha/ Nick Collison, etc, in the Thunder work out together in the off season.

As years goes by, many players lose some of this hunger and dedication to the games, especially with some "max" or big deals.
For some, a fat 5 year, MLE is enough for their life *aka big snacks JJ1*
For others it is a 5-6 year deal at 10m+ for a addiction to McDonalds *Eddy Curry*
And some, just stop like Iverson/Spree believing in talent over practice, while going bankrupt after their years of making millions...

ATM looks like they are serious about being contenders to me but they have to take it to next level and unite the team and show leadership in the off season as well as in the locker room. Staying hungry, competitive, communication, trust, and in top notch NBA shape requires dedication.
Sometimes players forget that after making so much $$$, but if they can do this in the summer, it would make up for their lack of game, skills, defense...

mrKnickShot wrote:I like the smiling chippy Melo.

+1