The best medicine is to temper your expectations....And just think about....Everybody thats worked for the knicks over the last 20 yrs probably lost a few years off their life. Fans on the other hand, we still have our normal borring low stress life.....

nyknickzingis wrote:It isn't that bad - the wins aren't there but you look at the Lakers and Sixers and Wolves - the teams that drafted around where we did and they're either same boat as us or much worse (Lakers, Sixers). We've got an elite talent in Porzingis, who IMO has the highest ceiling in the draft. He barely touches the ball or has any identity in the O yet. We can build an offense around him just like Dallas did Dirk. I know they're different players, but much like Dirk the mismatch Porzingis creates when he sets screens are incredible. Then he's often defended by smaller guys, so there's a lot of post ups which we don't see to recognize right now. His move late in the game on Cousins in the post, was amazing.

Got some capspace in the summer to improve. I don't know the exact figure, but we could add at least 2 quality role players or 1 star like player. We're in better position to attain the services of a star with the way the team has looked and Porzingis in particular.

The real issue is Melo. He's being paid like LBJ/Anthony Davis etc. and he's playing more like a 12 M a year player. He's no longer good enough to be the #1 player on a team and he's got a NTC. When you look at the Knicks, he's the piece that sticks out like a sore thumb because of his poor play and huge salary. I don't know what Phil can do, but so long as Melo's being paid to be a franchise player/top 5 guy in the league and instead is playing like a quality 3rd option, the Knicks are not making the playoffs or being good. This team needs a player that can change the pecking order, to move Melo more to a 2nd/3rd option role. The question is how on earth will NY make a trade for a player like that. Won't be easy.

Melo's not the only one over paid....Check out Rolo's counterpartners, who by the way is getting paid more than Stephen Curry right now.

http://hoopshype.com/salaries/players/

44.	Al Jefferson	$13,500,000	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
47.	Tony Parker	$13,437,500	$14,445,313	$15,453,126	$0	$0	$0
48.	Joakim Noah	$13,400,000	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
49.	JaVale McGee	$13,270,964	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
50.	Tyson Chandler	$13,000,000	$12,415,000	$13,000,000	$13,585,000	$0	$0
50.	Nenê		$13,000,000	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
52.	Ricky Rubio	$12,700,000	$13,400,000	$14,100,000	$14,800,000	$0	$0
53.	Robin Lopez	$12,650,000	$13,219,250	$13,788,500	$14,357,750	$0	$0
54.	Ty Lawson	$12,404,495	$13,213,482	$0	$0	$0	$0
55.	Rudy Gay	$12,403,101	$13,333,333	$14,263,566	$0	$0	$0
56.	Serge Ibaka	$12,250,000	$12,250,000	$0	$0	$0	$0
57.	Nikola Pekovic	$12,100,000	$12,100,000	$11,600,000	$0	$0	$0
58.	Kemba Walker	$12,000,000	$12,000,000	$12,000,000	$12,000,000	$0	$0
58.	Kyle Lowry	$12,000,000	$12,000,000	$12,000,000	$0	$0	$0
58.	Derrick Favors	$12,000,000	$11,050,000	$12,000,000	$0	$0	$0
58.	Andrew Bogut	$12,000,000	$11,027,027	$0	$0	$0	$0
58.	Al Horford	$12,000,000	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
58.	Amir Johnson	$12,000,000	$12,000,000	$0	$0	$0	$0
64.	Nicolas Batum	$11,860,750	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
65.	Andre Iguodala	$11,710,456	$11,131,368	$0	$0	$0	$0
66.	Danilo Gallinari$11,559,225			$0	$0	$0
67.	Stephen Curry	$11,370,786	$12,112,359	$0	$0	$0	$0
68.	Nikola Vucevic	$11,250,000	$11,750,000	$12,250,000	$12,750,000	$0	$0
69.	Thaddeus Young	$11,235,955	$12,078,652	$12,921,348	$13,764,045	$0	$0
69.	Kenneth Faried	$11,235,955	$12,078,652	$12,921,348	$13,764,045	$0	$0
71.	Marcin Gortat	$11,217,391	$12,000,000	$12,782,609	$13,565,218	$0	$0
72.	Jrue Holiday	$11,000,000	$11,000,000	$0	$0	$0	$0
73.	Tyreke Evans	$10,734,586	$10,203,755	$0	$0	$0	$0
74.	Wilson Chandler	$10,449,438	$11,233,146	$12,016,854	$12,800,562	$0	$0
75.	Monta Ellis	$10,300,000	$10,763,500	$11,227,000	$11,690,500	$0	$0
76.	Luol Deng	$10,151,612	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
77.	Gerald Wallace	$10,105,855	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
78.	Zach Randolph	$10,000,000	$10,000,000	$0	$0	$0	$0
78.	Danny Green	$10,000,000	$10,000,000	$10,000,000	$10,000,000	$0	$0
80.	Anderson Varejao$9,700,000	$9,300,000	$10,000,000	$0	$0	$0
81.	Mike Conley	$9,680,000	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
82.	DeMar DeRozan	$9,500,000	$9,500,000	$0	$0	$0	$0
82.	Rajon Rondo	$9,500,000	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0

nyknickzingis wrote:Lopez got paid in this market not in the one 1-2-3 years ago. The current market calls for anyone who can start at Center to get paid major money.
You saw what Tristan Thompson got? You saw what Koufus got from Sacto?

If we ran exclusively S/R stuff, and stopped giving Lopez post ups or ball in the post to create shots for teammates, he'd look just like POR Lopez in NY. The issue is he's not good in the post, he's not great at recognizing when and where to pass. He's a good S/R big guy, and we should exclusively use him in plays like that if we want him to look better. The other ways to get the ball need to be by put backs or cutting. He shouldn't be getting the ball in post ups at all. Instead he gets it too often.

I'd like to see RLO get the start for 7 min each half and then only come back in IF Porzingis is in foul trouble at 5. Meaning his minutes need to be of 16-18 minutes range. I don't think the Knicks realized when they signed Lopez how good Porzingis would be this year. I think they were anticipating no more than 9/6 in 20 mpg from Porzingus.

This will never happen. And I mean never.

It would take two GMs and a few coaches, before we have a roster like Portland had. Thats the only time Rolo would play like he did in Portland.

Leonard, Mathews, Batum, LA
Jose, AA, Melo, KP

No match.....If Grant improves, then we might have something. But by that time, we will be looking for a Melo replacement.

Adding a little speed in the starting back court by replacing Calderon, and solidifying the front court by replacing RoLo with a willing "post" player who won't always look to score or hold the ball are the two most glaring changes needed to improve this team.

martin wrote:

nixluva wrote:The REAL problem is that Jose is more of a SG now, Gallo is also more of a SG and the only PG is Jerian who isn't ready or not being given a chance to show more. In either case Phil has to get this team a legit PG that can close out games!!! It's not really about MELO.

As much as we need a PG, it is about Melo in part. Dude ain't bringing it.

I agree! Melo has played his part in the losing, but at the same time much of the dysfunction is coming from poor guard play in terms of getting more easy buckets and in closing out games. We can't live off tough shots like we have been getting.

Someone show me our PG highlights from last night! There are plenty of Rondo highlights. In fact most nights our opponents Guards have great plays for easy scores and you rarely see any Knicks guard highlights which should tell us something. We were hoping Jerian would develop faster and maybe Gallo would improve as a play maker, but that hasn't really happened. Gallo and Jose are really SG's and Jerian isn't ready yet. Tho i'd like to see Jerian be given more a chance to play thru his mistakes and gain more confidence. He looked so good playing fast and running PnR so why not give him that role and let him play significant minutes?

nixluva wrote:

martin wrote:

nixluva wrote:The REAL problem is that Jose is more of a SG now, Gallo is also more of a SG and the only PG is Jerian who isn't ready or not being given a chance to show more. In either case Phil has to get this team a legit PG that can close out games!!! It's not really about MELO.

As much as we need a PG, it is about Melo in part. Dude ain't bringing it.

I agree! Melo has played his part in the losing, but at the same time much of the dysfunction is coming from poor guard play in terms of getting more easy buckets and in closing out games. We can't live off tough shots like we have been getting.

Someone show me our PG highlights from last night! There are plenty of Rondo highlights. In fact most nights our opponents Guards have great plays for easy scores and you rarely see any Knicks guard highlights which should tell us something. We were hoping Jerian would develop faster and maybe Gallo would improve as a play maker, but that hasn't really happened. Gallo and Jose are really SG's and Jerian isn't ready yet. Tho i'd like to see Jerian be given more a chance to play thru his mistakes and gain more confidence. He looked so good playing fast and running PnR so why not give him that role and let him play significant minutes?

Because opposing teams have figured him out real quick and just back off. Grant has not re-adjusted and looks awful. TO machine who can't hit an outside shot.