Here's my thing and i've written about this before, Melo when he's healthy has a VERY good record with his teams in terms of making the playoffs. Bash him for 1st rd losses all they want but his teams get to the playoffs and it took historic dysfunction and injury for his teams to miss the playoffs the last 2 years. Elhassan saying 38-40 wins isn't really going out on a limb for a typical Melo led team.

I think this team is much closer to the 54 win Knicks than the 37 win disappointment the following year. I say that based on the research of what he's done with teams of similar talent.

The Best Melo Teams were all pretty similar at the top and thru the middle of the rotation. Melo was able to win 50 games with teammates like AI, Billups, Nene, Tyson, Felton and JR Smith. I don't believe this roster is any less talented than those teams. IMO they are pretty darned close when healthy. Put a good Guard, Center and solid rotation around Melo and you will most likely have a playoff team. It's not rocket science.

2012-13 Knicks 54-28  Eastern Conference Semis
PLAYER	                GP	GS	MIN	PPG	OFFR	DEFR	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	TPG	FPG	A/TO	PER
Carmelo Anthony, SF	67	67	37.0	28.7	2.0	4.9	6.9	2.6	0.78	0.48	2.6	3.1	1.0	24.8
J.R. Smith, SG	        80	0	33.5	18.1	0.8	4.5	5.3	2.7	1.25	0.30	1.7	2.8	1.6	17.7
Raymond Felton, PG	68	68	34.0	13.9	0.8	2.1	2.9	5.5	1.38	0.21	2.3	1.9	2.4	15.2
Tyson Chandler, C	66	66	32.8	10.4	4.1	6.6	10.7	0.9	0.64	1.14	1.3	2.8	0.7	18.9 = 76.6
2008-09 Nuggets 54-28  Western Conference Finals
PLAYER	                GP	GS	MIN	PPG	OFFR	DEFR	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	TPG	FPG	A/TO	PER
Carmelo Anthony, SF	66	66	34.5	22.8	1.6	5.2	6.8	3.4	1.14	0.36	3.0	3.0	1.1	19.1
Chauncey Billups, PG	77	77	35.3	17.9	0.4	2.6	3.0	6.4	1.17	0.22	2.2	2.1	2.8	18.9
J.R. Smith, SG	        81	18	27.7	15.2	0.5	3.1	3.7	2.8	0.96	0.17	1.9	2.3	1.5	16.8
Nene Hilario, PF	77	76	32.6	14.6	2.4	5.4	7.8	1.4	1.23	1.31	1.9	3.6	0.7	18.8 = 73.6
2007-08 Nuggets 50-32  Western Conference 1st Round
PLAYER	                GP	GS	MIN	PPG	OFFR	DEFR	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	TPG	FPG	A/TO	PER
Allen Iverson, SG	82	82	41.8	26.4	0.6	2.4	3.0	7.1	1.95	0.15	3.0	1.3	2.4	21.1
Carmelo Anthony, SF	77	77	36.4	25.7	2.3	5.1	7.4	3.4	1.27	0.51	3.3	3.3	1.0	21.3
Kenyon Martin, PF	71	71	30.4	12.4	1.5	5.0	6.5	1.3	1.24	1.20	1.3	3.3	1.0	14.8
J.R. Smith, SG	        74	0	19.2	12.3	0.6	1.5	2.1	1.7	0.84	0.16	1.5	1.9	1.1	18.3 = 75.5

arkrud wrote:

nixluva wrote:Elhassan was making fun of the Knicks moves not that long ago, so he is inching closer to a more reasonable view point about the team. I've been saying it for a while and now people are starting to come around the idea that the Knicks can and should be more competitive. There were a few media who saw it early on too, but most have been saying the Knicks won't likely make the playoffs.

Here's my thing and i've written about this before, Melo when he's healthy has a VERY good record with his teams in terms of making the playoffs. Bash him for 1st rd losses all they want but his teams get to the playoffs and it took historic dysfunction and injury for his teams to miss the playoffs the last 2 years. Elhassan saying 38-40 wins isn't really going out on a limb for a typical Melo led team.

I think this team is much closer to the 54 win Knicks than the 37 win disappointment the following year. I say that based on the research of what he's done with teams of similar talent.

The Best Melo Teams were all pretty similar at the top and thru the middle of the rotation. Melo was able to win 50 games with teammates like AI, Billups, Nene, Tyson, Felton and JR Smith. I don't believe this roster is any less talented than those teams. IMO they are pretty darned close when healthy. Put a good Guard, Center and solid rotation around Melo and you will most likely have a playoff team. It's not rocket science.

2012-13 Knicks 54-28  Eastern Conference Semis
PLAYER	                GP	GS	MIN	PPG	OFFR	DEFR	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	TPG	FPG	A/TO	PER
Carmelo Anthony, SF	67	67	37.0	28.7	2.0	4.9	6.9	2.6	0.78	0.48	2.6	3.1	1.0	24.8
J.R. Smith, SG	        80	0	33.5	18.1	0.8	4.5	5.3	2.7	1.25	0.30	1.7	2.8	1.6	17.7
Raymond Felton, PG	68	68	34.0	13.9	0.8	2.1	2.9	5.5	1.38	0.21	2.3	1.9	2.4	15.2
Tyson Chandler, C	66	66	32.8	10.4	4.1	6.6	10.7	0.9	0.64	1.14	1.3	2.8	0.7	18.9 = 76.6
2008-09 Nuggets 54-28  Western Conference Finals
PLAYER	                GP	GS	MIN	PPG	OFFR	DEFR	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	TPG	FPG	A/TO	PER
Carmelo Anthony, SF	66	66	34.5	22.8	1.6	5.2	6.8	3.4	1.14	0.36	3.0	3.0	1.1	19.1
Chauncey Billups, PG	77	77	35.3	17.9	0.4	2.6	3.0	6.4	1.17	0.22	2.2	2.1	2.8	18.9
J.R. Smith, SG	        81	18	27.7	15.2	0.5	3.1	3.7	2.8	0.96	0.17	1.9	2.3	1.5	16.8
Nene Hilario, PF	77	76	32.6	14.6	2.4	5.4	7.8	1.4	1.23	1.31	1.9	3.6	0.7	18.8 = 73.6
2007-08 Nuggets 50-32  Western Conference 1st Round
PLAYER	                GP	GS	MIN	PPG	OFFR	DEFR	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	TPG	FPG	A/TO	PER
Allen Iverson, SG	82	82	41.8	26.4	0.6	2.4	3.0	7.1	1.95	0.15	3.0	1.3	2.4	21.1
Carmelo Anthony, SF	77	77	36.4	25.7	2.3	5.1	7.4	3.4	1.27	0.51	3.3	3.3	1.0	21.3
Kenyon Martin, PF	71	71	30.4	12.4	1.5	5.0	6.5	1.3	1.24	1.20	1.3	3.3	1.0	14.8
J.R. Smith, SG	        74	0	19.2	12.3	0.6	1.5	2.1	1.7	0.84	0.16	1.5	1.9	1.1	18.3 = 75.5

It is not a rocket science to see that all this 3 teams were finished products loaded with vets and familiar with each other and the team concept this teams were build for.
Non of this 3 team were build to contend but more to show up some respectable presence. And they did.
We do not have this kind of settings this year and I hope we are not building mediocre team capable of getting to playoffs and then bounce out in first or second round.
This team is totally new, with a bunch of unproven players. No doubt there is a potential to upside. But it will take time.
I do not want this team to degrade back to Iso-Melo hell for the sake of winning 5-10 more games running Melo into the ground in the process.
And I do not want to rush KP and Grant but rather let them gradually grow into NBA game.

Perhaps you're a bit too fearful about this team. Yes it's a new team, but this team isn't composed of unproven players as you say. Not at the top of the rotation. Melo, RoLo, Afflalo and Jose are vets and only KP is unproven. There are other vets on the roster as well. This is no different than Melo's other successful teams.

As for your other fear that this team will "degrade back to Iso-Melo hell for the sake of winning 5-10 more games", I really think you're going overboard on the fear in this regard. Why would any of that happen to this team? Phil has reloaded the team with players who are going to be here for a while and so they are more invested in this team. It just seems like you may be reaching a bit for something negative.

blkexec wrote:

nixluva wrote:Elhassan was making fun of the Knicks moves not that long ago, so he is inching closer to a more reasonable view point about the team. I've been saying it for a while and now people are starting to come around the idea that the Knicks can and should be more competitive. There were a few media who saw it early on too, but most have been saying the Knicks won't likely make the playoffs.

Here's my thing and i've written about this before, Melo when he's healthy has a VERY good record with his teams in terms of making the playoffs. Bash him for 1st rd losses all they want but his teams get to the playoffs and it took historic dysfunction and injury for his teams to miss the playoffs the last 2 years. Elhassan saying 38-40 wins isn't really going out on a limb for a typical Melo led team.

I think this team is much closer to the 54 win Knicks than the 37 win disappointment the following year. I say that based on the research of what he's done with teams of similar talent.

The Best Melo Teams were all pretty similar at the top and thru the middle of the rotation. Melo was able to win 50 games with teammates like AI, Billups, Nene, Tyson, Felton and JR Smith. I don't believe this roster is any less talented than those teams. IMO they are pretty darned close when healthy. Put a good Guard, Center and solid rotation around Melo and you will most likely have a playoff team. It's not rocket science.

2012-13 Knicks 54-28  Eastern Conference Semis
PLAYER	                GP	GS	MIN	PPG	OFFR	DEFR	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	TPG	FPG	A/TO	PER
Carmelo Anthony, SF	67	67	37.0	28.7	2.0	4.9	6.9	2.6	0.78	0.48	2.6	3.1	1.0	24.8
J.R. Smith, SG	        80	0	33.5	18.1	0.8	4.5	5.3	2.7	1.25	0.30	1.7	2.8	1.6	17.7
Raymond Felton, PG	68	68	34.0	13.9	0.8	2.1	2.9	5.5	1.38	0.21	2.3	1.9	2.4	15.2
Tyson Chandler, C	66	66	32.8	10.4	4.1	6.6	10.7	0.9	0.64	1.14	1.3	2.8	0.7	18.9 = 76.6
2008-09 Nuggets 54-28  Western Conference Finals
PLAYER	                GP	GS	MIN	PPG	OFFR	DEFR	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	TPG	FPG	A/TO	PER
Carmelo Anthony, SF	66	66	34.5	22.8	1.6	5.2	6.8	3.4	1.14	0.36	3.0	3.0	1.1	19.1
Chauncey Billups, PG	77	77	35.3	17.9	0.4	2.6	3.0	6.4	1.17	0.22	2.2	2.1	2.8	18.9
J.R. Smith, SG	        81	18	27.7	15.2	0.5	3.1	3.7	2.8	0.96	0.17	1.9	2.3	1.5	16.8
Nene Hilario, PF	77	76	32.6	14.6	2.4	5.4	7.8	1.4	1.23	1.31	1.9	3.6	0.7	18.8 = 73.6
2007-08 Nuggets 50-32  Western Conference 1st Round
PLAYER	                GP	GS	MIN	PPG	OFFR	DEFR	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	TPG	FPG	A/TO	PER
Allen Iverson, SG	82	82	41.8	26.4	0.6	2.4	3.0	7.1	1.95	0.15	3.0	1.3	2.4	21.1
Carmelo Anthony, SF	77	77	36.4	25.7	2.3	5.1	7.4	3.4	1.27	0.51	3.3	3.3	1.0	21.3
Kenyon Martin, PF	71	71	30.4	12.4	1.5	5.0	6.5	1.3	1.24	1.20	1.3	3.3	1.0	14.8
J.R. Smith, SG	        74	0	19.2	12.3	0.6	1.5	2.1	1.7	0.84	0.16	1.5	1.9	1.1	18.3 = 75.5

Change that to some people, I've always been on board......Especially after seeing Phils draft picks and free agent signings. I believe I should have a full time job putting a championship team together. So I approve this message. Nothing has surprised me so far. They are playing as expected.

The only weakness I see is 3 pt shooting....and guarding 3 pt shooters!

We are no longer a sieve at the rim and in the lane. Now it's all about effort on the perimeter.

Losing one of those guys for a long stretch, especially Melo could derail the season pretty quickly

martin wrote:Watched this video previously. I have to tell you, I'm always disappointed in the True Hoops videos, boring and never any real insight for me.

It's painfully boring. There's zero analysis there.

Paris907 wrote:Afflalo Grant and Galoway can guard against 3s. Question I have is given what we have now would any of you bave preferred Monroe vs Lopez ?

Always would have wanted Lopez over Monroe any day of the week. Can't have a big that doesn't defend.