It's not a new idea, sure, but Clyde was talking about it during one of the preseason games; bring him off the bench and make him the featured player. Between him and JR, you have some instant pop and Kidd and Prigs look to be able to run the pick and roll effectively. Or slide JR into the starter's role and have Brewer in the second unit to shore up the D. You can reduce the Tyson/Amare overlap (which, to me, is a bigger issue than Melo/Amare) and, as was noted in a previous thread, let Amare "beast."

It would be a blow to STAT's ego, for sure, but perhaps the injury is the out?

Also, I declare this thread a No Lin Zone.

Gymkata wrote:I'm in full lipstick-on-a-pig mode here, because like many of you I share a fatalistic vision of STAT's long-term viability, but...if the Knicks can coalesce around Melo these first few weeks and the starting unit can build a rhythm (specifically between Melo and Felton), could that ease a transition to a new bench role for Amare?

It's not a new idea, sure, but Clyde was talking about it during one of the preseason games; bring him off the bench and make him the featured player. Between him and JR, you have some instant pop and Kidd and Prigs look to be able to run the pick and roll effectively. Or slide JR into the starter's role and have Brewer in the second unit to shore up the D. You can reduce the Tyson/Amare overlap (which, to me, is a bigger issue than Melo/Amare) and, as was noted in a previous thread, let Amare "beast."

It would be a blow to STAT's ego, for sure, but perhaps the injury is the out?

Also, I declare this thread a No L*%$ Zone.

1) Fixed.

2) and it will also provide some needed scoring to the second unit if JR gets to start at the beginning of the season. I don't see Brewer being able to bring it 100% this close after knee work. He will break early.

3) It will obviously perpetuate the "they can't coexist" conundrum. As well as trying to see how long Dohlin will put up with a max contract bench player.

Amare will likely be finishing games regardless, so bringing him off the bench will prevent him from getting into rhythm early with the 1st unit.

We need to give Amare and Melo one more full year to co exist.

If they can't, at least Stoudemire will put up numbers and with 2 years left on his contract be more tradeable next summer. He will be less tradeable as a reserve.

Either force the 2 to coexist or trade him. Bringing him off the bench can't be the solution.

smackeddog wrote:People used to say we were a better team without Ewing, and when he went down in the 1999 playoffs, some fans saw it as a silver lining situation, thinking we'd play better. Then we got to face off against the Spurs, and those people looked pretty short sighted.

Melo ball can be successful for streaks in the regular season, but come playoffs we need all our players playing well. Putting Amar'e on the bench just shifts the problem of them meshing from the start of games, to meshing at the end of games.

Look, the success of the season absolutely hinges on Amare. Even if Melo turns in an MVP performance, it's not enough. As we saw in the Miami series last year, they essentially triple-teamed Melo and there was no one else to pick up the slack. And we would certainly want Amare in there to close out games.

All I'm saying is that he might have a better chance establishing that rhythm coming off the bench with the second unit where he could be the primary scorer and perhaps benefit from the playmaking abilities of Kidd and Prigs.

Also, whoever said we were better off without Ewing in 1999 needs to have their heads checked. I remember staring at the Duncan/Robinson duo in San Antonio and knowing we probably din't have a shot without the Big Guy.

DurzoBlint wrote:

ChuckBuck wrote:I want Amare off the bench, and I want him there yesterday!

The guy is made out of straw...

I've been on the fence with this but, now I have managed to shimmy my out of shape ass over the top only to fall down on the other side Amare should come off the bench since his absneses prevent chemistry from forming with our started unit. Also, playing with the 2nd unit would give us the offense that unit need. Who besides inconsistent JR will provide any consistent offensive there.

What do you think about moving JR to the starter's role and Brewer to the second unit?

mrKnickShot wrote:

AnubisADL wrote:Grunwald needs to start working the phones.

I think he needs a grenade.

Maybe. I just think the latest injury makes it easier to trade from the Knicks POV.