The arguments about Anthony and 2003 NBA Draft-mate LeBron James have long since been settled, Anthony simply doesn't have the all around game or impact of that top tier of player. What he does have is a gift for scoring efficiently in a high-usage role — a skill which is extremely rare and dramatically important. How far the Knicks go this season will mostly be determined by the supporing cast, the players gathered around Anthony to do the things he can not.

Still, he is a very good and very talented player who has gotten better in the later stages of his career. Anthony's biggest battle this season may not be against age-related decline or stagnation, but instead against a restrictive role that pushes him back towards what he used to be.

In Denver, Anthony scored a lot around the basket, either posting up or coming off a drive. But because he was so frequently on the floor with two traditional big men, there was less space to operate. In New York, as a nominal power forward, there has been more shooting on the floor around him and consequently more space to operate.

Adding 3-pointers regularly to his arsenal has raised the overall value of his shot distribution and made him a more efficient scorer. In addition, making outside jump shots a bigger part of his offensive repertoire has helped him dramatically cut his turnover rate. Catch-and-shoot jump shots, in addition to often offering a higher expected value than a difficult shot in the paint, are also much less likely to result in a turnover. Only 14 players (42 total times) in NBA history have finished a season using more than 30 percent of his team's possessions while turning the ball over on less than 10 percent of those possessions. Anthony has done it the past three seasons.

There are plenty of things for the Knicks to work out before the season begins, but deciding how exactly to use Anthony is one of the most important. Derek Fisher, in his first year as Knicks coach last season, used him on the wings with bigger lineups much more frequently and, although it wasn't the only factor, his overall impact fell, extending the pattern we see in the graphs. Even with his increased reliance on 3-pointers, Anthony has consistently performed better the more he is used at power forward.

That may be an issue. This summer, the Knicks continued to add size. Robin Lopez is in to replace Tyson Chandler, but New York also added Kevin Seraphin, Derrick Williams, Kyle O'Quinn and rookie Kristaps Porzingis. That crowded frontcourt seems like an indicator that Fisher may continue using Anthony as a small forward. Again, this is less about the specific positional designation and more about shrinking offensive space around the basket by crowding in two other big men. There also is talk that Anthony prefers playing small forward, a common theme among players who prefer to avoid size disadvantages even at the expense of matchup advantages.

IMO the issue isn't so much about Melo playing PF as it is about having floor spacers on the floor and creating situations where Melo has space to operate. This is where I really have been focused on the Triangle Offense, which So many people don't really understand and assume that there isn't space because you usually have 2 bigs on the floor in the Triangle.

So in our case Melo would be playing the SF, but in the Triangle that designation doesn't really have a meaning. The entire point of the Triple Post offense is that anyone can be in the post at any time. The constant movement creates looks that a player can take advantage of if he has good overall skills. That's what Phil has been loading the team up with. Well rounded players. So Melo will still have space to operate within the Triangle despite playing with a Center and PF on the floor.

It's really all about the player movement. So much of the Triangle is about the Player Movement. The constant off ball motion and ball movement should allow Melo to be at his most effective as he has been recently playing PF with shooters around him. The alignment is totally different but the effect is the same. Melo will end up with open shots and one on one looks out of the Pinch Post or Side Triangle. All team's can do is try to double and leave someone open. The difference is that rather than simple ISO, the looks should be coming off player movement. This is an example of just one Pinch Post look Melo uses properly. Notice that his teammates are moving around in the Side Triangle area occupying the defenders and leaving Melo in a 2 man with Dalembert. Melo passes and then fake a cut as Daly screens.

Moonangie wrote:I nominate Nix as the NYK official social media "Triangle Ombudsman".

I 2nd that

Why he's not on phils coaching staff is the million $ question, he knows the triangle better than fisher and rambis

Then there are the decisions where you can trick the defense into going where you want. As in the play above where Melo fakes a cut because the D expects him to cut around Dalembert, Melo uses that overplay and cuts back the other way where he's got nothing but wide open space. This system requires thinking and some patience. When everyone is fully aware of the options it can be a great tool. Dalembert is patient in holding the ball and watching what Melo does. At the same time the other guys on the floor are also doing what they're supposed to be doing and continuing to move, screen and cut away from the ball.

When it's no longer robotic and the players are moving faster it's a really beautiful thing to watch. However, when you have low IQ players who struggle just to do the simple things it can look really ugly.

nixluva wrote:Thanks guys. The thing about the Triangle is that when the players are in synch you have so many options. It's not a system you can expect quick results because there really aren't "Plays" as much as rules and actions based on what the D does and what pass is made. You feed the post in the Side Triangle and it triggers certain cuts. If a defender helps it triggers certain passes and motion.

Then there are the decisions where you can trick the defense into going where you want. As in the play above where Melo fakes a cut because the D expects him to cut around Dalembert, Melo uses that overplay and cuts back the other way where he's got nothing but wide open space. This system requires thinking and some patience. When everyone is fully aware of the options it can be a great tool. Dalembert is patient in holding the ball and watching what Melo does. At the same time the other guys on the floor are also doing what they're supposed to be doing and continuing to move, screen and cut away from the ball.

When it's no longer robotic and the players are moving faster it's a really beautiful thing to watch. However, when you have low IQ players who struggle just to do the simple things it can look really ugly.

Is it low IQ or just ISO players that refuse to change? I think at the NBA level, basketball IQ should be above average, unless you have physical tools that doesn't need thinking to impact the game (ex: 7'7 jumping out the gym). Your not going to make it to this level of basketball without above average IQ. And I don't see the triangle as some complicated math problem.

I think todays NBA players are individual marketing tools that refuse to allow their stock to take a hit. And the Triangle can really expose your weaknesses and dilute your strengths as an individual tallent. This is why Phil rather have solid role players, and 1 superstar.....instead of a team full of pre Madonna’s that are more worried about their marketing value, than winning a championship.

Until the knicks are seen as a championship ready team, it will always be difficult to attrack top talent. Thats the down fall of this system. With an ISO system, at least players can still show case their talent.....win or lose. And use the marketing attention of the NY Knicks.

blkexec wrote:

knicks1248 wrote:

Moonangie wrote:I nominate Nix as the NYK official social media "Triangle Ombudsman".

I 2nd that

Why he's not on phils coaching staff is the million $ question, he knows the triangle better than fisher and rambis

I'm voting for BRIGGS to be the knicks talent aquisition / scout manager.

great!

then we can have a core of Nate Wolters and Hasheem Thabeet

tj23 wrote:

nixluva wrote:The thing is that in just the Pinch Post play there are many possibilities and Melo could also pass or drive from his spot at the top of the key. He can also be the post man in the Pinch Post with a guard and still get one on one looks with his teammates in his sight lines if a double team comes. It seems like there's no room but it's hard for a defender to leave one of 2 bigs right under the basket to come help or 2 shooters behind the 3pt line.

Imagine him out there with KP, RoLo, Afflalo and Jerian. The options are endless as long as everyone keeps moving and passing and reading the defense. I think Melo will be better in this system in his 2nd year. He's working on the footwork and I think it's a very good system even with 2 bigs on the floor with him.

More important that the focus on Melo is the improvement with the rest of the roster. Having better Guard play to start the season compared to last season will make a HUGE difference. JR, Shump, THJ and Larkin were a disgrace at the start of last season. Jose was never really 100% and that was a big issue. I think starting this season with a hopefully healthy Jose, Afflalo, Jerian, Gallo and Sasha is a much better group for this system. Smarter players who should be more reliable and effective. Their play should keep Melo from feeling he has to do too much and play Hero Ball.

that's poor spacing in that shot. More like both bigs knowing Melo is gonna let it fly and trying to grab an off reb. Just saying. Our guards have A LOT to prove. Because pinch post is ineffective without guard penetration as are most offensive sets/actions.

The spacing was pretty much as expected with the Side Triangle of Dalmbert in the post, JR and The only one out of position is Acy who is trying to sneak in for the offensive rebound. That's fine as the shot is going up. Having bigs near the basket actually makes it easier for Melo to do his thing because there's no help or else you leave a big open right under the basket!

Regarding the Pinch Post, you can run it without a guard. It can be Melo as the ball handler and RoLo or KP in the post. Doesn't really matter. But yes if you have a guard in the Pinch Post with Melo he should be able to effectively Drive or pull up and hit the mid range jumper. In this sequence Melo is the ball handler in a Pinch Post look with Daly.