What we really need is to convert Novak and JR Smith into Allan Houston. We need a reliable second scorer who can create his own shot, but do it with efficiency and hit threes at a high percentage, while playing solid team defense. Houston was never a great defender, but he played team defense and was a generally high IQ player.

JR Smith can score, but it's Jamal Crawful all over again. Stupid plays, chucking, ugh. All this talk that Carmelo is the problem is ridiculous. The problem is that our second scorer takes too many shots at too low an efficiency and Novak is useless on offense if the other team plays man to man. I'm not complaining about how many shots JR Smith took last night, as we needed someone to take them, but in general, a lot of poor selection and boneheaded plays. Way more than Carmelo. Enough about Melo being the problem...

ShellTopAdidas wrote:Gallo and W.Chanlder would've been nice. Not to mention their only 25 yrs old.

They would be perfect with Melo. That being said, someone had to be traded to get Melo. We will just have to be patient but maybe Amare builds his value enough to be traded for a perimeter scorer.

VCoug wrote:

Elite wrote:if JR hits that ONE last shot tho... this thread does not exist

That's not true. JR hitting a shot doesn't change the fact that the rest of the backcourt is in shambles. Felton, if we're being generous, has been playing at a slightly below average level for an NBA point guard since he broke his hand back in December; Kidd's play, other than a couple games here and there, has completely fallen off a cliff and he doesn't look like he belongs on an NBA roster; Shumpert is still recovering from his knee surgery; Prigioni is basically invisible; and James White is starting and playing about 5 minutes/game for no apparent reason.

Agreed. There has been a serious gap at SG all along, even going back to when we were hot. Kidd started out of necessity and just happened to fit very well and play very well, but we all know he is a guard off the bench who should only be playing 15 mpg and 20 mpg in playoffs. Even with Brewer, we knew he wasn't the answer, but assumed Shumpert would be. Shumpert will be fine, but we really need to add another wing who can shoot and defend. The combination of Kidd and Smith coming off the bench next season if you can mix in another young guard, like a rookie, for a few minutes a game should be a great combination off the bench. Finding a way to get someone like Jared Dudley without trading Shumpert would be ideal. Even Channing Frye who would provide a stretch-4. An elite SG would be the answer of course, but not sure that player is out there.

Dagger wrote:

Knixkik wrote:

ShellTopAdidas wrote:Gallo and W.Chanlder would've been nice. Not to mention their only 25 yrs old.

They would be perfect with Melo. That being said, someone had to be traded to get Melo. We will just have to be patient but maybe Amare builds his value enough to be traded for a perimeter scorer.

Then we lose our only inside scoring presence. Jr is the one who needs to be replaced with a consistent sharpshooter with an all-around game, not anar'e.

Melo is our inside scoring presence. He plays PF on offense for the most part.