I was thrilled to admit earlier that Knicks front office did a killer job in this. We had veteran players playing big roles and while the .500 ball the Knicks have been playing for 2 months is not impressive 18-5 is very impressive and that brilliant start is certainly making looking at the standings palpable.

So whats next?

We have been a .500 team for two months and are heading into the tough part of our schedule. March is brutal. Tons of road games, tons of games vs. playoff teams, like 6 remaining B2Bs... its going to be tough.

I dont have a solution. I posted in another thread that if I was running the Knicks I wouldnt make trades. Melo isnt leaving. Chandler is the perfect player to pair with him and Amare (untradable). Felton has value but for who? This is a lottery team without good PG play. Cope, Prigo, Sheed, Camby, Kidd, White and Brewer have zero value more than cap matching throw ins.

That leaves JR and Shump. Its not enough to work with so my plan would be to let this group get it right. Our best bet seems improvement from within. Amare's role, minutes and effectiveness needs to increase. Shumpert's as well. We need a contribution (10-15 bench minutes) from either Camby or Sheed (doesnt have to be both, but we need one).

Ball movement and defense. We simply arent playing as hard or as well on either side of the ball. Defensively we take whole quarters off. Offensively we have long stretches of zero dribble penetration and guys standing around watching other players ISO.

Can what is broken be fixed?

Can these players step up?

Can enough of these old guys get healthy enough for a run in the playoffs?

Not playing as well now as earlier on is the sign of that age and widespread veteran knees. The longer you have to play, the younger you should be.
Maybe all these deranged lineups Woody is throwing out there is to try and give the geriatric crewmembers a chance at having some gas. Same with all the slow starts, taking quarters off, etc etc. I think Woody sees the Bataan Death March right around the corner as much as everyone on here does.

No, Sheed is not a saviour. He's a piece. Dammit I'm Camby is even less of a piece. One is a necessary piece, one's a nice to have.

Do we seem some urgency after the break? Or does the slow roll continue?

Does Shump's tentativeness continue until playoff time?

Do we see Dolan's hand in the starting lineup if things really start to go south quickly, ala STAT abandoning his starring role as offensive focus of the second unit?

Will Melo ever stop smiling?

Will I ever stop smiling whenever I see the standings as they are now?

franco12 wrote:the fact that so many are talking about the keys to the Knick success being Camby and Wallace is frightening, and proof how held together by tape this team is.

Two players who should be retired? Three if we include Kidd and a 35 year old rookie?

We're kinda like the Celtics but without the same depth of talent and championship pedigree. Dangerous come play off time? Maybe.

The way this team is playing we may not get out of the first round of the play offs.

Franco I hear you on the Camby/Wallace thing, and to be fair Amare's glass body is really the reason for that. He just cant stay healthy. If we had 2010 Amare we would be leading the conference, I have no doubt. ITs a trickle down. W/o Amare playing 35 minutes like an all star the only shot of us competing at an elite level is quality play somewhere else, and Camby and Sheed are capable of that (or were at least).

Vmart wrote:I think this team needs a trade. This team has some of the worst shooters on it. Felton 40%, Smith 40%, Kidd 39%, Wallace 39%. If it wasn't for Amare and Chandler the Knicks would be down right pathetic.

but I agree with Bonn them being healthy for the playoffs will determine if this team makes it to the ECF or gets knocked out in round 1 or 2